Page 27 of Curious

“Tasha called. She’s upset I’ve been avoiding her. She thinks I don’t want her to bring her friend over because I’m seeing someone.”

Owen’s smile was dangerous. “She’s always been the smart one. Is this a new friend or the moaner from the party?”

“New guy.” Jeremy shrugged. “She knows I’m not into repeats.”

“Then she doesn’t know you as well as I do.” He paused. “Or does she? That brings up an interesting question. Other than me, have you ever been with the same man for more than one night?”

This wasn’t a comfortable conversation. “Rarely. I’ve had one or two weekends or four-day conventions with the same partner, but once the event was over? No.”

“Huh,” Owen grunted. “I had no idea comic book nerds were such sexual deviants. I would have taken you up on one of your invitations years ago. What about women? I’m excluding Natasha, of course.”

“Same. You?” He didn’t want to be the only one reciting his sexual resume.

Owen lifted one shoulder. “I have a few play partners I see once or twice a year who need more than cuddling after a session, but other than that, no.”

Jeremy didn’t like how that knowledge made him feel. So far Owen had been coming to him every night instead of going to the club, but how long would that last?

“What about that woman you were dating? Amy? Your brother Seamus seemed to think she had marriage potential.”

Owen shook his head regretfully. “She was sweet. Nice. She also had a three-date minimum. If you made it to date four…” He shrugged. “Sadly, she was too nice and sweet to be a fan of date four. I’m not exactly her type.”

They were a pair, Jeremy thought grimly. “So, we’re those guys, huh?”

Owen frowned at him. “Those guys?”

“Those guys every good parent warns their children to avoid. The ones who don’t do relationships.” Guys who had sex partners instead of life partners. Who watched their previous conquests leave their beds and find someone else to spend the rest of their lives with. To be happy with.

Jeremy avoided Owen’s penetrating stare. It wasn’t flattering, but it was the truth. And depressing as hell.

“You turned her down.” It wasn’t a question. It was a command. And a grumpy one at that.

Jeremy looked back at him. “Tasha? Of course I did. You and I have an agreement.”

Owen wiped his mouth with a napkin and reached for Jeremy’s tea, finishing it off. “Right. Our agreement. I’m glad you weren’t tempted to forget that, since we don’t do relationships and we know how much you crave variety.”

Why did he sound angry? After a few tense moments, Jeremy shifted, then stood and put his hands in his pockets, not knowing what else to do with them. “I should get going.”

“Fine.”

He turned to go with a frown. This was a new and uncomfortable feeling. As long as he’d known Owen, they could sit and talk—or not—for hours, and it was always comfortable. Now he didn’t know what to say, or what he’d said wrong, and Owen wasn’t helping. Why had he asked him to come in the first place?

He was reaching for the lock when Owen’s hand shot out from behind him and landed on the door beside his head. Jeremy turned around, a question in his eyes.

“Jeremy, I…” Owen shook his head, and then he was kissing him, fingers digging hard into his scalp to hold him still while his mouth claimed Jeremy’s in a fierce clash of tongues and teeth.

Yes, baby. I’m yours. Kiss me. Claim me.

Owen lifted his lips and swore. “I wanted you to bring lunch so I could prove to you that nothing had changed. That I could be in the same room with you and not lose control. That we could… Maybe this is still too new for that, because I can’t stop imagining bending you over my desk and taking what I need.”

They hadn’t yet. Owen hadn’t… “We can’t. Not here.”

“Not here,” Owen agreed reluctantly. “I don’t want anyone interrupting what I have in mind. But I’m damn tempted. I never got office fantasies until now. But with this? With you? I could take you so hard on that damn desk, Jeremy. I’d cover your mouth so no one could hear you scream and you’d love it.”

Jesus, Owen was actually thinking about it. Jeremy could see the wheels turning in his mind as he weighed the possibility of getting caught against his lust. Time to do something to distract him before he forgot where he was and actually did it, and there was only one thing Jeremy knew would work on his insatiable lover.

His heart raced as he reached for Owen’s belt, opening his jeans and gripping his velvet steel erection in his hand. Dropping to his knees, he parted his lips and swallowed the hard shaft down his throat. God, he loved the taste.

“Jesus Christ, Jeremy. Yes, oh yeah that’s… You’d go down on me anywhere, wouldn’t you? In your kitchen, in the alley, right here in the middle of the afternoon. Your mouth was made for this. For me.”

---