Page 12 of Single Greatest Threat
Joesph offered to go with Shaw to tell his mom everything. Shaw had refused. The moment was too personal. While he knew Shaw wanted him at his side, Shaw didn’t want his mom feeling any more humiliated than she already would. He asked her to meet him at the office so he could show her proof while also avoiding his dad. They could go home now, Joesph supposed, but Shaw had shot that down. He had begged Joesph to stay put and wait. So that was what Joesph did. In his mom’s guest room, sitting on the bed, he chewed the side of his nail and waited. Shaw had been gone for hours. Joesph felt sick. The what ifs ate him. What if Senior found out Portia planned to meet with Shaw? What if he was already waiting when Shaw got to the office? It was crazy, but what if Shaw got hurt? His mind wanted to shy away from the thought. But what if Shaw had gotten what he wanted out of Joesph with that call to Noir and now they were done again? Obviously, they had never been more than friends, but their relationship was still very much on and off again. Damnit. As much as Joesph hated to admit it, he really wanted to join Shaw on this new venture. All Senior’s clients would follow Shaw. He didn’t think he would make less, even if he had to work more. Plus, it wasn’t uncommon for firms to pay off student loans as part of their sign-on package. Joesph would be halfway out of debt. Even if things didn’t work out, Joesph could file bankruptcy and be out from underneath everything with that loan gone. No matter what, he would be better off. He hated the way his thoughts had turned selfish,but if Senior somehow convinced Shaw to stay, Joesph would be fucked because he would definitely be out of the job. He had already checked his messages. Senior had fired him. Joesph had to think negatively about Shaw’s plans. Life never gave him a reason to feel otherwise.
The bedroom door opened. Joesph’s head shot up. His gaze locked on Shaw. His heart did some crazy flip thing that took away his breath. He was there. Shaw had come back.
“Hey. How’d it go?”
Shaw closed the door behind him and crossed the room. His face was set in hard lines as he climbed onto the bed. Before Joesph had time to guess at his intentions, Shaw yanked him beneath him. His mouth covered Joesph’s and Joesph surrendered. There was no other way to describe what happened to his body. It knew what Shaw could do for it and cared not at all what would happen to his heart. His entire body melted, and he met Shaw, desperate, stroke for stroke. Their tongues battled as Shaw pushed Joesph's shirt up and massaged his bare skin. Joesph was lost. He wouldn’t tell Shaw to stop. Joesph had known when he brought Shaw here, they would share a bed. He had known he would end up like this and he wanted it so fucking bad.
“Tell me no before I wreck you again.” Shaw’s words were a plea between kisses. Joesph heard the despair behind each one and he couldn’t give Shaw what he wanted. Joesph needed this.
“Please don’t stop.”
Joesph’s pajama pants were ripped down his legs. “You’re an idiot.”
“I know.” He could hate himself later. No one else touched him. He wanted to be touched.
Shaw peeled off his shirt.
Joesph enjoyed the show. He was just so perfect and sleek. Beautiful. Everything about him was out of Joesph’s league for a million reasons. He would give in every time.
Shaw kissed Joesph’s stomach and then swallowed his dick. Joesph held on to the covers and bit his bottom lip. They were at his mom’s house. While she wouldn’t listen at doors, he couldn’t be loud. In between licks and sucks, Shaw pulled a condom and packet of lube from his wallet before the wallet went sailing across the room.
A laugh burst from Joesph. “You’ll be picking up credit cards for days.”
“I don’t care.” He sounded and looked impatient.
Joesph wanted to pat himself on the back, and he didn’t know why. He hadn’t done anything to get Shaw hot. Truthfully, his health made him a bit useless at sex. Shaw would definitely do all the work, but he already knew that and still came back to Joesph. Joesph got the feeling Shaw preferred being in complete control. That fit his personality.
Wet fingers stretched his asshole, stealing his every thought. Shaw’s tongue was in his mouth again and Joesph was a mess. He was on the verge of begging when Shaw impaled him. Shaw swallowed his cries as he gave Joesph time to adjust. The moment Joesph’s muscles relaxed, Shaw rocked against him. He was hyperaware of every squeak and creak the bed made. It seemed Shaw was too. He made love to Joesph, soft and slow. That wasn’t Shaw. Shaw was a plunderer. He always wrecked Joesph in every way. This was different. The way he took Joesph was more dangerous to his heart than anything Shaw had ever done. Shaw held his stare.
Joesph’s eyes burned. He wanted to believe it was love that stared at him, but he knew better. Shaw would never love him. Joesph couldn’t entertain those thoughts. He might not survive the next heartache if he pretended they were more.
“I don’t want you to be with anyone else.”
Despite the way his body burned, a bark of laughter still burst from Joesph. “You’re good. Nobody else wants me.”
Shaw’s intensity didn’t ebb. “That’s not true, and you’re not hearing me. I want you to be mine.” He went still, making Joesph want to cry. His body had definitely been close to the edge. Shaw’s actions stole his building orgasm. “We’re more than friends. I just didn’t want to admit it and give up being free.”
“I know.” He also hated Shaw a little for saying that while inside him. But Shaw’s full meaning slowly penetrated the fog of his lust.
“What are you saying? That you want to be a couple—like, officially?”
“Yes.”
Holy shit. Joesph could barely breathe. “Do you plan to be with just me, or am I still supposed to act like you’re not killing me every time you choose someone else?”
“I’ve always been just yours. Like I said, I just didn’t want to admit it. But you don’t have to worry, there won’t be anyone else.”
Joesph was blown away. Shaw was buried to the hilt inside him and still managed the most important conversation of Joesph’s life. “No lunches? Late night dinners? No chasing billionaires just because you can?”
“I’m sorry I ever did those things. You’ve always scared the hell out of me. No one sees me as clearly as you do and still cares. You’re the only person who makes me want to be better. There’s nothing that makes me happier than taking care of you. It’s always been that way. I’ve just been too selfish to do what was right by you. That’s over. I need to know you’re really mine.”
Goddamn. Joesph thought he might cry. “Okay.” His voice broke.
Shaw slowly lowered his head and swiped his lips across Joesph’s mouth. “I swear. This one time, you won’t regret me. I just need one more chance. I promise I won’t be the monster in your story this time.”
A tear slipped back into Joesph’s hair. His emotions were out of his control. Shaw said everything Joesph had begged the universe to hear, except for the three little words he wouldn’t get. Joesph knew Shaw would never love him. That was okay. This was more than he expected to have. It didn’t take long for Shaw to make him forget his own name, much less their conversation. Fuck. The guy had talent. While Shaw still moved slowly, he hit at the perfect angle. Joesph held his breath. His muscles clenched. Pressure climbed his shaft. A whimper escaped him.
“Give it to me.”
