Page 15 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
“Don’t want to be seen with me?” And there was the other pout, the one that spoke of insecurities and worry and never quite being good enough. He’d never understood it back then.
But now? Todd chuckled. “I don’t mind being seen with you. But I didn’t know how lunch would go.”
“How do you think lunch went?” Fazil lifted his chin.
“I don’t know.” Todd stepped too close. Fazil inhaled sharply, but didn’t step back. “How’d lunch go, Z?”
Standing like this, inches apart, Fazil had to look up. Not much, but enough to lengthen that beautiful neck of his. “It brought back a lot of memories.” His voice was soft but full of depth.
“Yeah.” It had. So many. Like those soft lips against his. Breathless whispers in the middle of the night. “I really want to kiss you, Fazil.”
He swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbled. His brown eyes couldn’t get much wider. “I... won’t say no.”
“But will you say yes?” A long moment passed, and a pit of disappointment opened in Todd. He stepped back. “If it’s not a yes, then it’s a no. I don’t play games, and I don’t read minds.”
Fazil stiffened, his jaw setting. “This whole thing has been a game! A Turkish place. A sexy gay waiter.” He waved at the strip mall, the wind catching the curls in his hair. “And yes. Yes, okay? I want you to kiss me.”
Well, someone got angry when pressed. Todd stepped in, cupped a hand behind Fazil’s neck, and kissed him hard. He opened to Todd’s tongue, tentatively at first, then groaned and relaxed his whole body into Todd’s.
Todd tangled one hand into Fazil’s curls and cupped his ass with the other and pulled him even closer, rocking into him, letting him know exactly what he wanted and how badly he wanted it. They were both hard, grinding against each other.
Fazil tasted of pecans and honey and all the wasted years between them and kissed back, exploring and sparring with a ferocity he’d never managed in high school. He fisted the fabric of Todd’s shirt in his hands.
A half day’s worth of scruff covered Fazil’s jaw and chin, and Todd indulged in the taste of that skin and the rough scrape against his lips before he pulled back. Not far, but enough to look Fazil in the face.
His breathing was shallow and his eyes bright and dancing with something that might have been hope, but could’ve been fear. “Good idea to park in back.”
Todd stole another kiss, this one slower and sweeter. He let his hands drift down Fazil’s back, even as Fazil found Todd’s ass and pulled him closer.
As if they could manage that without removing clothing.
Fazil had been Todd’s first kiss. He’d kissed a lot of guys since then—too many to even count and quite a few to chase away the memory of Fazil. None ever had the sweet mix of compliance and desire that Fazil seemed to put in every move of his lips.Yes, I want more. Yes, I’m yours.
Todd broke the kiss. “We should go back to work.”
“Killjoy,” Fazil whispered. “But you’re right.”
They untangled from each other, both still hard, and in the awkward moment that followed, they climbed into their respective sides of the car.
Todd tried not to cringe, tried not to have his heart drop when Fazil stared out the passenger-side window and worked his jaw while Todd drove them back to Singularity. But then Fazil settled into his seat and laid his hand on Todd’s thigh. “Thank you. For lunch. For—”
Todd entwined his fingers into Fazil’s. “That’s what friends are for. And you’re welcome.”
Fazil stroked his thumb along Todd’s fingers. “I thought you might hate me.”
Todd shook his head. “I’ve never hated you. I hated what you did.”
Fazil flinched but didn’t pull his hand away. “I hated what you did, too.”
“What is it that you think I did?” He could only snatch a quick glance, given the busy road.
Confusion and sadness marred Fazil’s face. “This isn’t the place to talk. But we really should.” He squeezed Todd’s hand.
More than talk. Much more.“Let me show you around this weekend. We can catch up then.”
Silence. Fazil rubbed his thumb over Todd’s knuckles again. “Yeah, okay. Though...” He turned his head and Todd looked over to meet those stunning dark eyes. “This probably isn’t the best idea.” He lifted their hands.
Todd swallowed a laugh. Best idea he’d had in years. Fazil in his arms. Maybe in his bed. “You going to get in trouble with your boss?”
