A sensual smile appeared on Scout’s face. “If I said I wanted to kiss you, would you let me?”
Oh.
My.
God.
Okay, this was not happening. He was drunk and had passed out somewhere and was dreaming. That had to be it. So, if it was a dream, he may as well play out the fantasy, right? Or was he imagining it was a dream? Did that even make sense?
Pain shot through his abdomen, and he looked down to see Scout had pinched him. Not hard enough to bruise, but it’d definitely gotten his attention. “Eyes up, Alex. You’re not dreaming or imagining things. I asked you a question and expect an answer.”
Scout knew he’d stepped over the line, and he could never undo his actions, but between his intense desire for this man and Rico’s pep talk, he’d been helpless to stop himself. He knew Alex wasn’t feeling much pain at the moment, but he wasn’t too drunk. As for Scout, he was pretty damn sober. Rico, Gino, Austin, and the other bartenders at the Cock & Bull and the Paradox knew to put less and less vodka in his drinks as the night wore on. By the fourth round, he’d been drinking nothing but club soda with a lime twist. It was how he still appeared to be drinking, socially, while staying in an alert frame of mind, which had become handy during many of his after-hours business meetings over the years.
While he could’ve waited until they were both sober, he’d wanted to take advantage of Alex’s defenses being down. He wouldn’t be having sex with the man tonight—as much as his cock wanted to—but wanted to see if they could start taking a few steps in that direction. It wasn’t a fling he was looking for—not with Alex. For the first time in . . . well, for the first time ever, he saw himself in a long-term relationship with one man. Rico had been right—if Scout didn’t take a chance, he’d never know. Something wonderful might come out of this—he just had to take things slowly. The last thing he wanted Alex to think was that he did this often because he didn’t. Scout had never dated an employee or business relation. But seeing Alex every day and not being able to touch and kiss him was torturous to say the least.
The heat from Alex’s body penetrated two layers of clothing and radiated across Scout’s skin. The man’s mouth looked delectable, as it always did, and the only thing preventing him from kissing it was Alex still hadn’t given him an answer.
Desire filled Alex’s eyes, but there was also a bit of wariness.
Scout reached up and stroked the other man’s stubbled cheek. Whatever aftershave Alex had put on that morning still lingered, just enough to tantalize Scout’s sense of smell. “It’s okay. If you say no, we’ll forget I ever asked.” As if he could. “If you say yes, it’ll be just a kiss—nothing more. I’ve never done this before, Alex—not with someone who worked for me. But there’s something about you . . . I just can’t . . . I can’t resist. I want you, and for more than just one night. And that kind of scares me a little.” More like a lot. “But don’t worry, your job is safe, either way. The decision is all yours.”
Alex licked his lips, and the action drew a groan from Scout’s throat. His cock grew harder, and he knew it would take all his strength to not go any further than just a kiss—if Alex said yes.
“You have three seconds to answer me. If you don’t, I’ll let you go sleep in one of the spare bedrooms, and we’ll go back to being employer and employee. Three seconds. One . . . two . . .”
“Yes.”
The one word had been spoken so softly, Scout almost didn’t hear it. To be certain, he slid his hand to Alex’s nape and squeezed gently. “Say it again. I want no misunderstandings between us.”
Alex cleared his throat. “I-I . . . um . . . I said yes.”
Scout searched the man’s eyes and face, making sure there was no regret or fear. When he was certain they were both on the same page, he tugged on Alex’s neck until there was only an inch separating their mouths. He didn’t want to rush it. There was something amazing about sharing a first kiss. Call him old-fashioned, but he thought it was the sexiest thing in the world—a once in a lifetime experience between two people that could never be duplicated.
His lips brushed against Alex’s. Once. Twice. The third time, he didn’t break contact. Slowly, he learned the texture and taste of Alex’s lips. They were pillowy soft with a firmness underneath, a strength that he was holding back. Scout wanted desperately to unleash the beast within himself, the one that was dying to strip Alex naked and fuck him until neither of them could walk. But that wasn’t happening tonight. Baby steps. He had to take baby steps because the pending romantic relationship with Alex was too special to screw up before they ever got it started.
Scout moved forward, closing the last of the distance between their bodies and pinned Alex against the wall, pressing their torsos and pelvises together. Alex was as hard as he was, and that knowledge had him wanting to drop to his knees and find out exactly how big and long the man’s cock was.
Their hands were on each other’s shoulders, stroking and squeezing. Scout didn’t know about Alex, but he was forcing himself to keep his hands where they were, knowing he’d start stripping the other man if he let them roam.
He ran his tongue along Alex’s lips, silently asking for entry. When access was granted, he surged inside, licking and savoring. He could taste the Guinness the man had enjoyed earlier.
A moan escaped Alex, evoking one from Scout. The room was getting hotter, or at least it felt that way. Scout needed to stop but kept telling himself just a few more seconds.
A slamming of a door had the men jumping apart, breathing heavily. Alex’s eyes were wide as they darted around, searching for the source of the noise, but Scout just chuckled. “Sorry about that. Sounds like Magnus just got home. If we were further into the apartment, we probably wouldn’t have heard it, but since we’re against the front door . . .” He shrugged then cupped Alex’s jaw. “Sleep in my bed tonight. No sex. I just want you next to me all night. Please?”
His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for an answer. When a smile spread across Alex’s face, Scout knew he had it.
As he stirred, Alex wondered why it was so damn hot in his bedroom. The air conditioning was always set for seventy degrees in his apartment, so he shouldn’t be sweating like he was now. Maybe the power had gone out during the night.
He tried to kick off the covers, but his heel hit something hard. Before he could figure out what it was, an arm came around his torso, and a soft voice murmured, “Stop kicking me and go back to sleep.”
Huh? What the . . .?
Keeping his body stiff, he slowly opened his eyes and let them adjust to the faint morning light filtering in from behind the blinds covering a row of windows. He recognized the room instantly, having been in Scout’s bedroom several times before to retrieve things for him.
Oh, shit. What have I done?
His mind scrambled to piece together how he’d ended up in his boss’s bed . . . with his boss spooning him! A rush of memories of the night before swirled in his mind like a mini tornado. Cock & Bull. Drinks. Fun. Not allowed to drive home. You can crash at my place. No worries. Walking back to the Paradox with Scout. Taking the elevator to the penthouse. A question. Scout had asked him a question.