get going,” said Bastian, not sounding convinced. “I was supposed to go back and finish unpacking my office.”
“All work and no play ...”
“Makes Bastian a dull boy. I know.” He sighed, suddenly looking forlorn.
“Have pity on me, at least. I’m about to go out of my mind sitting around here waiting on word about Emma.”
The other man hesitated. “Oh, why the hell not? It’s not as if anyone from the office gives a damn where I went.”
“I smell a story there. Tell it to me over the beer?” Blaze rose and started for the kitchen, the other man right behind him.
“Not much to tell. Well, there sort of is, but it can be condensed into a few pathetic words—the man I love doesn’t know I’m alive in the romantic sense.”
“We’ve all been there, friend,” he said in sympathy, pulling two bottles from the fridge. “Can I ask who you’re talking about?”
“I’d rather not say.” The other man took his beer and twisted off the top. “Here’s to unrequited love.”
“And crotch rot visited upon those who don’t appreciate us.”
Bastian laughed and they clinked bottles. Blaze studied the man, and his interest grew by the second. There was a certain vulnerability in his new friend’s eyes, a weariness that called to him and had him wanting to make things better. Curiosity got the better of him.
“You’re gay, then? I never would’ve guessed.”
“Bi. Does that bother you?” Bastian asked, tensing a little.
“Not at all. I prefer women, but I’ve topped a few guys, and the sex can be just as satisfying. Sometimes a man will come to me who’s heard of my rep as a good Dom and just needs a cathartic S&M session, no sex. It’s good stress relief for a sub, and there are even studies that show it.”
Bastian laughed, shaking his head. “You’re a constant surprise, Kelly.”
He wanted to ask in what way, and address the spark of interest that flared in the man’s eyes. Instead, he asked the question that had been on his mind since he’d stopped by Bastian’s new office. “I’d like to ask you something else, but if it’s too personal, just tell me.”
“Shoot.”
“Why did Dietz get the CEO’s job over you? From what I’ve seen, he’s got the suave lines of bull down in spades, but you have the genuine caring for your fellow agents that he’s never had.”
Bastian looked away, seemed to curl in on himself. “You make plans, but life has different ones. That’s how it goes.”
“Does this have anything to do with the man who doesn’t know you’re alive?”
“Could be. Doesn’t matter.”
Blaze wasn’t stupid. The pieces were beginning to fall into place, and he had a feeling he knew who’d hurt the other man so badly. And he thought it did matter a helluva lot, but it wasn’t his place to push. “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I think this guy is an idiot of biblical proportions.”
“Thanks, that helps.” A smile lit those amazing jade green eyes, which slowly swept his body from head to toe and back again. Polishing off half his beer, Bastian set it on the counter and continued his silent appraisal, making his desire perfectly clear.
As if the bulge between his thighs didn’t send the message. Blaze admired how the man’s expensive suit outlined his athletic frame from his strong shoulders to his narrow waist and flat belly. He’d bet the body underneath the conservative clothing was a treat, and his cock stirred to life, begging to find out.
“Bastian, I can name a whole slew of reasons why we shouldn’t.” His attempt to be reasonable didn’t sound very convincing.
“So can I. But right now, what I need is to feel wanted. It’s not something I’ve felt in far too long.”
His vulnerability tugged at Blaze’s heart. Putting aside his own beer, he stepped close to Bastian, pleased when he didn’t move away. “We’ve all been there. Maybe we both need to forget everything, just for a while?”
“Maybe we do.”
He
“All work and no play ...”
“Makes Bastian a dull boy. I know.” He sighed, suddenly looking forlorn.
“Have pity on me, at least. I’m about to go out of my mind sitting around here waiting on word about Emma.”
The other man hesitated. “Oh, why the hell not? It’s not as if anyone from the office gives a damn where I went.”
“I smell a story there. Tell it to me over the beer?” Blaze rose and started for the kitchen, the other man right behind him.
“Not much to tell. Well, there sort of is, but it can be condensed into a few pathetic words—the man I love doesn’t know I’m alive in the romantic sense.”
“We’ve all been there, friend,” he said in sympathy, pulling two bottles from the fridge. “Can I ask who you’re talking about?”
“I’d rather not say.” The other man took his beer and twisted off the top. “Here’s to unrequited love.”
“And crotch rot visited upon those who don’t appreciate us.”
Bastian laughed and they clinked bottles. Blaze studied the man, and his interest grew by the second. There was a certain vulnerability in his new friend’s eyes, a weariness that called to him and had him wanting to make things better. Curiosity got the better of him.
“You’re gay, then? I never would’ve guessed.”
“Bi. Does that bother you?” Bastian asked, tensing a little.
“Not at all. I prefer women, but I’ve topped a few guys, and the sex can be just as satisfying. Sometimes a man will come to me who’s heard of my rep as a good Dom and just needs a cathartic S&M session, no sex. It’s good stress relief for a sub, and there are even studies that show it.”
Bastian laughed, shaking his head. “You’re a constant surprise, Kelly.”
He wanted to ask in what way, and address the spark of interest that flared in the man’s eyes. Instead, he asked the question that had been on his mind since he’d stopped by Bastian’s new office. “I’d like to ask you something else, but if it’s too personal, just tell me.”
“Shoot.”
“Why did Dietz get the CEO’s job over you? From what I’ve seen, he’s got the suave lines of bull down in spades, but you have the genuine caring for your fellow agents that he’s never had.”
Bastian looked away, seemed to curl in on himself. “You make plans, but life has different ones. That’s how it goes.”
“Does this have anything to do with the man who doesn’t know you’re alive?”
“Could be. Doesn’t matter.”
Blaze wasn’t stupid. The pieces were beginning to fall into place, and he had a feeling he knew who’d hurt the other man so badly. And he thought it did matter a helluva lot, but it wasn’t his place to push. “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I think this guy is an idiot of biblical proportions.”
“Thanks, that helps.” A smile lit those amazing jade green eyes, which slowly swept his body from head to toe and back again. Polishing off half his beer, Bastian set it on the counter and continued his silent appraisal, making his desire perfectly clear.
As if the bulge between his thighs didn’t send the message. Blaze admired how the man’s expensive suit outlined his athletic frame from his strong shoulders to his narrow waist and flat belly. He’d bet the body underneath the conservative clothing was a treat, and his cock stirred to life, begging to find out.
“Bastian, I can name a whole slew of reasons why we shouldn’t.” His attempt to be reasonable didn’t sound very convincing.
“So can I. But right now, what I need is to feel wanted. It’s not something I’ve felt in far too long.”
His vulnerability tugged at Blaze’s heart. Putting aside his own beer, he stepped close to Bastian, pleased when he didn’t move away. “We’ve all been there. Maybe we both need to forget everything, just for a while?”
“Maybe we do.”
He
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