Drew’s voice held long-suffering disapproval, like Cam was a dog who simply refused to heel. Cort’s eyes met Cam’s, and he raised an eyebrow which spoke volumes. It reminded him of the wordless communication his parents had sometimes shared.Who is this guy? Why is he claiming you? What are we going to do about it?But he didn’t pull back from Cam’s space. He looked ready tofight.
Cam very nearly laughed, and shifted himself closer toCort.
“My name is Cam. Or Camden. Now go away, Drew,” he said without turningaround.
Drew sucked in a pissed off breath. “We need totalk.”
“Again? We talked earlier, and I heard enough. If and when I want to talk to you again, I’ll callyou.”
Cort smelleddelicious- like a weird combination of pine and oranges. Trees and citrus had never made Cam hard before, but somehow right now, they were everything. He leaned into Cort and inhaled deeply, and watched in fascination as Cort bit his lip and shifted in hisseat.
Oh, fuck yes. This washappening.
“Cam!” Drew pulled at Cam’s shoulder and tried to spin him around on his stool, but at the same moment, Cort splayed his hand on Cam’s waist beneath his open jacket, keeping him locked in place. Cort’s entire body tensed, and his head went back just slightly so he could meet Cam’s eyes again.Am I beating this asshole up? How do you want me to play this?The questions were as clear as if they’d been spoken outloud.
Though he’d never aspired to be the prize in a tug of war, Cam loved the feeling of Cort’s broad palm against his flank, the heat of him seeping through Cam’s thin shirt. ThoughCamknew Drew was nothing more than an annoyance, he liked that Cort seemed ready to step up if Cam wanted him to. But what he fuckinglovedwas that the guy hadn’t moved his ass from his seat without checking whether Camdidwant him to. Almost like he expected Cam could handle himself. Almost like he trusted Cam’sjudgment.
Imaginethat.
Cam smiled wide, euphoric in a way that had fuck-all to do with hiswhiskey.
Cort looked confused - and no wonder, because Drew’s hand was still on Cam’s shoulder, pulling like a freaking tractor beam - but his lips tipped up too, like he couldn’t helpit.
Cam shook his head and, still smiling, turned to face Drew. “What. Do. You.Want?”
Drew’s nostrils flared and he darted a glance at Cort before looking back at Cam. He looked tired and pissed because Cam wasn’t falling in line with his plans. The fragile peace they’d achieved an hour ago was definitely over. “I want to discuss that stunt you pulled withLydia.”
Cam calmly sipped his Jameson. His eyes were on Drew, but he was one hundred percent aware of the warm body at his back, supporting him. “There is nothing to discuss. You completely overstepped by accepting Lydia’s invitation when you knew I wouldn’t fly to St. Brigitte. I corrected yourerror.”
He tried to turn away, but Drew stopped him and rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry I made plans for us without consulting you, Cammy,” he drawled, making it sound like their argument had been a lover’s spat. “But get over it and talk about it like a grown-up! It’s not about you and me, it’s about what’s best for Seaver Tech, and you’re thepresident.”
Cam jerked his shoulder out of Drew’s grip and glared. “Don’t fucking tell me how to do my job or how to be a Seaver. I’m not a child, and I have a perfectly valid reason for not wanting togo.”
Behind him, Cort tensed, likely bracing himself for a fight, and from the corner of his eye, he saw Cort’s knuckles whiten on hisglass.
Drew frowned, and then as he looked at Cam, the light seemed to dawn. He closed his eyes tightly for half a second in realization. “What,still?”
“Yes,still,” Cam said, hating Drew for always making him feel so fuckingweak.
“But what about, you know, your doctor? Doesn’t she help?” He gave Cort a cautious glance, like he didn’t want to give too muchaway.
Cam snorted. BecausenowDrew cared about embarrassing him? Yeah, right. “You mean mytherapist.And what about her? She says not to allowanyoneto push me past my comfort level, or to take risks unless I can completely trust myself and the people aroundme.”
Drew ground his teeth together then glanced away. His eyes landed on Cort again. “And who are you?” hedemanded.
Cam could still sense Cort’s tension from behind him. Cort’s chest was pressed against his back, and he could feel Cort’s indrawn breath down to histoes.
Cort didn’t say a word, allowing Cam to decide if and how to answer. But Cam had nothing to hide. “This is my friendCort.”
“Cort,” he drawled. “And how do you know Cam,Cort?”
Cam felt Cort shrug, then his hands fitted to the sides of Cam’s torso. “We have lots of interests incommon.”
“Like what?” Drewdemanded.
Like we both like Jameson and we both like to fuck men.It was on the tip of Cam’s tongue, but he refrained from commenting. He deserved amedal.
“Like none of your business, and Cam asked you to please move along,” Cortsaid.
