Oh, shit.
That slow, deep voice curled Finn’s toes, and when he slid his hand into Joker’s, the sparks nearly seared his palm.
“Hi.” His voice cracked a bit. He cleared his throat and tried again. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Joker didn’t release Finn’s hand. Instead, his grip tightened slightly, and he put his free hand on Finn’s wrist, as though he, too, had felt the tingle. “My off-duty name is Drew, by the way. Drew Martin.”
“Do you prefer Drew or Joker?” Finn gazed into Joker’s sky blue eyes, feeling as if he could drown in them, and he didn’t bother trying to tug his hand free. “I’m pretty much always Finn. No one calls me Brian, except my parents.”
“Well, you can call me anything you’d like,” Joker replied. “So long as you call.”
Hunter Callahan snorted and shook his head. “You haven’t changed a bit, Joker. Just be aware that more than a few of the mercs around here are taken, and these guys could kick your ancient ass for poaching.” He dropped an arm around Pita’s shoulders. “Of course, I wouldn’t have to kick your ass. Payne is quite capable of doing it all on his own.”
“And you would know,” Pita said with a wicked grin as he slid his arm around Hunter’s waist.
“He’s got you there,” Herc said. “Okay, boys, let’s leave these two to get acquainted, shall we? Pita, I wanted to talk to you about the martial arts program the Richmond police asked us to consult on. Joker… you’re in good hands.”
With that, Herc led Pita and Hunter back toward his office. Finn watched them go, a little disconcerted about being left on his own so soon, but he was a grown man, and he could handle training the new guy.
The tall, sexy, bearded, exactly-his-type new guy.
“So, uh… did Pita show you everything, or do we need to pick up where he left off?” Finn asked. “Or did you have any questions you didn’t get to ask because he was talking a mile a minute?”
“Oh, I have all kinds of questions,” Joker said. He brushed his thumb along the back of Finn’s hand. “But none of them are about this place. Hunter gave me a pretty thorough briefing on the drive down from Richmond. What do you say we play hooky? We could go get something to eat, maybe get better acquainted? D-Day bragged to me that Raleigh has better barbecue than Texas, and I don’t believe it for a minute.”
The simple caress sent a shiver all the way down to Finn’s toes, and while he knew he ought to remain professional, he also wanted to give in to Joker’s temptation. He knew where this would lead. They’d eat, they’d talk, the flirting would get hotter and heavier, and they’d end the evening in either his bed or Joker’s. For the first time in a week, Finn found the thought appealing.
“Sure,” he said, giving Joker’s fingers a little squeeze. “I know a good place that’s not too far away.”
“Perfect.” Joker’s smile was as slow as warm honey and just as hard to resist. “I’ll follow your lead, Finn. Anywhere you want to go.”
Well.Thatcertainly wasn’t a loaded statement rife with innuendo.
“How hungry are you?”
Oh God, now he was doing it too!
Joker’s eyes grew darker, and he lowered his voice. “Starving. I’ve been in the field for almost two years, and even if L&G wasn’t as strict as the military, my opportunities for a good meal were few and far between.”
“You poor deprived man.” Finn moved into Joker’s personal space until he could feel the heat radiating from his body. “Maybe we should skip dinner and go straight to dessert.”
“Well, my mama always did say to seize the day.” Joker gave a wicked grin. “At the risk of being too forward, can I suggest your place? I haven’t even checked into a hotel yet.”
Under normal circumstances, Finn wouldn’t have taken a hookup back to his apartment, viewing it as a potential security risk to allow a stranger access to his home. Joker wasn’t a security risk unless he’d somehow fooled everyone at Lawson & Greer, Herc, and wherever he’d served before all that.
“Sure, let’s go. Want me to drive, or do you want to take separate vehicles?”
“I came with Hunter and Pita,” Joker replied. “So I’m all yours.”
“Not yet,” Finn said with a playful wink as he headed to the elevator so they could go down to the parking garage. “But you will be.”
Joker chuckled as he followed along in Finn’s wake. When the elevator arrived, he stepped in behind Finn, then, as the door closed, Finn found himself pushed up against the wall, with Joker’s lean, hard body pressing against him. Joker gave a soft groan. “God, you feel so good.”
Finn tipped his head back slightly so he could see Joker’s face, and he slid his arms around Joker’s lean waist. “If it matters, we’ve got eyes on us right now.”
“I don’t care if you don’t,” Joker murmured. He paused for a moment, apparently checking to see if Finn would object, and when nothing was forthcoming, he leaned in and captured Finn’s lips, kissing him firmly but with a hint of a question.
Finn parted his lips and slid his hands down to Joker’s firm ass as he returned the kiss. Exhibitionism wasn’t one of his kinks, but he didn’t particularly care about the security cameras, either. He doubted they were the first two people to make out in the elevator. Hell, if Herc and his husband Jude hadn’t done a lot more than make out all over the building, he’d be shocked.
