Hyperaware of the electricity sizzling between them, Adam had been about to suggest a repeat performance of the night before when the door to the office banged open.
“Hey, why’s the door shut—”
Gideon Marks, Rico’s partner and best friend, burst into the office, and Rico’s face, only a second before alive with desire, shut down. Hard.
“You don’t believe in knocking, man?” The force of Rico’s black scowl did nothing to dim Gideon’s smile when he caught sight of Adam. In fact, it only increased its brightness.
“Adam? How the hell are you?”
Adam stood, and they shook hands while Rico, glowering, remained seated and silent.
“Good. It’s my day off and—”
“And you came to spend it with Rico. That’s cool. I didn’t know you guys were seeing each other.”
Before Adam could speak, Rico sprang up from his chair. “We’re not. Adam stopped by to say hello. And now he’s leaving.” With his arms folded and gaze trained on the open door, Rico refused to meet his eyes. And Adam, who knew the signs, struggled not to let hurt show on his face and turned his back on Rico. A coldness swept through him, dousing the fire warming him only moments before.
“I better go pick out my dinner. I’ll see you, guys. Bye.”
Without a backward look, he left before his pride got to him and he lashed out at Rico. He didn’t know why the man was so secretive. Adam didn’t care to broadcast his sex life either. But the icy dismissal and refusal to even look him in the face were enough for Adam. He didn’t need this shit.
Chapter Three
Quivering with ananger mostly directed at Gideon for bursting into his office, but also at himself, Rico took several deep breaths before speaking.
“What was so important that it couldn’t wait? Don’t you have any respect for my privacy?” His head pounded, and Rico kneaded the nape of his neck with his fingers.
“Damn. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I saw the door closed, and it was so unusual, I—”
“Barged right in. Yeah. That’s not cool. I wouldn’t do that to you if I saw your door shut. I’d respect it and wait. All I’m asking for is the same.”
The two of them so rarely argued; shame coursed through Rico at the confusion and pain in Gideon’s face. Yeah, he was overreacting, and he knew why. Adam Barton. The redheaded man got to him like no one ever had before. And it scared him because he knew he’d been seconds away from kissing the man in his office or doing something highly inappropriate.
“Hey.”
It took a second before he trusted himself to look at Gideon. And when he did, Rico saw only concern and a touch of something else he couldn’t name.
“Yeah?” They’d been friends long enough to keep it real with each other. He’d never had a brother, but Rico couldn’t imagine being closer to anyone than he was to Gideon.
“It’s okay, you know. You’re allowed to have a life.”
“I do.”
“The hell you do.” The disbelief in Gideon’s voice rang out in the small office, and Rico winced. “I’m your best friend, and even I have no idea what you do every weekend when you’re not here. No matter how many times Jonah and I invite you over, you never come.”
“You don’t need a third wheel hanging around.”
A crooked smile appeared on Gideon’s face. “Then make it a full set. Ask him out. He likes you.”
“Who, Adam?”
“No, you asshole, Chris Hemsworth. Of course Adam. The guy’s crazy about you. Has been from the moment he saw you. I know he’d say yes.”
Oh yeah.Rico knew he would too. The sound of Adam begging to get fucked harder wasn’t something Rico could forget.
“It’s not like that. He’s a nice guy; like a house, dog, and kids kind of guy.”
“So what’s wrong with that? You deserve it; everyone does. And now you can finally have it too.”
