Navigating an unfamiliar office building also made Kit nervous, but that was a challenge he needed to get past.
He could feel himself sinking into a brand-new trap. Another apathetic patch of quicksand. He could spend all day loungingaround James’s house, or working with Bishop, or visiting Darius. But he sort of liked the strange taste of normalcy he had gotten from this misfit band of murderers.
Holden bringing up Dad made Kit want to retreat.
Retreating was the right move, of course, but just from that conversation. Kit didn’t want to slide back to the way he was before he met James and Bishop. He needed to fill his waking hours with other, better things.
Plus, today was December 7. A month and a couple of days since the Holden incident. Which meant a certain frustrating, self-imposed rule had finally expired.
Kit bid Carla farewell and slipped from the car. He didn’t feel alone as he followed signs to the marble lobby. Cameras glinted everywhere, just like James’s dark, watchful eyes.
Sure enough, a text buzzed through Kit’s phone.
Sexy:Well, this is a pleasant surprise ;) I’m on floor ten, reception will buzz you up.
Sexy:Reception is they/them btw
Surprisingly, Kit wasn’t the only one striding around the spacious lobby in jeans and a t-shirt. Though the other people’s casual affectation didn’t include magenta skinny jeans. Or lime green sneakers. Kit drew a few sidelong glances, but Reagan the receptionist simply smiled.
“Welcome to San Corvo Security,” Reagan said. Their heavy-rimmed glasses gave them an unnervingly watchful look. “The third elevator is unlocked for you.”
“Thanks,” Kit said.
He half-expected some sort of bellhop or butler in the elevator, but the elevator was relatively normal. Mirrored steel,glowy buttons. Kit pressed the button for the tenth floor, then fiddled with his phone.
He’d been toying with a list in his notes app for the past few days. It was a short list so far. He needed to figure out how difficult the first few tasks were before he went crazy.
Normal Things to Do
1. Get my GED
2. Drive better
3. Dress properly???
4. Go on a date
He was starting with the last and easiest option today.
A friendly if harried-looking assistant met Kit on the tenth floor and led him directly to James’s office. They passed conference halls and cubicles and more computers than Kit had ever seen in one place. James’s office was walled in pitch-black glass, and the heavy door slid open at Kit’s touch.
The door barely closed before Kit collided with its cold surface, pinned by the insistent heat of James’s body.
James delved into his mouth in a blazing hot kiss, drawing Kit to his toes. A strong hand supported Kit by the waist, until he could barely breathe. James pressed a shallow kiss to the corner of his lips, then dove back in for more.
“Hate to interrupt you on a workday,” Kit panted between kisses. “You must be so annoyed.”
James grinned, hoisting Kit up by the ass. The door shook. “Incredibly annoyed. You’re being very, very naughty.”
Kit preened with the attention. James’s eyes burned with adoration, directed at him alone. Kit felt like a fire, burning every piece of kindling he could find.
“Are you going to do anything about that?” Kit asked, feeling daring and secure at once.
Before James could answer, another voice sounded from across the room.
“I finished the assignment, Mr. Zhou,” Holden drawled. “Do you have another, or should I just watch you two fuck against the door?”
Kit tried to look past James’s shoulder, but James held him firm beneath the jaw. His hand spanned Kit’s entire throat. A grin curled James’s lips before he took Kit in another leisurely kiss.
