Once they were in the condo, Jamie headed for his office, the only room that was strictly his. Kyle had no use for one. In the event he needed to do paperwork, he did it on the couch out front with the television on. Jamie had to manage more than just the team, and he focused better at a desk when doing administrative work.
An antique wooden desk drew the eye once in the office. It was matched in color by the wooden paneling and built-in shelves that lined the walls on either side, filled with holopics, decorative sculptures, and some of the military achievements Jamie had accrued over his years of service. Directly behind the comfortable, made-to-measure leather chair was a recessed wall where an expensive, original, painted artwork of a ship at sea in rough waters hung.
The office was one of the condo’s interior rooms, located in the center of the home rather than on the perimeter with windows. The lights in the room mimicked natural daylight well enough, and they brightened considerably by the attending computer when Jamie walked inside.
Kyle followed after him, not bothered at all by the faintly irritated look Jamie threw him. Kyle just calmly stripped out of his T-shirt, tossing it onto one of the nearby chairs set up in the corner around a small round table.
“I need to work,” Jamie said flatly.
“I know.” Kyle stepped closer and reached for Jamie’s tie, loosening the knot, but not undoing it. Kyle slipped the loop over Jamie’s head and pressed the dark blue silk into his hand. “But you’re in a shitty mood, and that’s not going to help you concentrate.”
“And you think you can help?”
Kyle let Jamie’s annoyance slide off of him like water, calmly meeting Jamie’s gaze. “I know I can, sir.”
Jamie’s fingers clenched around the tie, ruining the crisp line of it. “Go get your ring.”
Kyle tipped his head in silent acknowledgment of the order and left the office for the bedroom. His engagement ring was kept in a nondescript, biolocked jewelry box on top of their dresser. Kyle took off his shoes and socks, then his jeans and underwear, before grabbing the ring box off the dresser and carrying it with him back to the office.
Jamie had taken off his suit jacket and hung it over the chair in the corner. He stood in the middle of the office, hands on his hips and tie dangling from his fingers as he scowled at the floor, not enjoying the conversation he was in the middle of. Kyle didn’t see an uplink, so he figured it was over Jamie’s personal comms on a private line.
“I’ll handle it, Father. This isn’t something you have clearance for,” Jamie said.
Kyle stepped in front of him, forcing Jamie’s attention back on him. Those blue eyes blinked at him, the annoyance there bleeding out as Jamie slowly let his gaze drift down Kyle’s naked body. The air in the condo was on the cooler side to compensate for the muggy spring heat, and it left Kyle’s skin a little chilled. The desire rapidly filling Jamie’s blue eyes went a long way toward warming him.
“I’m not going to argue with you, Father. You’ll be updated when the director deems it necessary. Goodbye.”
Kyle assumed that conversation was over, and he lifted the ring box so Jamie could see it. “I’m feeling a little naked. You should fix that.”
“I don’t think I told you to take off your clothes,” Jamie said as he took the ring box from him.
“Just anticipating your orders, like any good NCO would.”
“So helpful.”
Kyle watched as Jamie pressed his thumb to the biolock sensor and unlocked the ring box. The lid flipped open, revealing the platinum band with its emerald-cut diamond in an east-west tension setting. The brilliance of the diamond always drew Kyle’s eye, the sleek design simple and perfect, a physical representation of Jamie’s love and want and ownership of Kyle’s heart.
Jamie’s fingers were warm when he took Kyle’s left hand in his and slid the ring onto his finger. The moment the cool metal settled into place, Kyle’s entire body relaxed. The engagement ring’s weight was negligible, but it felt like an anchor keeping him safe in the storm.
Jamie looped his tie over Kyle’s neck, slowly sliding the knot into place until it was snug against his throat. Jamie never let go of the tie, tugging on it lightly as he led Kyle around his desk.
“I have some reports to read and I’m expecting an important call within the next hour or so,” Jamie said.
He sat down in his desk chair and pushed it backward a little, making room. Kyle watched as he spread his legs wide, gesturing pointedly at the space between them and the desk.
“Kneel.”
Kyle did as ordered, the tie a leash Jamie never let go of. He stepped between Jamie and the desk and sank to his knees on the hardwood floor. Kyle licked his lips in anticipation, not bothering to hide the shiver that ran through his body. Caged in by the desk behind him and Jamie’s powerful body, held in place by words and silk, Kyle wanted to be nowhere else.
He looked up the length of Jamie’s body to meet that piercing, blue-eyed gaze, noticing how relaxed Jamie looked now compared to even a minute ago.Thiswas what Kyle lived for: giving himself over to Jamie so his lover could find his balance again in the utter control he wielded over Kyle at moments like this.
Jamie’s fingers were warm when they stroked Kyle’s cheek before curling over his chin, holding him still and helping him focus. “Undo my pants.”
Kyle reached for Jamie’s belt, taking his time by sliding his hands up those strong thighs. He unbuckled Jamie’s belt and pulled it free of the loops. Jamie took it from him and dropped it off to the side on the floor. Kyle tugged the shirttails free and undid a couple of bottom buttons to open the shirt more and get it out of the way. He undid the button on Jamie’s pants and pulled down the zipper, nimble fingers working Jamie’s cock free from his underwear.
The elastic waistband slipped behind Jamie’s balls, putting his long, thick cock on display. Jamie wasn’t hard yet, and Kyle was all for getting him there, but when he leaned forward, Jamie pulled on the tie, holding him back.
Kyle swallowed against the pressure around his throat, eyes flickering up to Jamie’s face. “Don’t you want my mouth?”
