She laughs. “It was certainly an experience. Do you work in politics?”
“God, no. I’m still in school. Ashen Grove University.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of that. Very prestigious. What are you studying?”
Across the table, Dredyn makes stilted conversation with someone’s daughter while Jasper stays mostly silent, communicating through nods and the occasional sign that only we can read.
That’s when I notice movement near the service hallway. Kade slips through the door marked “Staff Only,” moving with purpose.
I nudge Dredyn under the table, tilting my head slightly, toward the hallway.
He follows my gaze, frowns, then looks back at the head table. Milo Black has excused himself, standing and moving toward the same service corridor Kade just used.
“Bathroom?” Madison asks politely, noticing my distraction.
“Actually, yes. Excuse me.” I stand, placing my napkin on the table
Dredyn and Jasper both start to rise, but I shake my head. One person leaving is normal. Three would be suspicious.
I make my way across the ballroom, nodding politely at people I don’t know, until I reach the service corridor.
The hallway is quiet, lined with closed doors leading to smaller meeting rooms and private dining areas. At the far end, I hear voices.
I move closer, staying quiet.
A door stands slightly ajar, light spilling into the hallway. Through the gap, I can see them.
Kade has Milo pressed against the wall, one hand braced beside his head, the other gripping his waist. They’re close... too close for friends. Too close for casual conversation.
“You can’t keep doing this,” Milo says, but his voice is breathless, strained. His hands are fisted in Kade’s jacket. “If anyone finds out... If my father finds out?—”
“I don’t care. I’ve been watching you all day, sitting next to him at that table like the perfect son, smiling for those cameras, and all I could think about was getting you alone. Getting my hands on you.”
“Kade—” Milo’s protest dies as Kade’s hand slides from his waist to his hip, fingers digging in possessively.
“Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me you want me to stop and I will. But we both know you won’t.” Kade leans in, mouth hovering just above Milo’s.
The air between them crackles with tension so thick I can feel it from here. Milo’s breathing has gone ragged, his chest rising and falling rapidly, eyes dark with desire and fear in equal measure.
“I can’t—we can’t?—”
Kade’s other hand comes up to cup Milo’s jaw, thumb stroking over his bottom lip. “Yes, we can. We can do whatever the fuck we want. Right here. Right now.”
Milo’s answer is to surge forward and kiss him.
Andholy shit.
It’s not gentle. Kade groans deep in his throat as he angles Milo’s head for better access.
Milo melts into it, hands releasing Kade’s jacket to slide up and thread through his short hair, pulling him closer, deeper. His hips roll forward, seeking friction, and Kade responds by pressing him harder against the wall, one thigh sliding between Milo’s legs.
Kade bites down on Milo’s bottom lip hard enough to make him gasp, then soothes it with his tongue. Milo’s head falls back against the wall, exposing the long line of his throat, and Kade immediately attacks it.
“Kade, please?—”
“Please what?” Kade’s hand slides down from Milo’s jaw to wrap around his throat. “Tell me what you need.”
“You. I need you. I’ve needed you all fucking day.”
