“I don’t know what you think this is, but it isn’t. We’re both alphas… and alphas don’t do this. It’s… illegal.” Dash let out a slow breath. “And immoral.”
Emerson watched him, silent a few heartbeats. He didn’t move away. He was too close for comfort… and entirely too far away.
“You’re not welcome here,” Dash said through a clenched jaw.“Get the fuck out!”
“Your wish is my command.”
The second Emerson walked away from him, tears burned the backs of his eyes. So close… he’d been so close to learning what it felt like to be kissed by a man he felt desire for. He closed his eyes, unable to watch him leave. When silence filled his office, he opened his eyes, pain weighing on his chest, making it impossible to breathe.
Emerson still stood at the edge of the shadows, watching him closely—as if hoping Dash would change his mind.
Pain glittered in his eyes, and seeing that nearly broke Dash.
“Go,”Dash whispered even though every molecule in his body screamed for Emerson to stay.
“I see you,” Emerson whispered back.
The air was forced from Dash’s lungs. They burned from the lack of oxygen. He dragged in Emerson-scented air. “Go…please.”
Silently, Emerson spun and walked to the outer doors, slowly as if he demanded Dash to have the courage to bear witness to what he’d denied them both. The second Emerson exited the glass door, Dash stumbled to the closest chair and dropped into it, his body weakened from the interaction. Panting, he closed his eyes one more time, involuntarily replaying those last few seconds and the pain of letting the man go.
Thankfully, he’d already sensed Emerson was going to be a problem and asked Davis to take the lead on Harrison’s security detail.
There was no way he’d survive that man.
Emerson ambledout of the building, ears ringing. The sound of his blood rushing and the thundering in his chest was too loud in his ears. Weak-kneed, he struggled with every step forward. How he made it onto another passing trolley, he wasn’t sure. He collapsed on the seat, barely seeing where he was.
He replayed the interaction with Dash, trying to figure out why he was so drawn. What was it about that scent that left him weak? He’d spent years fucking around with alphas on the DL and none of them had caused anywhere close to that kind of a reaction in him.
Why Dash?
When he finally came to, scenting salt water, he realized they’d passed his stop already. He leapt off and made his way back to the docks. He’d never been so happy to see home. The boat had never quite felt like home, but in that moment, it was the only safe place he had to go in his current state. Two cold showers later, he forced some leftover pizza past his lips and stumbled back to his cabin.
Sleep wouldn’t come for him. Tossing and turning was the best he got—in between erotic dreams of Dashiell Keller writhing under him.
Where he belonged.
Maybe Dash had it right, though. Maybe it was too dangerous for him to figure out what simmered between them. It wasn’t as if they could be together. It was illegal.
Immoral.
Sinful.
And a multitude of other synonyms people used in hushed voices when they spoke about alpha-attracted alphas with their faces scrunched in disgust.
Words wouldn’t stop desire, though, no matter how hard they were flung his way.
He wanted who he wanted.
If Dash refused to accept the potent desire that had nearly burnt the world down around them, he’d just move on to another. Fuck enough of them and maybe one day he’d forget about the alpha with the cold, gray eyes.
Never gonna happen.
3
Several months later…
Sunshine warmed Dash as he pressed his lips to Emerson’s, sidling closer to that amazing, muscular body. He grinned before Emerson leaned closer to capture his mouth. Emerson’s tongue swept inside his mouth, tasting him. In a flash, Emerson flipped him onto his back and spread his thighs apart. Dash moaned, loving how strong his alpha was. His moans grew when Emerson reached down to caress his hard shaft with one meaty fist.
