STORY EXCERPT

Troy accepted his lot in life, but he wanted love. He did want to settle down and find the right man to spend the rest of his life with. So, trawling the streets late at night, he’d gone into a secluded gay bar and bumped right into Josh Hudson. The rest of the night turned into a blur. He didn’t go home with his boss. What he did was spend the rest of the night into the early hours of Saturday morning talking to the guy. Josh ceased being his boss and became an everyday guy over the hours they talked. He learned so much about him.

The one thing he didn’t learn was why Josh had been in the bar. He hadn’t thought to ask at the time. Talking with each other without the constraints of work had been a pleasure Troy couldn’t deny himself.

Josh had walked him home during the sunrise. Neither touched nor spoke during the short, brisk walk. Talking had not been necessary. The closeness had been perfect. When they’d gotten to his place, Troy had taken out of his keys then, without thinking, kissed Josh on the lips. The touch had been small. Nothing big. Two lips against each other. One set of lips inviting the other for so much more. Troy hadn’t lingered over the kiss even though he wanted to. Josh’s lips felt perfect for the split second they were together. The electricity that had sparked between them left Troy wanting more. So much more. Out of all the men he’d dated, none of them ever left him wanting more. The other boyfriends or one-night stands had merely left him satisfied while the smallest kiss with Josh left him yearning for more.

All he could think about was meeting Josh again. Then, after a long, dreamless sleep, Troy had woken up and realised his mistake. He’d kissed his boss. Once the realisation set in, so, too, did the panic. He loved his job. The research, the clients, and answering the phone. He loved it and was damn good at what he did.

The elevator pinged, followed by the doors opening. Josh stood inside. He was on the phone, moving swiftly toward him. There was no change on his face even as Josh saw him. His boss stood right in front of him, said good-bye to whoever was on the phone, then looked at him.

“Bring my coffee and the morning mail into my office,” Josh said then walked around him.

Troy had expected words like “you’re fired” or “what the fuck were you doing?” All types of scenarios ran rampant in his mind.

Instead, he got an order for coffee and mail. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he rushed to the lounge, grabbed a coffee then the mail.

He was about to walk into the office when he saw his hands were shaking. The coffee he’d made was spilling onto the floor.

“Shit,” he said. Putting the cup down on the desk, he grabbed some paper towels to start wiping up the mess he’d created.

Where was his usual efficiency? It was his boss, not a potential date or dinner with a client.

“Get yourself together, Troy, before you give him a great excuse to fire you.” The pep talk did little for his confidence. He cleaned the mess then went for another cup of coffee. Other people were milling around the office floor, waiting for the morning to pass. The law office could get busy, and there was always room for more researchers or staff. He shook his hands out to try to gain his composure.

“Are you all right, Troy?” Mandy asked. She was another personal assistant like him to another guy across the hall.

“Yeah, rough weekend.”

She came and put her hand on his shoulder. “Let me know if you need to talk. Stress is not good for the mind or the body.”

He liked her. She was a sweet little thing. “Will do.”

Mandy smiled at him, took a coffee for her own boss, then left the room.

“Get it together.”

His hands stopped shaking within moments. He took the cup, grabbed the mail from his desk, and entered the office where Josh was currently signing a piece of paper.

Troy put the coffee down then waited for Josh to put his hand out to take the mail. Nothing happened. He stared out of the office window overlooking the city.

When would the torture be over?

ADULT EXCERPT

Josh leaned down and brushed his lips against Troy’s. There was no response from him. “Either tell me to go or touch me, Troy.”

A split second passed, and Josh knew Troy was going to ask him to leave. His heart felt heavy. The pain smacked into his gut, holding him down like a lead weight.

“I don’t want you to go,” Troy said.

Josh didn’t give him time to change his mind. His lips were on Troy’s in a heartbeat. He pressed him against the wall, holding him steady as he plunged his tongue into his mouth. Their moans echoed around the room. Troy finally put his hands on him. His touch went down Josh’s back, around his waist, and up to circle his neck. Josh caught the hairs at the back of Troy’s head and pulled his head back. There was a gasp, followed by the sweetest sigh Josh had ever heard.

The need to fight his own feelings was strong, and he pushed all negative thoughts to the back of his mind. He didn’t need the added pressure of feeling he was doing something wrong. How could something that felt so right be so wrong? It was perfect.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” Josh said, brushing his lips down to his neck. He inhaled the sweet fragrance of Troy’s cologne along with his own unique body scent.

He gave Troy enough time to unbutton his shirt then peeled the fabric from his shoulders. Troy had thick shoulders that had more to do with size than muscle. Josh got his own physique from the amount of exercise he did. “You feel so good,” he said.

Josh touched the younger man’s body, wanting more but not knowing how to ask for more.

“Let’s go someplace more comfortable.” Troy took his hand, leading him through to the sitting room. The couch was only a two-seater, and he understood why from the size of the apartment. It almost made him ashamed at the size of his own three-story home. He sat down on the couch beside Troy. There was no sound to be heard. They were both naked from the waist up. Josh saw Troy had no tattoos at all, unlike he did. He loved getting a tattoo. The only problem was the eagle on his back. He’d requested Natalie’s name under the tattoo only to have it removed and coloured in several months ago.

“Why do you have a tattoo on your back?” Troy asked, almost as if he was reading his mind.

“I love getting ink. The only problem with my profession is the fact clients don’t like seeing ink on their lawyers. I have to refrain from it being seen.” He turned his hand over, showing the intricate design of a dagger plunging through a heart on the inside of his arm.

“Is that why you wear long shirts?”

“Yes. I don’t want to talk about my ink, Troy. Come here.” He crooked his finger, telling Troy to come closer. There was a smile decorating his lips. Josh moaned as the other man got closer. The feel of him pressed against his body was heady.

Their lips touched, and little fireworks went off inside Josh’s body. He’d never felt such a primal connection as he did with Troy. When they were together, the world faded. Even when they were working, Josh always felt like they were the only two people in the world. Was this destined to happen between them?

Josh did not believe in fate or destiny. He believed in emotions and action. What was happening between them couldn’t be explained. All he had to do was allow his heart to lead for a change.

For the first time in his life, Josh felt deliriously happy. He’d never felt like this with Natalie. Josh ran his fingers up and down Troy’s back. Goose bumps erupted on his own flesh. Troy put a hand on his chest and ran his fingers past his nipples and down to the flat panes of his stomach.

He moaned, kissing Troy, then paused as the other man’s hand touched his cock. The excitement made him release pre-cum into his pants.

“I’m sorry,” Troy said.

“No, it’s all right, go ahead.”

He watched as Troy unbuttoned his pants. The zipper was lowered. Josh wore a pair of black boxer briefs. He lifted up for his pants to be pulled down. Troy went to the floor before him. Josh saw his cock was thick and outlined by the boxer briefs he wore. “We can stop if you’re not ready for more.”

Josh shook his head. He was more than ready. Everything that had ever happened in life he’d dealt with. He wasn’t lying when he said he’d regret walking away from Troy.

“I’m ready.” He pushed his boxers down his legs, watching as his shaft sprang straight up for attention.

This was it. Once they crossed this next line, there was no turning back. Usually, he’d feel a slight twinge of fear at being plunged into the unknown. Most of the other times in his life he was alone when dealing with the unknown. This time, he wasn’t alone. He had Troy. His very loyal personal assistant.

“I want you, Troy.”