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Noah frantically reached down, rubbing his fingers over Rowe’s, seeming to relish the slippery slide of Rowe’s spend. He clasped their hands together, let out a groan that sounded like it started deep in his gut, his hips stuttering, losing rhythm as he clutched Rowe’s body tight to him. He suddenly went still and quiet before he released a noise that made Rowe feel like he might come again.
There was nothing like feeling this man losing it all over him. Nothing.
Noah didn’t let go, not even when he went soft. He didn’t tie off the condom and Rowe knew he needed to. But he only held Rowe close, not speaking even as their breaths slowed to normal and the sweat dried on their bodies. When Rowe shifted into a more comfortable position against Noah, his friend went completely still and Rowe thought his heart might shatter.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered.Chapter 22By the next afternoon, the peace he’d finally felt in his bed had been blown to hell.
Glass shattered, the sound disrupting the otherwise quiet office late on a Sunday. Heavy metal and plastic crashed to the floor while the scent of burnt ozone filled the air. Still, Rowe searched his desk for something heavy to throw next. Blood pounded in his ears fueled by rage and frustration. Everything he’d built over the past several years was pulling apart at the seams. He wanted to break things. Smash glass and put enormous gaping holes in walls. He wanted a fight. Something fast and bloody. Anything to ease the building rage.
“Bad meeting?”
Rowe’s head snapped up to see Noah leaning against the doorjamb. He was trying for casual, but there was no missing the tension tightening the muscles in his jaw or the narrowing of his eyes. Rowe held back his shout, limiting himself to just a teeth-clenched grunt when he saw several others poke their head into the doorway of Rowe’s office, investigating the crash. He needed to watch his fucking temper in the office. Everyone didn’t need to know the company was circling the goddamn drain.
Turning around to pace away from the door, Rowe shoved his hands through his hair, trying not to let Noah’s whispered, “I got this” rankle him. Noah was thoughtfully calming the troops—something he couldn’t possibly do at that moment. He only turned back around when the door thudded closed. Fuck, he needed to get back in control.
Noah strolled farther into the office, closing the distance between them, and for the first time Rowe didn’t feel the need to immediately backpedal, keeping that comfortable barrier of empty space between them. He watched the other man move so smoothly, remembering the hard muscles that covered his taller frame, now hidden beneath a thick cream cable-knit sweater and green cargo pants. Rowe was actually disappointed when Noah chose to sit on the edge of Rowe’s desk, propping one foot up on his empty chair rather than close the last few feet still separating them.
To hell with it. He was already in a bad mood. What the fuck did it matter what happened in the office anymore?
Rowe took two large strides so that he stood directly between Noah’s legs. The man had barely enough time to straighten before Rowe slid one hand behind his head and clenched his fingers tightly in his long, soft hair. He covered Noah’s mouth with his own, tongue plunging inside as Noah gave a muffled moan. Strong hands gripped Rowe’s hips, pulling him another inch closer so that Rowe’s chest bumped against Noah’s.
Anger gave way to hunger as Noah let Rowe devour his mouth. His tongue swept over every inch of him, memorizing his taste, his feel. But it wasn’t enough. God, it was like being a teenager again. Everything felt so new and fucking wonderful, but it was more, too. He wanted to possess Noah, mark him. Wanted the world to know that this man was his.
Noah’s hand slid up from his waist and cupped his jaw, slowly gentling the kiss until they both pulled away panting, foreheads pressed together.
“You know, there are cheaper ways than trashing your flat-screen TV to get my attention,” Noah teased as Rowe pulled back another inch to clearly see his face. He smiled at Rowe, but there was no missing the worry in his eyes.
The world and the shitstorm they were surfing through came rushing back. Rowe groaned and paced away from Noah. The kiss had been great for a momentary distraction, but his earlier rage returned with a vengeance. If Noah was smart, he’d get the fuck away from him as quickly as possible. His life was a disaster and Noah didn’t deserve to get sucked in.
“What’s going on, Ward?”
“Two fucking clients canceled contracts today!” he exploded, no longer able to hold back the words. “They’ve been with me since almost the beginning, but they’ve heard about the bullshit with Lucas and the Lyntons. That’s on top of the three others who’ve left this past week. And then Wendy warned me that she’s been struggling to hold onto two others!” he continued, mentioning the employee who dealt with most new clients when it came to determining their individual needs.
