Michael shrugged. “I’m used to answering to Archie around here, so it should look natural enough. And it’s not like Smith has cause to be interested in the SCTF. We aren’t usually anyone he needs to worry about.”
They discussed the finer points of Friday night, and Aaron kind of zoned out since that bit didn’t involve him.
As he sat there listening to them talk, it dawned on him that Michael was going to see him fight. Well, he presumed he’d stay for that. Harry never bet on Aaron’s fights, but he stayed to watch them, and Michael was there to keep an eye on Aaron and Harry, right?
So there was more than a strong possibility he was going to watch Aaron fight, and Aaron had mixed feelings about it.
On the one hand, he liked the idea of showing off for Michael. Aaron knew he looked good out there, knew he could fight. Michael had only seen him worried for Harry or scared of being arrested. But when Aaron fought, he wasn’t scared, wasn’t frightened of anything. He was focused solely on keeping his strength contained and making each blow as precise as he could.
And on the other hand, he worried that having Michael there would affect his concentration. Would he be so desperate to show off that he slipped up and gave himself away?
“I think we’ve covered everything.” Michael stood and so did the others.
Aaron was slower to get up as the thought of Michael watching him fight lingered.
Everyone filed out, but Michael hung back, concern in his eyes. “You okay?” he asked Aaron, moving closer. “You weren’t with us for the last part of that discussion, were you?” He put his hand on Aaron’s shoulder, grip firm, and Aaron’s breath caught.
“No.” Aaron forced out a laugh. “I zoned out for a bit. Sorry.” Michael gave his shoulder a squeeze but didn’t step back like Aaron expected. “You didn’t miss anything.”
This close, all he could smell was Michael’s scent, and he found himself leaning in to get more of it. In danger of embarrassing himself, Aaron straightened and attempted to ignore the effect Michael had on him. “So you were all just talking bollocks then?”
That surprised a laugh out of him. “No. But I’m pretty sure you know all about how Harry gets in to see the fights and how much money I should bring with me to appear like I know what I’m doing. Stuff like that.”
“Yeah.” He did know—it was why they were in this mess. Well, no that was unfair to Harry. After the first couple of fights, Aaron had wanted to keep going as much as Harry. “I do already know about that.” He sighed, his lips felt dry from the air conditioning, so he flicked his tongue out to wet them, not realising what he was doing until Michael’s gaze dropped to his mouth.
The heated look in his eyes set Aaron pulse racing. He let the tips of his fangs slide out and gently bit his bottom lip. Sometimes guys forgot what he was, and a little reminder either stoked the flames or sent them running. Michael had liked it before. Was that just a one-off?
Michael’s sharp inhale sounded loud and clear to Aaron, but he didn’t move.
The room was now empty apart from them, and Aaron moved until they were almost flush. The tease of Michael’s body, so near yet not touching any part of Aaron, sent a ripple of anticipation through him, and he shivered at the promise of what might happen. All he had to do was lean forward a little and they’d brush against each other.
The faint hint of arousal filled the air and Aaron wasn’t sure who it was coming from. The scent mixed with whatever aftershave or shower gel Michael used, and Aaron closed his eyes, inhaling with a soft smile. His jeans were getting tighter by the second as his cock stiffened, and he wanted to see if Michael was in the same predicament.
Reaching out, Aaron placed a hand on Michael’s hip, squeezed just a little to feel the firmness of it under his palm, then trailed his fingers ever so slowly lower, until—
“Aaron, are you coming or…? Oh.” Harry’s amused exclamation had Michael abruptly stepping away just as Aaron’s fingers reached the head of his cock.
That one fleeting touch was enough to whet his appetite, and it took all Aaron’s resolve not to follow him. The message was clear though, judging by the distance he’d put between them.
“I’ll just um… wait outside for you.” Harry left, leaving the door wide open.
Aaron rolled his eyes—it reminded him of his mum when he used to have mates round in his teenage years.
After adjusting himself in his work trousers, Michael blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair before meeting Aaron’s gaze. A blush covered his cheeks, but he didn’t seem all that embarrassed, and his eyes still held that heated expression. “I can’t do this at work.”
“This?” Aaron asked, not quite sure why he was being an arse.
Predictably, Michael raised his eyebrows, looking less than impressed. “Yes.This.”He gestured between the two of them. “Almost kiss you and end up with a hard-on that’s not going away any time soon.”
Aaron licked his lips at the mention of kissing, an automatic response, and he couldn’t help but glance down to see that, yes, Michael still sported a considerable bulge in his trousers. Aaron grinned.
“It’s not funny.” The smile Michael tried to suppress said otherwise.
“Sorry.” He wasn’t. At all, and Michael saw straight through him.
“Yeah, right.” Michael sighed, and Aaron knew what was coming, could see it a mile away. “We can’t do this anyway, inside or outside of work. Not while we’re working on this case.”
Aaron cocked his head to the side, considering. “I’m not under investigation any more, though.”
