Sami’s index finger trailed down his arm.“I thought you’d agree, given your reputation.”
“What reputation?”His voice came out rough.He suppressed the urge to clear his throat.
“They say you’re quite the player.”
God, Collin and his fucking jokes must have gotten out of control for that slanderous rumor to have reached Sami.
“Don’t believe everything you hear.”
“Oh, the irony.Wasn’t it you who said ‘scratching the surface is plenty’?”
Well, yes, but—
Sami grabbed his hip and yanked him closer.Baz hated the soft moan that escaped him.“Are you seriously telling me you’ve never gotten involved with the opposition?”
“Is that what this is?Usgetting involved?”
“Isn’t it?You planted the image of you being pantless in my head, and believe me, that stuck.”
“What does your girlfriend from the bar say about that?”
“Who, Naija?”Sami laughed, loud and throaty.All the hairs on Baz’s arm stood to attention.His blood rushed south.“I fear the amount of alcohol required to make us bi for each other would kill us first.”
Fine.But that didn’t mean he was unattached.Baz took a step back, far enough for his mind to sober up again.“And what about Ian?”
Sami’s nose crinkled.“What about him?”
“Did he send you here?”Baz wasn’t sure what Ian got out of Baz fucking his associate, but he wasn’t naive enough to underestimate the twisted ways of Ian’s—and Sami’s—mind.
“No!Trust me, I’m here for myself.Ian has no idea.”
That sounded oddly genuine.And if Sami was just another gay guy looking for some fun…
No.That was his dick talking.
“I find it hard to believe that you’d tell me the truth.”
Sami’s smile was loaded with something Baz didn’t understand.“Ah, yes, because I am such a bad, bad boy.You don’t know the half of it.Believe it or not, I haven’t lied to you yet.”
Hm.Baz did pride himself in knowing when people were lying, and right now… He crowded Sami back against the island, one hand on either side of him.Sami tilted his chin up.The tips of their noses brushed, barely there, yet filling him with a desire to devour Sami.
“So tell me what I don’t know.”
“Why should I?I don’t want your understanding or your pity.”
“But you want me.”The hardness pressing into his hip made that abundantly clear.
“I’m rarely wrong about people too,” Sami muttered, stroking his thumb down Baz’s pulse.“And when I saw you, I thought, wow.This guy, he carries himself with such arrogance, he must have the best or worst dick game in the world.But unlike you, I like to gather all information before I pass my judgment.”
The sudden pressure against his crotch had Baz gasp.Sami’s hand teased him with a gentle massage.Baz couldn’t help it, he grinded into his palm.
Sami’s nose traced along his cheek; his lips brushed Baz’s jaw, his earlobe.Baz’s eyes fluttered shut.
What was the worst that could realistically happen here?They could resolve that tension between them and carry on as professionals tomorrow.If Sami was telling the truth about Ian having no clue—and Baz really,reallywanted to believe he had—no one else would ever know.So what was the damage?
He hovered his lips above Sami’s.“If we do this, it means nothing, got it?”
“Obviously.Come on, Baz.”Sami shifted to his toes, his lips close to Baz’s ear as he whispered, “I’ll even let you fuck me.This time, anyway.”His voice was so husky, it had Baz’s dick twitch.To have Sami sprawled out underneath him, whimpering, begging for Baz… Fuck.
