The Society had very strict rules about its employees’ dating, especially Architects. It was something we all knew before ever signing our contracts. Only low-level employees—the ones who danced and hosted non-sexual entertainment—were allowed to date. Considering the nature of our work, dating would always be tricky. Jealousy and disgruntled partners were something Vincent wanted to protect us all from. The last thing he wanted was someone disrupting what he’d worked so hard to build and putting the lives of his employees and clients at risk.
I wasn’t disillusioned. I knew that everyone dated secretly here and there. Human connection was vital to survival, but no one dated seriously. It wasn’t uncommon for people to quit for a while, date, and then come back when their relationship ended. Vincent welcomed them back without hesitation.
But Liam… dating Liam wouldn’t be a temporary thing. I could feel that fact very deeply in my bones. Dating him would mean retirement.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted to retire. It wasn’t something I’d ever entertained. And I wasn’t sure I should be considering it now. Yes, I was obsessed with Liam in a way I’d never experienced in my life, but did that equate to more? Or was I just warping emotion with some convoluted fantasy my mind was trying to create?
“Just think about it,” Ares said, pulling me out of my head. His hand landed on my shoulder, and he gave me a slight squeeze. “I won’t say anything to Vincent in my after report.”
“I appreciate it,” I replied softly. Even saying that felt like I was admitting it. “Good night, Ares.”
“Night, old man,” he called over his shoulder as he left. I listened for the quiet whoosh of the elevator to know I was truly alone, as if that was somehow better. It wasn’t. All it did was leave me alone with my thoughts about the man soundly sleeping in the next room.
Instead of focusing on it, I forced all my attention on cleaning up the condo. While an official clean-up crew would come in once Liam was gone, I wanted to make sure it was presentable for when he woke up.
CHAPTER 14
Owen
Just before two, I slipped back into the bedroom with every intention of checking on Liam. The condo was cleaned up and presentable, my stuff was packed away, and I was comfortably dressed to leave. The after-experience report was laid out for him to find in the morning, and protocol dictated that I leave. Lingering prolonged the experience, and prolonging the experience was a threat to clear boundaries. Our clients were supposed to wake up alone, unless their experience plan said otherwise.
Liam’s didn’t.
And that meant this was the point where I had to leave and go home. He was supposed to wake up alone and go back to his life, hopefully feeling changed in the way he’d sought out.
And yet, I found myself sitting on the edge of the bed just watching him sleep, unable to leave. The city lights peekedthrough a slit in the dark curtains and sent a stream of golden light across the relaxed lines of his face. Those full lips were parted slightly, and his lashes fluttered as he dreamt. A bittersweet ache settled in my chest as I realized how badly I wanted to know what he was dreaming. I wanted to be there when he woke up to ask him.
It was an odd thing to find myself wanting. It was a thing that had never occurred to me once in my life. In fact, I’d never wanted much of anything when it came to relationships. I’d conceded long ago that they just weren’t for me.
But here I was… wanting. Wanting to stay. Wanting to listen. Wanting more.
Stray hairs had fallen across his forehead, and I reached out without thinking to brush them back into place. Despite how light my touch was, Liam still stirred. A small sound left him as his brows pulled together. After a moment, his eyes blinked open, unfocused and heavy with sleep.
I combed my fingers through his hair once more while he just stared at me. It took a moment for the recognition to cross his face. When it did, a smile curled the corners of his mouth.
“Hi,” Liam said in a hushed voice.
“Hi.” I settled my hand on the pillow beside his head and leaned in closer. That pretty smile of his grew wider. “How are you?
“I like you,” he murmured. The words weaseled painfully through my chest. “Ireallylike you.”
“I know,” I whispered.
Of course, he liked me. They all did. The post-experience haze always led to heightened emotions and even confusion. It wasn’t unusual for clients to confuse satiated euphoria for genuine feeling. By morning, it’d fade. Any remnant feelings for me would be gone when clarity settled in. I’d be nothing more than afond memory of his past. He’d fill out his after-experience report and move on with his life.
That was how this worked. That was the design of the Society’s fantasy fulfillment program.
So why did the thought create an ache in my chest?
My gaze drifted over his pretty face slowly as I memorized all the little details I had no business wanting to keep—the faint crease between his brows, the slight blush on his cheeks that rose under my stare, the dark curl of his long lashes. I could stare at him all night and all day. And I wanted all the things that went with that. I wanted morning conversations over coffee and late-night dinners that ran on too long. I wanted all the things in between, before, and after. I wanted the things that existed entirely outside the Society’s boundaries.
The things that were impossible for me to have.
Liam was just a client. Nothing more.
“Owen?” Liam let out softly. Before he could say anything more, I kissed him. Not because I had to, not because I had some part to play, but because I wanted to.
The kiss was slow and unhurried, my lips moving against his with a tenderness that surprised even me. There was no rush as his mouth parted, and my tongue swept against his. Liam melted into it with a quiet, content sound. His fingers wrung into the front of my shirt as he lifted slightly off the pillow to kiss me deeper.
