Page 63 of Smart Ass

“Don’t forget your sandwich,” Max commented.

Ben didn’t glare this time, so much as whine. “This again?”

God, he was cute. Sexy and smart and bratty and cute. Just begging for some consequences.

“This again.” Max was amused. “You’ve had a long day and you need to eat.”

“No fair using your sexy Dom voice on me.” Ben pouted, then immediately covered his mouth. “I mean… forget I said that. I’m just suuuuper tired. Ignore me.”

No way could Max ignore that. He had a sexy Dom voice? When he wasn’t even trying?

Had Ben programmed him to have a sexy Dom voice? It seemed exactly like something Ben would do. And Max couldn’t have been happier. He wanted to be exactly what Ben wanted.

What was more fascinating right now, though, was how Ben was blushing and looking determinedly at the screen.

Was Ben afraid to ask for a scene? Max wasn’t under the impression that Ben was ever shy about asking for what he wanted.

Could it possibly be that Ben thought Max had lost interest? Max had been trying to give Ben a little space, though something inside him felt empty and cold whenever they weren’t in contact. All he really wanted was to follow him around and never let him go.

It had also been an emotionally difficult time, too, and he didn’t want to jump on Ben with his new kink enthusiasm when it wasn’t the right moment.

Yet it seemed like he’d been getting things wrong again. He’d been thinking like a friend, but he should have trusted the Dom mod and his own instincts more. Ben had gotten his distraction with work, and he was still exhausted. What he needed now was a good scene so he could feel secure and drift off into a restful sleep.

Or at least Max hoped he was reading all of that right.

Max made his voice deeper. “Eat your sandwich, Ben.”

Ben’s pupils grew wide, and Max could see as well as hear his indrawn breath.

Max felt his own desire grow. Everything stood still, as though Max’s breath had caught as well.

Ben glared mutinously as he picked up half the sandwich.

He took a tiny little itty-bitty bite off of one corner.

Then he put it back on the tray.

Max wanted to shout out his excitement. Instead, he made his voice dark and dangerous. “Are you sure you want to take that approach?”

Ben shoved the sandwich away, and Max felt a burst of pure adoration.

“Maintenance room. Now.”

Ben dawdled… but it was a very fast sort of dawdling, and Ben couldn’t hide the rapid beat of his heart behind his casual, aimless walk.

Ben was practically breathless when he opened the door to the maintenance room. And that was before he saw what was inside.

“Holy shit, Max!”

Max was beaming internally. That was exactly the reaction he’d been hoping for.

Ben wandered in, looking enchanted. “Won’t people come in here?” he asked, half distracted as he ran his fingers along the black velvet draped over one of the shelves.

“Unlikely. I’ve changed the lock and set up sixteen different protocol alternatives for when someone might access this room. Most queries search for the nearest accessible resource location, which will never be here, so I don’t expect anyone to notice.”

“Yeah, but, dude, Max. You made a sex dungeon at work! You’re my new hero.”

Max allowed himself a chuckle. He was rather proud of himself. “I thought I was already your hero. And you know Orbit has a whole department for sex toys. I just borrowed some things.” The walls were still bare concrete, but he’d cleared away some of the junk and brought in a few lamps for a softer light. He’d found a couch and a couple tables in storage and added some sturdy eyehooks to the ceiling. The room still had a rough, industrial feel, but Max thought Ben would appreciate that.