Chapter 32

Blake leans against the arm of the couch, studying me from under a speculative gaze. He loosens his tie and sighs.

"Tell me again why he's coming over."

His voice has a steely edge behind it, one I recognize immediately as jealousy. My stomach quivers with shameful desire. I tap my naked wrist.

"He has my watch," I say. "I want it back."

"I'll buy you a new one."

"Jared bought me that one," I argue. "It's got the sentimental factor."

"Fine. I'll give Jared the money to buy you a new one so the sentimental value will be intact. Problem solved."

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I find myself biting back a grin. Blake crosses his arms over his chest, daring for me to continue the debate. Instead I shrug and turn back to the basketball game on TV.

After picking me up from the sandwich shop, Blake was under the pleasant assumption that my time with Cade had ended for the evening. But when the all-too-tricky bartender texted me half an hour later saying I left my watch at the table, that pleasant assumption went right down the shitter.

Blake didn't even have enough time to ask me how our conversation went before I told him Cade was running by the penthouse suite to drop off my personal belonging. He's probably wondering what happened, how it went, and how things left off between us.

My eyes try to follow the players on the screen, but all I can think about is the plan Cade and I concocted less than an hour ago. Will it work? If it does, am I ready?

It's not like I'm daft enough to know that I'll be the one taking it up the ass the first time Blake and I have sex. The only problem is, nothing has ever been up....there before. When I broached the embarrassing conversation topic with Jared, he was all too eager to introduce me to gay porn.

I respectfully declined. And when I say 'respectfully,' I really mean I made gagging noises and told him no-fucking-way. Just to be clear.

Jared of course laughed and said at least if I watched I'd know what I was in for. When my ardent refusal did not let up, my brother then suggested to put a finger up my asshole and 'massage' myself the next time I masturbated. He told me to not lose hope; he was sure I'd find my spot to make it all worthwhile.

And that's when I walked away, flipping him off.

I scratch at the back of my neck, feeling the heat of my skin as my fingertips brush against it. If I wasn't such a stubborn ass – literally – I would have taken his advice to heart. At the time it seemed so humiliating, but now I wish I would have heeded his words.

If Blake tries to have sex with me, will I wuss out?

My ass cheeks clench together with protest, yet the puckered hole beneath them squeezes with anticipation. I've had sex plenty of times before with dozens of women. Sexual prowess has always been one of my strengths.

Now it feels like I'm a virgin all over again.

My phone vibrates on the coffee table, and I swipe it up to read Cade's text.

Cade: I'm here. You ready?

Me: Yea. Come on up.

A nervous breath pushes past my nostrils. I can feel every muscle in my body stiffening in anticipation of what's to come – both when Cade is here and right after he leaves. Without turning to my boss I nod towards the door.

"Cade's on his way up."

Blake humph's under his breath. "Can't wait."

The minutes that pass waiting for Cade to knock on the door seem to both take forever and yet pass all too fast. When the shrill knock echoes into the room, however, I'm on my feet in an instant. I shoulder past Blake without looking at him, prying the door open with clammy hands.

Cade stares back at me from behind his square sunglasses. Despite the seriousness of the moment, I notice just a glint of sadness in his eyes before a look of playfulness takes over.

"Hey there," he murmurs. "Mind if I come in?"

I turn to glance at Blake, knowing he's within earshot. He gives a stiff nod.

"Yea, come on in," I say, pulling the door wide enough for him to get inside.

Cade slides off his sunglasses, glancing around the penthouse suite with admiration. He nods a few times.

"Nice digs," he comments. "Oh, hey Blake. Didn't even see you there."

My boss's gaze flickers away from me to give Cade the disapproving once-over. "Hello, Cade."

Cade barely gives him long enough to say 'hello' before fishing into his pocket to pull out my watch. He takes a step closer to me, grinning.

"I believe you were looking for this?" he asks with a sinister twinkle in his eye.

"Thanks, man. My brother thanks you, too. It cost him a pretty penny."

"Well then, you're welcome. Was it enough to earn me a kiss goodbye?"

He dangles the watch in front of my face, taunting me exactly as we planned. I roll my eyes, throwing him a playful – but flirtatious – punch to the arm.

"You're an idiot."

Cade smirks then glances at Blake again. "What do you think, boss man? I mean, I did have to drive all the way over here."

I get the courage to follow Cade's gaze to my boss, and my chest tightens at the sight. Every inch of him is taut with practiced restraint. His eyes are piercing daggers into Cade, and my groin swells witnessing his possessiveness.

Cade chuckles and reaches forward to slide his hand around my hip. Blake watches the action, his heated gaze intensifying.

"Plus," Cade adds. "You did win him over, or so I was told. The least you could do is throw a guy a bone for a consolation kiss."

Blake's jaw tightens so hard I can see a vein popping into view at the top of his neck. It seems to pulsate, matching the growing boner beneath my shorts. A few beats of silence pass. Blake purses his lips and then takes the needed steps to close the distance between us.

He stands so close to the two of us that I can smell his cologne wafting into my senses. It adds to my arousal of the moment, and all I want him to do is pull me away and shove me against the wall for a kiss of our own.

"You make a valid point," Blake says through clenched teeth. "So I will give you five seconds, bartender. Five seconds to muster up the best consolation kiss you can manage. Because once you're done? He's mine. For good."

My jaw drops.

This wasn't the plan.

Cade and I agreed that when it got to this point, Blake would say no. Hell, we thought the question - in and of itself - would be enough for Blake to bark orders for Cade to leave. If Blake notices my surprise, he doesn't show it. His gaze is focused on Cade, his prior words searing the sexually-pungent air surrounding us.

I turn to Cade, dumbfounded. At this point I choose to stay quiet, thinking he'll gracefully bow out and tell Blake it was all a joke. Instead Cade's eyes clash with mine and all playfulness is lost. What's left in their place is sadness. And longing.

My chest tightens again, this time for a completely different reason. Without waiting for Blake to change his mind, Cade drops the watch and slips his free hand around my neck. I can feel his fingers trembling as he leans forward, and a second later his lips are mine. They're soft, sensual, and my mouth opens of their own accord to allow his tongue to caress mine.

This kiss is so much different than the last one we shared. The last one was tender, gentle even. This one is rough, filled with a hungry desperation I didn't know he had inside him. Cade deepens our kiss. His fingers tighten around my hip, and it's at this point that I feel Blake's hand curl around my elbow.

"That's enough," he hisses.

Blake swipes up the watch from the floor, breathing through his nostrils to keep his composure. His fingers glide over the watch's face.

"Thank you for returning Callum's watch," he says with a menacing calm. "But if you'll excuse me, we have dinner plans."

Cade steps away from me, breathless. He tears his eyes from my face long enough to give my boss an apologetic nod.

"Oh...right. Yea. You're welcome. For the watch, I mean," he stammers.

Cade runs a hand through his hair and swallows hard. His lips are red and slightly swollen from our kiss. When he turns to leave, he doesn't look at me again. He doesn't even wave good-bye. Maybe it's better that way.

The door closes behind him, and my heart hammers in my chest waiting for Blake to speak. In fear of his next words, I'm the one who breaks the silence.

"I'm s-sorry," I stammer. "That wasn't supposed to happen."

Blake is quiet for a moment. He stares at the door, as if watching for Cade's shadow. He doesn't move away from me, but he doesn't get closer to me either.

"I didn't plan on kissing him," I try again.

"I know."

I frown. "Then why did you let him..."

Blake shakes his head. "I wasn't doing it for him. I was doing it for you."

Wait. What?

My boss turns towards me. His face is tight with anger, but beneath it is a deep understanding – an understanding I'm not even sure I can grasp. He lifts his hand to my face, gently tipping up my chin with the pads of his fingertips.

"You needed a proper goodbye with him," he explains. "I wanted you to have it. Forgive me for allowing my jealousy to step in a second shy of hitting the ten-second marker."

I huff out a breath. "I thought you said five seconds."

Blake smirks. "As I've told you before, Callum, I'm a patient man."

My face ignites with a blush. All the emotions coursing through me are too overwhelming. I search his face, wondering what thoughts are consuming that highly-intelligent mind of his.

"So," I venture nervously. "Now what?"

The understanding vanishes in Blake's eyes. Desire floods his features and he leans into me, rubbing his hips against mine hard enough that I feel the erection beneath his pants.

"We could head to dinner," Blake murmurs under his breath. "Or the bedroom. Either way is fine with me. Because just as I told your bartender friend, you're mine. And I don't plan on letting you go any time soon."