“What happens next? To us? You? APPropriate Designs?”
“She worked for Grant, so he could fire her. We don’t have fraternization policies, so he can’t touch me.” Justin didn’t sound relieved. “The board could still vote to let me go. It didn’t come up, but since we’re meeting with them tomorrow...”
He didn’t have to finish the thought. One of the worst things about their board of directors was Grant’s group held three seats, Justin and Antonio only two. Which meant, if it came down to a vote, odds were low it would end in Justin’s favor.
No.Justin couldn’t go. It was bad enough Emily had been fired. Antonio wasn’t losing the only other person he did this for. Justin was as big a wreck as Antonio had ever seen him. His gaze darted around the room, and he never stopped moving. He must be dealing with everything Antonio was, plus the guilt of being the other party named in Emily’scrime.
Though Antonio had plenty of complicity and regret there, too.
Antonio needed them both thinking straight. He stood and stepped in Justin’s path.
Justin tried to step around him, but Antonio blocked the way again.
He grabbed Justin’s arm. “Look at me.”
“What?” Justin jerked his head up and focused on Antonio.
“Calm the fuck down.”
“Are you serious?” Justin laughed. The attitude was distinctly un-Justin. Was it because Emily was involved, or was there more to it? That gnawed at Antonio. “Where do we start?” Justin asked. “What do we focus on first? How are we supposed to move forward without answers? When the fuck do we get to run our own company, instead of having to plan around their whims?”
Antonio had several replies, but he didn’t think Justin would hear any of them in this state of mind. He searched Justin’s eyes, as if an answer might reflect back at him.
There was nothing there that hadn’t always been. Same pale-blue color. Same nose. Several days’ worth of dark scruff on his chin—evidence he hadn’t shaved since last week. That tempting mouth set in a hard line.
Antonio wasn’t aware of tilting his head closer until the frustration in Justin’s eyes melted to shock, and Antonio’s lips brushed his.
His heart ground to a halt when Justin froze. What the hell was Antonio thinking?
Then Justin gripped the back of Antonio’s head and kissed back hard.
Antonio swallowed a whimper and dove into the crush of teeth against lips and tongues clashing.
Justin let go and stepped back with a gasp. Terror and arousal whirled around Antonio.
“What was that?” Justin asked.
“A distraction.” It was more true than Antonio expected. A delicious, forbidden, fuck-with-his-head-for-weeks distraction.
“That was one hell of a distraction. Better than rehashing our pasts.”
Antonio steeled himself. “I’ve got more.”
“I’d take anything that helped me step back and look at this differently, but if you’re offering more ofthat, I’m in.”
Antonio’s heart soared. It wasn’t a confession of love, but there was time. Baby steps. He dropped his hand to the front of Justin’s slacks and traced the outline of his shaft. “I’ve got better, too.”
Justin jerked into his palm. “I’m the novice here, but don’t let that slow you down.”
“Slow it is.” Antonio intentionally misinterpreted the words. He caressed Justin though fabric, cupping and teasing him.
“You’re a bastard.” Justin spoke through gritted teeth.
Antonio liked this light level of control. “Yeah. I am.” He unzipped Justin’s pants, glided his hand under his boxers, and gripped his cock. The hot skin against Antonio’s palm seared his thoughts and desire raced through his veins. “You don’t like the teasing?”
“It’s pretty decent.” Groans punctuated Justin’s reply.
Antonio used his body to nudge Justin back, never changing the pace of his pumping. “Sit,” he said.