“What was it like?” Link shifted his weight, but he never pushed me away or disturbed me.
Aside from all the negatives I’d already listed? “We didn’t have company-sanctioned orgies.”
“They were never company sanctioned,” Elliot said.
As if. “You can’t tell me the men up top didn’t know what you were doing.” It was easy to mold my body to Link’s. How was this so comfortable? I’d never been much of a touchy person, but I could stay here forever.
“They knew.” Link adjusted his arm, and instantly I was that much more cozy. “They looked the other way, and there were murmurs ofdon’t let this fuck us.”
I couldn’t imagine. But I also couldn’t imagine loving a nine-to-five so much that I would do it just because I could. Elliot for instance—if he came from the kind of money that owned this house, he didn’t need to be working. Especially not for someone else. “I promise, the job isn’t one you should envy me for. Though, I did learn a lot about breaking games.”
Elliot’s scowl said that might not have been the right answer.
But I couldn’t worry about what he thought if I was going to learn to be direct. If I was going to figure out how not to be backed up against an escalator by a scary guy, and feeling trapped despite being surrounded by people. “What? You know at least as much about broken games as I do.”
His scowl deepened.
“But you still play our games.” The dynamic between Link and Elliot was hard to figure out, but Link didn’t seem bothered by my comments.
“I totally still play. I come back to your games over and over.” And I likely always would, at least as long as this team was behind them. “I pick on them because nothing is perfect, but I want your games to be as close as it gets. Because they’re my favorite. MucasFarts doesn’t hold a candle to what you’re doing.”
Elliot’s snort was loud and unexpected. “What did you just call them?”
Heat flooded my face. Why did that happen so often when he was around? Even for simple conversation. “You heard me.”
“That’s disgusting.” The way Link said it sounded as though I was being anything but.
“It wasn’t a great company to be at.” That was being kind. “They’re lucky I don’t say worse.”
“You have to admit,ET Howardis a lot less insulting as a name,” Link said.
The way Elliot’s jaw dropped was one of the most comical things… Like an old cartoon, but drawn better. “You didnotjust take her side.”
“Notjust. I think letting her in my lap was the point where I caved.” There was no malice in Link’s retort, and he squeezed my hip when he spoke.
Elliot sighed and shook his head. “I think you cavedwaybefore that.” He didn’t sound upset either. He focused on me. “If you keep corrupting my developers…”
“You’ll what?” I pushed the challenge into my retort.
“I’m working on that part. For now, assume it’s appropriately threatening.” Was he almost smiling?
I laughed in spite of myself. “Yes, sir.” Shit. I didn’t mean to say that.
Elliot’s shock passed in a blink. In fact, it was probably never even there. “Say it again.” A hint of command wove into his voice. “I like the way that sounds.”
Link’s grip tightened on me. It was subtle, but unmistakable. “Don’t say it unless you mean it. He already lets being the boss go to his head.”
“Hey.” Elliot’s bark lacked bite. “That’s absolutely not true. I already had a big head.” He leaned back in his seat, spread his arms across the back of the couch, and let his legs fall open.
Seriously?
“Dick joke?” Link didn’t sound impressed.
“If it was, it fell a little short.” I couldn’t help myself. Something vibrated against my butt, and I wiggled. “Is that you? Do you buzz on command?”
Link laughed, but a loud chime came from Elliot before Link could reply.
I hated to abandon my post, but I knew without Link asking that if their phones were going off at the same time, they both needed to answer. I hopped to my feet.