“Shh. You can’t know all my secrets yet.”
A long moment passed where her eyes became his world. He fell into them, losing himself and not caring if he found a way out again. His chest ached. She wasn’t close enough, so he moved closer, wanting to be inside her again but knowing even that wasn’t going to satisfy him.
Oh God.
He kissed her again, trying to break the spell, but even with his eyes closed he could still see her. The feeling wouldn’t go away.
Gently, he pulled back. Her face was submissive, docile, waiting for his direction. This wasn’t the theatrical submission of a girl who just wanted to play with a Dom. A connection had been made between them, somehow. Not something shallow, that would let them enjoy a scene together, but something that was going too far, too fast. His first instinct was to jump out of her bed, throw on his clothes, and bolt for the door.
“I wish I could stay, but I have to get going.” He kissed her forehead, the intimacy almost painful.
“Oh. Do you have to work or something?” Her smile was small. Disappointed but too polite to say so.
“Yeah.” Or something was right. He needed to get to a pharmacy and see if there was a pill for men who’d accidentally developed feelings for a girl. This wasn’t supposed to happen. If anyone knew better, it was Ambrose.
She ran her fingers through his hair, and he was almost a goner.
Out, out, out!
He got up and searched the apartment for his clothing, which was scattered in the most unlikely places, reminding him of when she’d brought her toys out for him. He almost groaned. Fuck, he had to leave.
Everly was deliberately avoiding his gaze, which made him feel guilty for panicking, but he couldn’t stop. Maybe she didn’t like him anyway. It wasn’t as though a girl like her would have trouble getting dates, right?
Everly handed him his shirt, and he tugged it on, but not before she trailed her fingers along the ridges of his chest. When he looked down at her, her lips were pressed together and her eyes sad.
He waited for her to ask if or when they’d see each other again, or when he’d call, but she didn’t say a thing.
Not knowing what else to do, he hugged her, then had trouble making himself let go.
Everly pulled away first, all of the spark gone from her eyes. “It’s been fun. See you around.”
When he stepped out into the hall, the lock immediately clicked behind him.
* * *
It was dark and damn cold, which suited him fine. He rang the bell then paced the well-lit walkway until he heard someone clear their throat. He turned. Anna was standing in the doorway.
“Oh, Banner. It’s you.”
“I’m Ambrose.”
The girl giggled. “Sorry, I keep forgetting which of you is which.”
With Anna it was hard to figure out whether the dumb thing was an act or not. Both she and Sindee seemed to delight in not knowing much about anything. How Konstantin could stand two of these was beyond him. Obviously, he didn’t keep them around for their scintillating conversational skills.
He stalked up the steps and into the imposing foyer. Although neither Konstantin nor Banner rang the bell at his place, he’d gotten to the point where he did with them because there was just no knowing what he’d walk in on nowadays. But years of growing up together, then more years of playing around each other, had led to having very few boundaries between them.
Anna, dressed in a backless red minidress and stripper heels, led him to Konstantin’s home office. Ambrose found Konstantin’s place cold and impersonal—modern, sleek lines with lots of glass and stainless steel. Kon was sitting at his desk, reading over some paperwork. As for Sindee, she was lying across the far edge of the desk, her dress up around her hips, masturbating. If she was looking for attention she was out of luck, because Kon was ignoring her completely.
He looked up at Ambrose, his gaze seeming to take note of his disheveled state. Ambrose hadn’t even bothered going home yet.
“Hey, zasranets. You big shithead. I called you twice. Why didn’t you call me back?”
“I was . . . busy.” Ambrose stood there for a moment, not sure why he was waiting for Kon to tell him to sit. They usually treated each other’s places like they lived there.
Konstantin quirked a dark brow at him.
“Girls, get out. Go get some takeout or something. There’s money in my wallet.”