Professional Distance (Thorne and Dash 1)

“I want to say yes, but I’m…”

“Scared? Because I am too. But I’m just as scared not to try, because I can’t stop thinking about you. You changed me. I eat breakfast now, and I never work on Saturday afternoons, and—”

Dash laughed. “I think about you all the time too. I watch a movie and think whether you’d like it. I see paintings and wonder if you’d enjoy them.”

“Just have lunch with me, like we agreed. No pressure, just talking, friendship.”

Dash frowned. “Is that all you want?”

“No. It’s far from all I want. Because what I want is…everything. But it’s a beginning.”

Dash chewed his lower lip. Thorne’s cock responded to the sight of Dash’s tongue. Could he go slow? Yes, he had to. Anticipation was sweet, right?

Dash raised his coffee cup. “To beginnings.” They tapped their cups together, laughing. It felt good to laugh with Dash again.

“Now try your doughnut,” Dash encouraged.

Thorne picked up the pastry, but Dash shook his head. “Not like that. You’ve got to dunk it in the coffee. They were made for each other.”

Thorne looked around in case his mother or the manners police were watching. He’d already made a fool of himself in front of Dash’s neighbors. Why was he worried about a little doughnut dunking?

“Mmm,” he said as he bit into the now coffee-flavored pastry. “You have great taste.”

Dash looked him up and down, seeming to relax for the first time since they’d sat down. “Yeah, maybe I do.”

The quirk of his lips—God, how Thorne had always loved that smug little smile—made Thorne’s pulse accelerate and warmth spread through his chest. He wanted Dash, needed him. Please let me say the right things this time.

They finished their doughnuts and coffee and walked back to Dash’s apartment. Halfway there, Dash reached for Thorne’s hand and intertwined their fingers. It was the first time Thorne had ever walked down the street holding hands with a man. He glanced around, wondering if they’d be noticed.

“It’s fine here. Trust me.”

Thorne nodded.

When they got to Dash’s building, Dash didn’t stop at Thorne’s car, so Thorne followed him into the lobby. As soon as he was through the door, Dash pushed him up against the wall of mailboxes.

Thorne stared into Dash’s eyes, not daring to breathe. Lust blazed there, and Thorne had to force himself to swallow.

Dash leaned in until his mouth was by Thorne’s ear. “Tell me there hasn’t been anyone since me. Lie to me if you need to.”

Thorne laughed, a deep sound of happiness. “I don’t have to lie. No one measures up to you.”

“Damn right they don’t. Did you jerk off thinking of me? Because I thought of you, of your ass ready for my cock.”

“Fuck, Dash, I thought we were taking things slow.”

Dash laughed. “We are.”

It didn’t feel slow to Thorne as Dash kissed him, his hard cock pressed against Thorne’s hip. But a few seconds later, Dash pulled back and released him. “Are you going to call me Riley, now?”

“You said—”

“Things are different now, I want to be real with you, to be myself. Dash is me too, though, a wilder, more confident side of me.”

“I want to know all of you, Dash, Riley, and any other parts of you hiding in there.” They both laughed, nerves coming out as mirth. Then Thorne drew in a slow breath, choosing his words carefully. “I’ve spent so long trying not to call you Riley I’m not sure if I can, but if that’s what you want, I’ll try.”

“I… I don’t know what I want. Let’s see what feels right, but if you want to call me Riley, I won’t… It’s okay.”

Thorne nodded, afraid his voice would shake if he spoke.

“Lunch. Monday,” Dash said.

“Yes.”

“Go home now, Thorne.” The implication was that Dash—Riley—was going to fuck him in the lobby if he didn’t.

A bit of exhibitionism didn’t sound so bad right then, but Thorne forced himself to put one foot in front of the other.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Lunch at Molto Bella was delicious. Riley had forgotten just how much he loved eggplant parmesan. And garlic rolls. God, the garlic rolls were heavenly. But the company was even better. He and Thorne talked about the positive things they’d done in the last couple of months, keeping the conversation light, letting it flow. Riley shared that he was signed up for school in January and Susan was considering opening her own bakery. Thorne said he hoped to land a new client in the next few weeks. What they didn’t mention was Christmas. It would be here in less than two weeks. Did Riley want to spend it with Thorne?

When the waitress brought the check, Riley realized they’d been there for over an hour and Thorne hadn’t mentioned any need to get back to work. Would wonders never cease?

“I’ll get this,” Riley said, trying to grab the check before Thorne did.