Yelling echoed throughout Ward Security followed by a long “Oooooo!” Rowe left the door to his office open on the days his company taught self-defense classes downstairs. He enjoyed the shouts and the occasional outbreaks of laughter—often due to a certain short, blond club kid. Ian said Geoffrey had sold some kind of game or app—something that had made him independently wealthy at a young age. But Rowe had a feeling the man was lonely because he was showing up several times a week now.

The guy was really pretty, though. Probably bringing in as many new customers as Sven. He chuckled to himself. His biggest bodyguard went out of his way to avoid the much smaller Geoffrey. And Geoffrey kept coming back.

Rowe looked up when he sensed someone in his office. Andrei stood in his open doorway, unbuttoning his shirt. Lifting an eyebrow, Rowe leaned back in his seat. “I’m flattered. Really. And I know Lucas has been out of town for a couple of days, but he’s due back tonight. Surely you can wait that long.”

“Where’s Keegan?”

The annoyance roughing up Andrei’s voice made Rowe sit up. “What’s he done now?”

The Romanian didn’t answer immediately as his gaze flicked to the closed bathroom door and back. “I’m pretty sure he’s responsible for the porn that pops up no matter what command I give my computer. Know where he’s hiding?” Andrei pulled off his shirt, revealing a lean, ripped chest and stomach.

Rowe couldn’t help but appreciate the view. And he definitely knew where Noah was. Just as Andrei did. “And you need to be naked to talk to him?” He leaned forward, letting one side of his mouth curl up. “Can I watch?”

Andrei smirked. “Sure. Find him and tell him to meet me at the mats in five.” With that, he strolled toward the stairs.

Rowe watched him leave, anticipation and amusement a fun mix warming his gut. “You can come out now,” Rowe said, watching the bathroom door as his boyfriend opened it and peeked into the room.

“He gone?”

“Those are expensive work computers, you know. The last thing we need is some virus fucking up everything.”

“There’s no virus. I got the program from Quinn. We even set up a camera. I can’t wait to see his expressions.” Chuckling he sprawled in the chair across from Rowe’s desk.

“You’re warping my employees with your weird humor.”

“Quinn needed a laugh. Or a life. Have you noticed he’s been logging in here at all hours of the night as well as day?”

Rowe nodded, frowning. “Yeah, but I thought he might be coming in to play video games at night. I think he shares an apartment with three other guys. At least, he seems to like it here more than home.”

“I know you pay him well.”

“There’s a family issue. I think a lot of his salary goes to caring for his mother. She’s in a full-time care facility.” Rowe stood up. “But you just ran out of time. Andrei has requested your presence on the mats.”

Noah chewed on his bottom lip and tilted his head, staring at Rowe. He let his lip go. “You look a little excited there, Rowan.”

“You’re good. But I gotta say, Andrei’s got moves I’ve never seen. Hell yeah, I’m excited.”

“About me getting my ass beat?”

“Go ahead and tell yourself that’s why I’m excited.” He swept around the desk. “Come on, dear. You don’t want to be late.”

He couldn’t help laughing when Noah groaned behind him. “I should let Quinn take the beating.”

Noah didn’t mean that. Quinn might be fantastic on a computer and not too shabby in the self-defense classes he’d been taking, but the man did not enjoy working out and made no effort to be quiet about it. He liked being in shape, but he was still thin as a rail. Rowe frowned, wondering just how bad his financial situation was and if maybe he should start stocking the break room with more food.

As Rowe hit the stairs, he noticed the silence that had fallen over the main floor where he had wall-to-wall exercise mats. Since he’d opened the company to classes, he’d more than doubled his clientele and that helped, especially since the recent fires had scared away some of his bigger clients.

Now, all his men—every damn one who wasn’t out on a job—stood around one mat. So did every other man and woman who’d come in for training. Andrei had changed into his usual workout clothes of black shorts and tank. He was barefoot, his hair pulled into a tight knot at the back of his head. He crossed his arms and eyeballed Noah their entire way down the stairs.

“Uh oh, you are gonna get it,” Rowe taunted.

“Hey, I’ve got some moves, too, you know.”

“Oh, I know that better than anyone else here.” He threw a wink at his boyfriend.

They reached the mats and the onlookers parted instantly to let them through. “What’s wrong, Hadeon? Don’t like porn? Everyone likes porn.” Noah tugged off his shirt as he walked to Andrei. Rowe knew it was because the shirt was too loose and would give Andrei something to easily grip for a toss, but damn…he liked looking at all those wide, firm muscles.

He noticed he wasn’t the only person enjoying the view either. Men and women alike had their gazes locked on Noah’s chest. One woman had taken a few steps toward him onto the mats. Rowe snickered.

Andrei didn’t say anything. All he did was raise his fingers in the traditional motion that meant, Bring it.

Noah stepped onto the mat, bouncing up on the balls of his feet, his hands raised up to the sides of his face. Rowe watched him move, the easy grace of his muscles playing under golden skin. Noah had well over a decade as an Army Ranger on his side, though he doubted that Noah spent an exorbitant amount of time working on his hand-to-hand fighting skills. Under most circumstances, Noah would have had the upper hand in a street fight against one or two opponents.

But not when it came to Andrei.

“Today, we’re working on takedowns,” Andrei announced in a loud, even voice as if he were teaching a class.

“If you think you can take me down,” Noah taunted. His right hand shot out. Even from where Rowe stood, he knew that Noah had no intention of hitting Andrei. It was a flicker shot to annoy and judge distance as Noah flashed his fingers in front of Andrei’s face. But in a blink, Andrei trapped the arm. He paused for a heartbeat, a wicked grin spread across his face. Then Andrei shifted Noah’s trapped arm in a series of locks until Andrei’s free hand was on the back of Noah’s head. Andrei dropped to his knee and Noah went flying head over feet more than five feet across the room to land on his back.

Everyone in the silent room gasped and took a step back from the mats while Andrei smoothly rose. “That is kali. A reverse punta kapiala.” A loud cheer went up and Rowe noted that a few cell phones appeared around the room as people started filming.

Rowe looked at his lover who was lying flat on his back, blinking several times as if to clear his head. “You okay down there, killer?” Rowe asked, standing over Noah.

Noah grimaced at him and rolled to his knees. “That was just luck,” Noah grumbled.

Rowe stepped back to the edge of the mat while Noah regained his feet and walked over to Andrei, his hands back up in the guard. But this time, he had a little more distance between himself and Andrei, warier of the slimmer man.

“I thought you’d appreciate the porn,” Noah teased. “With Lucas out of town, you’ve got to be feeling a little lonely.”

Andrei said nothing as Noah taunted and threw punches. He blocked and dodged them with practiced ease. And then again, in just an instant, Andrei was pressed up against Noah, his face buried in Noah’s neck while one arm was under Noah’s armpit, the other arm wrapped the top of his free arm. Andrei bent his legs, dropping his hips so that they were just a little lower than Noah’s, their groins pressed tight together. It looked like a lover’s embrace for a heartbeat and then Andrei was flinging Noah over his hip and down onto the mat with a thick thwap filling the air as sweaty flesh met vinyl.

“Judo hip toss,” Andrei murmured.

Noah growled and immediately got back up. He didn’t even get a shot in on Andrei. In a flash, the fighter was positioned behind Noah, arms wrapped around his waist while Andrei’s groin was pressed against Noah’s ass. Rowe felt a stirring in his own lower regions as Andrei lifted and tossed Noah in a classic Greco-Roman wrestling belly-to-back suplex.

Andrei rolled to his feet and stepped away. He grabbed his tank and pulled it off, using it to wipe the sweat dotting his brow. It was easy to see that Andrei was holding back, carrying Noah through the throws, protecting him so that Noah didn’t risk breaking something.

“Is it because I used only gay porn that you’re upset?” Noah called, still lying flat on his back on the black mat. “Do you prefer het porn when your man is out of town?”

People surrounding the mats laughed, but Andrei’s neutral expression didn’t change as he watched Noah push to his feet. His movements were a little slower this time. Getting slammed to the mat again and again wasn’t an easy thing on the body.

They started again and Noah was careful to keep even more distance between himself and Andrei. Every time Andrei stepped inward, Noah jumped back two or three steps, staying out of the man’s reach. Noah finally threw a kick to get Andrei to stop his advance, and the fighter caught it. Andrei paused, the leg tucked under his right arm, his hands on Noah’s thigh and knee. Noah groaned, realizing his mistake, just before Andrei twisted inside into Noah’s body while dropping down to his knees. Noah whipped over Andrei’s shoulder, slamming down onto his back.

“Japanese small circle jiu-jitsu. Dragon screw leg sweep,” Andrei murmured as he stood.

“So…stop me if I’m wrong,” Noah started above the cheering, “but I’m getting the impression that you don’t like porn.”

Rowe groaned and someone in the crowd admonished Noah to just stay down, but Rowe knew that was not going to happen. If Noah’s mouth was still running, then he was still fighting.

Noah rolled back to his feet with a soft groan but didn’t have a chance to get his bearings. Shooting forward while dropping low, Andrei pressed his face into Noah’s tight abs while at the same time, grabbing Noah by the back of the thighs. Muscles flexed in his powerful biceps as he pulled Noah’s legs forward and up in a double leg takedown that smacked Noah right back onto the mat. But Andrei didn’t stop there. Releasing one of Noah’s legs, he floated over the other, grapevining his legs around Noah’s leg so that Noah was forced to roll over onto his stomach. Rowe wanted to shout at Noah to keep rolling, but it was too late. Andrei already had Noah’s foot tucked under his armpit and his legs locked. The submission hold was locked in and Andrei was already applying pressure to Noah’s hip, knee, and ankle. There was no escape. Noah had to tap or something had to break.

A loud shout of pain jumped from Noah as he tried to pull away from Andrei, but he couldn’t move. He slapped his hand on the mat again and again, tapping out, but Andrei didn’t release him.

“All right! You win!” Noah cried, still twisting to try to relieve pressure on his joints.

“You’re going to remove the porn?” Andrei asked calmly.

“Yes! I swear! It’s gone today.”

Andrei’s gaze darted over to Rowe and he smirked. Rowe could only roll his eyes. Andrei really needed to start going on these out-of-town business trips with Lucas. Andrei was too easy of a target when Lucas was gone and the man took too much pleasure in beating up his employees.

Releasing Noah, Andrei slid away so that Noah could roll onto his back, sucking in huge lungfuls of air as the pain started to recede. To Rowe’s shock, Andrei crawled over Noah on his hands and knees with his usual cat-like grace. Both their sweat-slick bodies gleamed in the bright overhead lights. Noah’s breathing stuttered when he realized that Andrei was just inches above him. With his hands on either side of Noah’s head, Andrei leaned down, his cheek brushing Noah’s as he whispered something in the man’s ear. Rowe’s breath caught in his throat and his dick throbbed at the sight of the two hovering so close together in an intimate moment. He didn’t know whether to step forward and rip Andrei off his man or join them. Fuck, they looked hot together.

He couldn’t hear what Andrei said, but Noah chuckled, the worry disappearing from his features completely before Andrei was back on his feet and grabbing his tank as he walked back to his office.

 

 

 

###

Rowe shut his office door and watched Noah disappear into the bathroom. He’d had a shower installed in there after too many sweaty classes, and they both kept extra clothes here, so he knew what Noah planned. Rowe had other ideas first. He walked to his desk and unlocked the drawer where he kept the lube. He had it in hand when he strode to the bathroom.

“I don’t want one drop of that sweat removed,” he said when he reached the open door.

Noah froze with a towel near his face. He stared at Rowe, his blue gaze roaming down to the tube in his hand, then to the obvious attraction Rowe couldn’t hide in his pants. A slow grin crept over his mouth. “Liked seeing me get my ass handed to me, did you?”

“You held your own.”

Noah snorted as he dropped the towel.

Rowe didn’t even give him time to blink before he had him up against the counter, his mouth latched to his jaw, his shaky hands wrapping Noah’s biceps. Fuck, he wanted him. He licked the sweat on Noah’s neck, sucking his skin into his mouth. Rumbling sounds vibrated against his lips. He loved the scruff just underneath Noah’s chin. He kissed it, then down over his Adam’s apple. He licked the sweat from his collarbone, reveling in the flavor of salt and man…and just…just Noah.

Rough hands clutched him close. “I’ll spar more often if it gets this response,” Noah said in between broken pants.

Rowe came back up to dive into Noah’s mouth as his hand reached inside Noah’s shorts and wrapped around his hard, hot dick. Noah shouted into his mouth and held him tighter, his fingers digging into muscle.

Rowe’s heart hammered as need swamped him. He pulled away from Noah, meeting hooded eyes, then he turned Noah toward the sink as he shut and locked the door behind him. Noah’s eyes met his in the mirror as he yanked Noah’s shorts down. He kissed down his sexy back, biting into slick muscle. He wrapped his arms around Noah’s waist, spread his fingers over his taut stomach, and buried his face in the dip over Noah’s ass. He loved the small of his back. Sweat streaked his cheeks, his lips. He slowly rubbed his face on that hot, silky skin.

“You’re going to have to take a shower with me.” Noah’s voice was husky and rough and Rowe saw he was gripping the edge of the counter with white knuckles. Rowe stood, opened his pants, and slid his dick along the crease of Noah’s ass, biting his shoulder when Noah groaned and thrust back against him. His taller boyfriend bent his knees and rubbed against Rowe.

“Christ,” Rowe breathed as he flipped open the lube and brought his slick fingers to Noah’s hole. He watched his man in the mirror as he worked open his body, taking in the blown pupils, the hard nipples, the sweat still shining on his chest and stomach. Growling, he kissed his shoulder, then nuzzled his neck.

Noah dropped his head back though his gaze stayed locked with Rowe’s. He let go of the counter, reached down, and began stroking his cock.

Rowe felt like he was going to lose his mind. His own dick ached for release and he glanced down to see pre-come beading on the tip. He hoped Noah was ready because he needed to be in that hot, tight channel more than he needed to breathe.

He pulled out his fingers, lined himself up and pushed inside, coming up on his toes to get deeper. Noah bent his knees more and moaned, clenching around Rowe until Rowe’s vision went blurry. Rowe began to move inside him, loving the heat, the slide, the tightness. Noah abruptly growled and spread his feet out, which lowered his body enough so Rowe could start ramming inside him just the way he knew Noah liked.

Blue eyes rolled back as he gasped air into his lungs. Strangled noises spilled from his open mouth. Rowe grasped his hips hard and picked up speed. “Jack yourself, Noah. I’m about to come.”

“Don’t need to,” he breathed, dropping his head forward so all that silky hair fell over his face. “Hitting me. Just. Right.”

Holy hell, he was the hottest thing on this earth. Rowe crushed his lips to Noah’s back, pushed deep inside him, and pressed his body as close as he could to Noah.

Noah cried out and started to shake, and that was Rowe’s cue. He reached around and cupped his hand on the end of Noah’s dick so he could feel all that heat spilling over his palm. Noah shuddered, clenching his ass tight as he made the sexiest noises in his throat. Rowe lost it. He shoved deep, deep inside Noah and felt every muscle in his body coiling up, readying for release and when it hit, he bit down on Noah’s back to muffle the roar he couldn’t stop. He would have staggered if Noah hadn’t reached back with both hands and clutched his hips, holding him as close as possible. Rowe panted against his back, rubbing his own sweaty cheek against silky, smooth skin. He breathed deep, loving the scent of their sex—semen and musk. And Noah. Fuck, he always smelled so good. It was like his own personal scent had been created just to lure Rowe to him at all times.

“I love you,” he murmured into skin, tightening his arms around this man he couldn’t live without. “I love you so goddamn much.”

Noah reached out and flipped on the shower, then turned so he could cup the sides of Rowe’s face. “If it’s going to get me that response every time, I may take on teaching some classes.” He frowned. “Or—tell me the truth—was it seeing Andrei kick my ass that brought this on?”

“He did, didn’t he?”

“There’s something scary about that man.”

“You were going easy on him anyway.” Rowe kissed his palm.

“Go ahead and believe that.”

As they stepped into the shower, which really wasn’t big enough for two, Rowe squeezed close as Noah grabbed the soap. “My response had nothing to do with you getting your ass kicked and everything to do with your body half naked and sweaty.” He winked. “And okay, maybe watching you grappling with another hot, sweaty guy was kind of a treat.”

“I grapple with you often. It’s most definitely a treat.” Noah gave him a slow, lingering kiss. “And I love you, too.”

“So, what did he whisper in your ear?”

“Fucker told me he actually enjoyed the porn and just needed an outlet for his restlessness.”

Rowe’s laughter lasted through most of the shower.