Chapter Eight
Lochlan
Lochlan would blame his frazzled nerves for why he practically leaped into Grayson's lap the moment he kissed him. He was supposed to destroy this man's company. How could he when he kissed like this and claimed to be only trying to make the world a better place?
The two things didn't line up in his mind, but what did line up was their bodies. He felt at peace nestled between Grayson's legs like that was where he was meant to be.
And yet, he couldn't help but wonder if Grayson intended to make an omega's life more manageable by taking away their choices. Lochlan tried to ride the anger of that thought out of Grayson's arms, but it just made him kiss the alpha harder as if punishing him with his lips. Judging from the alpha's moan, it was hardly a punishment.
How had this seemingly unending day concluded with Lochlan making out with his boss? It was a plot twist stranger than fiction and yet, he felt as if the two of them had been hurtling toward this moment since they met a second time. He tried not to give too much of himself into the kiss because if he spent even a second thinking about it, he would have to confess how amazing Grayson's lips felt, how perfect and authentic the moment was and how he never wanted to leave Grayson's arms.
He sighed into the kiss, allowing himself to be held for just a moment, instead of always having the world on his shoulders. The simple truth was that he didn't have the right to linger in this alpha's arms. It would only make his mission harder…unless…
What better way was there to know what was going on with Davenwood Research and Design than by getting cozy with the man who made all the decisions?
The moment the thought came to Lochlan he wanted to vomit it out of his brain. It tarnished this feeling of wholeness he was experiencing. But at the same time, it gave Lochlan a reason to allow this moment, and for that alone, he let the thought linger.
He opened his lips and let Grayson's tongue slip inside. His tongue grew bolder as it tasted and licked. Lochlan repositioned his body at the exact same moment that Grayson grabbed for him, pulling him so that he was straddling Grayson's lap. Lochlan felt powerful on his knees mounted on Grayson's lap like he alone controlled the pressure and frequency that Lochlan's body would brush against Grayson's impressive erection. His mouth watered as he imagined how Grayson would taste, the force with which he would press Lochlan down on his length.
His palms braced against Grayson's biceps, which rippled with latent strength. Lochlan realized that any power he gained from this position was expressly given to him by Grayson who trembled as he brushed his knuckles down the side of Lochlan's face.
Lochlan pulled away, searching Grayson's frown.
"Why are you kissing me back?" Grayson asked before showering Lochlan's face with a sprinkle of kisses.
"That's a weird question coming from the man who started the kiss," Lochlan replied, licking his lips.
"I'm supposed to be the irrational alpha," Grayson said sarcastically. "You are the chaste omega."
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I've already had a child. I know how it all works," Lochlan replied, thrusting his hips down as he did and groaning against the friction.
"True, you're no blushing virgin." Grayson pulled back while keeping Lochlan at a distance. He guided Lochlan's body up to the bench while he remained on the floor. "That doesn't mean I want to take advantage of your hormones while the two of us sit on the floor," Grayson replied.
"You think I am only kissing you back because of a heat?" He felt sensitive, that was for sure, but the extra suppressors he'd taken that morning were still in his system. Lochlan could honestly say that his actions weren't being motivated by an omega heat. He strained forward to continue the kiss, but Grayson kept him back.
It felt too much like rejection. "Is the thrill gone now that I am willing?" he bit out. "Or is the kiss only good if it is spur of the moment?"
Grayson didn't look bothered by his response. If anything, he looked calmer now, like he'd just spent some time meditating. "That wasn't a spur of the moment thing. I've wanted to kiss you since I saw you all those years ago. I let an excuse keep me away, I don't think I'll do that anymore."
"You…what?"
"But I haven't had sex in a long time so anything I do with you, I'm afraid will be loud and messy and it won't be on the floor of the employee's locker room."
"Anything we do?" Lochlan squeaked.
"Yes. I'm fine taking this slow. When I finally bend you over, you'll scream out my name until your throat is dry."
"You are very arrogant for someone who hasn't gotten laid in a while."
"Years."
"Years?" Even Lochlan had itched the scratch a few times while raising Pax.
"You can lower your eyebrows, thank you," Grayson said on a glower. "My mission was more important than anything else."
"I understand that," Lochlan replied before thinking. He snapped his mouth closed and burned a bright red. Be more obvious, please, Lochlan, try. "I mean like, when you have a goal, and only achieving that goal matters. It's how I've been able to raise my son all these years. Through determination."
That looked to be enough to ease Grayson's mind. "Tell me why you weren't safe," Grayson said, squeezing Lochlan ever so slightly.
Lochlan didn't know if it was meant to be a comforting squeeze or if it was meant to convince him to answer Grayson's question. "I don't want to pull you into my drama," he replied finally, surprised at how honest the words felt.
"I'm asking to be pulled in."
"It's nothing." Lochlan shifted, deciding how much he could tell the alpha. "Just, it is possible my son's father is trying to find me so he can take Pax away."
Grayson stilled, he felt as hard as a rock with his arms circled around Lochlan. "Pax is your son? Your ex is trying to take him?"
"As the alpha, he has legal rights to the child."
"But he isn't a good man?"
Lochlan fought the tremble that often came upon him when he thought about how life had been with Pax's father, Bryan. "He is the worst man."
"I'll assign you security, a guard."
"No…Grayson, no I—"
"If this man is trying to harm you, take your son, you need protection. I lost you once years ago, I won't let you get lost out in that world again."
Lochlan found he had no idea how to respond to such a statement. Grayson had lost him? Like he was something special? That felt too serious. It felt real, and that terrified him. His mouth opened to say something, anything that would lessen the importance of what he was feeling. "What we have, whatever it is, I know that you never got over your best friend, and I don't expect to take his place," Lochlan said quickly. "I know you wouldn't want to get serious with used goods—"
Lochlan couldn't say anymore as Grayson claimed his mouth again. This time, his hands were plastered against Lochlan's back, keeping him in place, obliterating any pretense of control that Lochlan might have thought he had over the situation. His body was a slave to this alpha, not only because he was so much more powerful, but because he responded to this alpha on another level. Grayson didn't even need to speak, all the man had to do was flick his finger upwards, and Lochlan's libido would ask, how high?
"Please don't ever refer to yourself as used goods, Lochlan," Grayson said, his lips rubbing against Lochlan's mouth as he spoke. "If you woke up this cold, dark soul, then there must be something special about you. I've done a fucked job of trying to ignore you, so I'm going to try the other way."
Cold, dark soul would have been precisely how Lochlan would have described Grayson a week ago. Now? The man was an enigma.
"I do need to get back home."
"I'll call my security."
While he was pretty sure the man following him--even he had even been following him—was off his trail now, showing up in his neighborhood with a security escort was the best way to stick out in his neighbor's minds. What Lochlan needed right now was to be invisible. "I really can't accept that."
Grayson watched him for a few moments. "Then I'll take you home," he said with finality.
"No, absolutely not—"
"Lochlan, you get to choose, guard or me."
"If you come strolling along in that suit, my neighbors are going to remember."
"Then I'll change. You forget I wasn't born a CEO. I was born in old downtown, where the buildings are so close together, at times, they blocked out the sun."
Lochlan understood the sentiment. What he didn't know was how to convince this alpha that he didn't need to escort him home. He had the standard alpha trait of being bullheaded and persuading him wouldn't be easy. "Would you just drop me off?" Lochlan asked, thinking that if Grayson didn't go into his apartment, it would be fine. He could escort Lochlan and Lochlan could spare himself the mental acrobatics it would take him to explain Lucy and Zain's presence.
"All I want to do is see you safely to your front door."
Despite his every instinct telling him to say no, Lochlan finally listened to the one voice that wanted Grayson around. That voice was in wholehearted agreement with just about anything Grayson asked of him. "Okay, let's go."