Everyone knew a hot nightclub didn’t really get going until somewhere close to midnight. I couldn’t hang out in Brooklyn that late but I knew if I went home first, I’d give up and crawl into bed. Then I’d wake up alone, with the same crappy problems and no awesome memories of beautiful men dancing to chase away the one of Leo and me I couldn’t stop replaying in my head. This was happening.

I found Sparks easily. It was located off West Broadway close to the subway exit. I spotted Casker’s across the street and typed a quick text message to Leo before heading toward the nightclub. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dark interior and pulsing strobe lights. It was more crowded than I thought it would be. Not that it mattered. I wouldn’t be here long. My V-neck sweater and khaki ensemble screamed “geek dad” loud and clear. One drink. If I liked the vibe, I’d come back another time wearing a lot less.

I navigated the mass of scantily clad hunky men and made my way to the bar, pouncing on the first open barstool I spotted near the wall. It was a perfect vantage point for people-watching. Or Leo-watching. If he came. I did my best not to gape at the sculpted bare-chested bartender who looked past me when another patron sidled up to the bar and ordered before I had a chance to open my mouth. I shifted sideways to give the usurper the stink eye and froze. I should have known.

“Vodka martini, shaken not stirred, with two onions, please.” Leo turned to me inquisitively. “What are you having?”

“Um…” Smooth. I know.

Yeah, this was my idea but I wasn’t prepared to be this close to Leo again. His mere presence overwhelmed me. He smelled so good. I wanted to bury my nose in the collar of his button-down shirt and just…breathe. I told myself Leo was a regular guy like every other guy here, but truthfully, he wasn’t the least bit ordinary. Even in executive chic, Leo turned more heads than the shirtless bartenders. And when he smiled at the young man next to me who offered him his stool, he added another admirer to his list.

I’d never been around anyone who changed the temperature in a room simply by entering it the way he did. It wasn’t his appearance either. His height and sharp sense of style might garner a second glance, but his true appeal was innate. It was in the way he spoke and moved. He didn’t mince words or waste time. He was concise and direct and acted with purpose. I got the impression Leo Rodriguez had a reason for everything he did, including wanting to meet with me.

Leo perched on the vacated stool and then hooked his thumb at me when I didn’t reply. “He’ll have a martini too.”

“No. I mean, yes. But with olives, please. No onions.” I thanked the bartender then swiveled to face Leo, accidentally bumping his knee.

I muttered a quick apology and cautioned myself to pull it together. Leo wasn’t my boss anymore, for fuck’s sake. I just wished he didn’t make me so anxious.

Commence the nervous chatter.

“Onions? No one orders onions,” I snorted. “And vodka-soaked onions are especially gross.”

Leo’s lip curled on one side like a pirate. “When was the last time you had a vodka-soaked onion?”

“Uh…well, never,” I admitted with a frown. “But it sounds gross.”

“Chocolate covered scorpions and braised frog legs are gross. Onions aren’t in the same zip code.”

I made a face and shivered. “Have you actually eaten those things?”

“Yeah, and they’re not so bad. Chocolate hides the taste of anything, even insects, and frog legs taste like chicken. But you never know unless you try.”

“No thanks.”

Leo tsked playfully. “You have big opinions, a big mouth, and a hot temper, Nelson. No wonder I like you.” He nodded his thanks when the bartender delivered our cocktails then raised his glass in a mock toast. “To onions.”

“Onions?”

“We sure as fuck ain’t drinkin’ to olives,” he quipped.

I chuckled at his comedic expression then sipped my martini while I wracked my brain for a non-confrontational topic of conversation to stall the inevitable one.

“What do you have against olives?” Weak. But it was better than nothing, and Leo seemed willing to play along.

“Nothing. It’s a texture thing. I don’t eat them if I can help it but I love olive oil. And tapenade is cool as long as those little suckers are chopped really fine. Otherwise, olives are a hard pass for me. Everyone has a food like that. What’s yours?”

“Kidney beans,” I replied quickly. “I like them in chili but not in salad. I have a great recipe for spicy chili that requires multiple glasses of water on standby. My grandmother made it when we were kids and”—I stopped to take a gulp of my drink before braving a look his way—“I’m sorry. You make me nervous.”

“Why, Reeve?” he purred, leaning into my space. “Is it because of last night?”

“Are we—I’m not ready to talk about that now.”

“Okay.” He sat back and cocked his head. “Tell me about this chili. You like to cook?”

“Um…yes. I haven’t done much cooking since I got here. My place is tiny. As in…my kitchen is basically a hot plate and a minifridge.”

“The joy of living in Manhattan,” he remarked sarcastically before sipping his martini.

“Someday I’ll have a real kitchen again. At least, I hope the hot plate situation is temporary,” I said with more confidence than I felt.

“Of course it’s temporary. Give yourself a chance. Your problem is you want too much too soon.”

“Oh, that’s my problem,” I scoffed.

“Nah, mostly it’s your temper. I wouldn’t have pegged you for a hothead.”

“I’m not. I just snapped.”

He nodded in understanding then let the strains of a remixed Katy Perry classic fill the space between us. Strangely, the longer we sat side-by-side, sipping martinis, the more relaxed I felt. The heady atmosphere of sexy men gyrating to a jungle-like beat mixed with vodka and Leo was energizing. And he was right. I wanted everything at once. I wanted freedom and adventure, but I also wanted security and peace of mind.

I popped an olive into my mouth and gave him a sideways once-over. He seemed different tonight. Then again, maybe it was the alcohol talking. I’d already had two and a half glasses of wine with dinner. The martini was pushing my pleasant buzz further than it should go. If I wasn’t careful, my inhibitions would fade and I’d end up bumping and grinding with the go-go boys. Or Leo.

“You’re stressed. I get it. But there was no reason to quit.”

I blinked and refocused. Quit? Oh yeah. I sighed. “I don’t think the corporate real estate game is for me. I need control. I can’t work for anyone else. I’m sure you’re a nice guy but you’re seriously intense. And I’m not sure what the hell you’re looking for. If you really wanted to showcase property most people could afford, you’d go to Elmhurst. Not Brooklyn. Then it might make sense that you needed a so-called expert. Anyone on your staff is more qualified than I am. Having an outsider who doesn’t know his way around the fucking subway is nuts. You don’t need me.”

“Maybe I don’t need you, but I like you and I wanted a fresh approach. A new edge.”

“And?”

“You looked…hungry.”

“Hungry or desperate?” I huffed before taking another sip. I closed my eyes briefly as the liquor warmed me from the inside out. God, I wanted to take my sweater off.

“A little of both. Let’s just say I know that look,” Leo said then furrowed his brow. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. It’s hot in here though, isn’t it?” I pulled at the collar of my sweater.

“Take it off. I don’t mind.”

I shrugged before turning away from the bar to slip my V-neck over my head. When the long-sleeved tee I wore underneath came along with it, the twink sitting on the other side of me whistled and fanned himself. “Oh honey, leave that off.”

I chuckled at his sassy tone but figured, why not? Half the men here including the staff were practically undressed. I made a production of neatly folding the garments on the barstool before sitting on them.

“Oh my, you are fiiine,” the twink drawled. “I’m Brody, by the way. I noticed you the second you walked in and—”

“He’s with me.” Leo put his arm around my shoulders possessively and glared at the younger man who nodded profusely before moving away.

I shook his arm off and gave him an incredulous stare. “What the hell?”

“He’s too young for you.” Leo speared an onion from his cocktail then popped it in his mouth. Damn, that was sexy. And when his gaze roamed over my torso, I felt the same crackle of awareness and flat-out need that I had last night. Maybe stronger because a layer of pretense was gone. We were just two guys at a gay club who—

“I had no idea you were gay,” I blurted as I studied his strong profile and that delicious end-of-day stubble.

“I am. You?” he replied with a lopsided grin.

His eyes crinkled at the corners. He was clearly amused and…I had no idea what we were talking about suddenly. The urge to rub against him like a cat in heat was strong. Like last night without the shame and regret. Leo didn’t scare me here or make me angry. He fascinated me. Who was this guy?

“Am I what?”

“Gay.” The twinkle was contagious. Was that possible?

I grinned at him like a fool for no particular reason and when I finally gave in and leaned into him so our thighs pressed against each other, I thought I might pass out or combust from the innocent bit of contact. Heat traveled through me like a tongue of fire. Except it really wasn’t so innocent. I was hard as a fucking rock. Thank God I was wearing khakis. The zipper on my skinny jeans would have been working overtime to keep my dick where it belonged. I studied Leo’s full lips and sharp nose. He was better looking than I originally thought. And he was still looking me like he was waiting for an answer. Gay. That’s right.

“I’m bi,” I said. “You must be too. You were married.”

“Ah. Someone did his homework.” He raised his glass in a mock toast then took a sip. “Being married was good for my career, but it didn’t cure my insatiable love of cock.”

“Wow. That sounded so dirty coming from you,” I gulped. “Did you think marriage would erase the gay?”

“No, but my mom hoped it would and…” He broke off to stare at something in the distance then turned back to me with a wry professional-looking smile. It was jolting and unwelcome. And it made me feel slightly foolish in my half-dressed state. “This isn’t the conversation I wanted to have with you.”

“What did you want to talk about?”

“You’re under contract, Reeve. You can’t quit. You can find another way to be involved but you can’t walk away.”

“Says who?” I asked, narrowing my gaze as a different kind of heat came over me.

“The contract. You took money but you haven’t fulfilled your end of the deal.”

“You mean my salary? Take it back.”

“You’d walk away from an easy hundred grand over three months just like that?” Leo asked, snapping his fingers for emphasis.

“Just like that. I haven’t spent much of the money I earned, and I don’t want the rest. Which means we no longer have any business to discuss, Leo.” I snipped.

“You can’t be serious.”

“But I am.” I leaned into his space, so close we were nose-to-nose. Then I licked the corner of his mouth and rubbed my scruffy jaw against his. “So you can take your money and shove it up your—”

He grabbed the back of my neck and crashed his mouth over mine in a possessive kiss that sent me reeling. I responded immediately. I licked his lips then pushed my tongue inside with a sigh. This was what I needed. Just this. Leo twisted his tongue with mine then softened the connection and threaded his fingers through my hair. He drew me in until everything around us faded except the erotic backbeat of the music pumping through the sound system like a heartbeat. I laid my hand over his chest and plucked at his collar when he pulled back slightly.

“Don’t go,” I rasped.

Leo stilled my hands when I fiddled with the buttons of his shirt. “What do you want, Reeve?”

“You.”

He stared at me intently for a long moment. “Then come with me,” he commanded huskily.

Don’t do it. Say no. I touched my swollen lips and shook my head.

But when I opened my mouth, someone who sounded like me said, “Okay.”

I yanked my T-shirt and sweater back over my head while Leo paid the bartender. Then I tipped back the last of my drink and followed him through the press of sweaty writhing men to the exit.

The blast of cool air was sobering. But not really. My foggy head didn’t suddenly clear. There was no angel looking over my shoulder directing me to wave down a taxi and go the fuck home now. Quite the opposite. I wanted Leo more than ever. I wanted to pick up the details he dropped and piece together the real story. I wanted to know about his mother and his ex-wife. Sure, I was still curious about why he picked me, but I was more curious about the man who smiled with his eyes when his guard came down.

Of course, that might have been the vodka speaking. I was just along for the ride.

We walked side by side down the street to the next block. Our arms brushed companionably but we didn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. I was content to let him lead. From the second I’d decided to go to Sparks, I’d begun a slow process of letting go and giving into the moment. Alcohol played a small part, but I wasn’t drunk. I knew what I was doing.

Maybe.

When Leo turned the corner, I yanked at his sleeve. “Where are we going?”

“My place.” He faltered a step and gave me another intense look. “Unless you’d rather not.”

Oh no. The last thing I wanted was too much time to think. Forward momentum with minimal introspection was key now. I glanced up, hoping to find a diversion. I settled on the street sign then picked up my pace.

“Do you really live on Leonard Street?”

“Yes, why?” Leo stopped in front of a super modern glass and steel building.

“Leonard of Leonard Street. You could be a character from a Dickens classic.”

Leo barked a laugh. “That, my friend, is the fucking truth.”

He waved at the doorman and greeted him in Spanish before leading the way through the sleek modern lobby toward the elevators. I’d learned enough in my monthlong foray at McAllister to know that the button he pushed indicated we were heading toward the high-rent district in the sky.

“By the way, my name isn’t Leonard,” he said as we climbed to the twentieth floor.

“I knew there was something fishy about you. What is it? Benedict, Cornelius, Phil?”

Leo burst into laughter. His eyes sparked with a ready humor I associated with easy-going types like Remy, not cutthroat real estate brokers. And damn, his smile was dazzling. He was dazzling. I’d been in awe of Leo from the start, but now I was enchanted too.

“It’s just Leo, smartass. Nothing fancy. Is Reeve short for something?” he asked as the doors slid open.

“Like what?”

He shrugged as he moved down the well-lit hallway then paused at the corner unit and dug his keys from his pocket.

“I don’t know…Reevington, Reeveford, Reeveson. The possibilities are endless. I could go on.” Leo grinned then pushed the door open and held his arms wide. “Welcome, Sir Reeve-a-lot.”

I chortled merrily at his ridiculous ad-lib as I stepped inside. When I turned to say fuck knows what, we bumped into each other and suddenly Leo was all I could see. His dark eyes, his beautiful mouth, and a need I recognized well. I reached up to brush his hair from his forehead and tentatively ran my fingers over his brow. “Are you Sir Leo then?”

He captured my hand. “No. Leo means lion. Lions are the kings of the jungle, which makes me…King Leo. At your service.” He winked and then kissed my knuckles.

I chuckled. “That’s funny. And surprising. I didn’t think you had a sense of humor or a—holy fuck! This place is…wow.”

I gaped in disbelief at my surroundings as I turned. Leo’s home was incredible. The tall ceilings and generous open floor plan made it seem huge. No joke. The great room alone was four times the size of my studio apartment. I noted the state-of-the-art adjoining kitchen in the semi-dark space and the enormous sectional sofa in front of the fireplace. But it was the view of the Empire State Building through the massive wall of windows that caught my attention. The vistas from Leo’s office were spectacular but this was…awe-inspiring. I moved forward as if in a trance.

“So beautiful,” I whispered reverently.

Leo tapped the glass when he came to stand beside me. “Would you like to go on the terrace?”

“Terrace,” I repeated in that same awestruck tone.

Leo chuckled then slid the glass door open and gestured for me to step outside. “I love this city. There’s no place like it on earth,” he commented idly, setting his hand on the railing and gazing uptown. “Moving here was the best decision I ever made.”

“Where are you from?”

“Philly.”

“That’s the accent. I couldn’t quite place it. How long have you been here?”

“Since I was eighteen. I’m thirty-six, so half my life. It’s home now.”

I didn’t want to disturb the peace but I was curious. Leo guarded his private life vigilantly and instructed those who worked for him to do the same. He might not share anything at all but it was worth trying.

“Did you come here for school or—”

“No. I came to escape. Like you,” he said, raising his brow in challenge. “I had a hundred bucks, a sleeping bag, and a backpack filled with whatever clothes I could fit when my parents kicked me out. I used part of that money to hop a bus to Manhattan and rationed the rest like a miser to survive until I could find a job.”

I frowned. “Where did you live?”

“On the street. Mostly in this area but sometimes I’d go uptown. You can’t get too comfortable. There are territory wars for a slice of sidewalk to lay your head on in some parts. You gotta keep movin’ to survive and if possible, keep your eyes open. I don’t think I slept for three months. Catnaps here and there but no real sleep. I don’t know why I bothered. I had nothing to live for. It’s a fuckin’ mystery that I guarded my belongings the way I did. You’d have thought that backpack was a life raft. I carried it everywhere,” he huffed humorlessly. “I kept it to remind myself that life can change at a moment’s notice. You gotta stay sharp and be ready to fight or you won’t last here.”

“I don’t understand. How did you go from nothing to”—I stretched my arms wide to encompass the city—“this?”

“Work, luck, a combination of both…take your pick,” he answered glibly.

“Don’t brush me off. Tell me. I want to know.”

Leo narrowed his eyes in his trademark intimidating fashion that made his employees scurry for cover. But I didn’t work for him, and there was a good chance I’d never see him again after tonight. I couldn’t squander an opportunity to learn something from him and about him. And let’s face it, any story that started in the gutter and ended in a multimillion-dollar Tribeca penthouse was a story worth hearing.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I might not be living on the streets, but I’m starting from zero again and…it’s harder than I thought it would be,” I admitted.

Leo studied me for a moment then nodded. “This story needs a drink. Let’s go back inside.” He turned on the lights and headed for the kitchen. “Make yourself at home. Do you want wine or another—”

“Whatever you’re having is fine,” I assured him before snooping around his immaculate home.

Honestly, there wasn’t much to see. The view was the focal point. The lush light-colored furniture and contemporary lighting were nice but a bit on the cold side. Giant canvases painted with bold strokes of primary color offset the otherwise stark palette. I couldn’t find a single personal photograph amid the few knickknacks. The condo had the overall feel of a residence staged to sell. Anyone might imagine themselves living there, but no one really belonged.

“Here you go. I switched to a Cab,” Leo said, handing me a wineglass. “Sit down.”

I obeyed wordlessly. Then I took a sip, cautioning myself to slow down. I should have asked for water. I’d had too much already and at this point, the extra alcohol just made me tired. I cradled the glass and observed my host. He exuded power from the corner of his sofa a foot away from me. He wore an unmistakable cloak of hard-won wisdom and authority, and I had to know where it came from.

“So how did this work? Did you squat at this construction site, sneak into the top floor and claim this unit then pose as a real estate agent and start selling the rug out from under everyone?”

“How’d you guess?” Leo rolled his eyes then shot a Cheshire cat grin at me. “I told you.…I got lucky. I bamboozled my way into a job shining shoes at a tony office building in midtown. I had no idea what I was doing but I’m a quick learner. And believe it or not, I can be very friendly.”

I busted up laughing. “You have to be somewhat personable to sell anything so yeah, I have no doubt you can be charming when necessary. But you’re a very convincing asshole too.”

Leo snorted. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Anyway…one thing led to another. Shoeshine expert, doorman, office assistant, real estate agent then broker. Be nice and good things happen. And if they don’t, strong-arm them a little till they go your way.”

“Impressive, but back up. Shining shoes can’t pay much. How could you afford a place to live here?”

“You’re kiddin’ me, right? I couldn’t sniff anything but sidewalk in Manhattan until six years ago. I squatted in abandoned shitholes in the Bronx then graduated to renting a room with three strangers next to the train station before finally being able to afford something on my own. But it wasn’t much. I shared a bathroom with a coupla drag queens who left makeup all over the fuckin’ counters. I can’t tell you how many times I put on a white collared shirt to answer phones and some smartass would notice a red lipstick stain and start hollerin’ about the new kid hookin’ up with the ladies,” he scoffed. “The truth was far more entertaining.”

“You must have been hooking up with the ladies at some point.” I paused to give him a sharp look. “Why did you get married? I mean, no one in New York City cares if you’re gay.”

“Yeah, but people in Philly did.”

“Do they still care?”

“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t seen my family in years.”

“Oh. Are they mad you married to further your career?”

“I think they were angrier that marriage didn’t turn me straight,” he deadpanned.

“That’s rough. Do they—”

“Hey, anyone ever tell you that you’re nosy? I’ll make you a deal. I’ll talk if you—”

“I’m not going back to work for you,” I intercepted.

Leo’s slow-moving pirate’s smile was daunting as fuck. I was proud of myself for maintaining eye contact with minimal blinking. “I was going to suggest an information trade. I figured out the gist, but I want to hear your story too. Why’d you run away?”

I held my breath without realizing it then let it out in a gush of air. “You go first.”

“My family kicked me out two days after my high school boyfriend was killed in a car accident.”

I gasped. “That’s horrible.”

“I was in the car with him and…the guy who hit us ran a red light. I walked away with a few stitches”—he pointed at the small scar above his brow—“but Mason was gone and I was a fucking mess.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Me too. We were so far in the closet, neither of our families knew about us. We had this plan to work all summer then catch the Greyhound to New York City and start over together. We never talked about coming out. We both came from strict Catholic backgrounds, and we knew it wouldn’t go well. Neither of us cared about big declarations anyway. We just wanted to be free. In the end, it went pretty much the way we thought it would when I outed us in a tearful meltdown at the hospital. I didn’t mean to say the words but I was grief-stricken, and everything came pouring out of me. Everyone was upset. But Mason’s parents just wanted him back and mine wanted me dead.”

“That can’t be true,” I said in disbelief.

“It is. I think my father’s exact words were, ‘God shoulda taken you too.’ ”

“That’s so wrong. So very very wrong,” I said angrily wiping at the moisture gathering in the corner of my eyes.

Leo set his wineglass on the coffee table. Then he leaned forward and touched my knee. “Hey, it’s okay. I survived. It wasn’t always pretty or graceful but it got better. Just like they say.”

“That’s so unfair. It makes me feel guilty that I had so much support from my mom and hell…my brother was already out. She had a gay son and a bi one and her response to both was, ‘That’s nice.’ I remember challenging her one day about it like I could goad her to admit she was disappointed we weren’t cookie-cutter all-American straight boys.”

“Now who’s the asshole?” Leo quipped.

“I know. I couldn’t verbalize my angst as a teenager, but I think I was mad at myself for wanting to be with men too. Like I was taking more than my fair share and willfully fucking up the balance. I wanted to be the straight brother but I wasn’t. And my mom didn’t mind at all. She welcomed my boyfriends as warmly as my girlfriends. She even loved my most recent ex, Sydney, and I suppose in a weird way, I feel worse for my mom than myself about that breakup.”

“Let me guess. She said she just wants you to be happy.”

I nodded. “Yeah. I believe her. The problem is, I’m an overachiever with trust issues going through a rough patch. I can’t help thinking everything positive is countered by an opposite negative.”

“Damn, and I thought I was cynical,” Leo said sarcastically.

I took a drink of wine then set my glass next to Leo’s on the table before turning to face him. He moved the hand on my knee a little higher but kept the contact light and unobtrusive. Almost comforting.

“It’s true though. My recent breakup is a perfect example. I met a nice girl who also happened to be a realtor. We clicked immediately and jumped into everything too quickly. We bought a condo then a starter house and teamed up to form our own dynamic sales duo. When that went well, we decided to buy a big enough house to raise a family.” I huffed derisively. “You’ll be glad to know I made sure it was within walking distance of parks, schools, and shopping.”

Leo inclined his head. “Good planning. What happened?”

“Syd cheated on me with her ex at their high school reunion. How fucking corny can you get? I found out when an email he sent her popped up on her iPad while I was a googling a recipe for clam chowder.”

“It would be cornier if it had been corn chowder,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“Guess that’s true.” I snickered at his delivery and laced my fingers through his, unthinking. “She said she was sorry and I tried to forgive and forget but…I couldn’t do it. I don’t think she’s a bad person but—”

“But you’re pissed at yourself because your feelings got in the way of your plans to finally have the perfect straight life.”

“No, that isn’t it. My sexuality isn’t the problem. It’s more about wanting something solid with someone I know has my back. Man, woman…that part doesn’t matter to me anymore.” I frowned and tried to shake off my discontent. I didn’t want to talk about Syd when Leo was sitting inches away, bigger than life and sexier than anyone should be allowed. “As soon as the house sells, I’ll wish her well and close that chapter for good. That’s mature, right?”

“Right,” he agreed automatically. “So, what’s next? If you’re not coming back to McAllister, what’ll you do? Go home?”

“No way. I’ll find something else,” I said around a yawn. “Sorry, I’m tired.”

“Take off your shoes and your sweater and lie next to me.” When I didn’t jump into action, Leo made a “get moving” circular motion with his hand. Then he kicked off his Prada loafers, grabbed the beige woolen blanket draped over the back of the sofa, and propped a throw pillow behind his head. “We don’t have to do anything. Just lie down.”

“On your chest?”

“Sure. Rest your eyes.”

“Don’t you have to get up early? I should go,” I said though I didn’t move a muscle.

“Do you want to go?”

“No,” I admitted.

“Then stop thinking so hard. Lie with me and just…I don’t know, tell me about that chili recipe you were bragging about earlier or your favorite movie or something.”

I grinned at his exasperated tone. I couldn’t say why, but I felt carefree in a way I hadn’t in years. I pulled off my sweater and shoes then hesitated. This guy was my boss yesterday. My difficult, antagonistic boss, no less. I should probably take a moment to consider what I was doing. My gaze wandered from his black socks to his half-unbuttoned oxford shirt thoughtfully. I held my breath before moving over him and staring into his eyes.

“Are you all right?” he asked kindly.

I nodded as I fell into the space between him and the back of the sofa. Leo adjusted the blanket then barked a quick command to the internal home system to turn off the lights. City lights twinkled like stars. I curled a little closer to Leo and breathed him in.

“The secret to any good chili is the spices,” I said quietly.

“Why are you whispering?”

“Because this feels…special. It must be the stars and the lights. It’s like I’m enveloped in darkness, but I can really see for the first time.” I waited a beat then added, “Another explanation…I’ve had too much to drink.”

Leo chuckled softly. “You’re okay. Just rest…and tell me you chop those onions up good. I hate chunky onions.”

I smiled against his chest then launched into a list of ingredients. I should have felt self-conscious and silly. But I didn’t. I felt safe. And I wasn’t going to question it now.

* * *

Sunlight reflected off every surface the next morning, sending rainbow prisms across the light hardwood floors. I closed my eyes against the glare then opened them slowly and willed myself not to freak out as I took in my surroundings. I was lying on Leo’s sofa wrapped in a blanket and wearing—I lifted the covers and quickly dropped them. Holy fuck.

“Good morning. Coffee?”

“ ’Morning.” I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I struggled to sit up. Coffee good.

“Coffee good?” Leo chuckled then perched on the cushion beside me.

“Oh. Did I say that out loud?”

“You did. Here you go.” He carefully handed over a mug. “Do you take cream or sugar?”

“Neither. This is perfect. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Are you going to look at me?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m not ready to talk or think yet. I need a minute to piece together why I’m wearing your boxer briefs instead of mine.”

“Oh, I see. Well, that happened when you used yours to wipe the cum off your chest. You said you didn’t want to sleep with your bare ass on the sofa, but you were too lazy to move to the bed so I gave you those. Let me see.” He pulled back the blanket and whistled. “You’re fuckin’ sexy.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. I took a sip to hide behind the mug before glancing up at him.

“You’re ready for work,” I said, unable to keep the desire from my voice. No one rocked the executive boardroom look quite like Leo. His light gray suit fit like a glove.

“Yeah. My driver’s waiting. I should go.”

“Oh. Right. Um…” I leaned over to put my mug on the coffee table and swung my legs around before scrounging for my discarded clothes. “I’ll get out of your way so—”

“That’s not necessary. Enjoy your coffee, take a shower, help yourself to oatmeal or toast or whatever looks good. There’s no rush.”

“Thanks. It’s funny to wake up here like this. Last night was…unexpected.”

“It was,” he agreed.

Nothing outlandish had happened in the dark. We’d talked for hours about nonsensical things we would have felt foolish to broach in daylight. My constant inner playlist, his obsession with cleanliness, the most recent Star Wars movie. There was no rhyme or reason to the flow of conversation. It was fluid and sweet and reminded me of slumber parties from my youth. Until he kissed the top of my head. I’d smiled up at him then returned his kiss with fervor, using my tongue and then my body. Tender kisses morphed into gentle stroking. We shed the rest of our clothes and whatever was left of our restraint. Leo pumped his hips against mine, licked me all over, and sucked my cock until I exploded. Then he knelt over me and jacked his swollen dick, shooting cum over my chest before collapsing at my side.

I’d told myself to go home then, but I hadn’t felt that kind of connection with another human in longer than I cared to admit. New York was exciting and invigorating, but it could also be lonely as hell. Somehow I knew Leo understood.

I grabbed my cock through the borrowed briefs and wondered why wearing his underwear was such a turn on. I wanted to be as close to him as possible, to smell him on my skin. We shared a heated look and fuck me, I was hard again.

I licked my lips greedily and reached out to palm his cock through his linen blend trousers. “Let me suck you before you go. Please.”

Leo’s nostrils flared. “I have a meeting, Reeve. I can’t—”

“You don’t have to do anything. Just enjoy. Stand up.”

He hesitated for a moment then obeyed, threading his belt through the loop then unbuttoning and unzipping his suit pants. I batted his hand away when he started to pull his boxer briefs down. I wanted to do the honors. I molded the fabric over the outline of his prick and ran my tongue along his length a couple of times before freeing him. I gripped him firmly, swiping my thumb through the precum pooling at the tip. I glanced up to make sure he was watching when I sucked it clean and moaned with pleasure. He tasted so damn good. Leo grunted something unintelligible above me then grabbed my hair. I got the message.

I pumped his cock, licking his balls into my mouth one at a time before finally swallowing him whole. I loved sucking dick and though I hadn’t had much practice recently, I was pretty damn good at it. I massaged Leo’s balls while I bobbed my head. He raked his fingers through my hair and rocked his hips, slowly at first. When he could tell I’d found my rhythm, he fucked my mouth and showered me with some of the sexiest dirty talk I’d ever heard. I freed my dick and stroked in earnest as I worked him over.

“You’re such a good cocksucker, baby. I want to fuck you and—”

I released him with a pop. “Do it. Please. Fuck me.”

“But—”

“I have a condom in my wallet and a packet of lube. We don’t have to stop. And…I want you. I want to know what you feel like inside me.”

Leo looked speechless for a moment. He finally nodded then pushed his pants down his legs, kicked off his shoes and motioned for me to turn around. I scrambled to retrieve the supplies first, then I knelt on the sofa and wiggled my ass at the half-dressed executive behind me. Leo kneaded my flesh and pulled my cheeks apart. He tapped his cock just above my hole and slid his length along my crack enticingly. I was two seconds from begging when he stopped to rip open the condom and lube. I stroked myself while I waited, rubbing precum over my shaft at each pass. I hadn’t been this close to the edge since…well, last night. But I was greedy. I wanted it all.

I jolted when cool, slick fingers slid over my entrance and then pushed inside. Leo soothed me with sweet nothings or flat out dirty talk while he stretched me open with one digit and then another. When he pushed a third in, I reached back and grabbed his wrist.

“Fuck me. I’m ready.”

He grunted appreciatively as he withdrew his fingers and immediately set his sheathed cock at my hole and made his way slowly inside me. Inch by inch, giving me a chance to acclimate to his girth. I swiveled my hips to let him know I was ready. Leo pulled out almost all the way then surged forward again and again.

“Oh. That’s so good. More, Leo. More.”

He gripped my ass and rocked his hips a few times as though testing my readiness before he let loose. He fucked me relentlessly. I spread my legs wider and steadied myself on the sofa cushion to avoid toppling sideways as he pumped his hips, driving into me with abandon and sending us both to the brink. When I slipped my hand between us to touch his balls as they slapped my ass, he growled.

“I’m gonna come.”

“Yes. Do it,” I cried out.

Leo came with a roar a moment later. He shook with the effort to remain upright. Tension radiated through me as I tried to hold on and not come all over his sofa. When he finally disengaged, I flipped over to lie back on the sofa on the edge of the cushion then spread my legs wide and reached to touch my hole as I jerked myself off. Leo leaned down to lick my length then he pushed three fingers inside me and bam! My orgasm ripped through me, sending shivers along my spine as cum spurted up my chest and over my hand.

We stared at each other with matching goofy smiles as we struggled to catch our breaths.

“Wow. I’m going to be really fucking late,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re not sorry.”

I chuckled. “You’re right. I’m not. Can I borrow another pair of boxers?”

“Help yourself.” Leo sucked in a gulp of air then bent to kiss me, lingering for a moment to slide his tongue over mine. He hummed into my mouth. “You taste like sex.”

“That’s not a bad thing.”

“No, it’s a very good thing.” He kissed me again before stepping aside to examine the damage. “I’m going to clean up and tell my driver I’m ready.”

“Okay,” I said, swirling my forefinger through the mess on my stomach. “Thank you. I guess this is good-bye.”

Leo captured my wrist and licked my finger clean then bit it. “No. No more good-byes. I want to see you again. I’ll call you later. Make sure you pick up the phone.”

“I will.”

This time when he smiled, I felt it like a physical touch or a ray of sunlight on my face. Something comforting and real.

Okay, so maybe my imagination kicked into high gear after a few shared orgasms. It wouldn’t be the first time. I cautioned myself not to read too much into last night or this morning. But it was silly not to admit I liked Leo, and I really hadn’t expected to.