Page 36 of Balance

“Is there a way to verify this?” Jett’s scowl returned, but still Troye remained unfazed.

“Well, you could ask the person who tabled the concept where they acquired it. If you trust your team to be honest with you. Or you could comb through their online activity around the time they brought the concept forward to see where they’d been hanging out. But that only works if they’re using their work computer.”

Jett folded his arms over his chest. He looked up at me and raised an eyebrow.

“What do you think? Do we try honesty, or do we search employee activity profiles?”

“Both,” I replied. “Trust but verify.”

Jett nodded and got back to work. He did pause to look up at Troye. “It was nice meeting you. Make sure that one brings you around more often. And you should take him up on his offer to consult. You had great ideas.”

“I—uh, thank you. It was nice meeting you too.”

I told Jett that I’d call him later and led Troye out of Jett’s office and down a few doors to where mine was. Once inside, I shut the door and Troye’s shoulders dropped. An exhale exploded out of him.

“Is he always like that?” Troye asked.

“Like what? So intense you think he might snap you apart and use your bones for toothpicks? No idea what you’re talking about.” I reeled Troye in and buried my face in the curve of his neck. “I wish you’d come work for me.”

“He says as he fraternizes with the potential employee.”

“It’s my company and I’ll fraternize if I want to. But I noticed you didn’t say no that time. Am I wearing you down?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Just not engaging in that conversation anymore hoping it will stop happening.”

Laughter rumbled out of me, and I pressed an open-mouthed kiss to Troye’s neck. “Okay, I’ll stop asking. If you ever change your mind, though…”

“You’ll be the second person to know.”

“Did you want the grand tour now?”

Troye pulled back and looked up at me, concern making his brow furrow. “Are you sure? You just found out you have a potential spy in the ranks.”

“And there’s no way that it’s you. It’s also highly likely that you’re correct in your assessment that it might have been some obscure internet idea that gained traction and was noticed by another company before it was brought to us.” I wrapped my arms around Troye and let my hands skim down his back to his ass, his hips. I pulled him close to me.

“It’s starting to seem like you might have another idea of what we could do.” Troye’s voice was husky and tinged with need. There was a subtle whine that I was starting to connect with how bad he needed me. The thicker the whine, the greater his need. Right now it was manageable for him, and I wasn’t sure I liked that very much.

“Whenever I get you alone, it’s like all my plans go out the window because I can’t get enough of you.” I turned and flicked the lock on my office door. Maybe Troye was right in his insistence that he shouldn’t work for me. I’d never get anything done if he were here every day to tempt me.

“I hope that’s not a problem for you.”

He gasped when I sank my hand into his hair and tugged his head to the side, opening up his neck for my mouth to explore. I hated winter, and sweaters, and clothing in general. Anything that kept me from getting as close as possible to Troye.

“Here? Now?” He sounded hesitant, but his body pressed closer to mine. He was pliant, his body poised to be obedient for me.

“If you’re not comfortable, I can stop.” I waited for him to answer before continuing.

“Just… will they hear us?” Troye whispered.

“Not if you’re quiet,” I said, my lips brushing his skin. The room was so still I heard the gentle rush of air as it left Troye’s lips. My heart thrummed a steady rhythm in my head, harder and faster and more eager than normal. But that’s just the effect Troye had on me. He made me crazy with desire. He made me want to climb out of my skin and under his. To possess him in ways I’d never thought of. To own him in ways I’d never entertained before.

Even though restraint was hard won, I managed to hold myself back to give him space to think. Heaven knows my brain could barely function when he was near.

“You can say no,” I told him, but Troye grabbed my hips and pulled me close, lining his cock up with mine.

“No, I can’t,” he groaned quietly as I rocked against him, urged on by the way he clung to my hips, his fingers sharp and biting my flesh hard enough to leave marks. I wanted those bruises. I wanted any proof at all that I was his as much as he was mine.

I turned and backed Troye up against the door and pinned him there with my body and then I set about devouring him. My mouth left a trail of kisses up his neck. I tongued his earlobe, teased my hands under the layers I’d dressed him in.