Page 14 of Just Business

“And yes, Ping-Pong is fine,” Sam said. “Even Eli takes a break once in a while.”

The look of incredulity. Justin must have practiced that one for ages. “But not for Ping-Pong.” Eli tapped his leg with his cane.

“Then what?” Curiosity in Justin’s voice.

“Macramé.”

Justin laughed, though. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Not at all. I find tying knots into rope very soothing.” Especially when wrapped around limbs and torsos.

Justin’s smile faded as color rose up his neck.Yes, Justin. Imagine that for a moment.“And speaking of knotty issues, I need to go finish taking apart a proposal.” Eli turned his attention to Sam. “If you no longer need me?”

“No, thanks, E.”

Eli rose and turned from Justin, partly to cover his arousal, but mostly because Justin wore a look that made Eli want to stroke his cheek. “Door open or closed?”

Sam also had an interesting expression, one that said he would pay Eli a visit later. “Open’s fine.” Eli crossed the hall to his office.

Challenge accepted. They would both see how that went.

***

When Eli left, Justin could breathe a bit easier. He looked up at Sam. “Macramé?”

Sam shrugged. “You’ll need to ask him.”

That didn’t help the movie playing in Justin’s head, the one where Eli wrapped rope around Justin’s hands. As if Justin would let him. “He hates me.”

“No.” Sam folded his hands into his lap. “Eli rarely speaks to those he dislikes. He certainly doesn’t banter with them.”

Well, shit.

“Do you have a problem with Eli?”

Fear leached into Justin’s bones. “No.” He couldn’t afford to lose this job, especially on the first day. “He’s—he seems cold. Sometimes.” When he wasn’t setting Justin on fire with quips and smoldering looks.

“He expects a lot from you.” Sam leaned forward and rested his hands on his desk. “I do as well, for that matter. Eli is exacting, even with me, but fair. You’ll see.”

That sounded like a dismissal. “So after lunch, training with Eli?”

“Yep. That covers it.”

The bathroom fans up here were as silent as owls’ wings. No chance of jacking off. “Guess I should grab lunch.”

“Wise plan.”

Justin stood.Hours with Eli. Wonderful.

***

The forty-five minutes that Justin spent eating Middle Eastern food with engineering blew past far too fast. When they returned to the office, his coworkers disappeared into the back, leaving Justin at the mouth of the lion’s den.

Justin steeled himself and knocked on the doorframe.

A small startle, a final glance at the screen—checking the time, Justin realized—then Eli swung around and smiled. “Right on time.”

That sent a shiver down Justin’s spine. “I did tell you.”