Page 27 of Just Business

Sam laughed. “Well, good.” And then Sam smiled at him. “J, when Eli is finished with you, stop by. I want to go over the Lumendaris expense report.”

“Sure, Sam.” His voice sounded normal, not the moaning mess it wanted to be.

Sam slipped back across the hall.

A cough redirected Justin’s attention to Eli.

“Ready to continue, Mr. White?” One raised eyebrow.

Like fire down his back. Thank God Eli wasn’t wearing his gloves, or Justin would have been a groaning puddle. “Sure, Eli.”

Another stack of folders. Another order. Yet another shower of sparks from his head to his balls.

Well, hehadwanted a warmer Eli. He’d gotten his wish.

***

Eli held out another stack of files. “Far cabinet, bottom drawer. Right side.”

Justin took the folders, his fingers brushing Eli’s hand. The touch seared a path down Eli’s nerves. “Yes, Eli.”

His name on Justin’s lips spun Eli’s head around like a shot of tequila. He stilled the impulse to grab Justin by the shoulders and kiss him.

Justin’s jagged hair flopping over his eyes, his mouth parted with exertion made up for a hellish week of snark, innuendo, and punk posturing. Eli wasn’t blameless for the wall that had gone up between them, but Justin got under his skin. In good and bad andwickedways.

The secrets he wanted to pour out into Justin’s ear. The trust he wanted to give. The things he wanted to do to that fine, slim body. All of it dangerous and heady. At least his leg hurt less now. His cock, on the other hand...

He wasn’t alone in being turned on, however. The bulge in Justin’s jeans gave away what kneeling at Eli’s feet cost him.

WasJustin a submissive? Certainly acted like one, down to the little shudder when Eli ordered him across the floor. But a reaction didn’t mean Justin was into the Scene—just that he was turned on. In any case, whatever was between them should go no further than this. Opening himself up to another was like handing them Pandora’s box. Eli didn’t wish that on anyone.

Justin filed the folders and came crawling back. “Any more?”

“Just two stacks.” Pity. He could watch Justin on all fours all day. Given the desire carved into Justin’s trembling body and the need written in those blue eyes, Justin would have obliged.

There was more in Justin’s expression—a relaxation not born of any submissive kink, but from relief overcoming worry. That pulled at Eli’s heart. Beyond the delightful vision of Justin on his knees was the truth of why he knelt there: Justincared, and without the pity Eli loathed and rejected.

“Third cabinet down. Bottom drawer. Middle. Make sure you have the right place. Lots of Smiths.”

Justin’s smile stole the air from Eli’s lungs. Justin had managed to twine his way around Eli’s rejection of help and give assistance anyway. Eli knew why—Justin’s sister. He didn’t talk much about her and Eli didn’t pry, but he knew enough. Went to war with legs, came back without. Guilt stiffened Eli’s muscles.

Where did he get off complaining when he still could walk? He wasn’t a hero. He’d been a kid in the wrong car on the wrong night—and survived when no one else had, including his first boyfriend.

And whenthatrelationship had been revealed, his parents had screwed over Noah’s parents, all under the guise of doing the right thing. Bitterness rose into his mouth.

“Eli?”

Breath left him. His office, files in hand. Justin sat on his heels, anxiety overtaking relaxation and arousal.

“Sorry. Lost in thought.”

Justin pressed his lips together and a flicker of sadness lit in his eyes. All Eli wanted to do was cup Justin’s cheek and stroke his frown away.Not for me. Don’t worry about me.

He gripped the file tighter. “Thank you for this.”

A flush rose in Justin. “It’s nothing.”

It was everything. Eli handed the last stack. “This one’s easy.” He kicked the nearest cabinet with his good leg.