Page 29 of Just Business

“You know my home is always open to you.”

“Oh, I know. And it’s been a while. I’ve been... busy.”

“So I hear.” Another pause. “Will it just be you?”

Straight into the important questions. “Yes. Though I do intend to play. I’ll figure out with who when I get there.”

“Excellent. It’s always a treat to watch you. I’m sure you’ll have no end of choices.”

“I’m sure. Thank you, Lyle.”

After a few more pleasantries, he hung up.There. All set.

There were always willing subs at Lyle’s. Finding the one he wanted... That was another story.You know who you want.

That temptation sat across the hall. Eli rose, wincing at the stiffness in his leg. Not as much pain. That walk last night—whathadhe been thinking?

He flinched. The accident. The deaths. His parents. Noah. Justin. All tumbling in his head.

Eli sighed, shook out his leg, and hobbled to the door. Opening it would calm Sam as well.

Justin sat at his desk, focused on his screen, absently biting his lip. He typed something, clicked the mouse. He looked over and gave Eli an unsure smile.

The way things had been this week, Eli couldn’t fault that. Eli nodded and returned to his desk.

Lyle’s party would relieve his physical needs. He’d work out the emotional ones. Eli lowered himself into his chair. Perhaps less painfully next time.

***

Friday could not move fast enough for Justin, nor anyone else in the office, it seemed. Even Sam was twitchy for the weekend. Everyone was upbeat—just ready to get the hell out of the office.

Especially Justin. Kelly had come through and in spades. An invitation to pretty much the best BDSM party in town. Some guy out in the western suburbs. He’d be able to get Eli out of his head, or at least get dominated hard enough to overshadow thoughts of him.

No coldness from the other room today. Might as well be July in Arizona, given the heat coming off Eli. Didn’t help that he wanted to walk into Eli’s office, shut the door, and kneel at his feet. Not even to suck his dick, though that fantasy had played itself out a few dozen times. No, kneeling before Eli feltright.

He’s your coworker.And there wouldn’t be a better job than this, not for some time. That’s why he needed Eli gone from his brain. Helping Mercy mattered. He’d fucked up with Francis. Playing was fine, but not anything beyond that. Especially not with someone with fistfuls of money.

Sam stalked out of his office, jacket in hand. “Lunch.”

Only eleven thirty and not a dollar in Justin’s wallet. “Have a good time.”

“You’re coming with me. The whole office. My treat.”

Justin locked his computer and grabbed his coat. “Magic words.”

Sam left only his chuckle behind as he marched to the back of the office. When Justin peeked into Eli’s office, the master of the house—so to speak—had a look of curiosity.

“Apparently Sam’s taking us all out to lunch.”

“How very kind of him.” Eli rose, took a glove from the edge of the desk, and put it on his left hand. The leather slid down Eli’s elegant fingers and molded to the back of his hand—as if the glove had been tailored to fit exactly those fingers. Sleek and slim. God, how he wanted that hand—covered in leather—around his dick.

How could putting something on be so hot?

Eli smiled. “Something wrong, Mr. White?”

“No, I...” he stammered... and was saved by Sam leading the troops out of the back. Thankfuck. He turned away from Eli and hoped his arousal wasn’t too noticeable.

Sam paused at Eli’s door. “Justin fill you in, E?”