Page 82 of Just Business

Fuck that.“And a sadist. And a Jew. And a cripple.” He threw the last word like a cudgel. “And much more, besides.”

Justin said nothing, but his chest heaved.

“You sayDomlike anyone with dominant tendencies is the same. I know you’re not stupid enough to believe that, Justin.” His name felt like ash in Eli’s throat.

Ash was about the color of Justin’s skin, too. “Funny, I’m pretty sure you think me a flaming idiot, the way you treated me.”

“The way I—?” His voice broke when the anger took over. “When did Ievermistreat you? I don’t do that shit.” Because it was horrible and hideous.

Justin stepped forward and Eli’s back hit the edge of the balcony. “You expected everything from me. Expected me to be your whore.”

Where the hell was this coming from? “No, I... never.” He didn’t take. He never took, not without a signal. Approval. “You’re mistaking me for someone else again.”

“Am I?”

“Yes.” Most certainly. “If you’d paidanyattention at all, you’d know that!”

“I paid plenty attention. Paid in so many ways, too.” They were inches apart now. Eli’s heart slammed against his chest. Fury and something else blazed in Justin. “Theworstbit is that I still want you. After all you’ve done, I can’t get you out of my head.”

All that he’d done? His spine hurt from the cold and the press of the balcony edge. “Please get out of my way, Justin.” He didn’t smell any alcohol, but he was willing to bet Justin was a few sheets to the wind.

Rather than move, Justin reached up and touched Eli’s cheek. Tentative and gentle. It did not at all match the expression on Justin’s face. “I want to kiss you.”

No, don’t.But that’s not what slipped out of Eli’s heart. “I won’t stop you.”

Justin did, and Eli didn’t. Like the touch, the kiss was sweet and light and broke every bone in Eli’s body. He caught himself on the balcony edge and his cane clattered to the frosted floor.

Justin pulled back, his eyes too wide and too wet. “Leave me alone.” He turned and left the balcony.

No taste of alcohol. None.

It’s me. I’m the problem.Only one solution. Eli found his footing and picked up his cane. He’d endure the rest of the party, like he’d promised Sam. It was the least he could do, since he was about to renege on their other agreement. Monday would be his last day at S. R. Anderson Consulting, even if it meant losing Sam and Michael, too.

Because Justin needed to be whole, and that required Eli to be gone.

You love him.

More than you can possibly imagine, Michael.

***

By the end of the night, snow coated the roadways, enough that biking from Regent Square to Oakland would be suicidal. Justin shouldn’t have stayed so late, should have left when the first flakes fell. Shouldn’t have kissed Eli.

No matter how much time passed, he still tasted Eli, felt the heat of his body, the press of his cock. Nothing had changed.

He wasn’t going to apologize for what he’d said. And Eli wasn’t going to forgive him for having said it. This would have been easier had they just been fuckbuddies, if things hadn’t been socomplicated. He shoved his hands into his pockets. Walking wasn’t going to be fun, but what choice did he have? He started up Braddock.

“Wait, Justin!” Eli’s voice caught him and he looked back to see Eli limping quickly after him, cane in hand. “Where are you going?”

“Home.”

“You can’t...” He caught up, took a breath. “You can’t walk home in this!” Long wool coat. Ever-present gloves. No hat, though. Snowflakes dotted his hair, white against the black curls.

All Justin had was his suit jacket. “I really don’t have a choice.” He put his back to Eli and marched up the street—and slipped and fell.

Shit. Way to prove Eli’s point.He struggled to his feet.

“Just.” Anguish in his name.“Please.”