Chapter 19

Present day…

Mo

I adjust my headset and try not to roll my eyes.

Steven is on another tangent, his data no more impressive than it was in the office. This is my first meeting back with the Vancouver team, and even though I'm attending remotely, it's no less painful than it was in person.

"Thus, given our predicament I think it would be best to review the entire fourth quarter." He peers into the camera as if the missing data is hidden inside.

Idiot.

Unmuting myself, I address the concern every financial advisor present is feeling.

"Have you had a chance to look at the CEO Update, Steven?"

He glares at a spot on his screen, "I don"t have time to read the internal newsletters."

"You should make time. Last month's newsletter informed us that the blimp in our data was the result of a cyber-attack. Once IT resolves the issue, our data should realign itself with the rest of the report."

Leaning back in my seat, I wait for his response with a slow sip of water. I spot Cory's laughing face among the attendance gallery and resist the urge to smirk.

Steven shifts uncomfortably, "I see. In that case, I suppose we can proceed as normal."

"Perfect. Ensure you read all the internal newsletters moving forward." Taking off my headset, I log out of the meeting just in time to hear a knock at my door.

I frown, checking my phone for any guest alerts. Only residents have access to the upper floor so either a delivery guy got confused or one of my neighbours is stopping by for a favour.

Pushing back my chair, I walk out of my home office and open the door.

"Babe, I was thirty seconds from turning around and leaving. You gotta work on that recovery time."

Nico grins and something uncomfortable presses against my chest.

"Morning practice isn't until tomorrow. What do you want, Montez?"

He scans me from head to toe, those dark eyes undressing me every step of the way. A low whistle escapes his mouth.

"I want you out of those clothes. Why are you dressed like my perfect CEO fantasy?"

I raise a brow, "I just finished a meeting."

Nico leans to the side and peers into my apartment.

"You work from home?"

I step to the side, blocking his view, "At the moment I do."

He pulls a face, "Then why are you wearing pants?"

"Excuse me?"

"Your excused." Nico points to my dress pants, the dark material pressed to perfection, "Rule number one of working from home is to never wear pants. You put on a respectable top and rock your birthday suit below. It's the freedom of technology."

"That's ridiculous."

He shrugs, "Not as ridiculous as dressing up when no one will see you."

Irritation builds under my skin and I feel my nostrils flare. Waking up to an empty bed the other day left me in a foul mood and for some reason I'm still not back to normal.

I turn my attention back to the Latino taking up too much of my headspace.

"Why are you here, Montez?"

His smile falters, the arrogant confidence slipping for just a moment.

"I wanted to apologize for slipping out yesterday." I blink in surprise and Nico hurries to continue, "Not that I thought you were looking for a relationship, it's just I felt shitty leaving you like that so… yeah."

I pause, letting the words sink in. If any of my other hookups had pulled this stunt, I would have blocked their ass before they made it back to the lobby. But this feels different.

Nico is different.

"How did you make it past the elevators?"

He shrugs, "Eleanor needed help with her groceries so she signed me in."

I shake my head, "She loves the young ones."

"You're telling me. I'm pretty sure the old bitty coped a feel after we passed the second floor."

A laugh escapes me and Nico's face lights up. The uncomfortable feeling returns, building in my chest until I have to clear my throat and look away.

He shuffles nervously, "Anyways, I better get going. Just wanted to get it off my conscience."

"Right." Nico turns to leave but before he can take another step, I find myself speaking.

"I was just about to make lunch. If you wanted to stay."

He whips back around, that smug smile back on that ridiculous face, "What are you making?"

"Grilled chicken and kale caesar salad."

He pulls a face, following me through the doorway and into the kitchen, "That sounds disgusting."

I roll my eyes, "It's healthy."

"Still disgusting." Hopping up on my granite countertop, Nico takes a glance around my state-of-the-art-kitchen, "New plan: I make lunch and you can pick the music."

"Now we're playing music?"

He grins, "Babe, everything is better with music. Your disgusting lunch menu included."

I stop in my tracks when Nico hops off the counter and starts peeking in all my cupboards. He buzzes around my kitchen, the bright collared shirt hanging loosely over beige joggers. His hips sway to the music not yet playing and for a moment, it's like I'm back at my family home, watching my mother dance around the kitchen.

"Do you like spicy food?" Nico peeks over his shoulder and gives me a cheeky grin, "What am I saying? Of course you do."

Shaking my head, a smile hits my lips as I reach for my phone.

Nico

"Worst sex story. Go."

Maurice glances at me in amusement, "All my sex stories are good ones."

He takes a bite of the delicious curry I managed to whip up with his ultra-healthy food supply and smirks, "Obviously that's not the case for you."

I pout, "Don't be a party-pooper, Maurice. Everyone has a bad sex story."

"I don't."

"You do you just don't want to tell me." I gasp, using my hand to cover my mouth, "Was your first time traumatic?"

He chuckles, "It was fine. By the second round we had figured things out."

I take a scoop of the curry and chew it thoughtfully, "By we, do you mean a girl?"

He nods, "I was fourteen, she was sixteen."

"Scandalous." Taking a sip of my water, I notice Maurice looking at me curiously. I swallow slowly and mentally rejoice when his eyes drop to track the movement.

"When did you know you were gay?"

Pale blue eyes peer into mine and it's all I can do not to grab the nearest napkin and fan myself. Sitting this close to Maurice is doing something to me and I would be lying if I said I didn't like it.

"In second grade when I met Wes." His eyes widen in surprise and I laugh, "It's not what you think. I didn't fall in love with my best friend, although the dimples are super cute."

He lets out a low growl and I feel it all the way to my toes.

"Wes was my first real friend, he stuck up for me when some kid bullied me on the playground and then took me home when my parents were running late. I met his younger sister Lacey a few days later and I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen."

I smile wistfully, "I was convinced I was going to marry her. Every time Wes and I would hangout, I would make an excuse to see Lacey. Eventually I worked up the courage to ask if I could kiss her and when it finally happened…"

"It didn't feel right." Maurice finishes my sentence and I give him a nod.

"Exactly. I was sure there was something wrong with me, so I asked Wes if we could kiss so I could see what I was doing wrong. He was grossed out at first but eventually agreed. Long story short, I got my first boner and Wes ran away to rinse out his mouth with mouthwash."

Maurice looks at me with a frown, "That was surprisingly depressing."

I shrug, "Real life often is." "

My eyes run down the crisp dress shirt molded to that sculpted body and desire pumps through me. Leaning forward, I let my fingers trace the outline of the bicep closest to me.

Maurice tenses, his muscles flexing beneath my hand as I glide my digits up his arm and over his shoulder. The air thickens as our eyes meet, his cold irises flashing at me dangerously.

"Be careful, Montez. It will be harder to slip away when the sun is up."

My heart starts to pound as I let a smirk take over my face.

"Promise?"

He moves before I can think, hauling me into his lap and snagging my lips with his own. Rough hands grab my ass, pressing me tighter against him as I make quick work of that sexy dress shirt. Bare skin meets my hands just as he bites my lip and I gasp, hormones racing through me as his erection presses against my ass.

"That mouth of yours keeps getting you into trouble." Maurice breathes the words into my mouth and I swallow them whole.

"You didn't have a problem with my mouth last time."

Gripping his shoulders like I just found my new favourite climbing cage, I let out a shriek when he picks me up and starts walking us towards the bedroom.

I slap the firm muscle on his shoulder, "Babe, you're starting to emasculate me with all this carrying around."

Maurice smirks, "Do you want me to stop?"

"Hell no." Pulling his lips back to mine, I suck his tongue back into my mouth and don't say another word until Maurice is rolling on top of me.

He strips me quickly and thoroughly, making my skin break out in goosebumps from the fire burning in his eyes. I reach for his pants to help him match my state of undress but he bats away my hands.

I look at him, confused, as he pushes me back down on the bed.

"Not yet."

Planting his lips on my neck, Maurice makes a slow trail down my body, nipping and licking a brand new treasure trail. My dick throbs painfully as he draws near, that devilish mouth of his quickly becoming my new favourite sex toy. I hiss out a breath when he takes ahold of my length, stroking me gently before planting a kiss on the tip of my cock.

Maurice looks up at me from beneath dark lashes and the sight almost makes me come on the spot. He smirks, giving me one good lick from base to tip before sucking me in deep and making me forget my name.

My fingers weave through the silky strands of his perfect hair, the feeling of his wicked tongue against my dick pushing me to the edge far too quickly. I'm just about to finish when Maurice pulls back, popping my dick out of his mouth and flipping me over. My face lands in the pillow as he drags my hips in the air and bites my ass.

"I think this is your best position yet, Montez."

There's a wet smacking sound right before he presses a finger into me. I moan, pushing back against the burning sensation as Maurice hunts for my prostate. He slips another finger in and I start to shake.

"That's my good boy. Get yourself nice and ready for me." Pressing a kiss to my spine, Maurice withdrawals his fingers completely, leaving me achingly empty and harder than I've ever been in my life.

"Fuck me, Maurice." I'm panting against the bed, ass still in the air, "I need you to fuck me right now."

"Mm, I like it when you beg. Do it again."

"Fuck me-

Maurice presses his tongue against my rim and I lose it. Screaming his name, I come all over his expensive sheets until there's nothing left. Heart pounding and body shaking, I'm left a trembling heap, face down on his unbelievably soft comforter.

Panting like I just run a marathon, I roll onto my side and am immediately cocooned by a big, warm body. I sigh, snuggling into the protective shell and wishing with all my heart we could stay like this forever.