Chapter 4

Four

Adrian hated when the code was twitchy, when he didn’t know what was wrong, or why?

He hated it worse when he had to fix it at the office.

Helene had called all-hands-on-deck for the first week of the new boss’s tenure, except now it was Friday night, and he had a bit of code to scrub.

Sucked to be the only guy in his department.

Maybe he should go down to troubleshooting and ask for company.

Someone would come up, he’d bet. Someone who wanted to share a pizza. Or some cookies.

He stood, stretching tall, his back popping. At the very least, he could go get a Coke.

He headed to the break room. The fridge was stocked with soda, energy drinks, protein shakes—all the things. It wasn’t home, but it didn’t suck.

Except that they didn’t have his Dr Pepper, dammit.

That meant the vending machine.

He sighed, pulling his wallet out of his pocket. He really didn’t want to walk down two floors. Or up one.

“Stupid. Just have a Coke.”

But he didn’t want a Coke. He wanted a Dr Pepper.

So he trudged up, because then down would be easier. Maybe no one would be up there to ask for help, but he wouldn’t have to climb all the way back to his office.

He’d just reached the break room upstairs, his card at the ready to get a drink, when he heard an office door open. His scalp prickled. Who could be up here?

He found himself sniffing, his wolf refusing to stay still. Someone smelled rich, musky. Hot. His mouth watered a little, and he wanted to whine.

Except he wasn’t that way. He was just a little city tech wolf. Not a beast of the woods.

“Who’s there?” Footsteps came closer, and he knew that voice. Adrian almost groaned. The new boss.

“Just getting a Coke.” No one but a little tech mouse from RD. No one you want to bother. Shoo.

“Ah.” The boss appeared in the doorway, and the smile that cut across his stern face surprised Adrian utterly. “Adrian. Hello. You’re here late.”

“I am. I have coding to fix.” He didn’t know exactly what to say, but he found himself grinning too. “I was in need of caffeine. You want one? I have more cash.”

“No. No, thank you. In fact, I was coming out because I was about to go grab my supper at the security desk.”

“Oh. Well, I won’t keep you.”

“Would you like to join me? I got enough pizza for three people, but everyone abandoned me.”

“I—” His belly snarled at the thought of pizza.

He closed his eyes. So embarrassing.

“Come on. We’ll take the elevator down. That way it will be nice and hot.”

“Okay.” What was he supposed to say? He was clearly starving. “Unless Willie eats it.”

“The security guy? I ordered him a small deep dish. All the meats.”

“Oh, you so rock!” He loved that, when people were kind.

“He works long and lonely hours. It’s the least I can do.” Symon ushered him into the elevator.

“That’s really cool. Willie has been at this building for years.” Willie was a bear, and he wasn’t particularly into company, but he was warm and protective.

“So I’ve heard from Helene.”

“Oh, is she your informant?”

“She is. She’s a font of useful information.” Symon’s warm hand landed on his lower back, making him jump. It sort of made his tail want to wag.

“She’s a good manager.” But hopefully she was being quiet about them.

“She is. And she loves all of you guys.”

Well, that sounded good, didn’t it?

“I’m glad. She’s cool.” Cool. He was such a dipshit.

“I like her.” They headed into the lobby when the bell dinged, and that was enough pizza for everyone left in the building, not just three people… “Ah, Willie. Did you get your pizza?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

“Can you call the guys in troubleshooting and tell them the pizza is on me?” Symon grabbed two pizza boxes. “Adrian and I will be in the development area if anyone wants to bring another pizza up and join us.”

“You got it. Thank you.” Willie bowed his big head in thanks.

“You are very welcome.”

“I could just take the pizzas down to troubleshooting for you.”

“Oh I would much rather have your company.”

What was he supposed to say to that?

“Well, the break room has a table. It’s comfy.” That was good, right? He was saying the right thing?

He wanted to, because the scent of the boss was heady, making him shudder.

“That’s great.” Symon gave him another glinting grin. Wow. He really was so attractive.

“You’re working late for a Friday…” Go small talk.

“I’m not going to expect the team to do anything I won’t. When Helene called, I came back in.”

“Oh, I’m fixing it. Don’t worry. I’ll be able to work it out.”

“I believe you. I’m just here for support, and I always have work to do. Plus Helene wanted me to see how things happened.”

“Ah. Well, that makes sense.”

Adrian worried that Helene was going to become upper management, like one of the executives. He’d hate to lose her.

“I’m pleased. I want to know the company inside and out. I offered her a promotion, you know.”

“Huh?” He wasn’t sure he was following.

“Helene. She said she’d take on more of the team as a den mother, and she’d take a raise, but not a promotion. She loves you guys.”

“Oh…” He almost teared up. “She’s good to us. Seriously.”

“I can tell. I’m glad you know it, though.” They arrived at the break room, and they had it to themselves. They sat across from each other, and his mouth watered.

“Let’s eat. You’re starving.”

“I ate last night. I just was getting a Coke.” He took a piece as soon as the boss did.

“Last night? That’s twenty-four hours ago.” Symon stared at him. “That’s not good for you, Adrian.”

He did a lot of things that weren’t good for him. “I had coffee. I like coffee and cream.”

“Hmmm.” That frown was a little worrisome, but Symon just opened a pizza box and gave him a cheesy, melty piece.

Oh. God.

It was hot and had just the right amount of spice and meat. He loved it. “Where did you order this?” he asked around a mouthful. “I’ve never had it before.”

“Willie suggested it. Paisano’s?”

“Huh.” He shrugged. They ordered from the menus in the break room. “Well, it’s yum.”

He would swear Symon’s eyes flashed a bright gold for a moment. “It certainly is.”

Except he hadn’t had a bite yet, had he?

Maybe he’d missed it.

He ate, his nose searching for Symon’s scent.

He found it, hotter and spicier than the pizza, and it made him moan. Under his breath, he hoped.

Symon leaned forward, napkin in hand, to wipe his cheek. “A little cheese.”

“Oh. Oh, sorry.” He caught himself turning to nuzzle the touch. What was wrong with him?

He didn’t do this!

He never did this.

Symon watched him, gaze never leaving his. “No, don’t apologize.” Those rough fingers stroked his cheek. Where did a CEO get calluses like that?

“I—” His wolf wanted to wiggle and bark, show his belly. “Is your pizza okay?”

“It’s perfect.” Symon drew back to take a bite. “Salty and spicy.”

“Yes.” Was Symon salty and spicy? Oh, no. No thinking that. “Those are my favorite flavors. I mean, I like sweet, too.”

“So do I.” Symon took another bite, those white teeth tearing at the cheese. It made him flush to watch it, made him feel kind of pervy.

You have to be good, man. You’re a loner. You aren’t a part of a pack. At all.

He licked his lips. Cleared his throat. “So are they all the same? The pizzas?” Because his piece was gone.

“No, there are others. The one here is chicken and jalapeno and feta.”

“Yeah? That sounds yummy, really. Do you want some?” He wanted to watch the boss eat it. He could fantasize about it for weeks.

“Yes. I do.” Symon opened the box and pulled them both out a piece. He bit into it, pulling the cheese long, then lapping it up, and Adrian went instantly hard.

He whimpered, licking his lips like he could taste the big wolf right here.

“Eat up,” Symon told him, watching him like the big hunter he was. He was so effortlessly alpha. So damn commanding. And Adrian wanted him. It was like a porn movie, only prettier.

He hated that about himself. He wanted to ride the huge male like a prized pony.

It was ridiculous and perfect and absolutely delicious.

“This is really good. Spicy.” He covered his confusion with eating.

“Mmmhmm.” Symon leaned toward him across the table. “Very much so.”

Was he panting? He thought he was panting. His entire body wanted to wag. He held himself very still, trying not to give what he was feeling away, but he probably stank of need.

In fact, Symon’s nostrils were twitching. It was no fair.

He choked as he tried to breathe instead of swallow. Whoops.

“Oh, are you okay?” Symon hopped up to come clap him on the back.

He hacked and wheezed, his eyes rolling back at his own stupidity. Classy. Sexy. Go him.

Finally his body let air in, and he whooped for it, breathing deep.

“I got you.” Symon opened his Coke. “Have a sip.”

He drank deep, sucking the drink down. “Please. I’m sorry.”

“No worries. None at all.” Symon rubbed between his shoulder blades gently.

He was so damn embarrassed. God. But that hand felt really good on him, and he wanted to lean into it again. He was such a sucker.

He needed to remember who he was, what he wanted, and what he didn’t.

Symon finally sat back down, then grabbed a slice. “So what went wrong?”

“Went wrong? With the code?” He was so lost.

“Yes. Helene really couldn’t explain it to me, but I want to try to understand everything.” Symon munched, watching him carefully. There was a shrewdness to those eyes. A sharp intelligence.

“There was a bit that seems to have corrupted. Weird, because we just ran it, but it happens. Once I found it, it’s an easy fix. I’m running a test. It shouldn’t take long.”

Symon’s gaze sharpened even more. “Could someone have sabotaged it?”

“What?” His eyebrows went up. “Who? Why?”

“Well, I’ve fired a couple of high-level guys. Do they have loyal people who would do that out of spite?”

His eyes went wide, a low growl escaping him. “They wouldn’t.”

“I don’t know. I mean, I know things corrupt in code all the time. But didn’t your team just roll out a new version that was tested within an inch of its life?” Symon waited, chewing a bite.

“We did. It took me all day to find the little bugger. All day.” Dammit.

“Yeah. I worry, especially about the cat. He had long arms here.”

“Carl? Yeah. He was a dick, and he was like…sneaky.”

“Yes. And he had at least three people quit when I fired him. I just worry someone is still hanging around who decided to fight from within.”

“Well, I’ll go look at the keystrokes.” He’d dig himself up some information and make this shit work.

“That sounds good. I’ll come with you.” Symon boxed the pizza back up.

“You’re sure more hands-on than our last CEO was toward the end of his reign.”

“You have no idea.”

Something about that dark, rich tone in Symon’s voice made him flush deeply and swallow hard.

Work.

Work first.

Then…escape.

Otherwise he was just going to embarrass himself. He always did around alphas. And he’d never met one like this before. No one had ever revved his engine like Symon. Ever.

All he had to do was figure out what had happened, and then…

Well, then, he guessed he would tell Symon who it was.