Page 44 of Body Check

Gavin winced. Okay. Fair. Both points were, really. “Do you trust I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize your career?”

“Intentionally? Of course not. But if someone doesn’t like us being involved, you’re not the one who’s out on his ass.”

Huffing, Gavin sat back. “I am technically your boss. I assure you, this could come back to bite me in the ass too.”

“True,” Dakota conceded. “But that doesn’t change my risk.”

Gavin sighed. “I get that. And I mean it, if you don’t want to risk it, I understand. But Dakota, you can’t deny how fucking hot we were together.”

“I’m not denying anything,” he protested. “But that was one night. Even if I put all the work stuff aside, we’re still mismatched. We’re both tops, or close enough to it, and I don’t see this working out well long-term. I know exactly how it’ll go. You’ll get fed up with not getting your dick in me and we’ll start arguing about it and then it’ll go from fun to being a chore.”

“Wow you’re cynical,” Gavin said.

“I’ve been there too many times, Gavin.”

“Hey, I get that guys have been a dick about it in the past,” Gavin acknowledged. “And you don’t want to bottom? That’s no problem. We both have lips, both have mouths and hands and thighs. If you think we can’t fuck each other without my dick going in your ass, thenyou’rethe inflexible one here.”

He let his hand settle on Dakota’s thigh, squeezing lightly.

Dakota’s gulp was audible. “Itisgetting pretty … hot in here all of a sudden.”

Gavin smirked. “Then how about we leave the hot tub and go find another room to steam up?”

NINE

“I have a better idea,” Dakota rasped as he surged to his feet, disrupting the surface of the water and making it splash out of the spa. “How about we find something closer?”

Gavin made a surprised noise but he followed on Dakota’s heels as he got out of the spa and strode across the pool deck.

Dakota’s heart beat fast as he ducked into one of the cabanas and fumbled for the ties holding back the heavy curtains that draped from the roof of the structure. He assumed they were designed for patrons wanting to get out of the sun and each one was separated by slatted wooden walls and greenery hedges on both sides.

Perfectly private, especially at this time of night, with no one around.

Dakota tugged the curtains closed, plunging the inside of the cabana into darkness. The far wall had windows built in, affording panoramic views of the city beyond. Below the windows there were L-shaped outdoor sectionals with plushcushions and all Dakota could think about was how much he wanted to be pressed between them and Gavin’s wet, hard body.

The moment Dakota turned back to face Gavin, he stepped forward. His mouth was hot and hungry as he kissed Dakota, sliding a hand into Dakota’s hair and getting a solid grip on it.

Dakota moaned softly.

“Yeah? You like that?”

Dakota responded by kissing him harder.

One hookup had been dangerous enough. Turning it into a regular thing was crazy and reckless and probably a terrible idea, but Gavin had been right. There had been a certain energy between them lately, a low thrum that sparked into something bright and sharp and hot every time they got close.

Last night had proven how explosive that could be.

Dakota reached out, gripping Gavin’s hip, his skin wet and cool beneath his fingers.

Dakota thumbed across one of Gavin’s prominent nipples, making him hiss. He smiled against Gavin’s mouth, and Gavin chuckled, low in his throat.

“You go right after what you want, don’t you?” There was something frank and admiring in his tone.

Dakota shrugged. He liked the idea of Gavin thinking that about him anyway, even if it felt like it had been years since he’d truly done that. Truly been wild.

“What doyouwant?” Dakota shot back.

“I want to know what you sound like when I make you come. It was too loud in the club to really hear.”

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