I Spy a Dark Obsession

anymore, though.”

“Why not?”

“I’m no longer in the field. I’m an office drone.”

“That’s hardly fair when you’re in just as much danger as you were before,” she said, scowling.

“I’d get extra money if I went on assignment, but that doesn’t happen often in my position.” He grinned. “You’re pretty when you’re huffy. And I shouldn’t have said that out loud.”

“Hey, you won’t hear me complain about receiving a compliment from a sexy man, whether he’s my boss or not.” She gave him a pointed look, the meaning of which was perfectly clear. “And I shouldn’t have said that out loud. Do you mind that I did?”

“Not at all,” he managed. While his looks wouldn’t break a mirror, it was on the tip of his tongue to say he was far from sexy, but he didn’t want her to think he was fishing. After picking at his salad for a minute, he asked, “We’re friends, right?”

“Of course. We have been for a while, and it’s not like this is the first time we’ve caught lunch together.” Cocking her head, she looked at him in open curiosity. “Why do you ask?”

“But it’s the first time we’ve ever eaten alone and enjoyed any sort of privacy. Now I’m wondering why we haven’t before.”

“It is rather nice, isn’t it?” She smiled.

“Very.” He hesitated. “Is it just me, or does it feel like something is… changing. Between us.”

Abandoning her fork, she reached over and laid her hand on his. “I feel it, too. To be honest, I’ve always admired you. Not just physically, but for your strength of character. How you treat others and how people look up to you. Anyone in this building would put themselves between you and a bullet, and not just because it’s their job. Not everyone inspires that sort of loyalty, but you do. And I find that very sexy.”

He squirmed inwardly at the praise and thrilled to it, as well. Not that he believed he was so great, but that someone else did. Hell, he was only human — sometimes a man needed to hear how much he meant to someone. And be shown. His lonely soul soaked up her words and the open expression on her lovely face. The heat was back in her eyes, too, along with a hint of challenge. His cock leapt, defying his iron control and finally growing to full hardness in his pants, not giving a damn that he was her boss and shouldn’t mess around with an employee. Friend or not.

His voice was husky. “All those same things are true about you. Plus you’re smart and confident, a straight shooter who goes the extra mile for your friends and coworkers. Look how you came to see me after I wrecked —”

“No,” she interrupted, scooting her chair close so their knees touched. “Making sure a friend is okay isn’t extra. It’s just what you do when you care. And I care about you.”

She bent close, and his pulse pounded in anticipation at her clear intent. Their lips touched and he opened himself to the kiss, her sweet taste drowning any remaining inner protests that this wasn’t advisable. His blood throbbed and his balls grew heavy, a wonderful ache that he should try to resist, though now he couldn’t think why.

“Stand up,” she murmured, tugging at his hand.

He didn’t think, simply did as she requested. Because he didn’t want to talk himself out of what she obviously planned as she shoved her chair back and slid to her knees. Reached for his belt.

The buckle proved a bit stubborn, but she unfastened it and went to work on his pants. In seconds, he was standing over her, cock pointing at her face, flushed and eager. Her lips quirked up and she grasped the base, licked away the little drop. Those striking eyes met his as she brought the head to her mouth, took him inside. The sight of his hard flesh disappearing between her lips almost finished things before they began.

“God, that’s good,” he groaned. She hummed around his cock in agreement.

He was greedy for her mouth, the silky suction pulling his brain through his cock. He thrust, slowly at first, then with deeper, faster strokes. Gave himself to the pleasure until the tingle at the base of his spine warned him that release was too close.

“Not yet!” Gently, he coaxed her to let him go. “I want to fuck you, come inside you.”

“Yes,” she rasped, standing. As she reached for the button on her pants, three quick knocks on the door sounded like gunshots.

“Mr. Chevalier?” his secretary called from the other side. “You’re needed in the gym right away.”

He tried to keep the growl of annoyance from his tone. “What for?”

“Fistfight. Marks and Taylor are going at it. Marks apparently shot off his mouth again about something.”

“Goddammit,” he muttered, quickly tucking his flagging erection into his pants. Then he called back, “Tell them I’ll be right there.”

“Will do.”

“Sorry about this,” he said to Katrina, reaching out to brush her plump lower lip with his thumb. Damn, what rotten timing.

“It’s okay. Duty calls.” She sighed.

“Rain check?”

She winked. “If you’re lucky.”

God, he didn’t want to leave. “Stay and finish your lunch if you want. And let me know about tomorrow night.”

“Okay.”

Stealing his resolve, he left before he could change his mind and bend her over the conference table, fistfight be damned.

But there was always tomorrow.

Michael studied his designer-jeans-clad ass in the mirror with a critical eye, gave it a little shake. Not bad for a guy on the long side of his thirties, one entering a new phase of his life.

New phase. How appropriate. He was finally healing after Maggie’s murder, and looking forward to being happy again. What would it take to cross that threshold?

And why did it feel like tonight was crucial to crossing it?

Crazy. Just like these weird feelings he’d been having around Bastian lately. And when Kelly phoned the other day to say someone had tried to take out his friend? He’d almost lost his shit. He couldn’t get to Bastian fast enough, and nothing equaled the relief of seeing him awake and doing relatively fine — though they ended up putting off their club outing for a few days because his friend was too sore by the next day to move much, as Michael had predicted.

And then there was the gorgeous Katrina. Her comment about having two hot guys on her arm had fired his imagination, sending it boldly trekking where it had never ventured before. Two women? Fantastic. But sharing a woman with his best friend, a man he secretly… what? Desired?

Insane. Yet he’d hardly slept the past few nights as a half dozen naughty scenarios involving Katrina and Bastian floated through his mind. Katrina between them, taking them both. One of them doing her with the other watching. To his shock, he’d even pictured Bastian underneath him, Michael powering in and out of his tight channel while Bastian fucked her… And he’d come like a geyser, cock in hand, despite his recent escapades with the twins.

Just a stupid fantasy. It meant nada.

Shoving aside his confusion, he pulled on a dark blue T-shirt and went down to meet Bastian outside. His friend wasn’t there yet. His driver, who was one of his private-security men, waited beside the Mercedes limousine that Michael rarely used. That would have to change for a while, since the sturdy vehicle, with its bulletproof windows, was safe enough to transport royalty.

Once they were under way, one of his SHADO agents would follow at a discreet distance, ready in the event of trouble. Michael and Bastian were armed, as well, and wore their guns strapped to their ankles, hidden under their pants. All of this fuss for an evening out. It hardly seemed worth the effort, but maybe he’d change his mind.

The second Bastian exited the front door and started down the steps, he did just that. His friend wore a pair of black leather pants that must’ve been airbrushed onto his lean body, and a black mesh shirt. As the man stopped