Read With Abandon: With or Without, Book 3 Online

Authors: J. L. Langley

Tags: #Romance

With Abandon: With or Without, Book 3 (8 page)

BOOK: With Abandon: With or Without, Book 3
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Aubrey kissed Matt on the lips and looked at Tara. His scent proclaimed him embarrassed and nervous. It was no surprise when he pulled out a dart pistol tucked into his waistband and shot her with it.

“You bastard,” she growled and dove for her abandoned gun.

Matt was in the middle of a war, being pelted with little foam bullets. Laughing, he jumped off the stool and dove behind the island. “No fair. I’m unarmed.” If he could get the Nerf machine gun Aubrey left on the couch… Glancing around the edge of the bar, he looked for the other two combatants.

Aubrey peeked around the dining room table and saw Matt looking. His eyes twinkled. “Do you really think you’re fast enough?”

Matt didn’t answer. He took off across the floor headed toward the couch.

Aubrey closed in behind him.

Darts flew at them both from the foyer.

As Matt reached the gun on the couch, Aubrey hit him in the back, taking him to the ground between the couch and coffee table. The gun clattered to the wood floor in front of them, and Aubrey scrambled over the top of Matt to grab it.

Crawling forward, Matt gripped the plastic handle at the same time. Laughing, they ended up rolling into the coffee table. Somehow Matt landed on his back, holding the machine gun over his head out of his mate’s reach.

“Using the height advantage, eh?” Aubrey stared down at Matt, face-to-face. “You have long damned arms.”

Matt chuckled. “Yep, what’s it to you, shorty?”

Aubrey grinned. “Shorty?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

Aubrey narrowed his eyes and arched one golden brow. He straddled Matt’s hips. Before Matt could wonder what he was about, Aubrey sat up and began tickling him.

Matt was used to playing with his brothers and guarding himself against tickle fights, but he never would’ve thought Aubrey had it in him. Matt laughed so hard he could barely breathe. He loved seeing his mate like this. It made Matt’s heart swell. He could put up with a lot for this.

Abruptly, Aubrey stopped tickling him and his mirth faded. He stared at Matt for several seconds before leaning forward.

Matt stared back, caught by the fire in those blue eyes. A little tingle started in his stomach, and his breath hitched. He couldn’t have looked away if he wanted to.

Aubrey’s erection mashed into Matt’s belly and he slanted his mouth over Matt’s. He fed a loud, rugged groan between Matt’s lips along with his tongue. The weight of Aubrey’s body was an erotic treat. It was as exciting as it was comforting.

Clutching his mate’s back, Matt returned the kiss with equal abandon. His own cock hardened, and his balls drew taut. Pushing his hips up to try and get more pressure only intensified the feeling.

As suddenly as the kiss started, it ended. Aubrey sat up and glared over the couch, rubbing his ear.

Dazed, Matt panted for breath. No. He didn’t want it to end.

“I’m just protecting Matt’s virtue.” Tara giggled.

Aubrey growled at her before standing and holding his hand down to Matt.

Matt stared at the hand, trying to get his mind to start working again. He was so hard he was going to explode.

“Now she’s playing chaperone? I thought she wanted us together.” Aubrey’s voice was low and rough…sexy.

“I do. And I’m never opposed to two hot guys making out, but…ewww. It’s like watching my brother, well if I had a brother.”

Matt barely registered Tara’s objection. What had he done?
He’d totally forgotten his vow to abstain from sex until he knew Aubrey better. His normal levelheadedness and rational thinking had deserted him. It was kind of scary how overwhelmed he’d been. He’d completely lost control. Just like his dad. His dad always talked a good game about how he was going to lay down the law to Mom…until she got him alone. Matt wasn’t going to be one of those guys who thought with their dicks.

Matt chuckled nervously. “Should we be insulted or honored?”

He owed Tara one.

Chapter Seven

 

With a raging boner that was becoming his normal state, Aubrey stared at his laptop screen without really seeing it. Keeping away from Matt plain sucked. He kept remembering Matt playing with him and calling him shorty. Aubrey grinned. No one called him short. Not that he had a Napoleon complex or anything, but given who he was, the power he wielded in business and in his pack, people just didn’t do it. It hadn’t fazed Matt though. It was refreshing and made Aubrey’s chest swell with pride. No wonder Aubrey had gotten carried away and practically molested Matt in the middle of the living room floor. Gawd, his prick ached just thinking about it.

Aubrey turned his chair to stare out the window behind him. The way Matt had looked at him, so open and in awe like he could see through everything right into Aubrey’s very soul, had made something in Aubrey snap. That look could be dangerous. He wanted that. Even knowing it couldn’t be permanent, he longed to have someone who understood him so well.

Matt had forgotten all about wanting to wait last night. Oh boy had he. Aubrey rubbed his prick through the thin pinstriped suit pants. Had Tee not been there to shoot him in the ear, he was certain he and Matt would have been naked in a matter of minutes. Matt had been a wild man, pressing up against Aubrey, moaning into his mouth and clawing at his back. Aubrey shivered. God help him when he finally got his mate in bed. They’d both go up in flames.

A soft knock rapped on the door.

Aubrey jerked his hand away from himself. Man, he was going to have to find some time alone this evening. It wasn’t like him to be this wound up at work. In fact, he’d been here three hours and hadn’t accomplished a damned thing. “Come in.”

The door cracked open and Eleanor, the assistant manager of the Atlanta Buchanan where Aubrey’s office was housed, peeked in. “There’s a package for you. It was left at the front desk. The concierge signed for it.” She came forward, holding out a small cardboard box toward him. “I also have some messages. The operator has been directing your calls to me.” She laid several pink slips of paper on his desk as she passed the package to him.

“Oh, that was fast.” Aubrey smiled, already knowing what was in the box. He’d ordered it late last night with next-day delivery, but he’d expected it to be sometime tonight when the package arrived.

“If you’ll give me a few tips, I can make appointments for you. I’ve had several calls in that regard today. Something about the renovations?”

Oh man, he needed to hire a new assistant. Eleanor had been doing things for him since his EA quit. It wasn’t fair for her to have to do two full-time jobs. “Remind me to give you a bonus.”

She smiled. “I can do that.”

Aubrey chuckled. “Don’t worry about the appointments. Just have the front desk take messages and I’ll call them all back.”

“Will do. Let me know if you need anything.” With a wave, she left his office, closing the door behind her.

Aubrey pulled his top drawer open and found a letter opener. Putting the box into his lap, he cut the tape. What would Matt think of this? He liked gadgets. He’d used the towel warmer every day since Aubrey showed it to him, and he constantly fiddled with the automatic hand sanitizer dispenser in the kitchen. Matt had the most germ-free hands in Georgia.

The door opened and clicked shut immediately.

Aubrey jerked his attention from his task, just as the scent of fear sucker-punched him.

Carson plastered his back against the door. He was dressed as elegantly as ever, without a hair out of place, but his face was drawn and there were bags under his eyes. The feeling of impending doom skittered up Aubrey’s neck. What was Carson doing here in Atlanta again this soon? He lived and worked in Macon. Hadn’t Aubrey told him to call in sick?

“Are you okay?”

Taking a deep breath, Carson nodded. “I know you told me to call in today too and I did, but I had to go to my office and get some stuff.”

“And?” This didn’t sound good.

“And he cornered me.”

Aubrey was beginning to wonder about Boskie’s sanity. Then again, maybe it was just balls. Boskie had a lot of balls. He thought he was above the rules.

“I don’t even know how he knew I was there unless he had someone call him when I came in. He keeps calling me and coming to my apartment. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m ready to move. I can’t work at the Macon hotel with his office being there. It just won’t work.” His shoulders slumped, and he heaved a sigh. “I fucked up big time. I’m sorry to lay all this on you, but I don’t know what to do. And I heard him trying to talk someone out of those changes you want to implement and—” He shrugged. “I had to tell you. That’s why I’m here.”

“Whoa, back up. When did you hear this? Start from the beginning. Get over here and stop clinging to the door like someone’s going to bust it down any minute. Wait.” Aubrey sniffed but didn’t smell the other wolf. “He’s not following you, is he?” Maybe this was way more serious than Aubrey had first thought. Was Carson actually scared for his life? Or just his job? And what did this have to do with Aubrey’s changes?

“No. He didn’t follow me here, at least I don’t think he did, but he has been following me. He told me flat out that I wasn’t in a position to refuse him anything. And he wasn’t allowing me,
allowing me
…”
Carson’s voice took on a higher pitch and quivered slightly, “…to call our relationship quits. Can you believe that?”

“Actually, yeah.” Aubrey motioned for him to come sit in the seat opposite the desk. He took his glasses off, laid them on the desk and went back to opening the box. “Boskie is a competitive bastard and hates being told no. He’s a control freak.”

“No shit.” Carson flopped down in the seat. “Wish I’d known that when I agreed to let him fuck me.”

“The beginning, Carson. Start at the beginning. What happened today when you went in to your office? I assume he’s been calling all weekend?”

Carson nodded. “And coming by my apartment.”

For the second time in less than an hour a pang of guilt hit Aubrey. This mess wasn’t his fault, but he fully admitted it could’ve easily been him in this situation. He knew better than to get involved with a coworker just like Carson did. But maybe because he and Carson had gotten along so well, Carson thought it could work with someone else?

“Okay, I went into the office to get some papers I needed to look over. The invoices for the changes in the lobby you’re making. Well, next thing I know Orin has me bent over the desk with my hands wrenched up behind my back. He was hard as a damned rock and making certain I felt it. He told me to quit acting like a child and stop ignoring him. In no uncertain terms he made it clear that I had no choice in the matter and that we were going to continue seeing one another.”

This was seriously fucked up. Aubrey wondered briefly if he should tackle this problem through the pack. He motioned for Carson to continue and set the box with Matt’s gift on his desk.

“Then his cell phone rang and he let go of me. He started talking to someone about how he didn’t think the changes were necessary and that money would be better spent opening new hotels. I didn’t stick around after that. He got caught up in his call, and I made a break for it.”

It wasn’t a surprise Boskie didn’t agree with Aubrey’s proposal. He’d said as much to Aubrey’s face. At this point, Aubrey didn’t think that Orin had connected Aubrey and Carson’s association, or rather former association, but— “Does he know about us?”

“No!” Carson shook his head vehemently, mussing his hair. “Oh man, no way would I tell someone about you. I swear it.” Carson dipped his head again and blushed. “I didn’t mean to tell Matt, it just kind of slipped out because I thought the two of you were lovers.”

Carson didn’t have the usual telltale signs of lying. His scent hadn’t changed. It still didn’t fix the problem though.

Aubrey was going to have to tread carefully with Boskie. He couldn’t have his CEO, not to mention a pack member, threatening people. Keeping an eye on Carson seemed the best way to deal with this at present. Maybe if Carson was out of sight things would calm down? Aubrey mentally patted himself on the back.
My man, you’re a genius.
“Are you serious about relocating?”

“Yes. At this rate, yes.” Carson’s voice dropped to a whisper. “He scares me.”

“I need a new Executive Assistant.”

“Lateral move?”

“No, a promotion. I’ll give you a raise and a relocation budget.” It was a smart move and not just to keep an eye on Carson and ensure their former relationship stayed a secret. Aubrey could see Carson as a CEO of Reynolds Inc. in a few years. The man’s record spoke for itself and Carson already had his MBA. On top of all that, Aubrey could trust Carson. This current predicament notwithstanding, Carson made good decisions and worked hard.

“You’ll be able to learn the executive side of things at Reynolds Inc. If you want to advance, I think it’s a smart move, more visible. And Boskie won’t bother you if you’re working for me directly.” At least Aubrey hoped not. If he did, Aubrey was going to have to escalate things within the pack and deal with this as a werewolf issue. He couldn’t tell Carson that though.

“Seriously?” An expression that bordered on astonishment and gratitude lit the younger man’s face. For the first time since he entered the office he relaxed a little.

“Yes. You’re more than qualified. You can do more than a regular EA, and I plan on using you accordingly. It’s a win-win for both of us.”

Carson gave Aubrey a wobbly smile, but his scent proclaimed relief. “Thank you. I don’t know what to say… I— Thank you. I promise you won’t be sorry.”

“I know. Start looking into a place to live here in Atlanta. You can use a suite here at The Buchanan until you find something. I want you to start as soon as possible. I’ll handle everything with the Macon branch and talk to the manager.”

Everyone knew Aubrey was looking for a new EA. It made sense someone from within would apply. Boskie had no reason to push things further. All that sounded reasonable. Aubrey just hoped it worked.

Carson leaned forward, trying to peer in the box. “What is that?”

“A color identifier.” Aubrey dug through the foam peanuts and pulled out the little black box.

“What?” Carson looked at Aubrey like he’d sprouted another head.

“I bought it for Matt. You point this end at something and it will tell you the color.” He pointed the gadget at his tie and pushed the button.

“Dark red,” the electronic voice announced.

Oh, that’s too cool.
Aubrey grinned. The question was, who was going to drive who crazy with it? He pointed it at Carson’s shirt and pushed the button.

“Pale gray.”

Carson chuckled. “Yeah, you definitely need help. I’ll start by ordering Matt flowers from you or something.”

Aubrey froze with the identifier halfway to his own shirt. That was exactly what he didn’t need. There could be no hint of a relationship with Matt. “As far as anyone knows Matthew is my roommate. A friend of my brother’s who needed a place to stay while going to college.”

He set the black box down and sank into his chair. “Go home and get what you need to be at work tomorrow. I’ll call downstairs and arrange a suite for your use.”

As Carson left, Aubrey laid his head back on his chair and stared up at the ceiling. His conscience ate at him. He should be looking for a wife, not playing with Matt. Was it so bad that he wanted to enjoy Matt for a little bit? He could let Matt go when the time came. He had no choice, and he always did what had to be done.

 

“Do you know any gay bars in the area?”

Matt completely missed the last step out of the lecture hall and would’ve face-planted if Jordan hadn’t grabbed his arm to steady him. Not only had he not expected that question, he hadn’t realized Jordan was gay. “Um, no. Sorry not my thing.” Maybe he was prudish, but going to a bar to pick up guys was as foreign to him as ballet or opera. Did he seem like the type to do such a thing?

Letting go of Matt’s arm, Jordan frowned. “Aren’t you gay?”

“Uh, yeah. I’m not into the whole bar scene though.” Matt frowned.
Why does everyone seem to know I’m gay? First Keaton, now Jordan.
“I didn’t know you were gay.”

Jordan shrugged. “I’m bi, I guess.” Holding the door, he let Matt go outside first. “Don’t tell me you’re saving yourself for your mate or something.”

With my parents as role models?
Hell, yes.
Matt snorted and tilted his head toward the gray, gloomy sky.

“Hey, to each their own. I just figured I’d have fun while I was here before I go home and have to get married.” Jordan’s tone was on the cynical side in Matt’s opinion.

Matt jerked his attention from the darkening clouds to Jordan. “You’re getting married? You have a mate back home?” Matt hadn’t thought he did, but if Jordan were getting married…

“No.” Jordan blinked. “I haven’t actually picked out a wife or anything, I just know I’m going to when I get home. I’ve got to have kids and a family. It’s what’s expected…ya know?” Jordan paused for a second. “Besides, my mate is dead.” He gasped and shook his head, like he’d surprised himself. He flushed and rubbed his arms. “Wow, it’s getting cooler.” He rushed on like he hadn’t seconds before revealed such a heartrending personal thing.

BOOK: With Abandon: With or Without, Book 3
8.79Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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