Speed Dating the Boss

by Sue Brown

  “I don’t care if it’s the mayor himself, I ain’t stopping to talk to anyone else.”

  “They all seem to know you,” Dan pointed out.

  “I know a lot of people,” Gideon agreed.

  Which meant what, exactly? Dan was puzzling on that when Gideon said, “Isn’t that Lena’s friend, with the guy who won’t take no for an answer?” He pointed at Shona and Parker, who seemed to be having some sort of altercation by the elevators. Dan could clearly see the fury on her face. “I’m going over there.”

  Dan shook his head. “Not yet. Shona’s more than capable of taking care of herself. He’ll be lucky to leave with his balls intact.”

  To his amusement, Gideon tugged him behind a large potted plant and pulled Dan against him, his chest plastered to Dan’s back and his breath warm against Dan’s ear. Dan found it strangely intimate to be hidden away behind the foliage. He leaned back against Gideon and watched the encounter unfold.

  “Is she okay?” Gideon asked worriedly.

  “I don’t think she’s the one you need to worry about.”

  Shona faced Parker, her arms folded, and her head held high. Parker appeared to be pleading with her, although Dan couldn’t hear what he was saying. Shona shook her head, and then she stormed off in the direction of the reception room. Parker stood on his own for a moment. Then he shrugged and vanished in the direction of the exit.

  “Hopefully that’s the last we’ll see of him,” Dan said.

  “He’s a weasel.” Gideon nudged Dan out from behind the plant. “I think you promised me a dance?”

  Dan listened to the music coming from the reception room. “You want to dance to ‘The Macarena’?”

  Gideon snorted. “I don’t think so. We can make our own music.”

  “You really are an old romantic, aren’t you?” Dan said it as a joke, but he was surprised when Gideon looked at him a little sadly.

  “Have you only just worked that out?”

  Dan thought about it. “I think… you have many great qualities. You’re a great father, a good boss. You’re kind and generous. But I never got to see this side of you before.”

  Gideon nodded. “That’s fair enough. I’ve always seen myself as romantic. It’s just been a long time since I’ve wanted to show this side of me.”

  Dan really wanted to be the one to see Gideon’s romantic soul. “Take me for this dance.”

  “Come this way.”

  Gideon gestured, and Dan fell into step beside him, not sure where they were going. He didn’t know if Gideon really wanted to dance or if it was a euphemism for fuck, but either would work. He had done his duty for the day, and he wanted to be alone with Gideon.

  But fate seemed determined to throw one more monkey wrench in the works. They had crossed the lobby and were waiting at the elevator when Parker reappeared with a smarmy smile on his face.

  “You guys blowing off this snoozefest? I can’t say I blame you. I’m up for a threesome if you are.”

  Dan stiffened, prepared to turn around and deck Parker if he didn’t get lost. But Gideon turned and smiled at Parker, and if Dan had been on the receiving end of that smile, his blood would have run cold. “I don’t share, and if I did it wouldn’t be with a man like you. If I see your face again, I’m going to file a harassment charge with the police.”

  Parker scowled at him. “I’m not harassing you.”

  “But you are harassing my boyfriend. He’s told you to fuck off, and yet you still come back for more. I don’t know if that makes you desperate or stupid, and I don’t care. I just want you to walk out of this hotel, and I never want to see you again.”

  Parker puffed up like an angry cockerel as he leaned into Gideon’s space. Dan waited for Gideon to lay him out, but Gideon didn’t twitch a finger.

  Then Parker stabbed a finger into Gideon’s chest. “You don’t tell me what to do. If Dan wants to talk to me that’s up to him.”

  “That’s the whole point,” Dan hissed. “I don’t want to talk to you ever again. I’ve tried ignoring you. I’ve told you to get lost. My… boyfriend has asked you nicely to go away. Why won’t you take the hint? I don’t want to see you again. Nor does Shona by the look of it. Go away.”

  Parker’s face was crimson, whether with rage or humiliation, Dan wasn’t sure. He didn’t care. He just wanted Parker out of his life.

  “You think you’ll get better than me?” Parker sneered. “I’m an investment banker. What are you? A thirty-year-old barman with no prospects. And him?” Parker stabbed a finger at Gideon. “He owns a run-down bar in Brooklyn. Why would you choose him over me?”

  “Because I’m not an asshole, for one,” Gideon said.

  “Because I love him,” Dan said at the same time. He felt the wave of red come up his neck at the same time as Gideon and Parker turned to stare at him.

  “You do?” The smile on Gideon’s face was worth all the humiliation.

  “You’re an idiot,” Parker spat.

  “I love you,” Dan said to Gideon, ignoring Parker’s splutters. “I’ve loved you for a long time.”

  Gideon turned to Parker, his smile obnoxiously smug. “That’s the reason you need to fuck off, buddy. He loves me, not you.”

  “He’s an idiot. You’ll never have the portfolio I have.”

  Gideon rolled his eyes. “You really believe a man’s worth is determined by his portfolio? That’s why you’re all alone, and I’m taking home the beau of the ball. He doesn’t care how much money I make. He cares about me and my daughter and my bar.”

  Dan nodded. “You need to look at the big picture, buddy. Another body in your bed is fine for now, but what happens when no one wants to fuck you. Oh right, that’s today, isn’t it? Both me and Shona have turned you down today. Bad luck.”

  “You losers deserve each other,” Parker spat.

  Gideon smiled at Dan, who warmed under his regard. “I really think we do. And one more thing, Parker.”

  “What?”

  “You’re going to have to explain to your boss on Monday morning how you’ve lost your bank one of their biggest clients.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Gideon’s smiled was vicious. “C&A Holdings is your client, I believe?”

  The blood drained from Parker’s face, and Dan thought he might pass out. He wasn’t going to catch him if he did. “How do you know C&A Holdings is my client?”

  “Was your client,” Gideon corrected. “I couldn’t work out where I knew you from until you said you were an investment banker, and then it all fell into place. C&A Holdings is my company, and as of Monday, I’ll be looking for a new bank to manage my investments. I don’t hold out much hope for your promotion prospects when I tell them why I no longer want to do business with them.”

  As if on cue, the elevator doors opened, and Gideon drew Dan inside. “Have a good weekend, Parker. You’re going to need it come Monday.”

  The doors closed on Parker’s horrified face. Gideon stabbed the top button, and the car started to ascend. It was empty apart from them.

  “Was any of that true?” Dan asked.

  “All of it.”

  “So, you’ve got money?”

  “Yup.”

  Dan processed this silently. “A lot of money?”

  “Yup. I inherited most of it from my grandparents.” Gideon looked down at him. “Is that a problem?”

  “I haven’t. Got money, I mean.”

  “I know, darlin’. I don’t care.”

  “I guess that’s why you don’t care what people think of you.”

  “Pretty much,” Gideon agreed. “Money cushions you from other folks’ disapproval.”

  Dan nodded and stared down at his feet.

  “Dan?” Gideon asked gently.

  Dan looked at him. “When were you going to tell me?”

  “When we discussed our wedding plans.”

  “Wedding? Gideon, we haven’t even kissed yet. Properly, I mean. We haven’t even had that dam
ned dance.”

  “I think we can take care of one of those right now.”

  Gideon gently tugged Dan into his arms. “Is it all right if I kiss you now?”

  “What happens if someone gets into the elevator?”

  “They won’t. This one goes to the top floor only.”

  “Of course, it does,” Dan said helplessly, “because why wouldn’t it?”

  Gideon smoothed his hand over Dan’s cheek. “You told me you loved me. I never thought I’d hear you say that.”

  “I wish I’d told you before blurting it out in front of that asshole.”

  “I don’t care if you told the whole world, Daniel Collins. You love me, that’s all that matters.”

  Gideon bent his head and brushed his lips over Dan’s. Dan moaned and dragged Gideon down for a proper kiss, his fingers tangling in Gideon’s thick curls, and aggressively sought entrance to his mouth. Gideon opened up, and Dan eagerly explored as their tongues slid and dueled in an intimate dance. Gideon grabbed Dan’s ass and hauled him close. His hard arousal pushed against Dan’s lower belly.

  The time for cautious exploration was gone. Dan wanted more than light kisses, more than a gentle dance. He wanted the horizontal tango as his old paw-paw used to call it. His grandfather would have approved of Gideon. They broke apart for air, and Dan caught sight of himself in the mirrored walls of the elevator, his eyes wide and filled with need, his lips ravaged and red.

  The elevator doors opened, Gideon leading Dan into the middle of the penthouse. Dan looked around slowly. “You got us a room for the night?”

  “I got us a room to dance,” Gideon corrected.

  “You got a big room for one dance.”

  Gideon held out his hand to Dan. “I was hoping it would turn into more than one dance.”

  Dan curled his fingers around Gideon’s. “We need music.”

  Gideon walked over to a unit where there was an iPod docking station. He set up his phone, and Dan heard the strains of Adele flooding the room.

  “Dan Collins, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?” Gideon held out his hand again.

  Dan took Gideon’s hand and let Gideon twirl him around until he was in Gideon’s arms. Once more he was taking the woman’s role. Oh well, they could argue about that later.

  Chapter 27

  ONE DANCE turned into two and then three. The music got progressively cheesier, and in the end, Dan rested his head in the crook of Gideon’s neck as they shuffled around the room, his arms wrapped loosely around Gideon’s waist. Gideon didn’t seem anxious to push it to the next level. He held Dan, stroked his hair, and occasionally brushed a kiss over his temple.

  As the song came to an end, Gideon stopped their gentle swaying. He placed one finger under Dan’s chin and tilted it so he could kiss him. Dan shuddered, clutched Gideon’s ass and hauled him closer, and opened his mouth for another long kiss that left his toes curling in his fancy dress shoes. From the way Gideon’s arms tightened around him and his moan of pleasure as their tongues met and dueled, Gideon was just as affected.

  Dan slid one hand up to cup the back of Gideon’s neck, and the short hairs prickled his palm. He left the other on Gideon’s tight ass and squeezed, relishing the feel of taut muscle beneath his hand.

  Gideon snorted as he ran his hand over Dan’s head. “You need to grow your hair.”

  “You just want something to hang on to.” Dan had been thinking about growing it out since the barfights had tapered off.

  “I want something to hang on to,” Gideon agreed. Then he kissed Dan hard again.

  And Dan’s shaft pressed insistently against Gideon’s thigh. He rubbed against him because he wanted to take it to the next stage. He didn’t expect Gideon to pick him up. Dan had the choice to struggle or wrap his legs around Gideon’s waist. When he chose the latter, Gideon smiled at him as though he’d hung the moon.

  But Dan, being Dan, had to growl an “I’m not a girl,” even if the thought of Gideon being able to carry him aroused the living fuck out of him.

  “I know that, darlin’.” Gideon’s soothing tone should have stung Dan’s pride, and maybe it did a little, but he didn’t have time to do more than hang on as Gideon took them into a bedroom which was as large as Dan’s entire apartment and deposited Dan on the huge bed. Then he crawled over Dan and pressed him into the mattress.

  Dan stared up at him. “We kinda need to get naked. And no shoes.”

  “I need to ask a question… to know….” Gideon’s hesitancy made Dan frown.

  He ran a finger along Gideon’s cheek. “Ask me anything.”

  “We haven’t talked about if this is okay.”

  “Is this a consent talk? Because I’m grateful an’ all, but I’m not saying no.”

  While Dan had been joking, he realized from Gideon’s serious expression that that had been one of the questions. Dan wasn’t used to being asked if he consented, but it had been all over the media, and it wasn’t the time to laugh at Gideon for taking extra care of him. He smiled, and Gideon gave the briefest of smiles in return, but his gaze was intense.

  “Good, because I really wanna fuck you. Is that okay?”

  “What if I want to fuck you?” Dan liked changing it up. He loved being filled by a cock, and he was just as happy banging a guy’s brains out.

  “You can do what you like, darlin’.”

  Dan knew if he said no, Gideon would accept it without question, but he didn’t want to say no. “I want you inside me, filling me up until I can’t breathe.”

  Gideon’s smile was huge. “Then let’s get naked, because I really need to feel your skin on mine.”

  Dan was fully onboard with that idea, but then he remembered that getting into the tuxedos had been a two-man job. Stripping out of the tuxedos was easier said than done. “I might need some help here, big guy.”

  “I can do that.”

  Dan had never had the experience of being undressed by any man. Gideon took each button slowly, kissed each piece of skin as it was exposed, and nuzzled into the hair on Dan’s chest. Dan remembered his shower, when he’d wondered if Gideon could deal with a furry chest. He didn’t seem to have an issue.

  Then it was Dan’s turn to help Gideon. As he pushed off Gideon’s shirt, Dan nearly swallowed his tongue. Gideon was all man in clothes, but naked, he was a fucking god.

  “Christ,” he whispered as he took in the broad shoulders, chest lightly covered in hair, slim waist, and long legs. His cock was thick and long, and Dan wanted to drop to his knees to taste it.

  “Gideon, or sir, if you want to,” Gideon replied seriously.

  “Sir? In your dreams,” Dan scoffed, because no way was he calling a lover sir.

  Gideon smile was wry. “Ah, Daniel, you don’t know just how many dreams I’ve had about you.”

  “Likewise.”

  They came together in a clash of hands and teeth, mouths desperate to connect again, dicks leaving sticky trails on bellies and thighs. It was hard and needy and left Daniel in no doubt that Gideon wanted him, Daniel Collins, not some nameless lover.

  Gideon tipped them over onto the bed. Dan went down with an Oof, the breath knocked out of him. Dan barely had time to inhale before Gideon kissed him again, and Gideon cradled either side of his face with his large hands. He wasn’t used to tenderness together with desire. It was as though Gideon wanted to wrap him up as well as fuck him into the mattress.

  Dan’s eyes slowly drifted shut. He arched his back as Gideon placed wet sucking kisses down his neck and then along a trail to his left nipple. Dan carded his fingers through Gideon’s thick hair as Gideon licked and toyed with one nipple and then the other. Each pass of his tongue set Dan’s nerve endings on fire, and he rubbed his cock against Gideon, begging for Gideon’s attention.

  He moaned as Gideon wrapped his hand around Dan’s shaft. “More. I want to feel your cock against mine.”

  “Whatever you want, darlin’,” Gideon crooned, and he started a slow jack of thei
r cocks—velvet hardness against velvet hardness.

  Dan wasn’t sure who moaned or whether they both moaned in unison. The angle was strange, but it didn’t matter, because it was Gideon touching him and Gideon pressing him down into the mattress and Gideon’s cock sending delicious friction against his. Slow and perfect, it was more than Dan had ever dreamed of. He opened his eyes to see Gideon staring at him intently, strain around his eyes and mouth, and he realized Gideon was close to the edge already.

  He enveloped Gideon’s hand in his. “It’s okay. You can come now.”

  Gideon shoved through their joined hands with sharp staccato thrusts until he let out a choking sound and came in warm pulses, spilling through their fingers onto Dan’s belly. Dan worked him through his orgasm until Gideon rested his head in the crook of Dan’s neck.

  It took a few minutes, but finally Gideon drew in a shuddering breath and looked up, his expression sheepish. “I didn’t intend it to be that quick.”

  “It’s okay,” Dan soothed.

  “Can I suck you off?”

  “Oh God, yes.”

  Gideon slithered down the bed and took Dan’s cock into his mouth. Dan moaned and arched up as Gideon licked around the glans and ran his tongue up and down the shaft.

  “Don’t tease. Too close. Need to fuck your mouth.”

  Gideon pulled off, his mouth glistening. “Do it.”

  He sucked Dan back into his mouth and waited while he looked up at Dan. If Dan wanted it, then Gideon was ready and willing. It only took a few thrusts, and Dan spilled down Gideon’s throat and felt Gideon take it all.

  Gideon climbed back onto the bed and handed Dan a packet of wipes that had been on the nightstand. Dan managed to clean them both up, throw the wipes somewhere in the direction of the trashcan, and roll into Gideon’s arms. Gideon kissed the top of his head, and Dan closed his eyes.

  He was almost asleep when a horrible thought struck him and he sat bolt upright.

  “Wassa matter, darlin’?” Gideon murmured all sleepy and warm.

  “SmokeyJo. She needs feeding.”

  “Ariel’s gonna feed her tomorrow. We’ve got your spare keys at the bar, remember?”

  “I—but—”