by Ari McKay
Now it was Wednesday, and Asher had grown increasingly restless as the day progressed. He could barely concentrate on his case files without being distracted by memories of how responsive Zach was as he writhed beneath Asher, and the soft, needy noises he made. Normally, Asher could go a couple of weeks—sometimes longer, when he was especially busy—without hiring an escort, but now he felt like four days without Zach was too long to be endured.
For the first time in longer than he could remember, he planned to leave the office at five o’clock—and he was looking forward to it. He even delegated some tasks to a paralegal as he wrapped up his day, ready for Zach to arrive so they could go to the rink. He snapped his head up eagerly when someone knocked on his door, hoping it was Zach, but instead, he saw Shelley poking her head in.
“It’s that time of year again, boss!” she said gaily. It wasn’t as if Asher couldn’t have guessed, considering she was wearing a Santa hat, earrings shaped like dreidels—with blinking lights, no less—and a sweater decorated with Kwanzaa candles. She held up a bright blue-and-silver bag and shook it. “Ready to select your lucky recipient for the secret gift exchange?”
Asher wasn’t big on the holiday season, but he did enjoy the Caldwell and Monroe holiday party. The secret gift exchange was fun, and the food was always excellent. Normally he was fine with a random draw for the gift exchange, but this year, he wanted to buy only for one person.
“Has anyone drawn Zach Richardson yet?” he asked.
Shelley’s eyebrows shot up, but she shook her head, setting the dreidels spinning on their wires. “No, not yet.”
“Okay, then I want to ‘draw’ his name,” Asher said. “He got interrupted on a date to bring me some documents on a Friday night, and I want to give him something nice to make up for it.”
That was the truth, and he hoped the explanation would stave off any rumors starting up, since Shelley was known to be the foundation of the grapevine.
“That makes sense.” Shelley gave him a conspiratorial smile. “Consider it done, and I won’t tell a soul.”
“Excellent.” Asher smiled warmly at her, trusting her discretion. She might be the epicenter of the office rumor mill, but she did know how to be discreet when she needed to be. “Thanks, Shelley. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, boss! Happy holidays!” With a wide smile, she waved and withdrew.
Asher glanced at the clock on his desk and saw that it was getting close to five o’clock. Zach would be showing up any time now, and Asher gave up all pretense of trying to get anything else done. He shut down his computer and sat as his desk until images of Zach bent over it, red-faced and moaning, flooded his mind, and he couldn’t sit still any longer. He got up and paced the confines of his office, waiting for Zach to arrive.
At five minutes after the hour, Zach stopped in the doorway, his face flushed, overcoat draped over his arm and a small case in his hand. “Sorry I’m late,” he said breathlessly. “I was finishing a brief for tomorrow.”
“Get in and close the door,” Asher growled as he stalked toward Zach. If his fantasies had been stoking his hunger all day, they were nothing compared to what the reality was doing.
Eyes wide, Zach stepped inside and shut the door. “Is something wrong?”
Asher reached around Zach and locked the door, and then he pushed Zach against it, aligning their bodies so perfectly that it made him groan with pleasure.
“Yes, there’s something wrong. I’ve been thinking about you all damned day, and I haven’t been able to do anything about it until now.” He stared at Zach, wanting so much—wanting everything—that he didn’t know where to begin, and finally, he swooped in to claim Zach’s mouth in a deep, hungry kiss.
Zach dropped his case and coat to the floor and wrapped his arms around Asher’s shoulders. He didn’t hesitate to part his lips, kissing Asher back with a soft, needy moan. The response was everything Asher wanted, and it only fueled his need for more. He couldn’t imagine trying to get through their date with his sanity intact if they didn’t take the edge off.
“I need to bend you over my desk and fuck you right now,” he said as he gazed into Zach’s deep brown eyes, his voice low and husky with desire. “No foreplay, no seduction, just yanking your pants down and fucking you senseless. If you don’t want that, say so.”
“I want it,” Zach said, his voice ragged. He shivered, and Asher could feel Zach’s cock hardening where they were pressed together. “I need it.”
Asher kissed Zach again, quick and hard, and then grabbed him and turned so he could walk Zach to the desk. Once there, he kept steady eye contact with Zach, letting Zach see his need as he slid his hands down Zach’s body to his belt. He unfastened the belt, then the fly of Zach’s pants, and he hooked his fingers in the waistbands of both Zach’s pants and underwear so he could yank both garments down at one time.
“Bend over,” he ordered, pointing at the desk, and then he went to retrieve a condom and a travel-size bottle of lube he’d tucked in his bag along with a change of clothes.
Zach did as Asher instructed, bending over the desk and glancing back at Asher over one shoulder. His face was flushed, and he watched Asher with a hungry gaze. “Like this?”
The sight of Zach posing, eager and waiting for him, was almost Asher’s undoing, and his fingers shook as he dropped the condom and lube on the desk and unfastened his own pants.
“Perfect,” he murmured, unable to tear his gaze away from Zach’s round, firm ass. He reached out and caressed one taut cheek, then gave it a sharp smack.
Zach rocked back against Asher’s hand. “Asher, please… I need you so much!”
Asher dropped his pants and silk boxers, then grabbed the bottle of lube and popped open the cap. He coated his fingers with lube and eased his forefinger into Zach. As ready as he was to pound Zach’s ass, he didn’t want to hurt Zach through lack of preparation. Instead, he tormented Zach by stroking his prostate, wanting Zach begging and desperate.
It didn’t take much; within moments, Zach was breathing hard and pushing himself back onto Asher’s finger. “More! Please, I need more!”
Asher added a second finger and scissored them, although not as slowly and carefully as usual. His own need was too great, and his control was rapidly slipping away.
“Enough! You won’t hurt me. Just fuck me now!”
That was all the encouragement Asher needed. He grabbed a tissue from the box on his desk to wipe off his fingers, then snatched up the condom packet and tore into it. He rolled on the condom with hands shaking from the great depth of his desire, and only gripping Zach’s hip stilled them. Guiding himself into position, he pushed against Zach’s tight entrance, groaning as he claimed Zach with one deep thrust.
Zach rocked back, taking Asher in deeper. “You feel so good!”
Asher pushed deep and held there, bending over Zach’s back to bite down on his shoulder. “So do you,” he growled against Zach’s skin as he began to move, teasing Zach with short, shallow thrusts. “You feel perfect, so hot and tight. I couldn’t wait another minute to be inside you.”
“Good,” Zach murmured, throwing his head back. “Now fuck me like you promised, hard and deep!”
Asher grabbed Zach’s hips, clamping down on Zach’s fair skin, and let go, giving in to all the need he felt to make Zach his alone. He forgot about finesse as he pounded into Zach again and again, his rhythm erratic as he grew closer to the edge.
Zach rocked back to meet every thrust, and the pleasure of Zach’s welcoming body was too much. Asher bit back a cry as he surrendered to ecstasy, driving deep one last time as he came hard. When the waves of pleasure ebbed, he slumped over Zach and nuzzled kisses on the back of his neck, not wanting to pull away yet.
“No one else has ever wound me up like that before,” he said, kneading Zach’s hips.
“Good.” Zach’s voice held a distinct tone of satisfaction, and he continued to rock his hips slowly. “Now you know how you make me feel.”
Asher couldn’t help but feel a little smug. If Zach was in half the state of perpetual arousal that Asher had been in since the weekend, the wait must have been torturous for him too. He eased out at last and grabbed more tissues to dispose of the condom and clean himself up swiftly. Then he pulled up and refastened his clothes—but he wasn’t finished with Zach yet.
“Turn around,” he said.
Zach complied, facing Asher with a questioning look. His hair was mussed, and he was breathing fast, his cock standing up straight and hard. “What do you have in mind now?”
Instead of answering with words, Asher dropped to his knees and curled his fingers around the base of Zach’s cock. He leaned in and dragged his tongue along the underside to tease Zach before drawing the head into his mouth and circling it with his tongue. He rarely did this, but even with his immediate need sated, he still craved a taste of Zach’s pleasure.
Zach’s gasp was accompanied by a shudder of pleasure, and he buried his fingers in Asher’s hair. “Oh, God… that feels so good!”
The feel of Zach’s fingers in his hair coaxed a pleased hum from Asher’s throat as he took Zach deeper. He cupped Zach’s balls in one hand, rolling them gently as he worked Zach’s cock, wanting to stoke Zach’s need.
Zach’s head fell back, and his breathing sped up as he gave himself over to the experience. After several long moments, he glanced down at Asher, licking his lips as he watched Asher sucking his cock. “So close….”
Asher relaxed his jaw and gave Zach’s hip a little squeeze to let him know it was okay to move. He was enjoying teasing and tasting Zach too much to stop and speak. Zach’s eyes widened, and then he took the invitation and fucked Asher’s mouth with shallow thrusts. Then he cried out, tightening his fingers in Asher’s hair as he came. Asher swallowed greedily, and he didn’t draw back until the aftershocks had faded and Zach was growing sensitive. Only then did Asher stand up and slide his arms around Zach, pulling him into a deep, leisurely kiss, wanting Zach to taste himself on Asher’s tongue.
With a soft moan, Zach kissed Asher back, wrapping his arms around Asher in return and clinging to him as though he wasn’t able to stand on his own. Asher held Zach close, silently encouraging Zach to lean on him as he continued the kiss, in no hurry to end it. Part of him could scarcely believe he’d let his control slip that much; no one else had ever come close to getting him so wound up, despite their skills in bed. But Zach made Asher feel and do all kinds of new things—and Asher was most surprised by how little he minded.
Zach pulled back, favoring Asher with a smile full of affection. “That was incredible. Unexpected, but incredible.”
“I’m glad you didn’t mind.” Asher smoothed his hands up and down the length of Zach’s back. “I thought we’d be able to enjoy the ice skating more if we got this out of our systems first, and by we, I mean me, since I’m the one who’s been going crazy all day.”
“I’ve been a little wound up myself,” Zach admitted. He leaned into the caress for a moment, then sighed. “I should put myself back together so I can go to the bathroom and change into street clothes.”
“Take your time. Most people are gone for the day, but there are probably a few stragglers, and you look well-fucked right now,” Asher said with a wicked grin, not feeling a single twinge of remorse.
“I suppose it’s truth in advertising, then,” Zach replied. He grabbed some tissues from the box on Asher’s desk, cleaning himself up, then pulled up his pants and made himself presentable once more. “There. Am I still mussed?”
“Your cheeks are still flushed, and you’ve got that doe-eyed look you always get after sex.” Asher tugged at the waist of Zach’s shirt to straighten it, feeling far more relaxed than he usually did at the end of the work day.
Zach stared at him in consternation. “Doe-eyed? Me? Really?”
“Your eyes go all soft and warm.” Asher stroked his cheek gently and offered a reassuring smile. “I like it. It means I’ve done something right.”
“You always do things right,” Zach said, his expression softening as he leaned into the touch, seeking more. “I just hope I please you as much as you please me.”
Asher was having a hard time remembering anyone who had ever satisfied him more than Zach, and he realized there wasn’t anyone. For all their technical proficiency, the escorts didn’t offer the warmth and lack of inhibition that Zach did. Even the hookups he’d enjoyed before his work left him with too little time for cruising bars hadn’t given him what Zach did.
“You please me better than anyone else,” he said, deciding it couldn’t hurt to tell the truth. It might make Zach blush and smile bashfully, and that would be worth the vulnerable confession.
“I’m glad,” Zach murmured, his cheeks growing flushed. Sure enough, a small smile curved his lips. “You inspire me, you know. No one I’ve been with before has ever made me want to be… naughty.”
“I like it when you’re naughty, and you’re very good at it.” Asher gave Zach’s ass a playful grope. “Now go change before we end up being naughty again. I’ll change in here and meet you at the elevator.”
“All right.” Zach chuckled gave Asher a brief, coy look over his shoulder before picking up his bag and coat, putting his ass on blatant display. He straightened, then unlocked the door and stepped out of Asher’s office, wiggling his hips once before closing the door behind him.
Asher changed into the more casual outfit he’d brought with him, consisting of jeans, a charcoal-gray cabled sweater layered over a white long-sleeved T-shirt, and boots. He folded up his suit and stored it in his duffel bag along with his dress shoes, and he put on his camel-colored overcoat and a cashmere scarf. He slung the bag over his shoulder, grabbed his briefcase, and left the office without a second look back.
There were a couple of offices with lights shining under the doors, but otherwise, their floor was quiet and still. For once, Asher was glad to have plans that didn’t involve poring over paperwork until midnight. He headed to the elevators and waited for Zach to join him.
Less than a minute later, Zach turned the corner, and he smiled when he spotted Asher waiting for him. He had donned jeans as well, ones that molded to his long legs with a comfortable, lived-in look. His black leather jacket was unzipped, revealing a dark red sweater.
“Are you ready?” he asked, his smile hopeful. “I know it’s been a while since you’ve been ice skating, but I bet it’ll come back to you quickly.”
“It’s been since high school,” Asher said, reaching out to press the Down button. “But hopefully it’ll be like riding a bike. A little wobbly at first, maybe, but then I’ll be fine.”
Zach batted his eyelashes, leaning closer and dropping his voice. “If you fall and hurt your ass, I can kiss it and make it better.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Asher replied, giving Zach a heated look.
The elevator doors slid open, and they stepped inside. As soon as the doors were closed, Asher hit the lobby button. He was tempted to use the time they had during the ride down to kiss Zach until his cheeks grew flushed again and his lips got rosy and damp, but there were security cameras in the elevators, and Asher didn’t want to give the security guards a free show.
“Do you have a plan for getting there, or would you like me to call Parker? He’ll be shocked I’m ready to leave work this early,” Asher said, chuckling. Martha and Parker had worked for the Caldwell family long enough to remember Asher as a little boy, thus they got away with chiding him for his workaholic ways.
Zach looked nonplussed. “I thought we’d get a cab, but if you would prefer your driver, I’m fine with that.”
“One of the perks of dating me is that I come with a driver,” Asher teased as he pulled out his cell phone. “It’ll probably be quicker to get a cab, since I didn’t give Parker any advance notice. I’ll call him and arrange a time for him to pick us up, though. How does that sound?”
“Sounds fine to me.” Zach chuckled, shaki
ng his head. “I’ve never dated anyone like you before—and I mean that in a good way. I can imagine having a driver is handy when it’s snowing and there isn’t a cab to be found.”
“Definitely,” Asher replied. “Is two hours enough time? And what would you like to do for dinner?”
“What do you think of Del Frisco’s?” Zach asked, naming a steak house not too far from Rockefeller Center. “I thought we might work up a bit of an appetite with all that activity.” He paused his eyes gleaming with wicked humor. “And from the ice skating too.”
“That sounds good to me,” Asher said as he put away his phone. “I’ll call Parker from the restaurant. That way, we won’t feel like we’re on a schedule.”
The elevator arrived at last, and minutes later they stepped out of the building and into a cab. It wasn’t far to the ice skating rink, though traffic made the trip a bit longer. When they arrived at their destination, Zach quickly paid the driver, then stepped out onto the sidewalk and stood looking up at the enormous tree, his delight evident in his wide smile.
“I always love seeing the tree here,” he murmured. “Ever since I was a little kid, I thought it was magical.”
Asher stood beside him and admired the tree, its countless lights gleaming in the darkness. Memories of evenings spent skating with friends rose up for the first time in decades, and he smiled wryly at how carefree his younger self had been.
“I haven’t really paid attention to it in a long time,” he admitted. “I’ve seen it in passing, sure, but I haven’t looked at it. I’m usually too engrossed in thinking about work to notice much of the decorations.”
Zach turned to look at him, and reached out to give Asher’s hand a squeeze. “Is that why you don’t decorate your apartment?” he asked quietly. “You’re too busy to care about it?”
