The words made something in Miles’s chest tighten in disappointment, but his body was completely on board. His brain, too. Ian was right: they wouldn’t be able to move on from each other until they finally slaked this insane attraction between them.
“Okay,” Miles said, forcing himself to pull back. “But not now. I need to go back to Liam. You find him a good nanny.” He licked his lips, meeting Ian’s hungry, heavy gaze. “How long will that take you?”
Ian gave a lazy shrug, not looking away from him. “I already have a few candidates, but I’ll have to interview them. So probably an hour or two.”
Miles frowned. “An hour or two? It’s evening already. No self-respecting professional would agree to move in within an hour.”
Ian’s lips curled. He just raised his eyebrows, giving him a haughty, self-assured look that had no right to be so damn attractive.
Miles rolled his eyes with a smile. “Right. How could I forget? Obviously normal rules don’t apply to you.”
Ian didn’t smile. He stared at Miles’s smiling mouth intently before suddenly yanking him close and kissing him hard.
Miles moaned, his world immediately narrowing to the feel of Ian’s hot, hungry mouth against his, Ian’s tongue deep inside him, the scrape of Ian’s stubble, his scent, god… Miles was trembling all over as he kissed back, his arms looping around Ian’s neck, fingers burying in his thick hair. Christ, he wanted him. He wanted him, wanted him, wanted him.
“What the…”
Miles couldn’t hold back a whine of protest when Ian broke the kiss. It took Miles’s hazy mind a moment to remember that he’d heard someone’s voice. Someone must have seen them. Well, that was potentially a little embarrassing, but Miles didn’t really care about some stranger seeing them. He wanted Ian’s mouth back. He searched Ian’s mouth blindly, his hand gripping his shirt.
But Ian turned away.
Disappointed, Miles forced his eyes open.
He froze, meeting the black eyes of Derek Rutledge over Ian’s shoulder.
The silence was deafening.
“Rutledge,” Ian said coolly, finally breaking it. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” He sounded absolutely calm, as if his business partner hadn’t just caught him kissing his son’s nanny.
Miles couldn’t see Ian’s face, but he could see Derek’s, and it was absolutely blank, his dark eyes flickering between Ian and Miles behind him.
Miles felt his cheeks become warm. “Hi,” he managed, his voice a little strangled.
Derek gave a clipped nod to Ian before looking at Miles. “Shawn said you weren’t answering your phone. Since I was in the area, he asked me to swing by and tell you that you are invited to dinner next Friday. Alexander and his fiancé are finally returning from Brazil, and they want to meet you. They’ll be there too.”
“Um, thanks,” Miles managed, for the first time in his life understanding the expression ‘wanting the ground to open up under him.’ He’d never felt so guilty, awkward, and embarrassed in his life.
Derek looked at Ian. “Obviously you are invited too, Ian,” he said, and his voice couldn’t have sounded less inviting. “But it’s a casual, small gathering with a few of our friends, so I’m sure it won’t be interesting for you—”
“On the contrary,” Ian said. “Thank you for the invitation. I think I’m free next Friday.”
Derek stared at him for a moment before nodding. “That’s good to hear. We’ll be waiting for you both for dinner, then. Seven o’clock.”
Miles forced an awkward smile and nodded.
With a last sharp look at them, Derek Rutledge left.
“I wasn’t aware you were such good friends with the Rutledges,” Ian said, not turning around.
The ice in his voice made Miles stare at him. “Why did you accept the invitation if you don’t like them?”
“Well, he is my business partner,” Ian said.
Miles frowned. That wasn’t an answer. It was blatantly obvious that Derek had invited Ian out of politeness and hadn’t really expected Ian to accept the invitation. Ian could have hardly missed it.
Ian finally turned around and studied him. “Why, do you not want me to go?” His face gave nothing away.
Miles shook his head, chewing on his lip. “It’s not that. To be honest, I’ll feel better with you there.”
I always feel better with you than without you. Although he didn’t say it aloud, it must have been written all over his face, because the ice in Ian’s eyes melted away, replaced by something primitive and hungry, something that made Miles’s knees go a little weak.
Ian took a step closer, his intentions clear.
Licking his lips, Miles took a step back, putting a hand on Ian’s chest. “I have to go back to Liam, and you have to find him a good nanny, remember?”
Ian stopped, but his muscles were rigid against his hand. “I’ll come to your room tonight,” he said, looking him in the eye.
Miles had to consciously slow down his breathing. He shoved his trembling fingers into his pockets and gave a jerky nod before striding away as fast as his weak knees allowed.