“You are lying to me.” Steele stood up and crowded into Tech’s smaller frame, moving him back against the cool brick wall. Trapping him there, Steele’s chest persistent against his own. So close together, Tech could feel the solid planes there. Could smell the scent of the masculine soap Steele washed with this morning. He held the back of Tech’s neck in one hand and pressed the back of his other hand up under his chin, just to the left of his Adam’s apple. Two fingers pushed against the pulse now throbbing just beneath the tender skin. Steele’s touch burned in a delicious way. His head was lowered, that raspy stubble scraping against Tech’s smooth temple, his intense eyes closed in deep concentration while Steele broke apart the lie Tech was trying so desperately to construct.
“What’s not all, Tech?” Steele spoke. His mouth moving against his temple, his voice coarse and smooth at the same time.
“I told you. Nothing. I misspoke.” Tech shook against Steele’s proximity, begging his lower body not to react. He felt the back of the two fingers push in deeper, forcing him to lift his head.
“You’re lying,” Steele hissed. He flipped his hand over and spread it out over Tech’s throat, those two fingers still pressed over his pulse while the others rested over his Adam’s apple. “The way I’m touching you right now. Is it turning you on?”
“What? No.” Tech laughed nervously, his hands lying limp by his side, unsure what to do with them.
He felt Steele’s lips curve up. Did he know Tech lied about that too?
“Do you like your job, Tech?”
“Yes.”
Steele’s fingers twitched against him before releasing a little of the pressure. Tech wanted it back. Steele’s next question gave him what he wanted. “Are you happy sitting at that desk every day?” Steele ducked his head lower, his mouth right by Tech’s ear. “Every day?”
Tech didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure if he should tell the truth. He didn’t want to come off as a whiny brat wanting more than he was capable of doing.
“Answer me.” Steele pressed his forehead against the side of Tech’s head.
“No. I’m not. But I do what I was hired to do.”
“You were hired to be a detective,” Steele whispered. Then his voice dropped to a deep octave. “If you were put in the field… and you had to fight… would you be afraid… could you fight to the death, Detective Murphy?”
Oh gosh. He wasn’t expecting that kind of question. Tech thought of all the simulations he’d done where gunfire erupted at the drop of a dime and Tech had to dive for cover. Steele’s fingers dug in deep and even Tech could feel his pulse beating so hard it was practically audible in the silent room. It may very well be frightening, but he’d never stop fighting by his team. If they needed him, he’d be there. Steele waited for Tech’s answer, the grip at the base of his neck and throat just shy of incredible. Tech was practically panting when his answer rose from deep inside him and left his mouth on a firing gust of breath. “Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
It felt like a ghost of a kiss on his cheek and Tech sank into Steele’s brawn and power like he was drawing off it. “Yes, I’d be afraid… but… yes. Absolutely, yes. I’d fight until the end.” He didn’t know why but it felt so good to say that.
“I know you would.” Steele’s grip moved from Tech’s throat to his chin, jerking his head up so their lips were only a hair’s width apart. “Life’s too short to live with regret. The only guaranteed way to get what you want… is to take it.”
Steele’s mouth was on his before Tech could let those words sink in. He instinctually clutched hold of Steele’s waist, moaning into the man’s mouth like the slut he wanted to be, just for him. Steele licked the roof of his mouth and sucked hard on his tongue, tasting him in a way no other man had. With his chin still under Steele’s control, he moved Tech’s head in the direction he wanted and deepened the kiss even further. It was like he was only along for the ride, but damn if he wasn’t enjoying the hell out of it. But way too soon it was over and Steele released him, stepping back and taking all that passion right along with him.
“Have a good day, detective,” Steele told him and turned to leave his room.
Tech stood breathless and confused as to how Steele was able to get him to say and do the things he did. He couldn’t figure it out. But he was sure about one thing. He wanted that man.
Steele
Steele put on his new watch while Ruxs and Green stood by the door waiting for him. He walked by them, ready to start his day.