Atonement (The Protectors #6)(9)

Shit, I needed to get a grip.

My eyes shifted back to the office where I could see Magnus through the small section of the door that was glass. We'd ended up compromising when he'd told me he needed to talk to his boss alone. I'd immediately told him I wasn't letting him out of my sight to which he'd hardened his jaw like he usually did before snagging a chair from beside the desk outside the office  –  presumably where the boss's assistant worked  –  and plunking it down so it was angled in a way so I could still see him while he was inside the office. He'd given me a stern warning to stay out of trouble before going in to greet his boss, shutting the door behind him. That had been half an hour ago. I'd spent much of the time watching him talk, admiring the way his corded throat moved as he spoke. Every once in a while, his big hands would gesture emphatically and I even saw him crack a smile or two.

I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand to attention and immediately did another scan of the room. I found the source of the disturbance  –  that prick Jeff was watching me from a desk in the corner of the large space near the exit leading to the stairs. I'd enjoyed toying with the fucker after he'd spoken to me like I was some low-life criminal, but I would have enjoyed taking him down a few notches even more. If I hadn't been responsible for Magnus's safety, I would have found a way to rile up the man so he'd take a swing at me, his status as a law enforcement professional be damned.

Jeff's eyes dropped back to his paperwork briefly before swinging up to look at me again. I kept my expression blank as I watched him, but by the fourth glare he shot my way, I was ready to retaliate. No, I wasn't so uncouth that I'd get up and walk down to his end of the room and punch him in his conceited jaw like I desperately wanted to … I had more tact than that. Instead, I puckered my lips together and kissed the air. Jeff's eyes widened and his mouth actually dropped open. He scowled and averted his eyes, but just a few seconds later, he was looking at me yet again. I glanced around the room to make sure no one else was watching before I held Jeff's gaze as I slowly slid my hand over my crotch, pretending to cup my dick. I stifled a smile as the guy's face turned a scary shade of red. But instead of calling me out as a sick fuck or fag like I was expecting, he stole a glance around the room before letting his eyes return to me … and then to my crotch. He swallowed hard and actually licked his lips.



       
         
       
        

Guy was definitely a closet homo. I would have actually felt sorry for him if he wasn't such a dick. Most of the other people Magnus and I had run into on the way to his boss's office had been respectful and friendly, so I'd been polite in return. Despite the enjoyment I got from trying to ruffle Magnus's feathers, I had no desire to embarrass him publicly. So, I'd kept to myself and watched how he'd interacted with everyone. He was polite and professional, and whenever anyone asked about Matty, he lit up like a fucking Christmas tree.

Until someone extended their condolences about his daughter. Then he crashed and burned and a wall came up as he thanked the person and moved on. Luckily, there hadn't been many of those comments. And even those people, though I'd been irritated that they'd even brought up the issue, hadn't been like Jeff or a few other guys who'd had alarm bells going off in my head. Yeah, Jeff and his buddies had said the right things, but their words never made it to their eyes. Jeff had intimated that he'd been glad to see Magnus after all this time, but all I'd seen in his spiteful green eyes had been resentment and envy. I hoped like hell that Magnus wasn't really friends with the guy, especially now that I knew he was hiding a pretty damn big secret, if the wedding ring on his finger was anything to go by. If we'd been anywhere else, I'd have had a little fun with the man by bending him over his desk and teasing him with the promise of pleasure as I asked him all about the things his pretty little wife did … or didn't do for him at home.

I sent Jeff one more flirtatious glance before removing my hand from my dick and returning my gaze to Magnus. It looked like he was finishing up his conversation because he was now standing in front of the desk. Sure enough, he shook hands with the guy on the other side and then he was heading my way. I checked to make sure there wasn't any unseen threat and then stood.

Magnus seemed relaxed as he left the office and he gave me a slight nod. I stayed right next to him as we began heading for the exit … right past Jeff's desk. Jeff saw us coming and I saw his cheeks once again flush with color.

Yeah, I'm on to you, fucker.

"You heading out?" Jeff asked as he climbed to his feet.

"Yeah," was all Magnus said and I was surprised when he didn't stop by the man's desk.

"Um, yeah, okay," Jeff sputtered as we passed him. I nearly chuckled when I spied the family photo on his desk. Wife was definitely pretty, not to mention two adorable little girls.

What an ass.

"I guess I'll see you soon," Jeff offered just as we reached the door.

"God, I fucking hope not," Magnus said loud enough for the man to hear. I laughed at that and cast a glance over my shoulder at Jeff who was standing dumbfounded. His eyes shifted to mine and when I was sure he was focused on me, I glanced at the erection his thin pants couldn't hide. Jeff quickly sat down and turned his chair so his lap was under his desk. 

I couldn't resist the devil whispering in my ear so I grabbed Magnus's arm long enough to stop him from moving forward and then turned and returned to Jeff's desk. I leaned over him and put my left hand on the back of his chair, my right hand on his desk, caging him in. "I bet you'd like to know what my hand feels like right about now, huh?" I said softly. Jeff managed to remain outwardly calm, but I heard a rush of air escape his lips. "Cute family," I added and then just for good measure, I huskily whispered "Sir" into his ear, but this time there was no disrespect in my voice at all. I used my hand to shake the desk just slightly as if testing its strength. "Sturdy," I commented absently before straightening. I stifled a chuckle as Jeff's eyes widened and his lips parted. Yeah, the fucker was definitely imagining me bent over his big ass desk.

I turned and returned to Magnus's side and saw he was watching me with a flicker of curiosity. I wondered if he'd overheard anything I'd said. Probably not or he'd be pinning me with a death glare. But when he didn't take his eyes off me, his expression still not completely readable, I said "What?"

"Nothing," he responded.

I shrugged and moved ahead of him so I could go down the stairs first.

"Hey, Dante," I heard Magnus call. I glanced over my shoulder and saw he was still watching me from the landing. "Anyone ever tell you I have excellent hearing?"

Fuck. Bastard had heard everything I'd said to Jeff. But to my amazement, there was no censure in his gaze. Hell, was that … was he actually smiling?

I nearly stumbled at the warmth that flooded my insides. God, if that was the reaction I had when he sent me the tiniest of grins, what the hell would happen if he actually acted like he gave a fuck about me?

A mix of need that had nothing to do with sex went through me, but was quickly doused by reality. This man would never see me as anything other than a horny fuck-up.

My instinct for self-preservation kicked in and I casually said, "Hey, I'm already going to hell, right? Might as well enjoy the ride." I didn't wait for him to respond before turning and hurrying down the stairs.



* * *

Damn, I hated that I was so restless. I should have asked Magnus if I could drive, though I doubted he would have let me. And it was better that I be able to focus on our surroundings anyway.

Except I couldn't focus. Well, not quite true … I had no trouble at all focusing on every little move Magnus made, from the way his fingers occasionally flexed on the steering wheel to how his muscular thighs bunched whenever he shifted in his seat.

Fuck, why was I so obsessed with this guy? I'd fucked and been fucked by countless guys and rarely more than once because none of them had been worth it. But I knew in my gut that one taste of Magnus wouldn't be enough. One touch and I'd be ready to implode.

I hated that he had so much power over me. But as much as I disliked how strong my physical reaction to him was, it was everything else that was really causing me to lose my shit. Yeah, I wanted his touch, but I fucking craved his smile. I obsessed over what his laugh would sound like. I burned to know what it would feel like to have him look at me with something besides derision.

"How was your meeting?" I blurted out because I desperately needed something to distract me from the thoughts rattling around in my head.

Magnus cast me a look that seemed to say 'You're still here?'



       
         
       
        

"Productive," he finally responded.

"That's it?" I asked. "Productive?"

Magnus kept his eyes on the road as he said, "It was harder than I thought it would be."

"What was?" I asked softly, disturbed by how solemn he sounded.