Chapter 2 : intimacy

Alex was frozen in place for seconds.

The office around him felt far away like he was in a different world or something.

The desk lamp was still shining on the papers while the city lights were still sparkling through the glass wall and the air conditioner was still humming above.

None of this felt real anymore.

This was because Jamie Reed had just kissed him and said he had wanted that for months.

Alex's mind was trying to catch up with what had happened with Jamie Reed.

His lips were still tingling from the kiss, and his heart was pounding so hard.

It felt like his heart was going to jump out of his chest because of what Jamie had done.

Jamie on the hand looked really calm.

He was standing inches away watching Alex with that steady gaze that made people nervous.

Alex finally took a breath.

"Did that really just happen?" he asked, his voice sounding weird and hoarse.

Jamie didn't hesitate.

"Yes " he said calmly.

The answer was simple without any doubt.

Alex looked at him confused.

"That's it?" he asked weakly. "Yes?"

Jamies lips twitched slightly like he was about to smile.

"You asked a question " he said. "I answered it."

Alex stared at him totally baffled.

He was expecting confusion, awkwardness or maybe even regret.

Jamie looked completely fine.

That made Alex's stomach twist with anxiety.

He felt a wave of panic rising up.

"Wait " Alex said quickly running his hand through his hair. "No hold on. This is crazy."

Jamie raised an eyebrow slightly.

Alex waved his hand between them like the explanation should be obvious.

"You're the boss " he said. "I work for you." Jamie stayed silent. "That's a problem " Alex continued his voice rising. "A big problem."

Jamie still didn't look concerned.

If anything he seemed amused by Alex's anxiety.

The calmness in his eyes made Alex more nervous.

Jamie tilted his head slightly.

"Did you hate it?" he asked.

The question caught Alex off guard.

"What?"

"The kiss.” Jamie clarified, his tone quiet and steady. "Did you hate it?"

Alexs throat tightened instantly.

Because the truth was rising up in his chest before he could stop it.

No he hadn't hated it.

Not even close.

In fact the truth was more scary.

For a moment Alex had forgotten everything else. The humiliation, the painful memories, the loneliness.

For that one moment Jamies kiss had pushed everything aside.

That terrified him.

Alex looked away quickly.

"That's not the point." he muttered.

Jamie studied him carefully.

"You didn't answer the question."

Alex rubbed his temples in frustration.

"This shouldn't be happening " he said. "We shouldn't even be talking about this."

Jamie stayed silent for a moment.

Then he spoke again.

"I've noticed you for months.” he said.

Alex looked up sharply.

"What?"

Jamie leaned back against the desk crossing his arms.

"You think I don't pay attention to my employees?" he asked.

Alex blinked.

"Well not like this."

Jamies gaze sharpened slightly.

"I noticed you like this because you're different.” he said.

The words landed softly but carried weight.

Alex frowned, confused. "How?"

Jamie glanced around the office floor outside the glass walls before looking back at Alex.

"Most employees pretend when they know I'm nearby,” he said. "They get louder and more enthusiastic, tryinghard to impress me."

Alex said nothing.

Jamie continued calmly.

"They volunteer for projects they normally avoid. They exaggerate their accomplishments. They smile much."

A faint hint of amusement appeared in his voice.

"They perform."

Alex let out a laugh.

"That sounds about right."

Jamie nodded once.

"You never did."

Alex felt his chest tighten slightly.

"I just do my job.” he said.

"Exactly.” Jamie said, his eyes holding Alex's.

"You avoid attention whenever possible. You never linger when I walk past. You never try to talk to me unless you have to."

Alex shifted awkwardly.

"I thought that was the right thing to do."

Jamie studied him for a moment longer. "Well it was fascinating.” he said.

The word hung in the air.

Alex felt heat rising to his face.

"That's a thing to say about an employee.” he said.

Jamie shrugged slightly. "It's true."

The silence between them deepened again.

Alex felt self-conscious under Jamie's gaze.

"Still.” Alex said eventually "noticing someone isn't the same as..."

He gestured vaguely toward his lips.

"...That."

Jamies expression softened slightly.

"I know " he said.

Alex waited.

Jamies voice lowered slightly when he spoke again. "Tonight is different though," he said.

Alex's stomach tightened.

"I came up here because I left some documents in my office earlier " Jamie explained. "When I passed this floor I saw your light still on."

Alex felt a faint chill run through him.

Jamie's gaze drifted briefly toward the glass wall separating Alex's office from the rest of the floor.

"I looked through the glass." he continued quietly.

Alexs heartbeat quickened.

"And I saw you crying.” Jamie said.

The words felt almost intimate in the room.

Alex's instinct was embarrassment.

"I wasn't—"

Jamie raised a hand gently stopping him.

"You don't have to pretend,” he said.

Alex's protest died in his throat.

Jamie's voice remained calm. There was something deeper beneath it now.

"I've watched you for months,” he said. "But I've never seen you break before."

Alex swallowed.

"I didn't plan to.” he said.

Jamie nodded slightly.

"I know." he said.

His eyes held Alex's again.

"And something about that moment..."

He paused briefly.

"...Made it impossible to walk away."

Alex's chest tightened.

He didn't know what to say to that.

Part of him felt exposed knowing Jamie had seen him at such a moment.

Another part felt something warmer something close to comfort.

Jamie pushed away from the desk and stepped closer again.

The movement made Alex step backward instinctively.

His lower back hit the edge of the desk.

Jamie noticed the reaction but didn't comment on it.

Instead he asked quietly "Who is Chris?"

Alex blinked in surprise.

"How do you know that name?"

Jamies expression hardened slightly.

"I've seen him here before.” he said.

Alex frowned.

"Here?"

Jamie nodded.

"He visited you sometimes. I noticed him leaving the building with you one day."

Alex tried to remember those moments.

Chris had come by occasionally after work. They would leave together sometimes grabbing dinner nearby. Alex hadn't realized anyone else had been paying attention.

Jamie's voice grew colder.

"I never liked him." he said.

Alex let out a laugh.

"You didn't even know him.” he said.

Jamie met his eyes steadily.

"I knew enough.” he said. "I knew he didn't deserve you." Jamie said, his sentence hitting Alex with force.

For a moment he couldn't even respond. Because no one had ever said something like that to him before, not with that level of certainty.

Alex looked down at the floor.

"That's a generous assumption.” he said.

Jamie stepped again.

The shift in distance made the air between them feel heavier.

"You think little of yourself.” Jamie said softly.

Alex's throat tightened.

"That's not exactly a thing.” he said.

Jamie studied him carefully.

The tension, between them thickened with every passing second.

Alex felt it building like electricity in the air.

He forced himself to speak before the silence consumed him.

"Look,” he said quietly "I appreciate whatever this is." He gestured between them again. "We should probably forget it happened."

Jamies expression didn't change.

Alex continued quickly. "You're the boss. I'm an employee. If anyone finds out—"

Alex looked up at Jamie.

Jamie's intense gaze was now focused on Alex.

Before Alex could say another word, Jamie kissed him again. This time Alex did not feel shocked.

The moment was really hot.

Jamie's hand went around Alex's waist, pulling Alex closer to him.

Alex's breath stopped as their bodies touched. The kiss got deeper and deeper.

Alex kissed him back, his hands holding the front of Jamie's shirt.

All the sad feelings and heartbreak Alex had for weeks disappeared and the walls Alex had built around himself came crashing down.

The kiss got stronger and more emotional. Jamie's hand held Alex's back tighter.

Alex got lost in the moment even though his head was telling him to be careful.

For a moment everything else just faded away. All that mattered was the space between the both of them.

The way they felt close and warm to each other was a fact. When Jamie finally stopped kissing Alex, Alex was breathing hard and his forehead was almost touching Jamie's.

They did not say a word for a second.

Then Jamie spoke, his voice low and serious. "Now that I've kissed you, I'm never letting you go."

Jamie's thumb touched Alex's butt lightly. His fingers went in and Alex felt a rush.

Alex felt excited and scared at the time because

he knew that being with Jamie Reed was not going to be easy.

Jamie was the kind of man who did things his way. Alex realized he had just stepped into something that could change his life completely whether he was ready for it or not. They had hot passionate moments in the office and after that, Jamie personally drove Alex to his apartment.