Chapter Twenty

JulianJulian woke to curtains he didn't recognize, he looked around and the bed wasn't his as well. An arm slung loosely across his waist. It took him a confused second to remember where he was and who he was with; Richard, in his apartment. The skyline was still visible past the curtains Richard never bothered closing. A faint expensive smell of a candle burning on the dresser awakened him even more. He reached for his phone on the nightstand, squinting against the light, the time sent a small jolt of panic through his body.The time was 9:47. He was supposed to be at his desk by nine.He sat up fast, removing Richard's arm from the process, and was always scanning for his clothes when he saw the message notification sitting below the time.A message from Ethan.He went very still.What I said to you wasn't about anything you did. I apologize for my rudeness and erratic behavior. It read.Julian read it twice and immediately felt an unwelcome twist, low in his chest. Relief came f

Chapter Twenty-One

EthanHe made it two steps into the hallway before Julian caught his wrist.“Stop, wait please” Julian’s voice wasn’t loud, but there was something in it Ethan hadn’t heard before, it was something bolder, something that had apparently decided it was done being careful.“Julian—”“No.” Julian didn’t let go of his wrist. If anything his grip tightened, and when Ethan turned to face him, he found none of the uncertainty he’d braced for, only Julian, chin up, eyes bright mixed with a great deal like want with nowhere left to hide. “I am so tired Ethan, I’m not asking you to explain whatever’s going on in your head right now. I’m asking you to stop pretending you don’t want this. Because I know you do. I’ve known about it since the hotel. I think you’ve known it a lot longer than that.”Ethan opened his mouth, already reaching for something that would put a little space back between them and make this easier to carry.Nothing came.Julian was still holding his wrist. And the hallway was

Chapter Twenty-two

Julian“We should leave separately,” Ethan murmured, once they’d both managed to make themselves look presentable again, straightening ties and collars in the low light of the conference room. “It’s late enough that no one should still be—”“I know.” Julian reached out and smoothed Ethan’s collar back into place, an easy, unthinking gesture that felt, in the moment, like the most natural thing in the world. “We have to be careful. Got it.”Ethan caught his hand before he could pull it back, squeezed it briefly, and looked at him with an expression Julian hadn’t seen on him before, something slightly dazed, like a man still working out whether what had just happened had actually happened. “Goodnight, Julian.”“Goodnight, Mr. Cross.”He made it exactly as far as the lobby before he pulled out his phone.Julian: MAYA. MAYA I NEED YOU TO PUT DOWN WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING.The reply came within seconds.Maya: ok you’re typing in all caps this better be good.Julian: WE KISSED!!, more than t

Chapter Twenty-three

Ethan“Mr Hayes and I have revisions to finish before the end of the day,” Ethan said before he’d fully decided to say anything at all. The words flew out of his mouth before he’d thought and weighed them through, and it wasn’t until both Lena’s and both men’s attention swung toward him that he registered what he’d actually just done. Interrupting out loud, an ordinary invitation for lunch in front of Lena and a member of his own distribution team that had absolutely nothing to do with him. He didn't like sharing. He hadn't known that about himself until now watching Richard Harrington stand there with his easy smile and unbothered demeanor, waiting for Julian's answer with all the confidence in the world. Something had immediately risen up in Ethan’s chest when Richard had said “unless you're busy” with that smug look and the words had practically taken that as a cue to jump right out of his mouth. Richard's eyebrows lifted slightly, amusement flickering behind his eyes in a way

All Chapters of The CEO’s forbidden desire: Chapter 21 - Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-three