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He was his best friend. His brother in many ways.

He regretted how hard Alex had taken him leaving the business.

He also felt like Alex didn’t have to be so put out about it. So he was glad he was coming to his senses.

“Yes. I don’t want to be in conflict with you anymore. The truth is, there’s more to be gained from our businesses working together.”

Adonis didn’t want that either. Not especially. But anything was better than working daily in an office with Esme. He’d decided that and he was sticking to it.

“In what regard?”

“In the regard that I think that it would be a good thing for us to filter our clients to you, and for you to suggest our services to your clients.”

“You expect me to make you my contracted concierge?”

“Yes. And why not? It makes sense.”

“Is the business struggling?”

“No. It’s not. But I’m bored.”

That almost made Adonis laugh. It was extremely Alex. Because of course, boredom was the worst thing on earth to him.

And he wasn’t wrong; it would be a good gambit. One that would help them both. Not that either of them needed the money.

But, they both had the hounds of poverty ever baying at their heels, thanks to their upbringing on the street. So they both said yes to any opportunity that presented itself, generally.

But there was Esme.

She had haunted him ever since their night together, and he hadn’t expected that. The truth was, he had never wanted to go back for more after having sex with a woman.

But he was obsessed with her.

She had been perfect. Her mouth on his cock, the tight clench of her body around him, the taste of her that lingered on his tongue. Esme was a goddess. And he missed the way that she felt underneath his hands. He missed seeing her. He didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“I’m free this afternoon. I could fly to Boston.”

“I can clear my calendar.” The truth was, Adonis wasn’t free. He had several meetings, but he was just going to ignore them.

The question was if Esme would be in the office.

Of course she would be. She always was. He could imagine her now, looking shocked at his arrival. Her gorgeous, round blue eyes widening.

She would look just like she had when she had taken him into her mouth.

The very thought made his whole body rumble with need.

Yes, that would be good.

It would be very good indeed.

Are you planning to have her again?

No. God no.

But he took a certain measure of pleasure in self-flagellation and the punishment of seeing Esme and not allowing himself to have her might be just the sort of pain he was looking for.

The trouble with being a very rich man was that no one denied him anything. And some days it made him long for the concrete floor of an underground boxing ring.