Chapter XLV (Lukas POV)

10 minutes prior to the kiss.

"Well, I need one. Find me when Victoria comes. If I'm not back by then."

"Ok."

Spencer walked out and closed the door behind him. He looked tired, which wasn't surprising given how much he relied on coffee. Sometimes I was grateful for my coaches not letting me drink it when I was still skating.

Admittedly by now, my blood is probably 20% Redbull, so I consume just as much caffeine anyway.

Spencer would argue how unhealthy it was. I almost scoffed at myself. Even when he isn't present I still have to listen to him nag. When we are in the same room there is at least the added benefit of hearing his voice.

Before I could have a discussion with myself what the hell I meant with that, Victoria walked in.

"No knocking? Are you becoming a rebel?"

"I just passed Aaron. I figured you were alone.."

"You're still probably getting your good child license revoked. And, come on, it's Aron. It has four fucking letters, it's not that difficult."

She let out an exasperated sigh.

"That's coming from the man who only calls him by his last name."

"Yes, which should really make you think. Ok, now, did you talk to dad?"

She gripped her folder a little tighter, the poker face was impressive, but I knew her. I knew her tells. I will not like what is coming next.

"I asked him about the case and you working with me, but... well he explained and I have to agree with him. You are not ready for a case like this."

There was a beat of silence where I just stared at her like she was telling a joke and I was waiting for a punch-line. But it never came.

"Um, excuse me? You and dad "agreed" that I wasn't ready? Really?"

"Yes. I'm sorry I know that's not what you wanted, but it's for your own good-"

"Oh, don't give me that bullshit! You wouldn't even know about the case if I haven't told you, you ungrateful backstabbing bitch!"

She pursed her lips.

"I obviously can't have a normal conversation-"

And that's when it hit me.

"You said you discussed the case with dad."

"Yeah, so?"

I started laughing. I could see it wasn't what she expected me to do, considering how surprised and slightly worried she looked.

"So you realized how prolific the case is huh? Didn't want to share the glory?"

"You're insane."

Now I was fuming and I could see she saw it too.

"You don't give a shit about me-"

"That's not true."

"No, right, sorry, of course, you care very deeply, you just would much prefer to not remember that I helped you win."

"That is ridiculous and you know it."

She always had a tell. Two fast blinks after she told a lie. The only reason she is "the good child" is because our parents don't know about the tell. She lied herself through high school.

"You fucking snake."

"I am not going to listen to you anymore. I have something to do and when you calm down you can come and apologize."

"Apologize? Did Ceasar apologize to Brutus? I don't think so!"

She huffed in annoyance and turned to leave.

"I am going to my office and then ask Aron to join my team. I need a profiler and he is the best."

Ok, if I wasn't going to lose it before I am for fucking sure going to now.

"You are not taking my fucking partner."

"Stop being a child. When we win this, it's going to look good for the company and consequently, for you."

"I don't give a shit. You only want to work with him so you can creepily stare at him, hoping he will lower his standards enough to ask you out."

She gave me a very forced smile.

"Funny. Actually, I am planning on asking him outright. Two birds with one stone if you will. My therapist said I should take more initiative in my life."

I clenched my fist. I was this close to punching a wall.

"You will not ask him out. I'm serious Victoria. Take your initiative and shove it up your ass, because I'll not let you ruin everything."

"Don't be dramatic. How could us dating possibly affect you?"

I raised my eyebrows and disbelief. Selective memory was a convenient thing.

"Are you serious? Have you forgotten how many friendships of mine you ruined by dating my friends and then breaking up with them because your selfish ass couldn't keep it in your pants?"

She dismissed me with an eye roll.

"That was high school. We're adults now."

I tried speaking again, but she already turned and left. I could run after her, but that would just be a complete waste of time.

I was panicking.

Adults or not, if they do start dating it would be a catastrophe. I couldn't risk losing him.

So I ran up the stairs to the break room.

He was standing by a small table, holding his still steaming cup of coffee.

I knew Victoria will come in at any moment. I wanted to tell him, to beg him to say no. I knew I was being selfish or even childish, but there were some people I was just not willing to share. Suddenly his voice, the only thing in my head, snapped me from me spirling. A stupid idea popped into my head and I was sure it will lead to an absolute disaster.

But at that moment it was a risk I was willing to take.

I stepped closer and took the mug out of his hand. Our fingers brushed and it was almost electric. I liked it.

I touched his cheek lightly.

"What are you doing?"

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Something really stupid."

I leaned in. As soon as our lips touched my head was dear once again and I realized what I was doing. I was kissing my friend. My partner.

I was sure he was going to push me away back and I would like to say I didn't get lost in it a little. He was a great kisser. Like 9/10 great. I deducted a point because I don't believe in perfect kisses. This one was damn near though. Especially for the first one. His hand were in him a little closer. A habit I guess.

I heard the doors opening and a small gasp.

I knew it was Victoria. If I wasn't enjoying this as much, I would have probably felt a lot smugger. I continued kissing him way longer than it was needed and when I did stop, I kind of wanted to do it again. Instead, I took a step back. There is no way to say this un-awkwardly.

"Alright. Let's not mention this to anyone."

He looked confused. Couldn't blame the man.

"Well, see you downstairs. Your coffee is gonna get cold."

I turned and left, while he just kept staring. This might not have been the best move, yet I couldn't bring myself to regret it.

X

I was standing in our office, preparing for Spencer to enter and more importantly preparing for an absolute verbal smack-down I am about to receive. Not that I didn't deserve it.

You don't just go around kissing your friends if you aren't drunk. I kind of wish I was drunk right now. The taste of iron on my tongue was a good indication that I should probably stop biting my lip now. The click of the doors caught my attention.

Spencer looked less pissed than I expected him to be, but he was still definitely angry. Also something else. Confused maybe? What do I know?

"Ok before you start this now, we won't get anything done."

His arms were crossed and his eyes looked even colder than usual.

"Fine. It's truce until five. Then you are going to sit here and we are having a conversation."

"Yes, of course. Whatever you want."

He sat behind his computer. His eyes still focused on me. It was weirdly intimidating.

"Oh and also, you're an asshole."

"You called me this so many times it sounds like a pet name now."

"You should hear the stuff I call you in my head."

I smiled a little.

"Walk me through, who's divorcing?"

I picked up a file.

"Angelina and Brandon Barrow. She cheated, but luckily for us, I found that he has a record."

"Please tell me it's more than a parking ticket."

"Assault. But he changed his name and took her last name."

He leaned back in his chair.

"Yesss. Does Martina have an opening statement?"

"Yup. I just have to find...aha."

I handed the printed opening statement to him.

X

We were all done with today. Martina came in, went through the statement, all the evidence, the interviews and now I was awaiting my own trial.

I can't remember ever being nervous about talking to Spencer about anything. I tried very hard not hitting my lips to hide the fact that with every tap on his keyboard my stomach became more and more noted. he was finishing the email to Martina and as soon as he hit enter with a little more purpose I knew this was it. He leaned back and turned his eyes to me. Today I might have proven that I am a little bit of a pussy, but I refuse to become a bigger one so I held the contact.

He stood up and took a breath. I figured he will start with a calming voice, so I would relax and not get defensive.

"What the fucking fuck O'Neal?!"

Yeah, I was wrong.

"Ok, so, you know about the case I was telling you about?"

"Yes."

His voice was sharp.

"Well, Victoria came to tell me that she spoke to dad and that she now agrees with him that I am not ready for this kind of case yet. Even though I tipped the bitch off about the damn case."

"And you kissing me comes in...Where exactly?"

"Oh, right." I was stalling.

"She also might have said that she wants you on her team and that she wants to ask you out."

He crossed his arms.

"So?"

"So, In might have overreacted. I just know from experience that her dating my friends always ends badly for me."

His nostrils flared and he might actually kill me after this.

"So this was about you? You were being possessive."

"I wouldn't say possessive exactly."

"Then what? Selfish? Self-absorbed? Idiotic? Pick an adjective," he gritted through his teeth.

"Ok, I guess I might have been slightly possessive."

"And you just assumed I will say yes?"

"Umm-"

"Of course you did."

But why did I?

"You know," he took a few steps closer "This is typical of you. You think you can just do anything you want and for the most part, I enable you."

There was this quality to this voice. Like he was disappointed at himself. And honestly hearing him say that gave me a sensation I first couldn't quite decipher, but then it hit me. I was ashamed.

"But I'm drawing a line here! You can't just go kissing whoever you goddamn want. Being attractive doesn't give you this much leeway. I am not a toy you don't want to share!"

He was now close enough to poke a finger at my chest. I never really noticed our closeness before, I just usually didn't care enough, now, however, when I already know how it feels to be much, much closer to him, every millimetre of my skin was extremely aware of it. I involuntarily looked down at his lips for a second.

He must have noticed because all of a sudden he leaned in and firmly laid his lips on mine. I was too surprised to kiss back right away. He pulled back as soon as the kiss started and if only he waited for a second more I would have definitely responded.

I am only human. And he is too good of a kisser for me to miss the opportunity. Thankful my brain still maintained enough blood to function properly.

"Was this some sort of revenge or..."

"No! I just wanted for you to know how it feels to be kissed out of nowhere by your god damn partner."

I smirked.

"Well, it's not exactly waterboarding.."

He started glaring again.

"Are you trying to piss me off more?"

"No, I understand that you're angry, you should be, and I am so, so sorry, it's just..."

He was very impatiently waiting for me to continue. I brushed through my hair with my finger, kind of regretting even starting the sentence.

"Just what?" he was most definitely not amused.

"You kissed back," I blurted out.

He seemed taken aback by that like he was only now realizing the fact that he indeed kissed back.

"I was surprised. It was a reflex. Somewhat."

I snorted.

"That makes no sense. How many out of the blew make out sessions did you have for it to become a reflex?"

I was almost certain he was about to punch me. Instead, he laughed. It was forced and dark. Whatever was going to come next was going to hurt way more than any punch could.

"Fine it wasn't a reflex, but it was a mistake. If I could do it again, I would never have kissed you back. It wasn't that impressive anyway."

That will leave a bruise. On my ego. I pursed my lips.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," he mimicked me.

We both sounded childish.

"Sure you wouldn't."

"Try not flattering yourself. I know how hard that is for you."

"Cute. It's not like you pounced on me a minute ago."

"That was to prove a point!"

"Yes, the point that you miss my luscious lips."

He laughed mockingly and again came closer. He extended his neck so our faces ere just inches apart.

"They aren't even in the top ten."

I was sure I had a response but it completely disappeared from my mind when I felt a slight touch of his breath on my skin. Neither of us moved.

"What? Did I hurt your ego?"

There wasn't anything mocking about his tone anymore. It was soft, almost as if he were afraid to start me.

"It takes a lot more than that for it to be dented."

Again, neither of us seemed to want to move. He again very unsubtly glanced down at my lips. 

"I have an idea," he said slowly.

"What kind?"

"A very stupid one."

"There seemed to be a lot of those today. But I think we have time for another one."

He smiled properly this time. To my surprise instead of executing his stupid idea, he moved back and started clearing his desk. I rolled my eyes.

I moved quickly enough for him to almost drop his phone as I dragged him by the arm and pinned him against the wall. I let go of his arm and instead tried keeping him from moving with my whole body firm against his. It was working. I took his chin between my fingers so I was sure to have his full attention.

"If I somehow didn't make myself clear before, I would like you to kiss me again."

And he did. Oh, god he did.

As soon as I felt his lips I knew this was going to be different. There was no hesitation anymore, no shock, no anger, just heart pulsing, adrenaline-filled lust. He pushed me away from him and then turned us so it was my back against the hard wall. One might think it would be uncomfortable, but being manhandled was way hotter than I would have expected. It was working for me.

I had lost track of time especially after tongue came into play. The fucker knew what he was doing and I was more than enjoying letting him take control. I felt his lips move to my neck. He started kissing me down to my collar bones and back up to my ear where he licked the soft skin under it. I let out a pretty loud moan judging from his smile I could feel against my skin.

So, apparently, that was one of my spots. Good to know for future references. My lips were again on his and I, without really thinking, and one of my hands on his ass. He must have liked that so I squeezed harder. He moaned and bit my bottom lip.

That sound went straight to my little friend. Not little, it's quite average in size. Whatever, my dick. It got excited. I never got turned on for a guy, so that was new.

And Aron must have felt that, because he started grinding and buried one of his hands in my hair and the other crept under my shirt. His cold fingers were tracing invisible lines on my abdomen and I loved the sensation of it. Even though I really, really dreaded the decision I broke the kiss. He seemed confused at first and then I could see the panic set in because his cold hand retreated from under my shirt and his eyes weren't blown just because of undeniable arousal.

I almost rolled my eyes. I grabbed his hands so he stopped moving away from me.

"Would you relax? I stopped because I am not ruining these pants."

"Huh? Oh...OH?"

I chuckled.

"Yes, OH. You sure knew what you were doing there."

He blushed slightly. Only he would be flustered by that after a full session of what was essentially dry humping.

"Well, I thought about this a lot."

I was almost entirely sure he didn't mean to say this out loud.

"Oh, really?" I knew I was smug. But what can I say? It was flattering.

"So you have been fantasizing about me have you?"

"If you're going to be a dick about-"

I silenced him with another kiss. He followed my lips as I backed away.

"What else were you fantasizing about?"

He bit the inside of his cheek.

"Those can't exactly be done without a comfortable surface of some kind. And as much as a table seems appealing right now, a bed would be better."

He was nervous. And I couldn't stop smiling. It was cute.

I knew I probably only had a second before Aron starts doubting everything and cursing his own existence and I frankly didn't feel like overthinking it.

"That can be arranged."

He furrowed his eyebrows in an almost comical way. The surprise was evident.

"Wha-What, um..."

"Yes, I said what I said. Stop gawking, you are becoming less attractive by the minute."

He closed his slightly agape mouth, that I would very much like to devour again.

"So...Your place or mine?"

"Uhh...Mine is closer."

I leaned in and pecked his pink lips.

"Then yours. Definitely yours."