RYAN WATCHED AS Z PROCESSED the information. He was the only person Ryan and Conner hadn’t talked to after making the decision, but he had hoped it wouldn’t be an issue. As far as everyone was concerned, Z was the most qualified, and so incredibly loyal, it had been a no-brainer to put him in that position.
But that wasn’t Ryan’s only reason for wanting Z there.
Taking a step closer to Z, who was sitting in the chair at the end of the table across from where he’d been seated, Ryan didn’t look away as he continued. “You’re an integral part of this company. You’ve proven yourself time and time again, given one hundred fifty percent, and we need you here.”
Z didn’t respond, but Ryan hadn’t expected him to.
“But more importantly,” Ryan continued, “I need you here. Not only because of your loyalty and dedication, but…” Ryan took a deep breath. “But because I love you.”
There were a couple of gasps from behind him, but Ryan ignored them.
“Everyone in this room can attest to the fact that I’ve spent the last few years with blinders on. I’ve been single-minded and so focused that I’ve overlooked the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And now that I have it, I refuse to let it go.”
Someone clapped, but Ryan held up his good hand to quiet them.
Reaching for the arm of Z’s chair, Ryan eased down onto one knee in front of Z, never breaking eye contact. This was the part he’d been rehearsing all morning.
“Zachariah Tavoularis.” Ryan swallowed past the lump that formed in his throat. “Will you marry me?”
Based on Z’s stunned expression, Ryan had taken him completely off guard. This had been a gamble, he knew. Proposing to Z in front of everyone they worked with, everyone Ryan considered family had been Ryan’s attempt to show Z that he didn’t want to hide any longer, that, like he’d told him last night, he wasn’t going to run from what he wanted anymore.
As he waited for Z to say something, Ryan’s hands began to shake, sweat slid down his spine, as fear started to creep upon him with each passing second.
Then Z leaned forward, a smile tilting the corners of his mouth. “You’ll never get these guys to believe I’m the chick in this relationship, you know?”
Okay, so not at all what Ryan had expected, but he should’ve known. This was Z, after all. Smiling back at the man he loved, Ryan said, “Never say never.” That seemed to throw Z off, making Ryan and a few others laugh. “Marry me, Z.”
In true Z fashion, he grinned wide and said, “Of course, I’ll marry you, my queen.”
Ryan’s heart kicked hard in his chest as the applause sounded, growing louder, followed by whistles and shouts. He peered over at the others in the room, unable to erase the goofy grin he knew was plastered on his face. “He said yes.” Laughter ensued, but Ryan glanced back at Z. “I love you.”
“I know,” Z said with a smirk. “I definitely know.”
EPILOGUE
Two months later
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” RT asked when Z wandered into his office, closing the door quickly behind him, then engaging the lock.
It still took Z a moment to adjust to RT’s new surroundings since he’d moved up in the world, taking over Bryce’s plush office after Bryce had done as promised, retiring and trying to enjoy his time away from the office. The room was much bigger than RT’s old office, which Z had taken over with his new promotion. Oh, and it also had a bathroom in it, which proved quite useful for what Z had in mind.
“Just here to make sure you’re workin’,” Z told him, loving the way RT’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.
Z had to admit that he’d come to enjoy his new position within Sniper 1 Security. Particularly the position that he could so easily get himself into when he snuck into RT’s office in the middle of the day and locked the door.
“Z, you know we can’t do this here,” RT said, but he didn’t sound at all as though he believed those words.
“Oh, but we can. And we will.”
RT twisted in his chair, turning to face Z when Z came around his desk.
“Conner’s next door,” RT informed him.
“No, Conner has left the building.” Unceremoniously dropping to his knees in front of RT, Z reached for the button on RT’s jeans. “But Trace is in his office, so you might wanna keep it down.”
RT chuckled, but it was strained. “Z, seriously.”
“Shh,” Z insisted. “Now help me out here.”
RT might’ve been verbally resisting, but at the command, he lifted his hips and allowed Z to easily pull his jeans down his legs.
“Hmm. Commando. I like it.”
Leaning forward, Z swiped his tongue over the head of RT’s semi-soft cock, peering up at him to watch his lover’s face.
“Fuck,” RT groaned softly, his hand sliding into Z’s hair. “Why do you do this to me?”
Z chose not to answer the question because they both knew why he did it. Because he couldn’t keep his hands off RT. Ever since they’d gotten engaged, Z had been making up for lost time, and he had no intention of stopping anytime in the near future. As far as he was concerned, they had a lot of time to make up for.
“Oh, yes. Suck me, Z.”
Z worked RT with his mouth, getting him hard before deep-throating his beautiful cock, sucking him firmly as he stroked him with his hand. RT’s hips continued to thrust forward with every downstroke, forcing him all the way in. Watching RT fascinated Z; he loved seeing the sensual expressions, the way his eyes closed as he fucked Z’s face, his fingers tightening in his hair.
“I wanna fuck you,” RT mumbled. “But damn, that feels good.”
Z continued blowing RT, waiting for him. One way or the other, Z was going to make him come. Whether it was in his mouth or in his ass, that was completely up to RT.
“Oh, fuck, Z. I don’t… I don’t… Fuck.” RT growled the last word as he pulled out of Z’s mouth, opening his eyes. “Bend over the desk,” RT ordered.
Z smiled as he got to his feet, quickly unhooking his jeans and shoving them down his thighs. While RT retrieved lube from his top desk drawer, Z assumed the position, bracing himself on RT’s desk after grabbing a towel from the drawer on the other side. No sense in making an unnecessary mess.
Ever since RT’s proposal two months ago, Z had noticed that his future husband had begun to lighten up significantly. They’d talked at length about so many things and had come to quite a few conclusions. One, they had chosen to move in together, in RT’s house for the time being; two, they would dedicate time to the important things in life, like family; three, they would forgo condoms in the future if they both agreed to be tested (which they had); and four, they would keep the lines of communication open between them. Always.
Not only was RT making a valiant effort to delegate some of the workload, he was ensuring that the two of them spent as much time together as possible. And not once had Z been sent on an out-of-state assignment, which allowed for a lot more of this, which he knew he would always crave.
RT opened him up using two lubed fingers, making Z growl and plead for more, though he did his best to keep his voice down so as not to draw attention to what they were doing. Granted, he already knew that Trace suspected they were sneaking off for nooners, as Trace referred to them, any chance they could get.
Which they were.
“Quit playin’ and fuck me,” Z encouraged, gripping the edge of RT’s desk. “I wanna feel you inside me.”
RT’s fingers disappeared, replaced by his cock, and Z held on as pleasure assaulted him.
“Ah, God, yes,” he groaned. “Just like that.”
RT plunged deep, then gripped Z’s shoulders, holding him still as he began to pound him from behind. As usual, RT remained silent, likely super aware of others being able to hear them if they were to press their ear to the door.