His Secret Addiction

Chapter Nineteen

Damien's POV

Victoria showed up at the office Monday morning without warning.

She walked into my office at seven thirty carrying two coffees and sat down across from my desk without asking. My sister had a way of entering spaces like she owned them, which she technically did, thirty percent of the company anyway.

"We need to talk about the press," she said.

I took the coffee she offered. "Good morning to you too."

"The Maya story is contained. The rebranding numbers are excellent. But the article about you and Alex hasn't gone away. It's actually picking up secondary coverage." She pulled out her tablet. "Business Insider ran a piece yesterday. Forbes has something scheduled for Wednesday. They're not negative, but they're asking questions about workplace relationships and power dynamics."

"Sophie already drafted the conflict of interest policy."

"I know. I read it. It's airtight." She set the tablet down. "That's not the problem. The problem is you haven't said anything publicly. No statement, no acknowledgment, nothing. You're letting other people control the narrative."

"I'm not making my personal life a press release."

"You don't have to. But you do need to acknowledge it exists." She leaned forward. "Damien, you spent three years hiding after Trevor. The company watched you shut down and disappear into work. Now you're different, everyone can see it, and they're waiting to see if you're going to own it or run from it."

"I'm not running."

"Then prove it. Go to the gala on Friday."

I'd forgotten about the gala. Annual charity event, three hundred people from New York business circles, the kind of thing my grandmother never missed and I'd attended out of obligation every year since taking over.

"Alex and I weren't planning to go."

" window. "Besides, I've never seen you in actual black tie. Could be worth the awkwardness."

"I've worn black tie to company events."

"Not around me you haven't."

Fair point.

Victoria left after that, and I spent the rest of the day buried in emails and calls. By the time I got home that evening, Alex was in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove. He looked up when I walked in, and the tension from the day melted a bit.

"Rough one?" he asked.

"Victoria cornered me about the press." I set my bag down and came up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He leaned back into me, and I pressed my lips to his neck.

"What'd she say?"

"Basically, we need to show up to the gala Friday. Own it." My hands slid under his shirt, feeling the warmth of his skin.

He turned off the stove and twisted around to face me. "Are you okay with that?"

"Yeah." I kissed him, hard and quick, then deeper. His mouth opened under mine, and I backed him against the counter.

We didn't make it to the bedroom. I yanked his shirt over his head, then mine. His hands fumbled with my belt, pulling it free. I shoved his pants down, and he kicked them off. My c**k was already hard, pressing against him through my boxers.

"f**k me," he whispered, grabbing my ass.

I spun him around, bent him over the counter. Lube from the drawer nearby, always kept it handy now. I slicked my fingers, pushed one inside him. He groaned, pushing back. I added another, stretching him quickly.

Then I lined up my c**k and thrust in. Tight heat gripped me. I f****d him steady, one hand on his hip, the other reaching around to stroke his d**k. He came first, spilling over my fingers with a low moan. I followed seconds later, pumping deep until I was spent.

We cleaned up, ate dinner like nothing happened. But it did. It always did now.

***********************

Friday arrived faster than I wanted.

I spent the afternoon in back-to-back meetings that ran late, which meant I got home with forty minutes to get ready. Alex was already dressed when I walked in, adjusting his cufflinks in the bedroom mirror.

He looked incredible. Sharper than I'd seen him, perfectly tailored, like he'd decided if we were doing this we were doing it properly.

"You clean up," I said, loosening my tie as I stepped closer.

"So do you. Usually." He glanced at me still in my work clothes. "You have thirty-five minutes."

I stripped fast, showered quicker. But when I came out towel-wrapped, Alex's eyes lingered. The air shifted. I dropped the towel, c**k half-hard already from the look he gave me.

"We don't have time," he said, but his voice was rough.

"Five minutes." I pulled him to the bed, pushed him down on his back. His tux pants were still on, but I unzipped them, freed his c**k. It sprang up, thick and ready.

I sucked him down, wet and deep. He gasped, fingers in my hair. I worked him with my mouth, tongue swirling the head, then taking him all. He bucked up, f*****g my throat.

"Damien….fuck….." He came hard, hot spurts down my throat. I swallowed every drop, then kissed my way up his body.

"Your turn later," I murmured, pulling back to finish dressing.

He tucked himself away, face flushed. "Tease."

The car service arrived on time. We didn't talk much on the way there. Alex watched the city pass outside his window and I watched him, the way his jaw tightened slightly when we got closer to the venue.

"We can still leave," I said.

"I know." He looked at me. "I don't want to."

The gala was exactly what I expected. Too many people, too much noise, champagne circulating on trays carried by people who deserved better tips than they'd get. We made it through the entrance without incident. Then Richard Sterling spotted us.

"Damien. Mr. Carter." He nodded at Alex with a tight smile. "Didn't expect to see you both here."

"It's a public event, Richard."

"Of course." His eyes moved between us, calculating. "The campaign numbers have been impressive. I'll admit I had concerns, but results speak for themselves."

"They do," Alex said evenly.

Sterling moved on. Others approached. Some congratulated us on the campaign. Some asked careful questions about the investigation. A few ignored Alex entirely and spoke only to me, which I shut down quickly by redirecting every conversation back to him.

Jordan Li appeared around nine, surprisingly civil.

"Carter," he said. "Good turnout."

"Li." Alex shook his hand. "Didn't think you'd be here."

"Free food, networking opportunities, open bar." Jordan shrugged. "I'm ambitious, not stupid." He glanced at me. "The campaign launch next month is going to be competitive. May the best pitch win."

"It will," Alex said.

Jordan actually smiled. "Looking forward to it."

He left and Alex exhaled.

"That was almost friendly," he said.

"Progress."

We made it to ten thirty before Victoria found us.

"You're doing well," she said quietly. "Half the room is talking about the campaign instead of the relationship. That's a win."

"Thanks for the push," I told her.

She squeezed my arm. "That's what family does." She looked at Alex. "Both of you, you're family now. Get used to it."

Alex looked surprised. Victoria didn't wait for a response, just disappeared back into the crowd.

"Your sister is terrifying," Alex said.

"She grows on you."

We stayed another hour. Made the rounds, spoke with the right people, let ourselves be seen together without making it a spectacle. By midnight we were back in the car heading home.

Alex leaned against me in the backseat, tie loosened, looking tired but satisfied.

"Not as bad as I thought," he said.

"You were good."

"We were good." He closed his eyes. "Still exhausting."

I put my arm around him. He fit there easily now, without the hesitation that used to exist between us in public spaces.

The driver was discreet, focused on the road. Alex's hand slid to my thigh, squeezing. I felt myself harden under my pants. The city lights blurred past, but all I could think about was getting him home.

When we finally pulled up to the building, we barely made it inside the elevator. The doors closed, and Alex was on me, mouth crashing against mine. I pinned him to the wall, grinding my hips forward. His c**k pressed back, just as hard.

"Been thinking about this all night," he muttered between kisses.

The elevator dinged too soon. We stumbled into the apartment, shedding clothes along the way. Jacket off, shirt unbuttoned. By the bedroom, we were naked.

I pushed him onto the bed, face down. Grabbed the lube from the nightstand. Coated my fingers, slid them into his ass. He arched, moaning low. I worked him open, then replaced fingers with my c**k.

I thrust in slow at first, then harder. He gripped the sheets, pushing back to meet me. Skin slapped against skin. I reached under, jerked his c**k in time with my hips.

"Come for me," I growled.

He did, clenching around me as he shot across the bed. That pulled me over, c*m filling him deep. We collapsed together, breathing heavily.

My phone buzzed. A text from Marcus. Saw the photos. Well done. Now stop checking your phone and enjoy your night.

I put it away. Alex was already half asleep against my shoulder.