arrived promptly with Gio’s water, and Gio thanked him. “And thank you, Sacha.”
Sacha had no idea how much it meant to Gio that he cared. Did he realize how sweet and attentive he was? Unlikely.
“Go on,” Sacha said, motioning toward the buffet table with appetizers. With a smile, Gio headed off, took a small plate, and added several scrumptious-looking items, including the salmon appetizers Sacha had recommended. A couple of charity organizers he was familiar with approached him, and he listened to them chat about their upcoming events as he ate. He agreed to consider their invitations and asked them to send the relevant information over to his assistant.
The auction would be starting in half an hour. Catching sight of Sacha standing to one side of the room between one of the pillars and a set of curtains gave Gio all kinds of ideas. He excused himself from the small group he’d been standing with and left his empty plate on one of the many trays for used dinnerware. Discreetly popping a mint into his mouth, he headed in Sacha’s direction. Saint moved closer, and Gio chose to ignore the little knowing smile that slipped onto Saint’s face when he realized where Gio was going.
“Hi.” Gio stopped in front of Sacha, blocking the room’s view of him. Thankfully, Saint stood at attention on the other side of the pillar where he could see anyone approaching Gio, but not see what Gio and Sacha were getting up to, not that Gio expected anything to happen.
“Um, hi.” Sacha’s lips quirked in the corners. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. No. I’m having a bit of a crisis.”
“Crisis, huh?” Sacha peered at him. “What kind of crisis?”
“I’m surrounded by all these people, and they’re charming people, yet I can’t seem to stop myself from getting distracted.”
“That so?”
Gio nodded. He leaned an arm against the wall to the left of Sacha’s head. “Any suggestions on what I can do about it?”
“I don’t know. That sounds like a you problem, not a me problem.”
“Oh, but it’s very much a you problem, and I think you know why.”
Sacha’s pupils were blown wide, and he stepped farther into the shadows. The curtained-off area led to a small empty room with extra serving carts, trays, and stacked chairs. Gio followed him past the curtain, his heart thundering in his ears when Sacha let him step close, his leg between Sacha’s.
“You’re very distracting,” Gio murmured as he placed a hand on Sacha’s hip.
“How’s that?” Sacha asked, his face lifted toward Gio’s. He dropped his gaze to Gio’s lips before moving it back up to his eyes.
“Every time I see you, all I can think about is how I would much rather be with you. Alone.” Gio brushed his lips over Sacha’s temple, closing his eyes at the sound of Sacha’s low groan.
“What the hell are you doing? I’m on the job. I can’t be walking around with a hard-on.”
The words caught Gio by surprise. Having Sacha admit he was in danger of sporting an erection because of Gio was almost as hot as the thought of Sacha’s erection itself.
“At least then I wouldn’t be the only one.”
“Fuck.” Sacha adjusted himself. “Gio…”
“Yes?” Gio slid his hand to Sacha’s back and gently brought their bodies together, their hardening lengths pressing against each other, making them both gasp for breath. With his heart pounding in his ears and his breath quickening, Gio moved his lips lower, kissing the corner of Sacha’s lips as he rocked ever so subtly against Sacha. “You have no idea how desperate you make me feel.”
“Yeah, I think I do,” Sacha replied, breathless. He punched his hips forward and moved his face, his lips touching Gio’s without kissing. Shattering plates made them both jump, and the atmosphere around them changed instantly. Sacha stepped around Gio with a growl. “I have work to do.”
Damn it. With a sigh, Gio nodded and waited for Sacha to put some distance between them before he casually stepped out from behind the pillar. Sacha Wilder was going to be the death of him. Then again, it was one hell of a way to go.
Gio stood next to Saint, who smiled softly at him as he leaned in.
“If it’s any consolation, I think he likes you.”
“You think so?”
“Believe me. I’ve been around him when people have wanted to hook up with him and he’s not interested. Let me just say they don’t ask twice. He also doesn’t keep an eye on anyone to make sure they eat.”
Gio’s heart