Chapter 06
The following weeks were a whirlwind of controlled chaos. Adrian, desperate to spend more time with Liam after their charged elevator encounter, found himself 'accidentally' leaving crucial work unfinished until late hours. He knew it was a flimsy excuse, but Liam's surprised but hesitant agreement sent a thrill through him.
One particularly tedious night, hunched over a mountain of reports, Adrian glanced at the clock. It ticked past nine, and Liam was still diligently sorting through legal documents. Shame gnawed at Adrian, but the need to break the unspoken tension was stronger.
"Liam, you should head home," he said, forcing a casual tone. "This can wait until morning."
Liam looked up, surprise flickering across his features. "But Mr. Thorne—"
Adrian cut him off. "An exhausted employee is not a productive one. Trust me, I know from experience. Go get some rest."
Liam hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Mr. Thorne. Goodnight."
The click of the door shutting behind Liam was like a dam breaking inside Adrian. He felt a surge of desperation, a need for more than just stolen glances and late-night work sessions.
He stood up, pacing the room like a caged animal. Finally, he grabbed his coat and headed towards Liam's office. Inside, Liam was packing up his bag, a frown etched on his forehead.
"Forgot something?" Adrian asked, forcing a lightness that didn't reach his eyes.
Liam jumped, startled. "Mr. Thorne? I thought you left."
Adrian closed the door softly behind him, the sound echoing in the silent room. Liam's eyes widened as he understood the unspoken request.
"Mr. Thorne, this is inappropriate—" Liam began, but Adrian cut him off again, his voice a rough whisper.
"Don't call me Mr. Thorne," he pleaded. "Just… Liam, why did you sleep beside me when I was sick?"
The vulnerability in his voice hung heavy in the air. Liam's gaze softened, his eyes searching Adrian's face.
"I… I just saw you shivering," Liam admitted, his voice barely above a murmur. "You seemed so uncomfortable."
Adrian took a step closer, the distance between them now a mere breath. He looked at Liam, at the curve of his jaw, the strong line of his nose, and the way his eyes seemed to hold a million unspoken questions. Desire, raw and unfiltered, surged through him.
"Was that all?" Adrian breathed, his voice hoarse.
Liam's gaze dropped, then flickered back up, hesitant and full of longing. Before either of them could speak further, Adrian closed the remaining distance and pressed his lips to Liam's.
The kiss was hesitant at first, a tentative exploration. But then, something shifted. Liam, who had initially pulled back in surprise, melted into the kiss, his hand reaching up to cup Adrian's cheek. Adrian felt a jolt of electricity travel through him, his senses overwhelmed by the taste and scent of Liam. It was a kiss filled with unspoken desires, a dam holding back a torrent of emotions finally bursting forth.
They pulled away, panting slightly, foreheads resting together. The air crackled with unspoken words and a newfound intimacy.
"Adrian," Liam whispered, his voice thick with a mix of surprise and desire.
"Liam," Adrian echoed, his heart pounding in his chest.
The silence hung heavy in the air, pregnant with possibility. Before either of them could process what had just happened, the door creaked open. Sarah stood there, a bag of takeout in her hand, her smile faltering as she took in the scene.
Adrian swore under his breath, shame and confusion flooding his face. Liam stepped back, his hand dropping from Adrian's cheek. The moment, the fragile connection they had built, shattered in an instant.
Sarah cleared her throat, trying to cover her shock. "Oh… I, uh, brought dinner. Did I interrupt something?"
Adrian and Liam exchanged a glance, the weight of the situation hanging thick between them. Adrian felt a pang of guilt, a fear of having jeopardized both his professional career and the burgeoning relationship with Liam.
"Actually, Sarah," Liam said, his voice regaining its professional composure, "I was just leaving. Thank you for thinking of me."
He nodded curtly at both of them and exited the office, leaving them alone with the unspoken truth and a future as uncertain as the takeout bag sitting forgotten on the desk.
The silence in the office felt heavier than the silence after their kiss. Sarah, her once bright smile gone, awkwardly placed the takeout bag on the desk.
"I… I'll come back later," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
Adrian watched her leave, a knot twisting in his gut. He knew he needed to apologize, to explain, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. He turned back to the empty doorway, his heart pounding against his ribs.
He couldn't let it end there.
Driven by an unknown force, he grabbed his coat and sprinted out of the office building, ignoring the bewildered stares of his colleagues. He knew where to find Liam.
Liam's apartment building loomed before him, the familiar facade offering a beacon of hope in the turmoil of his emotions. He took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts, and pressed the call button next to Liam's name.
Moments stretched into an eternity before he heard Liam's voice through the intercom, laced with surprise and a hint of apprehension.
"Adrian?"
"Liam, it's me," Adrian said, his voice thick with urgency. "Please, can you open the door?"
A beat of silence followed before the buzzing of the lock filled the night air. Adrian pushed open the door and rushed up the stairs, his steps echoing in the quiet building. He stopped in front of Liam's door, his hand hovering over the doorbell.
Just then, the door creaked open, revealing Liam in a worn t-shirt and jeans, his hair slightly disheveled. Surprise flickered across his features before morphing into a guarded expression.
"Adrian," he began, his voice low. "What are you doing here?"
Adrian met Liam's gaze, his resolve solidifying with each passing heartbeat. "I can't let this end like this," he blurted out, his voice raw with emotion. "What happened… it wasn't a mistake, Liam. Not for me."
Liam's eyes widened, and a flicker of a familiar longing crossed his face. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside, silently inviting Adrian inside.
The apartment was small but comfortable, reflecting Liam's minimalist but sophisticated taste. They stood there in the hallway, the air thick with unspoken desires and a shared awareness of the unfinished business from the office.
Adrian took a step closer, bridging the gap between them. He looked into Liam's eyes, searching for any sign of rejection. But what he saw was a flicker of uncertainty, a mirrored image of the storm raging within him.
"Liam," he whispered, his voice husky with desire, "I know this is sudden, but… can I finish what we started?"
Liam's gaze dropped for a moment, then met Adrian's again. A hesitant smile played on his lips as he murmured, "I think you already know the answer."
And with that, Adrian closed the distance, his lips meeting Liam's in a kiss filled with both desperation and promise. The world around them faded away, replaced by the warmth of Liam's touch and the intoxicating taste of a connection that could rewrite their entire narrative.
As the night deepened, they explored each other, not just physically, but emotionally. They shared vulnerabilities and desires, dreams and fears, building a bridge between their seemingly disparate worlds. In the intimate space of Liam's apartment, under the soft glow of the night lamp, they found a connection that transcended professional boundaries and societal expectations.
The memory of Sarah's shocked face remained a nagging worry at the back of Adrian's mind, but for now, it was pushed aside. In that moment, all that mattered was the warmth of Liam's body pressed against his, the feeling of finally belonging, of finally being understood.
The first rays of dawn peeked through the curtains, painting the room in a soft orange glow. As they lay tangled in the sheets, the weight of reality began to settle in. They knew their path wouldn't be easy, not with the potential repercussions of their workplace relationship and the societal challenges they would inevitably face.
But as Adrian looked into Liam's eyes, a newfound determination filled him. He had tasted freedom, the freedom to be himself, the freedom to love who he truly loved. And he knew, with a certainty that had never been present before, that he wouldn't trade this feeling, this connection, for anything.