Rowan's throat made a sharp sound as he swallowed hard, his left fingers gripping the edge of his desk not too hard, not too soft.
"If I asked you..." Rowan started, his voice barely above a whisper then he stopped for a moment before forcing himself to continue, his jaw clenching,
"If I asked you to stay by my side... as my... sex partner."
He looked up at that point, meeting Lucian's eyes directly.
"Would that be selfish?"
The words created a blanket of silence over the duo for a tense moment.
Lucian's mouth fell open widely, his eyes widening. His hands, which had been relaxed at his sides, suddenly clenched into fists.
Of all the things...
This wasn't---
Rowan Donovan, the cold CEO who could barely admit he wanted anything, was asking for...?
The silence stretched.
Rowan's face flushed red, and he looked away sharply.
"Of course it is selfish," Rowan said, his words tumbling out fast. "I shouldn't have...That was inappropriate. Forget I---"
