Dash didn’t listen to his conscience. Instead, he turned on the shower. Thorne really had seemed fine, more fine than Dash, anyway. The warm water would clear his mind and then he could face Thorne. He just needed a little time. He’d lost control. That was why he was wigging out. It had nothing to do with falling for Thorne. “Don’t fall for clients” was the first rule in this job, and he had no intention of breaking it.

THORNE USED THE edge of the sheet to wipe himself down. Then he lay there studying the ceiling and wondering what the hell was going on. Had he done something to upset Dash, and if so, what? Was Dash just concerned he’d screwed up because he’d come when he hadn’t meant to? Did he think Thorne wouldn’t hire him again because of that?

If so, he was fucking nuts. That was the best sex Thorne had ever had. He’d told men not to be gentle, but no one had ever driven their cock into his mouth like Dash had. Thorne had always been good at deep throating. When Clint had discovered his natural talent, they’d both enjoyed putting it to use, but even Clint had never let go with him like Dash had. It wasn’t simply that Dash was a professional. No other rent boy had gone at him that hard, even when he’d offered. Was it because Dash knew Thorne had a way out if he wanted to stop? Or was it…something else?

He heard the shower turn on, but Dash didn’t come out to invite Thorne to join him. After a few seconds, Thorne peeled himself away from the sweaty sheets. To hell with waiting for him, Thorne was going to go in there and make sure Dash was okay.

Steam rolled out as he stepped into the bathroom as if Dash had turned the hot water all the way to cook-a-lobster. Thorne pulled the curtain aside, but for several seconds he couldn’t say anything because Dash’s beauty—eyes closed, head tilted back, water streaming down his sculpted body—took his breath away. He wanted to lap at the water pooling in his collar bones. Hell, he wanted to give him an all-over tongue bath. And most of all, he didn’t want Dash to leave. Ever.

Dash opened his eyes as if he finally sensed that Thorne was there.

“May I join you?” Thorne asked.

Dash smiled. “Yes.”

“You didn’t come back,” he said in Dash’s ear as he spun him to face the water and pulled him close. “I got lonely.”

“Sorry. I…”