Chapter 44

Back at the office, Jamie and Blake were nothing if not professional.

There were no public displays. No overt affection. No stolen makeout sessions in the copy room.

But beneath the polish, everything had changed.

Blake would walk by Jamie’s desk and set a flat white beside his keyboard without a word.
Jamie would reply to Blake’s emails with “Noted, sir” followed by a winking emoji hidden in the white space.
Their fingers would brush when passing reports. Their knees would bump under shared meeting tables.
Tiny touches. Quick glances. A whole language of affection in code.

At lunch, they snuck out together when their schedules aligned – wandering into the city, grabbing sandwiches, laughing too loudly while sitting on a sun-warmed bench in Bryant Park.

“You’ve got mayo on your lip,” Blake would say, and wipe it away with his thumb.
Jamie would blush. And then kiss him anyway.

In the elevator, when it was just them?

Blake leaned in close, lips brushing Jamie’s ear.
“I still remember how you sounded last night,” he whispered low. “Begging. Gasping. Clenching around me like you never wanted it to end.”

Jamie’s knees almost buckled.

He shoved Blake playfully back with a muttered, “You’re evil,” and tried not to walk into the wall when the doors opened.

Later, Ryan slid into Jamie’s office with a knowing grin.

“Sooo,” Ryan said, leaning on the desk, “how’s Sterling? Still making that goofy smile every time you get a text?”

Jamie tried – and failed – not to smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Shona poked her head in. “He’s glowing. It’s adorable.”

Ryan nodded. “We tease because we care.”

Jamie rolled his eyes. “You tease because you live for drama.”

“But we are happy for you,” Shona said genuinely. “You look… good. Like you’ve stopped pretending.”

Jamie paused.

Then smiled. “I have.”

And maybe that was the most romantic thing of all.