On Wednesday I find myself at the office in the afternoon. The project we had planned tonight fell through because the building which we had chosen to go-karting has now got a leak and they can't risk people getting electrocuted whilst driving around mini karts.

I know the children will be disappointed but part of me is relieved. It's only half way through the week and I am absolutely exhausted.

As I sit on my makeshift desk–we're technically desk hopping for the foreseeable future because we don't have enough funding to get our own desks. I begin to write down some new projects for next week, we have a meeting tomorrow and I'm meant to be presenting with my new project options.

I press the pen to my lip and stare across the office and out the window.

"All I'm saying is that maybe he had it coming," I hear a voice on the desks over. I lean up from my chair subtly and peer at the three people sitting around in a circle. That's when I spot George and two other guys who I haven't spent that much time working with in the past. "He wasn't an angel like everyone thought he was. He was using what he was doing in the community to cover up the fact that he was a disgusting human being inside."

My heart pangs as I lower my eyes, pretending not to be interested but I keep my ears pricked.

"See this is what I'm saying," George exclaims loudly. "He was a fucking home-wrecker. Do you know it gets worse? Apparently he was sleeping around with this woman who had two kids and a husband. Destroyed their family and left them in bits. Sounds like he did it for fun, ruining other peoples lives."

I find myself scowling down at the piece of paper in front of me.

"What's going on with the investigation?"

George huffs out a sigh. "Fuck knows. Part of me wants them to get away with it. He caused so much distress and hurt across families and people he didn't even remotely care about. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was someone's partner he cheated with, getting their revenge."

"I never liked him," one of the others say.

"Me either." Mutters the third.

George snorts. "I don't think anyone that worked with him did. Only his little community of followers and his dad, and his brother."

My heart twitches at the mention of Alex.

"Brother? I didn't know he had a brother."

I'm sure my blood has run cold as I stare blankly down at my paper, hoping that they don't start bringing him up. Alex is nothing like Liam, absolutely nothing like the brush they've painted him with.

"Yeah, I saw pictures online of him at the funeral and stuff."

"I wonder if he condoned his brother's shitty behaviour as much as he grieved for him."

My eyes close in defeat. I can't keep this a secret any longer. Alex has to know and I'll tell him tonight, no matter what the cost. I'd be devastated if I knew he was keeping something like this from me, absolutely devastated.

If my relationship with Alex is going to progress, I have to be honest.

He trusts me and I need to give him a reason to trust me.

"George." Our manager, Lacey, shouts from across the room. "That doesn't sound like work, it sounds like an awful lot of chatting. Get back to your projects, the day isn't over."

I listen as they scurry away from their mother's meeting. "Sorry, Lacey. Got carried away."

"I can see that," she grumbles from her office. "River."

My head turns to her and I pretend like I haven't been eavesdropping on their whole conversation. "Yeah?"

"Please bring your project ideas for the presentation to my office, I'd like to go over them with you. I have some ideas of my own." She bows her head, dark hair falling over her narrow shoulders.

"I'll be right there," I say as I pack up my things and pray that this goes as well as I hope.

❖ ❖ ❖

When I get into the foyer of the building, I dig out my keys from my pocket and check my postal locker. I open it to find it's empty, sometimes that's a relief but not when I've ordered myself a new screen protector because my last one practically shattered.

The door to the foyer swings open and to my surprise, Alex emerges. As soon as he sees me he digs his headphones out of his ears and greets me with a bright smile. "Is it fate that we're always catching each other down here?" He tilts his head with amused suspicion.

I slam the locker shut and lock it with my key. "It must be," I bow my head.

Alex's mouth continues to flash me that smile. "How was your day?"

"Average," I exhale a long sigh. "Yours?"

"Very average."

I twist my lips to the side slowly. "Hey, have you heard anything more about your brother's investigation?"

Alex tilts his head with confusion but I share with him a concerned expression at the same time. "No, the police are keeping us away for the time being. Telling us to give them time to figure stuff out before they question us about things."

"Oh," I say shortly.

"It's been really fucking tough," his gaze lowers and I feel as if someone has punched me in the gut. "I feel like we're being ignored and shunned for this, like we've lost him and the police still don't care about informing us on anything."

My fingers itch to grab his hand but I stop myself. Alex's eyes float to mine.

"Why have you heard anything?"

"Actually I–" his eyes light up when I begin to speak and then the whole scenario runs through my head. Everything I say he will deny, he will become upset, he will be in despair. Will he think that I believe my work friends over his vision of his brother?

I suddenly feel extremely nauseous because I never want to upset him.

"You what?"

My mouth becomes dry and I extend my tongue to lick my bottom lip. "People at work have discussed him sometimes."

"What?" His voice cracks.

I nod slowly and curse myself for the gaze in his eye. "Yeah."

"What did they say?"

"Some people didn't always get along with him," I blurt because I have to say something or the guilt will eat me alive. Technically I'm not lying, I'm telling him something that people have said. "Found him quite overpowering at times."

Alex's mouth opens but nothing comes out. "They didn't like him?"

It's obvious he's hurt by what I said. It's written across his face in black and white like a fucking newspaper and I shrink down into my shoes, if he's hurt by this... fuck. He's going to be destroyed by everything else.

Part of me doesn't even want to fuel him with information that might not be true, at the moment it's just speculation and until the police come forward with real evidence, it's not fair to get him upset over something that might not even be real at all.

"I think more for his work ethic but that doesn't take anything away from him." I'm panicking now.

Alex stares back at me like I've just told him that I am actually a billionaire fraudster.

"What else did that say?"

I swallow down the lump in my throat. "Nothing," I lie. "Not everyone really knew him to be honest, just some people didn't always see eye to eye with him."

"And what about you? You said you worked with him a couple times."

"And I liked him." Another lie.

To be honest I didn't have a lot of experience to go off but I can normally judge someone's character within the first five minutes of meeting with them.

"Honestly, Alex. Don't overthink it. Not everyone likes everyone in the workplace. I know for a fact some people hate me because of my ideas, and think I'm a suck up to the boss." I exhale a slow laugh.

Alex's shoulders relax an inch when I speak. "I find that hard to believe."

I flash him a gentle smile. "Unfortunately that's true."

My eyes study Alex's mouth as he opens it, just as the lights in the foyer turn off and the emergency light comes on. I glance at the ceiling and groan. Great. Another fucking powercut.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"Yep," I rasp. "Come." I beckon my head to the exit. "Let's go grab some dinner."

Alex follows my lead without protesting. I need to change the subject and I need to change it fast because I don't want him spiralling into thoughts, I want to keep him happy until the truth really comes out.

I'd hate myself for fueling him with nonsense only to find out it was all fake.

"My manager told me that I'm doing really well today," I say as we walk down the street.

Alex turns to me with bright eyes. "Really? That's amazing, River."

"I have this presentation tomorrow. I was shitting it before but she reassured me and now I'm a lot calmer." I admit.

"I have no doubt in the world you can do it," he nudges my side softly. "So how come you really got into youth charity work?"

I suck in a low breath. "I mean with everything that went on in my past, I wanted to help others. Give children of this town a chance that I never got to have. Give them a voice, allow them to make decisions and choose the right paths. Allow them to speak up about their home life if they need to."

Alex remains silent beside me, encouraging me to go on.

"I'm not a social worker or whatever but it's nice to see kids in the community get this chance to spend time away from home, away from school. Finding their hobbies, their interests and setting them up for life," I shove my hands into my hoodie pockets. "It's nice to see their progress and know that I'm making a change."

His grey eyes find mine and he offers me a generous smile. "You are incredible for what you do. What all of you do. I know you get paid for it but you still have to care about the children and their futures. I'm so pleased there are people like you out there willing to make a difference for them."

We stop outside a burrito shop and each grab a different burrito, we sit in the shop window and eat and eat until we're both so full we can barely move. "Are you happy working for William?" I ask.

"I'm not not happy," he sighs. "It's not what I want to do forever but it's a stepping stone and I know that I have to be patient. It's a bonus that he's a lovely guy to work for."

After a few moments we head back to our apartment building, shock that the electrics are still out but now that it's summer, it doesn't get super dark until past nine.

"Want to come in?" I ask Alex as we stop outside my apartment door first.

He nods like he was waiting for me to ask. "Sure."

I pull off my bag and my hoodie, moving to light some candles around the room to create some form of light. I find Alex staring at my arms for a few moments and he looks away like he shouldn't be.

"I don't care if you look at my scars, Alex." I tell him truthfully. "I take off my hoodie because I trust you and because I feel comfortable around you."

Alex's eyes find mine and he nods. "Sorry, sometimes my eyes just wander. I'm not staring to be rude."

The corners of my lips flick. "I know."

I watch as he drops his back onto the floor and sheds his shacket to drape across the back of the sofa. He stands a few feet away from me and I tilt my head. My laptop is dead and my TV doesn't work without the Wi-Fi.

"Come here," I demand.

Alex's eyes spring wide. He looks to the left and the right before he walks towards me. I smile at his apprehensiveness but I want to kiss him so badly, I need him in my bloodstream because I can't stop thinking about him. Even when I shouldn't.

He stops a few inches from me and I smirk. "Closer."

His throat clenches at my words and when he's in reaching distance, I grab his shirt and use the other to cup the edge of his jaw. Once our lips are on each other, he sighs into the kiss instantly.

When he uses his own hand to slide into the back of my hair, I tilt my head down and claim his bottom lip between mine. I dip my tongue into his mouth and listen as he moans when it comes into contact with his.

My body shudders and I move backwards until my legs hit the sofa and we fall down onto it, not once breaking the kiss.

His hands explore my body carefully, brushing over my scars but for once it feels nice. It's been far too long since anyone touched me and saw me like this and still wanted to take my clothes off, it gives me so much joy I didn't know I needed.

Alex straddles my hips and I press my fingers underneath his t-shirt, desperately wanting it off. I push it higher and higher until Alex grabs the back of the neck and removes it himself. My eyes float to his chest, I've never seen him without a shirt before and boy is it a sight.

I lick my lips and his mouth is back on mine.

"Can I take yours off too?" He whispers against me.

I'm nodding before he even finishes his sentence. We take it off together and when we are bare, his eyes roam me like I did to him. My chest is going crazy but Alex smiles at me–he fucking smiles and I am sent off into a frenzy of fire and desire.

He presses his chest against mine and our tongues fight for dominance once more.

Kissing Alex feels like being addicted to crack. I need more and more because the first stroke is never enough. I need everything he has because boy, he makes me feel so damn alive.

He slides his hand down my chest and across my stomach, my skin raising with goosebumps at his featherlight touch. So caring, so thoughtful. His hand stops just above my jeans and he plucks open the button, and then the zipper.

I gasp against him because I know where this is going and I want to get there.

Then I'm doing the same to his pants, exposing his boxers.

Alex removes his lips from mine and dips to my neck, peppering kisses along my hot skin. Then he flicks his finger under the waistband of my boxers, giving my stomach a reason to clench at the teasing movement.

"I've never done this before," I blurt.

He smiles against my neck. "I've never done this before either but I presume it'll be similar to what I do with my own dick. You're most likely the same."

I resist the urge to laugh because now is not the time, so I settle with, "Alright, smartass."

Alex moves lower and lower until his hand grazes the shaft of my dick. No surprise that I'm already rock fucking hard. I can't even remember the last time I got myself off but this beats any fantasy I've had in the past.

When he manoeuvres himself to grab my cock, pulling it from my jeans he gasps. "Jesus, River."

"What?" I'm panting now.

Alex's cheeks flush as he stares down at my cock between us. His mouth opens and his lips move but no words fall from his lips, now he's even redder than before.

"What?" I repeat with a chuckle.

"You're so–" he stops himself and a glaze of innocence rushes past his eyes. "You're so big."

I throb at that. His hand is now around it, stroking me gently. I grip onto his sides and grunt at the sensation. Alex presses his forehead to mine, studying me with a thick glaze that means he's ready to give me everything.

"Fuck," I rasp when he massages his thumb into the tip and then strokes down my length with his warm hand. "That feels good."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." I bite down on my lip with a nod.

Alex presses a kiss to my lips and I shudder, pleasure already building and I'm ready for it to shatter all around me. I copy his actions and slide my hand into his own pants and past his boxers, he whimpers into my mouth when I wrap my hand around his cock.

"River," he quakes.

"Should I stop?"

He shakes his head and claims my lips desperately. "Never."

We begin to sync our strokes along with each other, using our tongues to set the pace at the same time. I almost cry out when he does something with his fingers to my sensitive spot that I think I'm about to burst.

I copy his actions and do the same to his head and he gasps into the kiss.

"S-Shit," he grunts, biting down on my lip.

We work faster and harder until the room is filled with our breathless moans. Our bodies move together, hands still gripping onto each other's body in case we somehow slip away from this magical moment.

My eyes flutter shut and I begin to shake. "Alex, I'm–"

"Me too," he pants. "Me too."

I speed up, he copies. Then we're both moaning messes, kissing and grunting.

I know I can't take much more of this because I never knew Alex's hand would feel so damn good. "Holy fuck," I extend my neck, just as he kisses my pulse. "I'm so close."

"Same," he mumbles against me, causing my body to vibrate.

Within three more strokes I'm over the edge, causing Alex to moan out when his orgasm hits him a few seconds later. I'm not lying when I say cum is absolutely everywhere but I don't care, I couldn't give a single shit when I feel so fucking high on his touch.

I shake in his hold and I moan, demanding his mouth so we can share this moment in a fiery kiss.

I can feel my climax all the way down to my damn toes and for a moment I can't think straight because my mind is clouded with shapes and visuals of vibrant colours.

When I begin to calm down, Alex slumps against me with a bright grin across his face but his eyes are closed. "I can't believe we done that," he chuckles.

"We should do it again," I say deeply.

His eyes snap open to meet mine and we kiss again, his spare hand clasping my cheek to gain deeper access. I melt into the kiss, into everything. I don't even care we've made a mess of our clothes and my sofa.

"Definitely. Let's definitely do that again." He agrees breathlessly.

❖ ❖ ❖

Read the rest of the story and bonus chapters over on Patreon!

You can also read the first 19 chapters of Luca's book over there too.

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Author's Note

The first bit of smuttttt? It was so cute and sexy at the same time. I love how gentle they are with each other, it suits them both so well!🥹💘

What did you guys think?👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼

Also should River told Alex what he heard about Liam??? It's going to get messy if he doesn't do it soon!

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