Free Saving Alexander by Susan Mac Nicol

the keyboard free of coffee. Alex leaned back in his chair, breathless. The pressure between his legs grew in intensity. Sage was so close to Alex he could smell his aftershave and see the dark hairs on his arms at his wrists. Alex could also see the hardened ridge of Sage’s own erection lying against his leg in his tight jeans.
    God, he must be able to smell how bloody aroused I am. And he feels the same about me, obviously, if that monster in his pants is anything to go by.
    They were both aware of the effect they was having on the other. Alex saw it in the slight smile on Sage’s face and the way he deliberately moved closer to him as he used the last of the tissues.
    Sage threw the sodden lump accurately into the wastepaper bin on the other side of the desk. “There. All cleaned up. Now where were we before you so rudely expelled everything in your mouth over the desk? Oh yes, you were going to tell me about this book you’re writing.”
    Sage still stood close, not moving, watching Alex’s face with intense eyes that made Alex’s insides churn and his mouth dry.
    “I’ve only just started it,” Alex said huskily, looking up at Sage’s unwavering stare. “It’s another romance trilogy but it’s quite different than the last one. This one’s a little darker and much sexier.”
    “I like the sound of that. Is there a part for me in it again in case they make another TV series?” Sage said teasingly.
    Alex was a little unnerved at both Sage’s statement as well as the mischievous expression on his face. “I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. Like I said, it’s in the early stages.”
    Sage nodded. “Have you got a name for it yet?”
    “Only a working title. I’ll probably change it later as the story develops.”
    “What’s it about?” Sage asked curiously.
    Alex shook his head firmly, trying to get back on safer ground. His insides churned at Sage’s nearness. “You are so quizzy, aren’t you? You’ll find out when you read it one day. Do you ask an artist to tell you all about the painting he’s doing whilst he’s busy? No, you wait for it to be finished. Well, you’ll have to do the same with this one.”
    Sage stepped away from him and Alex could breathe again.
    “Well, that’s telling me,” Sage murmured with a smile on his face. “I suppose I’ll have to wait then, won’t I?” To Alex’s relief, Sage tucked his damp shirt back into his jeans.
    Luke Belmont appeared in the entrance to the office. “Sage. We’re all ready to rock and roll, old son. Get yourself geared up. We’ll start in about an hour.” He grinned. “Give you plenty of time to get that ugly mug all made up and pretty for the cameras.”
    Sage grinned back. “I’ll be there.” He took one last lingering look at Alex and disappeared behind Luke. Alex sat there, feeling slightly shell-shocked.
    What the hell had just happened? To put it mildly, Sage’s sex appeal had just flared like a flame turned up on a Bunsen burner. Alex had simply folded like a newly laundered sheet.
    He turned to his computer, hitting the esc button to awaken the system. The cursor on page eighty of the new story winked at him, inviting him to write more words. He swallowed, shifting uncomfortably in his chair to relieve the tension in his groin.
    Perhaps he’d jump straight into the sex scenes. They’d be as hot as hell the way he felt right now.
    * * *
    Sage had a distinctly uncomfortable feeling down below as he made his way to the studio makeup room. He hoped like hell no one else noticed the bulge in his crotch. He knew Alex had. The man’s eyes had widened and he’d licked his lip, almost causing Sage to come in his jeans. He’d have to try and conceal his arousal somehow until it subsided.
    What the hell had possessed him to approach Alex all “come hither” like that? Jesus, he’d been like some sort of male escort tempting a customer. What was it about this man that bought out the man-slut in him?
    He’d got the