I snagged two beers and slammed the fridge door. Whirling around, I crashed into Tony’s chest. “Get out of the way, T.” 

His big hands came up and he gripped my shoulders; his face honest in its intensity. “That guy’s bad news, Mark. You were an idiot to get involved with him in the first place.” 

I shoved him, knocking his hands from my shoulders, his touch felt almost patronizing. “I heard you the first time. I more than know that now. He drained my bank accounts. Took everything.” More horrified by the loss of my money than the loss of my lover, my gut rolled. It was the beer on an empty stomach. 

“What? How?” 

“I found out when I stopped by the bank. I have nothing. It’s all gone. So, yes, he’s got no self control and he’s a thief and I can’t for the life of me figure out why he thought I wouldn’t notice. He’s crazy. I mean how fucking stupid and needy does he think I am? Don’t answer that.” 

“You need to report this, Mark.” He was firm. “Obviously you were needy for something. Maybe you were blinded by his cock. It’s been known to happen.” 

I blinked at him. “Fuck. You.” 

Tony leapt, slamming me into the refrigerator; his chest flattened into mine, his hand grabbed my chin, forcing it up. I froze, shocked. “Don’t tempt me.” He drilled me with a vicious look, and then his eyes shifted down to my mouth. I knew that look. I went from shocked to breathless while my tongue, that teasing bastard, slid out to dampen my dry lips. All the thoughts I’d ever had of Tony’s mouth on mine, however suppressed or unrequited, came charging forward in that split second and I almost leaned into him. Almost. It was the booze. It had to be.

His heart pounded into mine, our chests rising and falling together as our breathing sped up. His hand was just short of painful, biting into my jaw, holding me firm. Oh Christ, here was an unexpected development and I wanted it. Tony was punishing me and, irrational as ever, I was desperate for him to put his mouth on me.