11. A Walk to Remember
A WALK TO REMEMBER
GREG
If someone had told me this morning I’d end the day staying late, half-undressed, with Sean Rivers on my lap, making out like our lives depended on it, I’d have assumed they’d mistaken me for literally anyone else.
But here we are.
It’s happening. Again.
Sean’s hands are on my shoulders, in my hair, on my chest—everywhere at once. His body fits against mine like we’ve been orbiting each other for ages, finally colliding. He kisses like he means it—intense, hungry, with a little sound in his throat that’s going to haunt me forever.
My nails drag up the back of his shirt, careful not to tear the fabric. He gasps, pressing closer. The scent of him hits me—clean laundry, sweat, and something underneath that’s pure Sean.
Gods, he’s amazing.
I can’t stop touching him. His mouth opens under mine, and I’m lost. He tugs at my shirt, fumbling with the buttons, muttering a curse when one pops loose.
“Sorry,” he breathes against my jaw.
“Don’t be,” I manage, though my voice comes out rough. “You can tear them all off if you want.”
He laughs—low and breathless. “You’re dangerous, you know that?”
I grin against his mouth. “Only with you.”
And then he rolls his hips.
It’s instinct, the way I groan—loud, helpless.
Every nerve in my body lights up, demanding more.
My fingers flex against his back, but I resist grabbing, dragging, taking.
I’ve wanted this man since the day he walked into the office with that scowl on his face and his sleeves rolled up to the elbows like he didn’t realize he was a walking sex bomb.
Now he’s mine—at least for this moment—and it’s everything I can do to not lose control.
He tilts his head back, whispering my name like it’s a prayer. “Greg…”
That’s it. That undoes me.
I kiss him hard enough that the chair creaks in agony. His hands grip my waist, steadying us, and for one dizzy second, the room narrows down to heat our heartbeats.
And then—I pull back.
My whole body protests, burning, trembling, begging me to keep going. But I can’t. Not like this.
I press my forehead to his shoulder, breathing hard, glasses fogged. “Sean, I want you,” I say, the words half a growl. “You have no idea how badly I want you, want more, but not like this. You deserve better than quickies in the server room.”
He stills, fingers tightening on my back. “I didn’t care about it the other night,” he murmurs, voice low. “You think I care now?”
I lift my head. His cheeks are flushed, lips red from kissing, eyes bright and wrecked. It takes everything I have not to drag his face back to mine.
“I care.” I tuck a loose strand behind his ear, my thumb lingering on his cheek. “We’ve already crossed that line once. I just… I want this to mean something. I want us to mean something.”
He blinks, like the words take a second to sink in. Then he exhales and lets out this shaky little laugh as he runs a finger down my jaw. “You’re really something, Greg.”
“A nerd?”
“Maybe.” His mouth twitches. “A very hot nerd.”
I grin, tension easing just enough that I can breathe again. “I’ll take it.”
We stay like that for a few minutes, just… leaning into each other. The whir of the server fans fills the silence, steady and grounding. My pulse finally slows from hurricane to thunderstorm.
When Sean finally speaks, his voice is softer. “How much longer until Magnus’s computer’s ready?”
“Not long,” I say. “Half hour, maybe.”
He nods, thoughtful. “Then, uh… you wanna take a walk?”
“A walk?”
“Yeah.” He looks up at me, shy but determined. “I live about a mile away. It’s nice out. I like to walk home when I can.”
The thought of being alone with him outside this windowless box hits my brain like a shot of oxygen. “You want me to walk you home?”
He grins. “I do.”
I swallow, pretending to think about it even though my answer’s already yes. “Are you trying to wrangle free in-home tech support?”
“Maybe. But also…” Sean leans closer, brushing his forehead against mine. “Maybe I just want to keep hanging out with you.”
Well. There goes my ability to speak. My brain’s doing cartwheels, my heart’s doing jazz hands, and none of it is helping me speak. I press my forehead to his, grinning despite myself, trying to steady the world back into focus.
“Okay,” I say finally. “Let me finish this up, and I’ll walk you home.”
He nods, smiling that small, private smile that makes my knees feel weak. Then he helps me tidy up the chaos—stacking discarded cables, closing pizza boxes, pretending like we didn’t almost devour each other against the server rack.
It’s absurdly domestic, and I love it.
By the time I finish configuring the new machine, the office is empty. The hallway lights are on motion sensors, flickering to life as we walk through. It’s quiet except for the echo of our steps and Sean’s occasional humming—some offbeat tune that makes me smile without meaning to.
Outside, the night air is cool and smells like rain. The streetlights cast gold halos across the sidewalk, and for the first time all day, I feel… peaceful.
Sean hesitates, then says, “I’m not used to being walked home by a handsome gentleman.”
“Me neither.”
His smile is quick, almost shy. “Guess tonight’s an exception.”
We walk in comfortable silence for a few blocks, the sounds of the city fading behind us. His shoulder brushes my arm now and then, and every time it happens, my heart does this ridiculous little flip.
At one point, he glances up at me. “So… when you’re not rescuing tech disaster admins and wayward hardware, what do you do for fun?”
I pretend to think. “Define fun.”
Sean snorts. “That bad, huh?”
“I mean, I build custom PCs for kicks. Tinker with drones. Play video games. Watch bad sci-fi movies and yell at the plot holes.”
He grins. “You yell at them?”
“Loudly. With commentary.”
“Okay, we’re definitely watching something together. I need to witness this.”
I raise a brow. “Oh? Planning another date already?”
Sean freezes mid-step, eyes wide, like I’ve just said something scandalous. “Is that what this is?”
I shrug, grinning. “I hope so.”
He looks away, but he’s smiling too, the kind of smile that feels like a secret. “Yeah,” he says after a moment. “Me too.”
We reach the corner where the street dips toward a quiet neighborhood—a stretch of tree-lined sidewalks and tiny front porches. Fireflies flicker along the hedges like someone’s strung fairy lights through the dark.
Sean’s voice drops as we walk. “You know, I don’t really… do this much.”
“Stay late?” I tease.
He smiles faintly. “That. But I mean—talk about myself. It’s usually easier just to keep my head down and focus on work, you know?”
“Yeah,” I say gently. “I can relate.”
He glances sideways at me. “My sister, Ashley, just started college this year. It’s a lot. I’m trying to help her cover what financial aid doesn’t. Rent, books, all that stuff. I love her more than the moon, but…” He blows out a breath. “It’s expensive.”
I nod, staying quiet.
“She doesn’t even have her own laptop,” he continues.
“The one she used through high school finally kicked the bucket, and, well, I can barely swing the necessities. She uses the computer lab between classes and at night. Says it’s fine, but I hate it.
I feel like I should be able to help her more. ”
There’s something raw in his voice, a quiet frustration that makes my chest ache.
“When our mom died,” he says softly, “Ashley was six. I had just turned eighteen. It was sudden, and… I took custody. There was no other choice. It was hard—working, school, keeping the lights on—but she was this kid who believed her big brother could do anything. And somehow, that made me try.”
He laughs once, dry and small. “Now she’s nineteen, off doing amazing things, and I still feel like I’m barely keeping up.”
Without thinking, I reach out and rest a hand on his shoulder. “Hey. You did good, Sean. Still are. I bet Ashley adores her brother.”
He swallows, looking up at me like I’ve just delivered a huge gift.
“I mean it,” I say. “She’s in college because of you. You’ve already done more than most people ever could.”
He doesn’t answer right away, just nods, eyes glinting under the streetlights. “Thanks.”
We walk a few more steps, silent again—but it’s a different kind of quiet now. Softer. Closer.
Finally, he exhales, the moment easing. “Anyway, sorry. Didn’t mean to trauma-dump mid-romantic walk.”
I smile. “Don’t apologize. I like getting to know you. And it explains why you can be so…” I pause, not wanting to ruin the moment.
“Go ahead. Say it.”
I take his hand, running my thumb along his palm.
“Grumpy.”
He lets out a small laugh. “Yeah, I mean, maybe. The pressure of it all can be… a lot.”
I squeeze his hand and deliver my best smile.
He looks at me, startled, then grins. “You really are something, Greg.”
“So I’ve heard.”
We both laugh, tension melting away.
A minute later, he stops, turning toward me. “Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“What you said back at your desk… about not wanting our first time to be there.” His voice drops, soft but steady. “I need you to know I’m not usually so quick to—”
“I know,” I say, before he can finish.
He nods, relieved. “Good. Because I’m not usually the type to… get tangled up this fast.”
“Neither am I.”
We stand there, the quiet stretching between us, full and warm. His breath fogs faintly in the cool air.
I can’t help it—I reach out and tuck a piece of hair behind his ear. He leans into the touch like it’s instinct.
“Sean,” I murmur. “If I kiss you again, I might not stop.”
He smiles, slow and sure. “Then maybe we should walk faster.”
I laugh, helplessly, and he joins in, the sound bright against the quiet street.
We keep walking, side by side, our hands brushing every few steps until finally, Sean reaches over and twines his fingers with mine. Just like that.
No hesitation. No apology.
And it’s somehow hotter than everything that came before.
When we reach his building, he stops at the gate. “This is me.”
I look up at the apartment windows, then back at him. “You sure you’re safe alone?”
“I think I can handle it.”
I grin. “I meant from yourself. You’re clearly prone to kissing nerdy IT guys.”
He steps closer, smile curving. “Guess I am.”
The air between us crackles again, that same ache, that same charge. His thumb brushes mine, deliberate, and before I can think better of it, I lean in.
He meets me halfway.
This kiss is slower—softer—but it still scorches.
Sean’s lips are warm and open, his body pressed against mine, rising on his toes to get closer.
I wrap my arms around him, steady and sure, as the night air cools the heat between us.
When we finally break apart, he rests his forehead against mine, breath ghosting over my mouth.
“Did you want to…”
“Yes.” The word comes out before he finishes. “I would love to see your place.”