Grell perched herself on the edge of her desk and pulled out her nail buffer and started buffing her nails. She looked up at them with a calm face, expectant.
Ronald and Eric looked at each other, wondering how they would survive her wrath once they told her.
"We were, um, talking about—"
"This gu-girl that Ronald is sleeping with," Eric interjected. Ronald knew he was lying to help him, but he didn't want to hurt his friend. They really shouldn't be doing this when they knew she (might) have feelings for William.
Grell snorted, tossing her head back with a small laugh, "When isn't Ronald sleeping with someone?" Ronald gave a weak smile.
"I'm hoping to sleep with her, actually, but we found out that someone else we know might, er, have feelings for her. And I'm just not sure if I should go ahead with this possibly-sleeping thing, especially when I know this other lad who likes her, has liked her for quite awhile and is actually a friend, and, er, yeah," Ronald finished lamely. He had jumbled his words and hadn't thought them through. He deeply hoped Grell wouldn't see through his thinly-veiled comparison.
Grell pursed her lips and put down her buffer, leaning forward slightly on her desk.
"Well I think you should ask this friend of yours if his feelings for this girl you might-be sleeping with are genuine," Grell spoke slowly, "And if they are, I might tell him about your predicament and see how he feels about it. No doubt he'll be upset about it, but seeing as you, Ronald, always get the ladies, I might back off a bit and let him have her, if he's serious about her." Grell spoke wisely.
Ronald didn't know if she had guessed their bet and what it entailed and was secretly telling him to back off her man, or if she was giving honest advice.
Either way, he would have to tell Grell.
"That help?" She smiled at them. Ronald nodded. She hopped off her desk, presumably to go flirt with William, and Ronald found that he couldn't let her go without confessing.
"Listen, Grell, I got something to tell you…" he reached out for her arm and held her back. Grell raised her thin red brows in question but sat back down on the edge of her desk.
Ronald opened his mouth but nothing came out; how does one explain such a situation?
"Well?"
Ronald sighed. Eric purposely ignored them and pretended to be absorbed in his work. Which both Reapers knew very well that that never happened.
"'k listen, a few nights ago Eric and I got drunk and we made this bet. Now this bet here, um, involves some sleeping around—"
"Bed as many girls as possible?" Grell interrupted, obviously unamused with this oddly-plain bet.
"No. Although that might be easier," Ronald muttered under his breath. Eric guffawed.
"Alright enough, so what is this so-called bet about then?"
"Er, well you see, we were highly intoxicated at the time—"
"Aren't you always?" Grell murmured to herself.
"Yeah well, the bet was to sleep with William."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Okaaay, and?"
Ronald was taken aback. He looked at Eric in his confusion. His friend didn't know what to do either so they arched blond brows together.
"Well… we thought that might hurt you, seeing as you have a crush on him—"
"Oh no, of course not!" Grell tittered. Ronald's jaw slackened. "Darlings, William is absolutely to die~ for but in case you haven't noticed, he's an icicle. He doesn't return any affection whatsoever and refuses to acknowledge any advances I've made so go ahead, knock yourself out. Or rather, knock him out." Grell laughed at her own joke.
"Are you kiddin' us?" Eric had given up on "work" and was sporting the most incredulous look ever.
"Of course not." She twirled a pen in her gloved hand, enjoying their disbelief.
"So… you don't mind if I shag William?" Ronald reiterated.
Grell pulled out her buffer once more and put it to use. "Not at all."
"Hold up ginger, you tellin' us that you ain't got feelings for the bean-pole?" Eric's Scottish accent was showing.
"None at all."
Eric and Ronald shared a look of relief. "Carry on with your bet. But I'm betting that you'll fail." Grell smiled sweetly and hopped on out of their office.
Eric looked almost disgusted. "All this time and this 'ere's Jackie been foolin' us." Eric shook his head and picked up his pen, resuming work. Ronald leaned back in his chair, thought over what just happened and let out a deep breath.
"Boy am I glad that's over," he confessed, crossing his fingers behind his head.
"Whut? No you ain't. This bet still on right?" Eric looked sharply up at him.
"Of course yeah, no I just meant I'm glad we got that over with Grell."
Eric nodded in agreement and bent over his work once more. Ronald leaned back in his chair. He could shag William. He closed his eyes in contempt. A small smile crept onto his lips. He wondered for a moment, what it would be like to press his lips against Williams', to have their bodies close. What his hair would feel like under his fingers; would it be greasy from using a stay-on spray of sorts, or would it be soft? Would he put up a fight or would be willingly get lost in the throes of passion for one, heated night? Ronald thought about it. Enjoying the thought of bedding the usually-stoic Reaper. Of being able to crack his cold demeanor and possibly glimpse what was behind? Was it childhood trauma that made him so distant? A bad experience? Or was he just an introvert? A workaholic? So many questions burned his tongue, he licked his lips in anticipation. He snapped his eyes open, not remembering closing them. He glanced at Eric; he hadn't noticed him daydreaming. Good. It was just a bet.
That's what he kept telling himself.
It was just a bet.
Shag William, get a round of drinks, and all the ladies. Exactly what Ronald's life was full of. Except… he found himself not wanting it anymore. Girls still interested him, of course, how could one not be attracted to such a fine specimen? But something about William seemed to put him off his game. He spent less nights out and more time working. He chalked it up to his subconscious helping him win over William.
Ronald nibbled the end of a pen. Now that William was open for grabs, how exactly does one attract a seemingly emotionless-leader?
He spent the following hour wondering whether he was into some seriously kinky stuff, or was the calm, loving sort? Either one shocked Ronald, and yet, seemed perfectly accurate. Imagining William entangled with another man had unprecedented effects on Ronald's body. He maintained his blush so as to not attract Eric's attention.
He would have thought imagining William naked would feel more like imagining a school teacher or family member naked. Repulsive. Apparently not.
The sun was just setting, with nothing more than a thick, bright orange-golden glow hanging over the horizon, across a deep and dark blue sky.
Ronald didn't have time to think. He'd spent his day thinking about William and now he was paying the price for it. With overtime. He hadn't even been told to stay after hours. He just wanted to finish so he wouldn't be crowded tomorrow. What was getting into him? William must be rubbing off on him.
The rest of his colleagues had already left, Eric wishing him well and Grell left with a cheeky giggle. Just because she'd failed at shagging their boss didn't mean he would. He was Ronald Knox.
The only sound in the dingy office was that of Ronald's pen, scratching on the paper as he wrote out report after report. His wrist was starting to hurt. He leaned back to stop for awhile, rubbing his sore hands. He stuffed his black gloves into his jacket pocket. They were really only for Reapings but it was corporate culture to keep them on at all times.
He signed his name and got up; it was enough for tonight. His back was getting sore as well. He packed his papers into a neat little pile and made his way to William's office to drop them off. Reapers didn't lock offices because there was never any reason to. A closed door worked just as fine. Reapers respected that.
The door however, was not closed, but ajar. Ronald knocked lightly and poked his head in. William was there. Of course he was. The man probably had dusty lungs from being cooped up at work all the time.
He took a step inside but William remained hunched over.
"Sir?" his voice sounded too loud in the empty room. William was looking at him with tired eyes. How many nights had he been staying here?
"Just came to drop these off," he said a bit more quietly. When William didn't say anything he dropped them on his desk, gave a weak smile and turned to leave.
"Ronald." His voice. When did it get so melodic? So smooth?
He turned.
"Why are you putting so much effort in?" He leaned back in his chair, and pulled off his glasses to clean them. "Rather I mean, why now? What's changed? You've never worked so hard before." He sounded concerned. Really, the man should be praising him.
Ronald stuffed his hands into his pockets and went to lean against his desk. He could suck up and say he was trying to impress him… but that could end badly. No getting emotionally-involved. Only physical. He couldn't appeal to William's emotions, only his dick.
Usually this was no trouble with Ronald. Except this man didn't seem to have any libido at all.
"I guess I'm just maturing. You did say I'd have to one day didn't you?" Ronald teased.
William slipped his spectacles back on. He nodded. "I thought it would take years for that to happen," he admitted softly.
Up close, William's features seem softened. With only a desk lamp to illuminate them Ronald could see that he wasn't all straight lines and edges, but rather a smooth, curving jaw with a slightly crooked nose and twinkling eyes. His cheekbones were high, yes, but they weren't sharp. In this proximity Ronald could also see that his hair didn't look greasy at all. A few stiff peaks (possibly from hair gel) were layered on top but otherwise, his ebony locks appeared smooth. Ronald had to resist the urge to run his fingers through it.
Instead he focused on William's eyes; like every Reaper they were a golden-green. Yet, every Reaper was slightly different. Some were more green than gold, some were swirled and some, in very rare cases, had one green and one gold eye.
William's were mostly green, a deep, luscious green with gold right around the iris, and flecks worked into the green. They were beautiful. Ronald opened his mouth to say so but found he couldn't muster the air required to speak. It felt like, no matter how wide he opened his mouth, he couldn't utter a word. William had rendered him speechless.
He opened his mouth to attempt words once more but found another impediment. William's lips. On his. They were kissing.
It took Ronald a moment to remember how to kiss (shock, most likely) but he could taste William in his mouth. His thin lips moved against his own in such a way that sent shivers across his body. Without meaning to, Ronald cupped the back of William's head, adding a slight pressure.
Someone moaned softly. Their glasses clinked softly, preventing them from deepening the kiss. With a lingering kiss, Ronald pulled back and carefully removed William's glasses first; he wanted to see his face without his spectacles. He looked like William, except… younger. There were small red marks where his glasses weighed on the bridge of his nose. He didn't have that edge that was constantly on his face, or his scowl. His eyes seemed bigger and brighter without the lens hiding them. He looked beautiful. Ronald slipped off his own and set them on the desk, turning to press a fiercer kiss on William's lips.
Time seemed slower now. Ronald didn't know how long they had been kissing for, possibly a few minutes, or possibly an hour; he didn't know. It felt amazing. They kissed softly, barely touching lips together, and then they would get fiercer, more passionate. Wetter. Every kiss made him feel alive and alert, sensitive. William put a delicate hand on his back. The contact alone sent a slight shiver down his spine.
His hands trailed across Williams' shoulders, to his collarbone where his neat tie lay. Ronald began loosening it, popping open the buttons beneath it. William gave a small gasp-like moan, and kissed him urgently. Ronald poked his tongue out, sensually dragging it along his bottom lip. He heard two soft thumps as William removed his gloves and ran his fingers through his blond hair, his curls freed from this mornings' gel. Gently pushing his jacket off, Ronald inched his hips forward. He was practically in William's lap by now. With the jacket removed, his shaking fingers unbuttoned the rest of his white shirt, tie hanging loosely against his chest. William kissed the corner of his mouth, down his chin, across his jaw and travelled down his neck where he would press delicate kisses and then gently nip Ronald. He arched his neck back with one hand grasping the older Reaper's back, the other behind his neck, urging him on.
Ronald swallowed. William kissed his Adam's apple. He moaned softly. Without knowing it William had slipped off his jacket and had already undone his top few buttons and tossed away his clip-on tie. He licked his way back up to Ronalds' lips where he kissed him once, and leaned back slightly. They gazed at each other with heavy-lidded eyes, seemingly questioning the other for permission to go further.
Ronald could take it all the way, and finish the bet. He could. William was willing. And he didn't seem to be the only one with tight pants at the moment. But he couldn't. A one-night stand was really all the bet was asking of him, but he didn't feel like William deserved a one-night stand. One night of physical satisfaction and then on with their lives, pretending nothing happened. He didn't want William to develop feelings (if he was capable of feelings) but he also didn't want to use him. It seemed wrong. He swallowed and cleared his eyes. William nodded slightly and slipped his glasses back on. His eyes seemed to widen for half a second but he was his usual, calm and collected self when Ronald blinked. They sat there awkwardly for a moment, blushes growing visible on their cheeks until Ronald stood up, clearing his throat to break the tension. William was preoccupied with buttoning up his shirt and tie. Ronald picked up his jacket and slung it over his shoulder. When William seemed to have finished fiddling with his tie he looked up. Their eyes met. Ronald looked away. He nodded and left quietly.
It was eerily quiet in the building. Most of the lights were off. There was nobody else in the building. As he waited for the elevator to reach his floor Ronald rubbed a finger across his lips. They felt puffy and sensitive. The taste of Williams lips' lingered on his.
:)