by A. Anders
With nothing else to do, Cara turned her attention to the mysterious box. She shook it. It was light but packed tightly. Grabbing a pair of scissors, she cut the tape and folded back the flaps. Inside was the type of paper used to wrap clothing. Wrapped within that was a flannel shirt.
Cara stared at the item racking her brain trying to figure out when she might’ve ordered it. It hadn’t been sent from Amazon where she did most of her drunk shopping. And, whereas most shops would have their name in the address, this one didn’t.
At a loss for answers, Cara retrieved the flannel shirt and held it up in front of her. It was definitely her size and was even her style. Maybe it had been sent to her accidentally. Maybe she had lucked out and had received the order of someone who wore her exact size.
Suddenly filled with the excitement that came from having won something for free, Cara wanted to see if her prize fit. Hanging up her jacket and removing her sweatshirt, she put on the flannel shirt and turned towards the mirror hanging on the back of her door.
Pink, purple and blue were all her favorite colors and the flannel she was wearing had all of them. On top of that, it was incredibly soft. She wasn’t sure what this flannel was made of, but it felt like she was being held by a warm, body made of cashmere. The shirt actually made her think of Mars, but at this point, what didn’t?
Suddenly worried that she would eventually have to hand over the item to its true recipient, Cara decided to wear it while she could. Sitting at her desk she couldn’t shake the feeling that it had a familiar sent. Why did her mind keep going back to her two guys? Why, while wearing it, did she feel transported back to the yacht where Brik and Mars lay next to her holding her voluptuous curves?
Quickly grabbing the box, Cara stared at the address again. Deciding to type it into Google, she discovered that the return address was a hotel in Los Angeles. Could this have been from Brik? Cara couldn’t breathe thinking about it.
Searching the box again, Cara looked for a note or anything. There wasn’t even an invoice. There was nothing. If this was Brik, wouldn’t he have said something? Wouldn’t he have at least included a business card? Where had the shirt come from? Who had sent it?
The longer Cara stared in the mirror at the shirt, the more she realized how well the shirt fit her. It handled her many curves perfectly. It was like it had been designed for. How could anyone else have made something that fit so flawlessly?
This had to be some sort of sign from Brik, didn’t it? Was he thinking about her? Were both of her guys?
For the next three days, Cara could think of nothing else but her unexplainably comfortable flannel shirt. She barely took it off. Whenever she saw herself in the mirror, she stared endlessly. This had to be some sort of sign, didn’t it? One of her two guys had to be thinking about her as much as she was them, didn’t they?
It was as she lay in bed on the third night that something hit her. It was a plan. She had successfully sold their beer into the largest resort in the Bahamas. It was a small miracle. But if she could do that, why couldn’t she sell their beer to the rest of Brik’s hotels?
Would her parents doubt her if she requested they pay for a trip to Los Angeles to do just that? They couldn’t, could they? Hadn’t she proven herself and what she was capable of doing?
After thinking about it all night, she decided, if nothing else, she deserved this trip. She deserved the trust required from her parents. And she deserved the opportunity to try.
Thinking that she might soon see Brik again, Cara stayed awake all night. How would Brik respond to seeing her again? How would Mars?
She felt another sharp pain in her chest thinking about it. But, she now felt confident that she could make this happen. She was going to see her two guys again. The only thing she didn’t know was how they would respond to seeing her.
Chapter 8
Brik
Brik had stared blankly at the spreadsheet for ten minutes before realizing it and starting at the top of the page one more time. There was no question about it, he was distracted. In his hand was the first month’s occupancy report after the grand opening of Baha Mar in the Bahamas. This report was important. But, somehow, all he could think about was where he was going once he was done.
Forcing himself to pay attention for five minutes more, he got the gist of what the report said. Occupancy was good but not great. Considering it was the resort’s first month, some might think it impressive. But he had sunk $200 million into the property for renovations alone. Good wasn’t going to be good enough.
Having devoted all of the attention he could to it, Brik closed the manila folder and slid it to the side of his desk. More exciting than a spreadsheet full of numbers was his appointment with Mars in forty-five minutes. This was going to be the first time that Brik saw the clothing samples delivered from the manufacturer. This company was his passion. This first line would make or break it.
Unable to sit still any longer, Brik collected his things, stuffed his briefcase and headed out.
“Have a good night, Cindy. I’ll see you tomorrow, Breanne,” Brik said to his two assistants.
“Good night, Mr. Evander,” Cindy and Breanne replied.
Exiting his office, Brik approached the elevator and pushed the up button. When the doors opened, he tapped the panel with his key card and pressed ‘PH’. When the doors opened again, he entered his suite. And in a rush to shower and change, Brik stripped leaving a trail of clothes behind him.
Choosing a pair of lightly washed jeans and a crisp dress shirt, Brik stared at himself in the mirror. He wanted to look good. He did. So, grabbing two glasses and a bottle of champagne, Brik headed out.
Taking the elevator to the garage, Brik stepped out and walked to his parking spot. It wasn’t very far and in it was parked his midnight blue Maserati. He had asked the garage attendance to have it ready for him. He could have had his driver take him in the Rolls-Royce, but this wasn’t a formal occasion, and top of that he wasn’t sure how long he would stay.
What Brik was sure of, though, was that traffic was horrible. Mars’ Crenshaw studio, which was technically only twenty minutes away, may as well have been on the moon. It was just past 6 o’clock and the L.A. traffic wasn’t moving.
After thirty minutes, Brik looked at the clock. He was late. He hated being late, especially to see Mars. And every minute that passed after that felt like a little dagger in his heart.
As Brik arrived twenty minutes past when he said he would be, he pulled into his private parking spot, grabbed the champagne and hopped out of the car. Taking a deep breath he crossed to the wrought iron main door and looked within.
“Hello?” Brik said seeing no one in the lobby.
Mars, who was dressed in a formfitting T-shirt and beige jeans, appeared from another room.
“Brik. You made it.”
“Yeah. The traffic was awful. I don’t get how people can drive through this every day.”
“We normal people learn to put up with it. We can’t all have people drive us around,” Mars said with a smirk.
“Yeah, you could. Uber, Lyft… Isn’t there another one?” Brik asked.
“Sidecar?” Mars offered.
“Exactly. See, I’m just a normal guy,” Brik said with a smile.
“Remind me which Uber pool gets me a Rolls-Royce again.”
Brik laughed. “Okay, you got me. Now let’s see these clothes.”
Mars looked at Brik nervously, smiled, and then led him to the back. As they entered, the room was dark. Brik looked around trying to get his bearing.
“Now, I want you to stand right there,” Mars said pointing in front of Brik.
Brik stepped into the spot. “Okay. Now what?”
“Now, just stay there. And…” At that moment, Mars flipped a switch.
Six spotlights beamed down from the ceiling. In its light were twenty mannequins, each wearing different articles of clothing. On the left were the women’s clothes. On the right were the men’s. Br
ik stared at all of them in awe.
“They look amazing,” Brik said placing the champagne and glasses onto a side table and approaching the mannequins.
“Do you really like them?” Mars asked shifting uncomfortably.
“I love them! Using the colors from the pride flags was a stroke of genius.” Brik approached the flannel hoodie worn by a female mannequins. “This one is my favorite,” he said referring to the hoodie with pink, purple, and blue plaid.
“Everyone likes that one. I think it’s gonna be a hit,” Mars told him.
Brik rubbed his hands against the flannel shirt, flannel lounge pants, and the women’s boxer briefs. Moving to the men’s garments, he stopped in front of the blue and white plaid.
“Which flag is this one, again?” Brik asked pushing the soft poplin between his fingers.
“It’s the fluid flag.”
“You mean, like, sexually fluid?” Brik asked turning to Mars.
“Yeah,” Mars said nervously.
“I love it. How did you get everything so soft? It’s like cashmere.”
“It’s a process called brushing. On flannel, it has to be done exactly right or it beads.”
“Well, you got it right,” Brik confirmed now stroking the torso of the clothed mannequin.
“So, what do you think? It looks good?” Mars asked needing more reassurance about his work.
“It looks fantastic!”
Brik left the mannequins and approached Mars. Standing in front of him, Brik placed his palm on Mars’ chest. “You really are a genius, you know that?”
“Now you’re just flattering me,” Mars said locking eyes with Brik’s.
Brik stepped a little closer putting him inches from the gorgeous man. “Is it flattery if it’s true?”
“I don’t know,” Mars said starting to melt under Brik’s body heat.
“I don’t think it is,” Brik said as he moved his lips closer to Mars’.
Brik’s heart throbbed as he pushed his lips onto Mars’. Their kiss was like waking from a dream. Brik had spent all day and all week thinking about this moment. Now, here it was holding Mars’ body in his hands with his lips pressed against his lover’s.
When Mars parted his lips, Brik’s tongue entered his mouth. As it did, Brik lost himself. Grabbing the back of Mars’ neck, he kissed him harder. Feeling his cock grow, he reached down and grabbed Mars’ ass. Pulling their two groins together, Brik felt Mars’ massive cock and it set Brik on fire.
Pushing Mars backwards, the two men stopped once Mars was pinned against a table. Brik tore at Mars’ T-shirt pulling it off. Mars ripped at Brik’s shirt sending buttons flying.
Digging his fingers into Mars, Brik bent his lover over the table. Leaving his lips, Brik bit at his flesh. Brik wanted to consume him.
Unbuttoning his lover’s pants, Brik found his cock. Taking hold, he yearned to feel it inside of him. Dropping to his knees he stuffed Mars’ huge dick into his mouth. Sucking and slobbering over it, Brik could taste the sweet pre-cum spread across his tongue. Lost in the taste of his lover, Brik felt complete.
Mars, brought nearly to orgasm by Brik’s torturous pleasure, grabbed Brik’s head and pushed it off of him. Getting up and grabbing Brik’s half naked body, Mars forced Brik face down over another table. Stripping him of his jeans, he spit in his hand. Smearing it on Brik’s hole, Mars grabbed his cock and took aim.
Thrusting mercilessly, Mars’ entered Brik’s ass pulling it apart. Brik’s head snapped back in anguish. Mars had never fucked him before even though Brik had wanted him to. And now that Brik lay bent with Mars’ incredible cock halfway up his ass, all Brik could do was clutch the desk and groan.
Mars was relentless with his cock. Grabbing Brik by the waist with one hand and his shoulder with the other, he thrust until their thighs slapped. Never having fucked Brik before, Mars’ mind spun. About to cum, Brik reached back, pushed his lover out of him, and attached Mars’ naked body hungrily.
Tripping over the mannequins, Mars stumbled back. Moving in and out of the spotlights, Brik chased him. With Mars caught, both men fell onto the floor. And with Mars on his back, Brik positioned himself between Mars’ legs, scooped his thighs up with his arms, and rocked Mars’ hips until his ass was aligned with his cock.
As Brik leaned down and kissed Mars, Brik thrust his cock forcing it into Mars’ hole. Brik showed Mars as little mercy as he had shown him. Fucking him harder and harder, Brik reached down and stroked Mars’ cock. Already close to explosion, Mars’ face twisted. Neither man was going to be able to contain himself much longer. And when Brik tightened his grip on Mars’ manhood, Mars’ head whipped back freeing himself to let go.
Finally pushed over the edge, Mars screamed. No longer able to stop it, a bolt of electricity shot up the inside of his thigh, grabbed his balls and squeezed. Endless streams of cum followed.
Brik, who watched his lover explode, could hold out no longer. “Ahhh!” he moaned as a fire hose showered the inside of Mars’ ass.
Lost in pulsing ecstasy, Brik was sure he was leaving his body. Tumbling and turning as the world spun, he regained consciousness with a thump. His cock’s endless throbbing robbed him of his strength. No longer able to stay upright, Brik relinquished his hold on Mars’ thighs and fell onto his torso.
Desperately out of breath, Brik laid his head on Mars’ chest. He could hear his lover’s frantic heartbeat. The sound of it relaxed him. After feeling alone for so long he finally had someone he loved. Mars was everything Brik had ever wanted. In that moment, he couldn’t understand how he had gotten so lucky.
That moment didn’t last, however. As soon as Brik had caught his breath, he realized that his rush of euphoria was gone. All that was left was an awkward feeling of having had sex with a man in an empty studio. Brik, who only moments ago wanted desperately to remain in his lover’s arms, suddenly became overwhelmed by an inescapable desire to flee.
Brik didn’t understand why, but as soon as he could, he sat up. Not knowing what he should say, Brik looked at Mars saying nothing. Perhaps Brik might have stayed if Mars had asked, but he didn’t. And looking around for his clothes, Brik got up and got dressed.
“The clothes look good. You did a great job,” Brik said without looking at Mars. “Put in the full order with the manufacturer. I think they’ll sell well.”
Propping himself onto his elbows, Mars watched Brik get dressed. “Thanks. I’ll let you know when you should send a check.”
Dressed, Brik looked back at Mars who was still naked on the ground. He had to admit that Mars was truly a beautiful man. “Okay. Let me know. Oh, and I brought champagne. Enjoy it. And congratulations again,” Brik said as she turned away and exited the studio.
Heading outside to his car, Brik practically ran. He had no idea what he was doing. All week he had looked forward to seeing Mars with the hopes that he could make love to him. It had occupied his mind and had distracted him for days on end. Why, then, did being with Mars now feel so fucking awkward?
This was the question that Brik had asked himself after every time the two of them had been together. But reentering his car on this occasion, the answer came to him. It was because there was something missing from their relationship.
‘What was it?’ He thought. Why had their time on the yacht felt incredible while every time since had been awkward? He couldn’t figure it out.
It was in that moment that Brik thought about Cara and how they had left things with her. It hadn’t been his intention to be heartless. It was just that he didn’t see where their relationship with Cara could lead?
Sure, Brik liked her. It had surprised the hell out of Brik just how much he did. Cara had been nothing like his usual type. Yet, there was something about her that disarmed him and made him feel like everything in his life would be okay.
If only things weren’t the way they were. If only things between he and Mars could stop being so fucking awkward. If only Cara didn’t work in her family’s company 3000
miles away.
“What the fuck am I doing?” Brik asked himself about to start his car. “If I don’t figure something out fast, I’m gonna lose him.”
Taking a final look at the wrought iron gate, Brik reversed his car out of his parking spot and drove away.
“I need to figure this out,” Brik told himself. “I can’t lose him. I can’t let this slip away.”
Chapter 9
Cara
It had taken some convincing, but Cara did it. She had gotten her parents to pay for a room in the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles. The hotel wasn’t cheap. It was on the edge of Beverly Hills and it was fancy. But this was where her package had been mailed from, so this was where she had to stay.
The SLS was also the Los Angeles headquarters for Brik’s company. If Cara was going to get in to see him, she needed to be where he lived. Brik had said that he lived in a Hotel in Los Angeles. Didn’t it make sense that it would be this one?
When Cara landed in Los Angeles, she looked around amazed by what she saw. Los Angeles was nothing like Boston. In L.A. everything seemed bigger and more luxurious. The freeways were wider, the billboards were digital, and there were a countless number of luxury cars as she drove to the hotel.
The SLS Hotel was also different than she expected. Sure, Baha Mar was expensive looking, but it had an island feel with it’s colors and indoor/outdoor design. The SLS was sleek and modern. It was designed with a lot of dark color tones and highlighted with horizontal blue-green lights. Not only did it look elegant, but it looked like a place where Brik Evander would live.
Remembering her experiences at Baha Mar, Cara checked in wondered how helpful the folks behind the front desk would be. Retrieving her key, she determined that they wouldn’t be very helpful at all. Knowing it wasn’t time to push her luck, Cara retreated to her room. If she was going to come up with a plan, she was going to need a little time to rest.