A chuckle went around the crowd.
“We couldn’t even afford a company sign. I had a cousin carve ‘TechPrim’ into an aluminum sheet during shop class. No one thought we’d make it six months. A year wasn’t even thinkable. And we weren’t the only start-up in our building. In the eight floors above us, there were seventeen other start-ups. Of course they had real reception areas, noninstant coffee, and lights that worked. They’d all taken venture capital money, or huge loans against products that didn’t yet exist. One day when TechPrim was just coming up on its first full year in business, we were all there late, and we saw some of our business neighbors stumble by in fancy clothes with a bottle of expensive champagne, celebrating six months of business on the company budget. The next week was TechPrim’s birthday, and we decided we were going to party as well. Frank, Nate, and I rented tuxedos. Margaret dragged out her old prom dress, and we went down to Denny’s and split a chocolate sundae four ways out of petty cash.”
The smile on Gabe’s face had slipped into one that usually came out only in more private places. James recognized it as the one Gabe had when he was thinking fondly about someone.
“As I said, that was a long time ago. Of those seventeen companies we shared that building with, eleven were out of business within two years. Four of the remaining six were bought up, and two merged and were later bought up as well. And as of January, TechPrim now owns the companies that bought those final six.”
Another cheer went up from the crowd.
“We survived. And then we thrived. We expanded. Commercial offices on six continents and the Antarctic research stations all use our products. Even in these difficult times, TechPrim is a company that stands strong in the face of all opposition. And while TechPrim may have started with the four of us here, it could never have thrived the way it has if it was just us. Our success as a company can be linked directly to the hard work of each and every one of you. Look around—you are TechPrim. This is the house that you built and will continue to build. And you should be proud of that. There are some big things on the horizon in the coming years, but for tonight, please, relax and enjoy this evening. We’ve come a long way from a single chocolate sundae and have so much further yet to go, and I just know that journey is going to be remarkable, and I’m glad we’re taking it together. So thank you, thank you all.”
Frank and Nate both leaned in and said some brief thanks into the microphone, but the real applause was for Gabe, and James found himself applauding as well.
Tamyra leaned in close. “Yes, he’s been asked to run for office.”
Gabe strode off the stage and into the crowd of his employees/subjects. That speech had done nothing if not reinforce the image of Gabe as some beloved crown prince within these walls.
He shook hands with several people as the band started back up. James looked up at one of the screens where the celebrants at another party were dancing to something probably a lot louder, judging by the attempts at head banging by guys far too old for it.
The crowd split up into those headed for more drinks or food and a few brave couples who were taking to the dance floor with slow swaying. Gabe slid out from the crowd.
“How are you doing? Enjoying yourself?” he asked with a smile.
“I’m fine,” James answered automatically, despite still feeling overwhelmed. “Though I feel like I should be whistling ‘Hail to the Chief’ or something.”
“I would make a terrible politician. I’m far too accustomed to getting my own way.”
“I’d vote for you.”
“That’s good to know.” Gabe held out his hand. “Can I talk you into a dance?”
“I really don’t—”
“Yes, you do, and you dance fine.” Gabe took his hand and guided him to the dance floor. There were already two women in evening gowns dancing together, so he couldn’t exactly object on that front. Gabe gave him puppy dog eyes. “Please?”
James felt his heart begin to race and his throat tighten with nerves. “Okay.”
Another slow song started, and Gabe pulled him close, helping James find the rhythm.
He felt strange dancing; it was even odder to be dancing with someone, and to be doing that in front of a large audience was flat-out weird. But Gabe led with confidence, easing his nerves, as they swayed on the dance floor among other couples. James let the music flow over him and melted into the warmth of Gabe’s body. He felt light. It could be the champagne, but his limbs felt loose, and his mind didn’t want to settle on any one thought until it was finally resting in a sort of white-noise haze. The music finished, and he looked up into Gabe’s eyes. Gabe looked back, and his breath caught in his throat. Gabe brushed a bit of hair away from his face. Another song started, but they didn’t move.
“Would you mind terribly if we said our good nights?” Gabe asked softly, sounding tired.
“No.”
Gabe kissed him on the cheek. “Meet you by the door? I’ll be right there.”
“Sure.”
Gabe moved through the dancers toward Nate and Frank, who were swaying with their wives. James strolled through the party, occasionally looking up at the screens still broadcasting. One showed someone slumped in a chair, drooling, in an empty office. On other screens the parties were still going strong.
Gabe met him by the wide glass doors. “I ordered us a car.”
“Okay.”
Gabe gave him a small, soft kiss. “I’m really glad you came tonight.”
“I’m glad I came too.”
The doors slid open. A Town Car was waiting at the curb. They didn’t talk as they made the short trip to Gabe’s building. They just held hands and watched the lights go past outside.
They didn’t even talk as the elevator took them swiftly and smoothly up to Gabe’s place. The lights automatically came on as they stepped out of the elevator, neither too fast nor too bright; a soft fade-up to a warm glow.
Gabe stepped close and pulled on James’ bow tie until it came loose and slipped from around his neck. He let it drop through his fingers; it fell to the floor without even a whisper. He put the tips of his fingers to James’ cheek next. James leaned into them, noticing the way two were rough and two were smooth. Gabe must have been chewing on them again.
He reached up and pulled on Gabe’s tie. It slid from its knot more easily than his had. The silk was cool on the ends and warm where it had gone around Gabe’s neck. He let it drop from his fingers as well.
Gabe took a few steps back, and James followed as if being led in a dance. And he followed where Gabe led. It was so easy and felt so right. He usually avoided the easy path. Easy was usually wrong.
Gabe changed directions, moving quickly behind James and slipping his coat from his body. James shivered at the sudden change in temperature, from being wrapped in the sultry jacket to having only the fine linen shirt between his body and the air.
The chill left as quickly as it had arrived. Gabe stepped in close, pressing himself to James’ back, putting out a powerful heat. He leaned back, still feeling like he was in a dance that had no music with a rhythm that was in constant flux. But still Gabe led perfectly.
Gabe stripped off his own jacket without ever taking his chest from James’ body. He let the jacket drop to the floor, not even bothering to toss it toward the hooks as he had with James’.
He pressed his lips to James’ neck, right above his collar. James felt his toes curl and his body tingle. Gabe’s fingers were back, skimming along his cheek, and his thumb brushed across James’ lips. He flicked out his tongue to tickle it.
Gabe exhaled long and slow, his warm breath slipping under James’ collar. His fingers left James’ face and went instead to his throat, popping open the high collar buttons. James let out a long breath, unaware of just how constricted he had felt until that moment.
Gabe slid around him until they were once again face-to-face. He thought they might kiss, but instead Gabe just looked at him, eyes dark in the dim light. He felt his
breath hitch and that tightening in his chest return. It was so much like the way Gabe had looked at him their first night. All those months ago now, standing so close that James had been able to smell the hint of peppers on his skin.
Now Gabe smelled faintly of fancy cologne that had nearly worn away.
He took Gabe’s hand and laced their fingers together as if they would dance. Gabe took his other hand, lifted it, and kissed his palm. James closed his eyes and nearly fell forward. Gabe kissed the heel of his palm next and then placed a kiss on the inside of his wrist. James whimpered softly. Somehow those three small kisses had his head spinning with greater pleasure than kisses in far more intimate areas.
Gabe stepped backward, leading them with just the knowledge of the dimensions of his own home.
He didn’t lead them to the bedroom, but rather to the large couch of cool leather draped with blankets of the same spun and woven silk as the one on Gabe’s bed. He sat on them and drew James onto his lap, giving James the height advantage for once.
James took it, tilting Gabe’s head back and into a slow, lazy kiss, their tongues just flitting around each other’s, chasing the ghost flavor of champagne. Gabe’s arms went around his body, pulling him close. James’ fingers went into Gabe’s hair, tangling themselves in the dark curls, destroying the last of the control imposed by handfuls of hair gel that smelled slightly of mint and clashed with the cologne.
Gabe sighed into the kiss and held James tight.
He and Gabe kissed. He didn’t think about time; he didn’t think about anything beyond the feel of Gabe’s arms around him and the taste of Gabe on his lips, the sound of their tiny moans and sighs in his ears.
At some point Gabe pulled away from the kiss and took a deep breath. He leaned in, laying his head against James’ chest. James became aware of his own heart pounding strong and steady. Gabe looked up at him, a small soft smile on his lips. James kissed those lips, then stood. Gabe followed.
This time James took Gabe’s hand and led the dance toward the bedroom. There was no rush. He was content to keep kissing if that was all the night had in store, but he wanted to be lying down in Gabe’s arms while it happened.
Gabe halted them at the foot of the bed. His fingers went to James’ shirt, carefully releasing each button until it hung loose from his shoulders. James granted him the same favor, tracing his fingers across Gabe’s chest as he went. When he was done, he leaned in and put a kiss on Gabe’s collarbone, right over the lump where it had cracked in a car crash long before they’d met.
Gabe stroked his head and whispered something into his hair that he couldn’t make out. Gabe finished stripping their shirts from their bodies, letting them drop to the floor.
James wanted to speak. He wanted to ask what Gabe wanted next, but he didn’t want to break the silence between them. It felt too important. Suddenly Gabe dropped to his knees and began to untie the laces of James’ shoes. He grinned up at James, and James grinned back. Gabe pulled the shoes from his feet, then his socks. Then he pressed his thumbs against the arch of his left foot. James sat hard on the bed as his legs gave out. Gabe rubbed harder, and James’ head swam. He collapsed backward, his moan merging with Gabe’s chuckle to break the silence.
Gabe’s hands left his feet, and he heard the rustle of clothing. He raised his head to look at Gabe, standing still and bare at the foot of the bed. In the dim light, the trim lines of Gabe’s body stood out in sharp contrast. He looked almost unreal, except for the steady rise and fall of his chest and his heavy gaze. James felt like he couldn’t move under the weight of Gabe’s eyes.
Finally, Gabe smiled and stripped the last of James’ clothes from his body.
He scooted back, letting Gabe crawl up and over him. Gabe stopped halfway, putting a soothing kiss over the old burn scar that still marked James’ thigh. From there he continued to kiss his way up James’ body, each kiss warm and wet. He squirmed under Gabe’s kisses and caresses but didn’t demand more. Gabe put a kiss in the hollow of his throat before pushing himself up and looking into James’ eyes. Gabe’s eyes were black in the light and unreadable, but Gabe took a breath. He stroked his hand over James’ hair.
“Oh,” Gabe whispered softly, shattering the silence between them.
Before James could say anything, Gabe’s mouth was on his again, this time strong and demanding. He probed with his tongue and nipped at James’ lips. He ran his hands quick and sure across James’ body. James thrashed beneath him but not to escape. He kissed back with as much passion as Gabe was pouring into him. Something had changed. Each touch was burning, and each kiss felt like it was designed to steal the air from his lungs.
Gabe pressed his face into the curve of James’ neck. He licked and nipped the spot. “Oh, James,” he growled, pushing the force of his words into James’ skin.
James whimpered, his eyes shut tight, his other senses overloading at Gabe’s onslaught. Gabe ground his hips down against James’ body. “Do you feel this?” he whispered. “Do you feel how much I want you?”
James nodded. He couldn’t speak, only pant for breath as Gabe slid a hand between them and reclaimed his mouth. James bucked hard into the touch, his control ragged at best, but he couldn’t even begin to analyze Gabe’s sudden shift. He could barely think at all. His mind was linked solely to the places where Gabe’s skin was pressed against his. Those places burned.
Gabe yanked himself back, and James’ whole body jerked up to follow. Gabe grabbed him roughly, and soon James had his legs wrapped around Gabe’s waist, their bodies squeezed tight, and their tongues tangled around each other.
Gabe shoved a hand between their bodies as James held on tight, nearly afraid to let go, but soon even that thought was gone as he became a creature of pure sensation that was clawing desperately for release.
Gabe beat him to it, roaring out his name, but he didn’t stop, his hand still working between their bodies.
“More,” James managed to gasp out, his fiery edge still just out of reach. Gabe gave him more. He stroked James hard and fast, crushing their lips together. It was enough. A scream pulled its way from James’ body as his last shred of control gave way. He jerked and shuddered, and Gabe kept stroking him. He sobbed out Gabe’s name as the final shock hit, his body finally collapsing, his limbs heavy, and his lungs burning. The only sound he could hear was his own pulse.
Gabe collapsed next to him. He reached up, and with rough coordination, ran his thumb across James’ lips. James kissed it. Gabe gave a sweet, sleepy smile, closed his eyes, and drifted off.
For once James didn’t. He watched as Gabe’s breathing became soft and slow. Usually it was the other way around, James waking to Gabe’s eyes on him. But James’ brain was waking up and coming back online. Something had changed. Something in the way Gabe had looked at him, kissed him, ran his hands over his body. It was as if Gabe had suddenly wanted more of him, all of him, and James didn’t know why or what it meant or if he had more to give.
He slid from under Gabe’s arm, trying not to wake him. He should be trying to sleep, the most restful nights in his life having occurred in Gabe’s bed, but the inside of his head wouldn’t settle down. He grabbed the blue robe that hung by Gabe’s closet. Somewhere along the way, it had become James’ robe when he stayed over.
As quietly as he could, he padded his way across the apartment and out of the french doors. It was cool as he settled himself onto the swing, looking out into the night. It wasn’t much of a view from that side of the building. Lights of neatly laid-out suburbs were sliced apart by snaking freeways and surrounded by office blocks and industrial parks. Every so often a patch of black indicated a piece of parkland.
He thought about a house with a view of the ocean. He thought about a swing on a porch with that view and a storm coming in the distance, like the seascape paintings that adorned Gabe’s walls. He gave himself a mental slap; that had become instinctive over the years when his mind started slipping toward the impossible and unattainable. H
e dragged his mind to his monthly budget, something painfully solid and real. He started shifting pennies around in his head to pay for Dylan’s last physiotherapy appointment. It was like financial solitaire or Tetris. He made a mental note to call his mother, who had offered to help out with Dylan’s birthday party.
He turned around at the sound of the french doors opening. Gabe stepped out, dressed in his dark charcoal sleep pants. “I’m sorry, did I wake you up?”
“No.” Gabe sat down next to him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” James replied automatically. “Couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d get some air, think about stuff.”
Gabe shifted close. “Anything I can help out with?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m fine, just work and Dylan. He’s got prom next week, and I need to remember to call my mother. We’re planning his graduation slash birthday party.”
“Having a big blowout?”
“Not really, he actually asked for something low-key. Ever been up to Tilden Park?”
“Sure, we used to take school field trips there. They’ve got that minifarm and weird little nature museum.”
“There’s also a picnic area and a big antique carousel. I used to take Dylan there when he was little, if he was good. It was only fifty cents a ride, but I’d make a big deal out of buying the ticket and letting him pick which horse he wanted.”
“Which one did he like best?”
“There was this gray one. It wasn’t a fancy one, and there were a few like it, but he always went for this one particular gray horse. Never could figure out why.” James felt his throat close up. He could still hear the carousel tune banged out by an old animatronic band and see Dylan gripping tight to the twisted brass pole of his favorite horse.
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