by G. A. Hauser
was going to say ‘have a nice life’, but thought that sounded
harsh. He waved and walked out of the room.
The hostess asked on his way out, “Did you enjoy your meal,
sir?”
“Yes. Thank you.” He smiled and kept walking to his car,
wondering if he could make a date with Fabian or that was
strictly taboo.
“Taboo.” He shook his head and frowned.
Chapter 10
Thursday morning after his workout, Braxton was on his way to
the office when he got a call. He tapped his earpiece to answer
and said, “Braxton Todd, can I help you?”
“It’s Drew Persely. How can you refuse my calls? I don’t
understand, Braxton. This is business! I’m offering you a
contract with my company.”
Fuck. Braxton slowed for traffic and waited at a red light. “I appreciate that. I’m not taking on any new clients at the
moment.”
“New clients? I’m not just any client. Do you realize who
we’re talking about when I hire you to become my PR
machine?”
“I’m staring at his billboard right now. So, yes.” Braxton
looked up at Mark Richfield’s cologne ad, a campaign he and his
son Alexander were featured in. No hard-ons from the cologne
company, just very tasteful ads, contrary to this aggressive man’s
tactic.
“How much to buy you?”
“I beg your pardon?” In the past Braxton used to be able to be
bought. If he were in his twenties? Just starting out? He’d go for
it. But where were all these companies when the economy tanked
and he needed help? He knew what this was about. Drew wanted
Braxton to find him a man to give him a blowjob. That’s what.
“I want a face to face with you.”
“I’m busy. I’m sorry, Drew, maybe my assistant can
recommend someone—” The line went dead. Braxton
disconnected it and blew out a breath. “Fuck you, ya bastard. It
isn’t all about money.”
Braxton drove by the billboard and envied that man. Mark
Richfield had married an ex-LAPD cop who he worked with at
an advertising firm.
Braxton thought about it. Who he worked with. Married a
man he worked with.
He pulled into the parking garage, wondering if…if you had a
good relationship, a solid one, a marriage? Could it work in the
office as well as the bedroom?
What am I supposed to do? Ask Fabian to marry me before
we go out on a first date? Oh, my God, I’m either desperate or
losing my mind.
“Both!”
~
Fabian stood with Brianna sorting the mail. The door opened
behind him and he turned to look into Braxton’s light eyes. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
The sexual tension had ratcheted up a few levels and Fabian
wondered if the two of them were pent up from not having sex.
He certainly was.
“How was your straight-date?” Brianna asked, tossing
contracts on one pile, junk mail into another.
“She talked all night about setting me up with a straight jock
and having a three-way.” Braxton picked up his coffee.
Fabian blinked at him. “No. Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
“So?” Brianna teased, “When’s the three-way?”
“Ha. Ha.” Braxton sipped his coffee. “Oh, Fabian, has Drew
been pestering you about us taking him on as a client?”
“Please don’t tell me he’s still calling.”
“Yes. But thanks for trying to ditch him. I figured he’d not
take no for an answer until I said it.”
“I’m sorry, Braxton. I thought I had it taken care of.”
“No problem.” Braxton took his coffee and yogurt into his
office.
Brianna elbowed Fabian.
“What?” he asked.
“Go in there. Ask him out or something.”
“Are you kidding me?” Fabian felt the hairs stand on the back
of his neck from nerves.
“He’s so sad and lonely. You two are perfect for each other.”
“In my dreams.”
“Huh?” She leaned closer. “What did you just say?”
He shook his head in panic. “Nothing. Brianna, don’t you
dare try to match-make. I love this job and I don’t want to get
screwed by screwing.”
“He’s not like what the tabloids say. Not anymore. I’ve
worked with him for years. These last three crappy dates were
the first dinner dates he’s had in ages. And they weren’t even
real.”
“Bull. I don’t believe that for a minute.”
When she didn’t answer, Fabian looked up over the letter in
his hand to see her serious expression. He peered at Braxton’s
closed door and said to her, “I can’t take that chance. If we fight, or it’s all about the chase, then I’m out on my ass doing temp
work again.”
“Nope. You can sue him for sexual harassment.”
“Like I’d do that.” He shook his head and tossed the letter on
her contract pile.
“I swear you two are so stubborn.”
“I’ve worked here for four days. Come on.”
“And you’re dancing the tango around each other like two
peacocks.”
“No.”
“Yes!” She shoved him. “Here. Tell Braxton he needs to sign
this and I have to get it in the mail now.”
“Is that the truth?” Fabian looked at the contract.
“Yes!”
She practically pushed him into the closed door face first.
He straightened his tie and knocked lightly, giving her a
glance but she was already back to sorting mail.
“Come in.”
With a window facing west, away from the morning sun,
Fabian entered the dimly lit office and shut the door behind him.
Braxton was standing at the side of his desk, finishing the yogurt
and then tossed the empty cup into the trash. “What is it?”
Fabian stepped closer, holding out the paper.
Braxton met him halfway and they were toe to toe. He took
the letter to read as Fabian salivated over Braxton’s gorgeous
looks and enticing build.
Braxton leaned on the desk and signed it. When he did Fabian
got a good view of his tight ass in the designer slacks and his
cock went thick in his pants.
What I wouldn’t give to kiss you.
When Braxton turned to hand him the paperwork, they nearly
bumped into each other. They locked gazes.
The sexual energy rushing through Fabian’s body was
extreme and he didn’t know what the hell to do about it.
Braxton’s lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but
nothing came out.
They were so close, Fabian could feel Braxton’s aura, see
how long his lashes were.
Fuck it!
Fabian grabbed Braxton’s cheeks and kissed him.
~
At the suddenness of the movement, Braxton grunted in
surprise and the contract fell to the floor. He held Fabian’s wrists and couldn’t decide if this was the most amazing thing in the
world, or the worst.
Chills coursed over Braxton’s body as they pressed mouths
and Fabian drew him closer, making their
bodies meet. When
Braxton felt Fabian’s hot cock against his own, he closed his
eyes and for one minute the thought of surrender and letting go
actually crossed his mind.
Fabian opened his lips and tried to coax Braxton’s open with
his tongue.
At the unadulterated lust Braxton felt for Fabian, he let out a
mournful sound that could have shown the world how alone he
felt. But to him, it sounded like pure weakness. He grew upset
with himself, knowing this could go bad and he would lose
Fabian as an employee.
He turned his head before Fabian’s tongue entered his mouth
and closed his eyes in agony.
“Braxton. I’m sorry. I thought…” Fabian backed up.
“It’s okay. Don’t quit!” Braxton held up his hand. “Please! I
need you!”
Fabian said, “I won’t quit. No way.” He ran out of the room,
shutting the door with a slam.
“Fuck!” Braxton cried out in agony.
~
Brianna visibly jumped out of her skin when Fabian exited
Braxton’s office. He headed directly to his own and closed the
door, seeing waiting calls lit on the telephone and messages
clogging up his computer. He dropped down behind the desk and
covered his face in humiliation. “What the fuck did I just do?”
~
Braxton picked up the contract and set it on his desk,
collapsing in his chair and trying not to obsess.
“Braxton?” Brianna’s voice called softly through his door.
“It’s not locked.”
She opened it and peeked in. “Blame me.”
“For what?”
“I told Fabian to go for it.”
“Why?”
“Because I really like you both and you’re perfect for each
other.”
“There’s no such thing. There’s only fuck-ups and bullshit
when it comes to relationships.”
She entered the room and closed the door softly. “No. There’s
love. Honest. I found it. So can you.”
“I tried. I can’t. Let me work. There’s your contract.” Braxton
nudged the paperwork to her and picked up his earpiece, putting
it into his ear.
She took the paperwork. “I’m sorry. I was just trying—”
“I know. He said he won’t quit.”
“Quit?” She panicked and went for the door.
“Brianna!” Braxton felt emotional and drained. “Don’t
meddle. Please. I can’t handle it right now. I feel like I’m on a
fucking cliff.”
“Braxton.” Her eyes filled.
“Go. It’s okay.” He couldn’t handle it if she cried. He would
with her.
She lowered her head and left him alone.
Instead of staring into space like he wanted to do, Braxton
picked up the phone and started working, but the sensation of
Fabian pressed up against him, his lips on his, was driving him to
distraction.
~
By one Fabian needed a break. He had hid in his office all
morning, avoiding Braxton, mortified by what he’d done.
His coffee cup in his hand, Fabian made sure no one was in
the hall, and then headed to the lounge to fill his cup. To his
dismay, Braxton was standing at the counter pouring from the
coffee pot. Fabian cursed to himself and was about to retreat
when Braxton looked up and spotted him.
Putting on a brave face, Fabian entered the small room and
waited for the chance to get at the coffee pot. Braxton offered to
pour for him.
“You see?” Braxton said as he did, “You see how awkward
this can be? And we didn’t even—” Braxton’s eyes darted to the
doorway.
“I brought lunch.” Brianna entered the tiny space and placed
a white bag on the table. “You guys are easy. You like the same
thing.”
“Brianna.” Braxton blew out a frustrated breath.
“Just sayin’!” She waved and left.
Fabian thanked Braxton for pouring his coffee and placed it
on the counter to mix in almond milk.
“I can’t take this awkwardness.” Braxton looked like he was
in hell. “Can we sit down and talk about it before you walk out
on us?”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m terrified you’ll fire me over it.”
“Sit.” Braxton pointed to the table for two and sat in one of
the chairs. He opened the bag and placed a salad in front of each
of them, as well as two healthy-high protein fruit drinks and a
cup of low calorie chocolate whipped mousse.
Fabian put his mug down and sat across from Braxton. The
table was so small their knees brushed under it. To avoid it,
Fabian turned sideways while he opened the plastic salad
container.
“Look, Fabian, I can’t lose you. Do you have any idea the
pressure you’ve taken off of me and Brianna this week?”
“Why do you think I’m going to quit?” Fabian ate his salad
with a white plastic fork.
“Because that’s how it goes in my life. The people I want to
leave me alone don’t, and the ones I can’t live without do.”
Fabian stopped eating. “Can’t live without?”
Braxton didn’t elaborate, eating his food.
“Okay, so…” Fabian said, twisting the cap off the juice to
gulp first before he said, “I don’t want to leave, and you don’t
want me to quit. No matter what?”
“No matter what. Yes. That’s why I’m terrified of…”
“Of?” Fabian could not get over the color of Braxton’s eyes,
how long his hair had gotten since the photos Fabian had found
of him online. And damn, he looked great with it.
Again Braxton wouldn’t explain.
“How badly have you been hurt in relationships, Braxton?”
A pained look washed over Braxton’s face. “I don’t see
people long enough to qualify as a relationship. So? How badly
can you be hurt after one date?”
“Come on. Tell me you haven’t been with a man or a woman
twice.”
Braxton stopped eating and met his eyes.
Fabian couldn’t believe it. “One date? That’s all you give a
person?”
Clenching his fists at his frustration, Braxton said, “Why
bother? Huh? So you have that much more to lose when it goes
south? I can’t do it. Nothing lasts. I’m not the commitment kind.
I’m just not.”
“You said you hadn’t met the right guy.”
“So did you.” Braxton’s stare was so intense Fabian struggled
to maintain eye contact. Yeah, the guy intimidated him, no shit.
“But, I’ve tried. I dated a guy for a couple of years at least.”
“Where is he now?” It was sarcastic, unmistakably.
“Don’t know. But I tried.”
“Who left whom?”
“He left me.”
“Why? Why the hell would any man leave you? Look at you,
for Christ’s sakes, and I haven’t even seen you naked!” Braxton
shut up, as if he was revealing too much.
“He…he left me because I wanted to get married. He didn’t.”
“Oh, Christ. I’m sorry, Fabian. You see?” Braxton threw up
his hands.
“He
y, looking back, I’m glad. It wasn’t right. I was in my
twenties and still finding myself.”
“Are you found now?”
“I am. Better now. Yes.” Fabian continued eating and so did
Braxton. “And you? Better than the man you were in your
twenties?”
“No. Not in my opinion. I’m still a fucked up jerk who hurts
people. Just ask the last three dates I had this week.”
“Those weren’t dates. Come on. Man, you are so hard on
yourself.”
Braxton put his fork down and ran his hand through his hair,
as if Fabian had struck a chord.
“Why? Why are you so critical of yourself?”
“I wish I knew.” Braxton’s posture shifted to exhaustion.
“I’m terrified someone will abandon me, like you were. So I beat
them to it.”
“How can you live that way?”
“I just do. I’m too…complicated…to date, to live with
someone. I’d drive them insane.”
“Me too. I was too neat for him. I was always picking up after
him, the one to cook, clean. I felt like an enabler.”
Braxton appeared very surprised and the intensity of his stare
grew.
“I am.” Fabian shrugged. “I admit it. I love to take care of
people, so if I’m with a schmuck, I just pick up the slack.”
“That’s worse than what I do.”
“Maybe.” Fabian tilted the fruit drink up to finish.
“I am attracted to you.”
Fabian smiled and set the bottle down. “Oh, man, you have
no idea how much I fantasize about you.”
“You do?”
“Oh, fuck yeah. I can’t believe I’m telling you this.” Fabian
felt his cheeks grow warm and chuckled.
“Ditto.” [http://www.superiorz.org]
That stunned him. Fabian’s jaw dropped. “You…you
fanta
size about me?”
“Hell yeah.”
“Huh.” Fabian felt his cock throb between his legs. “So,
that’s it? Admire each other from afar?”
“You want to take that chance? Hate my guts and be stuck
working for me once you think I’m a bastard?”
“You’re the boss. I’ll agree with whatever you want.”
“Yeah. That’s the other problem. Sincerity. Will what you do
with me in bed be because you think I’ll fire you, or will it be
because you want to.”
“What? You think I don’t want to?” Fabian reached across
the table and touched Braxton’s cheek.
Braxton at first appeared to melt at the touch, but soon the
shield came up and he not only moved away, he stood, tossed out