Unbreak Him

by Sam E. Kraemer

  He saw the panic on Grant's face. "No, no! That's not it at all. I'm… You're being promoted. I got someone from the pool to handle your responsibilities until we can hire an assistant we like. I was told he'd already shown up," Grant explained, looking very worried.

  Kyle gave it some thought and smiled. He leaned forward, taking Grant's face in his hands and gently grazing his lips over Grants soft, pink pout twice before his lips made purchase. Kyle didn't deepen it, but it felt amazing to finally kiss the hottie. When he pulled away, he could see Grant was stunned.

  "There's been a misunderstanding that will be my pleasure to rectify. Come on before we get caught," Kyle stated before pulling Grant out of the stall just as a stranger came into the restroom. They both washed their hands and walked into the hallway.

  "What do you mean, a misunderstanding?" Grant whispered.

  Kyle stopped them in front of Cooper's office, where Jesse McCaffrey seemed to be setting up shop. "Who are you, and what are you doing in Kyle's office?" Grant asked.

  Kyle watched the look on McCaffrey's face, imagining it in slow motion. First, it was an ass-kissing smile, then a confused, open mouth, lastly, a disgruntled frown. "Marion Herrington left me a voicemail I'd been promoted to your team as your second," Jesse stated.

  Kyle watched as Grant hurried to Kyle's phone and hit the message button, putting it on speaker. "Hi, um, well, this is Marion Herrington in Human Resources. Mr. Cummings, with Team B, has promoted his assistant to his second, so we'll need you to assist the team until a suitable replacement can be found. After they find someone, you'll return to your job in the graphics pool. Report upstairs on five by eight this morning. You'll receive the paperwork by e-mail when you log in upstairs. Thanks, Jesse," they all heard.

  Grant hit the button and smiled. "Obviously, she mixed up the phone numbers. Now, we have a meeting with the team in Conference Room…" he looked at Kyle.

  "We'll be in three. I'll just pull the deskbook for you to familiarize yourself and I'll move while you're at lunch. Thanks, Jess," Kyle stated, not even trying to hide the sarcastic smirk he wore with pride.

  He turned to Grant. "I had an idea I'd like to run by you regarding this meeting." The two of them went to Grant's office, closing the door after they saw Jesse McCaffrey stomp down the hall toward HR.

  Kyle turned to Grant. "Sorry, but I've hated that guy since I started here."

  "Oh, well, I can get someone else. Do you have anyone in mind?" Grant asked as he sat down at his desk and pointed to the chair across from him.

  Bernadette, Kyle’s coworker from the copy center, had taken another job elsewhere, and while Kyle liked Sridhar and Gerard, they weren't looking to climb any higher up the ladder than where they were in the copy center. "I don't. Look, I'd be willing to do double duty for a week or so until we can hire someone. Jesse McCaffrey is an idiot, and we have enough on our plates right now that I don’t want to deal with him, right?" he asked Grant.

  The blond smiled and nodded. "Okay, but I'll answer my own phone and stuff. We'll work it out. So your idea?"

  Kyle explained about the coffee and the little comparison test he'd set up. "Sounds great. Let's get to it," Grant told him as he grabbed his laptop, heading for the conference room.

  "I'll be right there. Let me check messages to see if anyone sent things electronically." Grant nodded and headed down the hallway.

  Kyle quickly logged into this computer to print the e-mails he'd received from the creative team along with the attachments. Once he had the papers from the printer, he grabbed his laptop to head to the conference room.

  Just as he walked into the room, he turned to see Jesse McCaffrey storming down the hall with Marion hot on his tail. She saw Kyle in the doorway and stopped. "I'm so sorry, Kyle. I got the numbers mixed up. Mr. T just called me this morning to push through the paperwork. I'll get a temp to sit at the desk until you can find someone. It seems Jesse's decided he'll seek employment elsewhere. Eh, que-sera-sera," she joked, then continued on her way.

  Kyle laughed as he took a seat at the table and pushed the printouts to Grant. "Here are the ideas I received from the team. Before you toss them aside, do the thing we talked about," Kyle suggested quietly, patting Grant's hand on the table. The jolt at the contact was felt by Kyle from head to toe.

  Everyone filed into the conference room, and Kyle could see they were a bit stunned by the smile on Grant's face. "Have a seat. I have an announcement before we get started. Kyle's been promoted from being our assistant to being the graphic artist on the team. He has a degree from Penn State in Graphics and Marketing, and he's truly worked his way up. Let's make him feel welcome," Grant ordered, which surprised Kyle. He was taking control, just as he should. They clapped a minute, making Kyle blush, but he was thrilled.

  "Now, we might have to pitch in to help each other with copies and prep for presentations until we can find a new assistant, but if we all work together, it'll be fine. This will be nothing like it was when Cooper was here. I'm sorry I let that situation get away from me, but it won't happen again. I'm the lead of the team, and it's my responsibility whether we sink or swim.

  "So, we have the opportunity to pitch a new client, a coffee company. Kyle has been kind enough to make our coffee so we can make a comparison. Get a sample of each one, and after you taste them, write down three words to describe them. Remember what’s in each cup. Only Kyle knows which coffee is which," Grant explained.

  Amy, Nancy, and Zach did as instructed before returning to the table. Grant rose to fill himself two cups to participate as well. Kyle took a sip of his mug, enjoying the flavor. It was good coffee, and it wasn't a high-priced brand, either. He'd picked up the beans at the corner store, not Starbucks or some high-end grocery.

  After a few minutes, everyone had filled out the slips and looked up at Grant. "Okay, I'll start with Coffee A. My words were acidic, bitter, and watery. For Coffee B, I wrote robust, flavorful, fresh. Next," he stated.

  They went around the table, and only Nancy Stone liked Coffee A better. "Why do you like A better?" Grant asked.

  "I'm used to it. It's the same crap we drink every day," she announced. Everyone laughed.

  "So, did you not like B at all?" Kyle asked.

  "I'd have liked it better with a splash of milk and a real mug, not a paper cup," she told them with a smile.

  "So, Coffee B is our potential new client. Coffee A is the same old crap, as Nancy stated so eloquently," Kyle teased.

  Amy Hu went to the whiteboard behind Grant, picking up a blue marker and writing in large letters:

  She returned to her seat and smiled. "There's three off the top of my head. I say, let's go for the gold."

  Kyle ordered lunch for the team, and they worked until five thirty that afternoon. There were drawings taped to the walls of the conference room because everyone wanted to review the work with fresh eyes the next day. They'd settled on a tag line: "Treat yourself to something special in the morning. Aren't you worth it?"

  Kyle packed it in at seven. He'd worked through the administrative tasks to ensure all of the expense reports, client timesheets, and whatever-the-fuck else was submitted as it should be. It was the end of the month the next day, and he wouldn't allow his group to fall behind, even if it meant working late.

  Grant had left at six that evening, just as Felicity had instructed, winking at Kyle as he walked out the door, and it made Kyle's heart pound harder in his chest. He watched the gorgeous man walk all the way down the hall, not even blinking.

  He took the bus home that night, and as he climbed the stairs to his apartment, he was surprised to see Grant sitting on the floor of the hallway, leaning against his door with a bag on his lap. He was asleep and absolutely adorable. Kyle kneeled down and moved his blond hair out of his face, gently waking his boss.

  "Oh, what time?" Grant asked.

  "It's seven thirty. Why aren't you at home relaxing?" Kyle asked.

  Grant smiled brightly as he slowly stood up. "I
brought Thai food, and I thought I'd help you pack up what you'll need while your building's tented. I have to say, your neighbors don't seem too concerned about it."

  Kyle swallowed. He didn't like to lie, but this was one out of necessity, as he saw it. "Most of them are already gone. Didn't you notice how quiet it is?" he stated. He knew Connie was working at his club that night, and it reminded him that was a place he and Grant could go for their date. Connie would be there, and most likely Brian. He just needed to let Connie in on his little white lie.

  "Plates are in the cabinet. We can put them in the dishwasher after we're done, and I can run it when I get back home. I guess everything will need to be cleaned and washed anyway," Kyle suggested.

  "Yeah, I'd guess. I mean, there will be pesticides on everything. Do you know what kind it is?" Grant asked as he unpacked the bag. Kyle grabbed the only two plates he had, placing them on the table along with utensils. It was all shit compared to what Grant had at his place, but it was the best an ex-con could put together, really. Kyle wasn't ashamed. He'd worked hard for every fork and spoon… all four of 'em.

  "What do you mean, what kind?" Kyle asked as he took off his jacket and tie, draping them over the end of the couch. He almost took off his good, white shirt, but that might be rude.

  "I mean, is it organic? Is it poisonous? How long before you can come back in without a mask? How long do the residual effects linger? Should we get all of your things out? I think that's the safest thing, really. They're spraying when? Saturday? If we work tonight, we can get it all out. This place is furnished, right?" Grant asked.

  Kyle took a bite of drunken noodles, his head spinning. How could a silly little lie spiral out of control at such velocity? "Uh, yeah, the furniture isn't mine. I was told to stay out a week. I guess I can wash my stuff after they're done. I hadn't really thought about it," Kyle stated.

  "Well, I'm going down to my car to get the boxes I bought at the UPS Store down the block. I'll be right back," Grant stated. He was out of there before Kyle knew what happened.

  Kyle quickly banged on Connie's door. When it was finally opened, he could see Connie was ready to go to the club. "What, darling? Is there a fire?"

  Kyle pushed him inside and closed the door. "I need you to lie for me. Grant's here. I told him our building is being tented, and I need a place to stay, so you need to go with me on it, please? Also, Felicity told him we have to go to a gay club tomorrow night as his correction for something he did. Can we come to your club? What is your club?" Kyle asked, listening at the door for feet on the stairs.

  "I work at 'The Pink DragOn', and you'll call me and explain this business, right?" Connie asked, seeming totally confused.

  Kyle kissed his cheek. "Yes, yes, I'll call you tomorrow. Can you get us on the list, so we don't have to stand outside in the cold?"

  Connie laughed. "You do realize this is Halloween weekend?"

  "Fuck!" No, he hadn't realized it at all. "Do we have to dress up in costumes?"

  Connie smiled. "No. Saturday night is the party. Tomorrow night is the regular show, but the club will be wild, darling. Get there by nine, so I can get you a good table because you're going to want it," Connie informed.

  Kyle heard feet on the stairs, so he hurried back to his apartment, leaving the door open for Grant. Once he was inside, he closed the door and pushed Grant back to his bedroom to begin the packing process. Kyle heard Connie's door open and close, so once there was silence, he relaxed. He changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt, offering Grant something more comfortable to wear as well.

  They worked until midnight packing up Kyle's meager belongings and moving them down to the SUV Grant had driven. The bed was stripped. The closets were empty. The kitchen was cleaned, right down to the refrigerator being emptied, and the few personal things Kyle had were packed in a box, along with his clothes. It would be a bitch to move it all back a week later, but the lie was for the greater good.

  Kyle told himself that story the whole way to Grant's home, and when they emptied Grant's SUV, he grabbed a box with his clothes, leaving the rest in the garage as Grant had suggested.

  After he hung up his dress clothes in the closet in the spare room, he hugged Grant goodnight. "In the bed, Grant. I might check," he told the blond. Kyle stripped off and climbed into the comfortable bed in the spare room, falling into a dead sleep. He wouldn't be checking on anyone that night.

  Chapter 12

  Friday had actually been a great day. The team had worked together in the conference room again, and they'd come up with a great campaign. Kyle had been drawing ideas until his fingers were stiff, ripping down the ones from around the room they'd decided weren't going to make the cut.

  They'd all agreed to take Saturday off and come in at noon on Sunday to finalize the ideas down to one cohesive strategy. The five members of Team B were set to meet with the Velasquez brothers, the owners of 'Columbia's Best' on Monday morning, and they were happy with the direction the campaign had taken.

  Kyle had suggested it would be a good idea for him to take the bus to Grant's home, so it didn't seem suspicious if the two of them left together, so he caught the six thirteen down the street from the office. He'd spoken with Connie earlier in the day, and he'd confirmed he had a reservation for the two of them at nine. The stage show at 'The Pink DragOn' was from nine thirty until ten thirty before the DJ took over downstairs, and the second show moved upstairs. Kyle was a little excited for the night out.

  When he walked up on the front porch, he used the key that Grant had given him that morning after a trip to the hardware store for a copy. He let himself inside, hearing Spanish music playing over a sound system that seemed to cover the entire row house. He hung his topcoat in the coat closet and placed his messenger bag on the first step leading to his new bedroom.

  He smelled incredible things coming from the direction of the kitchen, so he walked into the room, seeing Grant Cummings looking more incredible than Kyle was prepared to witness. He was in a pair of low rise jeans with a tight, black t-shirt. He was tasting something as Kyle strolled into the kitchen.

  "When did you get home?" Kyle asked as he untucked his mint green button-down from his Friday khakis. There had been a cold mist in the air, so his hair was wet due to the walk from the bus stop.

  Grant turned with a bright smile. "I got home about an hour ago. Where does that bus go? That can't be the most direct route, Kyle. We need to figure out something else. Look at you. You're wet and cold. Go take a warm shower and change. I'm making chili," he told Kyle. It certainly smelled terrific.

  Kyle did as the man ordered, taking a quick, hot shower. As he pictured Grant in his mind's eye, looking sexy as hell in the kitchen in bare feet and tight jeans, his cock rose to the occasion. Yes, the attraction was strong, but he knew he couldn't act on his feelings because Grant had things to work out, and Kyle didn't even know if he and Grant could be anything more than friends.

  Of course, that realization didn't stop him from taking himself in hand after lathering up with the luxurious body wash Grant stocked in the shower. Kyle closed his eyes and allowed his imagination to take him away.

  He could see Grant standing at the kitchen counter, but instead of the sexy jeans and t-shirt he’d been wearing when Kyle walked in, Grant was in nothing but a black and white apron. Grant’s sexy, pert ass was wiggling as Grant stirred something in a navy stockpot, simmering on the front burners.

  “What happened to your clothes?” Kyle asked.

  Grant’s face flushed at Kyle’s inquiry. He watched as Grant’s pink tongue slipped between his lush lips, wetting his bottom lip. “I tripped over some leaves and fell on my rump. My clothes got wet and dirty, so I put them in the washing machine, but I wanted to start dinner, so I just put this on to keep things sanitary.”

  Kyle leaned forward and kissed those tempting lips, dipping his tongue inside Grant’s sweet mouth, tasting strawberries as he explored every part of the glorious cavern. His hands acted without a
thought, gently wrapping around Grant’s back and slowly sliding down his soft skin until they landed on the gorgeous globes.

  After reaching for the olive oil on the counter and pouring some into his hand without stopping the kiss, Kyle parted Grant’s cheeks with one hand and slid his slick hand down the trench until he found his destination… Grant’s quivering hole.

  Pulling back for a second, Kyle looked into Grant’s eyes, seeing the desire he knew was reflected from his own. “Is this okay?”

  Grant answered by turning to the island and spreading his legs, jutting out his ass before he looked back at Kyle. “More, please?”

  Kyle dropped his pants and pushed down his boxers with his left hand while his right hand slicked his cock with the olive oil. He walked forward and slid a slick finger into Grant’s chute, feeling the rings of muscle relax as he began finger fucking the gorgeous man to loosen him for the invasion of Kyle’s hard cock.

  Grant reached around and stilled Kyle’s right hand. “Now, please.”

  Kyle stepped closer and nudged the rim with the engorged rod, slowly sliding inside Grant until his chest was against the man’s back. He leaned forward and nipped at Grant’s ear shell. “Tell me how you want it. Fast and hard, or slow and sexy.”

  “Yes.”

  Kyle’s hand flew over his cock until he was shooting streams of come on the marble wall of the shower. Catching his breath, Kyle held himself up by bracing himself with his right hand. He waited for the guilt to hit him because he’d objectified his boss for his own pleasure, but not one bone in his body felt terrible about it. One bone felt awfully good, as a matter of fact.

  After he recovered, Kyle quickly shaved and combed his hair. He went to his room across the hall from the guest bath and found a box on the bed. He quickly pulled on briefs and jeans before he opened the box, seeing a black, white, and orange plaid shirt. It was flannel…very soft. He didn't hesitate to pull it on and tuck it into his jeans, pulling on a black belt he'd found at a secondhand shop along with a pair of black Cons which he'd found at another shop… gently worn.