by D. J. Manly
Vincent just stared at him.
“I figured since you were going to eventually come to your senses and hire me, I might as well get started right away. It’s going to be a big job. What do you think about pink sweetheart roses in the church?”
Vincent started to laugh. This guy was absolutely outrageous.
“Vincent? Pink roses?”
“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”
David hopped off the desk and grinned. “Nope.”
At that moment, Barbara walked in. She gave David Samson a hostile look. “Oh, you’re still here.” She wrinkled her nose.
“Yes,” Vincent interjected, bowing his head in David’s direction. After a slight pause, he said, “Meet the new planner.”
Barbara rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
David beamed. “You mean it?”
Vincent shrugged. “I’ll take you on a trial basis.”
Abruptly David let out a whoop and threw his arms around him, practically knocking him over. He planted a huge kiss right on his mouth, then released him.
Vincent was once again speechless.
“You won’t regret this,” David said.
Barbara looked a little stunned as well.
After Vincent recovered, he said to Barbara, “Give Mr. Samson the forms to fill out, and the contract.”
“For how long?” she sniffed.
“Two months,” Vincent said.
“Two weeks would be a better bet,” Barbara muttered.
Vincent smiled faintly. “Two months, Barb.” He looked at David. “After you’re finished, come back here to me, and I’ll orient you.”
“Sounds kinky.” David winked. “Wait until I tell my friends what a hottie my new boss is. They’re going to cream their tighty whities.”
Barbara sighed. She grabbed his elbow. “Oh good Lord,” she muttered, “come on. Didn’t anyone ever teach you to speak proper English?”
“He’s an English major,” Vincent told her dryly.
David gave her a great big smile. “Top of my class.”
“Were you the only one in it?” Barb mocked as she dragged him out of the office.
Vincent heard David laugh then say something about colloquialisms, to which Barbara replied that she “knew what a colloquialism was, for Christ’s sakes…”
Vincent put his face in his hands and sighed. What had he done? He knew nothing about this guy. But he was desperate, and Samson had gone to great lengths to get this job. He was bold; he’d say that for him. Maybe that kind of character would be exactly what Events needed.
* * * *
Twenty minutes later, David sat quietly in the chair opposite him, waiting patiently while Vincent punched in the final figures on the balance sheet.
“So,” David said suddenly when Vincent closed his laptop, “what happened to the other guy?”
“What other guy?”
“Doug. I used to see his picture in the paper all the time. He was the cream of the crop. Wasn’t this his business?”
“It was our business.”
“Ah.”
“What, ah?”
“He was your fuck bunny.”
“He was not my fuck bunny. He was my partner, in business.”
“And in bed.”
Vincent eyed him. “None of your business. I need to show you where everything is, and set you up in a routine.”
“I’m not so good with routines, but I’ll try.” He smiled. “So Doug wasn’t too bright, I guess.”
Vincent stood. “Back to Doug?”
“Why would he leave you?”
“I told you, that’s not your business. Let’s get a few things straight, okay? You work for me, and that’s it. I’m your boss. No personal questions, and no buddy-buddy.”
“No fucking either?”
“And especially not that,” he snapped.
“You don’t like fucking?”
“Of course I like…” Vincent scowled. “Never mind. You’ve got the balls of—”
“I know what I like,” he said, smiling, “that’s all. Anyway, if you change your mind, let me know.”
“I won’t.”
“So, you’re going to abstain?”
“David! Do you want to learn this business, or not?”
“I do. I’m sorry. I have a habit of saying exactly what’s on my mind. It gets me into trouble sometimes.” David followed him down the hall.
“I can imagine. You’re not going to do that with the clients, I hope.” Vincent glanced at him.
“I’ll try to be good.” He grinned sheepishly.
“Let me show you around.”
Chapter Two
David was pretty quick. Be it specific departments or administrative stuff, he caught on right away. Not to mention that he charmed everyone he met, except for Barbara. But by the end of the first week, he was even starting to wear her down.
He jumped headfirst into the job as if he’d been made for it. And it was clear that he loved it. He got along better with the staff than Doug had, and Vincent was already receiving rave reviews from satisfied clients.
The birthday party for the politician’s wife went off without a hitch. Several of the staff met with Vincent and David after the party to celebrate their first major success since Doug’s departure.
“You know, I was worried there for awhile,” Barb told him as she sipped on her vodka tonic. “I wasn’t sure we’d stay afloat without Doug.”
Vincent patted her back. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he teased.
“No, I mean, you’re a great boss, Vincent, a wonderful manager, but you’re not a planner.” She looked over at David, who was joking around with John, and grinned. “He’s good, and he’s such a sweetie.”
The new administrative secretary, Fawn Allan, lifted her drink suddenly at Vince. “Too bad he’s gay. I’d take him home and cuddle him all night.”
Vincent shook his head. “Get him drunk and give it a try,” he told her.
“Ha, ha,” she laughed. “You get him drunk and give him a try.”
“Although,” Barb mused, lowering her voice in his ear, “the way I’ve seen him looking at you, you could skip the getting him drunk part.”
Vincent shook his head at her.
“This Valentine’s wedding is going to be so great for the company.” Barb poked him in the side. “It will put us right back there on top.”
“Cupid strippers,” he said with a shudder.
“Please the clients, plus, it’s so romantic,” Fawn piped in, downing her drink.
“Cupid strippers?”
“No, silly, a wedding on Valentine’s Day,” she said with a laugh.
“Valentine’s Day is a commercially created holiday for lovesick puppies,” Vincent muttered.
“Boss! How can you say that?” Fawn sounded outraged. “Barb, don’t let him get away with that.”
“What’d he say now?” David asked, coming over to stand beside them.
Vincent shook his head. “Never mind. Don’t tell him. He’ll make a big deal out of it.”
“He said Valentine’s Day was for puppies.” Barb ignored Vincent’s plea for silence.
“Thanks,” Vincent said.
David lifted an eyebrow. “Puppies, eh? Vincent, I’m sure deep down you are a flaming romantic.”
“Flaming?”
David laughed and hugged Fawn, who came over to stand beside him. “Don’t you love that word?”
Fawn kissed his cheek. “I do.”
“It’s right up there with prancing,” Vincent muttered.
“Give him the right guy, and he’d be the first one out to buy chocolate condoms and flowers.” David looked at him.
Barb just about choked on her drink.
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Vincent laughed.
“He likes to say that a lot,” David retorted, reaching over to ruffle Vincent’s hair.
“Hey,” Vincent said, slapping his
hand away, “don’t touch.”
“He says that a lot too,” David complained.
Fawn giggled. “You two are so cute together.”
“That’s my cue to take off,” Vincent said, saluting everyone. “Great job, guys. Have a good weekend.”
When he got to the parking lot, he was surprised to see David standing by his car. “Hey.”
Vincent inserted his key in the lock. “What?”
“What do you mean, what? I need a ride.”
“Get Fawn to take you. She lives in your neighborhood.”
“I don’t want Fawn. I want you.” He met his gaze over the car. “Besides, Fawn isn’t ready to leave yet. She’s checking out some hot guy with a big dick playing pool.”
Vincent shook his head. “Get in. You’ll have to remind me where to get off.”
His car roared out of the parking lot and into the street.
“Has it been that long?”
Vincent glanced at him. “Huh?”
“You don’t remember how to get off.” David grinned.
“Very funny, ha, ha.”
“Thank you. This is a nice car, by the way. Not the kind of car I’d expect you to drive.”
“What? Guys like me only drive crappy cars?”
“No, but more conservative ones. This is a Mustang, a vintage one, at that. Must have cost a pretty penny. I would have chosen another, though.”
“What? Hot pink?”
David laughed. “Do they make hot pink ones?”
“I sure as hell hope not. Oh damn it,” Vincent muttered, spotting the emergency vehicles up ahead, “there’s an accident. We’re going to be tied up in traffic.” Vincent checked his watch. It was almost nine o’clock.
“You can take that exit there,” David pointed. “It seems to be running pretty smoothly.”
“Yeah, but that’s not the right exit, is it? That’s actually closer to my house.”
“Speaking of your house, you got a sofa?”
Vincent looked at him sharply. “Absolutely not.”
“What? You got something against sofas?”
“No, but…”
“You’re afraid to let me sleep on your sofa. Afraid you’ll lose your virginity in the middle of the night?” David was chuckling. “It’s a little late for that, isn’t it?”
“Keep on laughing, but you’re not spending the night at my place.”
“Then be prepared to get home late,” David pointed. “Check it out.”
Vincent swore under his breath. They were down to two lanes. Several more emergency vehicles were wailing their sirens in the distance. With one abrupt turn of the wheel, he swerved into the far lane and turned off.
David said nothing while Vincent told himself that having David spend the night was not a good idea. The car sped along the highway, and before he was even aware of it, he was turning into his driveway.
David got out of the car, whistling under his teeth as he surveyed the house. “Wow. This is nice.”
“Thanks,” Vincent said. The house was a two-story stone bungalow, surrounded by trees. Doug had chosen it, and Vincent had approved of his choice when he saw how private the house was. He loved all those trees. He unlocked the door and walked in.
“Vincent, this is sensational. What a great house.” David was twirling around in the entrance. “Doug’s choice?”
Vincent scowled at him.
“What?” David crossed the hardwood floor into the living room and threw himself down on the white leather sofa. “I’m not supposed to mention him?”
“I didn’t even know you knew Doug.”
“I’m his replacement, aren’t I? And he was part owner of Events. It was always his picture with the ads in the paper. Why didn’t you put your picture in the ads? You’re so much better-looking than he is.”
“I’m a behind-the-scenes kind of guy,” he muttered, surprised that David found him better-looking than Doug.
“You’re going to have to loan me a toothbrush and a pair of underwear for tomorrow.”
Vincent kicked off his shoes and walked over to the bar. He poured himself a glass of soda water and threw some ice and a wedge of lemon in it. “Want a drink?”
“No thanks.”
“But you want my underwear though.” Vincent smirked, raising an eyebrow as he took a healthy swallow of his drink.
“Or, what’s in them.”
Vincent just about choked on his soda water. “Repeat?”
David laughed. “Calm down. I won’t attack you.”
“Thanks.” He came and sat down in the chair opposite David.
“So, what was he like?”
“What was who like?”
“Doug?”
“Why this sudden interest in my ex-partner?”
“Ex-lover too.”
“Thanks for reminding me, again.”
“Did you love him?”
“None of your business.”
“Why’d he leave you, just for the sex?”
Vincent glared at him. “Why are you assuming he left me because of sex?”
“That’s what Andrew told me.”
“Andrew?” Vincent stared at him. “You knew Andrew too?”
“Vincent,” David said, sitting up straight, “I’m going to tell you something. I don’t want you to be upset.”
“Upset? Why would I be upset?”
“It’s about Andrew.”
“I know all I need to know about Andrew, thanks.”
“He’s my ex.”
Vincent’s jaw dropped. “He’s your what?”
“Doug dumped you for Andrew, and Andrew dumped me for Doug. Now close your mouth, sweetie, you’re giving me ideas.”
“Why in the fuck didn’t you tell me?” Vincent stood. “You acted like you didn’t know anything about … shit, David, what’s your game?”
“I don’t have any game.” He shook his head. “I really envied Andrew working at Events. He had my dream job. When he left me for Doug, I needed a job, and there was an opening. That prick left me with a lot of debts. Anyway, I was also … well…”—he lowered his head—“curious.”
“Curious about what?”
“About you.”
“About me? I’m not the one who took off with your boyfriend.”
“Andrew said you were really hot.”
“Huh?”
“I knew Andrew was messing around. I thought it was with you because when he came home that first night, he kept going on about how hot his boss was. I finally told him to shut up.”
“He meant Doug.”
“No, he didn’t mean Doug. He meant you. He described you a T. But he said you were, ah … stuffy.”
“Stuffy?”
“Yeah, you know, straight, but not in a sexual way.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. That’s because I made it clear I didn’t want to fuck him.”
“He did come on to you then!” David gasped. “I knew it. That bastard!”
“He gave up fast. Then he turned his attention to Doug.”
“Yeah, and it turns out it was Doug he was doing. Anyway, I just gravitated to Events. I always knew somehow I belonged there. It’s weird. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I was before. I figured you wouldn’t have hired me if you’d known. I suppose I’m fired now?”
Vincent shook his head. “No. You’re not fired. Besides, who in hell am I going to get to do a Valentine’s stag party?”
“You got a point there, and I got the stripper lined up.”
“This just feels weird, that’s all,” Vincent shook his head. “Two losers, our lovers taking off with each other—wow.”
“You’re not a loser, Vincent”—David got up and walked over to him—“and I’m not either, at least I don’t feel like one right now. I feel like just about the luckiest guy alive at the moment. Doug is the loser. He has no idea what he’s lost. He left you for a guy who isn’t even good enough to shine your shoes, and believe me, I know.”
“Thank
s,” Vincent said, feeling suddenly uncomfortable with David’s closeness. This guy didn’t seem to have any sense of social distance.
“I never believed him when he said you couldn’t fuck.” He stood back.
“What?” Vincent gasped. “That little bastard said I couldn’t fuck?”
“Well, he said you couldn’t fuck very well. In fact, if I remember correctly, he said you couldn’t even get it up.” He met Vincent’s gaze, then started to laugh. “You should see your face.”
“You liar! He never said that.” He made a lunge for him.
David let out a holler as he jumped out of reach. He turned and raced off down the hallway.
When Vincent caught up to David, he was standing in the entrance to his bedroom, his chest heaving a little, his eyes shining. Vincent froze.
He couldn’t remember ever seeing anything so beautiful.
“Come on, Vince,” David coaxed softly, “prove it, prove you can get it up.”
Vince’s mouth went dry, his cock awakening. He found himself laughing a little uneasily. “Don’t be ridiculous, David. This is…” he began, but his words were suddenly buried under the pressure of David’s mouth. David placed his hands on Vincent’s waist and yanked him closer.
Vincent froze, unsure of what in hell was happening but David’s persistent kisses were heightening his desire, hazing his thoughts with sudden, unbidden lust.
David murmured something appreciative in his throat as one hand began to finger Vincent’s cock through the material of his pants. Vincent sucked in some air and clasped David’s ass. He couldn’t deny what a turn-on it was to finally massage those delightfully hard, rounded globes. David had a great ass, something Vincent hadn’t exactly been immune to. This move incited David’s enthusiasm. Hastily, he opened Vincent’s zipper. Their mouths separated then moved together again, this time more aggressively. David pushed Vincent’s pants and underwear down off his hips. Vincent stumbled over them, kicking them away, and propelled David into his bedroom.
David separated himself from Vincent just long enough to strip off his shirt. He threw it aside, crooked his finger at him, then pulled Vincent’s sweater over his head. He ran his hands over Vincent’s chest. “God,” he breathed, lowering his lips to one of Vincent’s nipples, “you’re so buff. God, what a body.”
