by Jerry Cole
“Yep! he squawked as he rushed to the bathroom for a final look at himself. “One minute!”
“I’ll give you thirty seconds!” Bryce shouted from the other side of the door.
Roman smirked and shook his head to himself as he went back to looking himself over. He wasn’t dressed in any way fancy at all, just a standard pair of jeans with a black T-shirt, while his hair was pulled back into its usual ponytail. He had considered going all out and really trying to look his best, but for some reason didn’t see the need. It was like he knew that Bryce wouldn’t care.
Ready now, Roman hurried across the hotel room and threw the door open. Standing on the other side, looking a little worn in his untucked suit, but still gorgeous, was Bryce. His body sagged with relief at the sight of Roman and he walked in without even asking.
“Tell me you have something to drink?” he asked as he made for the bed. There, he collapsed on the end and then lay back as if gravity itself were forcing the issue.
“I may have.” Roman went straight for the bar and began to mix two vodka lime and sodas. As he did, he took note of Bryce lain out on his bed, legs spread just a little, looking oh so tasty. “Tough day at the office.”
“More like unresolved.” Bryce groaned as he pushed himself up. “We were meant to have it all sorted out today, but now I have to go into the office first thing tomorrow morning and – you know what. You don’t care about any of this.”
Roman finished the drinks and carried one across to Bryce. “About the specifics? Correct.” He sat down beside Bryce, so close that their legs were touching, and handed him the drink. “But the generalities. Feel free.”
Bryce chuckled as he took the drink and sipped on it. “I appreciate the honesty – fuck, that’s strong,” he sucked through his teeth.
“Too much?”
“Na, I can handle it,” he smirked and had himself a longer, deeper sip. “It’s over for now though. Future Bryce can worry about it.”
“And present-day Bryce?” Roman maintained eye contact with Bryce as he sipped on his vodka. Not once did he blink and not for a second did Bryce look away. “What’s on his mind?”
Bryce didn’t say anything at first. There was really no need. Rather, he kept the eye-contact that Roman had started as he had another long sip of his drink. As he did so, Roman’s eyes flicked down to his throat; Adam’s apple moving up and down as he swallowed, and then back on his eyes again. It was an intense silence laced with raw sexual tension.
“This and that,” Bryce eventually offered once he was done. He was still sitting but leaned back slightly onto one hand. His legs were still spread though, and his right knee was now touching at Roman’s. “I’m just glad I can relax.”
“I’m here at your service.” Roman raised his drink and then threw the rest of it back in one gulp.
“Jesus. Thirsty much – aren't you meant to savor these kinds of drinks?”
“I don’t play by the rules.”
“Well, if that’s the case...” Bryce sucked through his teeth then swallowed the rest of his vodka. It was a little too much and some spilt over and dribbled down his chin. “Fuck.”
“I got it.” Roman rolled his eyes and without thinking, leaned forward to wipe the dribble off Bryce’s chin. It wasn’t until his finger literally touched Bryce’s skin that he realized what he was doing. He froze, finger rested just below Bryce’s lip.
“It’s fine.” Bryce grabbed at his finger, held it for a second before removing it.
“Woops. Didn’t want you getting any on your suit.” A nervous chuckle. “Shall I...” Roman plucked Bryce’s empty glass from his hand and was about to stand and make another drink when he suddenly realized he couldn’t.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Roman sat on the end of the bed, hunched forward just a tad, two glasses in his hand, not looking like he was about to move any time soon.
“Well that’s a lie,” Bryce laughed. “Come on. What is it?”
Roman had an erection, a fucking throbber. It had come from nowhere, around the time that he touched at Bryce’s lip, and was now refusing to go away. Roman had been hoping for a little more of ‘the dance’ before making his move. But if he stood up with a raging hard-on, then all seduction would be out the window.
“Nothing,” Roman said quickly. “I just... my back is sore and I need to sit.” He crossed his legs and leaned forward some more. Really, he couldn’t have made it more obvious what he was doing.
Bryce furrowed his brow and sat up straight. He looked Roman over, confused at first until --
“Holy shit.” Bryce threw his head back and howled. “You don’t.”
“Fuck off,” Roman snapped.
“You do!” Bryce then leaned forward and went to push Roman back. “Come on then.”
“Get off!” Roman slapped Bryce away.
“What? You’re not embarrassed by it, are you?” He went to push Roman back again.
“Of course not – I don’t know.” Roman leapt up and hurried across the room. His cock was still rock hard and with the jeans he had on, it made it very difficult to walk. He made sure to keep his back to Bryce as he stood. “I just didn’t expect it.”
“I suppose I should be flattered.”
“Honestly, you should be.” He still had his back to Bryce as he adjusted his pants. “It’s not every man that can get me this hard without even – I'm sorry.” Roman sucked through his teeth. “Is this inappropriate? I don’t even know.”
It had to be, right? The two had only fooled around once, and today wasn’t a done deal. Roman had planned to seduce, manipulate and eventually pounce. Now though, he was more akin to a bull at the gate.
“Well if it is, then I’m fucked,” Bryce sighed.
“What do you mean?” Roman was still looking ahead, at the wall, the complete opposite direction of where Bryce sat.
“Why don’t you turn around and take a look?”
Roman furrowed his brow. He hesitated. Then, slowly, and very aware of the tent he was pitching in his pants, turned around to see what Bryce was talking about. When he saw, it was his turn to laugh.
“Jesus!” He laughed and laughed and laughed. “Who’s worse? You or me?”
“I’m prepared to call it a draw.” Bryce was hard too. Still sitting, legs still apart, his cock was rock hard, pointed straight up and pressing against his pants like a rocket ship trying to escape.
Just like that, Roman knew that he had feelings for Bryce. Maybe they were going to be fleeting – until he came, that is – or maybe they’d be something more than that. But in the moment, Roman was overcome with the urge to tell Bryce how glad he was to have bumped into him, how much fun he’d had today, and how he was going to fuck his brains out... but he didn’t say any of that. Instead, he walked across the room, leaned into Bryce and kissed him full on the lips.
Bryce returned the kiss immediately, and with gusto. Soon enough raw, untapped passion took hold of the two men. The kiss was wet and sloppy. The way they removed one another’s clothes – tearing them off like they were on fire – was crazed and a little messy, and the style in which Roman mounted Bryce was so unlike him... but felt as right as anything else he was doing.
It didn’t take long before both men were completely naked; their warm, sweaty, heaving bodies pressed against one another. Bryce’s body was lean, hardened muscle. He was in far better shape than the overly thin Roman, who was suddenly very aware of how skinny and white he was.
To distract from this, he wrapped his hand around Bryce’s throbbing erection. “There he is.” Roman spoke out the side of his mouth, between the kisses. “I want this.” He gave it a squeeze and Bryce’s body stiffened.
“Too bad.” Bryce was still on the bed, naked and shuffled back now as he half lay down while Roman straddled him. Roman's cock lay across Bryce’s stomach, right up to his chest. Bryce went for it. “Because I want that.”
Roman half pulled back. �
�Looks like there’s only one thing to do.”
“Which is?” Bryce snapped his teeth at Roman’s face as if trying to bite him.
Roman smirked. Then, and still gripping Bryce’s hard dick in his hand, kicked his leg over Bryce’s head and spun himself around. The sixty-nine was a classic, and Roman savored every second of it. As he got himself into position and took Bryce in his mouth, he groaned and moaned and spasmed at the way that Bryce gripped his cock and directed it into his own mouth.
For the next five minutes, the two men worked one another over in near silence; slobbering, intermixed with heavy grunting and groaning were the only sounds. Every now and then, one of them would yelp “Yes, daddy,” or “Just like that. Fuck.” But ultimately, the two men worked.
It was Roman who was the first to pull himself free. He sensed that Bryce was ready to suck him dry, and he wasn’t ready for that yet. First, Bryce was going to have to fuck him.
“You’re a top?” Roman asked as he pulled himself free. It was hard to do too, as Bryce hung on with his lips until the last second. The dude was like a Hoover.
“I am,” Bryce breathed and huffed. “You?”
In response, Roman hurried to his pants where he produced a condom. He then flicked it onto Bryce’s chest. “What do you think?” he smirked as he climbed back on the bed, and stuck his ass up in the air, ready for Bryce to mount him.
“Fucking.... yum,” Bryce breathed through his teeth.
Roman looked over his shoulder, ready as Bryce put the condom over his hard, dripping wet cock. He then shuffled up the bed and stood crouching over Roman, ready to enter him.
“Well?” Roman barked.
Bryce let forth a triumphant roar, then dropped to his knee and slowly, steadily, and forcefully shoved his member right up Roman’s asshole.
“Ohhhhhh... Jesus... that’s.... that’s.... fucking hell.” Roman gripped the bed for all it was worth as Bryce slide inside of him... inch by inch... deeper and deeper.
Roman took slow, deep breaths as he felt Bryce fill him. He sucked in all the air his body could take as he sensed Bryce shuffling up closer and closer until he was right on him, so deep that his chin rested itself on Roman’s shoulder.
“How’s that feel?” Bryce growled into Roman’s ear; his breath was warm and moist. The feel of it on his cheek made his body shake.
“Unbelievable.” And it did too. Bryce had obviously grown in confidence since they had last met and was more than happy to take control the way that Roman liked it. On his knees, bent over the bed, on his back, Roman didn’t care. So long as Bryce was inside of him.
And when Bryce was nearly finished, he was kind enough to drop to his knees, remove the condom and suck every last drop out of Roman... and then he licked up and down the shaft and over the head a couple more times, just to make sure he’d gotten all of it.
Roman had had a lot of sex in his life. Some of it was good. Some of it was bad. Most of it was average. But that session just then with Bryce... It wasn’t good or bad, or great or terrible. Instead, it was just right. There was something natural about it, something almost wholesome. Roman had thought he liked Bryce before they had started having sex. Now he was certain of it.
After the sex, all Roman wanted to do was lay in bed and hold Bryce. Seriously, he could have spent the entire night in bed with the guy. And now, in this moment, he could barely even remember the name of that guy he had almost been dating. It was bizarre... although it also wasn’t. Not really.
“I have to go. Shit.” Bryce cursed again as he peeled himself from Roman and climbed from the bed. “Fucking flights.”
“Cancel it.” Roman sat up. “Stay.”
“I can’t.” Bryce hurried around the room in search of his clothes. “I have to be back in Sydney tomorrow morning – nine o’clock sharp. No rest for the wicked – where are my pants?”
“I threw them out the window,” Roman said seriously. “Now you have to stay.”
Bryce fixed Roman with a look that almost said he wished he were being serious. Indeed, it looked like Bryce wanted to stay as much as he wanted him to.
“So, now what?” Roman then pressed. It was getting to that point, the one where they said their goodbyes knowing it might be the last time. Really, they should have been used to it by now.
“I’m not sure...” With his pants on, Bryce sat on the edge of the bed so he could tie his shoes up.
Roman crawled up to him and wrapped his arms around him. His body was warm, and somehow hard and soft at the same time. It was pure comfort, and just felt right.
Earlier, Roman had been nervous and he hadn’t known why. Now he was pretty sure what it was. He didn’t just want to fuck Bryce and be done with it. He wanted to be with the guy too. Rarely had he met someone he was so comfortable with, someone who he truly liked as a person and not just an object. He had thought his last pseudo-relationship was real, when really it had nothing on this.
“I was thinking...” Roman began carefully. Just because he was so into Bryce, didn’t mean Bryce was into him.
“And?” Bryce peeled himself off Roman so he could put on his shirt.
“Well... I’m planning -- hoping to be in Sydney in about... six months.”
“What for?” The way he hurried to get ready, he was impossible to read.
It was actually kind of a secret at the moment; a pseudo-dream that Roman didn’t even like talking about. “Work,” Roman shrugged casually. “It’s not certain yet but... well, if all goes the way I hope, then it should take a week or two... maybe three if I’m really lucky...” he let the meaning of this settle on Bryce.
It was a relief when Bryce beamed. “Now just one second, Mr. Nowak. Are you saying that you want to see me again? And on purpose.”
“Ssshhhh. Don’t tell anyone.” Roman was still in bed, fighting the urge to stand and go to Bryce... and then push him back into bed with him. “But yeah, I do.”
“Good.” Bryce tucked his shirt in and threw his jacket over his shoulder. “Because I want to see you again too. It’s just a shame I’ll have to wait six months.”
Roman smiled so damn much his cheeks actually hurt. “Better than three years, though. Right?”
“Much better.”
It was strange territory for both men to be in as never before had the two actually made plans to see one another. But as Roman scribbled his number down for Bryce to have, he couldn’t help but note the way his heart thumped in his chest, or the way that his gut squirmed like there were a million live worms living in it. This wasn’t anything like just giving his number to a random. This was something much more.
Once Bryce was dressed and ready, Roman led him to the door. They kissed passionately at the door too, for several long and perfect minutes. Every time Bryce went to leave, he’d change his mind and go in for another. It was cute. Very, fucking cute.
And the moment that door closed behind Bryce, Roman found that he already missed him. Fuck, he wanted to run from the room and give chase, shout out, grab onto him and pull him back in for more kissing and cuddles and everything in-between. This was so much more than sexual desire. This was something else...
Even more odd was that Roman wasn’t worried. Ordinarily when he felt this way about another man, he became stricken with fear that his feelings weren’t going to be returned and that ultimately, he’d end up embarrassing himself and getting hurt. But with Bryce, that just didn’t seem relevant. Somehow, he just knew that Bryce was on the same page.
Honestly, the only thing that was worrying Roman right now, a sensation that felt akin to small daggers being plunged into his stomach one at a time, was that he wouldn’t be seeing Bryce for at least six more months. And that was if his plans all went the way he hoped. But he would be seeing him again, that’s what was important. And as Roman stumbled back into his room and fell onto his bed, he held tight to this fact, letting it wrap itself around him like a blanket.
Roman was the happiest he had been in a long time.
He assumed Bryce was too. And sooner rather than later, they’d be together again. Right now, life really was perfect.
Chapter Eleven
The one thing Bryce would have liked, was a window. That was all he needed. Just a little space above his head, no bigger than a box of cereal, and he would have been happy. Indeed, when he first took the job, he was promised a window... and an office... and a door. The office and door he was fine without, for now. But the window... well, that would have made all the difference.
His workspace was a smallish cubicle, about the size of an en suite bathroom. It sat in the middle of the office floor – one of about twenty -- was comprised of three-and-a-half high standing walls -- the half wall being the ‘door’ of sorts -- and one U-shaped table just big enough to fit Bryce’s computer, his folders, files, boxes that comprised folders and files, and other storage set-ups that he didn’t even have a name for. When he first started out in this cubicle, it was empty and spacious. Now it was like a freezer in desperate need of a defrosting.
But Bryce didn’t mind. Really, he didn’t. He’d been working in this cubicle for roughly four years now, and knew that it was just a matter of time until he moved onto bigger and better things: like a promotion with more money, his own office... and, of course, that window.
He needed the window for the same reason that most people needed a lunch break, or a bathroom break, or even just a coffee break. It was to maintain his sanity. When Bryce arrived in the office every day, it was still dark out. And when he left, it was dark again. As far as he was aware, the sun didn’t even shine on the days he worked, which was all of them.
If he’d had that window though, a chance to actually see the sun every now and then, to see it rise and set, that would have changed everything. That would have made these long days that little bit more bearable. And it would certainly have helped to reinforce his career decision and remind him that one day the sun would shine on him again. But first, he’d need that window.
“Taylor. Stark is looking for you. Pronto, he says.” The male voice spoke over the wall of the cubicle, but no head appeared with it. And Bryce didn’t expect it to. There was no time to stop for small talk, or even stop to give an order. They were shouted in this place, always on the move, so no time was wasted whatsoever.
