by JJ Harper
“You? How? Your eyes? What…”
“Jesus, Max. Way to make Gus feel welcome. I’m sorry about him. He was dropped on his head when he was a baby.” Jonas shoots me a ‘what the fuck’ look.
“It’s okay. I’m fine with it.” Gus lets out a small laugh, but I can tell he’s as rattled as I am.
Beck clicks his fingers and chuckles. “I thought there was something familiar about you. But the eyes had me confused.”
“A word, Max, please.” Jonas excuses us both and drags me with him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“That’s the guy I took home on Saturday, the one I really fucking like and the same fucking one who left me without leaving his number.”
“Fucking hell. You’ll have to get over it because he’s the best one I’ve seen. The ones I interviewed yesterday and this morning were all useless. And he knows Beck already, so that’s good.”
“It’s not fucking good.” I hiss. “Because he’s going to be more comfortable with someone he works with than his boss. Now I’ll have to watch them hit it off, and then they’ll start dating, and I’m the one not getting to be with him.”
“Have you heard yourself? Stop acting like a fourteen-year-old. Are you going to behave, or do I have to make sure you’re never on the same shifts? You know I’ll do it.”
“I can behave. He took me by surprise is all.” I glance over at Gus. He’s chewing his lip nervously. Does he think he’ll be out of here before he even starts, just because we had a roll in the hay? “I’ll be good.”
“I should hope so.” Jonas rolls his eyes, then stalks back to Gus. Together they walk down to the office. I’m not letting him get away from me again.
I take a seat at one of the tables but keep my eyes and ears on the bar. He settles in all right, listens to Beck as he explains everything. He’s good, a quick learner with a natural flair. I’m brooding, and I don’t even care. It’s time for me to say my piece to him. Okay, I get that the morning after can be awkward, but I didn’t think it would be for us. We had fun together. We clicked. Perhaps he didn’t and still doesn’t feel the same thing for me as I do for him. Maybe for him, I was just a hook-up. Maybe all he wanted was sex, but it felt like so much more. I need to speak to him again, find out for sure if I was wrong. He’s twenty-one; I’m thirty. We’re at totally different stages of our lives. Not that I know what graduating university is like. I got my GCSEs and left school, happy to never be in a classroom again.
Beck and Gus work and laugh together as if they’re old friends. He even tells Beck to call him. Then Leo joins them, and his eyes light up when he introduces himself. My scowl grows bigger. Gus hurries back to work, while Leo gives me a grin. He knows exactly what’s going on here. Bloody Jonas must have filled him in.
Finally, Gus has finished, and Jonas asks for a word in the office. I allow them that, but only for so long. After a few minutes, they’re back, Gus with a huge smile on his face.
“Thanks again for the opportunity, Jonas. You won’t regret it.” With a final handshake for Jonas and a furtive glance at me, Gus strides to the exit. I watch him, or more particularly his arse until he walks through the door.
“I think you need to leave him alone, Max.” Jonas is as blunt as always. It’s a trait we both suffer from.
“I can’t. I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. Not until he tells me to. Goodnight.”
I can’t believe it’s Max. Of all the bloody places I interview for a job, it’s owned by the guy who fucked me into the next world three nights ago. Damn, it was so good. I’ve only just stopped feeling it. Oh, and of course add to the humiliation by being the one to sneak out after he’d fallen asleep.
Jonas and Max have a conversation, heated by the looks of it. I’m afraid my time here is over before I’ve even started. Then Jonas comes back to me, leaving Max standing scowling.
“I’m okay? I can still work here?” I ask nervously as I chew on the corner of my lip.
“Of course, I’m not going to change my mind about you. You’re going to be great here,” Jonas says. “Come with me, and I’ll get you a T-shirt for tonight.”
We go through a door with Private on it, and Jonas leads me into an office with two desks. One for each of them, I assume. He opens a tall double-door cupboard and grabs two T-shirts and what looks like a button-down shirt. All are black and have Bar 28 embroidered in silver on the front.
“I think these will fit you. I’ve only got one button-down in your size, so I’ll order another for you. You can wear that one as it gets colder, although you’ll get hot working behind the bar. You may want to stick to the T-shirts. It’s your choice.”
“Okay, thank you.” I wait for him to say more now that we’re away from the bar. “I didn’t think you’d still want me here. I’m sorry if I embarrassed Max. I didn’t know he owned this place. He didn’t say anything on Saturday. I wouldn’t have applied to work here if I’d known.” Heat rushes up my neck and over my cheeks.
“Gus, don’t worry. I’m surprised, yes, but more at Max. He never finds someone he likes. He’s more a one-night-stand sort of guy. He likes you a lot and wasn’t too happy with waking up alone, but don’t tell him I told you that.”
“I-I am not sure if that’s a compliment or not,” I stammer. “I’m sorry I asked Beck for his number. I didn’t think it would be against your rules.” I feel even more ashamed now. “I’m not like this normally. I just wanted to have a fun night out before all the hard work starts again.”
“It’s a compliment, I promise. It’s not against the rules to swap numbers with a customer, but it’s not advised. You’re going to get a lot of attention from men and women, Gus. I hope you’re prepared for that.”
“Me? I doubt that.” I scoff. Then I change the subject. “I’ve got your cocktail book here for you.” I pull my messenger bag over my head and dig inside it.
“You don’t have to give that back.”
I blush. “Oh, okay, thank you.” I brush it off rather than say I have an eidetic memory. Having two different eye colours is awkward enough without throwing this one out there as well.
“We keep a copy behind the bar. We always have one customer who will ask for something obscure. We make anything they want.”
“Really, even if you know it won’t work?” I shudder at the thought of some drinks mixed.
“Well, no. We advise them to look at a different combination.” Jonas hands me the clothes. “The breakroom is next door. You can change in there. I’ll see you out in the bar in a minute.”
“Okay, thanks, Jonas.” I clutch the shirts to my chest. “It won’t happen again, me and Max, I mean.”
The look Jonas gives me is strange, but he nods without saying any more, and I walk out and change my shirt. When I enter the bar area, I’m half hoping Max is gone, or at least not act like an arsehole. He’s a great guy, hot as fuck with an awesome dick, but out of bounds now, I suppose.
“I can’t believe I didn’t recognise you until you spoke.” Max’s voice startles me.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted to acknowledge you knew me. Beck didn’t recognise me, so I thought it easier to do the same for you.” I keep my eyes on the drink I’m mixing. The bar is still quiet, and Beck is giving me a chance to make them. When it’s busier, I may have to do the wine and beer orders, but I don’t mind. I’d rather someone taught me than come across as a know-it-all.
“You’re the one that left my bed without saying goodbye.” He leans back against the wall at the back of the bar, his arms across his chest, eyebrows raised, the picture of sex on a stick. I could climb him right now, wrap my legs around his waist, and rock over his mammoth cock.
“Yeah, I know. I didn’t think you’d want the whole morning-after-stilted conversation.” I really wish I had a customer of my own. “Seems like we’re having it now,” I mutter under my breath.
“Yes, it does, doesn’t it?” He scowls. “And whose fault is that?”
“And now you know
why I left.” I finish making the cocktail and hand it to Beck.
He gives me an ‘are you okay’ look. I nod. “I can ask him to leave the bar if you’d like?” he says quietly. I shake my head, and he lets it go, and so does Max. He stomps away and takes a seat at one of the tables, well within sight.
I’ve been here for three hours now, and it has started to get busy. But I easily keep up with the orders Beck gives me. Then another guy steps behind the bar. He’s in the work shirt but has rolled up the sleeves, which shows off the impressive artwork on both arms. He’s painfully beautiful, with blond almost white hair and bright blue eyes. His full lips quirk up in a smile.
“Hi, new guy. I’m Leo.” He holds out his hand.
“Hi, Leo, I’m Gus, and yes, the new guy.” We shake. His grip is firm and warm. He doesn’t seem to want to let go. A grumble sounds behind me. Max is glaring at Leo. I frown at Max as I extricate my hand from Leo’s warm grasp. “I’d better get back to work.”
Leo grins and grabs the next order that comes through, and I finish mine. I smile at all the customers, laugh as they shamelessly flirt with me, but shake my head as they ask for my number. Jonas was right. It’s coming from both men and women.
I wander over to Beck. “I’m so sorry I was a dick on Saturday. I shouldn’t have made you feel uncomfortable, asking for your number.”
“Hell no, don’t apologise. I’m flattered.” He pushes at my shoulder. “I wondered if we’d bump into each other again. Now I can ask you out in person. Would you like to?”
“Really? You want to go out?” He nods.
“Okay, I’d like that.”
“Great, we can work out when, after you know your hours here.” Beck has a grin a mile wide as he serves the next customer.
I silently thank my memory for getting me through my first shift. I haven’t had to consult the manual at all. I didn’t think I would, but I don’t like to place all my faith in it. I’m not totally reliant on it. Some skills have to be taught.
“Gus, can I have a word before you leave?” Jonas asks as I walk from behind the bar. It’s eight o’clock, and I’ve been here for four hours.
“Of course, I can come now.” I say goodnight to Beck and tell him to call me.
“I’m not going to forget, I promise you.” He laughs.
“Then don’t try to be cool and hold off.” I joke with him. When we’re in Jonas’s office, he’s giving me an odd look, one I can’t decipher. “Have I done something wrong?”
“I watched you this evening. You’re a natural with the customers, and it seems with the cocktails too. You didn’t consult the manual book once. How? You said you’ve never worked in a bar before.”
“I have an eidetic memory. I only needed to read it once to know how to make them.” I shrug to play it down, running my hand through my hair.
“Wow! That’s incredible. I’ve never met anyone with that ability.”
“Yeah, I don’t think about it much. It’s simply something I can do.”
“Aside from that, I think you did an amazing job tonight. You were friendly, approachable. We’d like to offer you the position. We can sort out your hours tomorrow. You’ve worked hard enough tonight. If you give me a list of which days and hours would be best for you, I’ll see if I can fit them into our roster. Can you come in at four?”
“Wow. That’s fab. Thank you so much. That sounds great. Four is fine. I’ll be here.”
“Welcome aboard.” Jonas shakes my hand, then seems to look past me, over my shoulder. I have a feeling who’s there. I slowly turn around. Yup. Max is standing in the doorway, wearing an amused smile. His eyes flicker from Jonas to me, and he blatantly stares at me. Then he licks over his plump bottom lip, dampening it. I’m mesmerised and find that I copy his action.
“Are you finished?” Max asks his brother.
“Yes. Gus is coming in tomorrow to sort out his shifts.”
“Thanks, Jonas. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I pick up my bag and throw it over my shoulder, then brush past Max. “Night, Max.”
I walk through the room, giving the guys behind the bar a wave. They’re here until closing time. I say goodnight to the bouncers and step outside. A shiver runs through me. The air is chilly against my heated skin. It was hot inside, but it’s got colder so late in the evening. I didn’t think to bring a jacket. I wasn’t expecting to be so long in the bar. I hurry home, but I have to stop to let a few cars go past me before I can cross the road. Someone walks up and stands next to me. I ignore them and step into the road.
“Gus, wait.” It’s Max. He must have rushed to catch up with me.
I move back onto the pavement. “I didn’t realise it was you, sorry. What’s up?”
“I want to see you again,” he says simply.
“Oh.” I frown, not quite sure where he’s going with this. “You’ll see me at work, or don’t you spend much time upstairs?”
“I want to see you away from work. I hated that you were gone when I woke on Sunday morning.”
“I thought you only wanted a hook-up, and to be honest, I’m not really looking for anything more. I need a job so I can live, but my college work is the most important thing for me.” I try to keep it light. If I told him the truth, that I hated leaving him and regret it, he’d probably change his tune quickly enough.
“Yet you agreed to go out with Beck.” He scowls, clearly not happy.
“Oh, that would be a couple of pints in the pub sometime. I’m not planning to jump into bed with him.” I check the traffic again. I want to be home now.
“Okay, will you meet me for a few drinks.” His hand gently holds me back from crossing the road.
I study him for a long time. I want to say yes. I want to ask him to come home with me tonight. I’d love a repeat of the other night. I can see me wanting more and more of him. He’s everything I love in a man. But he’s going to be a distraction, and I can’t have any this year. But he’s so gorgeous. My dick is pleading with me to say yes, and I’m a sucker, so I find myself agreeing. “Okay, yes, I’d like that.”
He grins like a kid at Christmas. “Awesome. When?”
“Why don’t we swap numbers, and we can arrange something for later in the week.”
“Sure.” He takes out his phone and hands it to me. I pull up his contacts and add my number, then call myself.
“All done. Goodnight, Max,” I say with a roll of my eyes. “Persistent fucker,” I grumble under my breath, but he hears it and laughs unabashedly.
“Can I walk with you?” He tucks his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, rocking a little on his feet, almost shy. He looks so fucking adorable I nod.
It doesn’t take him long before he catches my hand and holds on to it as we walk back to my flat. I’m warring with myself the whole way, trying to persuade my dick to calm down, that I won’t be asking him inside.
I stop at the door. “Thanks, Max.” I press my lips to his, intending to give him a swift goodnight kiss. But he has other plans and crushes his mouth to mine, making me weak at the knees and crumbling my resolve.
“Do you live with anyone?” he asks, his lips still touching mine. I shake my head, and I feel his mouth morph into a smile. “Then invite me inside, Gus.” His voice is gravelly and sexy as fuck.
“Would you like to come in for a coffee?” I croak, shocked at how quickly and easily I’ve caved.
“No. I’d like to come in and strip you naked before coming inside you. Open the door, baby.”
Baby? He called me baby? I hate that sort of shit, or I normally do. Right now, my heart is doing a happy dance at his endearment. Groaning, I give in to him and fumble for my key. Max has his front to my back, rocking his hips, and his stiff cock pushes against my arse. He kisses the back of my neck and growls that I’m taking too long. “Then maybe you should stop thrusting into my arse and let me see what I’m doing.”
He steps back but not nearly far enough. His breath on my nape does funny things to me. I manage to g
et the door open and stumble inside. Max catches me, spins me around, and pushes my back to the wall. The door slams shut at the same time his lips hit mine.
“Where’s your bedroom?”
I push back on his shoulders, then grab his hand and tug him through the small rooms to my bedroom. I don’t even bother switching on the light, just drag him to my bed. I fall back, pulling him with me, loving the weight of him on top of me.
His kisses are less frantic but just as passionate. He pushes up my shirt, his hands cold on my heated skin. Shivering, I do the same to him. Goosebumps break out on his back. His mouth travels over my jaw and neck. “We need to be naked.” His breath is hot in my ear as he bites on the lobe.
My hands slide from his back to between our bodies. I fumble to undo my belt, but his groin is still pushing into mine. I rock my hips up into him. He gets the message and moves off me. The moonlight streaming through the window illuminates his features. He’s beautiful. As much as I want to see him strip, I don’t want anyone else to. My ground-floor flat is easy to look into from the pavement. I close the curtains, then switch on my bedside light. The weak glow lightens us softly. I pull off my jeans and boxers. My T-shirt is the last to come off. I climb back onto the bed and watch the last of Max’s clothes hit the floor.
“Come here.” I beckon him, and he strides to me, his cock standing proudly away from his body. He fists it and gives it a few strokes. I wet my lips, eager to take him into my mouth. He kneels before the bed and kisses the inside of my thigh, then licks higher until he nuzzles my sac. He breathes in deeply, his chest rumbling with approval.
I flop back onto the bed, giving him full access. He laps at my balls, then licks up my dick and sucks me deep. God, this feels so good. He uses his hands to spread my legs, then brings his finger to my mouth. I react to his silent question and drench the digits in my saliva. He pulls them free. The blunt pressure of the first finger pressing on my hole is painful for a second, but I relax and let him slide it in. This is heaven. A shudder runs down my spine like a wave as I succumb to his ministrations. He leans over and captures my mouth with his. His tongue mimics the strokes of his finger inside me, slowly breaching my body. By the time he adds a second finger, I’m moaning shamelessly, tangling my fingers in his hair.
