4. Cole
Four
Cole
Danny drives like a mad man to race and get me my smoothie I insisted on. The one my boss told me to get.
Danny’s hair looks great blowing in the wind. It’s so sunny today and his tanned skin shimmers in the light. He looks damn good with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and white teeth shining as he smiles.
Yet, all I can think of is how my boss barely touched me and I came undone so quickly. Those dark eyes and commanding voice controlled me.
My breath hitches when my imagination pictures him doing a lot more than giving me a hand job.
“Why are you so jumpy?”
Danny’s voice breaks me from the mental image. He gives me no chance to respond though.
“Oh, that’s why…”
Anxiety pricks my chest and I try to meet his gaze, but he’s not looking at me or the road.
His eyes are glued to the bulge straining in my pants.
Christ I just went and I’m already sporting a major boner.
Before he can reach across and start playing with me, an excuse comes to mind.
“Wait! Not till after the movie.”
His face crumples in confusion.
“You said you’d take me to the movies.”
He doesn’t seem thrilled. Rolling his shoulders, he nods.
“But not tonight,” I add. My mind is reeling. I’m trying to think of a way to keep the peace between us while still going out with my boss tonight. Because if this doesn’t pan out, I need to keep my hookup buddy.
Danny runs a hand through his hair. “You’re gonna send me home with a semi?”
“I’ll send you a video later.”
He perks up at this and half laughs. “What time should I pick you up?”
I bite my bottom lip. Why is he being so attentive all of a sudden?
“I’m not sure. I’m going out tonight with the guys from work to celebrate a long weekend.”
“Okay. Well I can pick you up from the bar. I’d love to see you drunk off your ass. I bet you’d take me all night in that state, wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah, I would.”
“Good, who needs the movies when we can have some real fun.”
I hate how his little comment jabs me in the chest like a bee sting.
Sure a night of hot, sweaty sex would be fantastic. But that wasn’t the point.
We pull up to the smoothie stand and I order the Merry Berry, my absolute favorite.
Danny pays despite me declining and he hands me the large drink. I start guzzling it down.
His chuckle startles me. “Damn, I wish I was that straw. Hungry and horny.” His green eyes give me a look up and down before pulling onto the street. “You sure you want me to leave you in this state?”
I keep swallowing despite the risk of brain freeze.
Instantly the sharp pain in my head stops me. “I need to get drunk tonight.”
He doesn’t complain, just drops me off at the entrance of the business plaza with a few more comments about getting ready to rail me tonight and zooms off.
My head spins as I sip my berry smoothie and step onto the elevator. Typically I take the stairs. However nothing about this day has been typical.
Danny: What bar can I get you from?
My heart sinks. I don’t want him to pick me up tonight. There’s someone else I’d rather spend all weekend with…
* * *
If glares could kill, I’m halfway to the morgue.
The anger blazing in his eyes threatens to torch me from here.
I’m not sure why he’s so upset but I know it’s meant for me.
Salvatore, or “Sal” as his friends have been calling him all night, scuffs the chalk on the end of the cue and damn near busts it in half. I can’t imagine he has too many friends though.
“What’s his deal?” Anthony takes a long pull from his drink, likely oblivious to how I swallow hard at the question.
“I don’t know…” I mumble.
“He’s acting sus.”
I don’t say anything.
“You’re acting sus too.”
“I’m not,” I grit through barred teeth. I want to tell him he’s too old to say “sus” but I keep my mouth shut.
“Whatever. Don’t tell me.”
I sigh. “Honestly, I have no idea what is wrong with him.”
Is he mad he gave me a hand job? Is he at risk of losing his job?
I should say I don’t have a clue why our boss is staring me down.
His normally cold, calm disposition is faltering. I turn away and chug my beer.
I can’t tell Tony the boss made me cum in the single room bathroom at work.
Absent-minded, I add, “I mean I told him about my hookup..”
Anthony’s jaw drops. “You told him?! Why?!”
I’m not normally shy. This has me blushing though. “I… he saw me and the guy I hook up with. He was watching…”
Tony’s face scrunches up as if he’s eaten a lemon. “Did you ever find out why he was watching you?”
I shrug and sip my drink. “To be fair… Danny… I mean the guy is rough with me, but I like it.”
“Ohhh, so like he thought he saw something bad go down?”
I nod.
“It’s kinda cute he was worried.”
I rub my sweaty palms on my slacks. It’s too hot to be wearing this many layers. I should’ve put shorts on.
“Seems like now he’s just jealous.”
Tony’s statement hangs in the air. My friend bobs his head to some Miley Cyrus song playing on the radio.
“Jealous that he isn’t getting any?” I ask for clarification.
“No.”
Tony’s cheeks are rosy. He’s feeling the beer.
“I think he wants to fuck you,” he whispers and starts giggling.
“Oh Lordy.”
We both laugh and he changes the subject back to Bella moving in with him. She’s a sweet lady who works at the library. They’re quirky but I think it’s definitely for the long haul.
As happy as I am for him, I can’t help but glance over at my boss who’s kicking everyone’s ass at pool.
I want to go over there and squeeze his ass in those slick pants.
When did he change into dark wash jeans? They look good on him.
I wonder if the other ones were ruined from the precum?
“Is Bella getting settled since she accepted your offer to move in?” I ask Tony, trying to get my mind off Sal.
“Yeah,” he says with the dopiest grin.
“How late are you out tonight?”
“Probably one more drink and then I wanna go snuggle with my girl.” He beams like a newly formed sun.
It’s cute.
“Guess I’ll head out too then.”
“I think you should try to hook up with the boss.”
Choking on my beer, it streams down my face and large drops hit my joggers.
Tony claps my back several times as I cough like crazy.
“Wow, thanks for that!” I choke out.
Once the fit is finally over, I glance over to Sal who’s sneaking a look my way. His anger seems dampened until I’m done coughing. Then it’s instantly reignited. Where is this burning rage coming from?
I’m not going to back down.
“I’ll see you Tuesday,” I tell Tony as I slam my beer.
“Good luck.”
He must think I’m joking right? He has no clue what went on between us in the bathroom.
There are four guys taking turns around the pool table by the front of the bar. I only recognize one of them who sits kitty corner to me. His name is Julio and he’s pretty friendly.
“Hey Cole,” he says as I approach.
“Hey, Julio. Kicking the boss’s ass?”
My remark earns me smirks from everyone. Everyone except the boss himself.
All I get is a glower and I can’t figure out why. How does he go from burning hot to a quiet, molten rage?
Is this because other people are around?
I fiddle with my jogger strings, wishing I had ordered another beer before venturing over here. The mood is a little more stiff than I like.
Sal leans across the table to make a corner pocket shot and the striped ball literally bounces off the pocket and hits a few solid balls away. I’m not really watching the ball though. More so staring at his muscles flexing under his white tee.
“Damn,” his partner mutters.
Sal straightens and I lower my gaze to the ground.
I’m surprised when he steps over and leans against the bar beside me.
“How was the smoothie?”
He asks so quietly I almost ask him to repeat it.
“Good.”
“And the boyfriend?”
Boyfriend ?
Realization dawns on me that he must have seen Danny pick me up or drop me off. When I got back his office looked vacant. I figured that’s where he changed into this sexy, casual outfit.
“Not my boyfriend,” I say firmly, but quietly so no one else hears. “In fact I’m trying to figure out how to tell him that when he shows up here soon.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket and dread burrows into my chest.
The way Sal’s head tilts and those dark eyes stare into my soul, I can’t tell if I’m intimidated or turned on.
Yeah, both.
His olive hands tighten around the cue stick and I swallow hard trying to focus on what’s happening.
“Can we go chat at the bar for a minute?” Sal’s face warms with a hint of a smile and I’m scared I might swoon.
He’s still looking at me, and soon all the guys are.
“Um, yeah.”
“We’re gonna go get refills. Play my turn,” he says to his partner.
The other three carry on and we shuffle over to the bar. We both take seats.
Sal is next to me and instantly I feel enveloped in his presence and the center of the world.
He throws his arm around the back of my chair.
I don’t owe this man an explanation or anything. Even so, I find myself spewing.
“Danny showed up unannounced. I didn’t know what to say to him. I told him to meet me here because we had tentative plans but he wanted to blow them anyway and spend all weekend…”
Blowing me.
I keep that last part to myself, though with the lift of his brow I see he gets the implication.
He sighs. He’s annoyed, isn’t he?
“And if you don’t spend the weekend with Danny, what will you be doing?”
I bite my bottom lip. What would I be doing?
Nothing if Danny isn’t involved. What would I like to be doing?
Definitely my boss.
Something in the atmosphere changes and he leans in.
“Be explicit.”
He damn near growls it.
I can’t meet his gaze. I’m scared I might leap over to him and start making out with him.
That mental picture makes me laugh because I know that’s not how it would go at all. For some reason, he makes me freeze.
“I would turn my phone off.” I try to think of my little apartment tucked away from the world. I’m on the third floor and while it means taking the elevator or walking, it also means an incredible view.
“More.”
“I would get us both drunk, and strip us down out on the balcony to make out on the patio while the sun is setting.”
He shifts next to me and I can tell with the way he inches his ass back in the seat that he has to be sporting a hard on. I wonder what his dick looks like. Is it as long as his forearm?
To be honest, I’m sure he could destroy me with any length.
“And I would have you stand and get on my knees and suck you. I’d beg for you to put your hand around my throat.”
Jesus. Just picturing it alone has me rearing and ready to go. But speaking it in public where anyone could lean in and tune in at any moment?
It’s fucking hot. I would keep going except he cuts me off.
“And what’s stopping you from doing that with Danny?”
The question catches me off guard. It’s not sexy at all. Now I meet his dark eyes. In this dim lighting they somehow seem softer. Or maybe it’s the way he asked.
I didn’t want a therapy session, I wanted to tell my boss to fuck me.
I shrug.
“Tell me.”
Damn.
Am I destined to do whatever he says? As an employee I don’t obey him this way. But when sex is on the table…
“I guess I’ve always hoped…” I sigh. Am I really going to admit this out loud? To someone who’s practically a stranger?
“You can tell me.”
His arms rest on the counter. The bartender interrupts and takes our order.
I order a gin and tonic and Sal orders an old fashioned.
“I haven’t been on a nice date in a while.”
The admission is embarrassing and at this moment I wish I could crawl out of my skin and evaporate.
“Danny’s not the dating type.”
And I assume my boss isn’t either so when the bartender hands us our drinks, I stand and decide I should take it to find somewhere else to be a major bummer.
Right then and there I chug my drink and decide to get plastered before calling a ride home. I can sulk, eat an entire bag of doritos and watch porn.
“Hey, where are you going? What are you doing?” He asks after I’ve got some of my drink drizzling down my cheek. “My God.”
He says it so straight face that I can’t help but laugh.
A hand clamps down on my shoulder and it makes me jump and stumble into my boss.
“Woah, Cole, chill buddy.”
Danny’s voice gets closer as he swivels me away from my boss and into him.
“Hey,” I say casually, the buzzing in my brain easing the nerves in my body. “What are you doing here?”
Danny’s laugh is boisterous.
He slings his arm around me. “Let’s get you off this slick looking dude and onto me .”
Laughter bubbles from me. “This slick dude is my boss.”
Sal straightens.
Danny nods. “Sir.”
Sal nods back but all the warmth is drained from his features. He resembles a stoic statue.
“Let’s get you home and out of those clothes.”
I lean into his touch. For some reason, I get the sense that this is how my boss wants it. Why else would he ask all those questions about Danny?
“Actually, Cole promised me a date tonight.”
Danny’s enthusiasm wavers. “Oh did he?”
“Yeah let’s go dancing,” I joke.
“I thought we were going to dinner and a show?”
Whatever is happening is no longer amusing to Danny. “Did you bitch to him that I’m not wining and dining you?”
I shake my head.
“Tell this dude to leave us alone,” Danny barks.
My shoulders tense and I’m frozen in place. None of this was supposed to be serious. Danny is my fuck buddy, he’s made it perfectly clear he doesn’t want to be more and there’s nothing wrong with that.
And my boss? I don’t know what the hell that was. Except that I want more. Need more. My dick twitches at the thought of it.
My silence is enough for Danny. “Whatever. I’m out of here.” He tears his arm away and a chill replaces the heat I had enveloped around me just a moment before. “I didn’t sign up for this.”
That’s not wrong.
As he stomps out of the bar, I slouch against the back of the chair I was previously in.
“Tell me what you want.”
I swivel my head to glare at my boss then say, “Salvatore, that’s a fancy name.”
It’s the first time his commanding power hasn’t forced me to answer. I shimmy back onto my chair. I’d be fuming but my head is swarming a bit too much. I just lost my hot day time sex. Now I’m just some regular dude who works a 9-5.
“I’m Italian.”
It’s no surprise because of his olive skin and dark features.
I’m inclined to reach across and touch his chiseled jaw that has a five o clock shadow.
“I want another drink,” I say more so to the bartender who nods at me.
Sal leans in. “How about I take you to get some take out instead?”
“And then what?”
“If you’re not throwing up, we’ll see.”
The bartender leans in front of us. “More of the same?”
I look at his tattooed arms. They’re sexy as hell. If I were desperate I’d see if he was interested in hooking up. Instead, I’m overwhelmed by desire to see where this night could go with my boss.
“Actually we’ll close our tabs.”
“Tab,” Sal corrects, sliding a sleek black card across the wood. “And a water please.”
“Sounds good.”
The water is given to me immediately.
“Thanks, Torey.” I don’t know why that name tumbles from my lips, but my boss looks shaken when he turns to me.
I can’t tell if it’s good or bad, but he stands and says, “I’ll get the car. Come out in five minutes. Sign for me.”
He makes a show to leave and says bye to the few employees still left at the bar. A few look my way but I pull out my phone and pretend to text someone, chugging my water as quickly as I can. I need this liquid to clear my head.
Comparisons aren’t fair. At the same time, an entire weekend with Danny would require all the mental fog I could get. Whereas with my boss, I want to imprint every detail to memory.
I do as he says and I’m all flustered when I sign for him and slip the card in my pocket.
Right out front is the sleek, charcoal gray Honda Civic. It’s not the car I pictured him wanting, but he looks sexy as hell driving it.
Hustling to the passenger seat, I hop in and wait for him to get going.
“Seat belt.”
I obey.
“There’s heated seats if you’re chilly.”
It’s a spring night in California so it’s pretty nice but there’s a chill to the air. Thankfully the car is warmed up and I burrow into the seat once I’ve set it to the middle temperature available.
In the dark I see him reach for the sound system but instead of music playing, the phone starts ringing.
When the other line answers, it’s in Spanish and the two men go back and forth speaking fluently.
The call ends and I know I’m staring at him with my mouth gaping open like a trout.
“Dinner order.”
“I thought you said you’re Italian?”
“I am. My Spanish is more fluent.”
It makes sense. I think? I don’t know, my head is still a little foggy.
“That’s hot.”
Oh I said that out loud.
He chuckles and I wish I could capture the sound and the look on his face and lock it away.
“Do you know any other languages?”
I shift my head from side to side. “Sort of. I know some Spanish, but it’s rusty. I know a little American Sign Language.”
His brows lift and it’s like I’ve struck gold.
“That’s impressive.”
“It’d be more impressive if I were fluent. It’s come in handy a time or two though.”
We both smile and he reaches for the sound system. I almost wonder if he’s putting another order until he plays music.
I glance at the song and title. I’m not familiar with it, but it sets the mood for the night.
At least for me.
The song is called Every Night Every Morning by Maoli.
My chest swims with fondness and wonder. Am I about to get wined and dined?
“How old are you Cole?”
The question throws me off.
I’ve worked for the dude for two years and we’ve never chatted this much. It’s weird. Though I guess I never imagined he’s gay so I guess his hotness felt useless to me.
“Twenty four.”
His face twists to the side.
“How old are you?”
“Thirty four.”
We’re exactly ten years apart?
I almost sense him worrying, if that’s possible.
“Where are we going?” I ask, changing the subject.
Tension eases from his shoulders and he grips the wheel.
I’m getting romanced yet my mind keeps redirecting to sexual thoughts.
Maybe I don’t deserve the fluff beforehand.
“You said you have a balcony?”
“I do.” My hands are in my lap. I’m trying not to fidget but I’m so nervous. Part of me feels like a kid in trouble.
“With a table and chairs?”
“Yeah.”
“Perfect.”