23. Salem
TWENTY-THREE
SALEM
The following week, I walk into the bar to find Lowen carrying a box with a bag over his shoulder, so I hurry to help.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, you’re here early. Wonderful. It’s time to set up the offices, and I figured that would give you something to work on until our supplies are delivered next week.”
“Great. I was feeling a little useless yesterday.”
“You’re never useless, boo.”
We enter the main office and set the stuff down on the desk. In the past week, the crew has completely drywalled and painted, laid new wood floors over the tacky linoleum that was there, and installed proper lighting. So far only a row of filing cabinets have been delivered, but Lowen ordered a custom desk that has space for each of the guys. The other office space will be used as an inventory room since we moved that out of the old kitchen.
“I made a list of files I think we need and how I’d like it organized,” Lowen says. “I bought all the supplies to get started. If you’re good with working on that today, I can get back to the house and supervise the reno over there. Oakley apparently has several questions for me.”
Lowen is in full designer mode, scrolling his to-do list on his phone. I admire him for a moment. He’s dressed in all white, a brave choice at a construction site, and his blond hair is styled to perfection. His lips are shiny with gloss, and his blue eyes pop from the smoky liner and mascara gracing his eyelids. He’s the prettiest man I’ve ever met other than myself.
He flits around the room, explaining the layout of the desk to me so that I know, and then moves to the boxes he bought full of folders and a label machine.
“Got it, Low. I’m on it.”
He smiles, tilting his head. “You look happy. Things still going well with Indy?”
“I’m sure you already know the answer to that.”
He laughs softly. “Perhaps.”
I lean on the old desk. “I’m having a good time.”
Lowen nods, his smile softening. “So is Indy.”
“I sense that you want to say something but you’re holding back.”
“Me? No. I’m just pleased that you’re both enjoying yourselves. It’s been a month already, right?”
“I think so, yeah.”
“A month…” He chuckles. “That might be a record for Indy in recent years.”
“Oh come on. You’re teasing.”
Lowen shakes his head. “Nope. I’ve only known of one guy that lasted three months, but that was because it was long distance, so Indy only saw him once a month.”
“Okay, but it’s probably because I’m not interested in anything long term either. We’re on the same page so it’s easy.”
“I’m sure that’s it.” Lowen’s smile feels a tad condescending. “Well, I’m off. I have my phone if you need me.”
He leaves like a hummingbird looking for new gardens. I chuckle, turning my attention to the box of folders. My phone pings and I pull it out of my back pocket to see the text from Lowen with his to-do list on it. The guy is organized to the hilt.
I turn on my You Better Work playlist and get busy. I’m alone right now except for the crew out front. At least with Indy not being here, I can get some shit done without the constant distraction of his presence. Every day, he finds time to come in and work me over, either right here in the office or he drags me back to the house for a quickie lunch break, and every night I go home wishing I could let my guard down enough to ask him for what I really want—him impaling me with the giant cock between his legs.
After working for about thirty minutes, I look up to see my least favorite construction worker filling the doorway. He doesn’t say anything as he stands there.
“Can I help you?”
Jack nods, but the look on his face is… off. I pull my head back and cross my arms over my chest.
“What do you need?”
When he licks his lips, alarms go off in my head, and in a flash, Jack closes in on me, groping my ass as he pulls me into his body. It takes a second for my brain to register what’s happening, but when I do, I launch into action, lifting my knee into his balls and simultaneously grabbing his arm to yank it behind him. In one swift move, Jack is on his knees, groaning as I twist his arm. He yells in pain.
“What the actual fuck, dude?” I press my knee between his shoulder blades. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
The sound of heavy footsteps coming down the hall reaches me, and suddenly, Kit, Indy, and one of the construction workers are hurrying into the office.
Jack groans, slumping forward .
Kit grins while Indy looks like he could turn green and grow ten sizes bigger.
“Jack, dude,” his colleague says. “What’s going on?”
“Tell them what you did, Jack.” I put pressure on his arm.
He doesn’t respond so I tweak his arm until he writhes in pain. “I made a move on him.”
“A very non-consensual move is what you made,” I explain. “It’s called assault and you’re lucky I didn’t break your arm.”
The other worker is on his phone, and seconds later he says, “Oakley, you need to get to Moby’s now.”
Indy swoops in, lifting Jack by the front of his shirt—no small task given Jack’s size—and hauls him to his feet. We all follow as he drags Jack through the bar and out of the front door, dumping him on the sidewalk.
Jack suddenly looks small, rubbing his shoulder and glaring at us. “I got it wrong, okay?” he finally says. “You walk around here swinging your hips and taunting me with that ass. I thought you were flirting.”
I scoff. “Lame. You know damn well I wasn’t flirting with you when I’m practically glued to Indy whenever possible. You’re a creep, Jack. Admit it.”
Oakley and Lowen pull up in Oakley’s construction truck, and Oakley is out without bothering to properly park. “What the fuck, Jack?”
Jack groans again, dropping his head.
“I’m not about to tell you how to run your business, but he can’t come back here again,” Indy says. He turns his hard gaze to Jack. “If I ever see your face…” The unfinished threat lingers in the air.
Jack manages to get to his feet. “I guess I’m fired?”
Oakley just nods, his jaw tight and eyes dark with anger. “You’ll get your last check in the mail.”
Jack shuffles off toward the parking lot, only glancing back once before climbing into his truck. We all watch him drive away before going inside.
Once the adrenaline of the incident is over, I slump against Indy, who wraps his big arms around me.
“Did he hurt you?”
Shaking my head, I huff. “No. He only managed to grope my ass before my self-defense skills kicked in.”
“I am so sorry, Salem,” Oakley says. “I’m truly shocked by this. Jack is my cousin.”
I scrunch my nose. “Yikes.”
“I’m so pissed,” Oakley continues. “He’s been a fuckup most of his life, but the past five years, he’s really pulled himself together. I gave him a shot working for me and he’s been solid, working his way up and busting his ass, but I’ve had a few complaints about inappropriate stares and general discomfort. He obviously went too far this time and I feel responsible.”
“You’re not,” I say. “He’s a grown man who made a bad choice.”
“If I can do anything to make it right, I will.”
“Keep him away from any of our projects,” Indy says.
“Of course,” Oakley says. “He’s out. He’s a liability I can’t afford.”
Lowen rubs my shoulder. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m good. Promise.”
“You’re a little badass,” Kit says proudly, like he trained me or something. “Where did you learn that?”
“Classes I took when I lived in the city.”
“They sure as hell worked.” Kit grips my shoulder. “Good job.”
“Thanks.”
Indy rubs my back. “Come with me?”
I nod, letting him lead me down the hallway to the office where he closes the door.
“Tell me the truth. You’re really okay? We can file a report.”
I hop up on the edge of the desk and wrap my arms around his neck. “Given the outcome, I don’t think I need to file charges. I’m really okay. It happened quickly, but my instincts kicked in before he could do anything major.”
“Very impressive.” Indy nuzzles his nose against mine. “Kit’s right. You are a little badass.”
“Thanks. It sucks that he’s gonna lose his job, but he can’t do shit like that. It could’ve been a bad situation if I didn’t know how to defend myself.”
Indy’s jaw twitched. “I’ll be following up with Oakley to make sure he does something to warn future clients or employers. He’s lucky I’m not looking to catch an assault charge today. I wanted to beat his ass.”
I run my hands down his chest, stretching my neck to nibble on his chin. “You’re sexy when you’re mad.”
Indy moans softly, rubbing his hands down my back. “Come over tonight.”
“Can’t. It’s my dad’s birthday and I promised my mom I’d be there for dinner and movie night.”
“Then come over tomorrow.”
“Why don’t you come to my place?”
Indy pulls his head back slightly. “Yeah?”
“We’d have some privacy.”
“That sounds good.” He leans in again, claiming my lips in a kiss that spreads through me like fire.
In seconds, we’re grinding together, and I wrap my legs around his waist to feel his hard cock pressing into me.
“God, I love your mouth,” he murmurs. “You taste like all my favorite things.”
“Charmer.”
“I mean it, sweet thing. You’re delicious. ”
I hum against his lips, nearly losing my grip on reality. He’s a sweet talker, and I’m a sucker for that, but I can’t let myself fall and fuck this up. It’s too good.
“I should get back to what I was doing before. Lowen has expectations.”
Indy chuckles, gently pulling away and adjusting his cock through his jeans. My mouth practically waters at the sight, and it takes all my strength to resist falling to my knees and worshipping at the altar of Indy’s dick.
As he leaves the office, I have to take a minute to compose myself. The longer this goes on, the harder it will be when it’s over, but that’s a problem for future me. Present me is having too much fun.