Chapter 9 - Hot Dates
Callum woke slowly, opening his eyes, but was, for a moment, disoriented.
Where the hell am I, he thought, before realising he was still at Julian’s office, in his secret suite, in his bed.
As he came to, he felt like he was over-heating, only then realising why.
Julian was neatly wrapped around him. His arms around his chest and neck, his taut frame pressed in behind him, fitting into every curve and crook of his body.
This was a nice feeling, but jeez, Julian’s body temperature seriously ran hot!
Involuntarily his mouth formed a smile as he remembered the passion they had shared earlier, following the intense training session.
God, it was good, and the kissing was the most amazing he’d ever known.
His lips were quite tender; it was so rough and frenzied, but so enjoyable.
Julian was like an animal, a side to him he’d not seen before and couldn’t wait to see again.
Callum had always loved the kissing as part of any encounter, but he’d not experienced it with an intensity and hunger like that.
He felt very comfortable right now in this moment and snuggled back into Julian’s body, even as hot as it was. He could feel Julian’s dick resting between his ass cheeks, and it felt hot.
“Mmmmmm, that feels nice,” came a gravelly voice from behind him, right in his ear, followed by a small nibble on his earlobe.
“Hey, boss,” Callum replied, “I think we fell asleep, and I have zero idea how long we’ve been here, or what time it is even?” His stomach rumbled right on cue, “Oh, and I am starving hungry too.”
Julian detached himself from Callum slowly.
It was a complicated process; they were a good fit, Callum decided, as he rolled over to look at the man beside him.
The sheets were now in disarray around their calves.
Julian was on his back, dick semi-aroused, and as Callum looked over his muscular body, he gave it a simple playful tug, and then ran his hand over the hairy torso, chest, and up to his handsome face, planting a tender kiss on those oh-so-kissable lips.
“Mmmm, that is a very nice wake up, thank you,” Julian said, opening one eye. “Hello, handsome,” he added, opening both eyes and turning to look at Callum.
For a while they both just looked into each other’s eyes. They were at peace; they were rested, and they’d finally made the connection both had desperately longed for.
Julian broke the moment, “I don’t want to get heavy, but to have you here with me, fully with me in this moment, means more to me than you can know.” His face was sincere, his eyes genuine. He was really speaking from the heart. Callum leant in and gave him a kiss of affirmation.
“I’ve been the same Julian, honestly,” Callum replied, “I’ve been like a fucking zombie, unable to concentrate at work, at the club.
My friends have noticed; they were concerned about me, thinking something was very wrong.
But it feels like the cause was actually the complete opposite - something was very…
right.” He grimaced at his own poor description of his feelings.
He wasn’t as eloquent as Julian, who had been schooled, no doubt, in public speaking and presenting, but he hoped his words rang true.
Julian leant in and kissed him, giving the same affirmation. “Oh, this feels,” and he gave an overly long pause at this point, to make the point… “very, right to me.”
“Come on, we need to get some food,” said Callum, detaching himself. “Can I have a quick shower please?”
“Of course, help yourself. In fact, I’ll come and join you if that’s ok,” added Julian, pulling himself up to sit on the side of the bed.
Callum had, of course, seen this bathroom when he saw Julian that time, so he knew its rough layout. He walked across the room. Julian jumped from the side of the bed and caught up to him, slapping his bare ass as he passed him.
This kind of behaviour was a completely new and different version of Julian than Callum had ever seen, and he loved it. He was playful, energised, relaxed, open. Had the walls of the cage really lowered so quickly? Enjoy it while you can, he thought, and with a stinging ass cheek, he caught him up.
They showered together, soaping each other up, relishing the opportunity to just get to know each other’s body. True to form, both were aroused, but apart from a few playful tugs, they controlled themselves, exercising restraint.
They dried off; Callum wrapped himself in a towel and went to retrieve his pile of clothes from the main reception area.
When he got back, Julian stood by an open wardrobe, smartly dressed in tight black jeans and a white formal shirt, but he’d rolled the sleeves up.
The white shirt was fitted and accented his muscular upper arms, contrasting beautifully with the deep brown of his beard and his dark skin.
“Mmmm, hubba hubba,” Callum said, “you look nice in casual clothes.”
“Well, thank you, mister trainer,” Julian replied, smirking at him, green eyes glinting.
Thinking of his growling stomach, Callum didn’t really know this area of town. “Where can we grab some food around here?” he asked.
“There’s a great little Mexican place on Trinity Place. That’s only a five-minute walk from here. Do you like Mexican food?”
“Absolutely, that’ll do nicely.” Callum checked his watch. It was already 7:15 p.m. and he was working tonight at The Vault. “I am working tonight, so I can’t be too late”
“Ah yes, the club…” Julian said, but then said no more.
They took the lift down and out into the street.
Dusk had settled and the evening had cooled off since Callum’s brief lunch with Sophia.
For some reason Callum felt self-conscious walking with Julian, out in public.
Julian was slightly taller than him, and he playfully shoulder-bumped Callum as they talked and walked. He seemed relaxed.
It wasn’t more than five minutes before they were seated in a quiet corner of the Mexican restaurant. Callum had to laugh when the server suggested a red sombrero for Julian.
“Come on, Julian, it’ll look great,” Callum teased him.
“Err, no, definitely not thanks,” Julian replied.
They ordered Margaritas while they checked out the menu.
Small talk came surprisingly easy, which was a huge relief for Callum.
Having always felt on guard around Julian and the Titan persona, it was nice that they could just be normal with one another.
They chatted about the area, the regeneration work going on, and other diners in the restaurant.
The server came with their drinks and took their food order.
“Cheers to us, and a Saturday to remember,” Julian proposed, clinking glasses. Callum couldn’t help but smile and sit back in his seat, as if taking things in.
“What?” said Julian, quizzically.
“Oh, I don’t know. Just the normality of this moment, right here, right now”, he paused. “It’s so surprising to me, but refreshing, honest, and adorable. Being here with you is so amazing; I was not sure we were ever going to get here to share a moment like this.”
Julian looked thoughtful for a moment, then said with sincerity, "I thought I’d imagined the way you looked at me.
Your brown eyes, your smile, just your interest in me, it was all too much to hope for.
When I saw you in the lobby with the harness, I fell to pieces...
I went home, and I just couldn't even sit still.
I felt like a stupid teenager or something. "
Callum chuckled, “Yes, a teenager with a corner office and private suite on Broadway. It was a hell of a look, Julian. But honestly? I was jealous of you. I spent the whole subway ride back to Brooklyn thinking about you and the life you must live.” He paused, then continued…
“I imagined you going home to this perfectly silent, perfectly clean palace where you never have to worry about the rent or the radiator clanking or the roof leaking.
I thought, 'that man has the whole world in his pocket, and I’m just a small guy he pays to watch him sweat.
' Why would he be remotely interested in little old me?”
Julian let out a long, weary sigh. “Oh, rest assured, I’m very interested in little old you, despite the fact there’s nothing little about you,” he said with a smile.
“The whole world in my pocket? Cal, most nights I go home to that palace as you describe it, and it feels more like a bloody mausoleum. It’s lifeless.
Yes, I have Martha, my housekeeper, who’s wonderful, but she’s paid to be there, same with my drivers, Markus and the security team, my assistants, but everyone in my life is just really on the payroll.
Many of them have been with me for years, and yes, I think of them as family.
They are loyal, and I value that above anything else, but I looked at you, and I just saw... freedom.”
“Freedom,” Callum asked, sipping his drink. “How so?”
“I saw a guy who can walk into a restaurant, a club, some fancy office, and just be exactly who he really is. I imagined your life being full of people who actually know you.”
Ah, the Titan persona, Callum thought to himself, but not confident yet to say that to Julian.
“How much better it is to be real, Callum, and not some conjured-up Julian, the result of a P.R. company’s brainstorm or mood board. Not some perfectly managed image, just a man… just the man I am…” His voice trailed off, as if this admission was hard to make.
Callum looked at him, sensing that sharing insecurity or frustration - he wasn’t sure which, was still hard for Julian to do. Again, used to the cage of his own creation.
“My life is messy, Julian. It’s loud, and I’m always hustling, and sometimes I feel like I’m just a piece of meat on a podium or a gym floor.
Yes, I have freedom, but I’ve also been looking for something that feels like real life.
Something that feels normal and authentic, something that feels like… dare he say it? Yes, he dared… “this”.