“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you like it? Or was it a one-time deal for you?”
He smirked, looked down, and shook his head. “Mason, if things were different, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
“Fuck.” My heart rate went up. “I feel the same way, not gonna lie.”
“Good to know.” He smiled and shook his head again. “How about you? Do you hook up with guys often? I know you fuck women. The whole office does.”
“Nope. Other than that time in college, this was it.”
“Then why are you on Flare?” He couldn’t keep the snark from his voice.
“Same as you, I guess. I like to flirt, exchange dick pics, talk dirty. All that.”
“So you don’t meet up with anyone? I got the impression that’s a cardinal sin on that app.”
“Nope. Sometimes I need my ego stroked as much as my cock.” I laughed, and so did he.
“There’s the Blackwood I know.” He laughed harder. “Sounds about right.”
“Yeah, well, you’re not meeting up either. So we’re both asshole time wasters.”
“I’ve been called that a million times.”
“So have I.” We laughed.
“Look at us, just a couple of asshole time wasters,” he said.
“Peas in a pod. No wonder we work so well together.”
“You can say that again.”
When I went to shower and get dressed, I was okay with it never happening again. I felt much closer to Alec. Which was clear the rest of that day and the flight home. We bonded in a way. We both knew the other’s secret and were more than okay with keeping it. Outside of our professional relationship, which was stellar, I hoped a genuine friendship could form. Not everyone can say that they let their hot buddy blow a load all over their face. Not that I would ever tell anyone, but the memory alone was enough for me.
Chapter Seven
I’d been to conferences before, but never that one. The financial software world was small and dominated by three or four Silicon Valley giants, but there were enough of us to gather once a year. I didn’t know how much fun accountants, finance managers, and technology executives could be.
So many people from our company attended, including all twenty sales reps, our VP, the VP of marketing, and more. There were a bunch of talks and presentations, but the sales team was focused on finding someone,anyone, from CompComm. They weren’t supposed to attend, but we heard a rumor the new VP of Global Technology was coming to look around.
We arrived on the Tuesday after Alec’s and my last trip. He was nothing but normal following our conversation that morning. And it felt like we’d gotten closer in the office on Monday. Our indiscretion was worth it for that alone. Alec was the kind of guy destined for upper management, and having friends in high places was always good.
Worth it, yes, but also troubling. I hung on Alec’s every word and addressed his concerns before he voiced them. It fucking wigged me out. I always had my shit together, handledand ready to present, but I was never the guy jumping up to get coffee after an offhanded comment about being tired. He gave me the same weird look I gave myself.
I was able to figure out a few reasons why I behaved the way I did. Namely, I’m more into men than I thought, and I want to do well. I had good grades, but better for teachers I respected. I was a great employee, but went above and beyond for bosses who respected me. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for my close friends. Alec was hot, a great boss, and a good friend. The urge to please him and receive praise—in a professional context—got mixed up with just how hot he was when I was drunk and horny.
It was more than troubling, it was disturbing. I was nervous about sharing a room with Alec again because I didn’t want to throw myself at him like some needy slut after a few drinks. His comments that morning about not being able to keep his hands off me if things were different didn’t help. I kept thinking he wanted to do it again, and I just had to find the opportunity.
Thank goodness, with such a packed schedule, there wouldn’t be many opportunities. And when we arrived at the hotel, I got the vibe that the sales team would be together as much as possible for the entire week. The only alone time would be to sleep and our pre-scheduled meetings and presentations.
“We have time to freshen up and then meet down here for dinner, Alec,” Lisa said, her eyes hung low in annoyance and lack of energy.
“Define freshen up,” Alec said.
“I’m not wearing my flight clothes to dinner and risk seeing people. You,” she looked him up and down in utter disgust, “can do whatever you want. We’ll be down here in an hour so we can get dinner before the networking meet and greet.”
