I wasn’t in the practice of finding random men attractive, but it happened. And when it did, I dealt with it like any guy would—beat off thinking about them a few times and let the fantasy die without ever uttering a word of it to anyone.
Until that moment, the only guys that caught my eye were the skinny feminine types. Social media calls them twinks. Or femboys. The kind of guys that pull off a little makeup, lookfabulous in a thong, and have a penchant for calling the men they slept with daddy.
Alec was not that in any way. If anything, I could see people callinghimdaddy. Orsir. He had the gravitas for it. And that understated masculinity that screamed he was always in control. Even when he was barking out orders, flustered, or laughing like a hyena at his own grade school jokes, Alec was always a step ahead. Always the guy with the answer. While those were the traits of a man I respected and looked up to, they weren’t the traits of a guy I wanted to put my dick in.
Not that I’ve put my dick in many guys. Only that one time in college, which involved a woman, and I never put itinhim. But I’ve thought about it. If I fantasize about a guy, I want him to look at me the way I was looking at Alec at that moment. That’s what got me off—if and when I’m thinking about people with dicks while playing with my own. Which, honestly, was crazy rare.
Maybe it was the crack in his fortitude that got to me? He wasn’t joking, being an ass, or in command. I got a peek at a more vulnerable Alec. Maybe I needed to see a more subtle side of his humanity to find him attractive? That, and seeing more of his body than I’d ever had before. Which,damn,he really was built.
That whole morning, I’d look over and see him shirtless, or pant-less, in my mind’s eye. Not some cut from marble Adonis, like a fitness model. No, he was thick. A thin layer of life and adulthood covered his prodigious muscles. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, but seeing him all sweaty and hairy, oozing testosterone like a fucking fountain, made me…
Either way, once I asked myself if Alec was hot, I had to admit he was, and then come to terms with my boss being a grade-A piece of man beef. Which was so out of character for me, my head spun.
As much as I wanted to ask him if everything was okay with this “home shit,” I was his new subordinate, and that would feel like prying. Besides, the only thing that could’ve come out of my mouth was a breathy “Yes, sir.”
He didn’t wait for a response and asked me to send him an updated list of features I had worked on.
I said, “Yes, sir,” pulling it off as a joke.
Chapter Two
“Normally, I’d say we should get to bed with such an early flight, but you deserve a celebration,” Alec said, answering my question. “For your first in-person sales meeting, you fucking smashed it out of the park, bro. One hundred percent effort all the fucking way.”
“Thanks, man,” I said, blushing under his praise.
The meeting had gone well. So well that we ran three hours over. I didn’t know our products an eighth as much as Alec, but I got the one guy talking about his kid, and that guy couldtalk. After the third story of how his wife had given birth to the next Heisman/Oscar/Nobel award winner, Alec swooped in to close the deal.
We had planned on dinner at the café again. After the meeting, Alec wanted to treat me to a steak downtown—out of pocket. When he ordered a bourbon neat, I followed suit. If the boss is drinking, I am, too. Especially when he had such great taste.
“Cheers,” he said, holding his glass up. “To a very lucrative and successful partnership.”
I clinked my glass to his. The burn lingered on my tongue as he said, “Seriously, Mason. I’m proud of you, man. You knewexactly when to lay it on thick, and when to back off and let me handle things, and just like…” his eyes softened, and a smile spread. “…I’m just glad we work as well in the field as we do in the office.”
“I really appreciate that, Alec. I’ve had shit bosses in the past, but I feel like I hit the jackpot here.”
Alec smiled again. It was the truth, but also not. I did feel like I hit the jackpot with him as a boss, but my previous bosses weren’t shit. Except maybe the micromanager at my supermarket gig when I was in high school. That guy can fuck right off.
“You know, I was leery about getting a Jr. Rep. I did pretty fucking good on my own. But I think this is gonna work out.”
“Thanks, man. I hope so.”
The steak was delicious, cooked perfectly, and so big I almost got the meat sweats. One bourbon turned into three, and by the time the server cleared our meals, we felt loose. The topic of conversation drifted from joking and shit-talking to more personal stuff. Things I never would’ve discussed with a manager in the past.
“I mean…” I laughed, not worrying if what I was about to say was inappropriate. “That’s the rumor, right? That traveling salesmen have kids in every state?”
Alec sucked his teeth, his face curling into a dismissive scowl, but not devoid of laughter. “C’mon, man. That’s bullshit. Salespeople don’t cheat unless they’re cheaters to begin with. It’s not the profession. It’s the people.”
“So you don’t know anyone that’s cheated while on a work trip?”
Alec looked up, both as if he was thinking, and mocking me. “Yes, Mason,” he said, but laughed. “Hey, it’s not the profession’s fault that it attracts cheaters…”
We both laughed. I asked, “So, have you… or do you know anyone…?”
“Fuck no, man. What the fuck?”
I lifted my palms in retreat. “Sorry. Didn’t think so. I was just asking.”
“Not that I ever would, but let’s say someone slipped me something and had their way with me. My wife would know as soon as I walked in the door.” A shadow crossed his face before it turned into a smirk. “That woman, man. She could be in a different part of the house, not even lay eyes on me as I walked in, and just start screaming, YOU CHEATING BASTARD! MY MOTHER WAS RIGHT ABOUT YOU!” He mock-yelled and grimaced before laughing. “That’s why I married her.” He laughed harder.
