“Hey, I’ve never had a boring office job. Sometimes I fantasize about that,” Isaac said. “A simple life of watercooler gossip and stealing office supplies.”
“We tend not to have supplies worth stealing, but we do have a pretty great coffee machine,” Julian said. “I mean… I’m sure we could organize a tour, if you’re really curious.”
“Bring your boyfriend to work day?” Isaac grinned at him.
Julian snorted. “Something like that,” he said, doubting that Isaac was actuallythatinterested.
He believed that Isaac’s interest in his happiness was sincere. He just didn’t believe thatanyone’sinterest in office jobs went past laughing at jokes about them.
Including people who actually had them, or at least, definitely including Julian.
“What about you?” Julian asked. “Anything exciting going on?”
“Not much,” Isaac said, still eating steadily. They probably wouldn’t get through both pizzas, but they were definitely going to put a dent in them.
That meant leftovers, which was never a bad thing.
“I feel like I’m getting somewhere, though. I mean, I’m still waking up sore, but…”
“That’s what you get for exercising,” Julian teased, finishing his last slice of pizza and sitting back, sated for the moment.
Isaac chuckled, sitting back as well. Between them they’d managed about one and a half pizzas, which wasn’t bad even for two grown men.
This was more or less exactly what they’d been like as teenagers, and a happy glow was growing in Julian’s chest at the simple joy of Isaac’s company.
“Oh, the bruise cream,” Isaac said after a moment, standing up. “I almost forgot, and that’s the whole reason I came here.”
Julian watched him rifle through the pockets of his coat, eventually retrieving a small plastic pot.
“Mom didn’t have any left, so you get a brand new one,” Isaac said, holding the pot out to Julian in offering.
Julian took it, trying to ignore the spark he felt as his fingers brushed against Isaac’s.
“I could, uh…” Isaac gestured at Julian’s eye. “Apply it for you, if you want?”
Despite knowing he should probably have refused, Julian found himself nodding eagerly.
If Isaac wanted to touch him, there was no way he was going to stop that. He wasn’t strong enough to refuse the attention he so desperately wanted.
Isaac sat down opposite him on the coffee table, moving the empty pizza box out of the way to make room. He peeled the wrapping off the pot, setting it aside and twisting the top open.
Julian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs so Isaac wouldn’t have to reach out too far.
“Fair warning, this stuff’s meant to feel cold.”
As Isaac’s hand got closer, Julian closed his eyes instinctively, sighing at the first light brush of Isaac’s fingers against his skin. The touch was feather-light, the cream soft enough not to put any pressure on the healing bruise.
It really wasn’t that bad. A couple of people had teased him about it at work, but otherwise it hadn’t bothered Julian since he’d taken the hit that caused it.
All the same, he wasn’t about to stop Isaac from taking care of him. It felt too good to pass up.
He could feel Isaac’s warmth close to him now, and the need to see him overrode his better judgement.
Julian opened his eyes, finding Isaac’s face just inches away, his eyes narrowed and lips pursed in concentration.
Julian’s heart thundered in his chest, the unexpected closeness making him feel exposed, vulnerable. Like any move he made could give away how much closer he wanted to be.
How desperately he wished Isaac had kissed him the other night, when he’d so clearly wanted to.
