The Boss

Mac took a sudden step back. “Whoa. That’s not who I think it is, is it?”

Steven peered through the window at the man who was standing in the boardroom: tall, dark wavy hair, incredible blue eyes. He swallowed hard, scarcely daring to breathe. No, no, fate couldn’t be that cruel, could it?

“What if he recognizes me?” Mac blurted, clutching Steven’s arm. He pulled him aside, out of view of the window.

Steven tried to gather enough saliva in his mouth to articulate words. “Recognize you? Are you insane? You’re not the one who…”

“You’re right.” Mac relaxed and released his arm. “He probably won’t even remember that I was there. You’re the one who made an idiot out of yourself and pranced around naked in front of him. You’re in deep shit.”

“Gee thanks,” Steven sneered. “How could you have let me do that?” He shook his head in desperation then lowered it as several of his coworkers walked by on their way to the boardroom. “There has to be some mistake,” Steven groaned. “He can’t be the same guy.”

“Maybe he’s not the new boss. Maybe he’s just the … I don’t know … janitor?”

“Janitor? Right. He’s the janitor, Mac, dressed in an Armani suit.”

“Maybe he’s union.”

Steven fell back against the wall, face in his hands, in no mood to appreciate his friend’s attempt at humor.

“Steve, we gotta get in there. The meeting has already started. We’re late.”

“Why did I allow you to talk me into doing that?”

“Don’t blame this on me.” Mac pointed at him. “It was your birthday and you drank way too much. I didn’t tell you to—”

“Oh shit … shit,” Steven muttered, clutching his stomach. “I … I can’t … I have to…” He made a dash for the bathroom, and locked himself into one of the stalls.

He leaned against the bathroom door and searched his pockets for some aspirin, trying to keep down the bile. He was going lose his job. He just knew it.

He closed his eyes, his mind rewinding to last night. Yesterday had been his twenty-fifth birthday. Mac had called him at three that afternoon, insisting they go out to celebrate. He’d been relaxing in front of the television watching the ball game.

“No thanks,” Steven had told him. “I don’t want to feel like crap tomorrow. You know we’re meeting the new boss for the first time. First impressions are important.”

“One drink,” Mac coaxed. “Come on, how often do you get to be twenty-five? Your life is slipping away, Steve. You’re not even going to get laid on your birthday.”

Mac was the only other gay man at the advertising agency, at least that he knew about. From day one, they’d become good friends.

“How do you know I won’t get laid? I might,” Steven had replied indignantly.

“Get real. You and Frank have been over for almost six months, and there hasn’t been anyone else since. Come on, let’s go to Sights. I hear they have a new dancer and he’s really hot. It’s two for one on Sunday.”

Sights was a gay strip bar in the Village with the atmosphere of a pub. You could go for a drink and a game of pool, or just sit and watch the dancers. He and Mac had been going there off and on for almost two years. There’s where he’d met Frank. What a mistake that had been.

“Okay, but just one drink. I have to go to my mother’s for dinner first. Come for cake if you want and then we’ll head on over.”

The club was hopping even for a Sunday, and once Steven got there, he was glad he’d decided to take Mac up on his invitation. After all, it was his birthday. They took a table down in front by the stage where they could watch the show, and Mac began ordering drinks.

“Happy birthday, friend,” Mac said as Steven picked up the glass in front of him and stared at it.

“What is it?” He took a sip, making a face.

“Zombie.”

“It tastes like fruit punch.”

Steven couldn’t remember how many of those drinks he put down. All he knew was, they went down so easy. He had no idea what a punch they would pack. By the time he’d finished the fourth one, he was wasted. He watched the dancers waltz on and off the stage, as if in a dream. He screamed, yelled and whistled, feeling higher than a kite.

Suddenly Mac turned into a philosopher. “Ever worry,” he asked, “that you’re going to be an old, lonely old queer, and you won’t have ever done anything wild and crazy?”

Steven settled back in his chair and sighed. “Sometimes,” he said, looking around.

“What crazy, insane thing would you do right now, if you could?”

Steven’s gaze was suddenly riveted to a man sitting at the bar, a glass cradled in his hand. He was facing the stage, casually watching the dancer gyrate to some rock tune. Steven’s head spun and even though he couldn’t see him clearly, he knew he was beautiful, poised there on the bar stool in his black jeans, his thighs slightly open. Steve concentrated for a second on the light blue shirt he wore, rolled up at the sleeves, revealing his strong, tanned forearms. When the man turned in his direction, Steven caught his breath. He wasn’t a man at all. He was a god. His dark hair fell over his forehead in a slight wave, and he bet that his eyes were blue, bluer than any eyes he’d ever seen before, and in Steven’s drunken state, they seemed to glow. “Funny,” he’d said aloud, “even from over here, I can tell his eyes are blue. They’re sensational. He’s sensational.”

“Whose eyes are blue?” Mac leaned closer to him.

“That man at the bar, tall, broad shoulders, sensational body. Yum, I could eat him.”

“Oh yeah.” Mac nodded. “I see him. A hunk. Go get him. He can be your birthday present. Take him home and screw the shit out of him.”

“No way,” Steven said, laughing. “I’m not that drunk.”

“Yes, you are.” Mac laughed. “Tell me, if you could lose all your inhibitions suddenly, what would you do to Mr. Scrumptious over there?”

He’d stared at that guy dreamily, muttering something like, “You’d be shocked.”

“Shock me. Tell me, exactly what you would like to do with him?”

“I … ah…” He gave Mac a bold look then glanced over at the stage. “I’d get up there on that stage and I’d strip just for him, drive him crazy, make him so hard, he’d be begging for me.”

Mac had howled with laughter.

Steven groaned suddenly, his eyes snapping open. He looked around the deserted bathroom. Had he really gone ahead with it? Had he really gotten up there on that stage and … Oh my God. He was going to kill Mac. How could he have let him do that? All those Zombies and then he’d … he’d … no … no … no. That hadn’t been him last night. Who in the hell was that uninhibited sex maniac?

Steven hadn’t even noticed when Mac went over to the bar and spoke to the bartender. He didn’t see him ask the guy in the black jeans what his name was, either. All he knew was, ten minutes later, Henry, the owner of Sights, was at the microphone, announcing the next act. “We have a special treat for you tonight. We have Steve, the birthday boy, who wants to come up on stage and dance, especially for Rob, that great-looking hunk sitting over at the bar.”

Mac had pulled him to his feet before he even realized what in hell was going on. It might have been the crowd clapping and stomping its feet, or the look of astonishment on that stranger’s face, but whatever it was, Steven stumbled up onto that stage and began to dance. He could hardly remember what happened after that. Did he really take off all his clothes? He may have even fallen at that guy’s feet. All he knew was that when he opened his eyes, he was on Mac’s sofa, feeling like he just got hit with a truck. He had awoken Mac, insisting he take him home so he could shower and change before going to work. They both arrived at the agency two minutes before nine, coffee in hand, wondering how they were going to get through the morning with their heads feeling like battered footballs.

Now this! That blue-eyed hunk who’d been dressed in jeans last night was the same guy wearing the Armani suit in the boardroom—his new boss. And if he didn’t remember the drunken fool who’d made an idiot of himself the night before, it was going to be a bloody miracle.

Steven hung onto the bathroom door as he pushed it open. He literally swung off of it for a few seconds. He stood in front of the mirror for as long as he could stand to look at himself then slashed some water on his face. He knew he had to go in there, although right now he’d much rather have faced a pack of man-hungry lions.

He glanced at himself in the mirror again and winced. His dark blond hair, which usually was full and layered, looked flat, and his skin was a sickly shade of gray. God, he couldn’t drink.

He tried to press the wrinkles down in his light green shirt, but was not successful. He straightened the waistband on his black pants and wondered if he should have worn a tie. Hell, not wearing a tie was the least of his worries. Could he hope the new boss had been just as wasted as he’d been last night?

As he walked down the hallway toward the conference room, he felt as if he were walking the last mile. That door loomed closer and closer and something started clawing at his gut.

He heard laughter and froze. His hand clutched the door handle. Before he could go in, the door opened from the other side. Steven took a step back. Suddenly, he was face-to-face with the last person he wanted to see. And his eyes were blue. Oh God, they were so blue. “Hell … hello.” He stuck his hand out stiffly, averting his eyes. “I’m, ah … my name is … ah…”

“Steve, Steven Hillary,” the man informed him, taking his hand.

“Yes, ah, that’s it.”

“I’m Rob Taylor.” Taylor shook his hand briefly, then released it.

“I know, I mean … good to meet you, sir. How did you … know my name?”

He smiled. “You were the only one on my list not at the meeting.”

“Yes, I’m sorry. I was sick. Ah, upset stomach.”

“Are you better now?”

Whoa. This guy had a killer smile. Steven didn’t remember him being this good-looking. No wonder he’d felt compelled to whip off his clothes. “What?”

“Better?” The boss lifted a dark eyebrow. “Are you better?”

People were coming out of the room now, smiling, some stopping to thank the new boss. Steven was grateful for the distraction.

Mac came over. “You okay?”

Steven nodded, taking the opportunity to move away.

“He probably doesn’t even recognize you,” Mac said discreetly.

Steven looked over at Taylor. He was talking to Nancy Hill, one of the junior partners. “I sure as hell hope not. Tell me exactly what I did.”

“Ah, maybe it’s better you don’t know.” Mac looked around uncomfortably.

Steven winced. “Was it that bad?” He started walking toward his office.

“I rather enjoyed it; that is, until you fell between his legs.”

“Then I really did that? I fell between his … oh God.”

“It’s okay. He caught you. You were the envy of every man in that bar. Our new boss is a looker.”

“Don’t say anything else. This is all your fault,” Steven accused as Mac followed him into his office.

“My fault?”

“You’re the one who told the owner I was going to dance on stage, you asshole.”

“You didn’t have to get up there,” Mac said, sniggering.

“All that nonsense about how we die without ever really living and … shit, you know I can’t drink. How many did I have?”

“I don’t know, six…” He shrugged.

“Six? Jesus Christ!”

“Don’t worry,” Mac said, laughing, “I’m sure he didn’t recognize us. It was dark in there.”

“Yeah, well…”

Both men whirled when they heard a deep male voice say, “Where did Mr. Hillary go?”

Steve swallowed. “I’m here, sir,” he said, throwing Mac a dirty look, and walked back out into the hallway to meet him.

“Ah, Steve,” Rob Taylor said, “could you come down to my office, in about fifteen minutes? I need to talk to you about something.”

“Ah, yes sir.” Steven swallowed.

As soon as he was gone, Steven looked helplessly at his friend. “This is it. He remembers. I’m fired.”

“You’re not fired. Maybe he just doesn’t want people to know that he was in a gay bar.”

Steven nodded sickly.

* * * *

Steven stood in front of the boss’s office. They were in the process of taking down the nameplate of the former boss, who’d taken his retirement.

The door was open but he knocked quietly anyway. Rob Taylor was sitting behind his desk. He looked up as Steven poked his head in the door. “Yes, Steve, come in,” he called, motioning with his hand. “Sit down.” He returned his attention to the file in his hands.

Steven noticed the exercise equipment which sat over in the corner of the room. The office was going to look somewhat different from when Turner was in charge. Steven sank down into the huge leather chair, twirling his fingers together. Maybe it would be better if he just came out with it. “I can explain.”

Taylor looked up. “There is nothing to explain. I happen to like it. In fact, I like it a lot.”

“Ah…” Steven’s heart hammered in his chest. “You do? I mean, you did?”

“Damn right.” He threw the file on the desk. “It was hot, fresh, sexy, just what I’m looking for.”

Steven was speechless.

“I was disappointed that you missed the meeting,” Taylor went on. “I was really looking forward to seeing you there.”

“You were?” Steven blinked. He leaned forward. “We don’t have to tell anyone about it. I won’t say a word.”

“On the contrary, I want everyone to know about it.”

“What?”

He stood. “This is a new age, Steven. We need to conquer our fear, push the limits, be on the cutting edge.” He was standing beside him now, looking down.

“I’m not sure what to say.” He felt as if he’d just stepped into the twilight zone.

“Steve”—Taylor put a hand on his shoulder—“you’re one of the key people working on the Costner bathing suit campaign.”

“The Costner … ah.” Steven narrowed his eyes. “Yes, the Costner campaign. I’m responsible for the graphics on the television spots now. We did the underwear thing for them last year. Is there a problem? If there’s something you don’t like, we could—”

“I like your ideas.” He walked back over to the front of his desk and flipped open a file folder. “I see here that you proposed a different direction.”

“Mr. Turner felt that it was a bit too…”

“Gay?” Taylor raised an eyebrow, a twitch of a smile on his face.

Steven felt himself blush. “No, I … I mean, just a little too much sex, I guess.”

“Well, Turner’s gone now.” He closed the file. “It’s exactly what we need. Sex sells. The idea is fresh, seductive. Costner is in the business of selling underwear and swimwear, not flannel pajamas. We need to appeal to the gay male market, where sex is front and center, and to straight women, cultured, sophisticated women who aren’t afraid to sexually objectify men. Lord knows, straight men have been doing it to women since time immortal. This is about sexual liberation, and freedom of expression, boldly proclaiming what one wants in bed and how they want it.”

Steven was speechless.

Rob Taylor walked over to the window. He wasn’t wearing his jacket, and damn, those tailored pants clung to all the right spots in all the right ways. “I want to see those ideas again in more detail,” he announced. “Starting now, you’re in charge of the Costner account.”

Steven’s eyes widened. “In charge?”

“Yes.” He turned around. “Put a team together for my approval. I want the names on my desk by tomorrow morning.”

Steven stood. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

“I’ll expect a first draft presentation in two weeks’ time. Set the meeting up with my secretary.”

“I’ll do that.” Steven headed for the door, breathless.

“And Steven,” his boss said, just as he’d reached the threshold of the office door.

Steven sucked in some breath. He didn’t turn around. “Ah, ye … es, sir?” Please, please…

“We’re going to need to call a meeting with the new team, pronto, by week’s end. This campaign is priority. Right now, it is one of our biggest accounts, with the potential for growth. We have been entrusted with only ten percent of their market advertising. I want it all.”

Steven let out his breath. “Of course; I’ll get right to work on that.”

As he walked down the hallway, he was in a state of shock. Not only had Rob Taylor not even mentioned what had happened last night, he’d put him in charge of his own ad campaign. The only explanation Steven could come up with was that Rob Taylor didn’t recognize him as the guy who’d made an asshole out of himself the night before. He’d been panicking for nothing.

* * * *

Mac couldn’t stop laughing. “I can’t believe it. I guess it paid off for you to strip and fall between his legs. Now you’re running your own ad campaign.”

Steven shook his head, sipping his coffee in the shop across the street. “I told you, he didn’t recognize me. It was dark in that place, thank God.”

“Maybe he decided it was better not to mention it.” Mac grinned.

“Will you give me a break here?” Steven threw up his hands. “Don’t play with my head.”

“Believe what you need to, but Stevie, old boy, you really did make quite a splash last night. I can’t believe he doesn’t recognize you. He didn’t appear to be drunk.”

“Did I take off … all my clothes?” Steven winced.

“Ah, yep. Bare-ass naked. You have a great bod.”

Steven put his face in his hands. “Did I paw at him?”

“You tried to kiss him. That’s when you fell between his legs. He caught you, pulled you to your feet. Then I took you home.”

“Don’t tell me any more.” Steven put up his hand. “Please.”

“You asked. That’s why I can’t believe he doesn’t—”

“Drop it,” Steven snapped. “Even if he does remember, he’s got too much class to mention it.”

“Maybe he’s the one embarrassed. He might be in the closet.”

Steven shrugged.

“Aren’t you getting a sandwich?”

“Oh no. I can’t eat, too excited, not to mention, my stomach is rocking and rolling. More coffee, though.”

“I like him.” Mac nodded. “He’s going to be a good boss. Not to mention that he’s delicious to look at.”

“He’s dynamic, young, willing to take a risk. And yeah”—Steven grinned—“he’s hot. I can’t believe he put me in charge of that account. Willis is going to freak.”

“Willis thinks his shit doesn’t stink. He’s going to have to come down off that pedestal Turner had him on.” Mac stood. “Well, if you’re not getting a sandwich to take out, let’s get back in there. I gotta look keen on the first day.”

“You’re on the team for Costner bathing suits, by the way,” Steven informed him as they crossed the street to their office building.

“Oh, okay, great. Thanks.”

“Mac, you’re the best when it comes to computer graphics, and from the sound of it, Taylor is expecting results. He wants all of Costner’s accounts.”

“Well, sounds like a lot of late nights,” Mac muttered, raising his hand as he walked off in the direction of the computer department.

Steven retreated into his office and settled down to the task of picking his new ad team. He wouldn’t mind the late nights, if he got to spend them with Rob Taylor.

Although Steven didn’t see much of his new boss the first week, Taylor didn’t neglect to let him know that he was impressed with his work. Taylor’s secretary sent Steven a memo with the minutes of the first team meeting, and on the bottom, Taylor had personally written “Good job, Steve,” and signed his initials.

On Friday afternoon at the end of the second week, Taylor walked into Steven’s office and closed the door quietly behind him. “Got a minute?”

Steven tensed, feigning a confident smile. “Of course, sir.”

“Call me Rob, okay?” He leaned over the desk. Steven could smell his intoxicating aftershave. He had a rough shadow on his jaw today, and his hair looked a little shaggy on the edges. It was sexy as hell. Everything about him was sexy, and male, oh so male. Steven unconsciously licked his lips. Suddenly he could imagine Rob Taylor out of that expensive suit, wearing only a pair of skimpy briefs—a pair of Costner’s sexy underwear—umm, fully erect and…

“Steve?”

“Ah, Rob, sir. Yes?”

“You left me there for a minute.”

“Sorry. What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to apologize to you. I’m sorry I haven’t had more time to spend with you this week. It’s been crazy.”

“Oh, sir, I fully understand. I’m flattered you’ve given me so much freedom on this account.”

“Rob.”

“Sorry, Rob.”

“I have confidence in you, Steven. I only back winners.”

“Thank you.”

“I just wanted to tell you that I’d like you to stay late for the next few weeks. I want to personally review the daily progress of the team because the president of Costner wants a presentation in two weeks. It has to be perfect. I want you to come to Boston with me when the time comes.”

“Me, sir? I mean, Rob.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, I … of course, I’ll come.”

“Good.” He straightened and smiled. “Have a good weekend. Rest up. We’ve plenty of work to do next week.”

When Mac came into his office a few minutes later to see if he was ready to leave, Steve was sitting behind his desk in a daze. “I’m going to Boston.”

“What?” Mac asked. “I thought we were going to dinner.”

“Yeah, yeah, but Rob asked me to go with him to Boston.”

“Rob, eh?”

Steve grinned. “He wants me to do the presentation with him for Costner.”

“Congratulations.” Mac slapped him on the back. “Wow, a lot of people are going to be jealous.”

“Um.” Steve nodded. “Next week, I have to stay after work with him.” He grinned.

“Because you’ve been a bad boy,” Mac teased.

Steve laughed as they walked to the parking lot. He gave Mac a playful shove. “Shut up.”

“You’re not falling for him, are you?”

“Would you blame me?” Steve unlocked the door to his car.

Mac got into his own car, glancing at him out the window. “No. But you don’t know anything about him, and he is the boss. Be careful.”

“Meet you at the restaurant,” Steve said, getting into the car.

Mac honked and roared out onto the street.

* * * *

The office cleared out quickly on Monday at five o’clock. Steven found himself with butterflies in his gut when Rob walked by his office, poked his head in, and said, “Ready?”

Oh yeah, he was ready, he thought as he walked down the hall to the boss’s office. He’d been having hot dreams about Rob Taylor all weekend, and chastising himself for them in the morning. Mac was right; Rob was his boss, and he’d given him a fantastic opportunity to move ahead in his job, a job he loved. He wasn’t about to do anything to screw that up. But Rob Taylor was so gorgeous, he could have stopped traffic, and few people in the office were immune to his charms. The secretaries seemed to swoon when he walked by. They were all aglow when he took time to stop and ask them how they were.

Steven tried not to focus on how hot Rob looked, with one leg casually raised to rest on his desk. He’d discarded his tie, which was slung over the leather sofa; his jacket hung on the coat rack. His deep mauve shirt was opened at the collar, exposing the column of his throat and the top of his chest. All his clothes were tailored, closely fitting his luscious muscular form, the shirt now straining across his chest as he paused and stretched his shoulders back. “Steve,” he said suddenly, “didn’t see you there. I took the liberty of ordering us some supper. Hope you like Chinese.”

“Love it.” Steven nodded, tearing his gaze away from Rob Taylor and glancing out the window. “It’s going to rain.”

“We’re expecting a storm,” he replied, clicking open his laptop and tapping the keyboard. “I’m not sure about this slogan,” he said suddenly, all business again, his eyes on the screen.

Steven came over behind his desk to peer at the screen over his shoulder. As he did, Rob turned a little in his chair, his arm brushing Steven’s hip. Steven moved back a little. Rob Taylor didn’t seem to be aware of the contact. “Why is the guy turned to the left?”

“We tried a frontal and found it didn’t really show the product. The focus was more on the … well … our model is … ah…”

“Hung?” Rob offered with a smirk, his eyebrow raised.

“Yeah.”

“It’s okay to use that to sell the underwear. It’s a direct connection to sexuality, bold but effective, especially with the gay male consumer.”

“Ah, yeah, okay.” Steven nodded. “I thought it might distract the consumer from the product.”

Rob turned to glance at him. He smiled. “Did he distract you from the product, Steve?”

Steven smiled, a little embarrassed. “Kind of.”

Rob laughed. “You need to throw away your inhibitions, Steve, your old-fashioned ideas. Maybe I need to ply you with alcohol. What was it you were drinking that night in the bar, anyway?”

Steven stiffened. “I … oh God, I can explain. I…”

Suddenly, Rob reached out and grabbed Steven’s wrist, pulling him forward, directly in between his legs. “Steve. Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.” He entwined his fingers with his. “I was flattered. Only I wished you hadn’t have been so loaded. I might have given you a birthday to remember.”

Steven’s heart hammered in his chest. He was searching for the right words to say when the phone buzzed on Rob’s desk. Rob released his hand and picked up the receiver. Steve stepped away from the desk. He walked over to the window and tried to catch his breath. He knew. He had known all along. And he seems to like me. Wow. No, this can’t be happening.

“Food’s on the way up,” Rob said suddenly.

Steven turned around and looked at him. “I thought you’d be angry.”

“Why?” He cocked his head to the side.

“I made quite an idiot out of myself that night,” Steven muttered.

“It was your birthday. It was no big deal. Besides”—he grinned—“it made my night.”

“I won’t do it again.”

“Ah, too bad,” Rob said. “I was hoping you would.”

Steven opened his mouth to speak but Rob put up a hand. “I’ll be back,” he said, getting up and strolling to the door. “The delivery guy is at the door of the outer office. I locked it.”

Steven sank down on the sofa as soon as he left. His head was in a whirl, not to mention what was going on with his cock. Rob was his boss. He wasn’t sure if Rob was intending for them to … was he? Should he? Could he stop himself even if he wanted to?

“Here it is,” Rob said, “nice and hot.”

Steven looked up. He was nice and hot, very hot. Suddenly the food didn’t hold very much appeal. His gaze slid down Rob’s chest to his pants, and settled there.

Rob set the food down.

When Steven’s gaze moved back to Rob’s face, he realized that Rob was looking right at him. “Hungry?” There was a seductive edge to his deep voice, which was as smooth as silk.

Rob was standing right in front of him suddenly.

Steven didn’t think. He instinctively reached for the zipper on Rob’s black suit pants. “You look so sexy in that black suit with that purple shirt,” Steven said, moving the zipper down oh so slowly. He wanted to savor every second of it. “Let’s not go too fast,” he whispered.

It was like a dream. He pushed the pants down over Rob’s hips, then pressed his face against his cock, which was definitely being restrained against its will in the white briefs. He grabbed the front of Rob’s briefs with his teeth and pulled the briefs out and off his cock, freeing it.

Rob’s hand settled in Steven’s hair; he laughed a little. He sounded breathless.

Steven reached around and pulled the briefs down, smoothing his palms down over the hard, round globes of his ass. He let Rob’s cock brush over his lips, across his cheek, and heard an involuntary moan escape his own lips. Rob’s fingers tightened in his hair and pulled as he pressed his hips forward.

Steven licked the length of his shaft. Rob tasted exactly how he dreamed he would. His cock was perfect and Steven closed his eyes as he opened his mouth and wrapped his lips around the circumference of it. He took it inch by inch into his mouth and lowered himself at an angle to accept it deeper into his throat.

Rob knelt, knees bent against the sofa to accommodate Steven’s effort. “Oh yeah,” he breathed. “Um, yeah.”

The sound of Rob’s voice stirred his arousal. His cock was close to bursting out of his pants. His hand reached down to undo his own zipper but Rob’s hand brushed it away and undid it for him. “Um, um, yeah … okay, okay,” Rob said, backing off, “stop. I don’t want to come yet.”

Steven released his cock, glancing up at him. Rob undid his shirt and threw it aside, then immediately went to his knees in front of him. It was a weird sensation, having Rob Taylor on his knees. He couldn’t say he didn’t like it. And suddenly, he forgot all about it as Rob hastily pulled off Steven’s pants and underwear then moved his lips up his calf to his inner thigh, all the while very lightly fondling his cock.

Steven squirmed on the sofa, his breathing coming hard and fast. “I’m going to…”

“No,” Rob said, laughing, licking the precum off the head of Steven’s cock, “not yet.” He reached up and placed his hands on both sides of Steven’s face then moved forward and kissed him full on the mouth. Hot, passionate kisses followed, with Rob’s hands moving up over Steven’s belly to his chest where he undid his shirt and laid it open. Rob’s mouth left Steven’s and trailed down Steven’s chest to his left nipple, which he laved and nibbled at, all the while stroking his cock just enough to keep him on the edge. Oh God, he was a pro. Not to mention absolute eye candy to look at.

In a rush of passion, Steven moaned and pushed Rob back to the floor, tearing his own shirt off and pressing the full length of his naked body against Rob’s. Rob grunted as Steven took his mouth hotly, his grateful hands getting their feel of his gorgeous body. He was so hard and muscled, his flesh smooth and practically hairless. His cock bobbed against Steven’s stomach, demanding attention. “Turn around, get on your knees,” Steven told him.

Rob grinned at him and did as Steven asked. “You’re going to give me carpet burn,” he joked.

“Baby, I’m going to give you a hell of a lot more than that,” Steven growled, reaching underneath Rob to play with his erection and his balls, while the other hand spread his beautiful ass cheeks and teased his anus with his index finger. “I want to fuck you,” he groaned, pressing his lips against the small of his back. Steven opened him further and began to rim him with his tongue.

If he’d had any inhibitions where Rob was concerned, they had completely left him. He was under his spell completely, entranced by his beauty and incensed with lust.

Rob’s body was shaking, his cock already showing signs of surrender.

“Damn, I don’t have any…” Steven was saying. “God, I want you.”

Rob scrambled up to his feet and went to his desk. He grinned at Steven as he held up a row of condoms.

Steven stayed on his knees, a smile growing. “Come over here with those. No time to tease me.”

Rob chuckled. He tossed him the row, and came back to kneel in front of him.

Steven ran his hand down over his luscious chest. “You think we’ll need all these?”

Rob kissed his mouth succulently. “We might,” he sighed.

Steven laughed, struggling with the packaging. Rob took it from his hand and tore it open with his teeth. “Lie down,” Rob said, “on your back. I’ll put it on you.”

“You better hurry,” Steven breathed, lying on his back. “God, you’re so sexy. Watching you tear open that package just about made me…”

“Shush,” he said, reaching down and kissing his mouth again as he stroked Steven’s cock and slowly rolled on the condom. Suddenly, Rob straddled him, his knees on either side of his hips.

“You’re going to…?” He’d never fucked a guy like that.

“Just relax,” Rob said, his fingers wrapped around Steven’s shaft. He positioned himself over Steven’s cock and then slowly began to swallow it with his ass. He smiled down at him as he did. “Close your eyes,” he said.

“No,” Steven murmured, gasping with the pleasure of it. “I don’t want to miss a minute of this.” Watching him was close to being a religious experience. He was in heaven, his cock was in heaven. He was in love. “Oh God, Rob.”

Rob began to move, sending sensations to his cock which he couldn’t even begin to describe with words. He began to shoot, his head falling back. He shouted, “Go, go Steve, fuck me. Fuck me hard. Let it go, baby. Give me all of it.”

Steven held onto Rob’s hips, holding him still as he rammed up into him, a dizzying sense of euphoria gripping him as Rob’s cock shot up into the air. “Holy Mother of God,” he shouted.

Rob was grinning as he backed off of Steven and laid his head on the carpet. Once Steven had recovered, he crawled over beside him and looked down into his face. He traced his lips with his finger. “You seem pleased with yourself. I don’t remember this being part of my job description.”

“You mean the old boss never kept you late and fucked your silly?” He pretended to look shocked.

Steven laughed. “That’s a troubling thought.” He lay there, his shoulder touching Rob’s, wondering if this had really happened. “Am I awake?”

“I hope so,” Rob replied. “We need to do some work.” He was already standing.

Steven glanced up at him, watching as he pulled on his underwear and pants. “Was this a good idea?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Was it?”

Steven sat up. “Not fair. I asked you first.”

Rob smiled at him. “You know, I’ve wanted to make love to you since you threw yourself into my arms at that bar.”

“I thought I threw myself between your legs?” Steven smirked.

“A little of both, actually.”

“This is a little delicate.”

“Why, because I’m the boss?”

“Yes.”

“You think that’s why I put you in charge of this account?” He did up his shirt.

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you were thinking it.”

Steven shrugged. He got to his feet and began to dress.

“Do you think I’m a stupid man, Steve?” He met his eyes.

“Of course not.” He shook his head. Rob felt like his boss again suddenly.

“I wouldn’t put someone in charge of an account just because I wanted into their pants. I’ve never had to bribe someone to fuck me.”

“Oh shit, Rob, I didn’t mean that.” Steven held out a hand.

“No worries. Just remember, your job, and what happened here tonight, it’s separate.”

“Is it possible to keep it separate?”

He shrugged. “We’ll see, won’t we?”

“Is this a…” Steven swallowed.

“Is this a what?” He walked over to the table and began to open the bag with the food. “We may have to warm this up a bit in the microwave.”

“Rob,” Steven said, coming closer, doing up his shirt, “is this a one-time thing?” He waited. He really didn’t want to know the answer. He was afraid of the answer.

“I don’t know,” Rob said, meeting his gaze. “I really enjoyed being with you. I’m attracted to you. I admire your talent, your dedication to the job. I genuinely like you, Steve. Let’s take it one day at a time, okay?”

Steven nodded. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted to hear. “I’ll help you warm up the food.”

* * * *

On Tuesday, Steven was anxious all day, anticipating the time when everyone would go home and he would be alone with Rob. He hadn’t seen Rob today. Rob was busy, in meetings, and when Janis, Rob’s secretary, called him at four and said that the boss wouldn’t be back today and that he could go home at the scheduled time, Steven was extremely disappointed.

Wednesday wasn’t any better. Steven saw Rob briefly in the morning, but only to say hello when he passed him in the hallway. Rob was in deep conversation with someone on his cell phone and he seemed distracted. He nodded at him but walked right past. Around eleven, Steven thought up an excuse to see him, but when he stopped by his office, Janis said he had to fly to Denver.

“Denver?” Steven echoed.

“There was an emergency of some kind with his daughter. He said he’d be back next Thursday.”

“Daughter?” Steven croaked.

Janis gave him a strange look. “Yes, daughter. Eight years old, I think. Why?”

He shook his head. “No reason. Thanks anyway.” He wandered off with no particular destination in mind.

A few minutes later, he ran headlong into Mac. “Hey, dream boy, I got a problem with—Hey, what’s with you?”

“He’s got a daughter,” Steven said.

“Who has a daughter?”

“Rob, I mean, Mr. Taylor. The boss.”

“I thought he was gay.”

“Oh, he’s gay,” Steven muttered. “He’s also a lying bastard with a family back in Denver.”

“He could be divorced.”

“Yeah. But he never said anything, you know.”

“Why should he?”

Steven looked at him, then away.

“Oh my God.”

“Don’t say anything.”

Mac followed him into his office. “You fucked him.”

Steven sighed. “Close the door.”

“You fucked him.”

“Stop saying that.”

“Well, how else am I supposed to say it? Was he good?”

“He was fan … never mind, none of your business.”

“So, is he hot for you?”

“I don’t know. He was that night, but I haven’t seen him since then and now this.”

“Steve, a lot of gay men have kids. It doesn’t mean anything. Maybe he came out after he got married or…”

Steven nodded. “Let’s go to lunch. I’m not going to worry about it right now.”

But he was worried. In fact, he couldn’t seem to think of anything else. Damn it. He should have never had sex with him.

Next Thursday, Rob was back. He called a meeting in the morning with all the project heads. He wanted an update on their progress. He looked tired, tense. He didn’t seem to have a lot of patience. When Rob looked at Steven, Steven wasn’t quite sure what to say. He’d been slacking the last few days, his mind elsewhere. One of his team members was out with the flu and they had been having some software problems.

Rob put his hands on his hips. “Well?” he probed.

Steven resented his demeanor, bristled at that arrogant look on his too handsome face. “What do you mean, well?” The words came out of his mouth before he had time to think about them. Shit.

Rob looked taken aback. The other project heads froze, holding their breaths.

There was complete silence for a few seconds then Steven blew up. “While you’ve been prancing off to Denver, doing God knows what, some of us have been dealing with computer glitches and—”

Rob put up his hand. He looked around the table. “That will be all,” he said then turned back to Steven. “You, stay.”

There was not a sound as the others shuffled out. Rob walked over and shut the door of the conference room. “Do you care to explain why in hell you decided to talk to me like that?” His blue eyes darkened with anger.

Steven swallowed. “I didn’t think.”

“You didn’t think? What in hell was that … prancing off? I did not prance off. Who in the hell do you think you are?”

Steven lowered his head. “You could have told me you had a daughter.”

“Why? It’s really no one’s God dammed business. We fucked once and you think I should tell you my entire life?”

“It meant nothing to you then?” Steven swallowed.

“I never said it meant nothing. I said we’d take it slow, see what happens. I don’t owe you anything. But God damn it, you owe me a fucking update on your progress for this account.” Rob pointed at him. “I want it on my desk, first thing tomorrow morning. Is that clear?”

He nodded.

“Good,” Rob said. He walked over to the door and swung it open. It hit the wall with a bang.

Steven closed his eyes.

* * * *

Mac sat beside him in the bar, watching as Steven sipped his drink. “The entire office is abuzz.”

“I don’t give a shit.”

“What in hell possessed you to talk to him like that, Steve? You could lose your job.”

“I don’t know. I just…” He shook his head.

“You’re in love with him.”

“No, I’m not. I don’t even know him.”

Mac shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I think it was love at first sight. I think that if it had been anyone else in that bar, even with that much booze in you, you wouldn’t have done what you did that night.”

“I feel used. I don’t think it meant the same thing to him as it did to me. What in hell is wrong with me? I should have said no.”

Mac put an arm around him. “Never mind. Concentrate on your job. You’ll get over him.”

Steven nodded, but he wasn’t convinced.

* * * *

The next week came and went. Steven put the report on Rob’s desk but he didn’t get any response. He assumed it was all right. Rob didn’t ask him to work late. In fact, he seemed to be avoiding him altogether. Steven wondered if the trip to Boston was off now.

One evening just before he was getting ready to leave, he heard some noise down the hallway. It sounded as if someone was crying. Steven walked hesitantly down the hallway. He stopped just outside Rob’s office and stood stock-still.

There was a woman crying. And he could hear Rob trying to comfort her but he seemed distraught himself. “They’re doing everything they can,” he said. “I’ve got the best doctors working on it. It doesn’t matter what it costs, Monica, I’ll pay all the bills.”

“She can’t die,” the woman said, coughing.

“She won’t. I won’t let her die. The doctors said that…”

Steven backed away from the door. My God. Someone was dying? Was this Rob’s family, his wife and child? Even if he felt Rob deceived him, he didn’t want anything bad to happen to his daughter. He swallowed, feeling petty and foolish for his jealous outburst. He turned and hurried down the hallway.

The next day, Steven was surprised to see Rob walk into his office. He slumped in the visitor chair and gave him a faint smile. “Hi,” he said.

Steven nodded at him. “Hello.”

“We do need to get back to this campaign. I’ve managed to stall Costner for two weeks.”

“Then the Boston trip is still on?”

He nodded. “I was pleased with the report last week. But we need to work faster. Can you stay tonight?”

Steven nodded uneasily. “Of course.”

“See you at five,” he said.

* * * *

When Steven walked into Rob’s office that evening, Rob was sitting back in his chair, his eyes closed. His tie was askew and he looked disheveled, tired.

“Can we get right to it?” Steven cleared his throat. “We can skip supper. I’ll eat at home if you don’t mind.” That night after they’d made love, they had sat together eating. Rob had reached over and licked plum sauce from his mouth. They had laughed about that. God, he’d been so happy being with him like that, touching his dark hair when they were working. Rob had even kissed him good night in the parking lot, a long, deep, sensuous kiss. It had stayed with him all night.

Rob lifted his head. “Of course,” he said. He rubbed his eyes and leaned forward to look over his computer screen. “Did you update this yet?”

“Yes.” Steven nodded. “We made the changes. I hope you like it.”

“It’s good,” he said. “I think we need to decide on which slogans should be used with this ad in particular.”

Steven nodded again. “We have five. The team is split over the first two.”

“I like the second one personally,” Rob said, looking over at him. He paused. “Are you planning on standing ten feet away from me all night?”

“Yes, actually.”

“Okay.” He sighed. He ran his hands through his hair.

Steven felt a rush of compassion for him. “I’m sorry about your little girl.”

Rob glanced at him. “How do you know about Madison?”

“I overheard you in here with your wife yesterday. She’s sick, isn’t she?”

“Yes, and Monica is not my wife.”

“Oh, well, the mother of your daughter.”

He didn’t say anything.

“What’s the matter with her?”

“She’s got leukemia.”

“Oh God, Rob, I’m sorry.” He walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He had no intention of ending up in his arms, but Rob stood up and Steven moved into his embrace. Rob hugged him tightly and then his lips moved to Steven’s neck and then to his mouth. When Rob started kissing him, Steven lost control. Common sense and rational thought never stood a chance. Rob’s passion grew to a feverish pitch as he propelled Steven against the wall and proceeded to undo his pants. He sank to his knees and lifted Steven’s cock out of his pants. Steven’s head banged up against the wall as Rob started to seriously suck him off.

The groans and grunts coming from both of them sounded inhuman. Rob brought him to the edge, then stood and flipped him around. With his pants around his ankles and Rob’s hands moving over his cock and his nipples, he was humping the bloody wall. He heard the drawer open and suddenly he realized Rob was going to fuck him right there. “Rob,” he began breathlessly, “don’t.”

Rob wrapped his arms around him. “Please,” he pleaded with his lips against his ear. “I want you, Steven. I need you right now. Please, let me love you.”

Rob’s hand wrapped around his cock, squeezing, while his other hand flirted with Steven’s opening, inserting a digit and moving it up past the first ring of muscles.

Steven moaned, his breathing growing shallow as Rob fucked him first with his finger and then with his cock. The motion from Rob’s hips suddenly drove him into the wall. His teeth rattled; his entire body tingled. He shouted something. It was absolutely mind-blowing. He exploded with a powerful orgasm, his cum running down the wall in streams. Rob uttered a groan; his entire body shuddered then went limp, and for the longest time he didn’t move. He stood there, holding onto Steven.

“Rob?”

His head stayed on Steven’s shoulder for a moment. “Wait,” he said softly. “Give me a minute.” He uttered what sounded like a sob, then he cleared his throat and moved away.

Steven waited a minute before he turned around, assuming Rob needed some privacy. His mind screamed I love you. But he wouldn’t say it. When he turned around, Rob was doing up his pants. Rob didn’t look at him. “You’re going to rip out my heart,” Steven said.

Rob looked at him now.

“I don’t know why I said that.”

“I don’t know why you said that either. It’s not my intention.”

“You’re in a lot of pain. I’m happy that I could…”

“Don’t.” He put up a hand. “It wasn’t about that entirely. Don’t do this, Steven. I’m not able to handle it right now, okay?”

Steven nodded. “Let’s get to work.”

“Good idea.”

They worked together several nights over the following two weeks. Rob didn’t try to touch him again and Steven didn’t mention it, but he was suffering. Rob was suffering too, presumably because of his daughter. Apparently there had been no change in her condition. The doctors were hoping for a miracle.

When Steven got on the plane to Boston, he had already made his decision. After this campaign was over, he was leaving his job. He was doing so with a heavy heart but he was desperately in love with Rob, and he wasn’t about to get over it. He knew if he stayed, he’d end up making love with Rob again and again. Rob had never promised him anything, nor had he explained about his family situation. He had only himself to blame for this. Madison’s mother was staying in Rob’s house now. Everyone at the office knew about it. It looked like they were back together.

Rob was late that morning. He barely made the flight. By the time he had walked onto the plane, Steven was practically frantic. He was never so relieved to see anyone in his life. “I thought you were going to miss the flight,” he said, mystified to see the expression on Rob’s face. He was beaming.

“I’m sorry,” he said, settling in the seat. “I have good news. Madison is responding well to this new treatment. The doctors think it’s going to work this time.”

Steven hugged him tightly. “Rob. I’m so happy for you and Madison’s mother. That’s great news.”

“I’ve been at the hospital all night with Monica. They just got the results.”

He talked a bit more about the treatment and then closed his eyes. Rob slept most of the way while Steven looked out the window, so tempted to cover Rob’s hand with his own. He refrained, digging his nails into his palm instead.

When they arrived at the hotel, Steven held his breath until he heard that they had separate rooms. On the way up in the elevator, Rob eyed him, a quizzical look on his handsome yet unshaven face.

“What?” Damn, he was too sexy for words, especially when he was unshaven like that.

“Nothing. It’s just that you looked so anxious at the desk. Relieved to find out we’re not sharing a room?” He lifted an eyebrow.

“No, I … I didn’t think about it really.”

“You’re a liar. Actually, our rooms adjoin, in case you—” He stopped. “But you won’t.”

“What are you talking about?” Steven fingered the key in his hand.

“Lately, you’ve been … I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I thought maybe we had something.”

Steven shook his head. “You are fucking unbelievable.” The elevator dinged and the doors opened.

Rob followed Steven down the hallway. Steven stopped in front of his room. He was furious, sad, confused. He struggled with the key, just wanting to get inside, away from Rob.

Rob suddenly put his hand over his. “Stop. You’re going to jam the key in the lock.”

Steven yanked his hand away. “I don’t want to fight with you, especially not here. This is an important meeting. We need to focus on—”

“How can I focus when all I can see is you?”

Steve looked at him, his mouth agape. “You better speak to Monica about that.” He made a final attempt with the key and the door opened. He hauled his bag inside, closing the door behind him. When he turned around, he gasped. Rob was standing there by the bed, the door between the rooms open.

“So, I’m to have no privacy?”

“You want me to leave, say so.”

“Leave.”

“You can’t just throw things at me then run away. Now, what in hell does Monica have to do with how I feel about you?”

“She is the mother of your child. She’s been living in your house.” Steven pointed at him. “You looked shocked. You didn’t think I knew that, did you?”

“That’s not why I’m shocked. I’m shocked at what a gossip mill the office is. I’m sure they’re talking about us too.”

“I don’t give a damn. Madison is going to be fine. She needs her father.”

“And she’ll have him. I’m not going anywhere. Actually, Madison will come to live with me part-time, now that her mother is dead.”

Steven narrowed his eyes. “Monica is dead?”

Rob shook his head as he sat on the edge of the bed. “No. Caroline is dead. She died three years ago. Cancer. That’s why I was so scared when Madison got leukemia. It took Caroline fast.”

“Wait. I’m totally confused. Isn’t Monica Madison’s mother?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re her father?”

“I am.”

“And who is Caroline again?”

Rob stood. “Steve, Caroline and Monica were together, a couple. I went to school with Monica. We were best friends. When she fell in love with Caroline, they wanted to have a child. They asked me to donate the sperm. When Caroline was alive, I had minimal contact with Madison. It’s the way she wanted it. She was the birth mother. After she died, Monica was devastated. She asked me to take a more active role in Madison’s life. I agreed and fell in love with my little girl. We have shared custody. When Madi got sick, Monica agreed to let me bring her out here where they have the latest medical treatment. Why in the hell would you think I was married? I’m gay, for God’s sakes.”

Steven met his gaze. “I’m so sorry, Rob. It all makes perfect sense now.”

“Why didn’t you say something? Why didn’t you just come out and ask me instead of assuming the worst?”

“You were in such a bad mood and I thought…”

“That I was a married man fooling around.”

“Rob, I…”

He turned and left the room, closing the door between them.

“God damn it!” Steven bellowed at the top of his lungs. “Damn it, Rob. I love you.”

The door opened again. Rob stood there, looking at him. “You what?”

Steven flushed with embarrassment. “Nothing. I’m just letting off steam.”

Rob smiled at him.

“What in hell are you grinning about?”

“I thought I heard you say that you loved me.”

“I didn’t exactly say that.”

“Oh yes, you did.”

“I said, I’d love to knock you on your ass.”

Rob took a few steps toward him. “You’d love to do what to my ass now?”

“You need a hearing aid,” Steven accused, but his resolve was wavering. A smile was threatening.

“Oh really?” He came closer, reaching out for his hand. “I don’t know about the hearing aid, but I do need you.”

“Rob”—Steven bit his lip—“don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“It’s not my style to say things I don’t mean, or to do things I don’t mean.” He was standing close enough now to kiss him. “Now, say it again.”

“Say what?” He was already lost in those eyes.

“Say I love you, God damn it.”

“I love you God damn it.” Steven swallowed, tears pricking his eyes. “Don’t make me say it again.”

“I will make you say it again. I want you to say it over and over to me for the rest of my life. How does that sound?” His voice was soft, strained. “I love you, Steve. I tried to fight it, but I’ve lost the battle. Kiss me, will you?”

Steven reached out and smoothed back his hair. He ran a hand over Rob’s rough jaw. “Yeah,” he said, “okay, I guess I can do that.” He planted both hands on the sides of his face and kissed his mouth.

Rob put his arms around him and held him close. “You’re not getting a promotion,” he whispered in his ear.

“I don’t need one.” Steven kissed his mouth again. “All I need is you, right about now.”

“Well,” he said, stepping away from him, “I’d love to oblige, but we have a presentation to give in about two hours and I have to shower and shave and change my clothes. We need to eat. And it takes at least a half hour to get to Costner Inc.”

“Do you think they’ll mind if we’re late?” Steven pleaded.

“Aw, personally, yes.” He grinned.

“Are you always going to be the levelheaded one?”

“Someone has to be.”

“Rob?” he said as Rob walked back to the adjoining room door.

“Yeah?” He glanced back at him.

“I’m the happiest man alive today because of you.”

“Just wait until later,” he said, winking at him, “I’ll make sure you’re ever happier.” The door closed.

Steven paced a few minutes, looked at the clock. Oh, what the hell. Rob might be the levelheaded one, but this was no time for practicalities. Steven walked to the door between the suites and pulled it open. He smiled as he heard the shower running. Rob was humming. Steven stripped off his clothes and left them on the bedroom floor.

Rob looked around in surprise when he saw Steven pull back the shower door.

“Don’t say anything, boss. I know. You said we didn’t have time. And you know”—he smiled, letting his gaze travel the length of Rob’s delicious naked form—“I thought about it and I decided that we did have time after all.”

Rob smiled as Steven backed him up against the tile. “Is that so?”

“Um, it’s so.” He ran his hand up over Rob’s chest, pressed his lips to one of his nipples and licked the water off of it.

“You do realize you’re being insubordinate?”

“So fire me,” he taunted.

“Don’t be cheeky.”

“You know, I think I was in love with you the moment I saw you, even in my drunken haze.”

Rob’s hands moved down over Steven’s back to his ass. He squeezed his ass cheeks gently and pulled him closer, capturing his mouth with his. They kissed hotly then Rob pulled Steven around and pressed his chest against the wall of the shower. “You’re beautiful, Steven. And I think I loved you too the moment you fell between my legs in that bar.” He laughed, nibbling his ear as he inserted a finger up inside him and slowly rotated his digit.

Steven was panting. He smiled into the tile, grunting as Rob pressed his erection up in between his ass cheeks. “How are we going to work this boss-employee thing anyway?” he teased. “Do I always have to play the submissive?”

Rob grabbed his hips and began to enter him slowly. “Oh, I don’t know. You don’t seem to be minding it at the moment.”

Steven moaned with pleasure as Rob’s cock pushed up inside of him.

“And if you’re a really good boy,” Rob breathed into his ear, “I might just let you play boss sometimes.”

Steven started to laugh softly but his laughter transformed itself into pleading as Rob began to fuck him nice and slow. He was driving him wild. Steven’s hands tightened into fists against the wall and he banged them gently until Rob picked up the pace, fondling his cock all the while.

They came almost at the same time, Rob’s arms folding around him as he leaned back against his chest, turned his head, and sought his lips. They kissed tenderly for a few minutes then Rob released him. “You’re a naughty boy,” Rob accused, rinsing off then stepping out of the shower.

“Guess you’re just going to have to punish me, boss.”

Rob laughed. “Later. Now, get dressed, you’ve got the presentation of your life to give, baby.”

Steven sighed good-naturedly. “Back to business, eh, gorgeous?”

Rob waited until Steven got out of the shower. He wiped his back off with the towel then he wrapped him in his arms, kissing his neck.

“Hey boss, thought we were in a hurry?” Steven teased, turning around in his arms.

Rob looked at him thoughtfully. “We are, but this is more important all of a sudden. We’ll get to the meeting in plenty of time. But first I want to tell you one more time that I love you. And if sometimes I forget, and I get too wrapped up in other things, remind me, okay? You’ll always be the most important thing in the world to me, you and Madison, of course.”

Steven swallowed hard. “Thanks, baby. Do you think Madison will like me?”

“Madison is going to love you, almost as much as I do.”

“I’m pretty happy.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Only one more thing would make me happier.”

“What’s that?”

“A raise, a bigger salary? I have connections now. I’m doing the boss.”

“Will you do that dance you did for me in the bar that night?” Rob grinned.

“Will it get me a raise?”

“Of course, but not monetary.”

Steve laughed. “A bigger office?”

“Maybe.” He grinned, leaving the bathroom.

Steven stood there for a few moments with a smile on his face. “Well, in that case…” he mused.

The End