Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Maybe that was the whole point of having Skylar back in my life—to show me a different side of myself. To remind me it was okay to let loose even if it meant you didn’t want a relationship with someone. Jesus. Who had I become? I was like the poster boy for monogamy or something. But I could also have a little fun in between trying to find my person.
Not that I thought jerking off should happen again with Skylar, no matter how much I’d enjoyed myself. And how much I’d had the urge to reach out and touch him. See how warm his skin was, how salty it might taste. But I could definitely experience that with someone else, if I chose to. Hell, even tonight, if the situation presented itself. Though the idea of hooking up with some random person still made me feel uptight and sort of nauseous. With Skylar it’d felt safe and natural, even if the lead-up to the act had made me tremble and doubt myself.
Though I sure as hell had no trouble reliving the moment with my hard cock in my hand on subsequent nights before he got home from work. It relieved the tension and was better than popping a boner every time he slid in beside me.
Most of my coworkers were already seated at a long table in the back of the bar when I arrived, while some stood near the billiards tables and dart boards.
“Happy birthday,” I said to Shawn, who was racking up the pool balls for another game.
“Thanks, man! Grab yourself a beer.” He motioned to the pitchers of ale on each end of the table. But I was in the mood for something stronger, so I headed to the bar.
Just as I ordered a mixed drink, I spotted my mother making a beeline for me with some dude I’d never seen before. “Hey, Mom.”
I was used to it by now, but still, my parents showing up to practically every social event I attended was strange, to say the least. Boundaries were practically nonexistent because we worked together and I didn’t have much of a social life outside of my job. Maybe that was why I liked being with Sky’s friends so much the other night. It was refreshing, like it was my own thing, even if it was really Skylar’s.
“Clark, I’d like you to meet Jasper. He’ll be assisting the commercial brokers at the new location.” She threw me a knowing look, and I kept my lips in a neat, straight line. This was the man she’d been referring to at our dinner. Jesus fucking Christ. I’d bet she’d timed him showing up just right. She continued, “I figured this was the easiest way for him to get his feet wet and meet everyone all at once.”
“Welcome.” We shook hands, and his were clammy, which I supposed made sense. New job, new people to impress, plus my parents could be pretty intimidating.
Suddenly I imagined Skylar walking through the door in full makeup and owning the place, though there was bound to be plenty of gawking. My mom would probably be aghast, and damn, I’d revel in it. If only I’d had half the amount of confidence he did.
“Be a doll and introduce Jasper to everyone?” Mom waved to someone at the table, then winked at me before taking off to make the rounds. Great. We were going to have words once this night was over. But would it really be any use? Jasper was handsome and tall, so I could see why she thought he might be my type—and how much did it suck that she knew that at all?
He seemed a bit nervous, so I asked him, “You need a drink?” as he watched Mom work the room.
“Good idea, though I already threw one back before I showed.” His eyes grew large. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Nah, don’t sweat it.” I lifted my hand to order him a stiff drink. Seemed he could use it. “It can be overwhelming meeting a bunch of new people.”
“Also meeting the handsome gay son of your boss,” he said, and his face splotched red. “I’m saying all the wrong things. Don’t mind me, I’ll just be in the corner, mortified.”
“Mom told you that?” God, how freaking embarrassing.
“Not in so many words.”
When I handed him his drink, he practically downed it.
“What exactly did she say?”
“You really want to know?”
I nodded, clenching my jaw.
“That you were a good catch. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together.”
If I had to guess, she’d taken a good look at his résumé and was impressed by one thing or another. Would probably tell me he had a promising career at Havemeyer and Whitney and would move up the ranks in record time.
“God. I’m sorry. She likes to meddle but means well,” I explained, and for the first time since meeting him, his shoulders unwound. “But hey, we could all use a friend, right?”