The cafeteria was buzzing with the lunchtime crowd which frustrated James. Why couldn't he have remembered to take his lunch? Not only was he forced to eat this dribble today, but he had to sit across from Aria and listen to her drone on about her miserable sex life.
Poor Aria. She wasn't sex deprived but her partner wasn't into the kink she so craved.
James rolled his eyes and stared into the distance. As he focused his blue eyes landed on the man of his dreams. He was just about James' height and had black hair and brown eyes. Oh, but he wasn't plain. No! Anything but. His shoulders were broad and strong! Oh! The way he fit into his suit jacket. Well! What to say!
This man, took his breath away.
Literally.
He felt a touch and snapped back, feeling Aria's hand on his and heard her ask, "James, are you ok? You're holding your breath."
James was slow to respond as his eyes lingered on this perfect specimen of a man. He finally answered without taking his eyes off of him saying, "Yeah. Yeah. I am ok."
He let Aria continue and added in the obligatory "Oh no!" and "That's too bad!" Oh and then the "You'll meet someone that shares your tastes."
He heard her mumble, "Hmm, always wished it would be you."
"Aria! We have been through this. I am not looking for a female partner!"
She pouted and whined, "Can't we just try? You'd be just so perfect for me." Her eyes showed how she desperately wanted all of James.
James was agitated with her but most of all he wanted to get his claws into the new guy. Then, their eyes met for a second and he felt like his heart was going to jump out of his body. Unreal!
How he thought about exploring every inch of his body but he decided it was best to get back to his office before his body betrayed him openly in the crowded cafeteria.
"Aria, we'll talk later but I am not into what you're asking me to do. I am sorry, but keep looking." He pierced his lips into a flatline and looked at her still pouting disposition as he walked away thinking, 'Great! Just freaking great! I meet the love of my life and the first time our eyes meet, I am sitting with that hussy.'
He wanted to scream when he was alone in his office. Unsettled and a bundle of nerves he stood looking out the window, when he heard a knock on his door.
His first instinct was to cringe, thinking it was Aria trying to revisit their cafeteria discussion. He was very wrong.
Amanda walked in and said, "James, I hope it's not a bad time, but I wanted to introduce you to Dylan. He's our new Manager of Marketing."
James turned around and put on a smile and desperately begged his body not to betray him. This Dylan, he was more than James could ask for. Could he steal Dylan's heart for himself?
James held out his hand and replied, "Dylan, it's a pleasure to meet you? Welcome to the company!"
Dylan looked a bit nervous as their hands shook and he managed to say, "Thanks James. I appreciate it. You know the first few weeks are like drinking out of a fire hose but then things should settle down."
James thought 'I have something you can drink from.' He restrained himself in front of Amanda and cordially said, "Are you local or did you have to relocate, an added complexity?"
"No, I grew up about an hour from here. I just recently started to rent a one bedroom in the city to cut the morning commute time though."
'He lives alone!' James mind was racing and he couldn't comprehend what was going on with him. He knew nothing about this guy! Would Dylan even be into him? He needed to get himself under control! Fast!
James casually wiped his hands on his dress pants and commented, "Well it's nice to have you on board. If you have nothing to do, a bunch of us meet at Casey's Bar on Thursday nights for a few rounds of beer and pool. Feel free to come and meet folks in a more relaxed setting."
Dylan kept his eyes focused on James and answered, "Great. Sounds like a good networking opportunity. Plans this week but I'll IM you to see if next weeks a go."
Amanda interrupted them saying, "James, thanks for your time. Much appreciated. Need to get Dylan through another twenty introductions this afternoon."
He waved them off and needed to close his office door to calm himself down. Sitting at his desk, he could barely sit still. He fiddled with his phone and aimlessly dialed Jackson.
"What's wrong? You never call during the day." Jackson asked in a worried tone.
Jackson heard James groan before saying, "I am in so much trouble. The new guy, he's perfect. He could be straight or married but I want him for myself."
"Well, well, well! Mister I Am Always in Control is ready to burst and is flailing out of control. How does it feel?"
James whispered, "I am going to lose it. I don't think I can keep it together the rest of the afternoon."
Jackson laughed and James snapped, "This isn't funny!"
"Alright. Alright! I will stay home tonight and we can chat. Will that help?"
"I need a cold shower!" James whined.
Jackson proclaimed, "Well, you're on your own for that. I can do pizza, beer and talk therapy."
James groaned again and said he needed to get to work. The rest of the day was miserable, absolutely miserable.
At the day's end, he rushed to the car park to escape, he was just putting his computer bag in the back seat when Dylan walked out of the elevator and he yelled, "Still drinking from the fire hose?"
Dylan smiled and walked over, adjusting his computer bag on his shoulder. He said, "If there was a test tomorrow to remember everyone names, I would fail. Now that I've seen you twice, I'll remember your name, James." Then he winked and finished with, "Plus you're the only one that made me feel truly welcome by inviting me to hang out with folks. I appreciate that."
James was barely functioning and he wasn't going to be able to hide his erection much longer. He blushed when he saw Dylan's eyes wander down towards his growing bulge and he thought he saw Dylan smile, ever so slightly.
James was such a wreck, he accidentally knocked his gym bag over and gathered everything quickly.
As Dylan walked away he quickly walked to the driver's side and got in. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He needed to relax or he wouldn't be able to drive home in his current position.
He almost jumped out of his skin when he heard a knock on his window and saw it was Dylan.
Once the window opened, Dylan leaned in and held something in his hand and smiled at James with a wicked grin. "You dropped these!" His eyebrows were arched and he just laughed and added, "I am guessing you wouldn't want just anyone to find these."
James gulped and mumbled, "Um, no!"
"Maybe you can show me how to use them someday when I am ready to get to know you better." With that, Dylan turned and walked back to his car, leaving James a wreck.
Somehow he made it home and stripped naked and lunged himself into an ice cold shower. Relief didn't come, for what he needed was not yet attainable.
