Adam woke with a throbbing headache and a salty, metallic taste lingering in his mouth from having swallowed questionable junk during sex the night before. He slapped a palm to his forehead to draw sense back to him.
His mind was still spinning and churning through yesterday's events. As he was able to piece together a coherent thought, he remembered he was supposed to be on a plane for his overseas work assignment.
Well, shit happens, and at least he was able to return to his place. His work couldn't punish him for a situation out of his control, so he supposed he should enjoy his time off to regather his mood and energy for the days ahead. He pushed off the bed covers. The hit of morning chills on his skin made him feel more awake.
"Grr." He growled at the annoying buzz of his phone that was vibrating on his side table; he picked it up to see what was making the fuss. "Work schedule." He sighed, tossed the device back down, and then stumbled out of bed.
As he pulled out a fresh t-shirt from his nearby closet and pulled it over his head, he sniffed the delicious aroma of fried eggs and bacon. It would go well with his headache and overwrite the foul taste in his mouth.
"Oh!" He just remembered Joel being in his apartment after he had tagged along with him from the airport.
They had had sex the entire night, which explained his throbbing head and ass combination.
He dressed in cotton shorts and padded into the main living area and kitchen. Joel was freshly dressed in a plain blue t-shirt and jeans, and smelled like soap and shampoo. So, obviously showered as well.
"Do you ever sleep?" Adam dumped himself down on a dining chair with a yawn.
Joel flashed him a smug grin. "Not after having good sex all night. Best time I've had in ages."
"Good for you." Adam wasn't impressed or cared if the man enjoyed their love time or not. For him, it was a good stress relief.
The man laughed and placed a steaming plate of breakfast before Adam who sat staring at it, slowly registering the cooked eggs, sausage, bacon, and toast neatly laid out.
"It's called food. You put it in your mouth and eat it. Unless you like a different kind of sausage for the morning." Joel chuckled at his lame joke.
"I know what it is." Adam glared at him wryly and averted his eyes when he got a hit of handsomeness from the man.
As much as he hated to admit it, sex with Joel felt good for him too. Even if it was a stress relief.
Joel's phone began to ring as he sat down before his plate of food. Adam regarded him carefully as the man nodded his head to what he was reading on the screen.
"Go check your phone, Adam." He coolly suggested, which had Adam frowning.
"Why?"
Joel forked some pieces of his hot sausage and held it before Adam's mouth, making the man's lips moist from the rising steam.
"Take a bite then check your phone. It's important."
Adam continued to frown, not liking the man's mysteriousness as he was dangling the sausage before him. Regardless, he chewed off the meat with hasty bites and rose to grab his phone.
An incoming message flashed before his eyes.
[08:45 AM Angela Parker: Adam Thornton. I understand that your plane was canceled. That's ok. Your boss has informed me that you've already made contact and are ready to work together. Good luck. You're going to need it.]
"My boss?" Adam tilted his head to one side with perplexity.
He didn't remember sending a message to his boss or even having any contact with him whatsoever. So what was that batty secretary on about?
Joel entered the room and leaned, smugly, against the door frame with his arms folded over his chest.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself, Adam Thornton."
Adam's eyes bulged with a sudden burst of nervous tension coursing through his body. It wasn't possible. His boss was in London! Not possible. He slowly turned around to face Joel's knowing smile.
"Yes, I'm Joel Parker. Your new boss."