Heavy silence lingered between the men before Adam broke it with a sigh and pursed his lips with a scowl.
"So, did you know who I was when you sat down next to me at the bar?"
"Of course. I'm actually hurt that you had no clue who I was." Joel stepped into the room to meet Adam's scowl and narrowed eyes head on.
The silence resumed between them, but Adam felt heated by the cocky gaze Joel was giving him.
He yelped when the man pushed him down to the bed and climbed on top of him.
"Now that introductions are out of the way, let's allow our bodies to be better acquainted."
Adam gulped, feeling drawn in by Joel's gaze. So much so, his body tingled with a want for his touches. He felt pliable and submissive to the man's tender strokes to his skin and greedy kisses to his mouth.
Their employee and employer induction ended up being steamy, feisty sex in bed until the morning became evening. Both of them were completely spent on energy by then.
"Your insubordination is forgiven." Joel smugly declared as he turned on his back to regather his breath.
"My what? You just had sex with this subordinate. If I go down, so do you," Adam responded as he sat up to stretch his arms and neck.
Joel's mind lingered on his words and this fact. Indeed, he had sex with him more than once. Although, there was no corporation regulation against intercompany relationships. The gossip about them might excite some of the company's internal politics.
"But…" He finished the rest of his sentences in his head, which confirmed the blissful fact that he and Adam were compatible bedtime partners. The man had a sensuality that was highly alluring and made him want more. It had been a coincidence they had met at the airport. Initially, he only wanted to see what kind of man Adam was. Having gratifying sex was a pleasant perk. After their short time together he saw the man had also the instinct and assertiveness of a corporate heir. It was in T-Strike's best interest to keep him on their side.
"But?" Adam asked.
"Nothing." Joel rose for the shower. Thoughts of tasks and duties surfaced to his mind, which all required attention at the company's city office.
Adam decided to stay in bed and have some proper rest. Joel returned and dressed to leave a short while later.
"Oh, had enough? Well, thanks for the good time." Adam yawned when he escorted the man to the door, hastily dressed in his t-shirt and shorts.
He was relieved the man was gone as he needed a moment for himself. When he was finally left alone, his apartment felt heavy and lonely. Unable to handle it, he properly dressed in a warm cardigan, t-shirt, jeans and boots. Grabbed his keys and locked up the house as he headed for his car.
He drove along the quieter streets of his town. Fortunately, most of the traffic was headed for the Western Suburbs and Inner City areas. Whereas his direction was for the beach. He didn't like going to the beach, but it was the least likely place he would run into acquaintances at this time of the year.
Eventually he arrived at the carpark overlooking the dark ocean waters glorified in moonlight. He got out of his sports car and perched on the bench before the parking spot.
Bradley was gone, but he still kept in touch with his younger brother Jace, who had become something of his BFF. Especially when he was helping the boy with applications for his university choices.
"Speak of the devil." He sighed, not minding the intruding chime on his phone that had alerted him to Jace's incoming message.
He smiled warmly at the happy note the boy had sent him, feeling proud of the kid.
[19:55 PM Jace: Hey, thanks for helping me get into my first choice. I owe you, bro. Also, my idiot brother wants me to live with him at that posh place, but I dunno cause you know. Can I be a freeloader at your place while you're away? I promise to keep it clean and not let one else crash in it.]
Adam sighed and briefly texted Jace about his canceled flight and was no longer leaving.
[20:05 PM Jace: Damn! Sry about that. Can I still crash at your pad now and then? Coz, even tho my stupid brother is, well... you're still a brother to me. I'll check before coming.]
Adam grinned and responded with an okay. He chuckled at Jace's happy emote response before pocketing his phone.
His heart felt at ease having a younger brother to dote upon. At least, Jace was that for him. He had always wanted to have a sibling and was happy when Jace didn't mind his brotherly fawning. Although when they had first met, a good part of their earlier relationship was cold and biting. And the main reason for Jace's earlier frigid and unwelcoming attitude toward him was his overprotectiveness for Bradley who had been dense to romantic attraction. So, Jace had naturally become acutely keen and observing. He had spotted Adam's feelings for his older brother straight away. But as Adam became more honest of his intentions for Bradley to Jace, especially his acceptance to let Bradley go, so the man can be happy, their relationship had instantly improved.
Naturally, he felt he wasn't worthy after everything, but there was no way he was going to give it all up. After all these years, he had people who genuinely cared about him.
"I will hold on to being a big brother." He concluded out loud to the stars that started breaking through the night sky to shine brightly.
Maybe having a canceled flight was for the best. He could still be with the only few people he could call family. His mind began to recap over his brief time with Joel.
Sure, sex was good, but it was just sex. Deep down, the regret and hurt of Bradley not being the man he had always dreamed of making love with still festered. And he doubted he would ever feel that way again, so it was better to squash those feelings before they gave him a heart attack.
"Can I face Bradley so soon?" He asked his question to the stars.
After a period of deep thinking, he decided to give up on the man. Not like he had a choice on the matter anyway. Bradley willingly belonged to Adrian Masters. Fate had already proved to him of this fact.
He returned to his car and drove home. As he was walking up his stairs to reach his apartment door. He heard the sound of a bang. A sharp pain exploded across his chest. Overwhelming buzzing drowned out all thoughts in his head. The moon from the stairwell window blurred into a white-red mess before everything went blank.