by
Takashi never imagined that a simple call to an escort service would result in meeting Zander. What started out as a date to the winter gala at his office, morphed into a series of paid dates that offer him several unique opportunities to get to know the handsome, enigmatic escort.
Zander hates feeling like an ornament. After four years he's ready for a new occupation. Unfortunately, he isn't skilled enough for any job that would pay him the money he needs to make to support himself and his family. So, he stays with Mateo's agency and keeps on taking clients, refusing to call them dates because that's too personal.
Until Takashi.
Now they're both trying to make the best of the brief moments they have together, blurring the lines more and more with every passing night. Takashi wants more. Zander wants to give it to him, but only after he gets the rest of his life worked out. The only problem is, he has no idea how.
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Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 2
Romantic Content: 3
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 26-35
Protagonist 2 Age: 36-45
Tropes: Age Difference, Class Differences, Opposites Attract, Slow Burning Love
Word Count: 94,300
Languages Available: English
The harsh crackle of rattling papers drew Takashi’s gaze away from the cloudy blue-gray sky stretching beyond the high-rise window. In the distance, waves rolled in an endless pattern. Yearning to feel the ocean spray against his face, Takashi regretted not taking the day off. It was too cold to swim, but a walk in the sand, feeling it squishing between his toes, was exactly what he needed after the week he’d had.
“Takashi, Earth to Takashi! Have you heard anything I’ve been saying to you?”
READ MOREFighting the urge to roll his eyes, Takashi Himura sighed and stared across the desk at one of his oldest friends, who just happened to be his boss. Thomas Drechsler had his chair kicked back and his hands folded in his lap, a mischievous look on his lightly freckled face. His wavy brown hair was slicked back, save for one piece that fell across his forehead. He looked entirely too pleased with himself for Takashi’s tastes. Usually, when his friend got that look, he was about to suggest something Takashi wasn’t going to like at all.
Tapping his fingers on the edge of Thomas’ desk, Takashi fixed him with a look that he hoped spelled out exactly what he’d heard and how much he didn’t care to acknowledge it. “Yes Thomas, I heard you, quite clearly in fact. You interrupted my attempt to tell you why we need to adjust the dates on the Violet Vision project, to remind me, once again might I add, about the gala Saturday evening, thus why I tuned you out. The view of the storm rolling in holds far more appeal than subjecting myself to a crowded room full of over adorned idiots. In fact, I’m almost positive dancing naked in a sand storm would be more fun than the evening you’ve planned. You know my position on attending these kinds of affairs, Thomas, so why must we go through this each and every year?”
“Yes, I know your position, all too well, but in this instance, you’ll be making an exception.”
Takashi bristled, half coming up out of his seat. “Thomas…”
The mischievous look was suddenly replaced with the stern, serious visage of a man used to issuing commands and having them obeyed. Thomas held up a single finger and glowered. It was enough to silence Takashi as he dropped back into the chair with a groan.
“No,” Thomas ordered firmly. “You do not get to skip this, and you do not get to skip out twenty minutes after you walk through the door. Not this time. This is your boss speaking, not your friend. I expect everyone in this office to attend the event. We’re not only celebrating the successes of the year and honoring those who’ve retired and those who’ve passed away, but we have some potential clients who’ll be attending as well. I’d like them to meet the team leader they will be entrusting their projects to.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Takashi bit back a curse, but only just. His jaw was beginning to ache from grinding his teeth together, and he knew if he opened his mouth, he’d say something he’d regret uttering to both his boss and his friend. Swallowing down the fury that threatened to consume him, Takashi made one last ditch effort at shifting the subject away from the accursed gala.
“Yes, and speaking of projects, the issue with Violet Vision is actually a good one. In delaying by three days, we’ve been afforded the opportunity to debut the new line at the Stella and Dot event. I’ve already spoken to Tara and she…”
“Loves the idea, yes, I know,” Thomas interrupted.
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