Page 25 of Thrill

“Right, I’d better go. Have a wonderful weekend. Are you up to much?”

She shook her head.

“I’ll see you Monday then.”

He shoved his laptop into his rucksack and set off out of the office. As he made his way into the warm summer evening, his mother’s words still rang in his ears.

He had no intention of going home for the week before the wedding. It would not be a good idea for them not to be speaking before the wedding. He could imagine how Deborah would be too. His sister wasn’t known for her gentle disposition.

Deep in thought, he missed the figure making a beeline for him.

“Working late on your first week? Someone’s after the brownie points.”

Tyler snapped to attention. His body gave an alarming jolt when he saw Danny incoming.

“Oh, hello,” he squeaked before hurriedly clearing his throat. “How come you’re only just leaving?”

Danny stood tantalisingly close to him. “What would you say if I told you I was waiting for you?”

“I’d say you were full of shit.”

Danny clutched his chest. His rough hands that Tyler had been salivating over ever since the start of the week in full view.

Has it only been five days since I first set eyes on him?

“Are you getting the bus into town?” Danny asked.

“Yeah, you?”

“Not to town. I live up near the park. Walk with me to the bus stop?”

They may have spent time together packaging up all sorts of sex gadgets but this felt quite innocent. Tyler half expected Danny to offer to carry his bag.

“Week one done?” Danny asked as they fell into step.

“Certainly is. I know everything about the post room, HR, the call centre and of course the warehouse.”

“And your favourite?”

Such a loaded question. “Well, HR can be very interesting. All those complaints and policies to write.”

“Hey,” Danny said with a playful swat on Tyler’s shoulder.

“Only kidding. Of course it was the warehouse. Where else can I get a lesson in how to use the merchandise? Even if it was old Stan who obliged.”

They had reached the bus stop now. It was quiet. Judging by the noise coming from across the road, most Pleasure Seekers staff had gone to the pub. Danny turned to Tyler with that killer smile on his face again. “If you ever need one-on-one instruction, you only have to ask.”

Tyler’s jaw dropped for a second. Danny had made it clear at the lube testing that he slept with men. Tyler had not expected such a blatant offer so quickly.

They don’t mess around at Pleasure Seekers.

Tyler wondered if it was the products that made for such an atmosphere or the people who gravitated to working there. Either way, he’d been around the block enough times to know an invitation like that didn’t appear every day. Especially not from a man who looked like Danny.

“You shouldn’t make an offer if you’re not willing to follow it up,” he said, maintaining eye contact, no matter how unsettling.

A bus pulled up.

“That’s mine,” Danny said. “Give me your phone.”