Fantasies: New Year's Eve

Fantasies: New Year's Eve by Cassandra Gold

Red Rose Publishing www.redrosepublishing.com

Copyright ©2007 by Cassandra Gold First published in 2007-11-13, 2007 NOTICE: This eBook is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution to any person via email, floppy disk, network, print out, or any other means is a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines and/or imprisonment. This notice overrides the Adobe Reader permissions which are erroneous. This eBook cannot be legally lent or given to others. This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons.

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Fantasies: New Year's Eve by Cassandra Gold

Fantasies: New Year's Eve By Cassandra Gold To Beth and Esther of the Scrypt Crypt, whose critiques, support, and encouragement were more helpful than they know. You girls are the best! ****

**** This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. 3

Fantasies: New Year's Eve by Cassandra Gold

Fantasies: New Year's Eve by Cassandra Gold Red Rose Publishing Copyright© 2007 Cassandra Gold ISBN: 978-1-60435-095-1 ISBN: 1-60435-095-4 Cover Artist: Merris Hawk Editor: Terri Morse All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Due to copyright laws you cannot trade, sell or give any ebooks away. Red Rose Publishing www.redrosepublishing.com Forestport, NY 13338 Fantasies: New Year's Eve By Cassandra Gold

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July This is it, my life is perfect. Eric Wright lay in bed, listening to Bill humming in the shower. He wondered if his lover was up for some company. Just as he was about to get up and find out, though, the walkie-talkie/cell phone on his bedside table chirped. Damn! He grabbed the phone. "Wright." "Sir, we need you at the front desk right away." Sometimes being the manager isn't all it's cracked up to be. Guess the shower for two will have to wait until later. Oh well ... "I'll be right there." Dressing quickly, Eric headed downstairs, eager to do what had to be done in order to get back to his interrupted love life. Luckily the problem turned out to be an easily resolved computer issue. Barely ten minutes later he'd figured out what had caused the problem and the computers were running perfectly again. Feeling good about having wrapped up a sticky situation, his mind on a naked Bill in a steamy shower, Eric absently answered the ringing phone at the front desk. "Fantasies Colorado, Eric speaking. How may I help you?" The cultured yet worried voice of an older woman came over the line. "I need to leave a message for my son, William Weathers. He isn't answering the phone in his room, but his wife is in labor, and we need him to return home right away."

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The phone nearly dropped from his suddenly nerveless finger as everything inside him froze. Ice incased his suddenly pounding heart. His wife? Somehow he managed to get out the professional and calm-sounding answer he knew would be expected of him. "I believe I know where Mr. Weathers is. I'll deliver the message to him personally." He never recalled how he finished the conversation. He'd been on autopilot as he left the desk. Bill has a wife—a pregnant wife! Eric couldn't believe this was happening. The short walk up to his room seemed difficult for his suddenly leaden feet. The rush of his blood roaring in his ears drowned out the sounds around him. For the first time in a long time, he'd actually believed a relationship was going somewhere. He'd thought he and Bill shared something special. Instead, Bill had been using him to cheat on his pregnant wife the whole time they'd been together. Every single thing his lover had told him had been a lie! The numbness he'd felt at first was rapidly turning into betrayal. He grew angrier with each step he took. By the time he reached his room, he was furious. When he opened his door, Bill stood in front of the bathroom mirror, shaving, wearing only a towel. A few minutes ago, the sight of the tanned, fit older man had been arousing, but now Eric felt sick. He closed the door behind him and went to stand in the bathroom doorway, his anger momentarily tying his tongue. 6

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"Hey, lover. Where'd you go? I thought you might join me in the shower." Bill stopped shaving for a moment and smiled at Eric teasingly in the mirror. Eric stared at Bill briefly, wondering how the other man could lie and cheat and still look so effortlessly innocent and loving. He finally bit out an answer. "I got called down to the desk. While I was there, someone called with a message for you." "Oh, yeah? Who called?" Bill continued shaving calmly, clearly not noticing Eric's fury. His lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Your mother says you're needed at home. Apparently your wife is in labor." Bill's face went white, and he dropped the razor into the sink. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. "You know, Bill, all this time I thought you loved me. Guess you fooled me, huh?" Bill turned to face him. "Eric. Listen. You don't understand—" "I understand perfectly. You were using me to cheat on your pregnant wife. Nothing you can say will change that. I want you to leave." "Eric, please! Can't we talk about this? We've had a lot of fun together!" We've had a lot of fun together? After six months that's all you can say? The urge to punch his now ex-lover's pleading face was strong. "No! Get dressed and get out. I don't ever want to see you again!" 7

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Eric went back into the bedroom, grabbed the other man's clothing, and threw everything at him. Unwilling to stick around for anything else Bill might say, he headed out to the balcony. Once outside, he leaned on the railing, awash in misery. He thought back over his relationship with Bill, wondering how he could have missed the signs of Bill's other life. Why hadn't he realized the significance of Bill's oddly spaced visits and somewhat secretive nature? This is what I get for trusting someone. Why do I keep making the same mistake over and over again?

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December 27 Eric hated the holiday season. Lonely Thanksgiving dinners in front of the television sucked. Christmases with no tree, no presents, and no family weren't any better. New Year's Eve, though—that holiday was the worst. Nothing made Eric feel more alone and lonely than the frantic parties with their countdowns and couples kissing joyfully while "Auld Lang Syne" played in the background. Each New Year's Eve only reminded him another year had passed just like the one before with no change in the foreseeable future. He tried to tell himself he should be happy to be alive and healthy, with a job he loved and excelled at, but on New Year's Eve, especially he watched all the happy couples around him and wondered what made him so unworthy. What default lurked within that kept people from loving him? Pensively, Eric recalled the prophetic words of his last foster mother. As they'd waited for a social worker to come and take him to the boys' home, she'd snarled, "No one will ever want you." The ten-year-old Eric had felt those words like a knife to the chest. He'd actually liked living with Janice most of the time, despite her quick temper. She'd never told him why she was sending him away, or what could possibly be so wrong with him as to make no one want him. He'd spent the next 18 years trying to prove her wrong. Though he'd been a model child at the Home, no one had wanted to adopt an older boy. He'd studied hard in high 9

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school, graduated early, and gotten a college scholarship where he'd earned a dual degree in hotel management and business. At 26, he'd gotten his first big opportunity in the industry, snagging an unbelievable job as assistant manager for the prestigious Fantasies Resort chain's Colorado ski resort. Eric loved everything about his job, from dealing with guests and employees to his small, luxurious suite in the resort. The only negative aspect of his near-meteoric rise in his chosen profession was the little time left for pursuing a personal life. It was that lack of experience and dearth of a love life that had led to one of the biggest mistakes of his life. Bill, a handsome forty-year-old businessman who was a frequent guest of the resort, had exploded onto the scene and captured his starved heart. Looking back, Eric realized he'd been stupid not to question anything and to ignore his own hard-earned lessons. He'd broken his rule of never getting involved with anyone at work. He should have remembered how his first relationship, with a classmate in college, had turned out. Life at the boys' home had taught him a great many mostly inaccurate things about sex. The whole thing had sounded rather disgusting to him when the other boys talked about sex and girls. He hadn't figured out the reason for his unease about the subject until he went away to school and started noticing a guy who was in many of the same classes he was. 10

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One night at a party, Brad had kissed him. He'd never kissed another guy before, but the instant their lips touched something inside him just clicked. Things developed quickly from there. Afterwards, they'd been nearly inseparable for about two months, until Brad had abruptly dumped him, not even giving him a reason. Hurting, confused and angry, he'd dealt with the difficult awkwardness of running into the guy constantly on campus and in most of his business classes. Brad had basically acted as if he didn't exist, and he'd tried to do the same. Handling that situation for several months had taught him to be careful who he dated. Or at least, it should have ... I guess I need to make the same mistake several times before the lesson sinks in. Two months after Eric found out about his wife and threw him out, Bill had returned to the resort. While there, he'd had to be ejected from one of the restaurants for sexually harassing an 18-year-old waiter. Eric had realized then he would never be free of Bill. As manager, he'd possibly have to intervene in more situations of the jerk hitting on straight, barely legal waiters. He'd promptly asked for a transfer. So it was that Eric now stood behind the front desk at Fantasies Hawaii, overseeing the work of a new desk clerk and contemplating the return of another hated New Year's. For a while, he had thought he and Bill might be together for the holidays. Eric had actually been thinking about making a future with the creep, a fact which depressed him. At least he had stuck 11

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to his guns when Bill wanted to have sex without a condom. God knows what he could have picked up otherwise! The chirp of his walkie-talkie phone pulled Eric away from his little trip down memory lane. The excited voice of his boss, the senior manager, blared from the phone's small speaker. The anticipated, hugely important penthouse guest had arrived. Eric sighed, annoyed. The famous crime-thriller author D. M. McAllister would be staying at the resort under the name Dexter Mitchell. Only Eric and his boss, the senior manager, knew Mr. Mitchell and the author were actually the same person. Eric had been ordered to ensure Mr. Mitchell enjoyed his stay and was not disturbed, which would only add more work to his already hectic holiday schedule. As the doors opened and their newest guest approached the desk, he pasted on his most professional smile. McAllister stood several inches taller than Eric's own 5foot-ten height, and was a lot more muscular than Eric would have expected a writer to be. His arms strained against the sleeves of the black t-shirt he wore, and his long legs were shown to perfection by a pair of worn blue jeans. The author removed his sunglasses as he reached the desk, and Eric stopped, caught for a moment by the beautiful eyes those sunglasses had hidden. They were a deep, clear blue like the warm ocean water outside. They went well with his chocolate brown hair, square jaw, and slightly crooked nose.

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The photos in the back of his books clearly didn't do him justice. He was without a doubt the most attractive man Eric had ever seen. "I'm Dexter Mitchell. Is this where I check in?" His professional smile back in place, Eric nodded and began the check-in process. As he'd been instructed by his boss, when he finished he escorted Mr. Mitchell to his suite. After pointing out the amenities, he handed Mr. Mitchell the key. "You won't have to worry about being disturbed or bothered while you're here. Only Mr. Turner and myself are aware of your identity, and I've been instructed to use the utmost discretion. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to call the front desk," Eric finished his spiel. "I hope you enjoy your stay with us, Mr. Mitchell." "Please, call me Dex. 'Mr. Mitchell' makes me feel old." As he spoke, Dex grinned for the first time and Eric was momentarily stunned by the warmth of his smile. He shook off his paralysis quickly, however, and went to the door. "Have a nice evening, Dex." **** After the young manager left his suite, Dex collapsed onto the couch, grateful his luggage had been brought up while he checked in. The thought of getting up to answer the door didn't appeal at all. Fifteen hours of traveling to get here had worn him out. He'd left from La Guardia Airport way too early this morning and flown to Chicago. From there, he'd gone to LAX, and then, finally, he'd arrived here. 13

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God, I hope I can relax here. Dex dropped an arm over his face to block out the light, exhaustion dragging him down. Travel had made him feel worse than usual, but in truth he had been tired and out of sorts for weeks now. His last book tour, a grueling exercise in schmoozing and television appearances, had left him feeling wrung out, burned out, and completely uninspired. He hadn't written anything decent in months. Deadlines loomed, yet all he could do was sit in front of his computer and stare at the blank screen, or worse, write total crap. His editor and agent had been alternately nagging, cajoling, and outright begging him to get something to them. It's not like I don't want to write. I just can't. The persistent fear that his muse had left him for good had resurfaced the other day, and in desperation he'd booked this trip. His agent had been furious, arguing that he needed to stay home and write. Dex knew better, though. He wasn't going to get any writing done at home. I just hope I can write something here. I need some inspiration, that's all. He hoped. Sighing, Dex scrubbed a hand over his face and turned onto his side. Maybe a nap would be a good way to start. **** Hours later, Dex awoke abruptly with the confused, groggy feeling he always got from taking a nap. He looked around in confusion for a minute or two before he remembered. He was in Hawaii, at the Fantasies Resort. 14

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Yawning, he got up and stretched. He didn't really want to go to bed right after a long nap, so he decided to take a walk instead. Grabbing his wallet and room key, Dex made his way down to the lobby. Outside, the Hawaiian night was clear and warm. He couldn't believe the difference in temperature between New York City and Honolulu. At home, he'd been wearing a coat. Here, he could go outside in the evening wearing a t-shirt and not feel cold at all. Dex wandered around for a couple of hours before deciding he should probably return to the hotel. He didn't want to get his sleep schedule so screwed up that he slept all day and stayed up all night. He'd nearly made his way back to the resort when he saw a familiar face sitting at a table on the terrace of a small bar. In the low outdoor lighting, the young resort employee who'd checked him in earlier was even more attractive than he'd appeared in the hotel. Even while he checked in, Dex had noticed the young man's sweet brown eyes and hesitant smile, but out here the lights glinted off his blond hair, and his expression, pensive and sad, drew Dex in. I wonder what could be making him look so sad. Before he even knew what he was going to do, he found himself approaching the table. **** Eric sat on the terrace of a local bar drinking Scotch and staring at the ocean. He reflected on his earlier attraction to Dex. 15

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Obviously he had learned nothing from the Bill debacle. Here he sat, wasting time daydreaming about a guest when he should be thinking about something which wouldn't end with him needing another transfer. The odds of the man being gay were slim at best, and even if he did happen to be gay and unattached, the chance of him being truly interested in a boring hotel manager was even slimmer. Eric had already been someone's weekend diversion and didn't plan to fill that slot again. The experience had hurt too much. Even as he pondered his gloomy thoughts, a shadow appeared beside his table. "Is this seat taken?" a familiar, sexy voice asked. He flinched inwardly. Speak of the devil. Or, in this case, think of the devil. Damn it! Better tell him I'm meeting someone. "No." Eric barely suppressed the urge to slap a hand over his own traitorous mouth. What the hell did I say no for? Dex sat down across from Eric, his face apologetic. "Sorry if I'm bothering you. I know your boss told you to keep me happy, but if you want me to get lost, just say so. I promise not to hold it against the resort." Eric couldn't help smiling. "No, you can sit here. I was drinking alone anyway. I've been told that's a bad thing." Dex laughed. "It is indeed. You're lucky I came along when I did." Man, he's got a great laugh. "Maybe so. What brings you out tonight?" 16

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"I felt so tired when I got here I slept for hours. Then I woke up and didn't want to go back to sleep just yet, so I decided to walk around a bit. I'd started on the way back to the resort when I saw you. I thought I'd come over and say hi." Eric looked up. The stars glimmered in the cloudless sky. The moon wasn't full, but it shone brightly. Its rays bathed the waves lapping peacefully at the shore. When he'd first come here he'd missed Colorado, but on nights like this Eric thought Hawaii must be the best place on Earth to live. "Well, you picked a good night for a walk. It's really beautiful tonight." "Yes it is. And so peaceful. Not at all like New York." He could feel the other man's eyes on him, and Eric felt his face getting warm under the scrutiny. Scrambling for something to say, he blurted out the first thing he thought of. "I've never been to New York. What's the city like?" "Busy. Crowded. Everything's so fast-paced, and there's so much pressure all the time..." Dex trailed off. "Well, I guess the last part doesn't apply to the whole city. In some ways it's a great city, with so much life and energy. I'm a small-town boy at heart though. Guess I just got burned out on all the excitement." Smiling ruefully, he shrugged. "You came to the right place to recharge." "I hope so." They sat in silence for a moment, and then Dex stood. "Well, I'm glad I was able to save you from drinking alone. I better get back to my room and try to get some sleep. I don't want to be up all night and sleeping all 17

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day. I'm too old for all that." He winked, then turned and walked away. Eric watched him walking, trying all the while not to look at his tight ass.

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December 28 The next morning, Eric awoke from a dead sleep to the chirping of his phone. The red numbers on his alarm clock said five-thirty. Blinking in confusion, he fumbled on his bedside table. Finally, his fingers managed to grasp the phone and he answered groggily. "Wright." A familiar, frantic voice started babbling immediately. "Sir! We've got an emergency over here." Exhausted and irritated, Eric sat up in bed. He'd had trouble getting to sleep last night, so he had only gotten a few hours' rest. The urge to snap at the kitchen worker rose up, but he managed to keep his words civil. "What's the situation, Joelle?" Still sounding panicked, the woman began to explain the situation. "The delivery we got this morning is missing most of the stuff for the New Year's Eve party. The chef is freaking out. What should we do?" "Don't do anything. I'll be right over." To call Chef Jean Claude "temperamental" would be overly generous. The man got upset at the drop of a hat. Figuring sheer chaos required professional attire; Eric threw on his most formal suit and rushed over to work. On the short walk there, he found his mind wandering back to his and Dex's conversation last night. The author had sounded really tired. Hopefully he would be able to relax here. As Eric reached the resort's main building, he reminded himself the only reason he concerned himself with Dex's 19

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tiredness was because part of his job was to make sure the guests relaxed and had a good time. He didn't have any more time to worry about Dex, however, because the second he walked in the door one of the employees rushed over to him. The rest of the day turned out to be difficult. He had to soothe the chef, call the supplier several times, and skip lunch in order to get everything back on track for the party. While he dealt with the chef's problems, a computer issue came up at the front desk for him to resolve. He was supposed to be off duty at three, but his scheduled time came and went with no break in the action. He felt hungry, tired, and frustrated by the time he finally got the most important issues cleared up. Eric thought the day couldn't possibly get any more trying, but his prediction didn't prove to be true. He was preparing to leave when the desk clerk informed him he had a phone call at the front desk. "It's Mr. Turner, sir." The clerk thrust the phone at Eric as if the handset were a poisonous snake. At any other time, the desk clerk's terror about a phone call from the senior manager would have been amusing. Right now, Eric was just annoyed. Mr. Turner asked if their resident author was enjoying his stay. "I'm not sure, sir. I haven't seen him today." Eric paced in front of the desk impatiently, wishing he'd left just a few minutes earlier. Mr. Turner sounded scandalized by Eric's reply. "Well go find out, Wright! I'm counting on you to make sure Mr. 20

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Mitchell has nothing but good things to say about Fantasies resorts!" This is exactly what I need to cap off a crappy day. When he reached up to run a hand through his hair, he caught sight of his watch, which read six o'clock. He'd missed both breakfast and lunch. Jeez! No wonder I'm so hungry. And now I have to go baby-sit the hot writer for a while when what I really want to do is go home and eat a freakin' sandwich! Resigned, he put aside his longing for food and some casual clothes and headed upstairs to the penthouse. On his way, he stopped by the kitchen and picked up the room service order the desk clerk informed him Dex had placed. A few minutes later, Eric reached the penthouse suite. He shifted the tray and bucket with chilling wine to his right hand and knocked at the door, calling "Room service" as he did so. "Just a minute," he heard, and then Dex opened the door. Once again Eric found himself momentarily speechless. The author wore an old, faded t-shirt which clung to his muscled chest like a second skin and a pair of equally worn jeans. His feet were bare, his hair wet and tousled as if he had just come from the shower. The other man leaned against the doorframe casually as Eric gaped. "Wow. I must really rate to have the manager bringing my room service." Stop staring, idiot! Eric forced a professional smile to his lips. "Of course we want to ensure your stay with us is perfect," he said in his "perfect manager" voice. 21

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Dex looked almost disappointed for a moment, but then he motioned for Eric to come in. "So far this place is great. You'll get no complaints from me. Could you put the tray on the balcony for me?" He disappeared into the suite's bathroom. Eric took the covered tray outside and set it on the balcony table, along with the bottle of wine. He arranged the napkin and silverware carefully and poured a glass of wine. Then he leaned over the banister and gazed out at the ocean for a moment, thinking what a great view the penthouse had. Certainly a better view than the employee housing got. Sighing, he reentered the suite. In passing, he noted that a laptop, papers, notebooks and writing utensils covered the desk. The thought occurred to him the author must be working on his next novel. How cool. We can tell guests a famous author worked on a book here. Dex emerged from the bathroom, and Eric took the opportunity to make his escape. "I put everything outside for you. Is there anything else I can do for you?" His professional smile remained firmly in place, despite the strain he felt. For the love of God, please say no. For a moment Dex's eyes glittered with an unnamed emotion, but then his expression changed to one of concern. "You look like hell," he stated bluntly. Eric was taken aback. He could feel his professional smile slipping. What the fuck am I supposed to say to that? "What time did you start working this morning?" "Before six." Why are we having this conversation? 22

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Crossing his arms stubbornly, the other man leaned against the doorframe. "Did you eat anything today?" Eric rolled his eyes, suddenly feeling angry, mostly at himself for noticing the man, but also at Dex for being so nosy and hot and such a damned important guest. The exhaustion must have finally caught up with him, because nothing else could have explained what he did next. Throwing his arms out in frustration, he snarled out a reply. "No, Mom, I didn't. When would I have had time? Between dealing with hysterical chefs, fixing computer glitches, and moonlighting as a delivery boy?" Dex's eyebrows went up, and Eric realized he had just snapped at the most important guest ever to come to Fantasies during his tenure as manager. Hell. Mr. Turner will kill me. Horrified at his behavior, he took a deep breath, striving for a calm and professional tone. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Mitchell, I shouldn't have spoken to you so rudely." He had almost managed to make his getaway at last when the other man spoke. "Maybe you should have. I was being really nosy. Comes from being a writer, I guess. You don't have to treat me like I'm some spoiled prince you have to placate, Eric." The sound of his name on the other man's lips drove out what was left of Eric's anger. Not sure what to say, he tried for a joke. "According to my boss, you are." Instead of being offended, Dex laughed. Then he sobered and met Eric's eyes. "I don't want to be the famous guy everyone sucks up to while I'm here. I came here to find a place where, for a little while, I could just be Dex." 23

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Eric could understand his wish. "Okay, Dex." He smiled, a real one this time. "You're a regular guy. Just don't be mad when I'm not at your beck and call all the time." The author grinned. "Damn it. I knew there was a downside to this regular guy thing." He paused for a moment, suddenly looking uncertain. "I'm screwing this up. Look, the reason I asked you about eating earlier was because ... well, you really do look tired, and I wondered if you'd like to eat some dinner with me. I won't be able to eat everything I ordered, and I've been in here writing all day. I could use a little company." Eric hesitated for a long moment, thinking of Bill and how their relationship had turned out. Maybe he's just lonely. I'm probably the only person he knows here. Still, I'm not supposed to be fraternizing with the guests. This is such a bad idea—I'd better say no. "All right," he heard himself saying. What. The. Hell! What is with my stupid mouth saying whatever it wants to? Dex's relieved smile made him feel better as they went out to the balcony. Eric started to serve the meal, but the other man stopped him with a look and began to serve them himself. In no time Eric found himself looking at a plate loaded with seafood pasta, Caesar salad, and crusty bread. Dex also handed him the glass of white wine Eric had poured earlier. "There isn't enough silverware, and you need a glass." Eric started to stand.

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"Stay there," Dex ordered. "You've had a long day. Take off your jacket. Get comfortable. You just eat. I'll call down and get more." Since he was starving, Eric obeyed. He took off his jacket and hung it over the back of his chair. Then he loosened his tie and started eating while Dex went inside. When the other man returned a few minutes later, Eric had already eaten half of his meal. "Wow, you really were hungry!" Dex sat down, dished up his own plate, and began to eat. Neither of them spoke for a while. They were both too busy chewing. Dex made sure Eric didn't have to do anything. He refilled their wine glasses, and when they finished he cleared away the dishes. At last Dex broke the silence. "Rough day, huh?" Nodding, Eric leaned back in his chair. "Terrible. It's like the place falls apart if I try to go home and get some sleep." The other man put on an exaggerated expression of shock. "Sleep? When there's work to do? How dare you?" He couldn't help laughing at Dex's theatrics, even though sometimes the employees actually seemed to think he shouldn't need any sleep. "Yeah, I know. So silly of me." Those deep blue eyes warmed. "You should laugh more often. It's nice." Face heating, Eric looked down at the table awkwardly. A nervous, fluttery feeling rose in his stomach, and he had no idea what to say. He's only being nice. He doesn't mean anything by it. He can't.

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Before the silence could get too long, the author spoke again. "Want some dessert? I ordered the Chocolate Fantasy Cake." Grateful to be back on solid ground, he looked up. "I was going to say no, but only an idiot would pass up Chocolate Fantasy Cake." The cake was a special creation just for their Fantasies location, and the chef guarded the recipe carefully. Eric rarely got to indulge in a piece. The cake generally vanished long before employees got to the leftovers. Even though he knew he should be getting the hell out of the penthouse while he could, the temptation of the decadent dessert proved too much to resist. Dex cut the huge piece of cake in half and placed the larger half on a plate in front of Eric. Eric all but snatched up his utensil and forked a bite into his mouth. He nearly moaned at the rich chocolate flavor. Closing his eyes, he savored the taste. When Eric opened his eyes, the other man was staring at him with a strange expression on his face. Self-conscious now, Eric put his fork down. "Try it. You'll see." Dex took a bite of the cake. "God, that's good," he said when he finished chewing. "I'd gain 500 pounds if I stayed here too long." Eric smirked. "Told you so. I said only an idiot would pass it up. Luckily for my waistline, there's almost never any left for us working stiffs." He set to finishing his dessert.

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They ate in silence. When he finished the last bite, Eric stood and motioned toward the table. "Thanks for dinner. I'll take these back down to the kitchen." Waving him away, the author gave him a wry grin. "Let someone else do the work, Eric. You're off the clock. And thanks for joining me." Dex's deep blue eyes met Eric's own brown ones, and Eric could have sworn something passed between them. Suddenly he just had to get out of there. With a quick smile, he tossed a good-night over his shoulder and left. **** Dex watched Eric practically run out of his suite, unable to suppress his smile. When he'd placed the room service order earlier, he'd had no idea Eric himself would make the delivery. He'd been hoping for a chance to see the manager again after their brief conversation last night, but he'd never expected it to happen this soon. The loneliness, boredom, and lack of inspiration he'd been struggling with had all melted away the instant Eric had appeared on his doorstep. Even exhausted and grumpy, the young manager looked good enough to have for dessert. Somehow seeing Eric still in his suit, but with rumpled hair and a slightly loosened tie, had jump-started Dex's imagination. He'd had a hard time not staring, or imagining things he probably shouldn't. There was also a sweetness and vulnerability about the man that called to Dex somehow. When he'd seen Eric 27

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tonight, all his protective instincts had risen up right away. The urge to take care of him had been too strong to resist. And he definitely needs someone to take care of him. He certainly isn't taking good care of himself, working all the time and forgetting to eat. Smiling to himself, Dex leaned back in his chair and looked up at the starry sky. His reasons for coming here had only involved writing, but having met Eric he decided to change his plans. The younger man's responses to his flirting seemed flustered rather than repulsed, so he'd keep hinting and see what came of it. Who knows? Maybe I'll find more than my muse while I'm here. Being alone is definitely getting old.

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December 29 The next morning, Eric realized he'd left his favorite suit jacket on Dex's balcony. No way in hell was he going up there to get the stupid thing, however. He would settle for his more casual uniform of khakis and a polo shirt with the Fantasies logo. Once again he'd slept badly. A hot shower refreshed him somewhat, though, as did a large cup of coffee he hadn't had time for the day before. Today was December twenty-ninth, only two days before the New Year's Eve bash. He had another busy day coming, hopefully too full of party preparations and other duties for him to think about Dex. He'd spent half of last night thinking about the look in the other man's eyes after dinner, and he didn't want to do it again today. As Eric walked to the resort from the employee housing, he told himself to focus. Remember Bill? For all I know, Dex is married or in a relationship. Or maybe I'm just overtired and seeing what I want to see. It's got to be the holidays messing with my head. Just as he had predicted, Eric had plenty of work to do from the moment he walked in the door. It was a Friday, so there were many departures and arrivals to deal with. He also had to supervise the decorating of the ballroom, which needed to be started today. The decorating meant extra workers to deal with, as well as the diva designer they'd hired. 29

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She kept Eric very busy with her orders and sometimes impossible demands. Finally he had to tell her some of her ideas wouldn't work, which led to him having to coax her out of a pouting session and back to work. On top of all those annoyances, the new desk clerk called several times with questions, and there were issues with housekeeping and the huge alcohol delivery for the party. Luckily, the issues were time-consuming but easily resolved. Eric actually remembered to eat lunch, even if he only had time for a sandwich. He was amazed when he got everything taken care of and his watch said four-thirty. Damn, I'm good! Technically, he was supposed to be on duty until three and on-call for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Most of the year nothing big came up outside of his normal hours, but during the hectic holidays he often worked a lot later than his scheduled time. A sense of accomplishment over everything he'd finished today washed over him, putting him in a good mood. His mood improved even more when as he left the resort and headed to his room, one of the guests told him what a great time she and her husband were having at the resort. Eric's pleasure over his productive day and the compliment he'd received lasted all the way until he got to his room, ate another sandwich, changed, and went to the beach. When he sat on the beach and looked around him, his happiness slowly drained away. Down the beach the honeymooning couple who had arrived two days ago, right after their Christmas 30

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wedding, frolicked on the beach together. Even from a distance their love was obvious. Watching them laughing brought an ache to his chest, and he rubbed at it absently. Why can't I find someone who'll care about me and not just use me? And why the hell am I sitting here moping like this, in the most beautiful place in the world, after a great day? Lost in his thoughts, Eric didn't notice an approaching figure until a shadow fell over him. He jumped in surprise and looked up. Dex stood over him, holding a pair of sandals in one hand and Eric's suit jacket in the other. "Sorry I startled you. I wanted to return this." Eric took the jacket from his outstretched hand. You could have just returned it to the front desk, he thought uncharitably. Rather than voicing his displeasure, though, he muttered out a half-hearted, "Thanks." He looked away, refusing to meet the other man's gaze. Instead of being put off by Eric's less-than-sincere gratitude, the other man sat on the sand beside him. "Sun'll be setting soon." "In less than half an hour. I like to come and watch it whenever I get the chance. The Hawaiian sunsets never get old." "You know, I rarely catch a sunset." Dex looked at the ocean, a faraway look on his face. "I've got this great apartment in New York with an incredible view, but I take it for granted. When I got the place I thought I would appreciate the view, but somehow I never did." 31

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"I never used to watch sunsets either, when I lived in Colorado," Eric found himself saying. My stupid mouth has a mind of its own around this guy! "I was surrounded by the most amazing mountains, and my only concerns were about my job, and ... other stuff. I didn't appreciate the beauty around me and now it's gone. I won't ignore things like sunsets again." Dex wiggled his bare toes in the sand for a long moment before answering. "You know, you're right. I've been doing the same thing, but I'm not happy. Since I've been here, I've made time for things like sunrises and sunsets, and just thinking. And right now, I'm thinking ... I feel happier." Neither of them spoke for a long time. They just watched the sky as the sun inched closer to the horizon. Boats and late surfers dotted the ocean, which was being painted in gold, orange, and red by the sun. The beautiful sight lifted Eric's spirits a bit. He drew his knees up and wrapped his arms around them. He almost forgot Dex was sitting right next to him. At least until he spoke again. "It sounds like you loved Colorado. Why did you leave?" Eric stiffened. "That's a long story." "Sorry, I'm being nosy again. Just tell me to mind my own business. I won't get pissed off or anything. Actually, I'm used to it." Dex smiled wryly. "It's all right. I made the whole thing sound really mysterious, but it wasn't. I just had a situation I couldn't deal with, so I asked for a transfer. They needed a new assistant 32

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manager out here, so everything worked out fine. I actually like being here better." Eric looked away again. "I like it better with you here, too." Eric looked back at the other man in surprise, only to find those blue eyes trained on his face. This time, he couldn't mistake what was happening. Dex was definitely trying to tell him something. He stared back, trapped. Dex turned away abruptly. "Sun's setting." Eric gratefully returned his attention to the water, awed as always by the sheer beauty of the Hawaiian sunset. "I wish I could paint, so I could capture this and keep it forever." "I wish I could paint too, so I could capture you." Did he just say what I think he did? Eric stopped, and then slowly turned toward the other man. "W-what are you saying?" he stammered. "This." Dex leaned forward and touched his lips to Eric's. At first Eric just sat there like a statue, but when the other man's tongue stroked along the seam of his lips he let Dex deepen the kiss. The feeling of a tongue sliding against his was so exquisite, he felt himself hardening almost instantly. Dex slipped his hand into Eric's hair to hold him there. Eric reciprocated by slipping his arms around the taller man's neck and twining his hands into his dark hair. The strands felt soft and sleek. He heard Dex moan, and he whimpered in response. Then awareness hit him like a bucket of cold water. Shit! He's a guest, and he lives in New York. I'm not going to be his vacation fuck-buddy. Been there, done that. 33

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Breathing hard, he jerked away from Dex. Scrambling up as quickly as he could, he ran toward home. Only when he was safely inside did he notice he had forgotten his jacket again. **** Dex stared after the fleeing Eric, disappointment and elation warring in his heart. The men he kissed didn't usually run away like they were on fire, but at least Eric had kissed him back. And what a kiss it was! Even if the young man didn't want to want Dex, he clearly did. I wonder what happened to him to make him so skittish. I know he was enjoying the kiss as much as I was. Two seconds later, he was acting like he was scared of me or something, though. Maybe he's still in the closet. If that's the case I don't want to rush him. Or maybe he's coming off a recent breakup. He did mention moving from Colorado, and having some kind of situation there. Puzzled, Dex stood and began to walk slowly back to the hotel. Eric was definitely a mystery, one he was eager to solve. The evening definitely hadn't gone the way he'd hoped it would, but Eric was worth waiting for. He was sure about that much. I just hope I haven't screwed things up too much by pushing him.

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December 30 The morning of December thirtieth turned out to be the worst Eric had experienced in a long time. He awoke from his fitful sleep at six forty-five and nearly had a heart attack when he saw the time. His alarm hadn't gone off. Probably forgot to set the damned thing last night. He sat up, clutching his pounding head. He'd spent several hours last night drinking and watching stupid old B-movies on television. Obviously he'd overindulged in both alcohol and crappy movies, because he felt absolutely horrid this morning. Eric threw on his only clean suit, trying not to think about where and how he'd left his other suit jacket, and literally ran out the door. He reached the resort just after seven, and the day went downhill from there. The day's problems made the past two days seem uneventful. The power went out for no apparent reason, and was quickly restored only to go out again later. Both times the entire computer system crashed and had to be rebooted. Several guest issues arose from the power failures, so Eric had to take time out to soothe several upset and worried people. The power failure also caused the chef to completely freak out. Settling him down took the better part of an hour, especially after Eric impatiently snapped at the whiny little man. Throughout the entire ordeal, Eric's headache continued unabated. He felt vaguely nauseous every time he thought of what had happened on the beach last night. First he'd been 35

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stupid enough to respond to Dex's kiss, and then he'd compounded the mistake by running away like a little kid. He must think I'm completely insane. Of course, he wouldn't be too far off. At lunchtime, he barely managed to choke down half his sandwich before the seemingly never-ending drama began again. Around three pm, Eric caught sight of the very man he was avoiding. Dex was coming in from outside. Luckily, he was in the midst of major preparations for the party tomorrow night, so he was able to pretend he didn't see Dex. Childish, but effective. The other man practically walked right by him, but Eric focused on his conversation with the diva designer and the florists. "We simply must have the exact flowers I've specified! I can work with no less," the designer shrilled. One of the florists cut in. "Mr. Wright, those particular flowers will not last the duration of the party. I don't care what she says. I know flowers, and the ones she wants are not the best choice!" The florist's rising voice sent a shaft of pain into Eric's skull. Calling on all his reserves, he tried to smooth over the situation with the designer. "Ms. Dalton, your floral design sounds lovely, but we have to consider the environment. You don't want your name associated with wilted flowers, do you?"

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He rubbed the bridge of his nose as he spoke, hating New Year's more than ever now. The holiday was becoming a gigantic pain in the ass. Before the designer could answer his question, he was called away to deal with yet another crisis. Maybe they can fight this one out on their own. Finally, at seven-thirty, Eric managed to wrap up all of the pre-party stuff. Everything else would be done tomorrow, before the party. His work schedule had been changed to evening hours for tomorrow. Mr. Turner had told Eric he was the only person who could be trusted to handle the party. He enjoyed the praise, but now he would have to work at the hated New Year's Eve party. Ugh. At least he didn't have to report in to work until 5:00 tomorrow. Someone else would have to handle most of the food issues and deal with the chef all day. Not having to deal with the chef would probably be worth working the party. He definitely didn't envy whoever had his shift tomorrow. Eric had pulled off his jacket and started loosening his tie when his phone chirped. "Fuck!" he hissed under his breath as he answered. "Wright here." "Eric, I know you're off but I need you to do something for me." Shit, Mr. Turner! "What do you need, sir?" "An important fax just came in for Mr. Mitchell from his agent. I need you to drop the papers off at his suite before you leave." 37

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No, no, no, no, no! Trying to get out of what was sure to be an awkward encounter, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "If the fax is so important, won't he want to come and get it himself?" "No, he's busy writing. You're the only one who knows who he really is other than me, and I'm tied up right now." Eric sighed, resigned. "All right, sir. I'll take the fax to him." "Good man, Eric! I knew I could count on you." Mr. Turner hung up before he could respond. Eric replaced his phone at his hip and trudged into the office to pick up the fax. He slipped the papers into a manila envelope without even glancing at them and took the envelope upstairs. Maybe he'd be able to just slip it under the door and leave. Eric had just knelt to put his plan into action when the door abruptly opened. He looked up, surprised. "Your boss called and told me you were on your way up," Dex explained. "Oh." Eric felt stupid. He remembered he was crouching on the floor and stood awkwardly. "I thought you looked bad the other night, but you look horrible tonight. Are you okay?" Dex sounded concerned. Thanks a lot! "I'm fine. It's been a long day. I really need to go." Eric kept his gaze firmly on his feet. "Here." He thrust the envelope at the author. After a few seconds, Dex reached out and took the fax from him. "Thanks, Eric. Wait just a second and I'll go get 38

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your jacket." Without waiting for an answer, the other man went back into the suite. Eric stood there, feeling tired, achy, and even lonelier than usual. Dex returned quickly with the jacket, and Eric reached out to take the garment, still not looking up. Instead of letting go when Eric had it, though, the other man held onto the jacket. Eric looked up, confused. "I'm really sorry about last night, Eric. I guess I read you wrong. I was feeling lonely, and I thought we had a connection. It was just so ... That's no excuse, I know ... I'm sorry." He abruptly let go of the jacket and turned away. Dex sounded sad and lonely, much as Eric felt. A connection. I felt it too. An unfamiliar hope began to rise inside him. Maybe he's not just looking for a fuck-buddy. And I don't want to be alone tonight. Decided now, Eric reached out to touch the other man's shoulder. "You didn't read me wrong, Dex. I just kind of freaked out. It wasn't you." He turned back toward Eric. "It's not me, it's you? Are you letting me down easy?" "No. I'm not letting you down at all." One dark eyebrow went up, questioning. "Does this mean—" "I felt the connection too. I'd like to see where it leads. Are you going to invite me in?" Dex's smile could have lit up the whole resort. "Fuck yes, I am!" He held the door open wide and motioned for Eric to precede him. Laughing, Eric went in. 39

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"I hope you have something to eat in there." Eric tossed his two jackets onto the armchair. "I am starving. All I've eaten today is half a sandwich. Let me tell you, this holiday crap is about to kill me." "I saw you earlier talking to a bunch of people. You looked really stressed out." Dex stuck his head inside the fridge and rummaged around. He grimaced guiltily at the concern in Dex's tone. "I have a couple of confessions to make. I actually saw you earlier. I just pretended I didn't because I was afraid to face you. And one reason I feel bad today is I drank too much last night after I got home. Then I overslept this morning and the whole day sucked." "I thought you might have seen me earlier." Dex finally found what he was looking for in the fridge and stood, grinning. "I have a confession too. I made my agent fax me something I didn't really need, then I called your boss. I knew he'd make you bring it up. I really shouldn't have made you come up here, but I wanted to apologize and give you your jacket back." "It's okay. If you wouldn't have, I would never have come up here." And I'm glad I did. "Sit down. Make yourself comfortable." Eric sat on the sofa, and the other man brought him a bottle of water and a covered plate. "All I have to eat is some fruit and cheese. I hope that's okay." "It's great. At this point I'd eat anything." Eric uncovered the plate and began to eat. 40

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Dex just sat back in the nearby armchair and watched him, smiling the whole time. Silence reigned as Eric ate, but it was a comfortable silence. He didn't feel pressured to make conversation at all, a lucky thing since he was too hungry to waste time talking. When Eric finally finished, he put the plate on the coffee table and leaned back into the sofa's soft cushions. "I feel a lot better now." "Hope so. I didn't think you were ever going to stop eating," Dex joked. "What are you trying to say? I'm a pig? Well, I'll let the insult slide because I'm too tired to do anything about your smart mouth right now." A sly smile spread across the other man's face. "Too tired, huh? Well, if you're too tired, you'd better go to sleep." Eric watched Dex's face as he replied. "I guess I forgot to mention I don't have to go in until five tomorrow evening. Besides, I'm a little too keyed up to sleep. I need to relax first." He knew the moment the other man understood what he meant, because those blue eyes flared with heat. The sly smile widened, and Dex leaned forward in the chair. "I can think of a few things we could do to relax you." I'd forgotten how much fun it is to flirt with someone. "Hmmm ... Why don't you come over here and show me?" Dex's eyes grew even hotter, and he stood slowly. He walked the short distance across the room to the sofa, and sat down beside Eric. "Turn around." 41

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Eric did. He groaned aloud as the taller man leaned over and began to massage his shoulders and neck. "God, that feels good." He could feel the tension melting out of him. A new kind of tension began to build, though, as Dex reached around him and began to unbutton his shirt. He helped by yanking his already loosened tie over his head and tossing the bit of silk toward the chair holding his jackets. The instant Dex had the shirt completely unbuttoned, Eric yanked it free of his pants. The author slipped the shirt off Eric's shoulders and tossed it onto the chair with the other clothing. Eric still wore a white tank undershirt, but the thin cotton wasn't much of a barrier against the other man's insistent hands. When Dex slid his hands up into the undershirt and teased Eric's nipples, Eric couldn't take the teasing anymore. He turned in Dex's arms and pulled his head down for a kiss. Dex seemed startled at first, but he quickly took control of the kiss, slipping his tongue into Eric's mouth and deepening the kiss. Eric responded eagerly. This time, he wasn't going to run away. **** Hardly able to believe he had Eric in his arms at last, Dex savored the kiss. Their last kiss, on the beach, had been nice, but this one was incredible. Feeling Eric relax into his embrace only made it better. He could hardly believe the controlled, perfectly-put-together Eric would cede his control 42

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like this, would allow Dex to strip away his perfectly professional exterior. I don't know why he decided to come in tonight, but I'm not going to question it. Threading his hand into Eric's hair, he tested the softness of the silky blond locks he'd wanted to touch ever since he'd first seen them. At the same time, he stroked his tongue along Eric's, tasting fruit as well as the unique flavor of the man himself. The intoxicating combination drew Dex in, made him want the kiss to last forever. God, I've missed this! He gasped as Eric slipped a hand under his t-shirt and caressed his back, each fingertip leaving a trail of tingles in its wake. The feelings almost seemed new to him, he'd been alone so long. That Eric was the one doing the touching only made the experience more special. Even if all they did was kiss, he would be content. Smiling against the other man's soft lips, Dex gave himself up to the feelings washing over him.

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December 30-Later "Let's go to the bedroom," Eric mumbled against Dex's lips. They'd been making out on the couch like teenagers for more than half an hour. Eric decided the time had come to take it to the next level. "Are you sure?" Dex leaned back until he could meet Eric's eyes. "Is the sky blue?" "Actually, it's dark right now, but I'm going to take your answer as a yes." Dex grabbed Eric's hand and pulled him up off the sofa. Eric laughed at his soon-to-be lover's eagerness as Dex tugged him into the bedroom. He stopped laughing moments later, though, when Dex pressed him up against the bedroom door and kissed him forcefully. He whimpered, unexpectedly turned on by the little show of dominance. Strong hands held Eric still as Dex kissed his way along Eric's jaw and down his neck. Moaning, Eric arched his neck to give him better access. "You are so sexy," Dex panted against his neck. In response, Eric rubbed himself against Dex, rejoicing in the feeling of a warm body pressed against his own. Months had passed since the last time with Bill. He'd been celibate ever since, and now his abstinence actually seemed like a good thing. The feeling was sweeter after the long wait. He felt suction on his neck and dimly wondered if he would have a mark the next day, but the thought fled as a large hand cupped his already painfully hard cock. 44

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He closed his eyes, thrusting against Dex's hand helplessly. "God, that's ... Don't stop!" "Sorry. I don't want you coming just yet." Eric whimpered as the hand moved up to his face. Before he had time to be too disappointed, Dex kissed him again. Suddenly impatient, Eric pulled away. He grabbed the hem of the taller man's shirt and yanked the garment off, pausing a moment to admire the unexpectedly sculpted chest he'd revealed. Next, he attacked the button on Dex's jeans. He had to fumble for a moment before the button popped open and he could tug the zipper down. Lightning quick, Dex moved away from Eric's hands. "In a hurry?" He laughed and danced further away when Eric tried to reach for him again. "You'll just have to wait. I want to take care of you first." The author held out a hand and Eric took it, allowing himself to be led to the bed. He squeaked, startled, when Dex pushed him down onto the bed. "Take off your pants and scoot up to the headboard." God, he's bossy. Despite his contrary thoughts, he quickly obeyed and waited to see what would happen next. He didn't have to wait long. "Lay on your back." When he did, Dex reached out and placed Eric's hands around two of the spindles of the headboard. "Now hold on to these. Don't let go." Why is he asking me to do this? Puzzled now, he gripped the bars tightly. Moments later, a warm, wet mouth kissed his thigh. Eric nearly arched off the bed. "Shit!" 45

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He heard a chuckle, and then Dex's mouth closed over him. He'd never felt anything like the warm, wet joy of Dex's lips and tongue on his cock. Heaven! He reached a hand down, wanting to do ... something. The dark head which had been bent over him tilted up, waiting. For a moment Eric stared, confused, but he remembered he was supposed to be holding on to the bars. He put his hand back on the bars. "Good boy." Eric started to make a smart remark—something along the lines of what am I, a dog?— but found he couldn't speak when Dex's lips closed over his cock again. Unable to help himself, Eric started thrusting up to meet his lover's mouth. Dex swirled his tongue around Eric's erection, adding the occasional hint of teeth. When he brought one hand up to encircle the base, Eric could feel an orgasm building. He tried to pull away. "Dex, wait, I'm going to come." Eric's words only made the other man suck harder and faster. With a wordless cry, Eric arched and came. Dex didn't release him, though—he kept sucking until Eric was completely spent. Afterward, he crawled up to lay beside Eric, who finally let go of the headboard. A few minutes passed before Eric could speak again. "Wow. No one's ever done that for me before." Dex looked astonished. "What? Given you a blow job?" "No. I mean..." Eric blushed. "Let me come in their mouth." 46

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The other man gave him a sweet smile. "I'm glad I could be the first, then." They were silent for a while more as Eric basked in the afterglow. Then a thought occurred to him. "Shit! I'm sorry, Dex, I forgot about you!" Eric sat up, unable to believe he'd been so selfish. Pulling him back to the mattress, Dex pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "It's okay, Eric. I enjoyed what we did, too. You might not have thought I was getting anything out of what just happened, but it was damned hot watching you come." Eric blushed again. Compliments always flustered him unless they were about work. "You didn't come, though." Dex gave him a predatory smile. "We can take care of that. Please tell me you bottom." When Eric nodded, the smile widened. "Good, because I definitely enjoy topping." After rummaging in the drawer of the nightstand, the other man triumphantly held up a bottle of lube and a condom. Eric reached out and took the condom from him. "I'll help you with this." Instead of just opening up the condom and rolling it on, however, Eric decided to tease a bit first. He pushed the larger man down and slid his hands over the smooth, hard muscles of his chest. Seeing Dex's startled expression at being pushed, he laughed and leaned down to lick a small, brown nipple. The little bud hardened instantly under Eric's teasing tongue. He repeated the same treatment on the other nipple, and then blew softly on it. At the same time, he slid a hand down and grasped Dex's erection. He stroked lightly. 47

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With a hiss, the other man grabbed his hand. "Damn, Eric. If you keep that up, this'll be over really fast." "Sorry," Eric lied. Dex rolled his eyes, not at all fooled. He took the condom from Eric. "Lay down on your back." Feeling suddenly naïve and inexperienced, he tried not to blush again. He'd heard of this of course, and he knew the position was fairly common, but no one in his admittedly limited experience had ever suggested it to him before. "On my back? I've never done that." "I want to see your face while I make love to you." Eric bit his lip, feeling a sudden sting behind his eyes. No one had ever called it "making love" before. Bill had always called the sex between them "fucking," probably because to Bill, that's all the act had been. "You okay?" Dex touched Eric's cheek tenderly, his blue eyes concerned. "I'm great," Eric said, meaning it. He met his lover's eyes, smiled, and wriggled into position on the bed. Dex's touch was gentle as he slicked his long fingers with lube and slid one into Eric. Eric's eyes fluttered closed as the other man prepared him, first with one finger, then two, and finally three. He felt the familiar stretch and slight burn, as well as the indescribable feeling of bliss when Dex hit just the right spot. His cock swelled again as those talented fingers hit the spot over and over. "Dex, please! Fuck me!" Eric squirmed desperately, unable to wait any longer. 48

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Obviously Dex felt equally eager, because he didn't argue or tease. He quickly donned the condom and slicked himself. He looked into Eric's eyes and slowly pushed into Eric's hole. Dex was bigger than he expected, so a moment went by before Eric could relax enough to accommodate him. Dex thrust carefully past the ring of muscle and waited to make sure Eric was okay. Eric relished the feeling of fullness, of connection, for a moment before he could no longer hold still. He needed more. He wanted Dex to hit the same spot he'd hit earlier with his fingers, only with his cock. "Still impatient." Dex laughed and began to thrust. At first, his movements were carefully slow and gentle, but when Eric arched up to meet him, he began to thrust harder and faster. Eric knew Dex's orgasm was close when the rhythm faltered. He was surprised when a hand wrapped around his cock and began to stroke it in time with the thrusts. Other guys had forgotten about Eric and focused on their own pleasure. "God, Eric!" His lover's hand tightened as he came, and Eric's orgasm overtook him as well. Dex collapsed beside him, panting, arm over his face. "Damn. I think you killed me." Eric poked the other man in the side, snickering when he flinched. "You don't look dead to me." "I might as well be. I feel like my brain went out through my cock." What? "Is what you just said supposed to be a compliment? Because if it is, it's a really weird one."

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"Yeah, it's a compliment." Dex moved his arm off his face and turned to look at Eric. "It's my idiotic way of saying I really enjoyed myself." Eric rolled his eyes. "What a way with words. How did you ever get on the bestseller list?" Dex smacked Eric in the head with his pillow. "Shut up, you. I'll be back." He got up and headed for the bathroom. When he returned, he had taken care of the condom. He tossed Eric a damp washcloth and got back into bed. Eric cleaned himself off and tossed the washcloth in the general direction of the bathroom. He started to get up to make sure the wet cloth had gotten there, but Dex pulled Eric into his arms and dragged the covers up over them. Being in the other man's arms felt unexpectedly safe. He tried to savor the feeling, but he was tired. A few minutes later, Eric fell asleep. **** He awoke to find they'd shifted in sleep, so Dex sprawled across the mattress from him. He lay there for a while, wondering if he should get up and sneak out. Dex hadn't said anything about him leaving, which didn't necessarily mean anything. After the wonderful lovemaking they'd shared, an awkward, regretful morning-after would ruin everything. Maybe I should just go. I don't want to stay and see an "I wish you were gone" look in his eyes ... And there's no way this can go anywhere. He lives in New York, and he's famous. I know I shouldn't have slept with him in the first place, but I 50

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can't regret what we did. Whatever happens now, this night was worth it just for the way he made me feel. Eric rolled over and started to get up. Dex shifted and reached out, mumbling sleepily. "Eric?" When Eric didn't reply, Dex turned on the lamp and sat up. He saw Eric sitting on the edge of the bed and frowned. "Were you leaving?" Eric shrugged. "I didn't know if you'd want me here in the morning." "I want you here in the morning, Eric." He put his hand on Eric's shoulder. "This wasn't just a one-night stand for me." Eric turned. The vulnerability in Dex's eyes surprised him. He really wants me to stay! "It wasn't for me either." "Good." His lover's face lit with relief. "I'd really like for you to spend the day with me tomorrow, at least until you have to go to work." A warm feeling unfolded in his chest. "I'd like to spend the day with you, too, but I don't have any clothes. I'm awake now, so I'll go get some." Dex leaned forward and kissed him. Unable to hold back a smile, Eric stood and felt around for the clothes he'd worn earlier. "What was that for?" "Incentive to hurry back," Dex said softly as Eric left. **** Closing his eyes, Dex lay back on the mattress. He felt giddy, like a teenager who'd discovered his crush liked him too. Eric was coming back, and they would be spending the day together tomorrow. Picturing Eric's sweet brown eyes, he 51

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knew the loss of a workday wouldn't be much of a sacrifice. He'd give up much more to spend time with Eric. He grinned. To hell with writing! I get to spend the day with a gorgeous guy who actually seems to be able to put up with me. As he lay there, another thought occurred to him. I could really fall for this one. Hell, I already am falling for him. The thought should scare him, but somehow he didn't feel nervous at all. Eric probably would, though. Clearly someone had done a number on Eric if he thought Dex wouldn't want him to stay the night. The poor guy acted like nobody had ever done anything nice for him or cared for him. I'll take care of him, though. On cue, Eric reappeared in the doorway. Dex drank in the sight of him, his earlier happiness returning full-force. When the younger man appeared hesitant, he held out his arms. "I missed you." A wide smile gave him the answer he sought. Eric dropped the clothing he carried onto a chair and came to bed, toeing off his shoes and shimmying out of his pants as he walked. "How could you miss me already? I've only been gone a few minutes." "A few minutes too long. I got cold." Raising an eyebrow, the other man stopped just short of the bed. "Cold? In Hawaii?" Still holding his arms out, he looked at Eric solemnly. "Freezing." Laughing, Eric climbed back into bed and nestled into his arms. "Better now?" 52

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"Much better." He kissed Eric softly. Although he'd intended the kiss to be a simple welcomeback, it quickly turned into something more. The temptation of his lover's mouth proved too much to resist, especially when Eric whimpered and leaned into him. Groaning, he took Eric's mouth with a passion that startled even him. "You really did miss me," Eric gasped when he pulled back to catch his breath. "I really did." Leaning forward, he grazed his lips along Eric's jaw and down the curve of his throat, pausing to lick and nibble the soft, slightly salty skin he found there. Eric shivered and giggled, ticklish. The sound made him smile. "I like you laughing." After that, they didn't talk much. While exploring each other, they communicated with sighs, moans, and touches. Dex stripped off the white t-shirt and boxers Eric wore and proceeded to take his time learning his new lover's body with lips and hands. He found the ticklish spot on the back of Eric's knees and the place on his lower back that made him shiver. He sighed with pleasure as Eric discovered how sensitive his neck was. Even when their erections brushed against each other, they kept their unhurried pace. Side by side, they began to rub together, slowly but purposefully. Giving him a soft smile, Eric reached down and grasped both their cocks in his hands and began to stroke. Each pull made an exquisite friction. Dex wanted to close his eyes, but instead he stared into Eric's. Those emotion-filled brown eyes held his. 53

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When they came, almost together, Dex was still staring into Eric's eyes. The look he saw there brought an unfamiliar tightness to his chest. "You're so beautiful." He didn't even realize he'd spoken aloud until Eric ducked his head, blushing. Before Eric could argue, Dex tipped his face up until their eyes met again. "You are. And I'm glad you're here with me." Smiling hesitantly, Eric leaned in and brushed a quick kiss across his lips. "I'm glad I'm here too." "Good." Dex fumbled behind him for the box of tissues on the nightstand. Finally snagging a couple of tissues, he quickly cleaned them up as best he could and pulled Eric into his arms. A few minutes later Eric was asleep. Dex listened to his quiet breathing, relishing the feeling of sleeping next to someone after such a long time alone. To think I only came out here to write, and I meet someone instead. He pressed a tender kiss to the top of Eric's head. I'm not going to let anything mess this up.

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December 31 The next morning, Eric awoke from a very hot dream to find a hand stroking his morning erection. He smiled and stretched. "Mmmm. What a way to wake up." Dex kissed him softly, and then gave him an exaggerated frown. "It's about time, sleepyhead! I've been waiting forever." Eric didn't reply, just slid down the bed and took Dex's cock into his mouth. He could hear muffled cursing from above him, but he didn't stop. He reached down to fondle Dex's balls as he sucked, causing more cursing. He knew he'd driven Dex completely insane when his lover pulled him up, tossed him the lube, and hurriedly shoved a condom on. "In a hurry?" As he got up on his hands and knees and began to prepare himself, Eric echoed Dex's taunting comment of the night before, knowing the repetition would annoy him. "If I am, it's because of you," Dex retorted. Eric cried out in ecstasy as his lover thrust into him. In this position, he couldn't see Dex's beautiful eyes, but the deeper penetration made up for the loss. "God, that's good. Don't stop!" Eric's encouragement spurred Dex on, and his thrusts became harder and faster. Unable to help himself, Eric rocked back to meet each stroke. This was completely unlike the sweet and tender lovemaking of a few hours before. This was quick and desperate and hot, and he loved it. 55

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All the teasing had clearly put Dex close to the edge, but he was able to hold off long enough for Eric to come before he did. The feel of a hard cock hitting the sweet spot on every thrust was incredible. To his shock, Eric actually came from penetration alone. Dex followed right afterward and collapsed on top of him. He smiled as he felt a soft kiss on his back. I could definitely wake up like this more often. **** It was almost noon when they finally got out of bed, Dex promising to order some food from room service while Eric showered. While he headed off to the living room to make some calls, Eric used the bathroom and took a shower. He didn't linger under the hot spray, not wanting to miss out on time with Dex before he had to go to work. Still damp, dressed in the old t-shirt and faded jeans he'd gotten from his apartment, Eric padded back into the bedroom, wondering what Dex had ordered for their lunch. After their busy night and morning, Eric was starving. His lover wasn't in the bedroom, so he headed for the living room, still toweling his hair. Through the open door, he heard the author talking on the phone. The phone was obviously on speaker, because he could hear another man's voice as well. "Aren't you bored to death yet? I bet you can't wait to get back to New York," the unfamiliar voice said. Dex replied instantly. "Not at all. You know me, I can always find something to amuse myself." Eric stopped, not liking the turn of their conversation. 56

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There was silence for a moment, then a big booming laugh from the other man. "You dog! You're fucking that little manager! Now I know why you wanted me to send a useless fax." Eric felt the impact of those words like a punch in the stomach. I can always find something to amuse myself. You're fucking that little manager. All his newfound happiness began to slip through his fingers like water. A tiny little voice in his heart cried out, I thought Dex was different! I thought he really cared. This was even worse than discovering Bill's secret, because he'd been through the same thing once and had been stupid enough to fall for it again. I said I'd never get involved with a guest again. I said I'd never be used again. Why can't I ever learn? His mother, Janice, Brad, Bill—a lifetime of rejections crystallized into this one moment, this one terrible betrayal. Not waiting to hear the rest of Dex's distasteful conversation, he dropped the towel and fled. After the door slammed behind him the feeling of carpet under his bare feet reminded him he'd left his shoes behind, but he didn't care. He ran through the halls and down the stairs, ignoring employees who spoke to him or looked at him oddly. All he knew was the desire to get away, to get home. I can always find something to amuse myself. You're fucking that little manager. He tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. An eternity later, Eric reached his rooms. He unlocked the door as quickly as his shaking hands would allow, entered, 57

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and leaned against the inside of the door, gasping. How could I have been so stupid? What else could I possibly be to him, other than a temporary amusement? The words of his last foster mother ran through his head over and over like a mantra: No one will ever want you. Eric slid down the door, wrapped his arms around his knees, and huddled there. Apparently he was good enough to fuck, and good enough to be entertaining for a while, but not good enough to love. No matter how much he might want to think otherwise, everything he'd learned in the past few years showed the terrible truth of her words. "You were right, Janice. You were right." Eric Wright, who hadn't shed a single tear since his mother abandoned him when he was six years old, put his head down and cried. **** Dex had no sooner finished ordering food for himself and Eric when the phone rang. That has to be Tom. No one else would have such bad timing. Scowling, impatient to be with Eric again, he picked up the phone. "What, Tom?" "How'd you know it was me?" He almost laughed at the astonishment in his agent's voice. "Only you would call right now. I'm kind of busy, you know." "Busy writing, I hope."

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Thinking of Eric in the shower, he smiled to himself. "No, not right now. But I will, soon. I'm feeling very inspired all of a sudden." "Oh. Good." He snickered at Tom's obvious confusion. Before he could reply, though, there was a knock on the door. "I'm going to put you on speaker, Tom. Room service is here." After punching the speaker button, Dex went to the door and collected the food he'd ordered for himself and Eric. He couldn't wait to eat—he'd ordered some foods he would definitely enjoy eating with Eric. Or off Eric. Whichever. Placing the food on the coffee table, he turned his attention back to his agent. "What do you need, Tom?" "I wanted to check on my favorite client. Is that a crime? I know how you get." He frowned, not sure what Tom was trying to say. "What are you talking about?" "You're always doing something. I've never seen you relax or sit still. Now you're sitting around at some boring resort. Aren't you bored to death yet? I bet you can't wait to get back to New York." Annoyed by how little the man knew him, Dex gave a flippant reply. "Not at all. You know me. I can always find something to amuse myself." For a few seconds, there was total silence, but then Tom laughed loudly. "You dog! You're fucking that little manager! Now I know why you wanted me to send a useless fax." Dex glared at the phone, momentarily struck speechless by his agent's obnoxiousness. I can't believe I've never 59

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noticed what a complete ass Tom can be. When he finally answered, he knew his voice sounded as cold and angry as he felt. "Shut up, Tom." "But—" A door slammed, catching his attention. A sense of dread filled him when he saw a crumpled towel on the floor. Eric. "Damn it, Tom. Can't you ever keep your mouth shut? Eric isn't just some 'little manager' I'm fucking. I'm sure that's what he thinks, though, after what you said." Angry and worried, Dex punched the speaker button again and slammed the receiver down. He needed to find Eric, to explain. A quick scan of the suite revealed his lover's shoes and a couple of pieces of last night's clothing, as well as the discarded towel, but nothing else. Oh, hell. He ran off without his shoes. He must be upset, and who could blame him? Tom made me sound like some kind of player who goes around picking up guys and discarding them. "Damn it," he muttered aloud. Though he knew Eric would be gone, he still went to the door and looked down the hallway. As he'd suspected, Eric was long gone. I've got to find him. But how? I don't know where he lives, or even his phone number. All I know is he's going to be at work tonight. Frowning, he picked up the phone and dialed the front desk, not at all surprised to find the desk clerk hadn't seen Eric. He had the clerk try to page Eric, but he never responded. 60

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Next, he dialed Gerald Turner, the hotel's Senior Manager. The second Turner answered with a brisk hello, he spoke. "Gerald. It's Dexter Mitchell. Look, I'd like to speak with one of your employees, Eric Wright." He could almost hear Turner's frown through the phone line. "Why? Has Wright done something to displease you?" Displease me? Hell, no. "Not at all. I'd just like to discuss something with him. It's rather important." "Well, Mr. Mitchell, I can't give out phone numbers or addresses of employees. Privacy laws, you understand," Turner explained regretfully. "I can call Wright for you, and ask him to get in touch with you." Although Dex seriously doubted Eric would listen, he appreciated the effort. Even though he knew the man was only making the effort to try to placate his famous guest. "Thanks, Gerald." Sighing, he hung up the phone. I can't let things between us end like this. Not after last night. I've never felt that close to anybody before. Clearly finding Eric would be difficult, though. Unless I wait until this evening, and go to the New Year's Eve party. I know he has to work, so he won't be able to run off before I can talk to him. Dex paced the living room, considering the idea. The party was supposed to be black tie—he'd have to buy a tux. This plan would probably have a better chance of success than anything else he could think up, though, since he'd have a captive audience. Eric cared too much about his job to make 61

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a scene or run off at the party; he'd definitely get a chance to explain. Grabbing his wallet, Dex headed for the door. Buying a tux would be his first order of business, followed by thinking about what he would say tonight. He didn't want to screw up something this important.

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December 31—Evening It seemed like hours later when Eric finally got up from the floor and went to shower again. He kept the water cool and let the droplets run over his face, hoping the shower would make his face look less red and puffy. Throwing on khakis and his last polo shirt, knowing he'd have to change into a tux right before the party, he grabbed his phone and clipped it to his khakis. He'd received several calls while he'd been sitting on the floor. He'd known they were either work or Dex, and hadn't felt like dealing with either problem. Not bothering to check the waiting messages, he left for work with no enthusiasm. Keeping himself too busy to think turned out to be relatively easy. The party preparations took up every spare minute Eric had until just before eight, when he changed into his tux and went into the ballroom. Everything had turned out wonderfully. The food was artfully arranged, the decorations were stunning, and the band sounded great. Eric should have felt a great sense of accomplishment, but he only felt numb. He kept his best "perfect manager" smile pasted on as he talked with employees and guests, circulating throughout the room solving little problems as they came up and praying for the night to end. Everywhere he looked people were smiling and having fun. Several guests approached him to tell him how much they were enjoying the party. 63

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One middle-aged woman and her friend came over to talk to him for a while, and as they were leaving, she said, "I'll be expecting a kiss at midnight, young man!" Her friend rolled her eyes. "Oh, quit teasing the poor boy. I'm sure he's got someone a little younger to kiss!" His pasted-on smile wavered a bit. But I don't have anyone to kiss. Not anymore, anyway. The reminder hurt. After several hours of nonstop small-talk, smiling, and schmoozing, Eric spotted Mr. Turner approaching, accompanied by the "big boss," as they called the owner of the resort. Eric made sure his smile was extra bright as they stopped in front of him. "Wright!" The owner clapped him on the shoulder. "You and the rest of the staff have done a great job with this party. Go outside and relax for a while. Have a little champagne. You deserve to have some fun! And I'd better not see you here any later than two o'clock tonight. We have plenty of people to clean up the mess." Grinning, the owner plucked a glass of champagne off a passing waiter's tray, handed the crystal flute to Eric, and gave him a little push toward the terrace. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Eric immediately took the opportunity to escape the incessant happiness around him. He gratefully slipped outside onto the moonlit terrace. As he leaned on the stone railing, Eric stared at the moon—not full yet, but nearly so—and thought about how so many things changed, while so many others stay the same. 64

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Once again he stood alone on New Year's Eve while happy couples around him made plans for another year together. A few months ago he'd been in almost the same situation he faced now. The only real difference was this time he'd truly begun to believe things could be different. Bill's betrayal had hurt, but at the same time he'd almost expected to be let down. He hadn't really believed in Bill, or himself. Why he'd been stupid enough to believe in Dex after only a few days would probably remain a mystery. "Maybe some people just aren't meant to be happy," he mused aloud. "Maybe I'm just not meant to be happy." "I don't believe that." Eric tensed at the sound of Dex's voice, but he didn't turn around. He didn't reply either, so the silence stretched out for several long moments. Dex finally broke the silence. "Where did you go earlier? I had you paged several times, but you never answered. I even asked your boss to call you. I wanted to call you myself, but I realized I didn't have your number." Eric had the childish urge to cover his ears. "Don't." "Don't what?" "Don't act like you care!" Unwilling to continue the charade, he turned to face the man who'd broken his heart. Seeing how good Dex looked in a classic tux only made him feel worse. He would show up looking like that when I'm trying to stop thinking about him. "What? Of course I care!" Dex stared at him, his face a study in hurt confusion. 65

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"Oh, of course!" Suddenly furious Dex would have the nerve to stand there looking hurt, Eric jabbed a finger at Dex and spat out a torrent of angry words. "You care because if I'm not around, you'll have to find another way to 'amuse' yourself besides 'fucking the little manager'! Well, I'm sorry, Dex, but I'm not a toy you can amuse yourself with and just throw away when you leave. I won't be used again!" Trembling, on the verge of tears, Eric tried to go back inside. There was no way he was going to cry in front of Dex. Before he could get past, though, Dex moved to block his way. He tried to go around, but the taller man grabbed his arm. Eric yanked his arm away and backed into the railing, trapped. "Wait, Eric. Just hear me out. Please." You haven't exactly given me much choice, have you? Crossing his arms defensively, Eric nodded stiffly. Dex kept his eyes on Eric's face as he spoke. "What happened between us last night—I wasn't just using you. If you'd heard the rest of my conversation with Tom earlier, you'd have heard me tell him you mean more to me than he thought you did. I don't know how it happened, because we've only known each other a few days, but I care about you." Eric stood there for several long moments, afraid to hope. He met Dex's eyes, searching for the truth. "You care about me?" "Very much." Dex looked back at Eric, his blue eyes unflinching. "And I hope someday you'll be able to believe me." 66

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"I want to believe you, but ... trusting people hasn't worked out too well for me." Eric looked down, ashamed of his cowardice. "I'm a little scared too, but I won't let fear stop me from feeling." Dex reached out to stroke Eric's cheek. Eric leaned into the touch, joy suffusing him as he began to believe. Inside, he could hear the party guests beginning the countdown to the New Year. Normally the sound was enough to have him feeling depressed, but suddenly Eric didn't mind so much. "...Two! ... One! Happy New Year!" Dex and Eric smiled at each other, and then Dex leaned in to kiss him. "Happy New Year," he murmured against Eric's lips. "Happy New Year." And for the first time, Eric actually meant the sentiment.

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December 31—One Year Later "It's about time you got home." Eric sank down on the beach beside Dex. "Sorry, I got tied up with the party setup. You know how work gets this time of year." "Yeah, Mr. Senior Manager. I missed you, though." Dex put his arm around Eric and pulled him close. Eric put his head on his lover's shoulder. "I missed you too, but I'm sure you had plenty of writing to do. I told you I'd be home before midnight, and here I am." "And you always keep your promises. Ready to make another?" He gently turned Eric to face him. "What do you mean?" "I know we can't get married, but we can exchange a promise with each other." He picked up something which had been sitting in the sand beside him and handed the small object to Eric. It was a box. Eric opened the lid, revealing two gold bands. For a moment the lump in his throat kept Eric from speaking. He swallowed a couple of times. "Oh, hell!" After a brief struggle, he let the tears come. The past year had been wonderful. Dex had gone back to New York as planned, but he'd come back as soon as he could. Eight months ago he'd bought the beach house and asked Eric to move in with him. Of course, Eric had agreed, and they'd been happy together ever since. Still, Eric had thought about how great life would be if they could have their commitment recognized. 68

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He looked at his lover, touched more than he could say by Dex's thoughtfulness. He took out the two rings and handed one to Dex. He reached for Dex's hand and slipped the gold circlet on, and watched as Dex did the same for him. From down the beach he could hear the countdown to another New Year. Taking a deep breath, he made a vow. "I'll promise you this year, and every other one I have." Dex reached out and gently wiped the tears from Eric's face. "Happy New Year, my love." Leaning forward to kiss the love of his life, Eric realized New Year's had become his favorite holiday. The End

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More about the author: By day, Cassandra is a (relatively) mild-mannered middle school teacher. At night, she lets the characters in her head out to play as she writes erotic romance. When not writing, she can generally be found reading or spending way too much time online. Unfortunately for her husband, neither of Cassandra's personas enjoys doing housework. Visit Cassandra at www.cassandragold.com, or at her Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/cassandragold/. To check out her books, Red Rose Publishing: Fantasies: Independence Day Coming soon Dark Eden Press Double or Nothing Coming January 1

If you are connected to the Internet, take a moment to rate this eBook by going back to your bookshelf at www.fictionwise.com.

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