Just Us Box Set

And This Is Ed-9

We got into our vehicles, and I led the way to Hank’s. It was busy, what with it being a holiday and all, but we were able to find a booth almost immediately since a couple left as we arrived.

“Hey, Ed, how’s it hanging?” Larry, one of the waiters, said a few minutes later as he placed water before us.

“Hiya, Larry. I’m good. This is Titus. Treat him right, now. I’ll have whatever the special is this evening. Titus?” He looked at the menu, then decided to have the same thing I ordered.

“Wonderful!” Larry took our menus. “Beer?”

I figured one wouldn’t hurt. “Sam Adams.”

Titus asked for a Red Stripe.

“Thanks, guys. Back in a bit.”

Titus sipped his water, then leaned back against the leather cushions and stared at me.

“What?” I asked.

“You’re different outside of work. You let your hair down, you’re relaxed. It’s weird.”

“Not really. My work life is separate from this, and I like to keep it that way.”

He leaned forward. “But why? They’re not all bad at work.”

Yeah, well, you wouldn’t know, would you? You’re one of them. “This is how I prefer to deal with things.”

Larry returned with our beer and a wink, then disappeared again.

“So, you don’t date, either?” Titus asked before sipping his beer.

“None of your business.”

“But what if I wanted to date you?”

My eyebrows raised as high as they could go. “You don’t even know if I’m gay.”

“I made an educated guess, based on the fact that we’re in a bar where there’s a little bit of everything on display here, and Larry is a card-carrying member of the rainbow gang.”

“I could be bisexual, or curious.”

“Either way, it would be a win for me. Would you date me?”

“I don’t know you.”

“We can get to know each other over time.”

I snorted. “Technically, you’re my boss.”

“This would be separate from work.”

Whatever. “This is a ridiculous conversation.”

Larry chose that moment to deliver our meals. Everything looked delicious.

“Thanks, hon,” I said.

“Anytime, sweetie. Enjoy!” He was gone in a flash.

“We don’t have anything in common,” I continued.

“We both love Justin Timberlake.”

I sighed and focused on my food for a while. Titus kept bringing up the notion of dating throughout the meal, but I deflected his questions the entire time.

When we were finished, Larry appeared and asked if we wanted dessert. I quickly said “no,” and Titus paid, leaving a nice tip, then escorted me outside. We arrived at our vehicles, and I turned to him, leaning against the door of my truck. It was full dark now, though the lights in the parking lot made it easy enough to see his face.

“Tell me why it’s all of a sudden so damned important that we go out on a date?” I asked, my hands crossed on my chest.

“Isn’t that what people do who like each other?”

“I don’t like you,” I lied, hoping my body wouldn’t give itself away.

“I think you do, but you’re being stubborn. Or afraid.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, though my heart hammered at his every word.

He stepped closer. “You think I didn’t see that hungry look you gave me that first day in the introductory meeting? It may have been brief, but I caught it. You want me, but you’re denying yourself.” He stepped even closer. “Why?”

I turned my head and gazed across the parking lot. “I can be attracted to someone and still say ‘no.’ Choice is a thing, you know.”

Titus moved close enough that our chests touched. I breathed him in, unwillingly. “Look at me, Ed.” When I didn’t, he grabbed my chin and turned my head. “What are you afraid of?”

I searched his eyes, hoping to find truth, to be able to trust him. I didn’t know if I could. “You have the power to hurt me, and I’ve endured enough of that in my life. One more time would likely break me for good. After what I’ve gone through, it would take something drastic for things to change.”

He hesitated a moment before cupping my cheek. “Take that leap, Ed. Let me kiss you. You’ll see.”

Was this the definition of madness, then? This duel of tongues, slide of lips? Gentle nips that led to bites on chins and a nip to the tip of the nose. I wanted to melt into him, this stubborn man who broke through my barriers. If he hurt me, I didn’t know what I’d do.

“It’s just a date, Ed,” he whispered against my forehead. “Say ‘yes.’ We’ll go to that steakhouse and we’ll have a great time. And then we’ll go bar-hopping and out-sing everybody at karaoke. Say ‘yes.’”

God, he was making me weak, his words making me burn. I should say “no,” but I hadn’t been touched like this in a long time and it was hypnotic. So naturally, I fell under his spell.

“Yes,” I murmured, rubbing my cheek against his.

“You mean it?” He leaned back, hands on my face as he peered into my eyes.

“Absolutely. In for a penny…”

He beamed at me. “Excellent. How about Friday at seven? Can I pick you up at your place? Or do you want to meet somewhere central?”

“Stop by my place. I’ll text you the address.”

“Great.” He gave me one last kiss, making my c**k throb, then jumped into his d**k on wheels, and headed home.

I placed shaky hands on my face. My body felt flushed, and my skin seemed to be on fire. I actually had a date with the hottest guy I’d ever met. It seemed almost too good to be true.