Chapter 1: Introduction
Derek had managed to grab the last bottle of Smartwater from the cooler. With his fingers curled around the chilled plastic, he glanced at his phone. Five minutes before six pm. "Just in time," he muttered to himself, and cracked open the seal.
The taste was smooth, a welcome break from the bitter coffee he indulged in throughout the workday. As he gulped down the water, his gaze strayed across the long line of gray cubicles stretching before him, identical as soldiers in formation.
The office space seemed to stretch on into infinity, punctuated only by clusters of water coolers or the distant break rooms.
It was only when he reached the supply closet that he realized Adam was standing just behind him, hands shoved into his pockets, looking as if he had been caught in the act. His heart made a sudden leap, as if caught in a fisherman's net and dragged beneath the ocean surface.
For a moment, their eyes met, the silent understanding of their attraction tugging between them like an insoluble knot.
"Excuse me, sir. I need to grab some pens." Adam said, breaking the charged silence between them.
"No problem at all." Derek replied, stepping out of his way. Adam shifted past him, the faint whiff of musk wafting through the air. I need to file the quarterly numbers." He mumbled, scanning the shelves and rummaging through the disarrayed contents.
Derek's gaze dropped to Adam's bottom, admiring how it stretched against the gray wool of his trousers.
As he watched, Adam's body tensed, and he accidentally knocked over a tub of pens.
"Fuck," Adam cursed under his breath, hunched down to gather up the scattered writing tools.
Derek couldn't resist teasing him. "That's quite a collection you have there," he said, smiling.
Adam glanced up briefly, eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'm such a clutz."
Derek squatted down and helped him.
His fingers brushed against Adam's as they both reached for the same pen, and an electric current seemed to pass between them. Adam's gaze lingered on Derek's lips, and in that moment, Derek knew that Adam was thinking about kissing him.
Neither of them said a word. They just kept collecting the pens, their movements slow and deliberate. The tension between them grew thicker, like clouds before a rainstorm. Derek could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his breath hitching in his throat.
Adam lost his balance and ran into the door. It slammed closed and the men heard a click. "Oh, shit." Adam muttered, turning to look at Derek. "I think we're locked in."
Derek felt his heart skip a beat. The walls seemed to close in around them. They were alone together in this tiny storage room, and the thought of being confined with this handsome younger man sent his pulse racing.