“I’ll take that to be a yes, shall I?” The silver god stepped back to allow Tom to join him. But before Tom could recover his wits, several women jostled their way in, talking constantly, and he barely had time to squawk out his floor number before they effectively formed a living barrier between them. He could see the man’s eyes, and he shrugged a shoulder while quirking an eyelid.
Tom was determined he’d make a better impression the next time.
* * * *
Before Tom knew it a new week had started and he still hadn’t initiated a conversion with the god of the lift. He’d even tried getting off at increasingly higher floors than his own, buthad still found no opportunity to speak privately to the silver god. Although he did know his name…Damon. At least he’d foundthatmuch out.
This time he made it to the lift without any other passengers joining him, and Damon’s smile was sultry as he pressed the floor button. To Tom’s surprise, they went directly to the fifteenth floor.
“There are no offices up here,” he blurted, and Damon’s smile turned predatory.
“Exactly.” Damon allowed the doors to open, then hit thehold liftbutton. “I don’t have long. I decided that we’ve been flirting long enough. Are you free for lunch tomorrow? I’ll book a table at one of the nearby restaurants. Give us some real time to talk and see if we both want to take this further.”
“Yes, and yes.” Tom laughed. “Canyoutake the time?” he then asked.
“Oh, I’m sure one of the security team will man the lift for me. Especially if I give him a tenner.” Damon swooped, pulling Tom into his arms, but instead of the hard kiss Tom expected, it was soft and gentle and over way too soon. Damon eased back. “Until tomorrow.”
* * * *
Damon had booked lunch in Nord, a restaurant Tom hadn’t previously visited. They were shown to their table, and Damon instantly took charge. To start, he ordered ham hock terrine and smoked trout, which they shared. For mains, they chose pork ragu fazzoletti and cod kiev. The meal concluded with them sharing the blueberry pavlova.
They chatted easily when not eating, and by the time the meal concluded, Damon had dubbed it their first date, and Tom had agreed to see a play and have dinner with him afterwardsthat weekend.
On returning to work, the security operative nodded at Damon and Tom, ambling away to resume his duties, shrugging back into his high-vis vest.
“Won’t he get into trouble for that?” Tom asked, and Damon shook his head.
“He preferred my cash in his hand to taking his lunch hour. What he does in his break is his choice. Don’t worry. I won’t risk it a second time. But I’m entitled to a break, so since we will want to spend it together, I’ll let the company know they need to cover me at lunchtime. They’ll use a security guard anyway.”
“You’re so...self-assured.” Tom entered the lift as Damon slipped his lanyard with his identity badge back into place.
“Comes with age and experience.” Damon chuckled.
“You’re not that old,” Tom countered.
“There are nearly seventeen years between us. But I’m hoping they mean as little to you as they do to me.”
“They mean nothing.” Tom daringly pulled Damon down for a kiss. “That’s a promise.”
* * * *
Things were going so well with Damon that after their first month as a couple, Tom decided that hehadto tell someone. He felt closest to his grandfather. John, his father, was fine, but he always seemed cowed by his mother. Lizalwaysgot her way.
But not this time. There’s a real chance for Damon and me, and I won’t have her ruin it.
As always, Martin was pleased to see him, ushering him into his kitchen-diner.
“I’ll put the kettle on, and we can have tea while you catchme up on what’s been happening. I don’t hear much from John, but that’s hardly surprising. Liz only comes to try and force me into a retirement home. I’m not ready for one of those yet.”
Tom waited until they were sitting with steaming mugs of tea, and a plate piled high with biscuits before blurting out.
“I’m gay. And I have a boyfriend.” Tom stared at Martin, who blinked, then chuckled.
“Well, as to the first, I’ve known that for years, and for the second, good for you.”
“You...knew...?” Tom could only stare. He felt he’d dropped into the multiverse, but Martin just continued to smile and nod.
“I’m pretty sure you mother blames me in some ridiculous, twisted way in that closed mind of hers. Fortunately, she only picked up on it recently, so it never affected my relationship with you.”
