Page 14 of Forbidden Lust

“The one thing I am definitely not is posh. I graduated from university with a first, which gave me more options for trainee solicitor jobs. There would have been a lot more choice had I gone to a red brick, but spending those formative years in such a culturally diverse city made me the man I am today. I knew after I’d finished my traineeship that I wanted to be my own boss, so I just had that in my mind, and whenever opportunities came up, I would only take them if they’d get me to my goal. As long as what I did wasn’t hurting anyone else, I just kept working towards my dream. I think the day I knew I’d made it was when I gave my mum the keys to her own house.”

He looked at Josh, who had tears in his eyes. Daniel immediately gripped his hand.

“What’s wrong, Josh?”

“You need to tell more people that story.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s inspiring to know that there are gay guys who come from a background like yours and can be successful. Do you know what it would mean to young queer kids to hear that? You’re a role model.”

It was Daniel’s turn to feel embarrassed. He wasn’t a role model. He was just... him. Daniel wasn’t sure what to say inresponse. Josh must have sensed something, because he carried on talking.

“My dad wasn’t interested in me at all. It was just me and Mum until she met Derek, who became my stepdad. He’s Carly’s dad. My sister. He treated me like his own, and I even called him Dad.”

Daniel noticed Josh talking about his parents in the past tense and held his hand tighter.

“We had little growing up. London has always been expensive, even if you live in the shitty areas. They both worked their arses off, but it was always just not quite enough. We were always fed, clothed, and warm, but holidays and the latest gadgets were things the other kids at school had, not us. I was good at school as well, and I got a first in my degree.”

Daniel smiled at that. He’d suspected Josh was a bright lad, especially with how Oscar had raved about him, whilst also saying, “please don’t fuck my assistant.” Oops, but it was easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission!

“I studied business, because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I just knew I wanted to work in the city. But I didn’t want to be an accountant or a lawyer – no offence.”

Daniel chuckled. He still hadn’t let go of Josh’s hand, and he didn’t seem inclined to let go either.

“I kind of fell into the exec assistant role. I was working on the reception for an insurer and an EA role came up for a maternity cover. Thinking it would be good interview practice, I went for it and got it. I was going to look for something else, because I didn’t want to go back to reception, but then... my parents died in a car crash.”

Daniel’s heart broke for him. He’d suspected from the way Josh talked that he’d lost them, but to lose both of them at the same time, and such a brutal manner would have been devastating. Daniel had been heartbroken when his nan had died, but she’d been ill for a while, so it was a relieffor all of them in a way. He couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to lose someone they way Josh and his sister had.

He moved his chair closer to Josh, putting his hand on his thigh and gently running it up and down. There was nothing sexual about it; he just wanted to provide some comfort discreetly. He knew Josh wouldn’t want anything to be too obvious to the other patrons.

“How about your sister?”

“She was eighteen, so she stayed with me... and still is now. We live together. It’s just whilst she’s at university. To keep costs down, you know.”

“I’m lucky. Tuition fees were like a grand a year when I went.”

“Oh. I thought they would still have been free.”

“Cheeky fucker. I’m not that old.”

Josh laughed. Daniel put his arm round his shoulder and pulled him into a side hug, kissing him on the temple. The burdens Josh was carrying... He’d obviously stepped up to look after his sister at what was a traumatic time for both of them. It was admirable to have got to where he was in his career at twenty-five, and with everything else going on in his life. He wondered how he’d come to work for Oscar. It couldn’t have been long after his parents had died. Did Oscar know what he’d been through? Perhaps that’s why he’d tried to warn Daniel off.

Having Josh share this with him made Daniel feel even more connected to the remarkable young man, and he wanted to spend more time with him. He wasn’t quite ready to let him go yet.

“Do you have plans tonight?” he asked.

“Erm... no, no I don’t,” he replied, trying to hide his smile.

That was a good sign. Part of Daniel wanted to just be caveman and drag him back to his bedroom, but he wasgoing to be a gentleman... well, at first. He still wasn’t done with exploring Josh’s body.

“What would you like to do? I’ve lived in London for twenty-seven years and there are things I’ve still not done. I suspect you’re the same, especially being born here.”

“There is something, but you’ll think it’s weird.”

“No judgement here.”

“Promise not to laugh?”

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