Page 26 of The Butler

“That was spectacular. I’m not shitting you, Dek. It was unbelievable.” Dek had a way about him when we were physical that I had never encountered. His participation was at a different level, and he was all in at one thousand percent. We had just begun to be sexual, and something told me that he had many more tricks in his young repertoire that I wanted to be the benefactor of. His teacher, an actual professor, had done a bang-up job with Dek’s training, so perhaps I should set up a scholarship in his name.

“You can return the favor after dinner tonight, sir. I have another hole that needs filling.”

He stood and held his hands out to help me stand up. “I’m going to miss this after next week,” I said. I may have expressed too much sadness, but for some reason I didn’t mind being honest, and vulnerability was not a weakness I enjoyed sharing. “I mean it, Deklyn. You’re getting under my skin.”

“I bet you say that to all your admirers, sir. Let’s not forget, I’m an employee,” he said, breaking my swelling heart. I’d attempted to share a real vulnerability with him and he brushed it aside. I didn’t like his response. He turned away and walked to the bathroom to set my water temp and lay out towels.

I followed behind him obediently. “You’re making me feel ridiculous all of a sudden,” I admitted. “I can’t even turn my own water on, for fuck’s sake.”

“Then what would I do?” he asked. “I need this job, and besides, I like spoiling you.” Dek laid towels on a stool outside the cavernous shower and slid the glass door open.

“Because you’re paid to, right?” I asked, feeling unprotected, yet still pushing for a desired answer he wasn’t giving and wondering why I wished I meant something more to him.

“Because I like you, Linc.”

My heart skipped a beat at his comment. What I was afraid might happen between us had already occurred and he wasn’t helping me by being such a good person. There was something about Dek that was different. When he spoke to me he was genuine. I knew he meant every word. The outer shell that I had so perfectly created to hide behind was wasted on him. He had an ability to look past my billionaire facade, and directly to the parts of me that resonated within.

“Why would you say that?” I asked.

“What?” he asked. “That I like you?”

I nodded.

“Is it hard for you to believe?” He stepped in front of me, placed a hand on my chest, and blocked my way into the shower. “Now hang on a second, Linc. Just so we’re clear here, I wouldn’t do these extracurricular activities if I didn’t like you.” He reached out and lifted my chin. “Youarea very likable man, you know,” he stated. “And least of all because you’re so fucking rich. Now get your ass in there.” He stepped aside and motioned for me to get in. As I walked past him he smacked my ass. “And there’s this too,” he added.

For the first time in a very long time, I laughed out loud. A full belly laugh, and it felt good. One week left and I was already panicked.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Deklyn

Hey, handsome,” First OfficerBeefcakesaid. I was seated around the crew’s dining table. One of the deckhands was just regaling me about a handsy guest onboard and quickly left the room after seeing his superior officer.

Apparently the guest was the same producer that the former child actor was hitting on the other afternoon. Things didn’t bode well for the child star since the deckhand was a solid ten. I warned the hunky deckhand about fraternizing with the guests like I was the arbiter of rule following.

“And how’s the hottest officer on the ship doing?” I asked.

“A whole hell of a lot better now that I’ve seen you,” he responded, flopping next to me and pushing against my shoulder. “You seem happier today, Dek. Is it me?”

“It was your pep talk, Jake. That and the fact that you are possibly the cheeriest person onboard.”

“Only for you, gorgeous. Only for you,” he joked before taking a drink of my iced tea and grimacing when he found it unsweetened. “Yuk, dude.” He pushed the glass away from him and feigned throwing up. “Not to be snoopy or shit, but I overheard Smitty when I was in the stairwell. What guest is he on about?”

“Mr. Kaplan. One of Mr. C. ‘s producer friends,” I revealed. “Apparently he’s handsy with the deck crew.”

“He’s a fucking creep is more like it,” Jake stated. “He laid his hand on my ass yesterday but when I gripped his wrist and gave it a firm twist he got the message.”

“Jesus! Really?” I asked.

“That’s the problem when the guests are a bunch of rich old gay men that think all the pretty boys are theirs for the taking.”

“I’ve heard a couple actually are available,” I said. “You know,for the taking.”

“Lemme know when you hear of one because I’ll fire his ass.”

“A real tough guy, huh?” I teased, pushing him away so I could slide out of the booth.

“Maybe, but listen to this shit,” he began, standing and waiting for me to slide out. “I had middle watch last night and saw that kid actor dude blowing the creepy producer on deck.”

I laughed at his pulled up lip as he scrunched his nose. “Not your type, First Officer?” I teased. “Maybe the actor sniffed a role he’s interested in,” I added.

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