Page 22 of The Butler

“We spoke about the boat and his trip so far. I asked about any concerns and tried to be casual. We ended up talking about the trip to Lake Como that’s coming up.”

“So?” I asked.

“So get his fucking coffee, Dek. And stay the fuck out of his personal business.”

“That’s it? Are you sure he’s not angry at me?”

“If he is, he didn’t say anything about it. Just act all normal and let’s hope this blows over.”

* * *

I took three deep breaths and knocked softly. The butterflies in my stomach felt more like a flock of pterodactyls. Do pterodactyls fly in flocks?No answer, so I opened the door. The lights were on, but Linc wasn’t in the bedroom or seating area. The door to the head was open, so I stepped inside just as the shower door opened. “Oh! I’m sorry, sir. Can I get you more towels?”

He stood just inside the shower. Water ran down his ripped body and trailed to his pubes. After accumulating above his cock, more water ran down its considerable length. He stared at me, watching me carefully. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or just seeing if I’d had enough of his nakedness. My hand slid behind me, searching for a towel on the rack as I struggled to turn away from the view in front of me. After gripping the soft Terry cloth, I stepped forward and handed it to him.

“May I have two?” he asked.

“Yes, of course.” Linc continued to watch me as I reached for another towel.

“Will you dry my back please?” he asked.Oh fuck!Five minutes back and I was already in a bind.Should I do as he asked? Was this a test? Was it inappropriate?

“Sure,” I said, stepping behind him and holding the soft towel against his strong back. As much as I wanted this to be sexual, I patted his back firmly then stepped back. “There you go, sir.”

He turned and faced me. His naked body was less than a foot away. “Back to sir again?” he asked.

“At your request, sir. I thought you’d fired me,” I stammered, wringing my hands in front of me. “Why haven’t you yet?”

“If you’d done something wrong, I would have.” The fact that he was inches away and naked should have distracted from his face, but it didn’t. “You were right, Dek.”

“I was?” We were having a serious discussion, but my mind was miles away. The sexual tension between the two of us was blazing. “I only wanted to help you,” I said. Our eyes were fixed on each other. I’m no expert, but Mom’s advice has been helping me.”

“Are you over the professor?” he asked. I swore he inched closer, but that could have been wishful thinking on my part. All I managed to do was nod. “Completely?” he added for clarity.

“Probably not completely, but I wouldn’t go back to him if given the choice.”

“That’s honest,” he said. “You practice what Mom advises?”

“Sometimes.”

“You are incredibly honest, Dek.”

“I try,” I said. He was in fact leaning closer to me. I hadn’t imagined it.

“We have a problem, Dek.”

“We do?” Yesterday I would have been certain he meant I was unemployed, but right then, I wasn’t getting that kind of vibe.

“I’m attracted to you,” he stated. My mind immediately went to the old Cher film, Moonstruck, where she slapped the guy and said,“Snap out of it.”

I hesitated to ask the next question but did anyway. “Permission to speak freely, sir?” I asked.

He nodded.

“I’m attracted to you too.”

“Now what, Dek?” He inched the final inch and reached for my hand.

“I need this job, Linc. I know that’s not romantic or anything, but I really do. I’m flat broke and can’t pay my rent.” I was embarrassed to admit this but he needed to know.

---