Four stories by best-selling gay erotic romance author J.M. Snyder about men who find love and lust while "hard" at work. From a hotel employee putting in overtime during a comic book convention, to a pair of co-workers who finally hook up while on a business trip, to a supervisor who hired a new salesman in the hopes of taking their working relationship beyond its professional level, to a tattoo aficionado whose crush on his tattoo artist keeps him returning to the parlor for more ink, each story explores the dynamics between men in the workplace.
Contains the stories:
Carey'd Away: It’s comic convention weekend at the Omni Hotel where Carey works, and while checking in the vendors, he meets sexy Pat Dix, setting up the booth for Kryptonite Comics. Patrick has never dreamt a guy like Carey would ever find him attractive. He’s surprised when Carey asks him to hang out after the hall closes. A late night in the hotel pool might just let Patrick get “Carey’d away."
Double Standard: Jeff has lusted after Evan since the moment his new employee first stepped into his office. Evan is just as interested. The only problem? The little paragraph in the employee handbook that states they can’t get together because Jeff’s the boss. Then Jeff finds himself working late one evening with Evan, who decides to take matters into his own hands regardless of what the manual might say.
On Company Time: Since his first day at his new job, Jimmy has had a horrible crush on a sexy coworker of his named Scott. When the two of them are scheduled to attend a business trip, Jimmy hopes it's the perfect opportunity to make his move. Unless Scott makes one first ...
The Tattooed Heart: Chris is a tattoo artist who coerces Lee to stop by after hours for free tattoos. Lee’s body is a shrine to Chris’s artwork. Every tattoo is a custom creation by Chris, whom Lee has loved for years. What will it take for Chris to realize the lover he’s looking for has been sitting in his tattoo chair all along?
EXCERPT FROM "Double Standard"
A thin blush creeps into Evan's cheeks -- the girls kid him about me, I know they do. He's so damn obvious, doesn't even try to hide the fact that he wants to get with me. I like to think I'm not that transparent. I pretend I don't hear Amber's comments or see Charity's grin when Evan hurries into my office a dozen times a day just to ask me this, that, or the other thing. I try to ignore the accidental touches, his hand on my shoulder, my arm, my wrist, the way he stands so close beside me or taps my shoe with his foot beneath the table. I try not to let him see exactly what his coy smiles and flirty looks do to me. As much as I might encourage it, I can't tell him I want him just as badly as he seems to want me. He can't ever know that.
Not as long as I'm turning in his hours, isn't that what Kirk said? Never mind that we're all salaried. I wonder if that argument would fly, but already suspect I know the answer. Of course not.
I take the papers from Evan and hand them back to Charity. "Make the damn copies," I tell her, angry. "Mr. Morris is waiting."
"Let him wait," she mutters, but it's a hollow argument. With an annoyed sigh, she flounces away, heading for the copier.
"I could've done it for you," Evan tells me.
I turn to find him beside me -- when did that happen? He's stepped around his desk and now leans against the edge of Charity's, so close that one hand brushes over mine where it's tucked into the pocket of my pants. He stares at me, eyes wide, lips slightly parted. I know he's doing this on purpose, looking this fine, looking like this, like he's more than willing to do anything I want him to do, and he's not sure what it might be but he's hoping it involves my pants down around my ankles and my thick length in his mouth, his hands on my ass.
His tongue peeks out to wet his upper lip in what I tell myself is an unconscious gesture. It has to be. He practically purrs when he says, "I don't mind."
"It's okay." I force a tight smile. Of course he doesn't mind -- he wants me, I can feel his need radiating from every pore, and it frustrates the hell out of me that I can't have him. I shouldn't even flirt back but I can't help it.
I can't meet his eyes so I look past him, out the window, and extract my hand from my pocket. It brushes over his, then I take his elbow gently. The mere touch, even through the shirt he wears, threatens to burn my skin. Still tucked away in its own pocket, my other hand pushes against the sudden erection that fills the front of my pants. "Come on. Mr. Morris wants an update."
Evan gathers together the spreadsheets he's been pouring over all day. My hand stays on his elbow, not so much to guide him any more but to keep him in place. Beside me, where he belongs. But my hand falls away when he knocks his pen to the floor and bends over to retrieve it. Then I have to clench my fingers into a fist as I stare at him, ass in the air, every nerve in my body itching to reach out and trace the curved flesh hidden beneath his taut pants. That's a deliberate move, I know it is. He wants me to touch him. I can almost feel his desire coming off from him, like the heat off a small sun.
Because I'm not sure I'm strong enough to not touch him, I look away. "Evan," I sigh, my voice low. We're relatively alone at the moment -- Amber in the restroom, Charity by the copier, the rest of the staff probably already in the boardroom. Kirk nowhere in sight.
"I'm coming." Still bent over, he flashes me a quick grin over his shoulder.
At that smile, my breath catches in my throat. Me too. Damn.
