As business flows, a few customers breeze right out of the door, but a few stay and sit for a little bit. I make a point to greet those who stay and let them know they’re welcome to provide their thoughts in the designated feedback box. The day is a steady stream of customers, and I’ve had to empty the feedback box so people can fill it right back up. I try not to look at them before filing them away to be reviewed later. My goal is to look at them weekly instead of daily, so that I can see if there are recurring patterns of suggestions to act on.
When I finally turn the “open” sign off and lock the door, I’m completely exhausted and completely elated. Upon hearing the click of the lock, I turn and raise my arms over my head.
“Wooo!! We did it!” I shout into the space.
The two baristas on duty and my floor manager join in the cheering, and I move closer to them to share high-fives. My manager is grinning, and even the young baristas are smiling widely.
“Well done on a great first day, you guys! I’m so proud to have you here with me,” I tell them honestly.
“Thanks for being someone great to work for.” My manager pats me on the back and moves on to closing duties.
I finish my own end-of-day tasks, including emptying our feedback box and downloading our transaction records. I opted to use a system that records the information automatically on a cloud server so I can easily download my copies and get daily reports. It’s the same one I have at the main location, so while I was worried it might be too much for this smaller site, I’m glad I got it. Wrapping up my closing tasks, I’m grateful to be headed home.
The dynamic I have with Vic has been a little charged lately. We’ve been friends since college, and while he suspects there’s a Pack Pull there, neither of us has commented on that. I only know he feels it because I overheard him on the phone with his parents once. However, I’m too chickenshit to address it, and I think he doesn’t want to push me into anything. Maybe I should ask, but the last time I thought there was a pull, I was wrong and now I have a scar through my eyebrow to remind me.
Deep down, I know Vic isn’t like that, but old fears are hard to erase. I feel a pull to him, but it’s entirely possible that’s just because of his body. We enjoy each other on occasion, but I know he wants a Pack someday, so I’m not holding my breath for commitment beyond friendship. For now, I’m enjoying our time together, and I’ll take the rest as it comes. Hopefully, whatever comes includes me, but I’m also not going to stand in his way. I know he loves his friend Josie, and there’s no guarantee that she’ll like me.
When I finally walk through the door, delicious smells of food assault me. I take a deep breath, enjoying the smell of whatever Vic’s been cooking.
“Honey, I’m home!” I call out, my bass voice carrying toward the kitchen.
Kicking off my shoes, I follow my nose to the kitchen, where Vic is moving food from the pans he used onto plates. His eyes glance up at me, and he grins before finishing his task.
“Hey! Welcome home! Figured I would cook a nice dinner to celebrate today.”
Smiling back at him, I move to get out the silverware as he places the plates on the table. “Beer?”
He nods. “Sounds great, thanks.”
I grab one for each of us and place the silverware and beers on the table. We crack open our drinks and raise them in the air.
“To a successful launch,” I declare.
“To new beginnings,” Vic adds.
We drink before eating, and the food is delicious. I groan in appreciation.
“This is so good, man.”
He blushes, “Thanks, it’s just chicken.”
“Mine’s always dry when I try to cook it, take the compliment.” I smile at him.
We finish the meal with some light chatting about the cafe, Vic’s work, and life in general before washing dishes together. Vic’s hip bumps mine as we finish up, and I can’t help but bump him back. He’s an inch or two taller than me, so I take the towel I was using to dry and loop it around his neck, gently pulling him toward me.
Vic’s eyes light up, and he drags them down to my feet and back up my body. He raises one eyebrow, and when I pull him even closer, his lips land gently on mine. It’s been a bit since we were intimate, and I’m eager to reconnect. Celebrating the opening is an excuse for me. The real reason is just because I crave the connection we have. The kiss is gentle, neither of us taking charge.
His hands rest on my hips, holding my body against his. My tongue darts out against his lips, savoring the taste of him mixed with the lingering flavors of the spices he cooked with. Vic growls teasingly and nips my lower lip before pulling back to look at me. Our eyes lock for a moment before I drop the toweland pull him closer with just my hands. We pull each other so our bodies are flush against the other, and I can feel the bulge getting bigger in his pants.
My hips press against him, seeking that delicious friction. Vic responds in kind, and I can feel my dick straining against my zipper. My hands move from his neck and drag down his body to the button and zipper of his jeans. Now that I have access to him, my hand reaches into his jeans to touch him over his boxers. Vic’s breathing hitches as I do, and he cants his hips into my touch, seeking more. Neither of us wants to give at the moment, so we’re torn between pressing against each other and giving enough space to touch as well.
Usually, one of us would give and lean against the counter, but it seems today neither of us is willing to bend, and it fires up my blood even more. My hand leaves Vic’s shaft, and I use both hands to pull his jeans and boxers down entirely. I follow them down until I’m on my knees and spit on his tip before taking him in my mouth. Vic’s head falls backward with a loud groan of pleasure.
“Fuck, that mouth, Simon,” he rumbles.
Humming around him, I take him deeper, bobbing my head leisurely, enjoying the weight and feel of him in my mouth and throat. Each pass I take him a little deeper until I start to gag, but I don’t let it stop me. I’ve only lost to my gag reflex one time, and that was early on while still learning my limits. I pull my mouth to the end of him and place my hands on my thighs, giving him permission to take over. Vic growls and grabs my head before pushing himself into my throat and back out again.
As he pumps in and out, I make it a point to slacken my mouth a bit so everything is nice and messy. Vic always loses it when it gets sloppy. He said it’s something about the primal feel of it that spurs him on. When he sees drool running down the sides of my mouth, he literally growls and speeds up.
