by Angie
This is a pre-ATF story.
Denver police officer Chris Larabee was bored … and angry. He had an itch that desperately needed to be scratched. The only thing he had to do was get rid of his nursemaid, Buck Wilmington. Buck had been with him nearly every minute of the last six months. Six months since he’d laid his wife and son to rest. Six long … miserable … horrible … fucking months! God, he missed them.Sighing, he realized that he knew just the place to go. If only he could get rid of Buck. He loved the man, make no mistake about that, but right now he … needed. Needed something the mustached man couldn’t provide. It had been so long. Six long … agonizing … drinking … fighting … sitting in jail … fucking months. And too long since he’d made love to a woman.
If only he could get rid of Buck for a few hours. He knew Buck was tired too. He had picked the blond up from the floor of every bar and tavern in the greater Denver area. Every place he could walk, stagger or crawl into. The booze dulled the ache, temporarily anyway. The opportunity presented itself sooner than he could have imagined. The lieutenant came across the radio asking for someone to come to the station to sit with a minor until his parents could come and pick him up. Stupid fucking kid got picked up for shop lifting at the mall. Snot nosed little brat. Buck slid back into the patrol car and handed off one of the two cups of coffee he’d gotten from the restaurant.
“The Lieu called, he wants you to come to the station and sit on some kid until his parents spring him,” Chris said smoothly.
“What’d he get popped for?”
“Shoplifting.”
“Stupid kid.”
“Yeah.”
“You be all right on your own?” Buck glanced across the car at his friend.
“Hell yes, Buck, I’ve only got an hour left on the shift. I’ll be at your place and we can grab some beer and wings and watch the game tonight,” Chris lied.
“Sounds good.”
It was that easy. He dropped Buck at the station. Ten minutes later, he slipped in the back and turned in the keys to the squad car and told the desk officer that he was taking some comp time. Before Buck had even finished the shift, Chris was in the Ranger headed for Texas.
It was a little place, Tascosa, flatter than a felt covered poker table. About the only thing the tiny town in the Texas panhandle had going for it was ‘The Dungeon.’ Built around what had been a small jailhouse, the whorehouse specialized in rough, kinky sex. The old jail cells had been disassembled and rearranged so that each one had three solid walls and bars on only one side. Outside of the bars was a wall with a painting depicting other cells with prisoners in them; it gave the appearance of being in a jail cell while providing privacy for the occupants. He had been there once before.
It was a couple of weeks after the funeral, before he hit rock bottom. He’d gotten away from Buck and stolen his prized, restored Chevy truck. He ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere and walked to the only lighted building he could see. That’s where he met her. Maria. The dark haired, dark eyed, dark skinned woman who helped him forget. For a little while anyway. He’d gone in drowning and she pulled him back just long enough to let him catch his breath. She’d held him while he cried and raged and after he’d battered her with his erection, frustrated that he couldn’t get off.
He ignored the insistent ringing of his cell phone as he drove down the highway. It was nearly dark by the time he reached the outskirts of Tascosa. He stopped at a little truck stop and ate a hearty meal. In the distance, he could see the billboard advertising the place he was headed for. He felt his jeans growing tight at the thought of what lay ahead. Throwing down enough to cover the meal and a handsome tip, he slipped out of the booth and headed for the truck.
The music was soft and being overpowered by the amount of bass pouring out of the speakers. He paid the cover charge and accepted the stamp on his hand. Following the dark tunnel, lit only with rope lights along the floor, he emerged in the main part of ‘The Dungeon.’ Black lights caused certain colors to almost come alive. Couches and a variety of benches sat in loose configurations around the perimeter. Birdcages hung in several places with scantily clad bodies of both genders. A young woman knelt in the center of one, her hands bound to a ring in the top. She wore only a G-string and pasties.
Stopping at the bar, he waited for the barkeep. The man was a walking, talking mountain. He didn’t intimidate Chris as he glared up into the cold, beady eyes.
“Who can I get you?” He growled.
“Maria?” Chris answered, trying not to sound too hopeful.
“She ain’t here right now. Anyone else in mind?”
Chris turned and surveyed the room. “I’ll get back to you.”
A burst of applause and whistles drew his attention. In one corner, on a raised platform, two young men were going at each other. They had designs painted on their bodies that reacted to the black lights. Chris watched as one sat on a narrow bench and leaned back until his erection was pointed out toward the crowd. The other man immediately began to lick and suck on the offered organ. Chris realized that the platform they were on was rotating because he could now see the bulls-eye that was painted on the man’s ass. He watched in a kind of horrified fascination as the entire length of the shaft disappeared into the man’s throat. The audience began to chant and stamp their feet. After a couple of minutes, a cry of pleasure erupted from the seated man. He arched, lifting his ass off of the bench as he rode out his orgasm.
More cheering accompanied the spotlight that panned the crowd before settling on a line of ‘prisoners’ approaching the staircase. There were a dozen or so nearly naked bodies standing on the balcony. As they came down the stairs, the audience began to scream for individuals. One woman, dressed in a transparent tank top, was especially popular, several men were clamoring for her attention. Interspersed with the women were some extraordinary male specimens. One in particular held Chris’s attention. He was tall and thin. His hair was long and hung in gentle waves around his slightly square jaw. He wore only a pouch around his penis and balls, held on by a thin black leather string. Around his neck was a gold chain with a key that rested in the hollow below his Adam’s apple. They reached the landing, separated from the crowd only by the bars of the old jail cells. Whoever paid for the privilege would be granted access to the ‘lower dungeon.’
“What’s with the key around that guy’s neck?” Chris asked of the barkeep.
“That means he’s ‘owned’ by the house.” Chris threw a puzzled look over his shoulder and the human mountain explained. “He owes money to the owner. He has to do whatever the person who buys him for the night says. He doesn’t like it, so they keep him in manacles.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“He isn’t filing any charges.”
The blond continued to watch as the young man descended the steps. Several young women were clamoring for him as well as several mean looking men. The itch he’d been feeling began to reach a fevered pitch. Curiosity began to get the better of him and Chris turned around. Putting his credit card on the bar, he smiled, “I’ll take him for the night.”
The man swept the card off of the bar and dropped a key card in its place. The blond accepted the card and turned to make his way through the crowd. The long haired young man was backing up against the wall, flinching away from the line of men grinning at him like he was the main course at an all you can eat buffet. Chris showed the key card to the bouncer and was allowed beyond the bars. The bouncer, dressed like a prison guard, grabbed the young man and yanked him away from the wall and shoved him toward the locked door that led to the lower dungeon. Whistles and catcalls came from some of the crowd while others boo’d him. The heavy, loud clang of the door closing caused Chris to jump. He looked back and the ‘guard’ chuckled.
“The point of no return,” he said dryly as he shoved the manacled man forward.
The corridor was lined with mirrors. They stopped at a section with a number on it and the guard motioned for Chris to swipe his keycard. The outer door swung open and another barred door stood beyond it. The guard stuck a large, rusty looking key into the door and opened it, shoving the bound man in and gesturing for Chris to follow.
“He’s all yours. The key around his neck opens the shackles. You can use anything in the room as long as you don’t mark him,” the man said as he gestured toward a display of whips and bondage items. “Enjoy!”
The door slammed, echoing loudly in the confines of the cell and Chris jumped again. He glanced back to make sure the outer door closed before he released the breath he’d been holding. His eyes flicked over the bound young man and he swallowed hard. Maybe he hadn’t thought things through as thoroughly as he should have, he wondered. The young man’s jaw twitched slightly as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“My name’s Chris,” the blond said. “Come here and I’ll take those things off of you.”
The young man didn’t meet the hazel eyes as he slowly came to stand in front of the stranger. He trembled when the man’s fingers touched the chain and removed the key. Turning, he presented his bound hands. Chris opened the manacles and removed the sweaty wrists from them before setting the manacles on the table along with the key. He turned back to see the young man rubbing his wrist as he backed up to the wall.
“What’s your name, kid?”
“Vin,” he answered softly.
Chris closed the distance between them and reached for Vin’s face. He flinched, drawing his hands up protectively but not interfering with the touch. The blond tipped the face up and studied the frightened blue eyes.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Vin.” He saw disbelief scroll across the blue windows before Vin turned his face away.
“How do you want to do me?” Vin asked bitterly.
In that instant, Chris realized that he did want to fuck the beautiful young man. He wanted to see the look of pleasure in his eyes as his orgasm took control of his body. Just thinking about it made him even harder.
“We’ve got all night, don’t we? Let’s see what we can come up with,” Chris said as he began to unbutton his shirt. Vin stepped close and took over the buttons, his hands trembling as he worked. Chris noticed that the nails were chewed down and looked sore. “Let me do that. Why don’t you pour us a couple of drinks,” he said as he noticed the mini bar. Vin nodded and went to get the drinks.
“What’ll you have?”
“Whiskey, neat,” Chris answered as he pulled off his shirt and started on his belt. He watched as the trembling hands poured a single drink. “Make one for yourself.”
“N-no, I – I’m not allowed,” Vin said as he shuddered.
Shrugging, Chris toed off his boots and kicked them toward the bars. He peeled off his tight, black jeans and bikini underwear in one motion and tossed them on top of his shirt. He noticed Vin’s eyes flicking over him and sensed the fear again. Crossing the cell, he picked up the drink and tossed it back, catching Vin and pulling him close as he swallowed. He kissed the younger man, his tongue thrusting into the open mouth, letting him taste the whiskey. His hands pushed Vin’s down to his sides as he put an arm around Vin’s waist and pulled him closer. As he was exploring the cavern of Vin’s mouth, Chris felt the trembling hands at his hips. He let his hand drift down to the leather string and untied it with a single gentle tug. Vin tensed, trying to push Chris’s tongue away.
“Relax, I’m not going to hurt you,” the blond insisted. He stepped toward the bed, pushing Vin backwards with him. When the bed touched the back of his legs, Vin lifted one foot and set his knee on the mattress. He tightened his grip on Chris’s hips and lifted his other leg. As Chris continued to press, Vin retreated until they were both kneeling on the bed, facing each other. The blond had not let up on the kiss, he continued to gently explore the warm, moist cavern.
“Lay down,” Chris whispered when he broke the kiss and moved along the jaw to Vin’s ear. He kept one hand on the younger man as he turned and lay on his stomach, his fists clenched above his head. “Turn over, Vin.”
He saw a hint of fear as Vin complied, turning to lay rigidly on his back. Chris lay down beside him, pressing his body along the length of Vin’s. With his hand, he stroked the downy fuzz on his chest down to his navel. Vin’s stomach tensed as he touched a certain spot.
“Ticklish?”
“Mmm-hm,” Vin replied.
“How about here?” Chris asked as his warm palm passed over the black silk pouch. Vin gasped softly. The blond gently removed the pouch and dropped it off of the side of the bed. His hand returned, gently kneading the limp organ until he felt it begin to firm up under his hand. “They don’t usually take care of you, do they?” He saw the hard swallow and the slight shake of Vin’s head.
For most of an hour, Chris stroked his reluctant bedmate. It had become a personal challenge, to see that the young man got off before he took his pleasure in him. Chris licked and teased Vin’s nipples, feeling him quiver. He worked his way down, teasing the divot of his navel and the ticklish spot he’d found earlier. When his warm breath caressed the still slightly flaccid cock, Vin whimpered. A wicked smile split the blond man’s face before he took the shaft into his mouth and rubbed it with his tongue.
The taut body leapt and Vin cried out. Chris shifted his weight across Vin’s thighs to hold him down as he increased the suction and the friction of his tongue. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Vin’s hand clench in the sheet and felt his body trying to arch again. When his jaw began to ache and it still seemed as if the young man would not climax, Chris changed tactics. Shifting his weight, he nudged Vin’s thighs apart and began to stimulate his balls. That did it! He heard the pleasured whimper and felt Vin’s muscles bunch as he came. The shaft in Chris’s mouth fairly vibrated with the strength of the young man’s orgasm. He continued to milk Vin until he softened.
Sated and completely limp, Vin lay still as Chris moved up to lay alongside of him again. The blond noticed the swollen lips from where the young man had chewed on them as he resisted the stimulation. Leaning over, Chris pressed his lips over Vin’s and thrust his tongue in again. Vin tensed and twisted away.
“Please don’t!” Vin cried as he shuddered. “It’s bad enough I have to taste it when …” The blue eyes suddenly widened in fear. “Please don’t … report me!”
“Shh, I’m not going to say anything. Calm down. I’m sorry,” Chris said as he pulled Vin to his shoulder and wrapped his arms around the trembling body. After a couple of minutes, Chris got up and went to the mini bar and poured himself another drink. The whiskey burned his gums as he swished it around before swallowing.
Vin came off of the bed and knelt before Chris, stroking his erection with hesitant hands. Chris stopped him from taking the end of his shaft into his mouth.
“Not tonight, Vin. I need to be in you.”
Resettling on the bed, Chris reached for the wall dispenser and pumped lube into his hand. He stopped Vin from turning on his stomach. With an infinitely gentle touch, he stroked the puckered opening before inserting his finger. He felt the tense ring of muscle clamp down on him and began to wiggle it slowly.
“Relax, don’t fight it,” he urged. “Put your knee on my hip.” When Vin complied, he was more open and Chris pressed deeper. “Look at me, Vin.” The blond waited until the blue eyes met his. “We’re going to do this nice and slow. I’m not going to hurt you.”
For a half hour, Chris stretched and soothed Vin before he withdrew his fingers and turned him to his back. Lifting Vin’s calves to his shoulders, he guided his shaft into the cleft. With his other hand, he stroked and rolled the younger man’s balls. When Vin moaned in pleasure, Chris pressed home. The startled blue eyes locked on hazel and Chris couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, that was a dirty trick. But it didn’t hurt, did it?”
He took his time, reveling in the tight heat. Letting Vin’s legs down to rest around his hips, Chris shifted his body so he could reach the tense jaw. He caressed the silken skin along his jaw to his lips. As he brushed over Vin’s full lips, they parted and his warm, moist breath caressed the digit.
“Look at me, Vin,” Chris said in a husky voice. When the blue eyes settled on his, he drew his hand back to grasp the young man’s shaft. “Come with me,” the blond commanded as he began to stroke. Vin’s body leapt at the touch and he gripped the sheets in his fisted hands. “You want to come with me, don’t you?” Chris teased as he angled his thrusts slightly. Suddenly, Vin’s eyes widened and his head dug into the mattress. His orgasm was explosive and the blond grinned at the jets of fluid that painted his stomach and fist. Chris came only a moment later, his mouth open in a silent cry of completion.
When Chris’s eyes drifted open again, Vin was gently wiping his stomach and hand with a wet cloth. A sheet was draped over his exhausted, relaxed body and the blond reached for the younger man. Pulling him under the sheet, he spooned around the slim body and nuzzled into the curve of his shoulder and slept.
Chris awoke in the morning as the clanging of cell doors echoed around the dungeon. He was still curled around the warmth of the young man. A sense of accomplishment flooded his chest as he remembered the way Vin’s eyes had lit up when he came. Just thinking about it was enough to get him hard again. He pulled his hand from around Vin’s waist and began to gently feel for the puckered opening again. Vin squirmed and moaned softly.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Chris whispered. When Vin relaxed, he pushed his finger in and began to loosen him again. He had to stretch for the lube dispenser before he could insert another finger and he saw that Vin was awake. “This okay with you?” Vin only nodded. When he was ready, Chris pulled Vin to the foot of the bed so he could kneel on the floor between the young man’s legs. “Grip your thighs and hang on tight,” he urged. He didn’t last long but he did use both hands on Vin’s shaft to make him come at the same time. After they cleaned up, Chris pulled on his clothes. “What do I do now?”
“Just give me the manacles,” Vin murmured softly. Chris looked at the metal bracelets and back at the somber blue eyes.
“Why are you doing this if you hate it so much?”
“I owe him money.”
“How much money makes this worth it?” Chris was becoming angry.
“Just leave it alone. It won’t be forever,” Vin answered as he held out his hands. Chris gave him the cuffs and grabbed the younger man to kiss him soundly.
“See you around,” he promised.
Chris spent the day cruising around the town. Several times during the day he caught himself thinking about Vin. He fought the urge to dig into the young man’s background, especially since he didn’t know his last name. As he was waiting for his supper at the diner, his cell phone rang again. Deciding that it was cruel to keep Buck worrying, he picked up the call.
“Hey Buck.”
“Where in the name of Sam Hill are you? Do you have any idea how worried I was last night when you didn’t come home? If you want to be alone all you have to do is say something! You’re lucky I don’t stomp you into a puddle when I get my hands on you again!”
“Sorry Buck.”
“That’s all you’re going to say? Where are you? When are you coming home?”
“Scratching an itch. I’ll be home in a day or two.”
As the sky darkened, Chris’s mind turned back to the sky blue eyes he’d connected with the night before. The parking lot was not as busy when he pulled in. Paying the cover, he went in and made his way to the bar. The barkeep nodded an acknowledgement and Chris waited.
“Who can I get you?”
“Vin,” Chris announced as he slid his credit card across the bar. “How much does he owe the house, anyway?”
“Almost five grand. He gets a commission on every time we sell him. He’d make more if he would dance or go on the stage but he’s shy,” the man confided.
“How did he come into the debt?”
“He was about to be sent to prison for murder. Some guy named Ely Joe set him up. The owner put up the reward money that got the witness to come forward.”
Chris nodded as he took the keycard. While he waited, he roamed around the room. One of the girls in the birdcages called to him. She offered to give him a blowjob while he waited. He was so hard that he thought the skin on his dick might split so he let her bring him off. As his orgasm washed over him, he looked up and saw Vin staring down from the balcony. He tipped the girl and went to the cell door to claim his ‘prisoner.’ He removed the manacles and attached them to his belt. This time, Vin was wearing a white silk pouch with a white cord. The black lights made the material seem to shimmer every time Vin drew a breath.
“Can I buy you a drink out here?” Chris asked. Vin shrugged. The blond pointed to a bottle and held up two fingers. The barkeep poured the drinks and set them on coasters. Vin moved close to the bar as if to protect himself from the other customers. After Vin had tossed back his drink, Chris asked a question. “So, how long will it take you to make five grand?”
“Who told you about that?”
“The barkeep. Listen, if you hate it so much, let me loan you the money.”
“So I can be your personal whore? I don’t think so!”
“No strings, Vin. Just let me loan you the money. You can get another job and pay me back when you want,” Chris soothed.
“I don’t belong to you or any other person! You may be able to do whatever you want with me here, tonight, but I own my soul!” Vin hissed as he grabbed Chris by the front of his shirt.
Before Chris could respond, the ‘guards’ rushed over and pulled Vin off of him, slamming him against the bar and twisting his hands behind his back.
“This is why we keep him shackled,” the guard explained. “We’ll deliver him to his cell and you can come down at your leisure.”
Stunned by the hate and venom in the blue eyes, Chris only nodded as he tugged his shirt straight again. He thumped the bar and while the barkeep was refilling his glass, he watched them drag Vin away. The young man fought every step of the way until one of the guards stripped off his belt and bound Vin’s ankles together.
“He’s a little spitfire,” the barkeep said with a chuckle. “Maria’s here if you’d like to change your reservation.”
“No, I still want him. Where can I find the owner?”
Some ten minutes later, Chris was escorted into a plush office up a separate staircase. A bank of computer monitors showed all of the security systems in place in the building. Chris watched as one of the acts began on the revolving stage. A man cleared his throat.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Larabee?”
“I want to buy out a contract.”
“For our young Vin?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not at all. Actually, he’s more of a hassle than he’s worth. I’ve had to rescue him from a couple of customers who got too rough with him. I don’t mind rough and kinky but I draw the line at emergency room trips.”
After signing the credit card slip, Chris headed for the lower dungeon. He followed the guard to the cell and waited for him to open the inner door. The door slammed and he jumped again. Turning, he saw that Vin was secured to the bed on his stomach. From the brilliant red glow on the pale behind, he guessed that they had punished him.
“Oh, Vin,” he said as he crossed the room.
“Just do it and get it over with,” Vin pleaded. Chris knelt on the mattress and removed the restraints, rubbing each limb as it was emancipated.
“I’m still not going to hurt you. What did they hit you with?”
“A wooden paddle. Stings but doesn’t leave marks,” Vin said as he fought down tears of angry humiliation.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”
“Doesn’t matter. S’better that it’s you tonight. Usually I get Big John on Sunday night.”
“Big John?”
“Big ugly cuss. Gets off on hurting people.”
Chris rolled off of the bed and came back with a cool, damp cloth. He draped the cloth over the brilliant red cheeks.
“What do you do all day around here?”
The bright blue eyes glared fire. “What difference does it make?”
“Just curious. You’re not real big on small talk, are you?” Chris teased.
“I work on a ranch, throwing hay bales and putting up fence posts.”
“You threw hay bales all day today?” Chris asked as he began to lightly massage Vin’s shoulders.
Vin moaned softly as he rolled his shoulders under the gentle pressure. Chris shifted his weight and straddled the younger man’s hips. He dug a little deeper into the tense muscles. After several minutes, soft snores caused the blond to smile. He worked his way down Vin’s back toward his hips, moving down his legs as he went. He followed the young man’s spine as he worked and noticed the slight curve below his hips. When he could, he backed off of the bed and stood watching Vin sleep.
Some time during the next few hours, Chris felt Vin gently rubbing against him. He feigned sleep, waiting to see how far the timid young man would try to go. When Vin reached for his groin and began to lightly stroke, Chris couldn’t stop the moan that rolled from his throat.
“I want to ride you,” Vin whispered.
“You can do anything you want,” Chris purred. “You need me to loosen you up?”
It didn’t take long to get Vin ready. In a few minutes, he was pushing back on Chris’s fingers and moaning in need.
“Wanna ride you now, Cowboy,” Vin moaned as he pulled off of the stretching fingers and pushed the blond to his back. Chris raised his knees to give the young man a little support and gripped his hips to steady him. Vin knelt over the hard shaft and pushed back, impaling himself by slow degrees. He groaned at the burn until it passed and he felt only the fullness in his body. He rocked forward and back, taking the shaft deeper.
Chris watched as the young man’s eyes rolled back with each stroke. He wrapped his fist around Vin’s erection and began to match his strokes. When they both reached their climax at the same time, Vin collapsed into Chris’s arms. The blonde cupped the back of Vin’s neck and held him as the spasms passed. Finally, his shaft slipped free and Chris rolled him to the mattress. He reached for the damp washcloth on the table and cleaned them up before curling around the sated body and going back to sleep.
When he woke the next time, Vin was massaging his back. Chris groaned in pleasure. The long, slim fingers were surprisingly strong as they dug into the deep knots in his shoulders and upper back. The blond shifted his hips slightly, his erection becoming harder every time Vin’s behind came into contact with his. He also felt the younger man’s shaft when he leaned forward and knew that he was becoming aroused at the same time.
“Vin? I wouldn’t object if you wanted to take care of that little problem you got there,” he said in an inviting tone.
“S’not allowed. B’sides, I was just repayin’ the favor for last night. I’ll ask the owner to refund your money. I fell asleep on ya, anyway.”
“You’ll do no such thing! I got my money’s worth! Besides, after this morning, you don’t have to do this any more, you can …”
Chris never got to finish the sentence before Vin sprang off of the bed, fists clenched at his sides. His eyes were spitting blue fire as the muscle in his jaw twitched with his rage.
“I told you not to do that! I ain’t nobody’s whore! I gave my word to work off the debt and I’ll do just that. I don’t need anyone’s pity!”
A strong sense of self-preservation drove the blond off of the bed so he could defend himself if need be. He held his hands out in a placating gesture. Vin stepped closer and the two men circled each other warily. Chris tried to defuse the situation.
“Vin, I don’t care about the money! I just hate the thought of you doing this to yourself. I hate the idea of someone hurting you. Take the money, it’s a gift! Get away from here! Do something that makes you happy!”
The young Texan sank to the foot of the bed, his breath sounding harsh in the sudden silence. Chris used the time to his advantage and pulled on his clothes. The manacles were still clipped to his belt and he left them there. He took one last look at the handsome young man before he opened the inner cell door.
“If you’re ever in Denver, look me up,” Chris said as he left the room.
***
Three long years passed. Chris Larabee never saw the incredibly sexy young man again. For several months after he returned to Denver, he went back to drinking and fighting. Slowly, he began to recover his life. When Orin Travis offered him the chance to head up the new ATF team, he accepted. He recruited Buck as his Second in Command and set about building a first rate team for himself.
Looking through the file again, Chris studied the black and white photograph clipped to the inside cover. The young man came highly recommended. His test scores for sniper shooting were off the charts. He had an interview set up for ten that morning. Checking his appearance in the reflection of his computer monitor, Chris straightened his tie. The secretary buzzed him to say that his interview was here. Glancing at the typewritten name on the folder, he read ‘Vincent Michael Tanner.’ Opening the door, he looked at the lanky young man standing nervously in the corridor. A strong sense of déjà vu washed over him as the man turned to face him.
“Mr. Tanner, a pleasure to meet you. Come in and have a seat,” Chris said after receiving a firm handshake. A million butterflies burst in Chris’s stomach as the man stepped past him. He perched lightly on the edge of the leather desk chair, his fingers drumming nervously on the arms.
“Nice office,” Tanner said as he looked around.
The blond walked around the desk and sat down. He opened the file and stared at the neatly typed face sheet. Swallowing hard, he glanced across his desk. Hazel eyes locked on sky blue. Steeling his nerve, Chris asked hesitantly, “Do I know you?”
End
Continues in
Have We Met Before?