Patrick's Plight (6 page)

Cupping Patrick’s cheek, Vance replied, “If it
were just sex, I would be all set. I can get it whenever I want.”

“Oh,” Patrick replied, trying to ignore how much that statement hurt his ego.

“I want somebody for more than that. I need a person who can be my right hand and not think that a blowjob will get them a higher pay-grade. In short, I need somebody just like you.”

“I don’t know,” Patrick nibbled on his bottom lip. “How much does it pay?”

“I’ll give you three times as much as you were earning at your last job.”

“And you swear that I won’t have to repay that with sexual favors?”

Vance’s lips curled up into a crooked smile. “I won’t deny that I would love to have you under me again, but your job won’t be contingent on it.

You can tell me no any time you want, and I will never fire you for it.”

A high paying job with a hot boss and all kind of fringe benefits? Who could say no to that?

“Okay, I’m in. Just tell me when I can start.”

It was almost six in the evening before Patrick finally made it back to his place. He walked in and found Ronnie and Oliver playing the
Wii.
It was one of the few things Patrick had managed to take when he’d been thrown out, and it was their prized possession.
“Are you guys bowling again?” Patrick asked as he sank on the couch.

He swore that his roomies were addicted to the game. Which just mystified Patrick since he’d long grown tired of it. But if it kept Ronnie and Oliver happy, who was he to complain?

Ronnie threw down his controller and

practically jumped on Patrick. “You’re home! Tell us everything that happened, you dirty, prostitute, whore!”

Patrick had long ago given up on telling Ronnie that statement was redundant. The guy continued to use it without an ounce of shame.

“Yeah, I want to know how you of all people ended up in some cheap hookup,” Oliver added as he joined them on the couch.

Even though his tone was a bit chiding, a smile covered his face. Patrick gave them a very detailed rundown, starting with the audition and ending with the job offer.

“So, you got a job, but it wasn’t in front of the camera?” Ronnie said.

“How could they have kicked you out? You’re hot,” Oliver protested.

Patrick gave a shrug. “Vance said he didn’t want other guys touching me.”

Oliver’s brow creased in confusion. “So, does that mean you two are dating now?”

That exact same question had been nagging
Patrick since he’d left the hotel. “I don’t know.

Part of me thinks yes, but then I also wonder why somebody who is rich and sophisticated like him would ever want to bother with a poor nobody like me.”

“You’re not poor,” Ronnie argued.

Patrick gave him a droll look. “Last week, I paid for my lunch in all nickels, and that was even after I ordered off the dollar menu.”

He didn’t add that’d been the only meal he’d eaten that day. There was no need to make Oliver feel worse than he already did.

Ronnie gave a slight nod. “Okay, maybe you’re poor, but you’re not a nobody.”

“I just have to wonder why he’s paying you so much? All you have is a high-school diploma.”

Oliver muttered.

“Not helping,” Ronnie said in an overly bright voice.

“Sorry.” Oliver blushed.

“Don’t be, you’re right,” Patrick assured him.

It pained him to admit that, too. It’d been hard watching from afar as their high-school friends had all moved on and went to college. Meanwhile, he, Ronnie, and Oliver continued to tread water, without ever getting anywhere. All because of Oliver going through pure hell and back. Not that anybody ever said life was fair or anything, but, damn, why couldn’t they catch one frigging
break?

“Should I take the job?” he asked, even though deep down he knew there was no way he could afford to turn it down.

“Do you want to?” Oliver countered.

“Yes, we all know that we could use that kind of money.”

Patrick began to nibble on his fingernail.

“That’s not the only reason, is it?” Ronnie asked with a sly smile.

A warm feeling went through Patrick. He wasn’t even going to bother to lie, Ronnie and Oliver would see right through it. They wouldn’t hesitate to call him out on it, either.

“No, it isn’t. I think I really like Vance. Even if it’s only going to be a matter of time before he dumps my ass and moves on to one of those beefed up roid-heads that work for him.”

Oliver shook his head. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“Why not?”

“Because he lets them be on camera all the time.

You were the one that he wanted to keep for himself. I don’t know the guy personally, but I think that says a lot.”

Patrick ducked his head to hide his grin. He sure hoped so. Even though every ounce of his common sense screamed that he could get his heart broken, the rest of him couldn’t wait until he
saw Vance again.

It was a good thing that he started his job the next day or else Patrick would have been crawling the walls with anticipation. He still couldn’t help but wonder how Vance would treat him once they were around others. Would he be the same sexy, playful man from the hotel, or would be cold and impersonal?

A shiver went through Patrick. Leave it to him to mess up something like a simple one-night stand. He’d thought he’d been in for meaningless sex only to find himself in the most complex relationship of his life.

At least one good thing would come out of it. He’d finally not have to worry about how to pay the rent or where their next meal would be coming from. Whatever came next, he could handle. Or at least, he hoped so.

atrick wasn’t sure what to expect when he P showed up at the studio the next day. He didn’t expect the director to misconstrue why he was there.

“I’m supposed to report for work today,”

Patrick said.

“Go strip and report to studio two,” Ross’ lips curled up at the edges. “I didn’t think Vance would want you back. He was adamant you weren’t ready for the camera.”

“I-I’m not um going to be in front of the lens.”

“What is your job then?” Ross stared at Patrick as if he were sticky gum on the bottom of his shoe that he hadn’t quite figured out how to scrape off.

“He’s my new PA,” Vance said from the doorway.

“You already have two.” Ross countered.

“And they are busy with other things. Patrick will stay with me and help with day-to-day issues.

You’re always saying I need someone to help with all the little stuff.” Vance’s intimate look made Patrick’s body wake up.

“I didn’t think that included fuck toys. If I knew you needed constant cock, there is an entire studio
full of opportunities,” Ross snarled.

Vance raised his eyebrows at Ross’ attitude.

“I like to pick my own men. Thank you. Come with me, Patrick.” Vance waved a hand toward Patrick beckoning him forward.

Patrick scurried to follow Vance as he walked down the hall. He didn’t bother to wave goodbye to Ross. There was no love lost between them.

Patrick didn’t know why the director disliked him, but he vowed to keep away from Ross in the future.

Vance led Patrick into a nice, large office. The long leather couch beckoned him closer. The image of Vance bending Patrick over the back of the sofa and fucking the life out of him danced before his eyes like a beautiful promise.

“Over here, honey,” Vance’s voice jerked Patrick out of his happy daydream.

“Oh, sorry,” Patrick muttered. Blushing he walked quickly to Vance’s side.

“What were you thinking about?” Vance’s amused smile had Patrick blushing harder.

“You bending me over the couch,” Patrick confessed.

“Excellent. As my assistant, it’s your job to remind me to do that later.”

“Will do.” Yes he would most definitely remember that.

Vance wrapped a hand around Patrick’s wrist.
“You let me know if you don’t want to have sex with me. I will never hold your job over your head. When I said no strings attached, I meant it.”

“I appreciate that,” Patrick said. “However, I will remind you to use that couch later.”

Vance’s simmering gaze reflected the desire strumming through Patrick’s body. “Now to focus on what I can have you do here. I have several companies. I have one PA who helps coordinate special events and another one who works overseas to help with international relations.

You’ll be my in-house PA. I’ll need you to be my right hand man.

Patrick resisted the obvious cheap shot, but the idea of having his hands all over Vance made him love his new job even more.

For the next three hours, they went over Patrick’s job responsibilities. Everything from getting Vance’s coffee, to coordinating his meetings, to sitting in on marketing sessions to give his feedback.

“You still interested?” Vance asked after hour three.

“Absolutely.” There wasn’t much Patrick wouldn’t do in order to bring in money for his friends.

Vance tapped his pen against the top of the desk. “What do you want to do?”

Patrick swallowed hard. “You mean besides the
couch?”

Laughing, Vance nodded. “What did you want to do with your life? I doubt this is your dream job.”

“An architect. I wanted to be an architect,”

Patrick said not meeting Vance’s eyes. He didn’t want the man to know how far he’d fallen from his dreams to his reality.

Vance squeezed Patrick’s shoulder. “You’ll be happy to know my company has a generous tuition reimbursement program.”

Patrick’s laugh had a bitter edge. “I’d have to be able to afford tuition to be reimbursed. Not to mention architecture isn’t generally a part-time degree.”

“You started it yet?”

“No. My father kicked me out before I had a chance. Then Oliver had his accident, and everything went to hell.” Patrick blinked back tears as he reflected over how badly life had gone.

“Hey, we can work something out. You’ll want to take some basic classes before you go into the architecture program. I’m sure we can coordinate your schedule around your classes,” Vance encouraged.

“Why are you being so nice?” In Patrick’s reality people didn’t do anything for nothing in return.

“I like you, Patrick,” Vance said. “I want you to
succeed. As much as I would like you to stay by my side and look pretty, I’m sure you have bigger plans for your life.”

Patrick let the pretty comment go. For whatever reason, Vance found Patrick far more attractive than most of the male population on earth. “I did have plans. Once.”

He’d already shared his sob story with Vance, so he didn’t want to rehash it the first day of work.

“We’re going to get you back on track,” Vance said gently.

“Why are you so worried about my future?”

Patrick asked.

Vance leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “Because when I look at you, I see a young man with a great deal of potential who has been dealt a bad hand. I think we can help each other.

You work as my assistant for a few years, and I help you pay for college.”

For the first time in a long while, the future looked bright.

Patrick held out his hand. “Deal.”

Vance shook his hand. “Deal.”

Yanking on Patrick’s hand, Vance pulled Patrick into his lap.

“Whoa,” Patrick rearranged his body so he didn’t knee Vance in any vulnerable places.

“There you go. Right where I like you.” Vance slid his fingers into Patrick’s hair and pulled his
head down so their mouths touched. Gentle and commanding, Patrick could live off of Vance’s kisses. The man knew just the right combination of hot and sweet.

Patrick moaned against Vance’s mouth.

The door opened behind them. “Oops, sorry.”

Ross sounded more sarcastic than sorry.

“No worries, I’m just fondling the help,” Vance said cheerfully.

Patrick laughed against Vance’s neck.

It would be so easy to fall in love with this man.

That thought sobered Patrick’s giddiness. He couldn’t let Vance become his entire world. He wasn’t strong enough to survive losing everything again. Panic hit him like a slap in the face. He must’ve tensed because Vance rubbed his back without prompting.

“I need you to come pick the final candidates.

To review the ones I picked out after you left early yesterday.” Ross said, impatiently. “Unless you need to stay there and grope your boy toy some more.”

Vance squeezed Patrick’s ass. “Up babe, Ross is getting cranky.”

Patrick personally thought Ross had a stick up his butt, but he wouldn’t be the one to mention it.

He didn’t want to start his new job with anyone hating him.

He stood and swung his leg over, standing next
to Vance instead of sitting on him. Vance stood and laced their fingers together. “Come on. Let’s go look at some naked men.”

“I think I’m really going to like this job,” Patrick said with a grin.

He followed the men out of the room and into one with a one-way mirror. Patrick stopped in his tracks.

A small group of naked guys were standing in the studio. The variety of shapes and sizes were mind-boggling. Not all of them were the skinny twink type or the smooth, muscular top, as there were definitely a few who qualified as bears and one guy who was so huge, even flaccid, that Patrick’s butt cheeks clenched in sympathy for that guy’s future partners.