In Safe Company

Chapter One

Winter in New York was always a pain, the snow made the sidewalks slippery and nipped at the asses of every occupant that lived there.

So coffee shops were a popular stop every morning for the run of the mill office workers and students of all types.

And even the top dogs of the city couldn't help but pop in whatever store to pick up coffee.

Derek Blake had been running behind that day, he just needed a quick pick me up, but his usual place was too far away. So he went in to shop much closer than his own.

It was comfy enough. Not Starbucks or Dunkin, but a cute mom and pop shop that was popular enough to survive the corporate vultures of New York.

Derek could respect the shops hustle. He waited in the small line, pulling his scarf tighter to his neck, still feeling the bitter shock of the outside frostbite.

He looked around the shop, admiring the homey decor and how friendly the customers seemed. And how a lot of eyes drew his way.

Not because he was a big shot celebrity, or because he dressed well, because Derek wasn't an overly extravagant man in public.

The eyes on him were to admire the gods gift he was. Not his own words.

He looked ethnically ambiguous, raised in a Christian American-Hispanic family. And specifically Ecuador. He was still very much white passing, but a beautiful man with ambiguous features. Dark eyes, chestnut hair that rolled in waves, sharp jawline, plump lips and overall stunning man.

It was one of his sole selling features according to most.

He both lived and hated the attention, but it honestly didn't matter to him. He did a kind wave to the onlookers as he stepped up to the counter.

"I'm just looking to get a black coffee. Biggest size you can get me," he ordered with a heavy sigh.

He heard a lighthearted chuckle from the cashier, "no problem. You look pretty tired. So I'll make it extra strong for you."

Derek looked at the cashier/barista, seeing a rather young man, smiling pretty cheekily at him. If people thought Derek was attractive, this boy was another breed.

He had bright green eyes, sun kissed skin, littered in a billion freckles, and star berry blond hair. Black roots peeks out just barely at the beginning of the blonde. He was a cute guy.

Probably a lady killer.

"Appreciated. Do you have any bagels or anything good for breakfast?"

The boy nodded, "if you like scones I'll throw in one on the house."

"You don't need to do that, but appreciated."

"No, I insist. The coffee will be four fifty."

Four fifty? That was ridiculously cheap considering it wasn't from a cooperate store. So Derek paid for his coffee and waited, watching the cashier move as he worked.

He was pretty slender, nice hips and, if he could be so crude, had a rather nice ass. If he were gay or a girl, he'd be head over heels for him. Maybe.

Those sort of things never really occurred to him.

"And here's your coffee. And the scone on the house. Hope to see you again sometime." The pretty boy handed them off with a pretty pearly smile.

Derek took his things and smiled back politely, "I'll try to come more often." Then he left.

The pretty boy cashier, Jason, watched as the beautiful mystery man wandered out, admiring every second he stood in the store.

Obviously the guy was straight, but he couldn't help but stare. He could afford a scone or too if that meant he'd come back.

Did he even catch his name?

No.

So Jason went back to his job, smiling at every customer and making their day a little easier with strong coffee and flirtatious jokes.

It was a bit strenuous, but he had his gallery to look forward to that night. His art among so many others to be praised and sour after.

And that alone was his driving force for the day.

Derek was in a very similar mindset, he had a art Galla that he was expected at that night. The open bar was one of the few things he actually cared for at those events.

That and he quite enjoyed admiring the art. He especially liked newer artists who were just making their way to the art scene. They showed so much promise. And the female artists were a bit desperate for attention, which he was always happy to give.

He tried to imagine the night, like he always did as he mulled over paperwork, but his mind only drifted back to the big at the coffee shop.

It was ridiculous that his mind decided to be so frivolous, but he simply shook it off.

The coffee shop boy was cute, reminded him of his younger years.

Besides, even if he didn't partake in it, doesn't mean he couldn't admire the beauty of it.

His slim waist and wider hips, that beautiful dip from his back to his ass, and how round and plump it looked. How pretty his lips were in that twisted smile. How his eyes lit up as he talked...

He was a fucking beautiful man.

Still, Derek shook his thoughts of the boy off and went back to work. He'd have time to fantasize about the gala later.

The sooner he finished the paperwork, the sooner he could leave.

And so, both Jason and Derek pushed themselves at work, thinking about the mystery men they encountered.

Jason's tall dark and handsome and Derek's cute, slim and flirty.

Both couldn't help but think back, despite their own reservations.

And somehow, they both got out early, and against all odds, passed each other on their ways home, oblivious to the other as they looked forward to the night of drinks, art and mingling.

They had no reason to meet outside of the coffee shop, yet they were already set in meeting each other again, and again, and again, would they so unwittingly allow it.