Kyle got his phone out as soon as she’d gone. His heart sank and he groaned out loud. “For fuck’s sake!”

“What?” Patrick looked up from where he was crouching by the gas heater.

“No signal, and we’ve got no Wi-Fi either, have we?”

Patrick shrugged. “It’s hardly the end of the world. We had signal at the shop so if you need to call anyone you can go out later to do it.”

“It’s not just about making calls. I was hoping I’d have data so I could get online, use Spotify, watch Netflix, and chat to people. You know.” Not that Kyle was addicted to Grindr exactly, but it was a great way of passing the time. There were several guys he chatted with regularly and it was always fun to pick up contacts in new places.

Patrick raised his eyebrows. “I guess you’ll just have to find other ways of entertaining yourself.” He twiddled a knob on the heater and pushed a button. After a few clicks there was a whoosh as blue flames burst into life.

“Well I’m going to start by having a shower to warm up, if that’s okay with you? I’m bloody freezing.”

“Sure.”

Kyle stomped into the bathroom and turned the shower on. The water pressure was decent and steam started to fill the cubicle as he stripped off his clothes. His jeans were very wet at the back where he’d fallen in the snow, and so was the bottom edge of his T-shirt. Dressed just in his skin-tight grey boxer briefs, he carried his clothes back into the main room and put the wooden chairs close to the heater so he could drape his shirt and jeans over them to dry. He stood his boots on the seat of the chair, hoping they might dry out a little too. Then he went to his case and bent over, unzipping it to get out his wash bag.

As he straightened up, he glanced at Patrick who was kneeling on the floor by his open case. Patrick looked away quickly, his cheeks flushed.

Hiding a grin, Kyle sashayed back to the bathroom, knowing without a doubt that Patrick would be looking at his arse again already, and thriving on the attention.

Enjoy the view.

As he stood under the stream of water, Kyle wondered whether Patrick was comfortable with his sexuality. He was clearly interested in men—Kyle specifically—but he hadn’t heard anything on the office grapevine to that effect, so he couldn’t be out at work. Maybe he was still fighting the urge? Or perhaps he was just discreet about it. Kyle hadn’t bothered trying to hide his sexuality since he’d left school. Even at school he hadn’t been very successful at convincing anyone he was straight, so what was the point?

The shower was fantastic. Unlimited hot water and perfect pressure. Kyle lost track of time as he let the steamy heat soak into him, warming him through, and driving away the unpleasant memory of the freezing walk from the car to here.

Soaping his cock and balls, Kyle indulged in a little fantasy of Patrick being a frustrated gay-sex virgin, and imagined him jerking off thinking about Kyle’s arse. From the way Patrick kept staring at it, he was probably a top—or would want to be on top if the situation ever arose. Kyle let his slippery fingers creep around to his arse crack, enjoying the sensation of them sliding over his hole as he washed.

“Um. Kyle?” Patrick’s voice dragged Kyle out of his daydream.

“What?” Annoyed at being interrupted, his voice came out sharper than he’d intended.

“I really need a piss. Are you going to be long?”

“I don’t know. How long is long?”

“Well, are you nearly finished?”

“Not really.” Kyle hadn’t washed his hair yet, and he was enjoying washing his arse too much to rush it. Plus his dick had risen to attention and it might be nice to deal with that while he was in here. Another five minutes would leave him satisfied.

“Can I come and use the toilet while you’re in there then?”

That idea had some appeal. If he kept his back to Patrick, he could hide his boner. And knowing that Patrick would be looking at his arse would be a turn on for Kyle and might help him come once Patrick was gone again. “Yeah, that’s fine,” he said breezily. “I’m not shy. Come on in.” He angled his body so his dick was pointing into the corner. Glancing over his shoulder, he watched Patrick come in, look across at Kyle, and then hurry to the toilet that was right next to the shower cubicle. Kyle was tempted to watch him unzip, but didn’t want to scare him away, so he closed his eyes and turned his face into the stream of water. He got his hands soapy again and reached back to wash his arse again, spreading his cheeks, and hoping Patrick was watching.

Letting the soap slip out of his hand, Kyle said loudly, “Oh bother.” Bending to pick it up, he took his time, and sneaked a glance through his legs at Patrick.

Cock in hand, gaze fixed on Kyle’s arse, Patrick had a raging erection, and wasn’t peeing.

Kyle straightened up and looked over his shoulder, focusing on Patrick’s face rather than his dick. “Having trouble there? Shy bladder?”

“Something like that,” Patrick said in a strangled tone, quickly turning his body to hide his hard on.

Taking pity on him, Kyle turned his attention to washing his hair instead of his arse, and ignored Patrick. He finally heard the flush of the toilet and Patrick saying, “Right. Done. Sorry to interrupt.”

“No problem.” Kyle reached down and squeezed his cock, which had deflated to a semi.

To jerk off, or not to jerk off?

Perhaps Kyle could find something more interesting to do than have a wank. Patrick obviously fancied him. It might be fun trying to persuade him to fool around. There was something so straight-laced about Patrick and that made him more of a challenge. Kyle enjoyed the thrill of the chase and he was itching to get past that reserve and see what was hidden beneath that respectable exterior.

Leaving his cock alone, Kyle finished up in the shower, and got out. Only then did he realise he didn’t have a towel. “Oh shit,” he muttered. Then called loudly, “Patrick?”

“Yes?”

“There aren’t any towels.” Kyle hadn’t brought one with him. Why would he when they were staying in a hotel where they were provided.

“Oh. Well I don’t have one. Can you use a shirt or something?”

“I suppose I’ll have to. Pass me my T-shirt? It’s hanging up by the heater.” It only had a small damp patch and at least it would be warm.

“Hang on.” There was the sound of movement, and then Patrick’s arm snaked around the doorway holding out the white fabric. “Here you go.”

“Cheers.”

The T-shirt was pretty ineffectual, but as Kyle didn’t have too much body hair he managed to get dry enough to pull his boxer briefs up over his damp legs. His T-shirt was too wet to wear now, so he went back out in his underwear to hang the T-shirt up again. Patrick was sitting on the sofa with the television on. This time he kept his eyes carefully averted as Kyle strolled around in his underwear.

“That heater’s great isn’t it?” Kyle said. “Good thing too. I think I’m going to be stuck like this till my clothes dry off a bit.”

“You could wear your work shirt,” Patrick suggested.

“It’s not very comfortable,” Kyle lied. He figured his chances at seduction were better if he flashed more skin. “And I’m fine like this now it’s nice and warm.” Taking a seat on the sofa next to Patrick he spread his legs to show off the bulge in his underwear. He wasn’t hard, but he wasn’t exactly soft either. If Patrick bothered to look he might gauge Kyle’s interest.

“Really?” Patrick said, voice terse. “There’s no need to parade around half-naked. You do have other clothes you could wear.”

“Oh come on. Don’t try and tell me you’re not enjoying the display.” Kyle picked up the remote that lay between them and started channel hopping.

“I was watching that!”

“Bullshit. You’re more interested in watching me than the television.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” A flush crawled up Patrick’s neck and flooded his face as he turned angrily to Kyle.

Kyle shrugged. “It means you’re not as subtle as you think you are. You’ve been staring at my arse ever since we started working together and just now… while I was in the shower you were hard enough to drill through the walls of this flat.”

Patrick’s mouth dropped open and his face turned an even darker shade of red. “I… you…” he spluttered. “I’m sorry.”

“Patrick, I don’t mind.” Kyle twisted to face him, drawing one leg up onto the sofa. He leant closer and put a hand on Patrick’s thigh. “It’s flattering actually. And seeing as we’re stuck together for the night with this place to ourselves. Well…. Maybe we can find something more exciting than the television to entertain us.” He quirked an eyebrow and gave Patrick his sexiest grin. That grin had almost never let him down.

Eyes wide, Patrick looked like a defenceless creature facing a predator. “I can’t believe this is happening,” he muttered, as though more to himself than Kyle.

“So what do you say?” Kyle slid his hand a little higher, dropping his gaze to the growing bulge in Patrick’s jeans. His body was into the idea even if his mind needed a little convincing.

“No. No way!”

Well that was a little more of a definite no than Kyle had expected. He took his hand away, recoiling in surprise and embarrassment. With Patrick fully dressed and looking at Kyle in horror, Kyle now felt rather uncomfortable in his state of undress. There was a blanket draped over the back of the sofa and he tugged it over himself so he felt less exposed and vulnerable. “Why not?” He met Patrick’s gaze, trying not to let his disappointment show on his face.

“Because we’re colleagues, and I’m your mentor. It would be totally inappropriate and make things awkward.” Patrick frowned, shaking his head.

He had a point. But Kyle wasn’t ready to accept defeat that easily. Libido still roused, Kyle would rather dive in and fuck—and fuck the consequences. “But you won’t be my mentor when we go back after Christmas. And okay… we’ll still be colleagues, but I’m sure we can manage to keep things professional afterwards. It’s only sex.”

“And that’s precisely why I don’t want to have sex with you.” Patrick’s voice rose in frustration. “I’m not looking for a casual fuck, especially not with someone I don’t even like!”

“I don’t like you either,” Kyle retorted, ignoring the jab of hurt that Patrick’s words had caused. He didn’t care if Patrick liked him or not. Patrick was an annoying twat anyway, so the feeling was entirely mutual. “But you don’t have to like someone to have good sex with them. Sometimes the friction can be part of the fun.”

“Not for me.” Patrick stood, shaking his head. “I like connection, friendship, respect.”

Kyle snorted. “I prefer to focus on sexual chemistry, and I think we’ll have that.” Patrick seemed an ideal candidate for having some fun with. Given their differences Kyle couldn’t see himself falling for Patrick, yet gut instinct told him they’d be compatible in bed if they could get past the personality clash long enough to try it.

“But why not look for more?”

“Because in my experience of dating, connection and respect can be in short supply.” Kyle had given up on connection when he’d had his heart crushed at the tender age of eighteen. Since then he’d preferred to stay in control. He liked to be wanted, to be desired, and he loved the physical pleasure from good sex. But he avoided commitment, or anything approaching a relationship, and when he started to feel too much for a regular partner he’d cut and run.

“Doesn’t mean we should give up trying.” Patrick’s voice was tight.

Something in his expression told Kyle he’d hit a raw nerve. “Okay. Never mind.” Kyle pulled the blanket more snugly around himself. Rejection always hit Kyle hard. With his good looks, toned body, and the superficial confidence that went along with that, it was unusual for men he targeted to turn him down. On the rare occasion that it happened it cut deep, tapping into insecurities that Kyle preferred not to examine.

It was going to be incredibly uncomfortable being stuck with Patrick for the night now.

Maybe Patrick felt the same because he stood, putting some space between them. “I’m going to go back to the village shop. We need some supplies: tea, coffee, milk etc. Is there anything in particular you’d like me to get?”

“Not really.” Kyle couldn’t think about food, he was too preoccupied with having made an idiot of himself.

“Shall I see if the local pub is doing food tonight, and whether we need to book? That will probably be nicer than anything we can microwave here.”

“Yeah, okay.” Kyle picked up the remote and started channel hopping again, searching for distraction. He ignored Patrick as he put on his coat and boots.

Once Patrick was wrapped up, with his rucksack slung over one shoulder, he said, “I’ll leave you with the key. I’m assuming you won’t be going anywhere?”

“Nope.” There was nowhere for Kyle to go. Trapped and unhappy, he huddled under the blanket as Patrick let himself out. A blast of icy air rushed in before Patrick shut the door behind him.