Dominic applauded with the others. Like them his eyes watched as the CEO shook Thomas' hand congratulating the new Vice President.
He smiled internally, proud of the man he knew personally and intimately But there was sadness too as he stepped forward to shake the man's hand.
He couldn't throw his arms around him and kiss him; at least not then or there.
Their eyes met. Thomas winked as he shook Dominic's hand, squeezing it harder then the others. They would meet later both knew.
It started in the military, the Navy, on board a ship they both served as young officers. The room they shared with two other ensigns offered an introduction of their minds and bodies.
One shore, the four visited the usual bars and clubs. A nearby hotel found the two of them sharing a room and ultimately a bed. Their affair continued despite the military witch hunt for gays.
Dominic stood back so others could pat Thomas on the back, shake his hand and invest their smiles in whatever impact he would have on their own careers.
They had returned from an evening of classical music, abandoned by their roommates for their tastes in music. There were drinks afterwards and a dizzy cab ride. Laughing they held each other in the room.
Thomas unbuttoned Dominic's white uniform tunic. Dominic let him. The hand on his bare chest said words they hadn't spoken. Dominic returned the undressing action saying his own words.
The kiss was gentle at first, they became aggressive expressing the feelings, desires and long pent up longings that each had suspected before.
It was a night of sweat, exploration, sex and intimacy neither had known in past encounters. There were no secrets, threats or judgmental eyes in that little hotel room; only the two of them, revealing everything to each other.
Dominic glanced at the CEO, Thomas grandfather. He knew the man and had visited his palatial residence with Thomas.
The two rode horses, played tennis, swam...even swam naked under the nose of the man.
"He knows" Dominic whispered to Thomas the night he snuck into his lover's bedroom.
"Naw" Tomas said bending over to take Dominic into his mouth.
Hiding was part of the game. Dominic knew when he was 13 that his parents would go ballistic if they knew what he did with friends in his bedroom. His sister knew. Even his younger brother knew.
High School was accepting of gays. But Dominic knew better. Despite the popular view at the time, his friends, mostly macho types would shun him if they knew. And the very few who shared his private joy, constantly worried one of them would be found out and endanger them all.
College was tame, though Dominic kept his sexuality quiet less his Baseball team members discover he was less macho then their image. The dark hallways of the drama building provided an outlet at night. But the daylight saw only his athletic form, teammates and female fans.
"I'm your beard aren't I?" Sylvia said one night as they walked by the baseball field. "It's ok, I like you and better be your beard then not"
Dominic didn't reply. He wanted to acknowledge and didn't want to deny. He liked Sylvia too much. His silence achieved the unspoken desire.
The NAVY trained him and other NROTC candidates. Among them was Thomas Johnson, a blonde hair athlete from New York. Dominic eyed the boy as they trained. They were friendly but nothing more then fellow officer candidates.
He watched Thomas undress, swim in Speedos, shower naked, run, lift, exercise and sleep.
"You ok?" Conrad a fellow trainee asked one night. Dominic was sitting on his bunk starring across the dormitory. He realized he was staring at the blonde hair that peeked above the blankets on Thomas bed.
"Yea ok, uh just thinking" he said.
"Remember compadre, don't ask don't tell" Conrad reached over and squeezed Dominic's bare knee.
Dominic freaked inside thinking somehow Conrad knew something he had hidden. But he laughed instead and Conrad chuckled. It was a joke, he thought. Or perhaps Conrad somehow knew his secret.
"Hey" Thomas stood at the office door. "You ok about all this?"
Dominic looked up from his desk. "Oh yea, proud of you man" he said standing.
"I can see that" Thomas looked at Dominic's crotch.
"Shut up" Dominic said looking to see if anyone was watching through the glass walls.
Thomas closed the blinds and stepped forward.
"No man, we can't" Dominic said but he didn't refuse Thomas' hug.
"Later man" Thomas said patting Dominic's butt.
Images flashed across Dominic's mind. Thomas patted his butt long before they became lovers.
The race across the field in Officer Training was the first time he remembered. He won surprising the training NCOs as well as his co-trainees. It was Thomas who congratulated him with a pat on the butt.
That was normal in the male athletic world. But Dominic wondered not about the pat itself but the squeeze that was a part of Thomas congratulations.
He reached around now and returned that type of greeting making Thomas jump and look around as Dominic had done.
"Fuck you later" he whispered in Dominic's ear.
"Not if I fuck you first" Dominic returned the whisper and then in a louder voice. "Congratulations again man" he grabbed Thomas hand and shook it.
Adriancleared his throat. He stood at the door holding Dominic's mail in his hand. His clean white shirt didn't hide his tanned skin.
"Oh ho, look whose back from Hawaii" Dominic acknowledged Adrian at the same time telling Thomas someone was there.
"Oh yea, hey Adrian"
"Congratulations Sir" Adrian said to the new Vice President as Thomas passed by.
"Thanks"
"So he's a VP now huh?" Adrian said as he put the mail on Dominic's desk. "Does that piss you off?"
"Huh?" Dominic looked up at the younger man. His gold nipple rings could be seen through his white shirt especially now the boy had a dark tan.
He had to sit down less his arousal at Thomas' hug be seen and the reaction to Adrian as well.
"Naw we're old friends. Besides his Granddad is the boss" Dominic said.
"He's really smart too" Adrian seemed to be defending Thomas promotion suddenly.
"Yes that's true...brilliant in fact. I was surprised he didn't get promoted a long time ago."
"Because of his Granddad?" Adrian seemed to adjust his crotch facing Dominic's desk
"No because of what you said" Dominic watched the boy's hand adjusting his meat so his dark trousers outlined his penis to the side.
"He is very good"
"I know" Adrian said
"Uh can I help you?" Dominic said looking up at Adrian's tanned face.
"I was hoping" The boy began to whisper "we could meet up later"
Dominic considered the boy's curly reddish hair, his tan face and the loose tie that allowed his open shirt to reveal the tan on his lower throat leading to his chest.
"I uh not sure, Thomas and I uh celebrate drinks you know everyone" Dominic stammered. It had been weeks since he writhed naked on the boy's bed. Their chance meeting that weekend culminated in several drinks and an unlimited sexual night together.
"I'll be there too" Adrian said "Afterwards?"
"We'll see" Dominic tried not to look at the boy. He wanted to spend that Friday night with Thomas and perhaps the weekend ahead too. Thomas liked staying in town in his condo on the weekends he didn't have to pay homage to the family upstate.
But he did look up as Adrian turned and walked from his office. The back was as tan as his chest. The dark trousers lay across his firm buttocks like they were sewn in place. Each step made one buttock move, flex and beckon his desires.
"Sex, it's just sex" The enlisted Sailor said. They were both gasping that night in the San Diego hotel. Dominic had been drinking in a gay bar. He wore civilian clothes and having been abandoned by Thomas during their shore leave, he glanced around at the other obvious service men who dared not reveal their sexual preference.
"You're hot" the words came from a skull revealing haircut wearing guy about his age. "Jeff" he stuck out his hand and put the second beer bottle he held in the other on the bar.
"Hi, Dominic" he shook the warm hand. A feeling of electricity seemed to flow through him. He picked up the bottle.
"and thanks, for the beer and comment" he drank the bottle down in one long pour revealing his desire for drunkenness and what Jeff wanted.
"I know, but I'm seeing another ..."
"Sailor?" Jeff asked.
"Don't ask..." They both laughed but moved closer to kiss and continue their night of lust. He never saw Jeff again.
"You fucked another guy?" Thomas asked when Dominic told him. "I missed you" Dominic explained.
He suspected Thomas had done similar things when they were apart. But it didn't matter when they were together, hiding from the Navy, the world and everyone that would judge their desires.
Then announcement came following rumors and news stories. They shared a room by then; both promoted enough to warrant a two man berth. Their men seemed to like them and the higher ranked officers seemed to as well.
"What do we do now?" Thomas asked sitting on Dominic's bunk. His penis still hung out of his military boxers, his curly haired chest displayed his military dog tags. Dominic still had his lovers taste on his tongue.
"We tell them" he said. "Hell some probably know anyway"
They stood at attention, the ship Captain having summoned them.
"Look boys, I uh know you two are buddies, probably more then that. And I don't care. You're both good sailors and officers" he said "relax"
They sat in the chairs facing the older man's desk.
"And given the politics, I don't care officially now" he smiled "But before you two do anything or say anything brash, remember it's nobody's business..and if you decide to say something that will affect the way your men react to you, it might affect your ability to continue to be good officers."
It was the first realization that bravely announcing their relationship to others could still have an affect they didn't want.
They agreed to keep their relationship a secret after the man's warning. It would remain a secret until they left active service.
And as they met with the VP of Personnel, they knew it would remain a secret in civilian life...especially after the CEO, Thomas Grandfather appeared to hug his grandson and as an afterthought greet Dominic too.
Dominic at his desk knew that Friday was more then a time for celebrating his lover's promotion. He feared a change was coming he didn't want.
The bar was packed with young laughing suit wearing men accepting the free drinks that Thomas' promotion provided.
Dominic grabbed a beer and looked through the crowd. Thomas and his Grandfather were holding court across the room. Anxious lower ranking Managers pushed to stay in their eyeline.
Colin, a handsome Manager originally from England stood close. Dominic recognized the way the guy looked at Thomas long ago.
"You're jealous" Thomas would say
"No gaydar, I've got good gaydar. Not only is he one of us, he's targeted you and yes I'm jealous" They discussed it during their weekend together.
He watched now as Colin maneuvered himself close to Thomas. He greeted the two, shaking the CEO's hand and then Thomas. Then he leaned close to Thomas' ear.
Dominic reasoned to himself that Colin had to do that due to the noise of the room. But the jealous bone in his body wondered what Colin was saying, hinting or actually proposing to Thomas..perhaps a private chat or celebration or something more obvious?
"He's riding high tonight" it was Adrian's voice.
Dominic felt the boy's body against his side. He nodded. "He deserves it".
"How long you gotta stay." Adrian's hand, hidden by the crowd pet, his thigh.
Dominic moved away. "Until he's ready"
He had decided. Tonight was for Thomas. He was for Thomas. Thomas was for him.
Turning to see if Adrian was still close, Dominic was surprised to see the boy gone.
There were jokes, drinks, laughter. Then Dominic's gut clenched as he saw Adrian speaking into Colin's ear.
"Yep" Dominic said to nobody assured that Adrian and Colin would be fucking that night instead of him. He felt jealous ... and then laughed at himself.
What he saw next made Dominic stop laughing. Adrian was next to Thomas and holding his lips close to Thomas ear.
Thomas looked across the room. Their eyes locked. Dominic raised his bottle in salute and Thomas waved back. As he did so, Thomas nodded.
Adrianmoved away smiling and lifted his own bottle towards Dominic.
Dominic stood under the hot spray. It felt good. The small room was barely large enough for one man let alone two. But there had been two from time to time especially late in the middle of the night.
Everyone on board knew what went on then. Nobody talked about it. The Officers laughed about the Aft Head where the rumor was enlisted sailors would go in the darkness to find anonymous relief from their natural frustrations. But none talked about the officer's country.
Dominic didn't turn when the curtain opened. He knew the warmth he felt belonged to Thomas. They didn't make any sound as their hands reacquainted each other of the man they had loved. Their gasps at orgasms were hidden by the sound of the shower spray. And they returned separately to the room they shared with two other officers.
Dominic thought about it now as he showered in his condo trying to regain sobriety or enough of it to sleep.
Thomas said goodnight to the crowd as he left the bar with his boss and Grandfather...destroying Dominic's hope for a private celebration.
But when the doorbell rang, he ran dripping wet from the shower not bothering to grab a towel. Nobody else would be there at that hour but the one he wanted to show his body too.
"Alone?" Adrian stood at the door "Nice greeting"
"Hey uh, we can't..." Dominic stammered but stepped back when Adrian moved inside.
"I could use a shower too" Adrian was stripping letting his suit and shirt fall to the floor. It seemed like only seconds that he was totally naked in front of the still dripping naked Dominic's body.
His eyes looked at the very small white space around the boy's hips and above his cock. The recently acquired tan was darker then he imagined.
"Shit" Dominic said turning as Adrian passed him.
The shower welcomed them both. Dominic wanted Thomas. But he wasn't there. Adrian was. The hands, the lips, the round butt, the hard cock ... they were all there.
They kissed, panted, gasped and came.
"That was a nice beginning" Adrian said as he toweled himself. It reminded Dominic of the first time he saw Thomas doing the same thing in college. The NROTC camp they both attended was much like military life they would later experience.
There was no privacy, all space and previous personal activities shared as well.
There was something sexy about the way Thomas toweled himself, not bothering to turn modestly from the gaze of others.
"So drink?" Adrian said moving to where he knew Dominic kept the alcohol. He didn't wait for an answer pouring two glasses of scotch. It was a very old scotch, the same bottle he had given Dominic that weekend they spent together.
"Feeling better?" Adrian was clearly in charge of the night.
Dominic only nodded. He did feel better, though the empty feeling in his gut told him Thomas was missing.
"Don't worry, he's coming" Adrian said.
Dominic knotted his eyebrows "whose coming?"
The doorbell rang as if on cue in a stage play.
Adrianmoved to the door and opened it not bothering to hide his telltale nakedness.
Thomas was there.
"Thom" Dominic said suddenly aware he and Adrian were being discovered together. His lover knew they had been sexing. Instead of a night of celebration, it would be a disaster.
Thomas kissed him, long and deep..the kind of kiss that said things that replaced words not spoken.
He began to undress Thomas, ignoring Adrian's presence, in fact forgetting it. He knelt and took Thomas in his mouth. Looking upwards to see Thomas approving expression, Dominic saw Adrian's head..he was kissing Thomas.
It was a night of discovery. The three did things to each other again and again. Dominic felt one inside his mouth and the other inside his hips at the same time. He repeated the action letting Adrian experience the same and then Thomas.
The night of alcohol and emotions took the three of them to a place they hadn't planned, at least neither Thomas or Dominic had.
The morning sun awakened Dominic, his eyes full of the freckled naked body that lay still intertwined with him. Thomas looked sexy and cute, vulnerable and manly, loved and rested.
He looked around. Adrian wasn't there. They didn't speak of him, sharing coffee and bagels, a morning shower and a naked morning of kisses, touches and sperm sharing when their bodies were ready.
"Thanks for the special congratulations" Thomas said stroking Dominic's head that lay on top of his cock in his lap.
"Thank Me?"
"Yea that boy, Adrian said you had planned it" Thomas "different then what I expected but, nice"
Dominic didn't answer. It was Adrian of course. Thomas would leave Sunday after their brunch in the village as usual.
But Dominic knew he wouldn't be alone. Adrian would appear and his Sunday night wouldn't be spent alone as usual.
What would happen after that weekend, he had no idea. For now he loved and was loved. The man that the world might lure away was there, his aroma filled Dominic's lungs.
"Granddad knows, you know" Thomas said
Dominic shook his head. He recalled the expression Thomas' Granddad had that day he rose naked from their swimming pool. Thomas was behind him still laughing from their wet horseplay.
The man's eyes stared revealing neither disapproval nor approval.
"But we can't..."
Dominic rose to hide Thomas words with his lips. They shared their secret and silence with their satisfaction that their bodies needed.
It would stay a secret for as long as everyone allowed.
And Dominic knew Adrian would be there too.