Of all the things Darien could have offered him in that moment, Zach would have never guessed that Darien would invite him to stay the night and in such a casual manner. He was the first person to be invited around to his house and now he was the first person to be invited to stay the night. Today was certainly full of surprises. “It’s late,” Darien continued. “I have lots of spare bedrooms and neither of us have work tomorrow. It’s easier for you to stay the night.” The billionaire’s logic was hard to refute. There was definitely no shortage of spare bedrooms on the top floor and the next day was Saturday so it wouldn’t matter that he wasn’t at home. It was just very unexpected. “...Okay,” he said hesitantly. “Are you sure it won’t bother you?” “It certainly won’t,” Darien assured him. “All the spare bedrooms have ensuites and I’m sure there’s amenities in them. I can lend you pyjamas if there’s none in the wardrobe.” Zach was more in

Zach stood with his friends outside the venue that was being used for the masked ball and shivered. It was a cold night and he wasn’t dressed for it. Emilia patted his back comfortingly. “We’re nearly at the front of the queue. Have you got your ID handy?” That was Emilia all over. She was always the organised student in their group and probably the most caring. Zach readjusted his mask on his face so it was comfortable and took his ID out of his pocket. As it was an informal ball he had skipped wearing a tie, but was wearing black trousers and a tucked in white shirt. It was the dress code that a lot of other male guests had adopted by the look of the other groups in the queue. “I’ve got it handy,” he assured her. “I’m not going to lose it.” His best friend gave him a knowing look. “Just let her mother you,” Tom stage whispered. “She enjoys it. She’ll ask about everyone’s ticket in a few seconds.” Emilia pinched his side and Z

Darien realised he had overstepped Zach’s boundaries when he saw the look of confusion on his face.He had spoken before his logical side could stop him. The intern looked undeniably adorable in the frilly apron with his round cheeks and slightly flushed cheeks.“I just haven’t seen a man in a frilly apron before,” he said quickly.Zach looked down at his pink apron with a sigh.“It’s my mother’s spare one. I didn’t have one to take with me so she gave me this one. I only wear it when I think something I’m cooking is going to splash on me.”Darien could tell that Zach was feeling embarrassed now so he sat down at the table. Zach turned back to the stove and Darien asked something that he had never asked before.“Is there anything I can do to help with the cooking?”Zach didn’t find the question strange and simply pointed at the chopping board. There was a kn

Zach was deep into a story about a dystopian future with the female lead running a resistance movement against the male lead’s totalitarian government when his phone buzzed in his pocket.Technically he was not supposed to be using his phone in the office during work hours as he was an intern, but he slid it out just to see who was texting him during work hours.Much to his surprise, it was Darien. The text was simple.I looked up about ramen. Inviting someone to your place for ramen is shorthand for sex.There was a collection of emoticons at the end and Zach slid his phone back into his pocket with a quiet sigh of frustration. Darien definitely liked teasing him. To text him during work hours meant that Darien had been very keen to tease him.He would have to tell him off. Recently he had been feeling like their relationship was now more even and Darien was more on his level. Before he had been feeling intimidated by his power and

Darien felt Zach’s body freeze up and he was ready to retract his arms. Then Zach relaxed and shifted position to make it a proper hug.“I’m sorry. It’s just got to me. I might never see my mother outside of a hospital again,” Zach said numbly.“You don’t have to apologise for displaying emotion,” Darien told him.Zach’s body was warm and he was hugging back properly. His own parents had rarely hugged him and when they had, he had felt like it was never a proper hug, like they had been keeping a distance.“I know, I just feel like I’ve inconvenienced you a lot today.”Darien didn’t want to hear that. He wanted to help Zach out without him feeling guilty.“We’re friends, you haven’t caused me any inconvenience. In fact I got an excuse to skip work and I’m being hugged properly for the first time in my life.”Zach drew back to loo