C10 First Time

Adrian drove along the semi-glaring streetlights of the M2 motorway with the intention to connect to the highway that would lead to Bradley’s home, but he got lost and ended up on a scenic tour to the leafier areas of the Western Suburbs. Erika eventually arrived to a lookout on a hill that showed a sea of twinkling house and streetlights, like colorful stars on a night sky. Adrian parked the car.

Bradley instinctively stepped out to bask in the twinkling glory of the suburban lights. He relished the soothing cool night breeze and the scent of wet grass and flowers wafting past his nose.

“Aah, now this is a sight.” He blissfully greeted the view, stretching out his arms like he was about to embrace it.

Adrian smiled warmly at the man’s perked up expression, thinking it was cute. It was only their second day knowing each other, but he felt so at easy around Bradley, like they had been friends for years. The feeling made his heart race at a rate he hadn’t felt in a long time. The last person who had made his heart beat this fast had decided her career was more important than their relationship.

“Hey, um, Adrian. I can call you, Adrian, right?” Bradley awkwardly asked with a deep blush that made his expression appear maidenly.

The breeze’s gentle tease of Bradley’s fringe about his forehead caused Adrian’s heart to skip a beat. Hearing his name spoken cordially from the man’s mouth felt reassuring.

“Sure. I call you, Bradley.” Adrian stoically answered.

“Um, thanks for today and now. Gotta be honest, I thought you were a mafia boss, you know, kind of shady what you did.” Bradley chuckled at the past that was now a funny story in his memory banks.

“I need to thank you for not spilling out our less ethical meeting to the media.” Adrian replied and sighed. “To be honest, I was a desperate man when I propositioned you that way.”

Bradley peered into Adrian’s eyes for the truth, his heart raced at the calm and almost vulnerable expression he glimpsed. He had seen eyes like those win women’s hearts in movies.

“You’re a wealthy businessman of a successful corporation. Why would you be desperate?” Bradley’s voice felt robotic at his comment.

“Success is a fleeting measure, Bradley. The trend today is old tomorrow. A-Human was at risk of being an expensive failure to launch. You have given it a chance. I can’t allow more people to be redundant due to loss of shareholders.” Adrian’s soberly explained his reasons.

“I see. ” Bradley ended his part of the conversation. He wrapped his arms around himself, feeling the cold all of a sudden. He cursed when he realized his jacket was back in the car.

Adrian sighed. He removed his suit jacket and draped it around Bradley’s shoulders to keep him warm.

Bradley cursed his pounding heart and heated blushes to his cheeks. What the hell was going on here?

“Um, thanks,” he awkwardly thanked the man, looking into his eyes.

Time seemed to go still around them as their eyes were locked on each other with lingering thoughts and feelings stirring heart flutters and pleasurable, swirling sensations about their stomachs.

“Incoming phone call from Charles Thornton. Answer or hang up?” Erika’s voice broke through the moment.

Adrian hurried to the car and provided the commands for the inbound call to go to voicemail.

“I think I should get you home.” He declared.

Bradley entered the passage seat and provided some new instructions into Erika’s GPS navigator that would take him home.

The ride back was filled with awkward silence.