Sam awoke in sheets that were not his, these had a faint scent of aftershave – woody alpine. He groggily opened his eyes to see that the space next to him was vacant as the morning light filled the room, making the faint strokes on the white marble floor more prominent. A scratch of embarrassment hit his chest as he reflected on the events of the night before. He pondered how he got the courage to sleep next to someone he barely knew – in their hotel room, in a different country. Moreover, that someone was none other than Mathew Krondstat – CEO of one of the biggest companies in the country.
This chain of thought was interrupted by a tantalizing aroma of fresh eggs and making its way from the open door, making Sam aware of the pit of hunger in his stomach. He instinctively followed the trail to the main living area to be met with a long mahogany table dressed with a white tablecloth, olive green tableware, and organized silver. Bowls of fruit, orange juice, and bacon and eggs were neatly set out on one side of the table, as the same broad-chested man whom he shared the night with sat at there at the head of the table – this time dressed in a casual hoodie and grey sweatpants.
Sam contemplated how attractive the man before him was. His sharp jaw and pointed nose, the long eyelashes which cast a shadow over his chiseled face, were further highlighted by a wedge of sunlight pouring onto his smooth-looking skin. His hair, slightly wet, was combed to the side: while a stray strand fell onto his shaped eyebrow. A gleam of white made its way from his lips, causing Sam to awkwardly return the gesture.
"Morning, sleepyhead." He said plainly, looking up from the newspaper clasped in his hands.
Sam could feel the heat rise in his cheeks as he mustered the words, "Uh, good morning."
"Good morning, Sam. I suggest you go and freshen up. I have arranged for room service to be up with your breakfast shortly." The familiar British accent said from behind Sam. He turned to see Sebastian dressed in a usual black suit. Sam complied and proceeded to make his way to the en-suite in Mathew's bedroom. He glanced at the marble sink before catching his reflection in the mirror, noticing the ruffled hair, pink nose, and sleepy eyes with faint lines forming underneath.
"Yikes." He muttered to himself.
He saw a clay pot that held one white toothbrush. He rummaged through the bottom cabinets to find a spare pack of neon-colored toothbrushes. He chose a bright green one out and proceeded to brush his teeth, wash his face and run wet fingers through his ruffled hair.
After looking more presentable, he returned to the dining area where Mathew remained, flicking casually through the business section. Sebastian seated himself next to Mathew as he perfectly cut into his eggs. He glanced at the seat next to Mathew – a plate of eggs and bacon, practically calling his name. Sam complied and made his way to the table.
"How did you sleep?" Mathew asked while placing the newspaper down on the table. A small smile quirked up on the side of his chiseled face as his gaze met Sam.
"Um, pretty good. Thanks again for letting me crash here."
"I also had a good night's rest, thank you for asking, sir," Sebastian said casually, as he gently patted his lips with a napkin.
Mathew teasingly rolled his eyes and said in a mundane tone, "good, because I've seen you when you're restless, and it's not good for anyone." A small smile raised on Mathew's lips as the silver-haired man let out a brief chuckle. Sam also smiled at their banter and was pleasantly surprised to see them both more laid back than usual. He pondered if all major-domo's had breakfast with their boss. The general atmosphere of the room felt homey, domesticated – something he was not used to.
"When I was a young boy, he would always walk around the house with a straight face, and the staff was terrified of him, so I coined the name Mr. Happy for him," Mathew said, as he glanced at Sam who made progress on the eggs. Sam remembered the day at the café when Mathew ordered a coffee for Mr. Happy and asked,
YOU ARE READING
Moonlit Man (bxb)
RomanceSamuel Rodriguez, a 24 year-old law student at Stanford University is haunted by the dark memories of his childhood which manifest themselves in night terrors. Trust and openness does not come easily to him. However, after a celebrity guest lecture...
