Taking Work Home: Lord and Master, #2

Acknowledgements

My thanks go to my crit group, for much-needed nitpicking services. It’s all too easy to think that what’s in your head is what made it to the keyboard —good beta-readers catch the places where it didn’t.

Author’s Note

For those who’ve read the first book, this book is set between the main story and the epilogue of the first book.

When Mark Paulson went for a job interview with an old friend of his PhD supervisor, he wasn’t expecting to be instantly attracted to the man. Steven Frost was simply looking for a young scientist to train as his assistant in running his engineering company; he wasn’t expecting to get an attractive young man who looked the part of an openly gay CEO’s trophy secretary. They were amused by other people’s speculation about them, at least until the attraction flared into something they couldn’t ignore. Even then, it seemed like a brief fling, a casual affair between friends and kept behind closed doors. When it became something more, each was afraid to ask the other if it was mutual. A twenty-year age difference was trouble by itself, but Steven had other good reasons to be wary of asking Mark for something more, not least being the bipolar disorder he kept hidden in case it was used against him in business. But eventually they resolved the problems and went public with the relationship.

The first Lord and Master book ended with Steven proposing to Mark early in 2004, shortly after the Civil Partnership Bill started the process of going through Parliament, and then an epilogue showing their wedding night two years later, after the Bill had finally become law.

This book looks at the year after Steven’s initial proposal, as they learn how to make the relationship work outside the office, and deal with the reactions of other people when they eventually make their wedding plans public.

If you’d like to read something from Steven’s point of view, you can find a novelette set shortly before Taking Work Home and a short story set around two years after their wedding on my website.

Part One:

Passing it on —late June 2004

Chapter One

Mark switched on his office computer, switched on his kettle, and went to the window to enjoy the view while both gadgets got themselves into gear for the morning. Nearly a year in this job now, and he still hadn’t tired of this morning routine. It wasn’t the job he’d envisaged doing once he had his PhD, but it had turned out to be more interesting, and more fun, than he’d ever expected. And that was without the fringe benefit that hadn’t been in the official job offer.

Of course, he hadn’t expected to sleep with his boss, let alone fall in love with him. That could have got very messy indeed. But by some miracle they’d managed to make it work. Still feeling their way, still working out how to balance work and private life, but still together.

Though not together this morning, not if Steven’s meeting ran late. Time to check the email and diary, and see if there was anything urgent that wouldn’t wait if Steven was late back.

He was surprised to find a lunch appointment on Steven’s account. He certainly hadn’t put it in, and he didn’t remember it being there when he’d checked last thing before leaving yesterday. Steven must have added it to his PDA during the day and then logged on at home.

Who was Nikki? Mark didn’t recognise the name, but Steven avoided pure business lunch appointments when he could, so it was probably an old friend. Or maybe it was the only time this week they were both free.

It seemed to have an alarm set, so he needn’t worry about chasing Steven up to remind him about it later. He turned to the email.

* * * * *

Mark was deep in work when the reception desk rang. Nikki Smith to see Dr Frost.

He glanced at the clock. She was half an hour early. I’m afraid Dr Frost’s not back from his meeting yet, but she’s welcome to come up and have a cup of tea while she waits. He was busy, but best not to leave a lunch guest cooling her heels at reception, even if they did have a nice waiting area. Besides, he was curious.

Nikki Smith turned out to be slim, dark-haired, good-looking, and young. Younger than him, in fact. So not someone Steven knew from way back when. And someone Mark had no recollection of meeting before. She stuck her hand out to him and said, Hi, I’m Nikki. Reception said Steven’s not in?

No, sorry. He went straight to a meeting this morning. He shook her hand. But he does have your lunch appointment marked in the diary, so if he’s expecting to meet you here, he’ll be back soon. It was here you were planning to meet?

Yes, but I’m a bit earlier than he expected. He said he’d be in a meeting, so I didn’t want to disturb him by phoning to let him know I’d got the earlier train. She glanced around. They mentioned tea? You know what the tea’s like on the train.

He knew only too well. I’ll make you some now. He started to get up. Tea or coffee?

Don’t worry; I’ll make it. I don’t want to interrupt your work. You weren’t expecting me this early.

Which would have been a good opportunity to ask, Who the hell are you? but he hadn’t thought of a polite way of putting it before she’d walked over to the pantry area and started using it in a way that suggested she was familiar with it. But not recently, because she said, Damn, where’s he put the lemon teabags?

Stopped buying them. There’s a real lemon in the fridge. Which had started just after he had, because he passed a greengrocer on his way in to work. You haven’t been here in a while?

Not for a year or so. She glanced back over her shoulder at him. "Since before you started, in fact. Have you got the new Chemistry World? I haven’t had a chance to read it yet; it’ll keep me out of your hair until Steven gets back."

Should be on top of the pile on the table. He hadn’t had a chance to look at it himself yet. He was grateful that she didn’t expect him to entertain her; curious or not, he had work he needed to get finished before lunch.

But she seemed to be just as curious about him. When he glanced up at her a few minutes later, she was looking at him thoughtfully. It was the sort of look he’d become used to, first when he’d started working for Steven and then again a few months back, when they’d made it clear that, yes, they were doing what everyone had been wondering whether they’d been doing. But she wasn’t being rude about it; it was the sort of thing one might expect from someone who knew Steven and was simply curious about his new boyfriend. He turned back to his work without reacting to it.

Nikki was so quiet that Mark was able to focus completely on his work. It took him a second or two to react when Steven pushed the door open and came in. Before he could say, Your visitor is here, Nikki had dropped the magazine and launched herself at Steven.

Steven!

Mark stared in astonishment. The young woman had wrapped herself around Steven, and Steven was laughing and hugging her back. Then he said, Here, let me put my briefcase down first.

Nikki let go of Steven, and he set his briefcase down on Mark’s desk. Then he turned back to Nikki and hugged her again. I hope Mark’s been looking after you properly.

He was busy, so I made myself some tea and read a magazine rather than disturb him. Nikki grinned at Steven. "Besides, it gave me a chance to inspect him without him noticing. I like your new taste in secretaries. He’s cute. And he’s my sort of age, too. Maybe I should borrow him."

For a second, Mark thought she didn’t know about him after all. Then Steven let go of her, pinched her ear as if she was a naughty child, and said, "Now, young lady, trying to steal your uncle’s boyfriend is not nice. Do I try to steal your boyfriends?"

Light dawned. Oh. She’s your niece.

Steven looked at him, then back at Nikki. Didn’t you tell him who you were?

Nikki grinned at Steven. "Well, you didn’t tell him, did you? By the time I realised that he didn’t know, it seemed a bit silly to come out with it then. And besides, it meant I could get a good look at him without him coming over all ‘must behave in front of the family.’ She mock-punched Steven’s arm. Come on, you’ve been keeping him out of sight, haven’t you? I was surprised you agreed to meet me at the office."

At least with you, all I have to worry about is you embarrassing me horribly by asking if you can have him when I’ve finished with him. Steven hugged her again. Anyway, congratulations. I told you you could do it.

Mark was feeling rather left out of this conversation. Do what?

First class honours in chemistry, Steven said. I got a phone call last night. Fortunately it was on my mobile, so I could see who it was before I answered it, because the first minute or so of the call was wordless squealing. Happy squealing, so I deduced that someone had just seen her exam results and was pleased.

Now that was something to be pleased about. And it certainly explained her behaviour when Steven had arrived. Congratulations.

Thanks. She smiled at Mark, and now that he knew to look for it, he could see a resemblance to Steven. Anyway, when I finished bouncing at my favourite uncle, he told me to come up to town today and let him buy me lunch so I could bounce at him in person.

Speaking of which, we should probably make a move soon, Steven said. Mark, how long are you going to be? Long enough that I can have a cup of tea?

He was a little startled. You want me along? Surely Steven would want some time alone with his niece.

Of course. Steven nodded at Nikki. Madam here will never forgive me if she doesn’t get the chance to inspect you thoroughly.

Uh... He looked at his work. Give me fifteen minutes.

Twenty if we distract you, which will be long enough for my cup of tea. Want another, Nikki? Mark?

If Steven was making it, it wouldn’t interrupt his work to have another. Yes, please.

Chapter Two

Steven and Nikki went into Steven’s office with their tea, so Mark had no further distractions. At least, not right in front of him. He still had some trouble focusing on his work. He was as curious about Nikki as she was about him; he’d met Steven’s parents, but didn’t know much about the rest of his family. He couldn’t even remember Steven mentioning Nikki by name, although he’d known that there were nieces and nephews. Steven had said on a couple of occasions that he’d be away at the weekend, visiting a niece at university.

At least Nikki didn’t seem to mind about him. Steven’s parents had been very polite, but they’d also been clearly uncomfortable about the age gap. Not openly disapproving, just...worried. He couldn’t really blame them, especially as he had the feeling that they’d have been just the same if he’d been female.

He forced himself to concentrate on finishing the current report. If he could get it done before lunch, he’d be able to give it a fresh look late this afternoon after a break of a couple of hours, which would give him a better chance of spotting any problems.

It took him the fifteen minutes he’d told Steven. He’d just closed the file when Steven put his head around the connecting door between