The Attorney

Dedication

For Lyn Lucas, Judy Peddle, Lyn, Jan, Tena, & Laurie

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 3

Chapter 1 WALKING into his large corner office, Sam took a seat at his oversized desk. He had several active cases he was working on, but instead of diving into them as he typically did each morning, his curiosity won out. Sam pulled his laptop out of its carrying case and set it front and center on the smooth glass surface. After logging on, he immediately searched out his newest bookmarked site, The Male Room. He snorted, still not believing he‟d actually done it—Sam Solomon had filled in a profile at an online dating service. Five years ago, the only way he would have ever done anything like this would have been in response to a dare when he was too drunk to think clearly. Now that he was living alone and wishing for more than just a good fuck at the end of the day, Sam had decided instead to try the newest trend in dating. He remembered the day his friends, Craig and Jeff, had sat in his office signing the documents necessary to start their online business. His two friends had really done their research, and the commitment they‟d made to take the risk with a new business was certainly paying off. It had been less than two months since The Male Room had opened its virtual doors, and they already had one of the three most lucrative gay online dating sites on the east coast of the United States.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 4 Having received a free profile for all the legal work he‟d helped them with during their start-up period, Sam had given it a try. He wasn‟t sure what he was hoping for, but knew that going to the Music Box three to five nights a week to get his dick sucked or find a good ass to fuck was becoming less and less appealing. He envied his friends, remembering how, as they‟d started their new business, they had also discovered the love that had been looming just beneath the surface for years. Now Sam wanted a shot at something longer-lasting, but he was picky. He‟d already accepted several dates from his online prospective pairings, but none actually had gone beyond a couple of brief encounters. One or two first dates had become second dates, but after a hot fuck and a good dinner, he didn‟t have much desire to develop any of the matches into relationships. When he looked at the home page for The Male Room, he noticed there were ten couples, captured in smiling pictures, listed as success stories. That was what Sam wanted. He wanted to be a success story, and not just in his professional or sexual world, but in his personal life. Hell, he wanted to have a personal life. Exploring his profile‟s “Connection” location, he noticed three new hits. All the men were good looking, but he‟d learned through many years of gathering evidence for court cases, digitally enhanced pictures could go a long way to improving appearance. Now his search for the ideal date supported the same theory. Many of the pictures posted on the profiles were far less than honest representations. Ignoring the photos, giving them no more than a passing glance, Sam looked at each new prospective match‟s profile.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 5 Two intrigued him immediately; the third seemed too much like him to be worth a second look. Sam didn‟t think he could handle a coffee, let alone a dinner, with someone who was as much a control freak as himself. The thought crossed his mind that maybe he‟d be better to stick to the old adage about opposites attracting each other. Before he could think about it any further, the intercom on his phone buzzed. “Mr. Solomon, Jeff is on line two for you. Would you like to take his call or should I send it to your voice mail?” “I‟ll take the call, Donna. Please put it through.” “Hello, Jeff. How are you and Craig enjoying your success?” “At the bank or in the bedroom?” “Touché! You two really have got it all.” “It only took him ten years to figure out something I already knew when we were in high school.” Sam chuckled. Although Jeff had started out as a trick who could have won a contest for best cock-sucker in Boston as far as Sam was concerned, he had since become a good friend and confidant, something Sam didn‟t have many of. Lots of hot men wanted to be his trick, but very few took it further than that. “Are you still there?” “Oh, sorry. My mind wandered.” “Well, honey, has it wandered over to your profile this glorious morning? There are some new prospects I think you should most definitely explore.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 6 “Are you a mind reader? I was just looking at them. I have to admit, I‟m beginning to lose hope. I may be your first truly unsuccessful client.” “Nonsense! You just don‟t know how to pick ‟em.” Jeff paused and Sam could hear some beeping and chiming noises in the background. “There. I just opened your profile.” “Isn‟t it cheating to have one of the owners of The Male Room act as my personal consultant?” Jeff snickered. “It‟s not normally offered as part of the service, but I‟m more than willing to make an exception for you, especially since you clearly can‟t tell a good match from a mediocre one.” “So none of the matches are just bad, are they?” Sam smirked, looking forward to hearing Jeff‟s comeback. “There is a good match for everyone; sometimes at The Male Room you just have to sift through the less-thanperfect to find the diamonds in the rough.” “I think you‟re twisting your metaphors.” “Maybe so, but I see the perfect match for you.” “Which one? There‟re three new additions who‟ve shown interest on my profile page.” “I tell you what, Sam. Let me act for you and set up a meeting tonight at the Thai place near the Boston Aquarium. Do you know the restaurant I‟m talking about?” “Yes. I‟ve eaten there a number of times. They‟ll probably recognize me when I arrive.” “You‟ve eaten there or done take-out?” “I‟m not answering your question on the grounds it might incriminate me.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 7 “You lawyers are all the same.” Sam heard Jeff clicking away at his computer. “Okay, you‟re all set for tonight. I‟ll contact the restaurant; you just be there at eight.” “So, who am I meeting?” “You‟ll know him when you see him. It‟s the man who was meant for you.” “I‟ll go along with this one time, but if you‟re wrong, I think it may be time for me to take a break. Maybe I‟m just not cut out to find someone. Not all of us can be as lucky as you and Craig… and all the men on the home page.” “There‟s a soul mate for you. I‟m sure of it. And I think I‟ve found him.” “We‟ll see.” “How about a friendly wager?” “What?” “A bet. Let‟s bet on it.” “You want to bet on whether you‟ve found the right man for me?” “Exactly. I have that much faith in myself.” “I could just throw the date to win the bet.” “You won‟t want to if you give it half a chance. I trust my instincts, and I think it‟s finally your time.” Hating to admit it, Sam hoped Jeff was right. He was nearly thirty-five and alone. Friends were great, fucks were temporarily satisfying, but Sam wanted to come home each night and know someone cared whether he‟d be there or not. “Okay. It‟s a bet. What do you want if you win?” “That‟s easy. I want to put you and your partner‟s picture on the home page and get a few quotes for the

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 8 caption. A respected lawyer in Boston is fabulous free advertising.” “Sounds fair to me. And what if I win?” “Don‟t you get it, sweetie? You and I will both win if I win the bet. Focus on that… for me, better yet, for you.” Biting his lip, Sam was glad no one could see him. Jeff was right. He really wanted his friend to win the bet, even if it meant an embarrassingly sweet picture of him would be plastered on the site‟s home page. “Thanks, Jeff. I do hope you win.” “Talk to you later, honey. Remember, eight o‟clock at the—” “Thai restaurant. I‟ll be there, just make sure my date is too. I‟m not in the mood for take-out this time.” Hanging up the phone, Sam refocused on his profile. Studying the three faces, Sam searched each of the viewing profiles of the two likely candidates. He re-examined them as if he was preparing for a case. Each man had good qualities, and it seemed like he could spend a comfortable evening with either one of them. Scrutinizing the two profiles, Sam hoped Jeff had picked the bartender. If anything, he should have some great stories to tell of people he‟d witnessed while working. Besides, bartenders were supposed to be great conversationalists. Enough! He was wasting too much time on this. It was in Jeff‟s hands now. While Sam wasn‟t counting on much, he was hoping his friend had better luck selecting the perfect match than he had. Clearly Sam only knew how to find the hottest fucks. It was too bad he wanted more.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 9 Blinking himself back to reality, Sam pressed the intercom button on his phone. “Donna, bring me the files I requested you pull yesterday. I have to be prepared for court on Monday morning.” “I‟ll be right there, Mr. Solomon. Do you mean the files about the school purchasing computers for disabled kids?” “That‟s the one. And good news for both of us, the district is actually paying for my services. This one isn‟t even pro bono.” Donna laughed. “We both know you‟d help them just as diligently even if it was.” “Just bring me the files. I have a job to do, and so do you, if you want to get paid next week.” “Be right there.” Lifting his finger from the intercom, Sam prepared himself to re-examine every detail of information regarding the case of a local special education school fighting against a large computer distributor that had sent them systems that didn‟t meet their specified needs, or the needs of their students. He would be the first person to admit he enjoyed having enough money to spend as he chose, but one thing Sam couldn‟t stand was robbing from those in need. He also couldn‟t stand losing a case. Sam had no intention of losing this one; the case was too important and was beginning to receive more attention than he would have desired in the news.

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Chapter 2 SAM glanced at his watch. He was only ten minutes late. Perfect. He didn‟t want to look too anxious and he hoped he could get a glimpse of the selection Jeff had made on his behalf. Remembering the profile pictures of the two likely choices, he opened the door to the Thai Palace. He stepped in, the appealing aromas of the Far Eastern seasonings and cooking preparations putting a smile on his face. Jeff knew Sam loved the restaurant, which made it a good choice for a friendly introductory meeting. If nothing else, the food would be a sure hit. Scanning the room, Sam‟s eyes opened wide. At the rear table was his date. He was nearly in shock. Jeff had selected the one person Sam was least interested in pursuing. This guy was a cocky top. Although Sam didn‟t make a habit of prejudging people, one look at his picture had told him the whole story. The two wouldn‟t get along, in or out of bed. They clearly would have too much in common in the fucking department and too little in common everywhere else. Sam hadn‟t even bothered to look at any of the details on the guy‟s profile page. What was wrong with Jeff? He was supposed to have a sixth sense about couples, and instead, he ended up selecting the only inappropriate choice in the bunch.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 11 Sighing, Sam nodded at the man at the rear table and approached. At least he‟d have a quality dinner, maybe even eke out some pleasant conversation. Before he made it to the rear of the restaurant, Tani, the hostess, greeted him. “Mr. Solomon, it‟s a pleasure to see you again. You haven‟t been here in over two weeks.” “I know. I‟ve missed the food, the atmosphere, and your lovely smile.” He shook her hand gently. “And remember, I‟ve asked you to call me Sam. Mr. Solomon is only for the office and in court.” “Of course.” Tani gestured for Sam to follow her the remaining distance to his table. “Your dinner companion is already here. I‟ve served him your favorite green tea. I hope you don‟t mind.” “Not at all.” Hesitating, Sam continued. “Did you happen to speak with him?” “Yes, for a moment. We‟re quite busy tonight. He was charming and made me laugh with one of his jokes.” Trying not to roll his eyes, Sam barely managed to hold back a groan. Not only was the guy a player, but he tried to make friends with bad jokes. “Have a lovely meal, Mr. Sam.” “Thank you, Tani.” When his companion for the evening rose, for a moment, he wished he‟d taken a closer look at the guy‟s profile. He was at least six feet, three inches tall, if not taller, with silken auburn hair and the build of a forward on the Boston Celtics. If he‟d been a few inches taller, he would have guessed he played professional basketball.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 12 “Hello. I‟m Chris.” When offered his hand, Sam took it. The contact was warm and firm, but not over-the-top. “Sam. It‟s a pleasure to meet you.” The two sat down as their waitress filled the water glasses and brought Sam a cup of green tea matching Chris‟s. “I have to admit, I‟ve never tried online dating before. But a good friend from work suggested it. He knows I‟ve been trying to back off from the club scene and grow up.” “Grow up? You look pretty grown up to me.” If nothing else, Sam would love to get this guy in bed. He had to be a great fuck if his equipment matched his physique. Chris had the courtesy to chuckle rather than take offense. “I noticed on your profile that you‟re an attorney. I‟ve actually never really interacted with any attorneys until recently.” Uh oh! Was this a date requesting free legal advice? Sam stared at Chris, hoping he‟d clarify his last statement. “You see, the business where I work is involved in a case, and they‟ve asked me to represent us on the first day we go to court. I‟ve gone from never having a parking ticket to meeting with a team of law clerks who‟ve been busy asking me all sorts of questions.” Knowing he had two choices, Sam made a hasty decision. “Well, let‟s not talk shop tonight. We‟re supposed to get to know one another, and I‟d like to leave the office behind for the evening.” Smiling, Chris then took a sip of his tea. “I agree. I‟d definitely prefer leaving work behind.” He took another small gulp from the steaming cup. “This stuff is great.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 13 “It‟s the Thai Palace‟s special blend. They‟ve added some extra aromatics to enhance the typical green tea, giving it a more relaxing effect on the system.” “I‟m usually a coffee man myself, but I could get used to this after a long day.” “Whenever I come here, they always bring me a cup as soon as I‟m seated.” “You come here often?” Chris paused and then smiled. “If we weren‟t already on a date, that could be the cheesiest line I‟ve ever spoken.” Despite himself, Sam laughed. “Yeah. That was pretty cheesy. And, yes, I try to come here at least once a week. Sometimes I don‟t get here, or it just ends up as a delivery if it‟s a busy week. Lately, it‟s been take out.” “Then I guess the food must be really good.” “The best. I hope you like Thai.” Nodding, Chris opened the menu. “I like it all, but I stay away from the items that are considered the hottest.” “Hot isn‟t always bad.” Sam grinned. “Now who‟s being cheesy?” If nothing else, Sam wanted to make sure his night ended with some treat for all his effort. It would make him less annoyed at Jeff for picking the least likely candidate for a long-term relationship. “Let‟s just say I never eat dessert here. There are far better enticements elsewhere.” “Mike‟s Pastries isn‟t far from here.” Chris raised an eyebrow. “I think we both know I wasn‟t referring to that type of cream-filled delicacy.” Sam also raised an eyebrow.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 14 “My younger sister used to call me a big lug, but I‟m not a stupid big lug.” “Glad to hear it, Chris.” Sam licked his lips, knowing one thing about this night would turn out right. “Care to order?” “I tell you what, Sam. Since you seem to know what‟s on the menu for the evening, why don‟t you order for both of us and see if I like it?” Chris certainly wasn‟t afraid to turn up the heat, and Sam was finding him more intriguing than he expected. Damn! Why hadn‟t he reviewed this man‟s profile? Now he wanted to know more. Sam felt like he was flying blind, and that was never something he liked doing. It was part of his nature to research everything and everyone. Rather than being prepared in advance, he‟d have to learn about this guy the old-fashioned way: by asking outright. After Sam ordered a series of small dishes for the two to share, they enjoyed a few comfortable moments of silence until the first two plates were placed before them. Sam broke the silence as he removed his chopsticks from their paper sleeve. “So, Chris, what do you like to do when you‟re not at work?” Choking on a small dumpling he‟d just popped into his mouth, Chris stared at Sam. After taking a sip of his tea, Chris finally swallowed. “You never read my profile, did you?” “What?” Sam hated having the disadvantage. Of course he would have recorded his outside interests on his page at The Male Room.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 15 “Why did you arrange this meeting if you never bothered checking my profile?” Looking into his cup, Sam took a deep breath, deciding to let honesty prevail. “My good friend is one of the owners of The Male Room. He doesn‟t think I‟m capable of selecting a good match for myself, so he took it upon himself to arrange an evening for me. Using my profile code, he‟s actually the one who contacted you on my behalf.” “Oh my God! That‟s priceless. The guy who runs the online service really is a matchmaker. I would have never guessed.” “There‟re two of them. They‟re business and life partners. Jeff is the matchmaker and a pretty good bookkeeper, Craig is all about business and designing programs.” Chris held up his tea cup. “Well, here‟s to finding an online match the old-fashioned way: with human intervention.” Sam smiled. He was taken aback by Chris‟s positive attitude and spirit of good sportsmanship. “Here‟s to the best of the modern world meeting the best of the old world.” “Hear, hear.” Chris touched his cup to Sam‟s and the two drank. It was surprising how easy it was to talk to this guy. They discussed sports; it was no surprise his tall date was a basketball fan who had played in high school, although he no longer played. He preferred running on his home treadmill and lifting weights for daily exercise.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 16 Sam discovered Chris frequented a gay club in Cambridge, which would explain why they hadn‟t bumped into one another at the Music Box. They talked about their families and shared anecdotes about holiday gatherings. Sam even confessed that when he‟d come out to his mother, she‟d shocked everyone by announcing she didn‟t care who he married as long as he was a good Jewish boy who wanted children. Chris snorted. “Well, that lets me out. I‟m a not-so-good former Catholic, turned Atheist.” “I‟m almost thirty-five. Right now my mother would be happy if I found someone who was still breathing.” “You‟re mother sounds a lot more accepting than most.” “She is. I just feel bad that I‟ve never found anyone to ever bring home.” “You never know where the world will lead you.” It was hard to resist Chris‟s charming attitude. He was engaging, and his jokes were actually funny. There was a warmth about him that Sam couldn‟t deny was attractive. Sam insisted on paying for their dinners, as, theoretically, he was the one who had initiated the date. When they were standing in front of the restaurant, Sam knew it was time to make a move if he wanted the evening to continue beyond their final cup of tea. He ran his hand slowly down the front of Chris‟s jacket, stopping at his waistband and waiting for a reaction. Placing his hand over Sam‟s, Chris laced their fingers together and said nothing. Sam was surprised by how comforting the touch was; he wanted more. “I‟d like to bring you to my home tonight, if you‟re still up for it.” Sam bit his

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 17 lip, feeling the need to clarify, something he never did with anyone else. “But I can‟t make any promises beyond tonight.” “I understand. If nothing else, the night can end on an up note.” Chris grinned. “I like the way you think, Chris… by the way, what is your last name?” “Chris Kelly.” Why did that name sound familiar? It was probably just that Kelly was such a common name amongst the Irish Catholic community in Boston.

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Chapter 3 SAM closed the door as soon as they entered his apartment, flipped the deadbolt, and pressed Chris against the door, crashing their lips together. Chris tasted like the perfect blend of green tea, Thai spices, and something more. It didn‟t matter what it was. Sam wanted it; he was hungry for him. Pressing back, Chris explored Sam‟s mouth, wrapping his arms around Sam as he pushed his tongue inside. Sam felt a sound escape from his throat, his reaction more intense than he‟d expected. It didn‟t matter that Chris was broader and taller; Sam took back control, tugging his date‟s shirt out from where it had been neatly tucked into his pants. He immediately started to deftly unbutton the garment, exposing the beautiful, fair skinned six-pack underneath. Taking a step back, Sam gazed at Chris‟s heaving chest, leaning in to lick and suck each nipple, moving from one to the other, over and over, sometimes moving away from one nipple, only to return to it immediately, keeping his date guessing as to which nub he would attack next. Chris moaned, threading his fingers through Sam‟s hair as the onslaught continued. “Look at them—erect, hot, wet, waiting for me.” Sam continued to suck harder on each nub, then nipped at them both. “Ahhh!”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 19 “You like that, don‟t you? You‟re waiting for more?” Sam loved Chris‟s responsive movements and wanted to experience more. “Want to touch you,” Chris breathed out. Anxious to oblige, Sam quickly unfastened the buttons of his own shirt, pulling it off and flinging it off to the side. Chris‟s big, smooth hands instantly gripped Sam‟s back and then moved to his chest, massaging in circles over every muscle, purposely avoiding his own erect nubs. “You‟re beautiful.” Eyes darkened, Chris stared at Sam as he continued rubbing his hands over his entire upper body. It wasn‟t long before he began to search lower. Chris unbuckled Sam‟s belt and then his own. “You want more and I want to give it to you.” This was the moment Sam would find out if he had been right. Would they clash for control and implode before they got any further? Although he knew it bordered on cliché, Sam still wasn‟t convinced two tops could handle the compromises that would need to be made. “Bedroom.” Sam froze, a grin on his face when he heard Chris. “Can we move to your bedroom?” Chris didn‟t wait for an answer, kissing Sam once again, wrapping his arms around him. The touch of the now warm hands sent a shiver up Sam‟s spine. Taking Chris by the arm, Sam hastily moved them to his bedroom. He tossed the comforter to the side, revealing the dark, burgundy-colored sheets below. As Chris began to remove his belt, Sam stilled his hands. “Let me.” He whipped the belt out of the loops and unfastened the pants. No need for those any more. Before

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 20 lowering them to the floor, Sam pressed his hand against Chris‟s hard member still trapped beneath the fabric. “Oh God.” Chris‟s head fell back, his eyes slowly closing. Inching the pants and briefs down together, Sam got his first look at the prize underneath. “You‟re so damn big.” Chris‟s cock was incredible; long, thick, and hard, waiting for Sam, responding to Sam‟s every touch and word. While Chris toed off his shoes and socks, then stepped out of his pants, Sam quickly stripped off the rest of his own clothing. “You‟re not so bad yourself.” Chris grinned. Sam knew men loved to suck his cock and practically lined up to get fucked by him, but for some reason he wanted Chris more than any other he‟d ever made a play for before. Jeff had sucked him off in the backroom of the Music Box once. He‟d been great, but it was a onetime event. Jeff belonged to Craig, with Craig, and he was off the market now. “I want to take you.” Sam pressed his lips to Chris‟s, slowly guiding him to the edge of the bed, hoping with each step forward he wouldn‟t meet a wall. “I know.” Chris pulled back briefly and then pressed their lips together again. The hunger and urgency between them grew until Sam wanted more and more of everything about Chris. He needed to have him sprawled on his bed so he could kiss every inch of that amazing body and then fuck him until he begged for release. Chris lay on his back rolling his lips inward, clearly out of his comfort zone. Sam hovered over him. It was just how

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 21 Sam wanted it. He was in charge. This was his show and he would make it a performance neither of them would forget. Starting at Chris‟s lobe, Sam nipped, licked, and kissed his way down the long neck, sucking just enough not to leave a mark. He then moved on to touch, and lavish attention on, the hot, muscular chest, and finally the tight abdomen. The man beneath him began to writhe, gripping the sheets in his clenched fists. “You are so damn hot.” Kissing, licking, teasing the huge reddened cock, Sam listened to the moans urging him on. Each sound from Chris went right to Sam‟s dick. He was harder than he‟d been in ages without touching himself. When Chris began to buck under Sam‟s ministrations, he stopped, grabbing the lube and a condom from the night table drawer. “Sam.” Blinking, as he squirted a large dollop of the gel onto his fingers, Sam looked up. Chris‟s eyes were wide. He had that deer in the headlights look. “Are you okay?” Closing his eyes, Chris turned his head to one side, obviously having second thoughts. Sam worried this would be over before it started. “Chris?” “I just, I don‟t usually—” Biting his lip, Chris couldn‟t seem to finish the sentence. “I figured. I‟ll take it easy.” Sam pressed his lips gently to the matted hair streaked across his forehead. “I‟ll take care of you.” Sam wasn‟t sure why he offered so much, but it felt right.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 22 Warming the lube in his fingers, Sam positioned himself between Chris‟s legs, encouraging him to spread them even more. When he responded, Sam‟s breath hitched at the sight of this amazing, hulking man lying wanton and needy, waiting for him. “I‟ll give you a night you‟ll always remember.” He pressed one finger slowly into the waiting hole. Chris arched his back slightly in response, breathing heavier as Sam pushed another finger in to join the first. Opening up the tight channel wasn‟t easy. Chris had obviously not been doing much bottoming, if any at all. “More. Another. Please.” Smiling as he witnessed the building desire, Sam gladly added a third finger, spreading Chris from the inside, opening him up so he‟d be ready for the hot, long cock he was about to take. Moving his fingers within, he found the spot he was looking for and nudged it. “Oh shit!” “You like that? You want more?” Chris nodded, licking his lips. Sam captured the seductive tongue between his lips and sucked on it as he dove in for another heated kiss. Chris‟s legs fell further to the side as their contact became more urgent, and he began to buck against Sam‟s fingers. Pulling out carefully, so as not to hurt Chris with too sudden a move, Sam looked at the man below. “Are you okay?” Smiling, Chris laced his fingers in Sam‟s hair and pulled him in for another kiss.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 23 That was all the encouragement Sam needed. He couldn‟t hold back any longer. Adding to the thrill for Sam was the experience of watching the tight muscles of Chris‟s sculpted body heaving as he panted, waiting for Sam to penetrate him. After putting the condom on with one smooth stroke and coating it with the lube remaining on his fingers, Sam slowly pushed his cock inside. “You‟re so damn tight.” A nod was the only response as Chris once again clutched the sheet in his fists. Continuing to carefully move deeper, Sam pushed into the tight tunnel until he was completely inside. Looking down, he stilled, allowing Chris to signal when he could move again. When he felt the strong legs wrap around his back, Sam knew it was time. Starting with a slow, steady pace, he thrust in and out, enjoying the warmth. Sam couldn‟t tear his eyes away from the man beneath him. He was so open, so trusting. As Chris began to join the rhythmic movements, Sam felt something foreign in his gut. Ignoring it, he continued, changing the angle to make sure to graze Chris‟s prostate on every stroke. “Oh God, Sam!” Leaning down, Sam crashed their lips together, swallowing Chris‟s words and moans, wanting to take all of him at once. “Ahhh. I‟m gonna come. Please.” When Chris made a move to touch his dick, Sam swatted his hand away. “You‟ll come without even touching yourself.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 24 “Fuck!” Chris bucked beneath him, his reddened member bobbing freely, as Sam‟s movements became faster and harder. Resting his cock against Chris‟s prostate, he delivered short thrusts over the delicate spot. His head thrashing from side to side, Chris grabbed Sam‟s shoulders, digging his nails in as he arched his back one last time. “Sam!” Creamy white spurts of liquid shot between them, hitting the full length of Chris‟s chest up to his chin. Feeling the intense pressure around his cock, Sam followed him, filling the condom. After catching his breath, Sam gently pulled out, removed the condom, tied it off, and tossed it onto the floor. Before he could say or do anything, Chris wrapped his arms around him, holding him close. This wasn‟t what Sam normally did after fucking a trick—it would typically be too intimate—but Sam didn‟t mind. Although he might regret his actions later, Sam followed suit, embracing Chris. The two lay, their legs tangled, sticky come drying on their chests. Although he thought about getting up to wash off, Sam instead reached out with one hand to pull the comforter over them. It was Friday night and there was no need to think about alarm clocks or deadlines for the next day. Holding one another beneath the blanket now cocooning them, Chris kissed Sam‟s neck. “I‟m not sure why I let you.” “Shhh, just go to sleep.” “No, Sam,” he whispered. “I need to tell you. You‟re the first.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 25 Sam‟s eyes shot open for a moment, and then a smile spread across his face. He nibbled at Chris‟s lobe and then kissed his neck, cheek, and lips tenderly. “I‟m glad it was me. And I‟m not sure how, but somehow I knew.” “Good.” The two remained entwined as they fell into a sated sleep.

SAM didn‟t feel or hear anything until he awoke to the light streaming into the bedroom. He rolled over, frowning when he discovered he was alone. His reaction set off an internal alarm, which he chose to set aside for the moment. Then he spotted a small note on the nightstand. Thank you for last night. You’re right, I’ll always remember it. It’s your move now, since your friend fixed us up. Here’s my phone number. I hope you use it. Chris Damn! Now Sam had to really think about how he felt. He had been in his element the night before. In the light of day, out of bed, could he make a relationship work?

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Chapter 4 SITTING behind the desk in his home office, steaming cup of coffee by his side, Sam tried to focus on the client file in front of him. This case was one of the most difficult he had ever taken on. In the past, when he‟d presented an underdog case to the partners‟ meeting, it was generally shot down. The few they had accepted were clear winners. In those instances, while the little guy seemed persecuted or victimized, there was enough proof to strongly encourage an out-of-court settlement with a big take-home award. The case of the small special education school versus the major computer distributor was a completely different story. Rather than avoiding negative publicity and correcting the error by reissuing an entirely new shipment of computers, the distributor was pleading poverty, claiming never to have received the appropriate items from the manufacturer and to having sent what they had out of the goodness of their hearts. Sam had the evidence he needed in the documents he was studying—documents his investigative team had somehow acquired. The specific methods used to acquire said documents were best not examined too closely. The paperwork and photographs proved the manufacturer had shipped two hundred computers with the software and

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 27 hardware necessary for use by the school‟s special needs students. Fortunately, the law firm was getting some support in the media from the Anti-Defamation League and the American Civil Liberties Union, but going against a large distributor was still no walk in the park. Leaning back in his chair, Sam thought about the students and their dedicated teachers. There are a variety of reasons to go into the field of education, just as there are a variety of reasons to go into law. Some of the objectives in the field of law are more selfish than others, but no one becomes a special education teacher for the money or the fame. He looked forward to meeting the first teacher who had been elected by his, or her, colleagues as their representative during the initial stage of the trial. Many wanted to take part, but their days were filled with students who needed them, so only one teacher would sit at the plaintiff‟s table each day. Needing people was something Sam hadn‟t given much thought to until recently. Why had he filled in that ridiculous profile? If he was honest with himself, he knew why. He envied Craig and Jeff. Watching the two of them, even before Craig became completely aware of the connection he had with Jeff, it had been obvious the two men belonged together. Sam wanted to have that kind of bond with someone as well. The thought of getting up in the morning and facing good days together with a partner put a smile on his face, but the thought of having someone watch his back on the bad ones was something he wanted even more.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 28 Sex was important, but for the first time in his life, Sam wanted more than sex. He wanted what he‟d always dreaded—a relationship. Someone other than his mother who would give a damn whether he was happy or sad, a success or a failure. Looking back at the file, Sam began to read each piece of evidence, analyzing it for the umpteenth time, judging its usefulness in a court of law. Analyzing had been something Sam did well until last night. For some unknown reason, Sam hadn‟t analyzed anything the previous night. He‟d just gone along for the ride during his evening with Chris, and it had led to more rewards than he had expected. Jeff had picked the right guy, and now it was up to Sam to follow through. The sex had been incredible. Better than Sam remembered having with any trick. Hell, he barely remembered any of his tricks. This was different. Chris had confessed he was a top, yet he had felt enough trust in Sam to give up control. Chris had given himself completely to him. If he were to analyze the previous night, Sam would have to admit that night had been the first time he‟d experienced more than just sex. He‟d felt something, and it was clear Chris had as well and was willing to give up control to let it happen. Taking a big gulp of his coffee, Sam set the cup to the side and opened the top right-hand drawer of his desk. There it was, facing him: the phone number. He pulled the paper out and turned it over in his hand. It wasn‟t a business card. Most guys carried business cards

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 29 and added a private number if they wanted a repeat. He was sure Chris was employed, but he still avoided checking his profile. Chastising himself for being a coward, Sam turned to the laptop and set off to one side of his desk. He reduced the screen with his notes on the case, opening a new window to bring up The Male Room. As had become his habit, he first checked his own profile. If nothing else, it boosted his ego to see another two names requesting further contact with him. Shaking the thought of distracting himself with someone else, Sam clicked the link for Chris‟s profile page. There he was. His picture was accurate. Chris was hot, muscular, and had dark red hair, really an auburn color, and blue eyes, so dark they could be mistaken as black if someone didn‟t look closely enough. Sam had looked closely; he‟d noticed everything about Chris. He‟d been captured by those eyes at dinner. “Stop staring like a school kid. This isn‟t high school.” Sam forced himself to look beyond the picture and actually read the bio for the first time. Chris had played basketball in high school but was too short to get a scholarship to college. No surprise there. He enjoyed going out to bars, but wanted to have a reason to go home instead. Hmmm, sounded familiar, although, unlike many on the site, he didn‟t focus on marriage and kids; just meeting someone who would be more than a one night stand. The next line was interesting. It read, „I like to be in charge, in control of my surroundings, but I’m willing to

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 30 compromise if the right guy comes along.‟ Was that what last night was all about? Was Sam the right guy for Chris, and could it actually be vice versa? Damn it, Sam just wanted to focus on preparing for this case, but he couldn‟t keep his mind off Chris. He continued to scroll down the screen. There, at the bottom of the profile, was a statement about employment. Sam chuckled. He‟d thought Chris might be another lawyer trying to get into his firm. Chris was a teacher, which just might explain his determined, yet compassionate, nature. Laughing, he wondered if Chris had heard about the case Sam was taking to court. He was sure all the teachers in the Greater Boston area must have read or seen the news story featuring the small special education program, likened to the biblical David taking on the big, bad distributors, Goliath. A grin crossed Sam‟s face. He pulled the phone number out of the drawer, picked up his landline, and dialed. “Hello.” “Hi, Chris. It‟s Sam. I hope this is a welcome call.” He thought it would be since Chris had left the number, but the light of day could change anything and anyone. “Very welcome. I wasn‟t sure I‟d hear from you after last night. I mentioned to a friend that we went out last night. He must have, let‟s say, interacted with you at a club in Boston at one time. He told me you were only into tricking and I shouldn‟t expect anything else.” Biting his lip, Sam realized his reputation could actually get in the way and wasn‟t something to necessarily take

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 31 pride in any more—at least not if he wanted more than to go from trick to trick. “Well, let‟s say it‟s never too late to reinvent yourself.” “I know what you mean.” “Chris, last night you reinvented yourself, and this morning I‟d like to do something out of my comfort zone.” “Huh?” Sam grimaced, realizing his invitation was beginning to sound more like a proposition than it should. “No, no, nothing like that, although you were amazing.” “Amazing?” “Yeah,” Sam whispered. “The best.” Chris was silent for a moment. “Thank you.” “Believe me, there‟s no thanks necessary.” “I‟m glad you called.” “Wait a minute. Don‟t hang up. I didn‟t just call to tell you you‟re hot. Here‟s where I do something I‟ve never done before.” Taking a deep breath, Sam continued. “I want to see you again, and not just for sex.” “I‟d like that too.” Chris‟s voice was quiet, and Sam realized just how much he‟d given up to him the previous evening. “Do you know where The Big Egg is?” Chris snorted. “It‟s not a joke. It‟s the best mom and pop breakfast place in town, hidden off the beaten path.” “I can honestly say I‟ve never been there or even heard of it.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 32 “Good. I‟m glad I can introduce you to something new.” Sam sighed. “Damn. I‟m doing this all wrong. Everything sounds like a proposition rather than an invitation. I didn‟t even ask if you were free today. Sorry.” “It‟s okay to be awkward the first time you try something new.” Chris paused. Sam understood the multi-layered meaning. “I was going to do some prep work for a special project I‟m working on, but I‟d be happy for an excuse to get away for a while.” “Great.” Sam was glad he was alone for the moment. He was reacting like a giddy teen and felt foolish. “If you‟re willing to give me your address, I‟ll pick you up in an hour.” “Okay. It‟s a date.” Smiling, Sam replied, “Yeah, it is.” After he and Chris disconnected, Sam sat back gazing at his desk. “I know this case backwards and forwards. Now, if the teacher they‟ve assigned to represent them on day one is composed, we‟ll nail these assholes to the wall, and not in a way that any of them will leave with satisfied smiles on their faces. Or in their pants.”

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Chapter 5 “I CAN‟T believe I‟m doing this.” Sam grinned as he shook his head. “What? Dating, asking someone out without the requirement of sex as the punch line, or having breakfast with a hot guy?” Chris offered a half smile as he took another bite of his western omelet. “All of the above, but I was thinking more about my job, and the fact that I abandoned it for more hours than I probably should have.” “I see. So you‟re a workaholic. Do you usually work on the weekends?” Looking up from his plate, Sam took a sip of his coffee. He was completely surprised that he was enjoying spending so much time with Chris out of bed. Talking to him and getting to know him was far easier than he‟d expected. It was certainly much easier than with any of the other men he‟d tried to hook up with from The Male Room since he‟d signed onto the service and completed his profile a few months earlier. As if a light bulb had switched on above his head, Sam realized this was the first person he‟d thoroughly enjoyed spending time with, and Jeff had made the selection. Maybe he really didn‟t see himself as clearly as he thought he did.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 34 It didn‟t matter now. Now he was with Chris, and it wasn‟t bad at all. In fact, it was pretty damn good. “Actually, when I‟m at work, I‟m completely focused. My clients get my undivided attention, whether I‟m speaking with them directly or working on their cases after they‟ve left the office. I try to keep my weekends fairly free, but I‟m preparing for court on Monday. It‟s an important case, and as I don‟t want to screw anything up, I brought home some follow-up work so I could stay on top of everything, be fully prepared before I hit the courtroom on Monday morning.” “Staying on top of everything seems to be your M.O.” Chris smirked. Chuckling, Sam reached over and touched Chris‟s hand. Gazing into Sam‟s eyes, Chris blushed. “I‟ve always wondered what it would be like for someone else to be on top of their game with me. I admire you for taking a risk. I‟ve never been able to trust anyone the way you trusted me.” “Neither have I. I‟m not sure why I did last night. It just seemed….” Chris looked down at his plate. “It seemed safe, right. I felt it too.” This time, rather than just touching Chris‟s hand, Sam held it. It wasn‟t something he‟d thought of himself doing, but he needed to; he was drawn to Chris in an odd, unfamiliar way. “I trust you too. We barely know each other, but there‟s something between us; I can‟t pinpoint what it is.” “I know you‟re a lawyer, but do you have to defend everything, including your feelings? Just accept this.” “Blindly?” “Why not?”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 35 Squeezing Chris‟s hand, Sam smiled broadly. “Why not? I rarely play hooky. It‟s about time I let my life be a priority.” Leaning in, Sam lowered his voice to a whisper. “But, I‟m bound and determined to win this case. I can‟t tell you any details because you‟ve probably already heard about it in the news, but it could take down a big company trying to rip off the little guy.” “So you slay dragons when you‟re not seducing men and making them fall for you?” “Is that what you‟re doing—falling for me?” Sam sat up straight and slowly released Chris‟s hand. “Shit,” Chris whispered, barely audible. “I shouldn‟t have said that. I‟m a huge proponent of up-front honesty and sometimes it gets the better of me.” He glanced at Sam. Taking his napkin off his lap, Chris began to push his chair back, obviously preparing to leave. “I didn‟t mean to pressure you. This is all new to me; last night was new to me. I must have let my newly discovered emotions get away from me. Sorry. I‟ll go.” His mind racing, Sam didn‟t give himself time to ponder whether this was better for both of them or not. He just knew he couldn‟t let Chris walk away, walk out of his life. “No. Stay.” Chris‟s eyes widened. “Are you sure? I don‟t want to make you uncomfortable.” “For the first time in my adult life I can honestly say I‟m completely comfortable. I‟ve been sort of a loner and enjoyed it. No commitments, no repeats unless I was hungry for a second round. The other person didn‟t matter. He was a body, and we were there to serve each other‟s needs. This

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 36 may be new, and it may be different, but it‟s also—” Sam scrubbed his hand over his face. “Now I‟m going to sound like a queen, but I don‟t give a damn.” “Say it.” Chris pulled his chair in again and leaned in toward Sam from across the table. “Fine, I‟ll just let it out. This is also special. I don‟t know how I know, since having a relationship was something that seemed out of my reach, but I know. Just like I know when I‟m going to win a case from the moment the trial begins and the first witness is called. I know this is worth the effort. You’re worth the effort.” Sam took a deep breath. “There, I said it. I can‟t believe I admitted all that to you, but I did.” “I understand attorneys tend to be longwinded. I tend toward making things clear for my students. Does this mean you‟re falling for me too?” Sam snorted. “Yeah. I‟m falling for you. That‟s why I gave up on the idea of working this morning and called you. You came before my case. It‟s incredible.” “I bet.” Chris grinned. “If you want to run for the hills and escape a relationship with a man who‟s probably considered emotionally immature, I wouldn‟t blame you.” “We have similar pasts, but I think we can leave them behind together. I‟ll help you grow up, if you help me.” Chris inched his hand across the table, his fingertips touching Sam‟s. The simple touch had Sam shift in his seat. A mental picture of Chris in his bed, giving himself completely, flashed through his head. Sam was falling. It terrified and thrilled him, both at the same time.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 37 “You must be a great teacher if you want to tackle me as your student.” “In my experience students and teachers balance one another. Everything a teacher imparts comes back when he sees his students succeed and thrive.” “You think I‟ll be a success.” “I think we could be.” Chris smiled. “You got an A- last night.” “That‟s all?” Sam raised an eyebrow and took a bite of his waffle. “There‟s always room for improvement. It makes trying again and again a positive.” “I see. So we‟ll be trying again and again, will we?” “I hope so.” Chris licked his lips. “Me too.” Sam took hold of Chris‟s hand again and squeezed. This man was so beautiful and playful. He towered over Sam. The heat just under the surface could spontaneously combust, yet Chris seemed to also have a tender heart. He was a complete contradiction wrapped up in one hot package. Chris stared into Sam‟s eyes and laced their fingers together. “Is this okay?” “It‟s perfect.” After a moment the two men released each other‟s hands and continued eating. Sam didn‟t want the meal to end, but he knew he really did have to get back to work. This time when he and Chris separated, he would give him his private cell number and make sure they scheduled another date. Maybe knowing he‟d be seeing Chris again after court

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 38 on Monday would be just the thing to keep him focused. That, and maybe an X-rated phone call at night, if Chris was willing. Taking another sip of his coffee to hide the grin forming on his face, Sam realized he would normally be bound for the Music Box to let off a little steam and rejuvenate his energy. The club suddenly didn‟t seem nearly as attractive. Sitting opposite him was the best illustration of attractive Sam could ever imagine, inside and out.

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Chapter 6 ON HIS return to his apartment, Sam immediately went into his kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee before getting back to work. Focusing on the task at hand was getting harder, and he hoped the caffeine kick would help. He mentally scolded himself for acting like a love-struck teen, but he couldn‟t seem to help it. Just thinking back to a few minutes earlier, his cock responded. Chris had insisted Sam remain in the car when he dropped him off. “You told me you have an important case you‟re working on. I‟m flattered to be considered a welcome distraction, but we both know if you come inside you won‟t get back to work for hours.” “Hours?” Sam grinned. “You have high hopes for us.” “Let‟s just say last night was far more satisfying than I ever imagined, and I hope for much more of the same, but I‟d also like to show you—” Chris suddenly stopped speaking and turned away, looking toward the passenger side window. “Chris, what is it? I thought I‟d seen everything last night. What else could you show me?” Sam‟s stomach started to churn, and he was pretty sure it wasn‟t his recent breakfast. Did Chris have regrets already; regrets he was afraid to express?

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 40 Sighing, Chris turned back. He cupped Sam‟s chin, an affectionate gesture, one that made the typically in-control attorney shiver. Sex for him was usually fast, rough, hard, but Chris added an intimacy to every touch that Sam was beginning to desire. Leaning over the gear shift, Chris pressed his lips to Sam‟s. He instinctively wrapped one arm around Chris‟s back. The fingers on his other hand laced in the thick sweep of wavy hair, keeping him close. Sam deepened the kiss, hungry to taste, explore, and know every part of Chris over and over. He heard the bigger man moan into the kiss, opening his mouth to allow entrance. The two shared their intimate moment until Chris finally broke away, resting his head against Sam‟s. “Sam, please tell me we really are going to see each other again on Monday and this isn‟t all some fantasy I‟ve dreamed up to fill my weekend.” “Chris, I‟m here. I called you.” Sam lowered his eyes for a moment, but then found the courage to look directly into his companion‟s eyes. “And despite everything I‟ve ever assumed about myself, I don‟t think I could stop seeing you even if I wanted to—which I don‟t, by the way. You can tell me whatever is concerning you.” “Last night you showed me, maybe without intending to, how much you care. You knew we were doing something I wasn‟t used to, but it happened, and the tenderness, the way you—” “Yeah, it‟s true. More of it was for you than I even admitted to myself at first. It just seemed important.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 41 “Well, I‟d like the chance to show you I can care for you too. Make you go places you‟ve never been before; let you feel what I felt last night.” Closing his eyes, Sam bit his lip. Having someone inside him scared the shit out of him. When he was younger his first had been a hottie with a reputation as the best fuck at the gay bar nearest his home. He‟d let the guy have him, thinking it was part of the journey to being an aware gay man, but discovered it was more about pain and loss. The guy fucked him, brought him to a fast, hot climax, and never asked his name. It was a cold introduction and left him unwilling to let anyone else inside, emotionally or physically. Even though the sex was completely consensual, Sam had always felt robbed. “Hey, are you okay?” Chris shoulder. “Where did you go?”

gently

squeezed

his

“You don‟t want to know.” “Maybe I do. I do want to know more about you.” “I went to a place where gay men learn to build walls; to a time when I learned to protect myself first, last, and always.” “You‟re not the person you think you are. Maybe sexually you built a wall, but when we talk, when you tell me about some long-resolved case where the underdog won, it‟s clear you‟re very open to being cared for. Will you let me in?” Sam didn‟t know how to react. He was feeling so many things at once. Crashing his lips onto Chris‟s, Sam felt alive inside. Although they were in a car outside Chris‟s apartment building, there was an intimacy between them

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 42 Sam had never experienced with anyone else, in or out of bed. When they broke apart, Sam smiled at Chris. His hair was tangled and messy and his lips swollen, but he was the most beautiful, perfect sight he could imagine. “Yes.” Caressing Sam‟s cheek, Chris looked into his eyes. “Yes, you‟ll let me show you how much I care?” Nodding against Chris‟s hand, Sam experienced a warm feeling inside, and something else, something more, but it was too soon to name it. That would be getting ahead of himself. “Okay. I‟ll see you Monday evening. It‟s obvious you like to take charge. Do you want to pick the restaurant?” “You can. It‟s time I learned to be taken care of.” “In that case, how about letting me cook dinner for you at my place? It‟s a small kitchen, but I can work miracles with a sauté pan and a stove top grill.” “I‟ll bring the wine.” Sam leaned in to give Chris one last tender kiss. He needed those lips against his one more time; they were irresistible. “I‟d better get out or we‟ll never leave this car. As it is, I see a cold shower in my immediate future.” Chuckling, Sam sat back in the driver‟s seat, putting his hands on the wheel. He watched Chris enter his apartment building and then drove away, his cock demanding attention it wasn‟t going to get just yet. Hearing the drip of his Keurig dispensing a freshly brewed cup of coffee brought Sam back to the present. During the ride home he‟d been a mixed bag of emotions,

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 43 and now he was thinking about what was in store for Monday night. He was surprised to find just the thought of Chris on top of him, holding him, entering him, was making him hard. His jeans tightening, Sam reached down, imagining Chris‟s strong hand hovering over the bulging fabric. Shit! How the hell was he going to concentrate on his work? This was ridiculous. Before he was able to think any further, his home phone rang. He picked it up without checking the caller ID and walked over to the brewer to get his drink. “Hello.” “Hi, Mr. Solomon. You asked me to call you if I had some free time to work today.” “Oh, right, Donna.” “I know you were anxious about making sure everything was in order for Monday morning. I can‟t work tomorrow, but I can give you a few hours this afternoon.” “Perfect. Do you mind working at my apartment instead of the office? I brought all the files home and I have my desktop and my laptop for us to work with.” “I‟ll be there in about twenty minutes if the T cooperates. If not, it‟ll be closer to thirty or forty.” “See you then.” Sam hung up the phone. Donna would be the perfect distraction. He would get his work done efficiently and there would be no thoughts of Chris, his body, his hair, his eyes, his cock, sex. Damn! She couldn‟t get to his place fast enough.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 44 Trying to sit comfortably at the small kitchen island, Sam took a sip of his coffee. It was a good thing Donna was a meticulous worker, happily married, and a woman. That would ensure the afternoon would be much more productive. Thinking about his assistant‟s imminent arrival, Sam‟s body relaxed. He took his coffee into the home office and began to review the case from where he‟d left off the day before. Nothing had been accomplished since he‟d met Chris. He hoped they‟d either get bored or comfortable with each other soon, because this beginning stuff had him far more unsettled than he ever cared to be.

DONNA arrived less than thirty minutes after she‟d called, carrying a bag of donuts from a Dunkin‟ Donuts she passed on her walk from the T station. “Here, boss. I thought you might need a sugar rush to get the ball rolling.” She was all smiles and looked pretty good for a Saturday afternoon: make-up free, in black jeans, a sweater and sneakers, with her hair pulled back in a messy bun. Her normal work clothing was a pristine pants suit and high heels, with her make-up and hair just right to match. Sam was pleased to note he was now more than ready to get to work. Donna was just the antidote he needed to acting like a teen with a crush. “I have chocolate glazed and honey dipped.” She set the bag on his desk along with a tall stack of napkins she must have grabbed from one of their dispensers. “I have two of

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 45 each, so pick your poison while I go make myself a cup of coffee.” He liked knowing she felt comfortable and safe working with him from home. Even though she would find a bonus in her paycheck at the end of the week, Sam knew he couldn‟t buy this kind of loyalty from just any employee. “Make yourself at home.” He raised his voice so Donna could hear him from the kitchen. “I‟m taking a chocolate even though I‟ll have to exercise it off later.” Laughing, Donna called from the kitchen. “We both know you‟ll be working it off tonight at the Music Box. Or is there a new place you‟ve been hitting?” Sam thought about the idea of going to his favorite club. He could let off steam and lose himself in someone, but the notion suddenly seemed wrong. It didn‟t matter that he had made no promises to Chris, nor had Chris made any to him. The Music Box and all it had to offer didn‟t pique his interest one bit. “No. No new place; I think I‟d like to stay in tonight. I‟ll just have to work these donuts off the old fashioned way, on the treadmill.” Returning with her coffee in hand, Donna sat at the laptop, while Sam looked at the desktop. “Suit yourself, Mr. Solomon. It sounds like you‟re taking the tougher route.” “I just may be doing that. I hope it‟ll work out for me.”

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Chapter 7 SAM forced himself to focus on the case for the rest of the weekend. That had to take precedence over his new acquaintance. He snorted. Chris was clearly not just an acquaintance. He wasn‟t quite a boyfriend; it was a subject that hadn‟t been addressed as yet. Sam wondered if it was because neither of them was willing to say anything for fear that the other might not feel the same way. What were they? The one thing Sam was certain of was that they were not just tricks or mere fuck buddies to one another. They were definitely something more. Another notch on his belt was the last thing Sam needed or wanted, and he was fairly sure Chris was looking for more as well. Dwelling on semantics didn‟t matter; he and Chris would soon have a chance to talk about what was going on between them. By the time Monday morning arrived, Sam was fully prepared for the beginning of his court battle and more than ready for his date with Chris later that night. He wasn‟t completely sure he was ready for what Chris had been offering on Saturday. He also knew that, at the moment, he couldn‟t make decisions about his sex life, or the idea he might actually let someone else inside him. That would clearly be a serious step for him, and one he both dreaded and, if he was completely honest with himself, hoped for at the same time. The court case was too important; he needed to focus only on that.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 47 Sex could be taken as all fun and games to punctuate the end of the evening, but it hadn‟t felt anything like that with Chris. Should Sam agree to let Chris take charge? Then it would be more than clear that this was a relationship—a very special relationship. Standing in the shower, Sam let the water rain over him, the warmth hitting and splashing randomly. He pressed his hand to his cock and thought about Chris holding him; the feeling of being encouraged to recline on his back, lying on a bed, Chris‟s bed, and even more surprisingly, someday, his own. Closing his eyes, Sam could see the big man hovering over him, peppering his body with licks and kisses. Sucking and nipping at his nipples alternately until his entire body arched, craving more contact. Wrapping his hand firmly around his cock, he could feel Chris‟s thick, swollen lips taking him in. Chris‟s head bobbing up and down, his auburn hair, slicked with sweat, sticking to his forehead, as Sam‟s cock would be drawn in, hitting the back of his hot throat. Tending to Sam, moving faster and faster, until Chris would suddenly move away. Sam would try to not utter a sound, but the cold air would make him shudder and quietly moan his disappointment. It wouldn‟t last long; he‟d suddenly feel a moistened finger circle his entrance. The teasing and gentle poking would be brief, as both men needed more. As soon as the first finger breached Sam‟s entrance he heard himself moan, even before he had Chris completely inside. He opened his eyes as he released in the shower, watching his spend run down his hand and wash away.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 48 Leaning against the tiled wall of the oversized shower to catch his breath, Sam blinked. He smiled at the thought that merely imagining Chris had brought him to a climax, yet it wasn‟t enough. He did want Chris, and was disappointed that the fantasy ended before he could feel him inside. Sam faced the truth. So much for not making a decision yet; the truth was staring Sam in the face. He was really going to let Chris in. If he had anything to say about it, there would be something serious and important between them. The idea frightened Sam and yet energized him. Chris was different. He wasn‟t the typical guy Sam would pick out for a night. Maybe that was how Jeff knew he would be the right man for Sam. Shaking his head and blinking himself back to the present, Sam finished washing himself off and stepped out of the shower. He had a case to win, and a school full of children to protect from a different kind of bully. Sam had seen holierthan-thou cowards take stands at three or four to one when he was a kid. Fortunately he had been one of the big guys and no one messed with him, but he‟d spent a good portion of his junior and senior years in high school staring down those who taunted other kids brave enough to come out or demonstrate intelligence rather than brawn. Chuckling, Sam realized even back as a teen he was preparing to become a champion of underdogs. He‟d started his career before he ever knew it. Dressing in his finest suit, with a shirt and tie that matched impeccably, Sam admired himself in his bedroom mirror. Some might find it too gay to concentrate so much on

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 49 his appearance, but other lawyers who hadn‟t made the unspoken statement of respect to their assigned judges had lost their edge by looking less than pristine. Everyone in his legal circle knew that when Sam Solomon walked into a courtroom, he meant business, and his appearance set the tone. The final strategy with the school was to have a different teacher represent the school and his or her students each day, concentrating on the need for students, particularly these students, to have consistency by not taking their teachers away for more than a day at a time. In addition, Sam had to illustrate the need and importance for consistently adequate equipment that could be counted on to support the learning process. The vice principal, a well-respected woman in the field of education, would remain as an ongoing presence at the plaintiff‟s table, but Sam would be meeting a different teacher each day. He was fine with that strategy, as it melded perfectly with his approach to the case. He examined his notes for the first day in court and looked forward to greeting Vice Principal Reason. Sam thought the name added a great touch to the lawsuit as he closed his briefcase and set off to welcome Margaret Reason and her teacher du jour as they began the process of winning the battle against the bullies.

ONE of Sam‟s ongoing strategies with any case was his tactic of arriving before his opponents. It tended to give him the edge and a sense of ownership of the courtroom. Entering

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 50 thirty minutes earlier than the designated trial start time, Sam spotted Dr. Reason seated in the front of the room, as he had instructed her to do in their preliminary meeting. A man sat by her side. He froze when the man turned around. There was Chris; his Chris. Why hadn‟t he said anything? Probably because Sam had never given any details of the case he was working on, and the teachers had been sworn to remain silent and speak to no one about the procedure outside of their closed staff meetings. Sam wasn‟t sure if he should say anything, disqualify Chris from the proceedings, or simply move forward with the hope their not-well-defined connection would never come up in conversation. One thing was certain: with the school day already underway, he couldn‟t substitute another teacher for Chris at this late hour. His strategy would be clear-cut. He‟d make his opening statement and ask the questions each teacher had been told by their principal to expect. Sam hadn‟t insisted on rehearsing the educators, as he wanted their passion for teaching and their students to come to the forefront naturally. Past experience had revealed that rehearsed testimony inhibited raw emotion and dedication. This was the first time his witness strategy might come back to bite him. Approaching the plaintiff‟s table, Sam offered his hand to the vice principal. “Dr. Reason, it‟s a pleasure to see you again. I see you‟ve brought along one of your teachers, as we discussed.” Sam took a moment while shaking the administrator‟s hand to glance at Chris, who bit his lip, eyes

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 51 wide, expressing his own surprise at the shocking turn of events. “Mr. Solomon, it‟s good to see you again as well. I thought I‟d start us out with the big guns, so to speak.” Sam blinked, imagining the big guns hidden under Chris‟s perfectly fitted suit, and coughed. He did notice the welltailored garment accented Chris‟s broad shoulders and narrow waist in the most striking manner. “Mr. Christopher Kelly, I‟d like you to meet our attorney from the law firm representing the school: Mr. Samuel Solomon.” Chris took Sam‟s hand and squeezed it harder than was necessary. “Mr. Solomon, I can‟t begin to tell you how good it is to see you. I‟ve tried to imagine who our lawyer would be all weekend. I only learned on Friday I was to be the first teacher to sit at Dr. Reason‟s side.” “I see.” Sam slowly slid his hand from Chris‟s, rubbing a finger discreetly across his palm as they separated. Chris licked his lips as the message was received. “I‟m surprised I hadn‟t been sent an email as to the name of your selected teaching team for the week.” “I sent the email to the senior partner of your firm, Mr. Solomon.” Margaret Reason had clearly not picked up on the subtle familiarity between the two men. “That‟s what I was instructed to do. Have I done something to sabotage our opening day?” “No, not at all. I‟m sure Mr. Winters didn‟t realize he needed to forward it to me over the weekend.” Sam had been working to get his name on the masthead ever since he had been named one of the firm‟s senior partners two years earlier.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 52 Unfortunately Mr. Winters, who was working towards retirement, was spending more and more time on the golf course, particularly on weekends. It was widely known by the other partners that he hadn‟t been attending to certain professional necessities during his days off. This was the perfect case in point. Chris coughed gently to get Sam‟s attention. “I had intended to look up your firm over the weekend, but my thoughts were preoccupied with something entirely different.” Smiling, Sam opened his briefcase and started to pull out the well-organized files he and Donna had worked on Saturday afternoon. “I can most definitely understand how something like that can happen, Mr. Kelly. I‟m sure you‟ll be a fine example of the teaching staff at your school and will represent them impeccably.” “I hope so… sir.” Chris grinned. Although it was still early, Sam needed to focus his attention on the important legal matter he was about to address. Chris‟s words went right to his cock. Damn, why does he have to be so hot! And why am I acting like a kid? Get a grip, Solomon. Sam hoped his attraction wouldn‟t betray him once the proceedings began. The one thing he was grateful for was knowing how passionate Chris was about his students and his job. Having gotten to know him over the weekend might actually turn into an unexpected advantage. Questioning Chris on the stand might be an opening success no one could replace. “Are you both prepared for this?”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 53 The vice principal spoke for Chris and herself. “We‟re as ready as we‟ll ever be.” “Did your school principal inform you of the settlement number we were willing to agree to?” “Yes. He also told me our goal was to settle rather than drag this case out longer than is necessary. The students come first and we want our equipment without delay.” “Good. I‟m glad we‟re on the same page.” Chris spoke once again. “Mr. Solomon, if we settle, will it include a gag order?” “I see you‟ve been doing some research on settlements, Mr. Kelly.” “Not as much as I probably should have, but I did note that many settlements are restricted from public knowledge. Unlike your firm‟s name, which is clearly incomplete. I didn‟t notice your name on the masthead of your firm‟s website.” “To answer both of your questions, some settlements may include a clause many refer to as a „gag order‟. If the settlement is in the best interest of my client, I agree to those. And as far as the second question goes, we‟re still in the process of getting all the senior partners listed accurately on our website.” “I understand. Thank you.” Chris nodded his complete awareness of where the case would lead and why he‟d had no idea he would be seated at Sam‟s side, rather than one of the people whose names he‟d spotted online. As the defendant and his lawyer entered the room, Sam put a finger over his lips, indicating all discussions pertaining to the case were no longer appropriate.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 54 The opposing attorney approached Sam. “Good morning. Have your clients decided to accept my client‟s generous offer?” Remaining completely serious and professional, Sam stood tall. “It‟s always a pleasure. My client, as you‟re well aware, is more than happy to settle when a generous offer is actually placed on the table.” “I think we‟ve actually done so.” Sam turned his back on his opponent and continued to speak. “Let‟s see how fair an offer you think it is by the end of the day.” The opposing attorney didn‟t offer a response and returned to his client, already seated at the defendant‟s table. Closing his eyes for a moment, Sam hoped Chris would be as passionate when speaking about his profession in the courtroom as he was when sharing his other talents in the bedroom. This could all be cleared up in a single day and save everyone a lot of time and money if Chris was everything Sam hoped he was. He just hoped he wasn‟t wistfully judging Chris‟s potential inaccurately. Before he could dwell on the bizarre turn of events the morning had brought, the bailiff entered the courtroom to announce the arrival of the judge.

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Chapter 8 TAKING a deep breath, Sam presented his opening argument to the judge. As agreed upon by both parties, the case was to be a non-jury decision. The judge would determine the outcome should a settlement not be reached by the end of the trial. Standing before the judge, Sam spoke first of the contract and the clauses within it, binding the computer distributor to deliver exactly what was purchased. While some contracts offer options for alternate products should one not be available, Sam indicated several statements clearly illustrating this was not an option under the signed agreement. He then delved into the needs of the individuals in the school and their wide range of disabilities, indicating their inability to function in a typical school setting. The students required a special environment, special teachers trained to work with them, and special equipment to facilitate their education. Glancing from time to time at all in the room, Sam knew he was most definitely making his point. He made sure to gesture somewhat dramatically, without overdoing it, toward Dr. Reason and Chris when he spoke passionately about the dedicated service of those who boldly hoped to give the students every opportunity for as normal and productive a life as possible.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 56 The judge listened intently, never seeming irritated or impatient with his words. That was just the reaction Sam had hoped he would elicit. If he could hold the judge, the computer distributor‟s lawyer would already begin to think of alternate offers to put on the table for an out-of-court settlement. When his worthy opponent took the floor, he diagrammed the contract and its particulars. Without using the term, he clearly tried to illustrate the loopholes permitting the distributor to send the alternate selection of computers at no risk of breaking the agreement. He also indicated the extreme expense to the company, which might lead to significant layoffs, should they be asked to replace and reinstall all new equipment at no additional charge. The other attorney was very good at bringing the human element in for his own client, trying to counteract the emotional impact of Sam‟s argument. Both counselors having completed their opening arguments, tasks taking most of the morning session, the judge was expected to announce a break for lunch. Surprisingly, that didn‟t happen. “Mr. Solomon, I assume you are more than ready to present your first witness?” Standing at the plaintiff‟s table, Sam looked directly at the judge. “Yes, Your Honor, we‟re ready.” “Good. I have a suspicion this will not take nearly as long as some might think. I have no intention of drawing this out unless the two of you have plans up your sleeves I‟m not aware of.” The judge stared pointedly at the lawyers.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 57 The attorneys glared at one another briefly before the judge continued. “And may I remind you gentlemen, I can decide, at my discretion, to open this case to public scrutiny. If I begin to note that you two aren‟t trying to resolve this issue in more than one way, I will open my court and allow public viewing of the case.” The judge looked at each of them in turn. The counselors responded almost simultaneously, “Understood, Your Honor.” “We‟ll have a five-minute recess and then get to hear some testimony. I don‟t want to drag this out any longer than we have to.” Everyone rose as the judge stepped away for the brief respite. The opposing attorney immediately started writing a note to his client as Sam resumed his seat. Leaning over, Chris whispered into his ear, “This is a good sign, isn‟t it?” Keeping himself from smiling, Sam spoke in a hushed tone, “It means my opening statement served its purpose, and the judge wants us to settle rather than waste the court‟s time and money on this one.” “I feel like an idiot, but I‟m nervous.” “If a person testifying in a court of law isn‟t nervous, he‟s too full of himself. Being nervous is normal and healthy. I‟m nervous every time I go before a judge, it‟s how I deal with the nerves that matters.” “So you‟re an actor.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 58 “In many respects, I am. And now it‟s time for us to give an Oscar-winning performance. Are you ready?” “I guess I‟d better be.” Chris gently gripped Sam‟s hand under the table for a split second. Before he could pull away, Sam squeezed back. “Let‟s do this.” The judge returned to his seat. “Mr. Solomon, let‟s get this show on the road.” “Of course, Your Honor. I‟d like to call Christopher Kelly to the stand.” As Chris stood, straightening his jacket and approaching the bench to take the oath, Sam thought about his strategy. If he could make it clear to his opponent that he would go for the jugular when throwing around the needy children card, it wouldn‟t matter what the contract said, especially if the judge opened the court up to the public. His client‟s company would be buried in negative publicity and could count on cancelled orders and severed business relationships with those who used it for product distribution. Chris‟s eyes darted from the defendant, to his attorney, to the judge, to Dr. Reason. He seemed tenser than he had the night they were together. Sam began to see red flags waving. He knew that if they were to make their case, Chris had to be passionate, not panicked. Sam took a risk before he started the formal questioning. Although it was no secret he was gay, he certainly didn‟t want anyone knowing he had an intimate connection with his first witness. “Chris, look at me.” Hands clasped tightly together, Chris turned his head to face Sam.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 59 “Good. Just focus on me as if we‟re the only two in the room. Talk only to me and no one else. Can you do that?” Sam looked directly into Chris‟s eyes, hoping he had his complete and undivided attention. Nodding, the color soon returned to Chris‟s cheeks. “I‟m okay now. I can do this.” “Good to hear.” Sam increased the volume of his voice so all could hear. “Mr. Kelly, what is your position at the special needs school in question?” “I‟m a special education teacher. My sub-specialty is technology and vocational education.” “It sounds like a complicated job. How do you teach this type of student population such high level skills?” “Mostly it‟s a matter of breaking down every task that needs to be performed into very small and attainable steps, depending on each student‟s individual disability. The equipment used has to be significantly modified to meet their physical and mental abilities. Otherwise, a computer can simply become an object solely for viewing movies or listening to music. Even the games can be overwhelming for these youngsters.” “I see. So a typical computer, no matter sophisticated, may not meet your students‟ needs.”

how

“That‟s exactly what I‟m saying, but it‟s really a lot more than just that.” Sam‟s eyes widened. He‟d forgotten to remind Chris of the cardinal rule, only answer what he was asked. Elaboration usually meant trouble and openings for the opposing counsel.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 60 “I‟m sure it is more, but you‟ve made your point quite clearly, Mr. Kelly.” The judge immediately chimed in. “I‟d like to hear what Mr. Kelly has to say.” Looking from the judge to the opposing counsel, now wearing a smug look on his face, Sam knew they might have just taken ten steps backwards, losing their edge. He wanted to win this case, and Chris was about to screw it up by opening his mouth. Those lips might be completely kissable, but at that moment Sam wished they were zipped shut. “Of course, Your Honor. Mr. Kelly, what is it you were trying to share with us?” Sam hoped Chris saw the look on his face, but instead Chris turned to look directly at the judge. Damn! “Thank you, Your Honor. I appreciate the chance to explain further.” “Please continue, Mr. Kelly.” Sam took two steps closer to the witness stand. He hoped Chris would look at him and refocus, say virtually nothing new, but unfortunately the teacher‟s attention was totally focused on the man deciding the case. “You see, Your Honor, teaching in a special needs school affords me an opportunity to view the world from an angle very few in the mainstream get to see.” “Please continue.” Taking a step back, Sam realized he had lost all control of the witness. He hoped he could regain lost ground after Chris finished speaking with the judge.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 61 “For most of us in the world, when someone blocks our way, sets up a wall between us and our goals, well, if we want our dreams badly enough, we tear down the walls or find some other way to go around them. But for these kids, they don‟t even know a wall has been placed in their way. They just discover another dream has been shot down, never to be attained. They live their lives, especially those who are physically disabled, watching others do what they long to experience.” Chris took a deep breath and continued, never taking his eyes off the judge. “Those specially designed computers could have been the key to tearing down a huge wall for many of our students who are, once again, relegated to being defeated because of the way they were born. No one chooses to be a part of the special needs population, just like no one chooses to be in any other minority that has had limits set because of their differences. It‟s terrible when others cause those differences to retard the advancement of any person. I hate seeing anyone stopped unnecessarily, and especially unfairly, from reaching their potential.” Sam forced his mouth to remain closed. Chris was brilliant, and he‟d almost kept him from speaking. Looking over at the defendant‟s table he spotted the opposing attorney writing furiously, passing papers to his client. The smug face was now red, and if he wasn‟t mistaken, Sam saw a drop or two of sweat on the lawyer‟s forehead. Refraining from smiling and patting Chris on the back, Sam took his rightful place at his witness‟s side. “Do you have anything further to add, Mr. Kelly?” “No, Mr. Solomon. I fear I‟ve probably said too much.” Chris started to scan the room, his brow furrowed.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 62 “Nonsense, Mr. Kelly. I believe you shared just enough.” The judge cleared his throat. “Thank you, young man, for speaking clearly and candidly.” He then turned toward the defendant. “I imagine this would be a good time to take our lunch break, as I think there might be a discussion between the two opposing counselors that will clear the afternoon for all of us.” Everyone in the room rose as the judge left for his chambers. Sam waited patiently to be approached. When the opposing lawyer arrived, he handed him a slip of paper. “Everything they want, but we get a gag on the publicity.” “I‟ll bring this to my client‟s attention over lunch and meet you back here ten minutes before the judge is due to return.” “Take it, Sam. It‟s all we can do.” “I‟ll take your words of advice into account.” Sam purposely left off any familiarity with the opposing counsel. It was another way of keeping his edge. Chris was certainly someone to be reckoned with. He was determined, articulate, and deeply passionate. Sam‟s stomach began to grumble, although he couldn‟t even think about eating. If anything, he felt nauseous. His thoughts were suddenly dominated by Chris. Could Sam really give Chris what he wanted? He‟d always been the one in charge; in the courtroom, in the conference room, and in his personal life. Tonight he was to have dinner at Chris‟s home, but was Sam really prepared to be dessert, even for this amazing man who had single-handedly won their case? Shit! He had always been so sure of himself, and now Sam doubted

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 63 everything he‟d always taken for granted. He was a top; he was the top. He couldn‟t think about any of that now. It was, thankfully, time to meet with Dr. Reason. With her approval, Sam would have completed another successful day in court and could possibly reward himself with the afternoon off. He needed time to think and sort things out before the evening. He had no intention of walking into Chris‟s apartment without a plan. This auburn-haired hunk was already changing so many things Sam had assumed about his private life. Could he let him change even more?

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Chapter 9 “YOU were perfect.” Sam raised his arms as if he‟d just made a touchdown at the Super Bowl. “Better than I ever expected from a witness who hadn‟t been coached. You singlehandedly won the settlement we were all hoping for.” Sam approached the large pot of stew simmering on the stove. He lifted the lid, taking in the rich aroma. “If this tastes half as good as it smells, we‟ll have another thing to celebrate—your culinary skills.” Chris took the lid from Sam and gave the stew a single stir before replacing it. “You‟re certainly in a good mood.” “Who the hell needs illegal substances when you can get high on your job? Whenever I win a case, I feel like I‟m flying.” “So you like being the Top Gun of the legal profession?” A half-grin inched across Chris‟s face. “You might say that. Or you can just say winning beats the crap out of losing any day.” Sam felt invigorated. The agreement between the special needs school and the computer distributor was perfect. Not only would the school get the proper equipment, it was to be hooked up within a week. In addition, they were to get free technical support for three years and a complete refund for all the hardship and expense of having to take legal action. In exchange, there would be no publicity. Anything discovered by a reporter would not be corroborated by any school official. It was a

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 65 small price to pay to win this important battle, a win that had such wonderful benefit for the students. “I‟m beginning to wonder if you‟re a lot more cutthroat than I first thought. I don‟t think I‟ve ever seen anyone take so much pleasure in defeating his opposition before.” Chris began to move around the kitchen as he took out dishes, glasses, and silverware to set the table. “It‟s a matter of knowing I‟ve done what I set out to do. I like beating the bad guys. I‟m lucky; I‟m usually the one representing the underdog, and that‟s how I like it.” Sam was beginning to notice a shift in the mood, and he felt less festive than he had a few minutes earlier. “So being in charge, holding all the cards, is that important to you?” Chris was looking at the place settings on the table rather than Sam. “Hey, what‟s going on? I may not be a genius when it comes to developing a relationship, but I‟m pretty sure we‟re not talking about the case or work anymore.” “You‟re very perceptive, Mr. Solomon.” Chris‟s voice softened to a whisper as he lowered his head. Moving next to Chris, Sam gently wrapped his hand around the nape of the taller man‟s neck. He instinctively began to twirl the wisps of hair there between his fingers and softly stroke the skin beneath. “Look at me, Chris.” Shaking his head, Chris tried to turn away, but Sam lifted his other hand to nudge him so the two were facing one another. Cupping Chris‟s chin, Sam drew him in for a kiss. Their lips barely touched, but Sam felt the familiar warmth spread through him. It was the same feeling he had two days earlier in the car when they hadn‟t been able to resist each

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 66 other. Sam could tell by Chris‟s response that he wasn‟t the only one enjoying their connection, until his Irish hunk pulled back. “You‟re beautiful, but you‟re worrying me. What‟s wrong?” Sam rested their foreheads together. Wrapping his arms loosely around Sam‟s waist, Chris stood up tall, yet his voice wavered. “I‟m afraid this isn‟t going to work out. To be honest, I‟m not sure you want it to.” “That‟s ridiculous. How can you say that?” Sam placed his hands squarely on Chris‟s broad shoulders, the tenderness of the kiss long forgotten. “I‟m here, aren‟t I? We even worked well together in the courtroom this morning.” “Sam, you want to be the one in control of everything. It‟s your reason for being, your motivation, whatever you want to call it.” Chris stepped away, returning to the stove to turn off the stew. “I‟m not sure you can handle an equal and balanced relationship of any kind.” “I don‟t understand. I‟m trying. What makes you think I can‟t do it?” Sam was getting that uncomfortable gurgling in his stomach again. He was wondering if having a boyfriend meant taking out stock in antacids. “Look at you. You won the settlement, and it‟s all you can talk about. It makes you feel high, and great, and frames who you are.” “Is that a bad thing? Shouldn‟t I want to celebrate a victory?” “Of course you should. But it‟s also abundantly obvious that a major part of the thrill was being in control, running the show. You may not realize it, but I did notice your reaction when the judge asked me to continue speaking after

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 67 I volunteered more information than you had asked for while questioning me.” Taking a deep breath, Chris continued. “While you were at the mercy of the judge, and the mystery of what I might say, I could tell you were extremely disturbed.” “I was disturbed because I was blindsided. Fortunately, it worked to our advantage.” Sam still couldn‟t understand what all the unnecessary concern was about. “Don‟t you see, it‟s all part of who you are. You‟re never going to allow me to be who I am completely if we try to move forward. You‟d always need to be the boss. The one who ultimately takes charge.” Chris rested the serving ladle on the counter. “I need to be in charge too from time to time, and I‟m not sure you can handle that.” There it was. Chris wasn‟t tiptoeing around the issue any more. Who was going to be the top if they were together? Sam shook his head, silently scolding himself for thinking only in terms of sex. He knew it was about more than that. Could he allow someone in enough to have a truly equal relationship, to learn to make the compromises necessary to have a successful life together? Craig and Jeff had worked at their partnership, had each learned to be a good partner to the other. Partner was a term Sam was used to at work. It had taken the senior partners a bit longer than usual to invite him into the fold because they feared Sam was only out for himself. He had finally realized he needed to learn to be a team player at the office and save his go-for-the-jugular attitude for the cases he would face. Now the word partner was flying through his head again, in an altogether different context. Sam needed to decide

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 68 whether he was capable of sharing completely with another person. He‟d been the one in the driver‟s seat all these years. It would be hard to share the limelight. “Chris, let‟s have some dinner.” He knew it was lame, but at least Chris knew he wasn‟t running out the door. His sculpted arm muscles flexed as Chris ladled the stew into two large bowls; he then brought them over to the table. Sam couldn‟t keep his eyes off the gentle giant, blinking out of his trance when Chris spoke. “I bought a bottle of cabernet, if you‟re up for it. I thought it might make a nice touch as we celebrate our victory in court today.” There it was again. Chris was speaking of the victory as theirs, not just Sam‟s. It was how it should be, but Sam knew he tended to take ownership of every case he won. The witnesses and supporting staff at the office were just that—a supporting cast. It was time for him to make a statement in his answer. Sam‟s answer would shape the rest of the evening, possibly destroying it instantly. Taking a deep breath, Sam sat at the table, looking up at Chris. “I‟d love to toast our victory. After all, it‟s as much yours as it is mine.” Setting the wine on the table, Chris began to open the bottle. “Do you really mean that, or are you placating me? I may work with children, but I’m not a child.” “Chris, this is all new to me. I‟m moving through territory so foreign it‟s like I don‟t speak the language.” “Then let me use simple words. Are you prepared to see me as an equal if we continue to explore this, whatever it is, between us? Can you see yourself surrendering to someone else in a way that could take you to places you‟ve never

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 69 been? Can you be a partner?” Removing the cork, poured the wine into the glasses. “I know it‟s early, don‟t want to invest my emotions in something destined to fail. The sex might be amazing, but I need That‟s why I signed up at The Male Room.”

Chris but I that‟s more.

Gesturing for Chris to sit down in the chair opposite him, Sam raised his glass. He knew it was time to take charge of his future in a way he never had before, even if it meant sharing the position at the top of the pyramid. If there was room to share his life, it was Chris he wanted in it. The big question was, could he see himself committing to a relationship where all facets of said relationship were on an equal footing?” “Chris, I‟d like to make a toast.” Nodding, Chris remained silent. “I‟d like to toast to taking a step off my personal pedestal and sharing a wider podium with you. I want to get off the proverbial treadmill. Going to The Music Box isn‟t nearly as attractive as being here, with you.” “And what about sex? Where do you stand on that?” “I‟ve confessed my preference.” Sam paused, trying to think of how to phrase his concerns and share them honestly with Chris. “I‟m beginning to trust you enough to try something new.” Sam furrowed his brow. He lowered his voice, blurting out, “Damn. I‟m nervous, Chris. Help me find the way to create a real partnership.” Chris raised his glass tapping it against Sam‟s to make a loud chime. “It would be a pleasure to guide you into a new place in your life.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 70 After sipping their wine to seal the toast, Sam tasted the stew. He wasn‟t convinced he had made the right decision, but he knew he couldn‟t walk away from Chris. He‟d have to learn to trust him. Sam just hoped he wouldn‟t disappoint either of them. This was one battle he didn‟t want to lose. He was the underdog, and it was time to fight his own instincts to find, for once, a personal victory.

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Chapter 10 AFTER dinner Chris offered to turn on the TV. The Patriots were one of the teams featured on this week‟s Monday Night Football and both men were fans. Sam agreed. He was feeling quite mellow, having enjoyed two glasses of wine and a more generic, inconsequential conversation over dinner. He was glad that the niggling sense that the time for him to make an effort was growing closer; a sense that had kept him on edge most of the evening seemed to have abated somewhat. “Do you want a beer while we watch?” Lost in his own thoughts, it took Sam a moment to realize what Chris had said. “Oh, uhm, no. I‟m fine, thanks.” “I see.” Chris frowned and sat on the same sofa as Sam, leaving enough space between the two for a third to join them had someone else been there. Eyes narrowed, Sam glared at Chris. “What do you see?” “Look, Sam, I get it. You don‟t want anything else to drink because you‟re planning on leaving and have to drive home.” Turning away, Sam thought about his reaction to Chris‟s offer of a drink and realized his host was right. Without even knowing it, Sam had set himself up to be able to make a clean getaway without any concerns about being unable to drive home safely.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 72 “Are you sure you want to watch the game? It‟s okay if you want to go. I‟ve been expecting that all night.” Facing Chris, without giving himself time to think, Sam quickly slid across the sofa, clapped his hands on Chris‟s cheeks, and crashed their lips together. He wanted Chris. He wanted him more than he cared to admit. “I‟m not going anywhere right now.” Chris‟s breath hitched. “I guess not.” Before Sam was able to comprehend what was happening, Chris had him on his back on the sofa. The assault on his lips would leave them swollen and Sam loved it. He returned every kiss, desiring the taste and touch. Large hands began to find their way under Sam‟s shirt, pressing against his chest, his skin, and, “Oh fuck!” his nipples. The teasing, the pressure, the pinching and then he felt it. Chris sucking on his neck, just behind his lobe. He arched at the contact. “Chris.” It was a hiss more than a word. “I want you, Sam. You‟re so beautiful, so hot. I want you to be mine.” Panting, Sam felt dizzy. It never happened this way. He was always the one on top. Yet here he was, beneath the hottest man he‟d ever met. Not only did he want him, but he considered giving himself in a way that would mean so much to Chris. As Chris slowly dragged his tongue along Sam‟s jawline and down to his Adam‟s apple, all Sam was capable of doing was moaning Chris‟s name. “Oh God, Chris. Please.” “Please, what, Sam?” Chris whispered against his cheek. “Can I make you mine? I‟ve already marked you where no

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 73 one can see. Only you and I will know it‟s there. Our secret, our pact. Are you ready to give yourself to me?” Wrapping his arms around Chris‟s neck, Sam pulled him in for another kiss, pressing his tongue in to mingle with his lover‟s. Lover—is that what Chris was now? If they continued on the path they‟d started, Sam would have a lover, maybe even a partner. Their lips still connected, tongues battling, Chris opened the button and began to unzip Sam‟s pants, releasing his hard cock. The pleasure of his touch as Chris slowly brushed his fingertips over Sam‟s briefs drove him to cling tighter. He dug his fingers into Chris‟s back. “Sam, you‟re so damn hot.” Chris kept touching him. Sam lifted enough for Chris to pull his jeans down part way. Every sensation was incredible. Without removing Sam‟s briefs, Chris alternately stroked his needy cock and then barely touched it, leaving Sam hungry for more. “Look how you‟re moving. All for me.” Chris nipped at Sam‟s lobe as his hand continued to work Sam‟s painfully hard member. “That‟s what I want. I want you all for me. Tonight I‟m going to own you, take you.” The flash of memory of an older, stronger man from years earlier ramming into him without caring overwhelmed Sam. He turned his head away from the renewed attack on his lips and closed his eyes tightly. The pain and humiliation flooded back. He couldn‟t do this. He couldn‟t let someone else hurt him and throw him aside. “Sam?”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 74 Shoving Chris away, Sam quickly stood and pulled up his pants. “I‟m sorry. I thought I could do this. I can‟t. I probably never will.” He dared to turn back and look at Chris. “God, I wanted this with you, for you.” Without another word, Sam hastily left the apartment. As soon as he got in his car he leaned his forehead against the steering wheel. “Fuck!” Banging on the wheel mercilessly, he continued to yell. He yelled at the man who hurt him all those years ago, at the world, at himself. “You asshole. You could have had it all with him and you let your goddamn fear of a fucking ghost get in the way. It was ages ago and you can‟t leave that asshole behind. He‟s gone. He should be forgotten. Damn it! He still owns a part of you until you stop letting him get to you.” Sam continued to rest his forehead against the cold wheel. He didn‟t move, didn‟t start the car. He didn‟t know where to go. He wanted to numb the pain and dull the memory. Sam remembered the days in college when he risked his law career for a few snorts; not the answer now. Unable to start the car, feeling too shaken to drive, Sam‟s body start to shudder. “You will not do this. It‟s a matter of pride. Get a grip.” Inhaling slowly, Sam thought about heading for The Music Box. At least there he could be the one in charge, but it wouldn‟t help. It wasn‟t sex he was looking for, and he‟d ruined the best chance he‟d had for more. “Alone. You‟ll have to get used to living alone forever. It looks like that‟s all you‟re good for.” He thought about heading to the office. He could catch up on some of the work he‟d blown off after winning the settlement earlier in the day. Sam shook his head, a sad

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 75 smile crossing his face. Work would be his only partner. He huffed. “I didn‟t think Scrooge was Jewish. Guess the modern day version is.” Leaning back in the driver‟s seat, Sam closed his eyes, trying to shove the demons and the pain far enough away to start the engine and get going. He was about ready to go when there was a knock on the passenger side window. “Open the door, it‟s getting cold out here.” Startled and surprised by the intrusion, Sam unlocked the door and shoved it open. “Chris, what are you doing here?” “I saw you from my window, sitting here, not moving, and figured something was up.” Lowering his head, Sam didn‟t know how to confess all that was going through his mind. “It was something I said; then you spiraled out of control. I was pissed at first. It took me a minute to realize this was more than a power play. Why don‟t you come back upstairs?” Sam‟s eyes narrowed as he looked at Chris. “I won‟t touch you, but maybe we can talk, really talk. I may be wrong, but I think you need to let something go.” Sam wasn‟t sure why he was doing it, but without uttering a word, he got out of his car and locked it. He slowly walked alongside Chris. About halfway to the main entrance to the building, Sam took Chris‟s hand in his, lacing their fingers together. Chris looked at Sam and nodded.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 76 Entering the apartment for the second time that evening, Sam was embarrassed by his earlier actions. He didn‟t know where to begin, or what to say, to make things right. Walking back to the sofa, Chris sat next to Sam this time, continuing to hold his hand. Lifting his other hand, Chris gently combed it through Sam‟s hair. “Can you tell me?” Finding his voice, Sam looked directly into Chris‟s eyes, forcing himself to remain in control. “I don‟t know.” Nodding, Chris kissed Sam on the forehead. It was one of the most intimate things anyone had done for him in years. “It must have been a long time ago or you wouldn‟t be posting a profile online, opening yourself up to any gay man at The Male Room.” “I didn‟t think it still affected me.” “History that isn‟t left in the past tends to come back and haunt us.” Sam shrugged. “Did you learn that in psychology class?” “No, I read it in a fortune cookie once and it sounded good.” Chuckling, Sam leaned against Chris‟s shoulder. “Good to know I‟m in capable hands.” “You are.” Chris‟s voice was completely serious. “It was a long time ago. One of my first forays into a gay bar.” “Was it consensual?” “Yes, but it wasn‟t what I expected.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 77 “What was it?” “It was all about his pleasure. I was just there to get him off. For me, it ended up being all about pain.” “And shame?” Nodding, Sam couldn‟t say the words. “It‟s okay now.” “Is it? I‟m a fucking mess. Can‟t even try to have a real relationship with someone I want, with someone I could—” Sam stopped talking, suddenly realizing what was about to fly out of his mouth. “I feel the same way about you or I wouldn‟t have gone down to get you.” “So what do we do?” “Together, we learn how to have an equal relationship.” “But what about sex?” “We take it one day at a time.” Chris cupped Sam‟s cheek. “I want to be inside you; show you I can take care of you and bring you to a good place. But until then, I‟ll wait my turn. At some point you‟ll trust me enough.” “I do trust you.” Chris huffed. “Not enough… yet.” “I hope you‟re patient.” “I‟m a teacher with students who need everything taken one step at a time. I‟m sure I can wait for you.” “I hope it‟ll be worth it.” “I‟m betting on it.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 78 Sam rested his head against Chris‟s shirt until both men dared to look into the other‟s eyes. “Chris, can we move this to your bedroom?” “Can you stay?” “I had high hopes for tonight. There‟s a bag in my car.” “Get it in the morning.” Chris wrapped his arm around Sam‟s waist and walked him to the bedroom. The two slowly undressed each other, taking each piece of clothing off slowly. Their touches were tender, not rushed like the first time. Sam stroked Chris‟s cock and kissed him everywhere, wanting to take in this incredibly generous man in every way he could. When he entered Chris, Sam felt a high no trial victory had ever brought him. As the two rocked together, they sealed their connection to one another. Sam no longer felt pressured; he felt something so much better. The feeling of what it was like to have someone truly care for him. As Sam watched Chris arch his back, spilling between them, clenching him from the inside, he knew what it was to have someone give himself completely. The thought, coupled with Chris‟s lips pressed to his, brought Sam blissfully over the edge. After discarding the condom, the two held each other close. There was no one in charge. They were a team. “Chris.” “Yes?” “Thank you.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 79 “I‟m glad you‟re here.” “Me too.” Sam sighed. “I‟ll try not to make you wait too long.” “As long as it takes.” Nodding against Chris‟s shoulder, Sam fell into a peaceful sleep.

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Chapter 11 WAKING up in Chris‟s arms had become Sam‟s guilty pleasure. He was beginning to feel like a walking paradox. He still hadn‟t let Chris inside, yet he relished being held throughout the night. No matter whether they were, in Chris‟s bed or his own, after both men reached their climax, Sam sought comfort in Chris‟s strong, warm arms. There was a tenderness mingled with their heat and desire that he‟d never experienced before. For the first time, Sam felt protected and loved. Now, if he could only fully demonstrate and verbalize his feelings, he and Chris could progress to the next level of their relationship. “Will I see you tonight, or do you have to work late on the case you‟re going to trial with next week?” Watching as Chris made his bed, smoothing the comforter over the sheets and pillows they‟d slept on throughout the night, Sam was struck with the thought, not for the first time, that he wished it was their bed. “Yeah, you‟ll see me. How about I call when I‟m leaving work? I‟ll pick up some Thai on the way?” “You don‟t want to eat there?” Chris stood up and looked at Sam. Buttoning his shirt, Sam approached Chris, lacing his fingers through his mop of auburn hair and pressing their

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 81 lips together. “I‟d like to have a quiet night together, just the two of us.” “Sounds like a plan.” Chris placed a gentle peck on Sam‟s cheek. “Here, or at your place?” “Meet me at my place.” Sam bit his lip, shoving his hand into his pants pocket. “Here.” “What are these?” Chris took the offering from Sam and looked at it. Sam grinned. “You‟re a teacher; I bet you can figure it out.” “Is this the key to your apartment?” Nodding, Sam‟s smile broadened. “And the one for the main entrance so you can get in the building. There‟s no need for you to come all the way back here after work. Let‟s face it, during the past few weeks we‟ve both left plenty of stuff at each other‟s apartments, more than enough to go a few days without needing to stop in at home. Why don‟t you go straight to my place when the school day‟s done, and I‟ll call when I‟m on my way with dinner?” “Sounds awfully domestic to me. Are you sure you can handle it?” Chris smirked. “Okay, so I admit it. I‟m more into playing house than I‟ve been willing to admit.” “Is that it, Sam? Are we playing house or is it more?” Chris‟s piercing blue eyes held Sam‟s almost hypnotically. “We both know it‟s more.” Chris ghosted his hand over Sam‟s cheek. He leaned into the gentle touch. “Yeah, we both know it‟s more. I look forward to the day you can face it one hundred percent.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 82 “I know you do, Chris. I‟m trying.” “Try harder. I may be patient, but I‟m not a saint.” Wrapping his arms around Chris, Sam was struck once again by how vulnerable he felt, needing this man in his life. He couldn‟t bear the thought of running out of time because of his foolish pride or insecurity. “Chris.” Sam didn‟t know what else to say. It was a plea he hoped Chris‟s heart would hear and feel. “I‟ll see you tonight at your place.” He held up the keys, jingling them. “I‟ll let myself in and wait for you there.” “Good.” Grabbing his briefcase and laptop from the corner of the bedroom, Sam pressed his lips against Chris‟s one more time. “I‟ve got to go.” “Go, Mr. Solomon, and save the world from the evil beings trying to take advantage of the innocent.” “Oh my God! I just realized the date. You‟re getting the last of the computers installed today.” “You remembered. You really are a romantic at heart.” Chris chuckled. Winking, Sam looked back over his shoulder as he left the room. “We‟ll make tonight a sort of celebration dinner.” “Great! Bring extra Pad Thai.” Leaving the apartment, Sam felt energized. This was the way he wanted to leave for work every day. Then he thought about Chris‟s patience. Why was he making him wait? He trusted Chris completely, yet he was risking losing him if he didn‟t act soon. Shaking all the negative thoughts from his mind, Sam got into his car and sped off for another day at the office.

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“GOOD morning, Mr. Solomon. Your coffee‟s waiting, as is the file you wanted on your desk first thing this morning.” Donna was so efficient. Sometimes Sam wondered if she would be capable of going in and trying cases should he be unavailable. “Good morning to you, too.” “I may be wrong, but the spring in your step tells me you‟ve already seen that nice Mr. Kelly today.” Sam had invited Chris to meet him at the office more than once. Donna had teased him mercilessly about depriving The Music Box of their number one attraction now that he‟d retired his place at the club. He would have fired her if she hadn‟t been right. “You may be wrong, but you‟re not.” Sam smiled. “How is it I can wear a poker face throughout an entire case in court, but thirty seconds with you and I‟m stripped of any subterfuge?” Donna laughed. “You can call it women‟s intuition or experience from being a mother who has to figure out when her kids are trying to put one over on her, but in this case, let‟s just say I know the signs.” “What signs?” “You men can be so clueless. The signs of love, of course.” “What!” “Oh, Mr. Solomon, you can deny it from Boston to San Diego, but it‟s written all over your face whenever you‟ve

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 84 been with him.” Donna started to refocus on a few documents on her desk, ignoring Sam‟s glare. It took her just a moment or two. Her hands stilled and she looked at him, resting the palms of her hands squarely on the desk. “Oh dear, you haven‟t told him, have you?” Sam wanted to pretend he had no idea what Donna was talking about, but it would have been futile. He just shook his head slowly. “Men. You‟re all alike, gay or straight. There are only a rare few of you willing to give their partner the few words they need to show how you truly feel.” Lowering her voice to a whisper, Donna‟s face softened. “Can I tell you something, Mr. Solomon?” “Why not? You don‟t seem to have any problem with giving your opinion on my private life this morning, why stop now.” He tried to sound forceful but failed miserably. “If you don‟t share your feelings with him, you could lose him. Waiting is hard to do in a relationship, and if you make him wait too long he‟ll get tired of it all. I practically walked out on my husband before we were married, all because he couldn‟t seem to say he loved me.” “I see he rectified that situation.” “Brilliantly, once I gave him an ultimatum. Don‟t make your nice Mr. Kelly wait until he‟s about to crack.” “Thank you, Donna. I‟ll keep your unsolicited advice in mind.” “It may be unsolicited, but that doesn‟t mean it isn‟t good.” She huffed and returned to her paperwork as Sam entered his office.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 85 Sam realized something had to change. Giving Chris his keys was a big step, but not the one either man knew had to happen for them to have their success story. Shit! He hadn‟t thought about Jeff and their bet in over a month. As if on cue, Donna interrupted Sam‟s thoughts as her voice came through on the intercom. “Excuse, Mr. Solomon, but your friend, Jeff, is on line two. Shall I connect him?” After staring at the phone for a moment, Sam was ready to deal with his friend—more than he was ready to deal with his boyfriend. “Yes, Donna, put his call through.” “Hi, honey. Long time, no hear. Although I may have heard through the grapevine that one hunky hottie has been very conspicuously absent from our favorite nightclub. What‟s happening? Are you and the cutie I set you up with still an item?” “Good morning to you too, Jeff. How‟s Craig? Can he still stand spending his days and nights with you, despite never getting a word in edgewise?” “Too cute, Mr. Attorney. You definitely have a way with words. Craig and I are fine. In fact, we‟re better than fine. I wouldn‟t be surprised if we‟re Mr. and Mr. soon.” “I‟ll be looking for my invitation in the mail.” “You do that. I just have to wait for Craig to catch up with the program and ask me already.” “Why don‟t you ask him?” “While in your case it could go either way, let‟s face it; in my case, a lady should be patient and wait for her man to ask.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 86 Sam shook his head. Jeff was the ultimate queen, but at least he was comfortable in his own skin. “You still haven‟t answered my question. Am I getting my latest success story for the website?” Hoping he‟d distracted Jeff enough to forget his reason for calling hadn‟t worked as well as Sam had hoped. “Sam, what‟s up? You‟re usually pretty quick with the responses.” The concern in Jeff‟s voice added to Sam‟s stress. “Jeff, I think I‟m—” Sam couldn‟t continue. It didn‟t feel right talking to Jeff before things were truly resolved with Chris. “Jeff, can you ask me the same question in a couple of days?” “Sure, no problem. I‟m not about to push you into a corner, but if you really need a friend to talk to, you know I‟m here and so is Craig.” “I know. You‟ve both become good friends. And yes, I have been absent from The Music Box because all my free time is spent with Chris.” “That‟s him! That‟s the guy I picked for you.” “How could you imagine I‟d go for another, well, top? I would have never picked him.” “Sweet, naive Sam. There‟s a reason The Male Room is doing so well. I‟m a genius in the love department. It‟s all about getting the rest of you clueless gentlemen to face your true desires.” “And you can see us more clearly than we can see ourselves?”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 87 “Let‟s just say not all tops are the proverbial alpha males they think they are, and not all bottoms are the ultimate submissives.” “I‟m not sure I want to know how you acquired this tidbit of knowledge.” Sam snorted. “Let‟s just say years of experience and observation pay off in a multitude of ways.” Jeff chuckled. “Jeff, call me in a couple of days. There are a few things I need to work out before I can answer your question and figure out who won our bet.” “Don‟t do anything too hastily just because of our little wager.” “This has nothing to do with our deal anymore. I need to clear some things up with Chris first.” Sam started shuffling papers on his desk, prioritizing what had to be done and making mental plans as he spoke. “What do you need to let the big hulking hunk know?” “That‟s between him and me, but if you play your cards right, you‟ll be able to fill in the blanks on your own in a few days.” “Now you have me intrigued.” Jeff started to hum the theme from Jaws. “Do I detect someone going in for the kill?” “Yeah, you do. But it‟s probably not what you‟re thinking, so don‟t even try to guess.” “Suit yourself, honey, but I will be calling in a couple of days and you‟d better be prepared to dish.” “If everything goes as planned, we can talk in person. We‟ll make it a double date and I‟ll formally introduce you to Chris.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 88 “Sounds fabulous! Talk to you soon. T-T-F-N.” “Good-bye, you crazy queen.” Jeff laughed out loud as they both disconnected. Sam picked up the phone one more time, knowing his call would go directly to voice mail. When the recorded message ended, Sam spoke. “Chris, meet me at home as soon as possible. We need to talk. I‟m taking the afternoon off.”

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Chapter 12 KNOWING the time Chris‟s school dismissed each day, Sam set himself up to arrive home at least two hours before his lover could possibly get there. He admired his work, having set up the apartment just as he‟d seen in hundreds of movies. Sam wanted to make it clear to Chris how he felt. The biggest question was, could he demonstrate those feelings completely? He wanted what Craig and Jeff had found and been able to nurture—a great partnership. Their love was equal in every way that counted, and for all he knew, that nelly queen could top with the best of them. He‟d seen how Jeff could take charge and hold his own; it wouldn‟t surprise him if he took the plunge in bed once in a while too. Everyone who knew Sam held him up to a certain reputation, but the rep was no longer important. Chris was important. As much as Sam hated to admit it, Donna was right. It was Sam‟s turn to give if he wanted to make his personal life a success. Just as he expected, at four o‟clock he heard the key turn in the lock and Chris walked in. His eyes widened as he gazed around the apartment‟s large, open-style main room. “Holy crap! What the hell‟s all this?” “These are candles.” Sam gestured all around him. “And those are a dozen vases of roses from the nursery down the street. A dozen bouquets of a dozen roses each, placed

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 90 around the room for atmosphere. The salesman suggested tea roses so they wouldn‟t completely overwhelm the space, although I still think I should have insisted on the long stem type.” “No, these are fantastic. The whole place looks beautiful.” Chris gazed at Sam. He had changed from his suit into a satin robe with nothing on underneath. Sam knew the scene was corny, at best, but he wanted to make sure he didn‟t screw up. He just hoped Chris appreciated the effort. “Why did you do all this?” Approaching Chris slowly, Sam ran his fingers over the sculpted chest. Through the tailored shirt he could feel Chris‟s nipples become erect, responding to his touch. “Because it‟s time for me to show you how much you mean to me; how much we mean to me.” “Are you sure?” “No.” Sam choked on the word but quickly regained his composure. “But I‟m sure I want you in my life, and I‟m sure I want to know what it‟s like to be loved by you.” Without hesitating, Chris grabbed Sam‟s arms, pulled him close, and crashed their lips together. Sam clung to Chris, wrapping his arms around him. “Do you trust me, Sam?” “Yeah, I do.” It seemed that was all Chris needed to hear. Putting on a show for Sam, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, sliding it down his arms as if peeling off a second skin. He then dramatically whipped off his belt and removed his shoes, socks, and pants, kicking them to the side, leaving only his briefs covering his already stiff cock.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 91 Panting, Sam stared at the moisture blossoming on his lover‟s underwear. Chris was so long and thick. It had been so long. The fear began to build and Sam wasn‟t sure he could go through with it. His partner must have sensed a change in the mood. Chris quickly approached Sam and untied the belt on his robe, sliding the garment off his shoulders, letting it fall in a puddle to the rug beneath. “I‟ll take care of you. Let me take care of you.” Chris‟s voice was hypnotic, and Sam‟s body reacted. He knelt and speedily divested Chris of his briefs, allowing his trapped dick to spring free. Standing again, he immediately reached to touch his own painfully hard cock. Chris knocked his hand away. “No, Sam. I told you, I‟ll take care of you.” Dropping his hand to his side, Sam wasn‟t sure what to do next. But then he realized he didn‟t have to actually do anything; he had set the stage, now it was time to let Chris take charge, allow Chris to wipe away the bad memories. Chris held him, kissing him, licking him, sucking him. Sam‟s body was on fire. The big Irishman was all around him, touching him everywhere and the sensations made him shiver. When Chris nipped at his nipple, Sam wanted to move away, to run, but instead he let a moan escape. “You like that. You like me touching you, tending to every part of you.” “Yes,” Sam hissed, another guttural sound coming out with the word. “Chris.” After guiding him down to lie on the rug, Chris folded the discarded robe and gently placed it beneath Sam‟s head.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 92 He never stopped touching Sam, kissing him, letting him know he was loved. This was loving; this was making love. Sam felt every moment of contact go deep and touch him from within. “You‟re so beautiful, so hot. I can feel the heat coming off your body. I want to feel that heat surround my cock.” Chris moistened each nipple with his tongue, then nipped. Sam held on, trying to keep some semblance of control. “I want you to be mine and I want to be yours. No one else, ever again.” “No one else.” Sam responded instantly. This is what he wanted too. He wanted to belong to someone who cared. “Chris, I—” “Shhh.” Chris nudged Sam to turn onto his stomach. “I want you to feel what it‟s like to be worshipped. You‟re an amazing man with an incredible body.” His cock receiving blissful friction from the fabric beneath, Sam felt Chris‟s tongue work its way down his back. He automatically arched at the cool, moist, unexpected touch. “Ahhh!” “Relax, this is only the beginning.” “Oh God.” Sam‟s voice was barely more than a whisper. He had a feeling he knew what was next. No one had ever done that to him. He‟d never allowed a trick to perform such an intimate act. Kneading Sam‟s ass with his strong hands, Chris‟s tongue circled the waiting hole. “It‟s time you learned how this feels.” Without missing a beat, the moist tongue entered.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 93 “Fuck!” It took all the control Sam had not to come at that moment. He tried to slow his breathing as he felt Chris explore. “Chris, I‟m gonna—” Then he was gone. “I don‟t want you to come like that. We‟re going to come together.” Nudging Sam to turn over once again, they looked into each other‟s eyes. “Your eyes, your face, they‟re so expressive. I don‟t want to miss seeing them.” Everything Chris said added to Sam‟s desire for more. “Please, Chris.” “Please what, Sam. Just ask me.” “I want you… inside. I want to feel you make me yours.” Sam felt a dot of moisture escape his eye. When he tried to wipe it away, Chris held his hand. “Leave it. It shows me how much you want me to love you.” Sam slowly nodded, pinned beneath this passionate man—his man. Kneeling between Sam‟s now spread legs, Chris reached into a small nearby candy dish Sam had filled with condoms and a small tube of lube, and once again offered a show. He rolled the condom on, bringing Sam‟s hand up so they could secure it in place together. Chris then put a dollop of lube on each of their hands. “While I prepare you, you prepare me.” It was more than Sam thought he could stand. Feeling Chris‟s fingers enter him one at a time while he massaged the long reddened cock, Sam closed his eyes. “No, Sam. Look at me. Know it‟s me you‟re feeling.” Biting his lip, Sam forced his eyes to reopen.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 94 “Now wrap your legs around my back.” Chris positioned himself at Sam‟s pulsing hole. “Let me know if you want me to stop.” “Don‟t stop, don‟t ever stop.” Sam couldn‟t believe the words coming from his mouth, but the need and desire drove them out. They were all true. He wanted Chris, and he wanted him now. Feeling of memory quickly and his partner.

Chris press inside, Sam closed his eyes. A flash nearly overtook him, but he opened his eyes stared into Chris‟s. This was his man, his lover, He needed to give himself to him.

“Sam, you‟re so tight, so damn hot.” As Chris pushed further inside, Sam thought he‟d be split in two until he felt a nudge against his prostate. “Oh God!” The pleasure washed over him. “Do you feel that? Isn‟t it amazing?” Chris began to slowly thrust, hitting the tender spot over and over. “Chris!” Sam could barely breathe. He could feel something incredible building and he wanted to let go. He‟d never felt anything this intense before. “Hold on, Sam, I‟m jumping off the cliff with you.” It didn‟t matter that it was ultimately going to end faster than either expected; letting their passion take over was perfect. Sam had never known anything could be so right. Their hands laced together at Sam‟s sides, Chris pressed in once more, resting the tip over the sensitive area inside. With all control lost, Sam arched his back, releasing between them, the orgasm taking him higher than he had

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 95 ever gone before. As his climax began to calm, he felt Chris pulsing from within. It was the most amazing thing he‟d ever experienced. Feeling his cock begin to soften, Chris held the condom in place and gently pulled out of Sam‟s body. Quickly disposing of the condom, he lay back down and took Sam in his arms. The two tangled together in a warm embrace. Sam had never felt closer to anyone. “Chris, I love you.” “I know. I love you too.” “You know?” Sam whispered as his breathing returned to normal. “I‟ve known you were the one for me from our first night together. I just had to wait for you to realize it too.” Sam clung to Chris, unwilling to let him go. “It‟s a good thing you‟re such a skilled teacher. I have a feeling you have a lot to teach me about being a good partner.” “It might take a while.” Chris peppered small pecks across Sam‟s neck and cheek. “How long?” “At least fifty or sixty years.” Chris sucked on Sam‟s lobe. “Ahhh. That‟s good. I think I have just about that much time allotted for us to be together. Maybe a decade or two more if you can stand me.” The two remained on the floor kissing and holding one another, not noticing as several of the candles burned out. They were together. Nothing else mattered.

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Chapter 13 GLANCING at his watch, Sam bolted out of his car. The meeting at his office had taken far longer than he‟d expected, making him thirty minutes late. He hoped Chris would be in a forgiving mood. “Good evening, Mr. Solomon. We wondered where you were.” Tani smiled and showed Sam to his favorite corner table. He and Chris had been coming to the Thai Palace weekly, and the hostess would always hold their table in anticipation of their arrival. “Mr. Kelly and your friends have been enjoying tea and appetizers.” Nodding, Sam followed Tani to the table. Chris stood when he arrived, giving him a quick hug and a peck on the lips. Although a simple gesture of affection, it had become a greeting Sam looked forward to and didn‟t want to go a day without. “Well hello, Mr. Attorney. Aren‟t you all decked out in the most chic attire. Armani, I believe.” Laughing, Sam turned to their guests. “You know, Jeff, if I didn‟t know any better I‟d think you were a shallow, empty-headed queen. You‟ve got a lot more locked in that brain of yours than you let on, both intellectually and instinctively.” Jeff‟s partner Craig wrapped his arm around his shoulder. “Let‟s just keep that to ourselves. He‟s great for business with his facade of the fun-loving, silly flamer.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 97 “Your secret‟s safe with me.” Sam and Chris sat as Tani brought fresh refills of tea for all, along with a cup for Sam. Chris leaned over to whisper in Sam‟s ear. “I hope you don‟t mind, but we ordered while we were waiting. It‟ll just be a variety of our favorites to share amongst the four of us.” “I‟m glad you did. The meeting went late, and I couldn‟t get out since they were speaking directly to me.” “Well?” Sam smiled broadly. No words were needed. “That‟s terrific!” Chris grabbed Sam by the shoulders and pulled him in for a toe-curling kiss. “Ahem. Would you boys care to tell us what the celebration is all about? We already know the two of you moved in together and Chris gave up the lease on his apartment. Does this mean there‟s more on the horizon?” Turning to Jeff and Craig, Sam grinned from ear to ear. “Probably more on the horizon, but we just moved in together a couple of months ago. There‟s no rush.” “Why put off the inevitable?” “You two haven‟t tied the knot yet, have you?” Craig chimed in, “Well, as a matter a fact, we finally picked a date.” “It‟s about time. Just send us the invitation and we‟ll be there.” “So what‟s the big news?” Craig asked. Opening his laptop case, Sam pulled out a sheet of paper bearing the letterhead of his law firm and handed it to Chris first, who read it and then passed it to Jeff and Craig.

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 98 Placing his hand on Sam‟s knee, Chris gave it a squeeze. Ever since Sam had completely let go of his past, he and Chris had become true and equal partners in every aspect of their personal lives. It was the biggest victory Sam had ever experienced, and he was relishing every minute. Their home life was an ongoing adventure. Neither of them fit their past stereotypical, alpha male personas any longer; they were exploring new ground, making up their own rules as they went along. Both had taken on the day-today tasks of running a home. Their particular moods on any given day would determine which chores each would undertake. However, rather than making their household obligations their top priority, it was far more important to both men, whenever they happened to get the urge and inspiration, that they take complete care of each other sexually—be it in the bedroom, kitchen, or great room. Sam had never experienced such an active and intimate sex life. Every day brought new surprises; there were times Chris brought him to new heights he didn‟t think possible. Just thinking about it, his cock reacted. Sam was shocked to find there were days he wanted Chris to make slow, passionate love to him, and others where the two would battle for control. Frequently, on those nights, Sam would win, although he began to think Chris was letting him take charge. It was all about the thrill of the challenge to see who would come out on top. “Oh my God, honey!” Jeff brought Sam out of his thoughts and back to the table. Probably a good thing, as Sam‟s pants were beginning to tighten and there was

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 99 nothing to be done about it at that moment. “Your name. It‟s on the masthead.” “Yes it is. And it‟s now on the door leading into the suite of offices and every other piece of literature or document put into the public eye by the firm.” “My, my, Mr. Sam Solomon, you have arrived. Armani to work, and Chris waiting at home to take it off at the end of the day.” The group all laughed at Jeff‟s campy but accurate account of Sam‟s life. One of the waiters brought over their meal. The spread of food was perfect, truly making it a celebratory dinner. After taking a little of each offering, the four occupied themselves with eating until Craig broke the silence. “You know, Sam, you owe us.” He looked from Craig to Jeff and then to Chris, who shrugged his shoulders. “Why do I owe you?” “Apparently you made a bet with my partner—” “That‟s fiancé, dear.” “Sorry, Jeff.” Craig continued. “If his choice of a date for you worked out, you promised to be one of our website success stories.” Pointing his chopsticks at Chris and then Sam, Craig smiled. “From the look of things, success story is an understatement. So, are you ready to pay up, or is the hottest partner in the most prestigious law firm in Boston going to welsh on his bet?” “Oh shit,” Sam whispered. “I‟d forgotten all about that ridiculous bet.”

The Attorney | Carolyn LeVine Topol 100 Chris leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms across his chest. “You didn‟t think you could ever find the right guy, and you couldn‟t. Jeff knew you better than you knew yourself back then.” “I‟m improving. Now I know exactly who, and what, I want.” “I know, and I‟m grateful. I guess it‟s time to pay the price for our happiness to our wayward matchmaker.” Practically bouncing in his seat, Jeff kissed Craig on the cheek. “This will definitely boost sales. Seeing Sam Solomon on the homepage will get every gay with a computer signing up for The Male Room.” “Hey, what about me?” Chris chuckled. “Oh, sweetie, you‟re the hot, hard, cherry on top!” Sam nearly spit out the noodles he‟d just stuffed into his mouth. After another good laugh, the four continued to enjoy their meal. Taking a moment to sit back and drink his tea, Sam gazed at Chris. He really did owe Jeff so much more than he could ever pay back. Placing his cup on the table, Sam whispered in Chris‟s ear, “I love you.” “I love you too.” “It‟s not some temporary thing, you know. I do see us far into the future, like Jeff suggested.” “That‟ll give us all the more to write about in our success story.” Chris cupped Sam‟s cheek, brushing their lips together. “I only see you in my future too, Mr. Attorney.”

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About the Author

Born in Brooklyn, CAROLYN LEVINE TOPOL grew up just outside New York City. Three passions dominated her life: reading, writing, and theater. Having always dreamed of writing her own version of The Great American Novel, it took her many years to discover her most heartfelt stories took their form in the creation of M/M romances. Sharing her writing with a small circle of online friends, Carolyn received advice, encouragement, and joy from their feedback. Spending her days working as an executive assistant in a synagogue, Carolyn relishes the quiet wee hours of the morning to lose herself in writing of the loves, passions, and adventures driving her characters. With the backing of a supportive husband and two young adult children, Carolyn continues to explore the fabulous world of gay romance with the philosophy “Every person deserves their happy ending.” Visit Carolyn‟s web site at http://www.carolynlevinetopol.com and her blog at http://carolyn-l-topol.livejournal.com . You can contact her at [email protected].

Coming in 2011 from CAROLYN LEVINE TOPOL

The Playwright Book 3 in The Male Room series Nick‟s writing partner and best friend is tired of watching his buddy screw his life away to overcome the heartbreak of his first great love affair, and he also thinks that a romantic comedy playwright should actually write what he knows! Before Nick can wriggle out of it, he finds himself begged, nagged, and cajoled into a coffee date with one of the men who liked his profile at The Male Room, an online dating service for gay men. No one is more surprised than Nick that the date is a success, and he‟s interested in getting to know full-time news reporter and part-time theater critic Mark better. But better means closer, and the closer Nick gets to Mark, the more he remembers why he doesn't go for long-term relationships. Long term affairs just lead to heartbreak, right? Nick‟s imagination runs overtime, and he‟ll have to trust in his heart if he wants this love story to have a happy ending.

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Copyright

The Attorney ©Copyright Carolyn LeVine Topol, 2011 Published by Dreamspinner Press 4760 Preston Road Suite 244-149 Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Art by Paul Richmond http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the Publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ Released in the United States of America July 2011 eBook Edition eBook ISBN: 978-1-61581-924-9