Tim jolted awake Tuesday morning, the clock glaring 6:45 a.m., his cramped apartment still dark. He fumbled for his phone, silencing the alarm, heart already racing. Another day of proving himself at the firm—Jeff Parker’s firm—and yesterday’s client visit still buzzed in his head. Jeff, 38, rugged, hairy, the lead architect who’d plucked him from the junior pool and slapped a golden ticket on his chest. Tim rolled out of bed, skinny frame shivering in boxers, and yanked on a tie and slacks, hands shaky as he knotted it crooked. He had to be sharp today—Jeff was watching.
The subway ride downtown was a blur, Tim clutching his tablet, rerunning last night’s nightmare: the high-rise specs were off, east-side supports crumbling in his dreams. He’d caught it at midnight—old contractor data—and emailed Jeff, praying it’d hold. The firm loomed as he stumbled in at eight, tie already loose, and beelined for the drafting table. Sarah and Priya were there, but Tim’s eyes scanned for Jeff—hairy forearms, beard, that steady voice he’d kill to impress.
Karen waved him off at reception. "Jeff’s on his way—Hargrove’s pissed. You sure about those numbers?" Tim nodded, sweat beading, and spread the blueprints, tablet glowing with his fix. The office hummed—phones, chatter—but all he heard was his pulse, until Jeff strode in, navy suit crisp, badge glinting. Tim’s stomach flipped—Jeff was here, and he looked like a goddamn king.
"Jeff!" Tim’s voice cracked, too loud, as he tapped the blueprint. "Contractor used old data—east side’s off. I reran it—steel holds if we shift here." His hands shook, but the numbers were solid—he’d triple-checked. Jeff leaned in, hairy arm brushing the table, so close Tim caught the faint musk of coffee and cologne. "Smart catch, Tim. Saved our ass—walk me through it." That voice—firm, warm—hit Tim like a shot, and he flushed, stammering through the fix, eyes darting to Jeff’s hairy forearm, then away. God, he was a mess.
Jeff’s nod, the thick finger tracing near his hand—it sent a jolt through Tim, red creeping up his neck. "Clutch move. Sarah, Priya—run it. Tim, you’re with me." The words landed like a prize, and Tim trailed him to the office, tablet clutched like a shield. The door shut, and Jeff leaned against the desk, hairy arms crossed, beard framing a smirk. "That fix? Top-tier. You’re the best junior here—proved it today. I’m taking you under my wing, personally. Mentorship, one-on-one. You’re going far, Tim."
Tim’s jaw dropped, heart slamming. "Seriously? Jeff, I—thanks, man. I won’t let you down." His voice trembled, gratitude crashing into something hotter—Jeff, hairy, single dad, picking him. Jeff stepped closer, voice low, hairy hand on the desk inches from his. "Stick with me, you’ll run this place someday." Tim’s breath hitched, eyes locking on that rugged skin, the sleeve riding up, and he felt it—admiration tipping into a crush he couldn’t shake.
Post-lunch, the office settled, the high-rise snag fixed. Tim sat across Jeff’s desk, tablet propped, drafting north-column updates under Jeff’s eye. The mentorship buzzed—Jeff the guide, Tim the disciple—and it was everything. "Pull up the load specs," Jeff said, leaning over, hairy arm brushing Tim’s, breath warm near his ear. "Good—tweak the steel gauge here. You’ve got the eye." Tim froze, red blooming, hands fumbling the stylus as Jeff’s presence loomed—bearded, commanding, too close.
"Uh, yeah—like this?" Tim adjusted, voice cracking, eyes flicking to Jeff’s beard, then back. Jeff’s murmur—"Spot on"—sent a shiver down his spine, those hairy fingers lingering on the blueprint, so near Tim’s own. He couldn’t breathe right, the heat pooling low, and Jeff pulled back slow, casual, leaving Tim dizzy.
Later, Jeff handed him a file, thick fingers grazing Tim’s knuckles. "Client notes—flag the priorities. Need you on this." The touch lingered, and Tim dropped the file, muttering, "Got it, Jeff," tugging his tie loose like it’d choke him. Jeff grinned, hairy arms crossing to flex subtly, and Tim’s eyes darted there, then away—fuck, he was obvious, and Jeff knew.