All Man by Jay Northcote

 
     
     
    CHAPTER ONE
     
    “Hi.” Jules grinned down at the bloke lying on his back under the basins, taking a moment to admire the very respectable looking bulge in his jeans. “Gareth isn’t it? Fancy another cup of tea?”
    Jules knew full well the man’s name was Gareth. It had been imprinted in his memory since Gareth, in all his bear-like glory, had stepped through the front door of the hairdressing salon that morning. He’d introduced himself, and Julian had been smitten on sight.
    “Oh, yeah. That’d be great, thanks, Julian.”
    “You can call me Jules.” Jules tried not to flutter his eyelashes, but he thought they probably did it without his permission. Big, butch blokes like Gareth always brought out the femme in him—it was how he reacted when he was nervous and excited. The more masculine they were, the more camp he got, even when he tried to tone it down.
    Gareth didn’t seem to mind, though.
    “Okay, Jules.” He gave Jules another one of his surprisingly sweet smiles before getting back to whatever he was doing with the pipes under the new sink he was installing.
    Jules hummed happily to himself as he pottered around the cramped little kitchen in the back of the salon, waiting for the kettle to boil. He lined up four mugs and put in instant coffee for Shelley and Tyler and tea bags for Gareth and himself. He added a sweetener for Shelley—who was on a diet again—one sugar to his mug, and two for Gareth, remembering that was how Gareth took his tea.
    Jules had carefully stored away every little detail about Gareth so they’d be there to mull over later. He grinned as a surge of excitement made his heart lift. It was always fun having a crush. Gareth was probably straight so it was bound to be unrequited, but a bit of eye candy made the day so much brighter.
    He took Shelley and Tyler their drinks first and then went back for his and Gareth’s so he had the excuse to linger for a moment after delivering it.
    “I’ll put it up here on the shelf,” he told Gareth. “Don’t let it get cold.”
    Gareth was still on his back under the sinks, rattling around with a spanner or a wrench or something. Jules had no idea. His expertise was more with a different type of tool.
    Gareth’s T-shirt had ridden up where his body was twisted, but his face was out of sight, so Jules took the opportunity to blatantly admire his hairy stomach. He was solid, not gym ripped lean, but not chubby either. He was all muscle and man. Jules tilted his head and sighed appreciatively. He really was the perfect bear.
    “Jules, stop daydreaming and come and sweep up for me, you slacker.” Tyler’s voice was light and teasing.
    Jules glared at him, ignoring the flush that swept up his neck to his cheeks. “Yeah, yeah.”
    Tyler grinned. He clearly knew exactly what Jules was daydreaming about. But the lucky bastard had Duncan—his own personal bear—at home, so he could sod off. Jules had to take his kicks where he could get them, and if that meant ogling Gareth, then so be it. He’d definitely be starring in Jules’s wank fantasies tonight.
    Jules took one last peek at Gareth’s package and wondered what his cock looked like. Shame he’d never get a chance to find out.
     
     
    Later that afternoon, Jules was sweeping tufts of hair off the floor from Shelley’s last client. Tyler was finishing up a cut and blow dry, and then they’d be done for the day. When he’d finished sweeping, Jules straightened up and yawned.
    “You tired, love?” Shelley asked.
    “Yeah, I stayed up last night watching Netflix again. Such a wild life I lead.”
    “Are you going out tonight?”
    “No, I want an early night. I’m going out tomorrow though.” Jules perked up at the thought. He loved his Saturday nights out clubbing. He and his flatmate, Sacha, were going to check out a new gay club that had opened recently and he was looking forward to some dancing and flirting, and maybe a hook up.
    Just then, Gareth came over