Free Open Seating by Mickie B. Ashling

partners. To make matters worse, Mark had just received his degree in pharmacology and was well aware that drugs were ineffective against HIV. The only thing that worked at the time to halt the spread of the disease was safe sex. Mark’s pharmacy sold condoms by the thousands, and he wouldn’t touch Seth without one. It put a damper on spontaneity, and waiting until they were firmly committed didn’t seem unreasonable. As more and more of their friends and acquaintances fell prey to the virus, promiscuity became synonymous with death, and now, two decades later, Seth remained stuck in that mindset. Imagining Bryce at risk with his random hookups made Seth a little nauseated. Sure, there were new and improved meds—Mark had dispensed them routinely—but even if these pills were more effective in preventing death, there was no cure.
    Then there was the other issue he had to come to terms with. In the unlikely event he could overcome his scruples and actually fall into bed with someone, Seth would still be at a loss. He’d only had two partners before Mark, and neither had been adventurous. Seth wasn’t sure if he brought out the conservative in his men or if it was just bad luck, but no one he’d been with seemed eager to experiment, so in many ways, he was no better than a virgin.
    In the beginning of their relationship, he and Mark couldn’t keep their hands off each other, but things had tapered off after they’d been together several years. They’d fallen into a predictable pattern, like a lot of long-term couples, and every once in a while, Seth wondered if there was something he was missing.
    Now he was thrust into sharing his life for the next three weeks with a man who was actively engaged in finding a hookup in every port. Should he ignore Bryce’s shenanigans and avoid the unpleasantness to follow if he mentioned anything about his carousing? The safe bet would be to keep his opinions to himself. Seth had already made his feelings quite clear when Bryce had banged the stranger in the airport, and there was no sense alienating the man after he’d been so helpful during Seth’s embarrassing toilet malfunction.
    He closed his laptop and unplugged it, giving up his attempt for today. He’d chalk this failure up to jet lag and a little soul-searching. It was half past seven, which would give him plenty of time to shower and shave while Bryce stuffed his face with the English breakfast that gave Seth goose bumps just thinking about it. He passed the dining room on his way to the elevators and, on impulse, showed his key card and complained about yesterday’s meal. The maître d’ assured Seth his illness had nothing to do with their menu. Nonetheless, he declined their generous offer to whip up a brand-new batch of scrambled eggs, opting for the safer granola bar instead.
    As soon as Seth walked into their room, he was confronted by the sight of Bryce talking on his iPhone. He had his back turned toward the door, and it was obvious he’d stepped out of the shower in a rush to take the call. His dark hair was plastered to his head, gleaming like an oil slick. Drops of water dotted his shoulders and trickled down his back, landing on the towel he’d casually wrapped low on his waist. Seth couldn’t stop staring at the exposed butt crack and the way the towel hugged the round ass. He remembered what it felt like soaping Bryce when he was down on his knees in the shower stall, and he would have given his left nut to do it again. Only this time, he’d take it a step further and ask Bryce to turn around. He’d caught a brief glimpse of the man’s cock just before their shower the other day, but it had been fleeting, and his brain was so muddled from the agonizing shame of what had transpired, he only remembered two things: Bryce was large, proportional in every way, and he was cut. Now Seth wanted details. Did he shave his balls? Were there any piercings or tattoos Seth had missed? Did his erection curve up