Dane tried to tolerate the raindrops that fell on him. He couldn't bear to pull himself away from his simple objective. He needed to press forward, despite the storm that lasted since morning. The city of San Jose found it to be a welcome reprieve after a very dry month. Dane was relieved to see the raindrops. He just wished it would make an appearance some other time. He would reach his destination in a few more minutes. He could've made it earlier had his car didn't break down at the worst possible moment. Leaving it on the curb became the safest option, anyway. Regardless, the nineteen-year-old civilian fought through the rain without an umbrella, or even a hoodie.
The streetlights illuminated the path for him. All he needed to do now was stay on the sidewalk. He could still feel the two USB flash drives kept safe in his coat pocket. He kept them in a zipper bag so they wouldn't be drenched by the water that descended from the sky. He wouldn't want to ruin them. They belonged to someone special. A significant customer from his workplace. Someone he grew to admire in the long run.
After taking a left turn on the street, he finally found the home he sought for. Irwin lived in a wealthy neighborhood. One of the more affluent communities in the city. Dane had already been informed that the older man was rich, a byproduct of his ambition and success. He could only adore Irwin for his unstoppable determination in life.
The storm still didn't end. The raindrops drenched his clothes. He was soaked from top to bottom. His jacket could no longer protect him. But it didn't matter to him. He found the right location, and it gave him instant relief. He made it to the front gate. He noticed an intercom on the concrete fence. He pressed the green button and waited for Irwin's response.
Ten seconds later, his deep voice emerged from the mild static.
"Hello?"
Dane raised his voice due to the thunder that echoed across the neighborhood. "Hello, Irwin? It's Dane. I found your flash drives. Can I come in?"
Irwin didn't hesitate. "Of course. I'll open the gate for you."
He turned off the intercom right as the front gate opened. Dane entered the premises.
At first, he couldn't see anything else on the paved road. The rain and the darkness obscured his view. But as he moved further ahead, a distant figure slowly appeared. It turned out to be Irwin's two-story house. Dane felt astonished by the sheer size of such a well-built residence. The shape and size were similar to the houses in Malibu and Newport Beach. It became apparent that Irwin built up his reputation in the best of ways. Dane wished that he himself would choose the same path. But he was still young, and he didn't have the same amount of money as Irwin did. The younger man would have to go a long way to be Irwin's equal.
He made it to the front door. The balcony from above prevented the rain from dropping onto his body. He was now free from the storm. Unfortunately, the water on his skin, hair, and clothes didn't do much to cheer him up. He felt cold. His body started to shiver. He could only hope that Irwin had the best heaters in the neighborhood.
He rang the doorbell and waited. The rain behind him still didn't cease. He pulled the zipper bag out of his pocket. He checked to make certain that the flash drives were still intact and free from water. Luckily, the bag didn't have any holes. Irwin would retrieve his flash drives soon enough.
The front door opened. Bright lights from within spilled all across the concrete floor. Dane took a deep breath. Irwin now stood at the open entrance. The young man couldn't help himself. Irwin was indeed a tall and handsome man. At the age of thirty-eight, he took loving care of his original form. He grew his bright blond hair all the way down to his chest. In terms of physique, the contrast between him and Dane would have been everlasting. Dane was short and skinny, with shaggy brown hair. He would be classified as a "pretty boy" because of his overall scrawny figure. Some might believe that he wouldn't even stand a chance if he started a fight with a bully. He eventually accepted it as fact a long time ago.
Irwin smiled. "Hello, Dane."
On this night, he wore a pair of black denim jeans and a black V-neck shirt. Dane, although enticed by the other man's towering stature, tried not to stumble over his words.
He showed him the zipper bag. "Here. Both of them are safe. They're not broken. Trust me."
Irwin grabbed the bag and examined the flash drives inside it. "You did great. Thanks very much."
Dane nodded. "No problem."
He still shivered. The low temperature in San Jose could beat him into submission if he didn't fight through it. He tried to stop shaking, but he needed a little bit of heat to revive his current spirits.
Irwin noticed this right away. "Are you going to be okay?"
Dane hugged himself. "I got to be honest. My car broke down about a mile away. I had to walk for the rest of the trip."
"Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that."
Irwin's kindness took effect. "Come on in. The fireplace is already set."
Dane smiled. "Thanks."
The older man led him into his domain. Dane admired his trust toward him. It would be only thing he yearned for during a miserable night. He wiped the rain from his memory as Irwin closed and locked the front door.
He looked down at the marble floor. The droplets of water made him say, "I'm really sorry."
Irwin waved it off. "Let's forget about that. Let's just get you comfortable. You deserve to be warm."
His soothing deep voice became a hypnotic echo to Dane, who could listen to him all day.
Irwin helped take the visitor's jacket off. Dane's shirt and pants were still completely drenched. Irwin set the zipper bag and Dane's jacket aside on a table. He led his young guest into the living room. Dane took his shoes off before he could follow the blond-haired resident.
For a moment, Dane couldn't help but feel rather mesmerized by the older man's home once more. The lavish style that extended across the interior made him admire the ambition that brought him here in the first place.
Irwin brought him to the fireplace. The flames became a blessing. The guest got down on one knee and embraced the warmth.
He slowly sighed. "Now that's better."
Irwin stood beside him. "It sure is nice, isn't it?"
Dane turned his head to find Irwin standing just a few feet in front of him. For a split second, he almost didn't notice it. But then, it became more visible in his line of vision. Irwin's black jeans concealed something. Something that bulged between his legs.
Dane turned away for a moment. Irwin didn't move.
He remarked, "You're lucky. I wouldn't be the type of person that would leave you out in the rain."
Dane chuckled. "Yeah...the world needs more guys like you."
Irwin looked down at him. His charismatic smile seemed sweet and devoid of devious meanings. He still didn't move away from the young guest. Even if he tried to concentrate on the fireplace, Dane couldn't help but keep Irwin's bulge in the corner of his eye.
After suffering through the storm, Dane craved a special moment that would eliminate the chances of ending this night on a sour note. He started to form a basic scenario in his head. It consisted of Irwin giving him the ultimate experience in this house. Dane could no longer divert his attention away from the bulge. There would be nothing that would stop him from strengthening his own imagination. His inner appetite had progressed to a more intimate connection. But he started to question whether or not Irwin would even be interested in someone like him. Dane, a skinny man who sold lattes for a living, wondered if the opportunity still persisted.
Irwin finally stepped away from the fireplace and took a seat on his armchair. He left the young guest on the floor as the latter now got down on both knees. Dane's focus on the fire didn't wane. He just waited for the coldness to subside.
Irwin sat still. "So how are you going to get home?"
