Jewels for Vishnu (Siren Publishing Allure ManLove)

by Roland Graeme

  “Corey, I flatter myself that I am a patient man. I don’t demand immediate gratification. I’m willing to wait—and to be content, in the meantime, with a sexual attraction, as you put it. A strong sexual attraction, if I may say so without offense.”

  “God, you’re hot.”

  “Thank you. So are you. I’m willing to turn down my heat until such time as we are both ready to let it flare up. Until such time as neither of us is afraid to get burned.”

  “Kaustav, we’d better change the subject. I’m getting a hard-on, listening to you talk like that. I’m afraid I might knock over the table if I’m not careful.”

  “We will change the subject, then. What shall we talk about? Sports? Politics? The weather?” Kaustav smiled at Corey in that special way he had, and Corey realized that the other man was teasing him. He didn’t mind. He liked it.

  “No, let’s talk about your trip. I don’t know much about your business. Tell me what you’re hoping to accomplish, on this trip.”

  Kaustav did so in that easy, self-deprecating way he had, although most of what he said was lost on Corey, who was still thinking about what Kaustav had said before they’d agreed to change the subject.

  “More wine?” Corey asked automatically when Kaustav paused.

  “Please.”

  Corey poured more wine for them both, and they touched glasses. “Cheers.”

  “Cheers.”

  “And here’s to a successful trip and a safe return.”

  “Thank you, Corey. Tell me, what can I bring back for you, from abroad?”

  “Nothing.”

  “There must be something you’d like.”

  “Absolutely nothing, except for you to have a good time on your trip and for you to be safe and come back to me.”

  “You’re sweet.”

  “I’ll be able to work on the jewelry for the statue while you’re gone. I should be able to finish it, in fact.”

  “I’ll be eager to see how it turns out.” Kaustav seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. “When I get back, it will almost be time for the festival of Diwali. Are you familiar with that?”

  “No.”

  “It’s also called the ‘Festival of Lights.’ In Tamil Nadu, we also use an alternative name, Deepavali, which is a combination of two words that mean ‘light’ and ‘abundance.’ Whatever one calls it, Diwali is sort of the Hindu equivalent of your Christmas. I always have a large dinner party in my house, in celebration of the holiday. It’s nothing too formal. The emphasis is on having a good time. This year, if the jewelry for the statue is ready in time, I can use the occasion to put Lord Vishnu on display, to show my friends your handiwork. And to introduce you to them. Will you come?”

  “I’d love to.”

  “You can be the guest of honor.”

  “Um, that may be going too far.”

  “Why? False modesty doesn’t become you.”

  “I’d be embarrassed. I’d rather be just another one of your guests.”

  “Nonsense. I am proud of you. I want to show you off. Well, we can discuss such details later. The important thing is that you must come to my party. It wouldn’t be a truly festive occasion—for me—without you. And of course Renesh will be delighted to have you to entertain, as well.”

  “You’ve talked me into it. I knew you would. I don’t have much willpower when I’m around you.”

  They left the restaurant, and while they were waiting for the parking valet, Kaustav turned to Corey. He looked hesitant, which was uncharacteristic of him.

  “It’s a humid night,” he said inconsequentially.

  “Yes, isn’t it?”

  “The air is damp.”

  “It’s sticky, yes.”

  “I was wondering, Corey, may I kiss you good night?”

  “I was wondering whether we’d ever get around to that. Yes, you may.”

  They kissed, not bothering to break the kiss until after the valet drove up in Kaustav’s BMW. The valet was sophisticated enough, discreet enough, and protective enough of his tip to maintain a poker face as the two men made out in front of him.

  “Good night,” Corey told Kaustav. “Thank you for dinner. And please have a safe trip.”

  “I will. Good night.”

  Kaustav drove off. When the valet brought the Triumph, he did risk a comment.

  “This is a nice car, sir.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I hope you and the other gentleman had an enjoyable evening.”

  “It was great,” Corey replied with unguarded fervor.

  He gave the valet an especially generous tip and drove off. He felt a tingling in his lips and checked himself in the rearview mirror. No, that tingling wasn’t a remnant of steak sauce on his lips. It was the after burn of Kaustav’s farewell kiss.

  Chapter Eleven:

  Plans for the Weekend

  Throughout the following week, Corey devoted most of his leisure time to the jewelry for Vishnu. He made good progress. He spent hours at his workbench at home, deliberately tiring himself out so that when he did knock off for the night he had no trouble falling asleep the moment he went to bed.

  Finally, one evening, after assessing the work he’d done so far, he called the main number at Kaustav’s house.

  “This is Mr. Thevar’s residence,” Renesh declared, formally and indeed rather primly.

  Corey had to smile. “Hey, Renesh. How’re you doing?”

  “Corey! Good evening. I am doing fine.”

  “Are you there all alone in that big house?”

  “At nighttime, yes.”

  “When is your boss due back home?”

  “Late Saturday night. I’m under strict orders to tell anyone who asks that he will not be back until Monday morning. He wants to have Sunday to relax after his trip and catch up with his mail, that sort of thing.”

  “So you’ve ignored your employer’s instructions by telling me.”

  “Mr. Thevar wouldn’t mind. You are not just anyone to him. You are different. He’ll no doubt call you as soon as he arrives on Saturday night, if it’s not too late. Or first thing Sunday morning.”

  “Do you think he’d mind if I were to come along with you to the airport to pick him up?”

  “I’m sure he would be delighted.”

  “He might be jet-lagged and not in the mood for company.”

  “Mr. Thevar is an experienced traveler. I’ve never known him to suffer from jet lag.”

  “I’d like to surprise him. In more ways than one. The jewelry for the statue is finished.”

  “So soon?”

  “Almost finished, I should’ve said. The crown needs a little more work. The other pieces are done. I’ve worked pretty hard on them, if I do say myself. I’m happy with the results. I only hope Kaustav likes the set, too.”

  “I’m sure he will. He will be eager to see it. I am, too.”

  “When can I bring the jewelry over? I’d like to have it there for him to take a look at when he gets home.”

  “I have an idea, Corey. We will give Mr. Thevar a big surprise. Bring the jewelry over on Saturday evening, if you want. And bring with you anything you need for overnight. You know that Mr. Thevar wanted you to feel free to make use of the one of the guest rooms. I will make dinner for us. You can set up the statue with the jewelry displayed on it. Then we will drive to the airport together. Mr. Thevar will be surprised to see you there. Then, at the house, he will be surprised to find the statue adorned with the jewelry you have made. And finally,” Renesh added, sounding sly and smug, “he will be even more surprised—and pleased—to find out that you will be our overnight guest.”

  “You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?”

  “I think it is a good plan.”

  “It is. All right, let’s do it. The only question is, well, I’m a little embarrassed to bring this up.”

  “To bring up what?”

  “The possible sleeping arrangements.”

  “Mr. Thevar wil
l probably want you to share his bed. If not, then you and I can spend some time together. In my bed,” Renesh specified.

  “Well, I’m glad we don’t have to dance around the subject, Renesh. And you’d be okay with that? With me shacking up with Kaustav, I mean?”

  “Shacking up? What does that mean?”

  “Ah, cohabitating. Having sex together.”

  “I see. Shacking up. What an extraordinary expression. I might be somewhat envious, I admit it. But Mr. Thevar is my employer, and he has the prior claim on you.”

  “The claim on me? What a way to put it.”

  “I’m sorry. I did not mean to offend you.”

  “Oh, I’m not offended at all. It’s just that I’m surprised you’re neither genuinely envious, nor jealous. Both reactions would be perfectly understandable, under the circumstances.”

  “You know how I feel about you, Corey. I like you very much. I am yours, any time you might want me. But I am fond of Mr. Thevar, too. And grateful to him for everything he has done for me. I want him to be happy.”

  “Well, you’re an extraordinarily unselfish guy, Renesh.”

  “Thank you. I try to be.”

  “Let’s concentrate, for now, on making Kaustav happy on Saturday night. The rest, I suppose, will work itself out later, one way or another.”

  “I think that is a sensible attitude for us to take. Now, tell me. What would you like to have for dinner on Saturday?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Anything. Don’t go to any trouble.”

  “But I would like to make you a nice dinner. It would please me. I am a good cook.”

  “I remember Kaustav telling me, once, that you are. And that dinner you came up with the night I came over to show Kaustav the maquettes was delicious. All right. You surprise me. Make something you think you’re especially good at. One of your authentic Tamil Nadu dishes, maybe.”

  “You will see, Corey. You will eat very well.”

  “Looking forward to it.”

  After they’d finalized their plans and hung up, Corey felt excited at the prospect of seeing Kaustav again. But not for the first time, he also felt somewhat conflicted.

  He liked Renesh, who was a sweet kid. For that matter, he was excited at the prospect of seeing Renesh again and of spending some time with him, one-on-one. They could get to know each other a little more. It wasn’t inconceivable that they might be able to squeeze some quick sex play into the schedule of the evening’s activities.

  But Kaustav was the man with whom Corey was—what, exactly?

  Am I in love with him? I think so. I haven’t felt this way about any man in a long, long time. Maybe since the very first time I got into a long-term relationship all those years ago. When I was about Renesh’s age, now that I think of it, which is kind of ironic. God, I was young and naïve back then, wasn’t I? I thought it was going to last forever. And we never did actually break up, not in any kind of a dramatic, hurtful way. We just sort of outgrew each other, and we both moved on to other guys. Is that what I want now, with Kaustav? Just a fling? Or is there any possibility of something more serious, something longer-lasting, developing between the two of us?

  I hope so. I can’t help myself. I really like this man. I really want to—to just be with him.

  But then, to complicate matters, there’s Renesh. Well, not that Renesh is actually all that much of a complication. He’s very easy-going. I think he has a crush on me and a crush on Kaustav. I can remember feeling the same way about older guys—yeah, guys who are the same age Kaustav and I are, now!—when I was Renesh’s age. It’s normal. It’s harmless as long as the younger guy doesn’t expect too much from the relationship, and the older guys are decent and try to make sure he doesn’t get hurt.

  And then there’s Joey. Fuck! I sure as hell like him, too. I think he likes me, too—oh, maybe not in a “I want you to be my lover” way, but I hope in a little more than a “I really get off on having sex with you” way. I must be getting greedy in my old age. A guy like Joey ought to be more than enough to make me happy.

  Damn it! My life is turning into some sort of a gay soap opera!

  It was almost Corey’s quitting time the following afternoon at Rosenthal’s when he got a cell-phone call from Joey.

  “Hi, Joey. It seems like a long while since we talked.”

  “Hey, Corey. You don’t mind me calling you at work, do you?”

  “Not at all. What’s up?”

  “I’ve got some big news I wanted to share with you.”

  “Do tell.”

  “I don’t want to tell you over the phone. How’d you like to meet me on your way home for a drink?”

  “Sure. Where?”

  Joey named a popular gay bar. They agreed to rendezvous there.

  In the cool, dark interior of the bar, Joey was already seated in a booth, with a beer in front of him.

  Since this was, after all, a gay bar, Corey didn’t hesitate to greet Joey with a kiss.

  “Hello!” Corey said. “Aren’t you just what I need after a long day at work.”

  “Am I?”

  “Of course you are.” Corey noticed, for the first time, that Joey seemed a bit fidgety, which was unusual for him. “How’d your day go?”

  “It was interesting.”

  “Does that have anything to do with this news you’ve got for me?”

  “Yeah, as a matter of fact. But let’s get you your drink, first.” Joey got the attention of the cute, boyish waiter, who flirted shamelessly with both occupants of the booth as he took Corey’s order, then brought him his drink.

  “So tell me,” Corey said, when they were no longer the objects of the waiter’s attention.

  “The gym’s opening a new branch in San Francisco. Actually, it’s an established gym, which they’ve bought and are taking over. So about all they’re going to have to do is change the name.”

  “Well, I imagine it might be a little more complicated than that.”

  “Maybe. Anyway, my boss called me into his office the other day, and he asked me whether I’d want to transfer there.”

  “To Frisco? You mean—move there?”

  “Yeah. They need a couple of experienced trainers for the new place, so it’d mean a promotion. More money.” Joey hesitated. “So I thought it over, and today I told him, yes. That I’ll take it.”

  “I see. Congratulations.”

  “After all, Corey, there’s nothing much keeping me here in LA. Other than you.”

  “It’s nice of you to say so.”

  “I’ll miss you, man.”

  “And I’ll miss you. Frisco is a nice city. You’ll like it there. When do you have to leave?”

  “Right away. Next week.”

  “So soon?” Corey was dismayed. He’d been afraid Joey was going to say, In a month or two, which would have been bad enough.

  “They want me there as soon as possible.”

  “But where the hell are you going to live?”

  “I’ve got a buddy there who’ll let me crash on his couch until I find my own place.”

  “A buddy. I see.”

  “He and I are just old friends, Corey. We don’t have sex with each other.”

  “It’d be none of my business if you did.”

  Joey gave him a searching look. “You’re pissed again, aren’t you? The same way you were when I told you I wasn’t ready to move in with you.”

  “It’s a good thing we didn’t rush into that, isn’t it? Cut me a little slack, Joey. This is all a bit of a shock. I really am going to miss you. It seems like only yesterday that you and I first met.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Well, San Francisco isn’t exactly the far side of the moon. Once you get settled, maybe I’ll come up there for a visit.”

  “That’d be great.”

  “And any time you come back to LA for a visit, you can stay at my place, if you want to.”

  “I’d like that. Hey, do you want another drink?”

  �
�No, I think I’ll take it easy for now. Why don’t we go to my place? I can make us some dinner.”

  “I’ve love to, Corey, but honestly, I can’t. Not tonight. This was all so unexpected. I have so much I’ve got to do between now and next week.”

  “I understand.”

  “I’m not blowing you off.”

  “I didn’t say you were.”

  “Yeah, but you’ve got that disappointed look on your face again.”

  “Sorry. Can’t help it. After all, I am disappointed. We’re not going to have much time left to get together before you leave.”

  “But I do want to see you before I leave. Once I get some of this packing and all the other crap out of the way, I’ll set a whole evening aside just to be with you. I promise.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that. I know. I’ll take you out to dinner. A farewell dinner. Have you ever been to Vercusi’s?”

  “No. I’ve heard it’s really great. Movie stars go there.”

  “I’ll take you there. My treat, of course.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Let me know a couple of days ahead of time, so I can make a reservation.”

  Joey was obviously excited at the prospect of dining among the stars. As they parted outside the bar, Corey felt an odd sort of tenderness and protectiveness toward the younger man.

  It took a while for the reality of his imminent separation from Joey to sink in. Alone at home, Corey began to feel increasingly depressed.

  He sat down at his work bench and tried to work. Vishnu’s crown had been cast in the silver and now needed to have its jewels set into it. But as he tried to insert the first few gemstones into their settings, with the help of a magnifying glass and a strong light, Corey found it impossible to concentrate on the task. His vision seemed slightly blurred—whether from fatigue or incipient tears he couldn’t tell. Nor did he particularly want to know.

  The jewels were undeniably beautiful, with their ability to create the illusion that they could absorb any light that happened to fall upon them, store the light within their depths, and then release it again, in a miraculously intensified form. But theirs was a cold, abstract beauty. It could not be embraced, as could a fellow human being. Corey found himself holding the largest of the yellow diamonds, the one that would form the centerpiece of Vishnu’s crown, between his thumb and forefinger. He rotated it idly back and forth as though it were a worthless pebble he had picked up, while his thoughts wandered and his mood turned increasingly bleak.