by Sam Lollar
“What are they teaching in school these days?” he asked rhetorically. “East of Eden is a great work written by John Steinbeck. In it is a character named Aaron, only he spells it with one ‘a.’ I was just wondering if your name was with one ‘a’ or two.”
“Oh, it’s with two,” I said.
“You don’t talk much do you, Aaron with two ‘a’s? Are you nervous? Could this be your first time in a cruise bar?”
“Yes to both questions. Scott is just a friend and is a close friend of Regina’s, the drag queen who entertained tonight, the one who used her own voice when she sang.”
“Yes, Aaron, I know who Regina is. After all, I hired her. I own this place. You can relax, no one’s going to bite you—unless you want them to,” he said, chuckling at my confusion. “That’s a joke, Aaron. Relax.”
As he told me to relax, he put his hands on my shoulders and ran his hands down my arms, squeezing them; then he unbuttoned my shirt all the way to the waist and ran his hands over my chest in what even I realized was an attempt to feel my body. My heart was pounding so fast, I thought it was going to jump out of my chest.
“You have a wonderful body, Aaron,” he said, continuing to feel me, his voice getting lower and throaty. I was getting more and more dry-mouthed myself. “Your heart is beating a mile a minute, Aaron,” he said with his hand inside my shirt. “Calm down, I won’t hurt you.”
What was happening to me? Was I liking this? I didn’t feel like this with the prostitute. I was surprised to realize that I had a hard-on. Rick didn’t miss it, however. He dropped his hands to my crotch and felt my penis through the denim. Man, that felt good. I began trying to focus on what Rose had done in the whorehouse. Did this feel better than that? I couldn’t decide, but I knew I didn’t want it to stop.
*
“Dad, maybe we can dispense with the play-by-play here,” Junior said.
“Oh, come on, Dad,” Number Three chimed in. “It’s not like you’ve not told me all the gory details of your conquests when you were my age. Go on, Granddad, tell us all about it. This is really interesting. It’s kind of like how I felt the first time I had a girl.”
“Great! Now I’m going to hear how both my father and my son have sex. I can’t deal with this.”
“Dad, I’m surprised at you. I really do want to hear about Granddad’s experiences. I have a bunch of gay friends, but none of them has really told me about their feelings or sensations like this. Please, Granddad, tell us more.”
“Okay, guys. I’ll try to tone it down for you, Junior, but I see no harm in letting Number Three know what gay guys feel. After all, it’s really no different from what you straight guys feel. Weren’t you nervous and dry-mouthed the first time you were with someone, Junior?”
“Yes, Dad, of course I was. I just am not all that sure that I want to share that intimacy with you guys.”
“Well, for God’s sake, Junior. If you can’t share with your own father and your adult son, maybe you’re—oh, never mind.”
“Come on, guys. Don’t argue. I really am interested in these tales from your youth, Granddad. Please continue.”
“Okay, Dad. I give up. Continue your tale.”
*
Anyway, as he continued to feel inside my shirt, Rick whispered, “Man, you feel great.” He leaned in closer to me, forcing his leg between my legs, widening my crotch for his groping hand. “You feel so fine.” He nuzzled my neck, his big mustache tickling my ear. He noticed I jerked my head. “Are you ticklish?” he asked.
“Yeah, yeah I am.” All sorts of warning bells were going off in my head.
“Where else are you ticklish, Aaron? Along your sides?” he asked as he ran his hands down both sides of my body, still inside my shirt, trying to tickle me. I laughed as I twisted away from his ministrations.
“Don’t do that,” I said to him, in none too convincing a manner. “I guess I am ticklish there.”
“I’d love to find out where else you’re ticklish, Aaron,” he said with his mouth back to my ear, his mustache still brushing against me. He nuzzled my neck again and kissed my throat. He proceeded down my chest through my unbuttoned shirt, pulling the material away from my body and licking my nipples. I was really turned on and afraid I was going to climax right there in the bar. I managed to control myself, and to my amazement, he kissed me right on the mouth. His tongue entered my mouth before I was even aware he was kissing me. I had never kissed anyone this way before. It was glorious. My brain was on overload by then, and I was quickly succumbing to total sexual abandon. We continued kissing deeply for a bit. I had lost all track of time when Scott tapped me on the shoulder.
*
“Wow, Granddad. That sounds hot,” Number Three interjected. “Sure sounds like you realized you were gay right at that moment.”
“Yeah, I still kept trying to deny things, but with little success.”
*
“Hey, Aaron, if you can tear yourself away from Rick’s lips for a moment, it’s getting late and I’m going back to the motel.”
I looked at Rick. “Yeah, Scott. I’m ready, let’s go.” I had also realized I must indeed be homosexual. How else to explain this total turn-on with Rick, so much more than anything I felt with Petrolina, or Rose, or whatever the hell her name was?
Rick looked somewhat pleased when Scott said, “No, Aaron, that’s not what I said. I said that I’m going home. You can stay here with Rick. He can take you back whenever you want.” He leaned over to my ear so Rick couldn’t hear. “Rick’s a great guy. He’s a really sensitive lover, so if you want to sleep with him, why not?”
I was aghast. Even though I knew intellectually the kissing and caressing were preludes to a sexual connection, I was still thunderstruck to think that I was about to do this.
“No, Scott,” I said aloud, so Rick could hear. “I really want to go home. Please, let’s leave right now.” I knew if Rick kissed me again, I would spend the night with him, and I wasn’t ready for that.
Rick let go of me and looked me in the eyes. “Okay, I’ll let you go if you promise to see me again.”
“Uh, well, okay,” I said, realizing that I wanted nothing more. “Sure, yeah, okay.”
“Great. When?”
I was so stunned at the turn of events that I just couldn’t respond in any way. I just stared at him, then at Scott and back again to Rick.
Scott finally broke the awkward silence. “Rick, Aaron will see you Sunday afternoon. We’ll get together for a barbecue at your place. Can we still use your pool?”
“Great idea, Scott. I’ll invite a few people and introduce you and Aaron around—and yes, the pool’s available, as is the hot tub. Let’s say about two thirty Sunday?”
“Sounds good to me. Aaron?”
“Um, uh, well…”
“I think that means that it’s okay with him, too, Rick. We’ll be there. Can we bring anything?”
“Just your beautiful selves is all. See you then,” he said as he walked away. He came back quickly and gave me one more deep kiss before disappearing into the crowd. I was so overwhelmed that I just stood there, rocking back and forth on my feet, not sure if I was standing up or sitting down. Was I still in the bar or back at the motel? My shirt was hanging open and untucked from my pants.
“From the looks of it, I’d say you’re ready to try sex with a man, Aaron. I didn’t see you acting like this in the whorehouse. Man, I thought you were going to come in your pants.”
I didn’t tell Scott, but that’s just what I had been afraid of myself.
We left the club and got into the Jaguar. It was parked next to a beautiful GTO convertible. “That’s Rick’s car, by the way,” Scott said as I tried to regain my thoughts. I glanced over to it and realized how really fine it was. Admiring the car gave me something else to think about, and I was able to collect my thoughts. I still felt Rick’s tongue in my mouth, the commanding way he felt my body.
“Scott, who is he?” I finally managed to ask al
most in a whisper, my voice unsteady.
“That’s Rick. He owns this bar as well as a number of apartment complexes in town. He’s a pretty smart guy.”
“Apparently so.”
“He’s also gorgeous, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, he sure is.” I had to agree.
“Aaron, I know this might sound crazy and premature, but don’t go falling in love with him, okay? This’ll be your first time, and you’ll feel all kinds of things you never knew about. He’ll probably want to move on after seeing you for a few weeks. Don’t think this is a marriage proposal.”
“Of course not. I don’t even know him. And to tell you the truth, I don’t know what I feel right now.”
“That’s okay, kid. You’re just turned on, turned on by a really hot man who trips all your triggers. We’ve all gone through that, though I must admit it hasn’t happened to me nearly often enough.”
Back in my room, I was really glad that the next day was Saturday. I could sleep in. I had a lot of mental processing to do. I relived every moment of the evening, playing the experience with Rick over and over in my mind. I remembered the way he touched me and kissed me, and how playful he was. I never knew a man could be tender and playful with another man. I guess that was one reason I had never had sex with one before. I assumed that when two men got together, either all they did was screw each other’s asses, which frankly didn’t sound all that appealing to me, or tried on each other’s dresses and wigs.
I realized that was why I was so determined to stay out of Scott’s clutches. I didn’t want to feel his cock forcing its way inside me. I compared the experience with Rick with the one I had with Rose. She and I had never kissed, and I had begun to realize how wonderful kissing was. She and I hadn’t had a playful encounter. It was a business deal, after all. She didn’t stir my passions the way they had been stirred by Rick. I could still feel Rick’s tongue, his mustache, his hands—then I remembered I had never touched him. I’d been so stunned as it was all happening that I think my hands had been dangling uselessly at my sides. What did he feel like? How did he feel? Was he hard bodied? or soft? Did he keep himself in shape? I remembered his tight ass as he walked away from Scott and me as we were leaving. But I never got a feel of it. I realized that I wanted to feel his butt, real bad.
Chapter Sixteen
The Black Aston Martin
I was off work that Saturday. I went for a stroll around the motel property after I had finished my homework when I ran into Miss LuLu.
“Hi, dahling. How are you?”
“Hi, Miss LuLu. I’m doing just great. Isn’t it a glorious morning?”
“Well, yes, it is, Aaron. Why are you in such a grand mood?”
“Something wonderful happened last night.”
“Your encounter with Rick? Was it really wonderful?”
“You know about it?” I was shocked.
“Of course, dahling. Scott told Dollie, and she told me. I must say the details of the encounter were a bit steamy for my delicate health.” She laughed at this last statement. “Actually, dear, I don’t think there’s anything anyone could do in the romance department that would surprise me. It sounds like you both conducted yourselves like perfect gentlemen. Rick must be really special to have aroused your passions so.”
“Well, yeah, I suppose he is,” I said, trying to end the conversation and hide my embarrassment.
“Oh, dear. I’m afraid I’ve embarrassed you yet again, haven’t I, doll?”
“To be honest, yes you have. Can we just change the subject?”
“I can do that. But I think you’re going to have a harder time convincing the others to keep quiet. Everyone knows and everyone wants the details. Even Bob’s mousy little wife wants to know what all happened. So better steel yourself for the questions that are bound to come your way.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
“Not at all. In fact, if you want to avoid talking about it at all, you best stay away from the lobby for a while.”
“Scott didn’t tell you I’m going to see Rick tomorrow, did he?”
“What? No, I thought this was a one-time thing. You’re really going to see him? Where? How? When? Tell me everything.”
“Miss LuLu, you promised to change the subject,” I reminded her.
“Oh, yeah. I did, didn’t I? But why did you bring it up? I’m sure you really want to share this with me. I’m just dying to know what’s going on.”
“In truth, nothing is going on. Scott and I have been invited to Rick’s for a barbecue tomorrow afternoon at his place. Actually, Scott did the inviting. Rick’s just acting as host, if that makes sense.”
“Mmm. I think we should go for a drive.”
“I’m not going to tell you any more than you already know,” I said.
“That’s okay, doll. I think I’d enjoy your company this afternoon even if you’re not going to talk to me about the one thing I’m interested in.”
We went back to her apartment, where she had her Mustang parked. I had suggested we take her car so no one would notice me at the motel before we were gone. I noticed a dent on the right front bumper. “What happened here?” I asked.
“Oh, that? Well I thought I had the right of way, but apparently the police seem to think that I turned in front of another car. I argued with the policeman at length, but he insisted on writing me a ticket. It’s going to cost a hundred dollars to get this thing fixed. Plus the fine I’m going to have to pay. I’m just so mad at myself.”
Off we went, driving past the lobby area quickly so no one would try to stop us and pump me for more information. “By the way, Miss LuLu, I haven’t seen your dog Pookie in weeks. Is he all right?”
“Oh, that,” she said. “You know, I really don’t like animals, but when I was coming out here, one of my friends gave me Pookie to keep me company. I tried to enjoy him, but I just didn’t like to bother with her, so I gave him away to one of the housekeeping staff.”
“Wait a minute, you’ve used ‘him’ and ‘her’ both. What was it, a boy or a girl?”
“To tell you the truth, Aaron, I never really knew. That shows you how little I cared for the animal. All I know is that he, or she, or it, would poop all over my suite and stink up the place. One morning when I was barefooted coming out of the bathroom, I stepped right in a pile of it. That’s when I decided he had to go.”
I laughed along with her at the absurd picture she had painted of herself, so suave and glamorous, stepping into a pile of dog shit. We continued our drive when I asked her where she wanted to go.
“Oh, I don’t know. How about shopping in that quaint little plaza in New Mexico? The La Mesa or some such?”
“You mean Old Mesilla.”
“Yes, that’s the one. It looked so cute when we stopped at that nice restaurant last June. Wow, that seems so long ago, now. Here it is already the end of September. I am not looking forward to my rental agreement ending in a couple of months, I’ll tell you. I really like it at the motel and hate to think of leaving all the wonderful people I’ve met here. Not least of which is you, dear boy.”
“Thanks, Miss LuLu. It wouldn’t seem the same without you, either.” I managed to steer her to her favorite topic—next to my sex life, of course—and that was herself.
She regaled me with tales of her wild Hollywood days in the years immediately before and after the war, how she made one grade B movie after another. As many as four in one year, she told me. I asked about the gala parties I had always heard about.
“When I was married to…,” she said, but I didn’t recognize the man’s name, “we always had extravagant get-togethers at our place in Beverly Hills. We were just up the road from Jimmy Stewart and Lucille Ball. I didn’t know Lucille that well, but Jimmy was always coming to our parties whenever he was in town. We’d sit around the heated pool, many of the younger stars and soon-to-be stars swimming. We would have the things catered, of course, but I always said I had cooked the food myself. I
don’t think I fooled anyone, but it soon became the catchphrase of our group. ‘Let’s go over and eat at LuLu’s. She always cooks such good food.’”
We chitchatted a bit more when I mentioned her secret identity.
“I know I’m silly trying to keep my identity secret. But what really frightens me is having my name appear in the paper and having my latest ex-boyfriend find out where I am. Even though he was my age, he really was just a boy. If you really want to know the truth, I’m kind of hiding out here, staying away from him. I don’t want him to find me. We had a none-too-pleasant relationship, and our breakup was rather vocal. I want to avoid him for a while, let him calm down a bit before I have any contact with him. It was my therapist who suggested I escape somewhere where he’d never think to look for me, so I could heal a bit in peace.”
We drove in silence for a while, then she turned and asked me, “So, what kind of a party is it tomorrow?”
Before I could stop myself, I told her about it. Barbeque, pool, hot tub, several men.
“Wow. That sounds like a party I’d love to go to. You don’t suppose that I’d be welcome, do you?” she asked, sounding not at all serious.
Thinking fast, I began to realize that she could be my way of getting out of Rick’s clutches. Although I was really turned on by him, I was horrified to think I was homosexual, and I might actually have sex with a man. The enormity of it began to overwhelm me. “Yes, Miss LuLu. Do come. Let’s ask Scott if he would mind or if he thinks Rick would mind. Please come.”
“I was just joking. How come you sound so eager for me to come along with you, Aaron? Why is that?”
“I’m scared of how Rick makes me feel, scared of what might happen, what I might do and regret afterward. With you there, I could avoid Rick to some extent. He wouldn’t make a pass at me with you present.”
“I don’t believe that at all. In a group of like-minded souls, gay men will behave as though a woman were not present. But if it would allay your fears, then of course I’ll come if Scott thinks it’s okay. After all, I wasn’t invited.”