Shades of Henry (The Flophouse Book 1)

by Amy Lane

  The change of position forced him out of Lance’s ass, and Lance felt the trickle of wetness down the back of his thighs, shivering with the decadence of it.

  And then Henry pulled back and pushed him facedown into the couch again, and licked a trail down his spine. His mouth right above Lance’s crease was a promise, and his tongue, lapping at his rim was….

  Oh God.

  It was everything. It made a lie that sex was ever dirty, that making love needed to be clean. Lance all but sobbed into the couch and allowed an aftershock to wash over him, wiping the memory of any other lover from his bones.

  He was practically helpless in the aftermath, and Henry pulled at him gently until he found himself on the mattress, on his side.

  “No washcloth,” he murmured. “No underwear. Your body, sweaty and good under the sheets.”

  “Too late,” Henry said a moment later. Lance felt the washcloth along his groin, and then Henry’s bulk over his body as Henry wiped at his crease. “Spunk ripping out my body hair—not my favorite.”

  “I just want you all over.”

  “Wow,” Henry said, touching his face with fingers damp from cleaning. “You sound out of it.”

  “Subspace,” Lance said. “Doesn’t happen a lot. So floaty.”

  “Mmm….” Henry burrowed his face against Lance’s neck, and Lance welcomed him. “Think we’ll sleep well?”

  Lance managed a soft bark of laughter. “Yeah. Best dream I ever had.”

  And it was.

  Baby Steps and Baby Models

  “GOOD MORNING, young Henry. Good to see you in fine form today. I notice you dressed well.”

  “Morning, Galen.” Henry wore one of three collared shirts he had. He did that when he drove for Galen, probably because he’d seen too many movies. “Where are we going today?” John had left the car parked in front of the house since he’d run an errand before taking his bicycle to work. Henry wasn’t sure if he was trying to keep to one car or stay healthy, but either way, Henry was the chauffeur today.

  “Hm… downtown. The courthouse, the headquarters for the Bar Association, and the mall.”

  “The, uh, mall?”

  “I personally use a tailor, but we need you to have something… anything to wear.”

  Henry rolled his eyes, even as he was offering his arm to help Galen down the porch stairs. “I’m naked now?”

  “No, but you aren’t particularly presentable.”

  Henry grimaced. “Uhm, Galen, you know this thing I’m doing is… uh, temporary.” And now, remembering the past two weeks during which Galen and John had literally thrown the full force of John’s business into his defense, he felt bad about that. He’d thanked them, but there was no way to thank someone enough for saving your ass.

  Galen laughed and patted Henry’s shoulder. “Oh, I know you’d like to think so, and you have been very honest about apprising us of your class schedule and your hopes for a PI’s license, and I think both goals are admirable. In fact, I am more than proud of you—if you could find a way to hide the razor burn on your neck, you’d be all that is a respectable picture of ambition.”

  Henry tripped and barely avoided falling to his knees. He recovered, but then he had to wait for Galen to stop chortling before he could help the guy into his car.

  “Oh my God,” Galen chuckled as Henry turned the ignition. “Your face! It was priceless. For God’s sake, did you think we didn’t know?”

  “Goddamned Martin Sampson,” Henry muttered, making his way under that lying Sacramento shade. Galen was fully dressed in a linen suit, but the heat was oppressive already.

  “Oh no, Henry. We knew you were gay long before Martin Sampson. Your brother told John a long time ago. He was worried about you even then, because he knew what a horrible secret that was to keep. I didn’t mean to mortify you—I promise. I’m just quite happy to see you this morning. And even happier to see you happy. Is that terrible?”

  “No,” Henry said, humbled. “That’s kind. Thank you.”

  “May I ask who was the young man with the scruffy chin?”

  Henry laughed, mostly because Lance was usually so clean-cut. “Lance. Roommate. You know, the flophouse—”

  “Oh!” Galen sounded truly surprised. “Well, don’t you have good taste. I take it you two will want to be moving out soon?”

  Henry grunted. “Are you trying to marry us off?”

  “Are you trying to throw a good thing away when it apparently likes you enough to rub itself all over your neck?”

  And he couldn’t help it. The goofiest smile crept out as he remembered Lance doing exactly that. “No,” he mumbled. “But I’m living on my brother’s charity right now and can’t afford to share rent.”

  “Oh,” Galen said softly. “Well, I think I have a solution for you, but I do need to make these stops first. You were hoping to work for Mr. Rivers and Mr. Cramer, were you not?”

  “When they can afford me.”

  Galen’s chuckle was quite subversive. “Well, we shall see that they afford you at the soonest possibility. Do you have any idea where you want to live?”

  “Same complex, if possible,” Henry said. He remembered coming up the stairs and finding Randy, on one of the most agonizing days of his young life. “Right next door if we can get it. I mean, I know some of the guys might move out, but I get the feeling anyone who ends up in that place is going to need a little bit of… I don’t know… adult supervision. You get what I’m saying?”

  “I do.” Henry glanced in the mirror and saw that Galen was working on his tablet—but that didn’t stop him from talking. “In fact, I think that’s a great idea. You do know John took out the lease on that apartment like five years ago, don’t you? So he didn’t have his boys on the streets. He hasn’t had to pay rent once—he won’t say so, but he’s pretty proud of that.”

  “Oh wow.” And Henry’s opinion of John, an addict in recovery and pornographer, rose exponentially. “That was when….” Henry didn’t like to talk about this.

  “That was when he was still using, yes. He was a drug abuser, but he tried not to be a scumbag. I think, if nothing else, you might have learned a little tolerance in the past couple of weeks.”

  And Henry must have learned something, because he finally recognized that tone in Galen’s voice.

  It was defense against hurt.

  “I just think it was really great,” Henry said, his voice thick. “I think those kids there, they were lucky to have John and my brother, trying to do right by them. I mean, Davy—he was the family’s promise, right? Going away to school, getting his degree. We all thought porn was such a step down. But it’s not that simple. You should hear the kids in that apartment talk about Davy and John. There’s this… this reverence, you know? It’s like they need to believe in someone. I get that now.”

  “Well,” Galen said, sounding stunned. “I guess you have grown. And I think—if your stiff-necked pride won’t get in the way—that I can get you and your young doctor a place not only in the same complex, but in the same building. And be patient. I have the feeling the perfect solution to the rest of the matter is coming your way.”

  Henry let out a sigh. “Always so cryptic. Do you enjoy that?”

  He imagined Galen’s lean, pretty face with a wicked tilt to his lips. “Oh my God, I really do. Just like I’m going to enjoy dressing you like a Ken doll and paying your salary for it. I’ve always wanted to be a sugar daddy.”

  “I am unimpressed with your attempt at lechery,” Henry said, doing his best Galen impersonation. “If I have learned nothing else in the past few months, it’s that you and John and my brother and his husband are really good people.”

  “That is disappointing,” Galen murmured. “However shall we spend our time if we’re not antagonizing each other?”

  Henry smirked. “Nice suit, Galen. Do I need to bring you a mimosa when you’re seated at your chaise?”

  Galen made a sound that was almost a purr. “Oh my boy, only
men in bow ties and Andrew Christian underwear can bring me my mimosas. We’ll have to find something else for you to do.”

  Yeah. Henry suspected he and Galen would find a way to deal. He just didn’t think it would be on the day of Ellery and Jackson’s party.

  “WOW,” LANCE said, his feet dangling in the water. “That’s a lot of people.”

  The house itself was pretty full. Ellery had done the job of a good host, introducing everybody to everybody, and Henry had gotten to say hello to Jade as he’d made sure Galen got seated. He’d driven at John’s request, and Henry had gotten the feeling John and Galen were up to something. There had been a lot of murmuring as Lance had remarked on the beauty of the homes by American River.

  Once they’d arrived, John had kissed his boyfriend on the cheek, told him to play nice, and then had come outside with Lance and Henry.

  Ellery’s sizable pool wasn’t full—but it was busy. Jade’s twin brother had brought his wife and kids out there, and Davy and Kane had brought Frances. The older kids, River, Diamond, and an adopted son named Anthony, had made themselves Frances’s personal playmates, and the competition to see who delighted the little girl more was fierce and awesome. Bobby, Reg, and John were taking advantage of the deep end, tossing a ball back and forth and talking idly, while Davy and Kane sat on steps in the shallow end, watching Frances like twin buff hawks.

  “I remember when Kane was paying for Frances’s cancer treatment,” Lance said softly. “His sister wouldn’t even let him in the house, and he was doing three scenes a month. Look at them—they’re going to be miserable when she hits dating age.”

  “They’ll be wonderful,” Henry said with a faint smile. “They’ll respect her decisions and tell her the truth as they know it and be kind when her heart’s broken. It’s really all she can ask for.”

  “Wow.” Lance leaned on him a little. “My heart’s all full now. Let’s adopt tomorrow!”

  Henry snorted. “Maybe we can wait until I can afford rent on half an apartment—”

  “You’re being stubborn.” Lance sniffed. “I’m a doctor. Like a doctor. I know residents don’t make much, but I’ve been saving for almost three years. I could furnish an apartment and pay rent and even buy a new car and have enough savings for a rainy day.”

  Henry rolled his eyes. “And I’d be what? Your kept man? Jesus, Lance, don’t you want to respect me?”

  “I do respect you!” Lance protested. “I’d just really like a chance to respect you more, in private!”

  Kane turned toward the two of them and smirked. “He being stubborn?” he asked Lance.

  “He’s afraid of not being able to make rent.” Lance’s frustration was obvious, as was Kane’s horror.

  “Dexter, have I ever paid rent?” he asked.

  “Not once,” Davy replied dryly. “It wasn’t a requirement. I had a place to stay—you needed one.”

  Kane stared at Henry in exasperation. “You’re making things difficult on purpose,” he announced. “Get over yourself.” And then he turned back to Frances, who could now swim from kid to kid to kid all by herself.

  “See?” Lance said pointedly.

  “No,” Henry muttered. He couldn’t stop staring at the back of Carlos’s head. Davy turned to him after a moment and gave a half smile.

  “A real partnership means money is the least of your worries,” he said.

  Henry rolled his eyes. “You’re smitten. I get it. He’s cute, he came with a kid and a snake and some turtles. But I’m not going to agree that it’s okay that I don’t have a real job.”

  All three of them—Davy, Lance, Kane—groaned and covered their eyes with their hands. And that’s where they were when Jackson emerged from the door to the patio. He looked better today than he had the last time they’d been there, but Henry could spot the telltale red crescents in his pale cheeks. He’d taken his medication like a good boy, but that surgery in a week was no less necessary than it had been when he’d collapsed in the middle of stopping a murderer. Nobody was talking about that now, though. He was being social and charming, and because he was Jackson, apparently, that was enough.

  He visited his sister-in-law first and said hi to the kids, who seemed to adore him.

  “Jump into the pool, Uncle Jackson!” the oldest, the girl named River, begged.

  “Sweetheart, Ellery actually bought me an outfit to wear to this shindig.” He held his hands to the lapels of his ocean-green dress shirt and gave a showy tug. Henry noticed his shorts—slick bajas in dark brown—were also not threadbare or tattered. Ellery had apparently gotten his way with this, as he did with so many other things, but probably because Jackson had trouble giving with the big stuff.

  “Aw, man!” The two boys were disappointed as well, but Jackson told them to enjoy the pool and they could have hot dogs and cake when they got out.

  “Cake?” Rhonda—his brother’s wife—asked. She arched a shaped eyebrow at him, and he seemed to melt. Rhonda was gorgeous, model-quality stunning, with skin a rich earthy bronze and an elegant oval face, but it was more than that. Jackson’s family, however they had come to be, seemed to be the one thing that could ground him.

  “Ellery had a bakery just sort of go to town,” Jackson admitted. “I mean, my idea of a barbecue and his are very different.”

  Rhonda’s laugh was deep and layered. She knew this man, and she was as worried as the rest of the world. “You let him plan all this? Good boy. Make sure you eat some of that cake.”

  Jackson winked at her and then walked over to where Reg, Bobby, and John were treading water.

  “Did Ellery and Galen talk to you?” John asked, flicking Henry an inscrutable glance before turning back to Jackson.

  Jackson rolled his eyes. “Yes and yes. Are you kidding me? Seriously, you waited until now because you knew he’d be less stiff-necked about it, didn’t you.”

  John gave him a toothy grin and neatly bopped the ball as it came his way from Reg, who hadn’t picked up yet that he was talking. “You give us too much credit,” John said. “We just wanted Henry to feel like he had a reason to stay in the area.”

  Henry frowned. “I wasn’t planning on leaving!”

  Jackson looked at him from across the pool and then moved closer. “That’s the point, Junior. Staying.”

  Henry blinked at him. “I’ve got nothing.”

  Jackson laughed, the sound breathy but true. “Galen has just asked to be Ellery’s first partner. Which means they are both paying rent in that office, which means we have some money freed up.” He grimaced. “Ellery’s mother has come up with some sort of scholarship scam for AJ—” He looked over his shoulder, because Henry had been sure he’d seen the quiet, almost timid gopher and friend hanging in a corner of Ellery’s living room with his boyfriend. “It’s a chance for him to go back to school, study electronics and surveillance and basically that end of the business.”

  “Something that’ll keep him out of danger,” Henry said baldly.

  Jackson shrugged. “Some of us are more comfortable with it than others. How about you, kid? You want to join the firm? Be their information gatherer while I’m laid up? Help when I get back on my feet? You’ll have flexible hours when school starts, and of course, you’ll be Galen’s driver because hey, he’s part of the firm, but….” Jackson’s eyes twinkled, reminding Henry of Jackson’s perpetually horny friend who had offered him a job cleaning houses. “It beats working for Hurricane Joey—”

  “And his nine-inch dick,” Henry filled in wickedly.

  “Right?” They shared a memory, Henry realized. A good one, of an exciting day. Jackson had almost died that day, but Henry had been cleared of murder.

  And they had both lived to tell the tale.

  “So, I can tell people I’m…?” Because he didn’t have a license, not yet.

  “A PI in training,” Jackson said, winking. “Are you?”

  Henry grinned. “Yep.”

  “Good,” Kane said without even turning from w
atching Frances. “I’ll be by next week to help you move.”

  “No need,” Lance said. “I’m buying all new furniture and having it delivered. Are you kidding? Do you know how excited I’ll be to not sleep on something that’s been in that apartment?”

  Kane actually turned and nodded at the both of them. “That is probably the better choice,” he said sagely. “You guys come by afterwards. We’ll make you dinner.”

  Jackson extended his hand and Henry took it. “See you Monday morning,” he said. “Galen already confirmed. You and me—we’re gonna have to work together without killing each other.”

  “That’ll be a challenge,” Henry said. “I can’t wait.”

  Tiny Demons

  LANCE WAS never sure how John did it. Did he know the person who owned the complex? Did he have blackmail material on someone? Lance knew some of the guys rented out for spare change—had sexual favors been exchanged? Lance had no clue.

  But whatever his evil powers, he really did get Lance and Henry an apartment to lease in the same building. Downstairs and to the right, apartment 126B.

  Two bedrooms, one bath, new carpet, and it smelled like new paint and not old jizz.

  The guys in the flophouse were ecstatic.

  All four of them.

  When Lance and Henry had told everybody they were moving, Zeppelin and Fisher had their own news.

  “Yeah, dude,” Zeppelin said, like this would surprise everybody, “I think we have to move too. And quit porn.”

  “Only if you want to,” Fisher said, his voice clearly indicating that he wanted to.

  “Dude, the only reason you started was for me. I can’t even believe you did that. Most romantic fucking thing I’ve ever heard.” Zep turned a besotted glance to his boyfriend—and his one and only, now that they had declared themselves apparently—and Fisher seemed to melt.