Love and Other Hot Beverages

by Laurie Loft

  Sebby’s musical laugh bounced around the room. “You’re crafty like a fox trying to get your own way, but, okay, I give. Let the water out, rinse the tub, and fill it fresh. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Todd watched him go, enjoying the contrast of the white towel with Sebby’s brown skin. He pulled the stopper by its chain. Standing in the draining water amidst bobbing candles, he draped a towel over his shoulders, retrieved his glasses, and amused himself by inventorying the bath products on the shelf behind the tub. There was tea tree shampoo, mint shampoo, sugar cookie shampoo . . . he’d counted six different varieties when a brown and white bottle caught his eye. Spicy Cappuccino, the label read; it was coffee-scented shampoo, and Todd’s heart lurched like a drunken frog, knocking into his rib cage and rebounding to cut off the breath in his windpipe. He tilted the shampoo bottle; it was barely used. The natural conclusion was that Sebby had bought it in order to permeate himself with the scent of coffee, and Todd recalled how he had imagined that Sebby had bathed in coffee. No one had ever, to Todd’s knowledge, gone to such trouble to get him into bed; it was the most endearing thing, and he wanted to crush Sebby to his chest and cover him with kisses, or sweep him off his feet and carry him off into the sunset. Smiling, he replaced the bottle behind the multitudes before rinsing the bathtub as ordered and starting the water.

  Sebby reappeared with a bottle of wine and a plate of grapes. He stopped in the middle of the room and narrowed his eyes at Todd. “What?”

  “What? Ah, nothing. What, what?”

  “You’re giving me a look.”

  “This?” Todd beckoned and attempted to strike a classical pose, like a towel-clad Greek statue. “This is my come-hither look.” Standing in the tub, hot water splashing out of the tap and rising around his shins, he held out his arms to Sebby, who set his things aside and came into Todd’s arms. With Sebby on the floor and Todd in the claw-foot tub, Todd was a foot taller. Even though he was slightly taller than Sebby anyway, the extra height felt strange and good to Todd, who was accustomed to being the shorter one in his relationships.

  “You smell good enough to eat and drink.” Todd pulled Sebby tighter and caressed his neck and back, relishing the feel of the smooth skin. “Get in here already.”

  Sebby sighed and rested his cheek on Todd’s chest but remained where he was. “What happened?”

  “Ah?”

  “I was gone a minute. I come back and you’re all different.”

  “Sebastián. I, ah—” Air swirled in Todd’s mouth. “I, ah, I want you.” He moved his hand in lazy circles over Sebby’s back.

  Sebby stretched beneath Todd’s touch and uttered a different sort of sigh. “Mmm. You can have me. Oh, the water!” Sebby pulled away to shut off the faucet. He plucked the extinguished candles out of the bath.

  Todd removed his towel with a flourish and flung it aside. He reclined in the water. “Todd-in-a-tub. Everyone wants one.” He beckoned to Sebby.

  “But I’m the only one who’s got one.” Sebby stepped back and lifted the bottle and corkscrew. “It’s Pouilly-Fuissé. It’s French. I thought you’d like French.”

  He bought me French wine? Todd had never been more tempted since the day he had given it up. “My sweet, I regret to inform you that I do not drink. Sorry. I, ah, should’ve told you sooner.”

  Sebby cocked his head to one side. “You don’t drink. You mean ever?”

  “You needn’t abstain because I choose to.”

  “Well . . .” Sebby began inserting the corkscrew. “If you’re sure it won’t bother you?”

  “I’m sure.”

  The cork came out with a satisfying pop. Sebby removed his towel and hung it, before pouring a glassful of sunny gold. “Okay, then, make room.” He waved his free hand at Todd. Todd grinned and spread his legs, but Sebby shook his head. “No, no, I get the back. Scoot forward.”

  Todd’s eyebrows lifted. “You want the back? Okayyy.” He moved as ordered, and Sebby rolled his eyes.

  “That wasn’t any kind of hint, and I wasn’t talking about sex. I meant I still have to wash your hair.”

  “Of course. But aren’t you forgetting something?”

  “I am?” Sebby paused. “Oh, sorry, you need a beverage. Mineral water?”

  “Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. But I wasn’t referring to a lack of potables.”

  “Oh, do you want coffee? I should’ve known. I can make you some. It’ll take a few minutes.” He turned to go.

  “Sebby! Everything is perfect. I do not want coffee. However, I believe I was promised fizzy bath balls?”

  “Oh! Dios mío, I was forgetting.” He turned his back and opened a drawer, and Todd watched how he bounced on the balls of his feet as he rummaged, and how his gluteus muscles contracted and relaxed. “Hm, there’s lavender, basil mint—that one has little seedy things in it—ginger cranberry, tropical breeze, almond . . . What sounds good to you?” His chin touched his shoulder as his head swiveled to regard Todd.

  Todd blinked and refocused on Sebby’s face. “Ah . . . the last one.”

  “That’s my favorite.” He tossed a brownish thing like a tennis-ball-sized SweeTART into the bath.

  It bobbed, submerged, and began to effervesce. Todd viewed it with suspicion, but Sebby climbed in behind, holding aloft his glass of wine, and sank into the water, legs on either side of Todd. Todd leaned back, and Sebby put an arm around him, resting his other arm on the rim of the bathtub. Todd’s head nestled on Sebby’s shoulder. Tiny bubbles caressed his skin. He could feel Sebby’s cock against his ass, and he wiggled just a little.

  “Don’t do that.” Sebby kissed Todd’s hair. “We’re going to sit here, and you’re going to behave.”

  Todd petted Sebby’s knee. “For how long?”

  “For as long as it takes.”

  “As long as what takes?”

  “For you to feel better.”

  “I feel better.” Todd endeavored to stroke Sebby’s knee in the most erotic manner possible. Maybe he would forget that Todd had promised to tell him everything he wanted to know.

  “Good. Do you like the bath ball?”

  Todd considered. “I feel as though I’m being percolated.”

  Sebby nuzzled Todd and laughed softly in his ear. “Always with the coffee.” He stretched, and Todd, feeling Sebby move against him, suppressed a groan. “Now I’m going to feed you grapes.” Sebby presented one to Todd’s mouth.

  “You are an evil tease.”

  “It’s only teasing if you don’t follow through.”

  The grapes were fed to him in silence one by one, and each burst in his mouth with refreshing sweetness. Todd made an effort to relax, allowing Sebby to feed him and letting his thoughts wander. After a time, he decided to speak before Sebby asked. “He’s tall. Skinny. Blond. Green-eyed. Fair, Irish skin.” He waved his hand in a circle at his face. “And pierced. He has piercings.” He accepted another grape and sucked on it.

  Sebby’s chest lifted and deflated with a sigh. “That’s good.”

  “What?”

  Sebby drained his glass and moved to refill it. “That he doesn’t look like me. Some will try to be with a person who is like their ex. Maybe they don’t even know they’re doing it. And if I looked like him, I’d worry that’s the reason you want me.”

  Todd ruminated on this. “Suppose the opposite is true? What if I’ve subconsciously gone looking for someone as unlike Viv as possible? You’re small, brunette, and tan all over.” He drew Sebby’s hand to his mouth and kissed his fingers.

  Sebby pulled away. “I don’t like that thought.”

  Todd sat up and half turned, took Sebby’s hand and earnestly protested, “It isn’t true. I wasn’t looking at all. You found me. And I tried to resist you and could not. Cannot. I am defenseless in the face of your charms.” He pressed a kiss into Sebby’s palm.

  Mouth quirking in a half smile, Sebby gave Todd’s face a little push. “Hair. Turn around.”

&nb
sp; Todd obeyed, and Sebby drew Todd back to rest against him. “Close your eyes.” Sebby removed Todd’s eyeglasses. Water trickled over his head. Sebby’s fingers worked shampoo into his hair, one hand lifting his head forward to get the back, massaging his neck and scalp. Todd went limp, and Sebby let his head loll against Sebby’s chest while he kneaded his scalp, briskly and then slowing, drawing his fingers through Todd’s hair in long, gentle sweeps. Water trickled over Todd’s head once again, and it was done with such care that no bit of soap strayed into his eyes or down the side of his face. This seemed to take a long while, and then Sebby’s arm went around him, a hand smoothed his hair, and Sebby’s lips were at his ear, speaking his name. “Todd.”

  He felt breath on his skin and pressed himself back against Sebby, tilting his head and arching his neck. Todd’s flesh ached with the expectation of being kissed. Sebby lifted a foot and hooked a leg over Todd’s. He drew the foot along the inside of Todd’s thigh to his crotch, kneading and provoking a groan from Todd, who reached back to push Sebby’s face into his neck. Still, Sebby did not kiss him; he turned his face to the side. Frustrated, Todd tried to sit up, but Sebby hooked his other leg over Todd’s, pinning him. An arm looped over Todd’s elbow and held him with surprising strength. Todd struggled experimentally; Sebby’s hold tightened. Todd was helpless unless he wished to grapple in earnest. His chest heaved in ragged breaths.

  “You’re defenseless in the face of my charms,” Sebby murmured. He kissed Todd’s neck from ear to collarbone.

  “Sebby, please, Sebby, oh God . . .” The kisses were maddeningly gentle in comparison with the tight hold, and Todd knew Sebby was being careful not to leave any marks, but he wanted Sebby to leave marks, wanted to feel Sebby’s mouth sucking hard, bruising him.

  Sebby’s foot moved against Todd’s hard cock, and was he being jerked off by a foot? It was so odd that he laughed a little, a shaky, breathless sound, and Sebby made a pleased noise and let him go.

  The water sloshed in a mini tidal wave as Todd rolled over and wound his arms around Sebby, one hand in his hair so as not to knock his head against the tub. He pushed his tongue deep into Sebby’s mouth, tasting the illicit French wine. Rubbing Sebby’s back, he moved his hand down and down, and ran his fingers into the crack of his backside.

  “Todd, now . . .”

  “Condom?”

  “There.” Sebby gestured, and Todd disengaged to grab a condom and lube. He took a good, long look at Sebby, lithe and glistening, letting his desire build.

  “You’re making me hard, just looking at me.” Sebby tugged on Todd’s cock. “You can have the back now.”

  They rearranged themselves. Todd pressed first one finger inside, then two. Sebby whimpered.

  “All right?” Todd asked, anxious.

  “Sí, yes! Es bueno.”

  Todd eased Sebby backward into his lap, penetrating him carefully. Sebby moaned and pushed himself down on Todd. At first it was awkward, Todd pulling Sebby’s hips down while thrusting upward. The water sloshed and splashed around them, and as they settled into a rhythm, Todd reached around Sebby’s waist to grasp Sebby’s cock and stroke him root to head in rhythm with their thrusting. He kissed Sebby’s back, fastened his mouth on a shoulder blade, and sucked hard, the way he had wanted Sebby to kiss his neck. Sebby made noises that were becoming familiar, and Todd let go of restraint and thrust madly as Sebby shuddered and came, muscles contracting in orgasm around Todd, who thrust once more, twice more, and came in a heady rush like an ocean breaker lit by the setting sun.

  In the cool of the evening, they ate a leisurely meal on the back deck looking out on Sebby’s treed yard, and afterward went for a stroll around the neighborhood, Todd having borrowed some sweats and a T-shirt. He took Sebby’s hand in his as they walked, and Sebby appeared both pleased and surprised. Some of the neighbors were out walking their dogs or puttering in their yards, and they nodded or waved or greeted Sebby by name. The late evening was spent drinking coffee and cuddling on the sofa—Todd leaning back against Sebby, Sebby cradling Todd to his chest—and Todd somehow found himself talking of Vivian.

  He told Sebby how sweet Viv was and how quick-witted; how Todd still thought of Viv as pure and innocent even after having carnal knowledge of him; how protective he had felt; how Todd had never gotten over their age difference; how Todd had hurt him with his moods and fits of temper; how he had worked to be better, but Vivian had been unhappy and had put an end to it. And as he talked and Sebby listened and petted and made noises of sympathy, Todd felt his soul begin to lift and uncurl, like the leaves of a neglected houseplant upon receiving its share of water. He thought for the first time that his heart could heal, that he could put it behind him. That he could love again.

  “Tsk. It was your fault, how it went wrong?”

  Todd nodded, still lost in his epiphany.

  “You’re pitiful. It takes two to ruin a good relationship.”

  “Not always.”

  “And so he was perfect and did no wrong, he never hurt you or led you down the path with promises he couldn’t, wouldn’t keep. He didn’t seduce you with his youth and beauty, oh no, it was you the whole time.” Sebby huffed, and his arms tightened around Todd.

  Surprised and amused at Sebby’s indignance, Todd raised Sebby’s hand to his mouth and kissed his knuckles. “No, you were right all along. He was young, just young, and it was wrong of me to put so much pressure on him, to expect forever of him. No, I hold nothing against Viv, and you mustn’t either.” He opened Sebby’s hand and kissed his palm, and Sebby’s fingers stroked his jaw.

  “You think a lot of him,” Sebby said in a wistful tone. “My work is cut out for me.”

  “Ah, and quick and thorough work you make of your work. And now, I’ve kept my promise, and in return I ask that you tell me something of your last love.”

  Sebby laughed and pushed Todd away, dove at him, winding his arms around him and burying his face in Todd’s middle. “I had a boyfriend who liked feet.” Sebby rolled back, rested his head in Todd’s lap and lifted his leg, waggling his foot in the air. “And mine are pretty, yes?”

  “Indeed.” Todd eyed the shapely foot and noted the upside-down V tan line created by the regular wearing of flip-flops.

  “He would do the pedicure thing, but instead of a pumice stone, he’d rub my feet against his beard stubble.” Sebby giggled.

  “You are making that up, Sebastián!” Todd said, incredulous and fascinated.

  “Nooo, I swear. And he always wanted me to make love to him with my feet. I did learn a few tricks.” He cocked an eyebrow at Todd. “Most boys, I’ve found, do like it at least a little.”

  “Ahem.” Todd’s face warmed.

  “He was always with the lotions and treatments, and he made me wear special socks to keep my feet soft, and I could never go barefoot, even in my own yard, because I might step on something, and then he didn’t want me to wear sandals, because other people’d see my toes.” Sebby laughed, and Todd watched the play of the dimple. He trailed his thumb over Sebby’s smiling lips. Sebby looped an arm around Todd’s neck, pulled himself up, and kissed him, quick and hard little kisses followed by tender and lingering kisses, followed by deep and passionate kisses.

  In the late evening there was leisurely sex and then sleep, and in the morning there was hurried sex and then breakfast, and then they both left for work in their separate vehicles, Sebby leaving fifteen minutes later than Todd to be sure they didn’t arrive together.

  Reaching across the table of a secluded booth, Sebby fed Todd bits of tandoori chicken before looking at him through downcast lashes and saying, “What did you mean the other day?”

  More days than not, they had lunch together, leaving separately and meeting up somewhere they were unlikely to run into other members of the crew. Todd paused in the act of licking Sebby’s fingers. “Could you narrow that down?”

  Sebby dropped his chin. “I heard you tell Gus you’re only staying through the season and
you don’t want to apprentice.”

  Todd squeezed Sebby’s hand in both of his, messy Indian sauce be damned. “Has this been eating at you for days? You could’ve just asked me.”

  Sebby did not return the hand squeeze, but neither did he withdraw his hand. He glanced up at Todd and then away, his eyes roaming the room. “I’m asking you.”

  Todd hesitated, but it was clear that whatever he and Sebby had was more than a fling, and Todd felt that if he was going to sleep with someone on a regular basis, he owed that person the truth, insofar as he was capable.

  “You’ve noted before that I don’t belong in construction.”

  Sebby nodded.

  “You’ve surmised correctly; I don’t. But . . . it’s comfortable. I admit that I ran away, and . . . my life plan was shredded like so much old paper money, and I needed something to do while I pulled myself together. Perhaps I wanted physical labor so I would be too tired to think at night. And being out of doors is revivifying to the soul. I can’t bear the thought of being imprisoned behind office walls the day long.”

  “What did you do before? You never said, and I checked your job app, and it’s not on there.”

  Todd ground his teeth. He chewed his tongue. He bit his lip. “I listed my construction experience. I used to work construction with my father. It’s how I saved money for college. But in New York . . . I worked in fucking advertising.”

  Sebby’s eyes opened innocently wide. “So, you advertised for prostitutes?”

  “I . . . har har. No, I wrote ad copy and thought up concepts and shit.”

  There was a glowing smile. “I can see you doing that, writing and putting things together, you’d be good at that, and you’re talented with words.”

  Todd dropped Sebby’s hand, grabbed at wadded-up napkins, and swiped ferociously at his own fingers. “I can do other things, goddamn it! I am not married to my profession; I’ve many options available to me!”