by GA Hauser
“Where were you all day? Did you take a tour?”
“No. I just walked around Juneau a little.”
“On your own?”
“No. Some other people were there. Jenny, Paul…”
“I had a massage from a guy masseuse. I can’t believe how horny it made me.” She tugged open his slacks.
“No way, Amelia. I’m really tired.”
“Aw, come on, Julian. We haven’t had sex since we’ve been on the boat.” She nuzzled into his neck.
“No, please.” He closed his pants.
“What’s with you?”
“I told you. I slept like shit last night. You came in at one, woke me up, and I couldn’t get back to sleep again.”
“Then why did you wake up so early? I slept in ‘til eleven. You could have just slept in longer.”
“I want to keep the running routine up.”
“Well, screw you. Don’t blame me then.”
“I’m not blaming anyone. I just wanted a nap before dinner.”
She crossed her arms and lay flat on her own side of the bed. “I’m not tired.”
“Then go have fun and I’ll meet you for the meal.”
“You sure?”
“Of course.”
“I was thinking about the casino. Once we’re at sea they open it up.”
“Okay. You have enough money to play with?”
“I’ll just use your credit card.”
He flinched slightly. “Uh, no more than a hundred, okay?”
“Fuddy duddy.” She kissed his cheek. “See ya later.”
“See ya.” The door closed. He rolled to his back and wondered how he was going to keep making excuses not to have sex. Sooner or later she was going to suspect something. Rubbing his face tiredly, he felt his stiff sandpaper jaw. Sitting up, he motivated himself enough to get out of bed and shave.
~
After stepping out of the shower, Brodie stood at the sink and used a towel to wipe off the steam from the mirror. Checking his jaw, seeing the growth of new beard, he smeared cream on his face and shaved it off. Once he had splashed water to rinse the rest of the foam, he applied moisturizer on his skin. It still had a slight redness to it from Julian’s dark shadow, but it only made him smile at the thought. “Windburn, my ass.”
Brushing his wet hair, dabbing on some cologne, Brodie read the slip of paper that had come through the door for the evening’s dress code. Formal. “Crap.” Taking out his black suit, dreading a tie, Brodie decided to forgo formality, and put on a mock turtleneck instead of his white, starched dress shirt and neck tie. In his opinion the suit jacket looked perfect on top of the dark, soft shirt. Stepping into his slacks, Brodie felt excited at the prospect of seeing Julian decked out in his suit. Zipped, his belt fastened, his leather shoes on his feet, Brodie checked out his reflection in the mirror over the dresser. Touching his sideburns, smoothing a hand back through his thick, brown hair, Brodie stood back, twisting around and trying to check out his ass. “Nice, Mr. Richards? Tempting you? I hope now that you’ve been in it, you find it irresistible. I know I feel that way about yours.” Pocketing the room key, Brodie wondered if the time Julian spent with Amelia reinforced his heterosexual side, and turned him against the idea of becoming a full time queer. “I have no idea what I would be doing in your shoes, Julian. But it must be mind-bending.”
~
Still groggy from his nap, Julian rinsed his face of shaving cream. Stepping into the room he noticed the daily announcement sheet had been shoved under his door. “Formal. Fuck.” Setting the paper on the dresser, he sighed tiredly and took his suit out of the closet. “I better not hear another word about a tuxedo. Not one word.” As he changed into his suit, he checked his watch, wondering if Amelia would figure out on her own that it was another formal night and she had to dress accordingly. She had a selection of gowns that would shame a prom queen. Obviously Amelia knew what to expect on this cruise. He hadn’t a clue they had nights that demanded that type of attire. If it were up to him, he’d never change out of his jeans or gym shorts.
Knotting his tie in the mirror, noticing that slight redness still present on his face, Julian couldn’t help but smile. “Windburn, ha. Yeah, right. Beard burn, baby. Beard burn.”
Just as those thoughts rushed to his cock, the door swung open. Amelia smiled smugly. “Won a hundred bucks!” She waved the cash.
“Cool. Break even?”
“Uh, no.” She set the money down sheepishly.
“No? How much did you lose?” She mumbled a number under her breath. Julian didn’t hear it, wondering if he was meant to. “Amelia?”
“Three.”
“Three? Three hundred? You lost three hundred?”
“Well, here’s one back.” She handed it to him.
He shook his head at her in disapproval, sticking the cash into his wallet. Avoiding the scream he felt welling up in his chest at how easily she abused his bankroll, he grumbled, “It’s formal tonight.”
“I know! You needed a tuxedo!”
Throwing up his hands in frustration, he snarled, “I’m getting a drink. See you up there.”
“See ya!” she sneered back. As he shut the door he heard her mutter, “Asshole.”
The urge to push the door back and shout, Asshole? You mean the asshole who paid for this cruise and who just lost two hundred from your little gambling session? Instead, he shut the door and walked down the hall.
Knowing he was early and they didn’t open the dining room doors until six, Julian headed to the nearest bar. On the same level as the dining room there were two lounges. Julian didn’t care which, he just chose the closest. Walking across a wooden floor to the bar, he stopped short at the sight of a tall, dark, handsome man, all in black. His jacket covered a mock turtleneck shirt that showed off two powerful pecs underneath its soft material. His legs were long and the thighs of the slacks fit snugly over them. Julian had to tear himself away from the sight of Brodie’s ass before his engines revved up so high he was stripping the hunk down and sucking his cock deeply into his throat.
As Julian approached from behind, unseen, he noticed two women chatting flirtatiously with him. Poor Brodie seemed slightly pinched at having to behave like a charmer. Something Julian knew must come very naturally to the delectable creature when in the right company.
Moving behind the object of his sexual appetite, Julian slid up to the bar almost, but not quite, rubbing up against the oblivious, Mr. Duncan.
“I loved Juneau. I thought it was very quaint.” One of the large women sipped her colorful cocktail.
“It’s so funny they have a Starbucks!” the smaller of the two giggled.
Brodie’s deep tone sent the hairs standing on Julian’s arms.
“I know. They’re everywhere. I suppose you’d even find one in Moscow.”
“Yes, a glass of red wine please.” As Julian made his request, Brodie spun around quickly at the sound of his voice.
“Hello,” Brodie purred.
“Mr. Duncan.” Julian smiled, tongue in cheek.
“Alone?” Brodie looked around.
“For now.” Julian signed his receipt, thanking the bartender, slipping the paperwork into his pocket.
Brodie stepped aside, introducing Julian. “These are two of my table-mates, Glenda and Marlene.”
“Yes. Hello.” Julian shook their hands.
Glenda leaned closer to Julian, saying, “You have the same windburn as Brodie. You should be careful. It’s as bad as sunburn.”
Julian hid his smile behind his glass of wine. “Yes. I should be more careful.”
Brodie leaned against Julian’s side, “Maybe some soft, slick cream would help?”
“Do you have some?” Julian asked innocently.
“Yes. I can let you borrow some. Maybe later? Come to my room?”
“That’s very kind of you, Brodie.” Julian pressed against Brodie harder, connected their shoulders and arms.
Marlene fanned he
rself and giggled. “I don’t know if it’s the margarita or just the sight of the two best looking men on the ship standing and talking to us!”
Brodie made an exaggerated gesture to look Julian over. “You think he’s good looking?”
Marlene blushed, nodding.
“Huh.” Brodie scratched his chin. “I suppose, in a pretty-boy sort of way.”
“Don’t start,” Julian warned.
“Believe me, I haven’t. Uh,” Brodie put on his thinking face again, “there was something I wanted to show you in the gallery. A great snapshot of you and your girlfriend.”
“Oh?” Julian smiled sweetly. “Are they up now?”
Glenda replied, “Yes. The ones from when we boarded. They’re up.”
Julian nodded. “Can you show me where they are, Brodie?”
“I’d be happy to. See you in a few minutes, ladies.”
“Bye.” They waved excitedly, turning to whisper into each other’s ears excitedly.
Brodie hooked Julian’s elbow, “You saved my life.”
“Come on, they’re sweet and harmless.”
“True.” Brodie sucked down his scotch, leaving the glass on a vacant table. “Which men’s room?”
“The least crowded.”
“I found one, a floor down. I had a good look around last night.”
“Did you?” Julian finished his wine and set it on a table as he was ushered out of the lounge.
“Yes, you wouldn’t believe the hidden nooks and crannies on this ship.” Brodie nudged Julian to hurry.
They jogged down the stairs to a long narrow corridor. “There,” Brodie whispered, “at the end.”
Julian could sense the isolation of the spot. “Hey, not bad.”
“Shut up and get in.” Brodie opened the door.
Julian found it vacant. “We should still use a stall, just in case.”
Brodie pushed open the last door. They jammed into it. The moment they did, Julian wrapped around Brodie’s neck and connected to his lips. “I shaved,” he panted between kisses.
“Me too.” Brodie opened Julian’s slacks, kissing him.
“Windburn,” Julian chuckled.
“I’m going to give you palm burn in a second.”
“Oh yes.” Julian thrust his hips forward as Brodie reached inside his briefs.
“Christ, you have the most amazing cock,” Brodie moaned.
“Compared to?”
“Shut up.” Brodie kissed him again, trying not to laugh.
“Suck it.”
Without another word, Brodie crouched down, wrapping his lips around Julian’s dick. Bracing himself on the walls of the stall, Julian closed his eyes in reflex, having to force himself to open them to stare down at that fabulous man doing the sucking. “Oh, you are unbelievable, Brodie.”
Brodie hummed in reply, sending a vibration along Julian’s cock that sent his toes curling. Brodie paused, wetting his finger. Knowing what that meant, Julian prepared for the rocket launch. As that hand wormed its way between his legs, under his nuts, and inside his ass, Julian’s cock throbbed in delight and yearned for that hot orifice once more. Poking Brodie with the head of his dick, Julian moaned pathetically.
Laughing, Brodie said, “Hang on. I’m here.”
Julian realized Brody had taken his own cock out of his slacks. Just the sight of it dangling exposed sent chills washing over Julian’s body. In the most incredible example of multi-tasking Julian had ever witnessed, Brodie had one finger up Julian’s ass, sliding in and out, his other hand on his own cock, jerking off, and his mouth on Julian’s penis, sucking it. Julian felt like a puppet to this man’s mastery of the art. “I’m there.”
Brodie quickened his hand in both places, shoving up into Julian’s ass and fisting his own dick.
Arching, throwing back his head, Julian came as Brodie grunted with his mouth full. Slowly that index finger slid out, but Brodie kept his mouth on Julian’s cock, sucking it dry.
Julian opened his eyes, blinking, looking down. A spatter of Brodie’s come was on the tiled floor. “Christ, you’re getting good at this.”
After kissing the head of Julian’s cock tenderly, Brodie stood upright, panting to catch his breath. “Did I get come on my pants?”
Julian leaned down to look, took a big lick of Brodie’s cock to taste the oozing drop still lingering on the tip, shaking his head. “Nope. You’re perfect.”
Before they could close their pants, Brodie grabbed Julian’s face and kissed him, licking at the mixture of wine, scotch, and come.
Then to Julian’s astonishment, Brodie whispered, “I love you,” in between his insatiable kisses.
The shock of those words rattled around Julian’s head. Did he hear straight? Did he just hear what he thought he heard? Or was it wishful thinking? Or was it what was on the tip of his own tongue?
Wrapping around Brodie as tightly as he could, Julian connected their bodies together. Going mad for him, running kisses all over his face, his hair, his neck, Julian felt like he was burning up in flames.
Brodie slowed them down, holding Julian’s hands in his. When their eyes met, it sent a shiver down Julian’s length. “How can it be?”
“I don’t know.” Brodie shook his head.
“Are we insane?”
“Yes!”
“Brodie, you are so amazing.”
Smoothing his hand over Julian’s exposed cock, Brodie whispered, “You too.”
“You don’t think this is some trick of the cruise, you know, some holiday feeling?”
Brodie’s face soured.
“No. I don’t mean it that way,” Julian explained quickly, grabbing Brodie’s jaw. “I’m just scared.”
“Me too. My fucking heart is pounding.”
They heard a noise. Freezing where they were, the sound of someone’s scuffing heels on the tile became audible. Water hitting a urinal. The urinal flushing. The sink. The blower. Then the door.
Exhaling, Brodie quickly closed his pants, tucking in his shirt as Julian did the same. They opened the door, peering out. It was vacant.
Standing side by side at the sink washing their hands, Julian looking over his appearance in the mirror.
“Shit.”
Julian turned to ask why when he noticed Brodie wiping at a tiny drop of cream on his black trousers.
“Windburn.”
Brodie looked up, caught his eyes, roaring with laughter. “Oh, baby, I adore you.”
Crouching down to help, Julian licked his finger, rubbing at the spot. “I’d suck it off, but I’d leave a wet stain.”
“Stop talking about sucking off or I’ll be hard again.”
“It’s gone. Honest. You can’t see it.” Julian brushed his hand over it, getting a good feel of Brodie’s cock underneath. “You are hard again.”
“Whose fault is that?”
“Shit, it’s after six. They’ve opened the dining room doors.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Julian watched Brodie’s ass as he walked down the hall. “You look absolutely incredible in that outfit.”
“I was hoping to impress you.”
“You have. Jesus, Brodie. You are so damn good looking.”
“You took the words out of my mouth, babe.” Brodie paused.
“Don’t kiss me. I know it’s right there, but don’t.” Julian pressed his hand against Brodie’s solid chest.
“I won’t. See ya.”
“See ya.” Julian frowned despite himself as Brodie jogged off, into the dining room. Inhaling, running his hand back through his hair to make sure it wasn’t sticking up from their little tousle, Julian noticed the back of Amelia as she sat in their assigned seats. Hoping he wasn’t in for a tongue-lashing, knowing nothing could compare to the one he had already gotten, he pulled out his chair and sat down.
“Where were you? I thought you’d be waiting for me. Why is your skin all red?”
“Windburn.” He thanked the waiter for the wine as he poured.
“Windburn? You sure?”
“Yes. Now stop pestering me. What’s the selection for tonight?”
She handed him the menu. As he took it, he looked across two tables to see a set of aqua eyes staring back.
~
“There you are!” Glenda waved as Brodie joined them. “I told you he would be here.”
“I’m here.” He smiled sweetly.
“Did you buy a photo?”
“Hm?” Brodie thanked the waiter for the glass of wine.
“You know,” Glenda prodded, “you and that man, Julian? You were going to the gallery.”
“Right. No, we didn’t see any we liked.”
Marlene leaned over Glenda to say, “There’s a comedian and a magic act in the showroom tonight.”
“Ooh, sounds great!” Brodie said sarcastically but it was lost on them. He picked up a roll from a basket, buttering it.
“You want to join us?”
“I’ll let you know.” He bit the roll, chewing, starving. A set of light blue eyes was watching him. He smiled knowingly, raising his glass to him.
Glenda looked around the room. “There’s Julian!” She waved. “He has a pretty wife. Is that his wife?”
“No.” Brodie sipped his wine.
“Oh.” Glenda swallowed a piece of bread. “What are you getting?”
“Something tasty, no doubt.” Brodie leveled his gaze at the gorgeous male brunette who couldn’t keep his eyes off him this evening.
“I know. Everything is so good!” Marlene moaned.
“It is indeed.” Brodie finished his wine.
When the waiter topped up his glass, Brodie remembered his promise. He stuffed a ten dollar bill into the young man’s hand. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure, sir.”
Chapter Seven
Brodie decided on checking out the nightclub act. He did love stand-up comedy. Killing some time at the casino, he spent his twenty dollar quota and downed another scotch in the process. It wasn’t so bad now. Being on his own. Knowing Julian had a noose around his neck, Brodie felt like he was the fortunate one out of the two. If, in fact, Julian was telling him the truth, and Amelia no longer had a claim on his body, Brodie wouldn’t want to be the one having to make up excuses for the long week as to why they wouldn’t make love, or even kiss. At least he hoped Julian was making those excuses. He trusted him. No way. If Melanie was with him, would he touch her now? Uh, no.