by Andrew Grey
“They’re being taken to the station.” He straightened up as other officers filed past, heading into the theater with kits, presumably to check for physical evidence. “Will you take her home?” he asked me.
“Yes.” I provided the information they requested, and once we were excused, Weston told Ella good night and reluctantly left. Dieter and I walked Ella back toward where I’d parked. “You’re going to be okay, Ella. Weston was right. You fought them off and were brave and strong. Hold on to that if you can.”
Ella straightened up a little bit as we walked. “I’m sorry I ruined your date,” she told Dieter, who shook his head.
“It’s all right.” Dieter slipped his hand into mine. He wasn’t obvious about it, but the hand and the support it carried were there.
“Do you want me to drive home, or do you want to drive?” I asked Ella.
“I’ll be fine on my own,” Ella said firmly, and I handed her the keys to my car. “I wasn’t actually hurt, and I did give those two boys some pain.” She flashed a little smile. “They’ll think twice before doing anything like that again.”
“Let me drive you home,” I pressed.
“No. I’ll drive myself and text you when I get there. I’ll be okay.” She took a deep breath. “I think I’m stronger than I thought I was.”
“You’re a lioness,” I told her, echoing what Weston had said. I was concerned about Ella driving home, but it was less than a mile, and she seemed very determined. “What are you going to tell Mother?”
Ella flashed a smile. “That I kicked some teenage boy ass… and nuts.” She took a deep breath and got into the car.
I turned to Dieter, and he nodded.
“Ride with her, and I’ll follow you.”
“Thank you.” I got in the passenger seat, and Ella started the engine.
She drove home, gripping the wheel tightly but otherwise fine, and pulled into the drive with no issues. Of course, once we got inside and she told Mother what had happened, Mom went into full-on drama mode, which didn’t help anyone, least of all Ella.
“That’s enough, Mom,” I told her after a few moments of fluttering, gasping, and melodrama worthy of a silent film. “Ella did good and took care of herself. Stop the hysterics and get it together. The police arrested the boys responsible.”
A soft knock interrupted me, and I opened the door to let Dieter inside.
My mother went from drama to drama, practically bowing to “Count Dieter.” Sometimes she made a real ass of herself.
“I’m going to go up to my room,” Ella announced and went to the stairs.
I followed her. “Are you really going to be okay?”
“Yes. I’m going to read and try to relax. Your mother isn’t helping, and I think I need some quiet for a while.” She hugged me tightly. “You were there when I needed you. Thank you.” She smiled slightly. “Now go rescue Dieter from Mom before he goes running screaming into the night.”
I hoped what Ella was saying was true and she was okay. Physically she hadn’t been injured, which was good, but I worried about what was to come. The hurt and fear would return and bubble up eventually, but for now she seemed composed. There was nothing else I could do at the moment but abide by her wishes. Ella went upstairs, and I returned to where Dieter waited by the door.
“Where are you going?” Mother demanded. “There are things that need to be done.”
I walked over to her, picked up the remote, and turned off the television. “Then I suggest you get up and do them for yourself.” I turned to Dieter and we left. “I need to find a place of my own.”
Dieter nodded. “That’s probably a good idea.” He put his arm around my waist as we continued out to the drive. We got into Dieter’s car and drove back toward town. “How will you find one?”
I shrugged. “I’ll probably look in the paper and ask some friends.”
“Send an email to Dante. He owns some property around town and may have a place open,” Dieter suggested. “It’s definitely time for you to get out of there.” He parked, and we got out and walked down the main street of town. There were a lot of people about, going in and out of the shops, having a late dinner, just enjoying themselves. “But what about Ella?”
I nodded. “I’ve been trying to figure that out. Staying with my mother isn’t good for her.” Speaking of Ella, I sent her a message, and she responded that she was going to go to bed and try to sleep. I told her I’d check on her before I went to bed, and she sent me a smiley face. “She’s handling this pretty well, all things considered.”
“Ella is stronger than she thinks,” Dieter said. “Give that girl a little boost in self-esteem and she’ll take on the world.”
“I know. She’s strong and can be forceful, but my mother does her best to keep her down.”
We walked to the waterfront and out onto one of the docks, the water lapping quietly at the pilings.
“I used to come out here all the time when I was a kid. It was one of my favorite places. I think I did one of my first paintings of the view from right here. It was a little bland and boring, but the work was my own and I learned how to paint water that looked like water.” I sat down, and Dieter sat next to me. “Sometimes big yachts will pull into town. This is the best place to see them.”
“The harbor is quiet tonight,” Dieter observed, and he was right. Usually there were boats coming and going, but tonight it was indeed peaceful, as though everyone was as settled as I felt at the moment. I leaned against Dieter and inhaled the salty air. “This is nice.” He put his arm around my shoulder, and I sighed contentedly.
“I wish I knew why I feel so relaxed when you’re around.”
Dieter chuckled softly. “I made a reservation in Ocean City for Wednesday night. It wasn’t easy finding a place, but I think I found a nice hotel.”
I turned, and Dieter guided our lips together in a tender kiss.
“God, that’s disgusting,” a deep voice said from behind us.
I spun around, glaring at my own brother. “The thought of you with a woman doesn’t exactly fill me with joy either.” I looked at Dieter. “I mean, you could breed and then there would be little Jeremys running around.” I shivered and turned away from him for a second time.
I felt more than heard Jeremy come closer.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Dieter said. “I’m sure between the two of us we could arrange for a black eye and a second swollen jaw.” He was up on his feet, glaring at Jeremy, before I realized what was happening.
“I know it was you who said something that cost me that promotion. Mom thinks so too.” As though Mom’s opinion carried any weight.
I stood and shook my head. “You didn’t need my help to blow that promotion. You did that all on your own.” This was becoming really tiresome. “Get over yourself and start doing the work you’re supposed to.”
Jeremy growled, balling his fists.
“Stop it,” Dieter snapped. “You do realize I’m staying with Dante and Beau. If anyone is going to say something, it will be me, and now you have more to lose than a promotion. This whole homophobic act you have going on isn’t going to take you very far in a company owned by a gay man.” Dieter stared Jeremy down. “I suggest you move on.” He waited while Jeremy stomped back off down the dock.
“I feel sorry for him. I think Mom spoiled him, and he hangs on to whatever crap she wants to dish out. It’s like he never really grew up.” The attitude was getting to be too much. I shook my head. “And nothing is ever his fault. Someone else is always to blame when he doesn’t get what he wants.” I took Dieter’s hand, and we ambled back down the dock. “He didn’t get the promotion, so I must have said something bad about him, when in truth he never deserved the promotion in the first place. He doesn’t work well with others and was never very good at being part of a team unless he was the star that everyone looked up to. Then he was all about the team, as long as they worshipped him.” I had spent enough of my childhood playing second fiddle to Jeremy,
and now it felt good to be the successful one.
“You didn’t say anything, did you?”
“No. I never would. Besides, I didn’t have to say anything.” I bumped Dieter’s shoulder. “Keeping my mouth shut about my brother is something I’ve been doing for years.”
“You haven’t lately. Why is that?”
I shrugged. “Maybe I met someone and don’t want him to think I’m some kind of doormat.”
Dieter threw his head back, laughing. “After the way you laid him out, I’d say you have a backbone of steel and just needed to realize it. And if I had anything at all to do with that, then I’m totally honored.”
We reached the car and both hesitated. Darkness was falling fast, and it was probably time for him to take me home, but that wasn’t where I wanted to go. Not that I had any alternative ideas, but the evening ending and Dieter leaving me alone once again held absolutely no appeal at all.
I pulled open my door, and when Dieter got in his side and started the car, I gave him directions out of town, back toward the main highway.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” I continued giving him directions, the lights of the town fading until we were out in the county, with little around but the occasional farmhouse. “There’s a road just off to the right. Make the turn and go slow. There will be a turnoff a half mile down.”
“What is this?” Dieter asked as he followed my directions, pulling into the narrow parking area.
“Where the teenagers sometimes go to make out.” I smiled. “I never came here when I was a teenager.” I guess I was doing things I’d missed out on. I grinned.
Dieter leaned over the console and brought his lips to mine. “So you brought me here to… make out?” he asked after pulling back a little. My heart pounded in my ears and the interior of the car had grown very warm. “Not that I’m complaining. I really like the way you’re thinking.” He smiled, and I closed the distance between us.
“I think I want to experience everything. I missed out on a lot of things when I was younger, and I think I want to make up for it.” I kissed him, tugging on his lower lip, the air in the car growing hotter as things grew more intense.
“This isn’t very comfortable,” Dieter said as he pushed me back against the seat, pressing to me. Unfortunately, the console was in the way, and as much as I’d thought this might have been a good idea, the reality was something very different. I started to laugh as the horn sounded for a second, and Dieter did the same.
I cradled his head in my arms, both of us still laughing. “I guess we proved one thing. Neither of us is a teenager any longer.” I wondered what I had been thinking. Neither of us had a place where we could go to be alone. I wasn’t going to bring Dieter home, and there was no way I was going to go to Dante’s. That seemed so wrong on many levels. I wanted Dieter badly, but making out in the car wasn’t working and the other options didn’t seem palatable.
Dieter lifted his head, stroking my cheeks in his soft hands. “I want things just as badly as you do.” He looked down, and even in the moonlight, I could see the extent of his excitement. “But the car isn’t going to work, and I want my first time with you to be more than fumbling and something quick in the back of a car. I want to take my time and get to know every inch of you.” Dieter’s lips drew closer. “So for now, I can wait until I get you behind the closed and locked door of the hotel room in Ocean City. It will be just you and me for two whole days.” Dieter shivered in the sultry warmth of the car.
“Okay.” I smiled and closed my eyes. Opening the door, I stepped outside into air that was cool in comparison to the inside. The sky was a sea of stars, and I leaned back against the car, looking upward. Dieter came around to stand next to me. “I love looking upward, seeing the unending field of stars.”
Dieter closed my open car door, bathing us both in darkness. He gently drew me closer until I forgot about stars and families and everything except him. For a time he was all that mattered. I was ready to go away with him and leave it all behind.
But maybe the hard part wasn’t the leaving, but coming back.
Chapter 7
OCEAN CITY was loud and filled with activity, energy, and fun everywhere. It was easy to forget all about my family and work and just let go.
The initial drive down the main drag was enough to chase away all my cares, and when Dieter pulled up in front of the hotel, my mouth fell open.
“What did you do?”
“I booked us into a hotel,” he said as the valet came out to greet him.
“I wasn’t expecting this,” I said, looking up at the high-rise building just off the boardwalk. Everything from the marble lobby to the fountain out front said luxury, and as Dieter checked us in, I stood off to the side, wondering if I had become like some poor country cousin. I sure as hell felt like it.
“Our room is ready,” Dieter said, and I followed him to the elevator, the bellhop carrying our bags. He pressed the button for the top floor, and we rode up in near silence, just the dings of passing floors to break the quiet.
“This way, gentlemen,” the young man said, leading us down the hall and then opening the door to a huge room with a view of the boardwalk and ocean stretching out below. It was stunning, and for a second I wondered how much Dieter had paid for the room and how many paintings I would have to sell to ever be able to pay for a place like this.
Dieter closed the room door, and I jumped, spinning around quickly.
“There’s no need to be nervous.”
“Huh? This place is like a palace. I’m scared to touch anything.” I kept my hands close, turning back to look out the window. I figured that was safe.
“It’s just a hotel room, and I wanted to bring you someplace nice… special.” He stood behind me, and I felt his heat on my neck. I closed my eyes, imagining him caressing me. Dieter came even closer, his arms stretching around me, his chest pressed to my back, holding me. “I wanted your first time, our first time, to be something you’d remember….”
I placed my hand on top of his. “I can guarantee I’d remember it no matter where we stayed.” I slowly turned around. “It isn’t going to be the hotel room I’m going to remember.” I held still, gazing into Dieter’s eyes, and he kissed me gently. Heat built quickly until I wrapped my arms around his neck, my entire body coming alive with an electric current that sizzled from head to toe.
Dieter guided me through a set of doors to the bedroom. I tumbled down onto soft bedding that puffed around me, encasing me in comfort. “Now, this is how I pictured you… our first time… beautiful and looking at me like….” Dieter swallowed as I gazed up at him, standing above me.
“Like how?” I whispered, wondering if I was reading Dieter’s expression correctly. He leaned over me, his eyes nearly as dark as the night sky, and I shivered with anticipation. I’d been looking forward to being alone with him.
“Like you’re the most stunning man I have ever seen.”
I knew that couldn’t be true, but I smiled at him for saying it. I wanted him to think so, but I had seen plenty of gorgeous people in my life, and I didn’t measure up. Now, Dieter….
I reached up and carded my fingers through his golden hair. “No. That’s you.” I tugged him closer, needing to taste him. “You’re the one with the eyes as blue as the sea and hair that catches the sun. I’m just me.” I shrugged, and Dieter grinned.
“Do you ever think that I see you for what you are, that I look at you because of who you are?” Dieter closed the distance between us, engulfing my mouth in a searing kiss that I felt to my feet. I kicked off my shoes as I threw my arms around his neck. I had never realized just how amazing and fulfilling it was to have someone who saw me and cared for me as I was.
“I’m just an art geek,” I whispered when he pulled away.
“Yeah?” Dieter kissed me again. “I love art geeks.” He cut off any other thoughts and words with a kiss that ramped up the heat. The air-conditioning in the room had
been going full blast and I was still hot, sweating, my cock throbbing in my jeans, crushed between us.
Dieter tugged my shirt out of my pants and up over my head. I nearly got stuck and burst into giggles as I tried to get my shirt off. Dieter threw it to the side, cutting off my mirth with a kiss that short-circuited my brain.
“Oh my God,” Dieter whispered when he moved away, his eyes meeting mine before looking downward. He took a single step back, gaze raking over me with such heat that I swear sweat beaded on my chest. I gulped for air and attempted to cross my arms over my chest to keep from feeling so exposed, but Dieter took my hands and held them tightly. “You….”
“I know, I’m pasty and pale and….”
Dieter shook his head. “You’re stunning. I wish you’d see in yourself what I see when I look at you.” He stroked over my chest, tweaking each nipple. I clamped my eyes closed, soaking in something so foreign. It was the most intimate touch of my life, and all Dieter had done was take off my shirt.
His own followed, and I gasped. Dieter was as pale as I was, but built, lean muscles under a chest dusted with blond hair that just caught the light when he moved. Damn…. I tugged him closer, his bare chest pressing to mine, skin to skin. I wanted to rub on him like a cat, just to take in as much sensation as possible. Dieter kissed me again, and I held him with everything I had, my hips rocking back and forth.
“Sweetheart,” Dieter said gently, his hand resting over my heart. “We have all the time in the world.”
I huffed. “Sometimes it seems like I’ve been waiting for something like this my whole life, and now that it’s happening, you want me to wait some more.” I pushed him, rolling us on the bed, and looked down into his eyes.
Dieter put his hands behind his head, relaxing on the pillow. “Then go however fast you want.”
I swallowed. This was like one of my fantasies come true, Dieter giving me free rein, and I had no idea where to start. I sat back, looking, my fingers itching to touch. But I wasn’t sure how or what I wanted first. It was almost too much, and yet I needed it.