Lexington Black

by Savannah Smythe

  So yes, it was based upon his own family, and the life he imagined for his own father. He was filling in the gaps, making him real if not entirely accurate. He was making him a vulnerable man, a trapped man, a man who wanted to find his sanctuary. In Rob's story, he would find it. In real life, he was less than lucky.

  What had it taken to drink a lethal cocktail of cyanide-laced cognac, without saying goodbye to one's family? Rob would never know, so in his story, things would be different. How, he did not know yet, but if in some small way, he gained closure from his father's death, then he would do it.

  CHAPTER 12 - Missing You

  After talking to Rob for the final time, I boarded the jet and flew to Miami. I didn't think I would ever stop enjoying executive travel. The discreet attentions of the cabin crew, the ultra-comfortable seats, the knowledge that the Gulfstream was always fuelled and waiting, I loved it all.

  But not that morning. I knew my temper was foul as I took my seat, waving away my usual black coffee and freshly-made pastries and choosing instead to stare moodily out of the window, watching Manhattan and my English angel recede from view. I couldn't wipe away the vision he had left me with, of him lying sprawled in bed, touching himself, thinking of me. It frustrated the hell out of me, and the frustration just grew the further I travelled away from him.

  To console myself I called my housekeeper to check that preparations for the pool party were underway. I never went all out. A few friends, some attractive male waiters and pretty boys to dance attendance on my guests, a cocktail bar, excellent food, nothing wild or showy like some of my other gay friends. I let the New York skyline provide the backdrop, and the infinity pool was another form of amusement. That way, everyone could strip off and lose their inhibitions.

  I had invited Justin Blakely, a prominent architect of modernist office buildings, because I thought he was a perfect match for Caressa. I had been trying to get them together for months, but their schedules were hectic and it hadn't been possible. Now Rob was in the picture as well, it promised to be a great evening. The thought of showing him off and watching him cavort in my pool, wearing hipster swimming trunks, cheered me somewhat. I sent Caressa a text, telling her to take Rob shopping for something to wear at the party, the more tight-fitting the better.

  At the private hospital where Dad was being nursed, he looked frail in his hospital bed. It was an effort to summon up even the remotest bit of sympathy for him.

  'What the hell happened?' I snapped at the doctor as soon as I saw him.

  He looked nervous, as well he might. 'Mr. Black fell. He needed ten stitches in his head from where he struck the coffee table.'

  'Where was his nurse?'

  'In the bath. She had put him to bed and when she checked on him, he was asleep.'

  'So he was sleep-walking?'

  'No. He told us later he was thirsty.'

  'So why the hell didn't he ring for her?'

  'Sir, a full enquiry into how it happened is continuing as we speak. The nurse has been suspended until further notice. Believe me, this is very regrettable.'

  'You're damned right it is,' I snapped. 'Take me to him.'

  Before I went into his room, I took a deep breath. Kicking off at my father would not help matters, and just made me look like an asshole.

  'He looks settled enough,' I said grudgingly to the doctor, and I sensed his relief.

  'Oh, he's in fighting form,' he said, smiling tentatively.

  'That's what I was afraid of,' I replied sourly as I opened the door.

  If my father's body was crumbling around him, his attitude sure as hell was not.

  'Come to make sure I'm dying, have you? Well, I'm not, no thanks to that stupid girl. I only wanted a drink of water and look where it got me.'

  I refused to rise to his jibe. 'You look fine now, though. A little banged up, that's all. How did you do it?'

  'I was walking to the kitchen and found myself in hospital. I'll be out in two days. No big deal. Have you bankrupted my company yet?'

  'Trying to. I've just signed a deal for the Eaves Group.'

  'Who? Never heard of them.'

  'They're an English company. Not very big. It was a snip.'

  'Huh. You shouldn't waste your time with nobodies, Lexington.'

  'I had my reasons.'

  'How much did you pay for them?'

  I told him. I fielded the questions he fired from his hospital bed as a nurse replaced his saline drip. I had long given up trying to please him. Now I ran the company as I saw fit and it was very profitable, thanks for fucking nothing. He complained constantly about the decisions I made, and never once told me I was doing the right thing.

  'Next time, get me a nurse who knows what she's doing,' he grumbled. 'And preferably one who's a bit easier on the eye. The last one looked like a warthog.'

  I sighed impatiently. 'Yeah, or maybe I'll just put you in an old peoples' rest home like ordinary people do, Dad. You can suck face with Dolly Dementia under the mistletoe next Christmas, if you last that long.'

  For the first time, I saw a flicker of hurt in his eyes. 'Jesus, son. What the hell is wrong with you?'

  'You only ever call me son when you want something, Dad. Work it out yourself.'

  Silence fell between us. I paced the room, really not wanting to be there. When I looked back at him, he was staring at the wall. A single tear glistened on his cheek. At once, I felt like a complete heel. If Rob had been there, he would have been disgusted with me as well, I was sure of it.

  I sat next to the bed. 'I won't put you in a home, Dad, don't worry. And I'll get a nurse who looks like Claudia Schiffer to look after you, if that's what you want.'

  I received a faint smile. 'I'd prefer Elizabeth Taylor. From A Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, if you can fix that. Or Sophia Loren.'

  'I'll see what I can do.'

  'Who is she?'

  A stab of alarm went through me. 'She's a film actress, Dad. One of your favourites, remember?'

  His eyes flashed. 'No, you asshole. I mean, who's the girl you're in love with? I know you're in love because your mood is even worse than usual.'

  Deep breaths. Don't lose it. 'Dad, you know I'm gay so deal with it. His name is Rob and he's English. He's come over for a visit.'

  'So where is he?'

  'He's working on a book.' I didn't say he hadn't been asked to come because I was afraid of Dad mentioning Melville Hall, which would have been akin to sinking the Titanic before it had even left the dock.

  My father nodded sagely and didn't ask any more. He didn't want to know.

  'Better get onto the agency and find me a pretty young nurse,' he said. 'One that knows the job, preferably.'

  I stood up, relieved to be dismissed. 'Will do. I'll see you later.' For the first time ever, I kissed his withered cheek before I left.

  The doctor was waiting for me as I left the room. 'Mr. Black has expressed a wish to move back to Manhattan. He has an apartment there, is that right?

  'Yes. I'm living in it.'

  'Right.' The doctor paused. 'Is that a possibility?'

  Any soft and fuzzy feelings I had begun to cultivate towards my father fizzled like a damp firework. One thing I was not prepared to do under any circumstances was live under the same roof with a miserable old bastard who needed his ass wiping every five minutes.

  Callous? Yeah, I guess. But so had he been in the past, willfully refusing to accept my homosexuality even after I dropped everything in California to run the damned company for him. I had been happy on the beach, teaching kids how to respect the water and fucking tanned, blond surfer dudes. I had been happy as a fucking rabbit, until he screwed it all up.

  Now he had done it again, just as I had managed to get Rob over to Manhattan. He was waiting, with his hot, tight ass and sexy, come-fuck-me glasses on, and I was down in Miami, frigging around for a man who steadfastly refused to accept me as I am. To have him living with me, even with full-time staff to look after him, would seriously cramp my styl
e. I would end up killing him within the week.

  'I'll see what I can arrange,' I said stiffly.

  He was family, after all.

  ******

  After Lex left him, Rob did not stop working until late lunchtime. Fortified with a snack of onion bagel with cream cheese and gravadlax, his new food passion, he went out exploring. The sky was a dazzling blue and the sun scorched through the windows. It was too glorious a day to be inside all the time.

  He was jubilant at how much he had achieved even in a few hours, but it had also been emotionally draining. Eager to escape the apartment, he packed a computer bag with his new laptop and phone, and went out to explore. The heat was intense, smacking him in the face after the cool interior of the apartment, so after an hour of walking around, he went to the Empire State Building, mainly to take advantage of the air conditioning.

  High above the city, the heat haze blurred the distant horizon. He took a photo and emailed it to Geri, then just stood and admired the view for a while before returning to street level where the humidity had hit 100%. Everyone in the street was hot, sweaty and irritable. He called Ty, who arrived outside the building within five minutes, and asked him to drive to the Flatiron Building so he could send another picture to Geri. Afterwards they drove down to Battery Park to look at the 9/11 Memorial, and Ty suggested he could take Rob on a helicopter flight to get a bird's eye view of the city.

  At a private helipad by the water's edge, the big man squeezed himself into the flying seat of the dainty helicopter. After initial doubts that they might not get off the ground, Rob enjoyed himself immensely. They circled the Statue of Liberty, flew down the Hudson and circumnavigated Manhattan Island, deftly avoiding the other tourist birds and keeping well out of the airspace of the lumbering jets arriving and departing from the city's three airports. Whenever Ty pointed, Rob took photos. There was no conversation between them other than hand signals as the machine was phenomenally loud even with headphones.

  In the end, they alighted on the helipad at the very top of Black Tower. Rob gratefully took off the headphones as they were tight and his ears were ringing.

  'Thank you. That was fantastic.'

  'The pleasure's all mine, sir.' Ty's somber face did not crack a smile as he shook Rob's hand. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking behind his black Ray-Bans.

  Rob went back down to his apartment and downloaded the photographs he had taken, sending most of them to Geri. As he was contemplating what to do with his evening, his doorbell rang.

  He felt a leap of anticipation. Maybe Lex had returned already? Not from Miami, although he wasn't sure how long it took to get there. Maybe he didn't go after all. He opened the door.

  'Surprise!' Caressa crowed. Behind her, two equally colourful queens cooed and waved at him. 'Lex called me, darling. He told me I had to look after you. So come on.' Caressa briskly clapped her hands before chivvying him out the door. 'And you're not going to fall asleep. He does that,' she said to her friends. 'He's a regular sleeping beauty.'

  'Aw, poor boy.' A pneumatic blond with fake Dolly Parton breasts snuggled against him and kissed his cheek.

  'So what's the plan?' Rob looked at them, all taller than he was due to their towering heels, and with enough make-up on to smother the planet.

  Caressa looked critically at him. 'Well, we were thinking of going clubbing later, but we're certainly not taking you wearing that.'

  Rob looked down at his jeans and old Motorhead tee-shirt. 'What's wrong with it?'

  Caressa turned to her companions. 'I told you we'd have a challenge, didn't I?'

  She swept down the hallway before Rob could ask what he meant.

  Half an hour later, he was lying on a couch, cringing as Ruby shaved the sparse hairs from his balls. They were being avidly watched by the gaggle of drag queens.

  'Is this really necessary?'

  'Totally necessary, darling.' Caressa held court from a nearby stool. She sat cross-legged, idling filing her nails. 'It's why I asked Ruby to come along. This is her kingdom.' She motioned around the salon. Outside the warm, perfumed room they were crowded into, people sat in chairs being tended to by fast-working hairdressers. There was an air of vibrant, colourful chaos, accompanied by thumping bass. Ruby presided over her employees with a silk-clad iron fist.

  'Don't worry, darling. I've been doing this for twenty years,' Ruby cooed. 'Twenty years of ball sacs and hairy cracks, and I still haven't seen light at the end of the tunnel.'

  They all snickered but Rob could not summons more than a weak grin.

  'That's a comfort I guess.' The last word was said on a yelp as Ruby tickled the tender area between balls and hole.

  'Ooh, so sensitive,' she purred. 'Lucky boy.'

  'You get used to it,' Caressa said blithely. 'Lex likes his men clean-shaven, collar and cuffs.'

  'Did he put you all up to this?'

  'Oh no, he likes you as you are. That's how we know it's love, don't we, girls?'

  There was a collective "mmm hmm."

  'And you know this, how?' Rob tried to look at Caressa but was pushed firmly back on the couch.

  'Lex and I are old friends. He knows I like hairy bears, which is the only reason I've been allowed to take you out tonight. He knows I won't have any designs on your handsome body.'

  'Relax, sweetheart. We all like guys a lot bigger than we are. You're in safe hands.' Ruby patted his thigh. 'Time to turn over. This is the important bit.'

  'Uh, why?' Rob hazarded a look over his shoulder and was turned firmly to the front again.

  'Aw, bless. He has such a lot to learn,' Suki purred, stroking Rob's bottom. 'Just see us as your handmaidens, honey. Preparing you for your handsome prince.'

  At that moment, Ruby's PA came rushing in, carrying several expensive shopping bags. Everyone pounced on them like greedy children at Christmas.

  'Great job, honey,' Caressa said approvingly as Rob buried his face in the couch so they couldn't see his grimace of embarrassment. Ruby spread his butt cheeks and began to shave his crack.

  'I'd recommend waxing,' she said, 'Come in next week and I'll sort you out. This is just a temporary measure. Shaving is such a bore if you have to do it yourself.' She massaged soothing cream on his tender places. 'There you go, smooth as a baby.'

  By this time, Caressa had opened a bottle of champagne and they were all having a party round him. Someone had brought in chips and dip, olives and breadsticks. Rob draped over the couch, butt naked, being fed cashew nuts. It was the strangest evening he had experienced, probably ever.

  'Do you fancy a piercing? I do everywhere apart from cock and labia,' Ruby said brightly.

  Rob looked at her. 'No,' he said firmly.

  'Pity. Diamond studs in your ears would look fantastic with your dark hair. Which brings me to ...' he glanced slyly towards the door.

  'Hair is a must, and eyebrows,' Caressa said. 'That's practically a monobrow you're cultivating there.'

  'A monobrow? Seriously?' Rob looked in the mirror and conceded she might have a point. 'You're enjoying this, aren't you?' He accused her.

  'Totally.' Caressa simpered. 'Besides, if you want to be seen with us, honey, you need to know how to look decent, and that goes for tomorrow as well.'

  Coming from someone with lip-liner three shades darker than her lipstick, a skin-tight red velour dress and porno Perspex shoes, that was a bit rich.

  'Ooh, where are you two off to?'

  'Coney Island, girls. We're hitting the rollercoasters.'

  'Scary.' Collective shudders around the room.

  'I went to Six Flags once and damned near peed my pants,' Ruby said.

  'And that was on the spinning teacups,' Suki snickered.

  Ruby handed Rob a long white robe and told him to put it on. 'Be a good boy and do as Mommy says, and you can have your presents.'

  'What presents?' He glanced at the bags the PA had brought in earlier. Surely they hadn't bought him clothes as well?

  Caressa ogle
d him as he stood up. In fact, they all did. Under their appreciative gaze, his cock stirred. Face it, you're loving this, he thought to himself. In the mirror, he saw what Ruby had done. With the hair gone, it looked pretty damned sexy. He hadn't realised his balls were that well-defined. Or his cock was that big. Fuck, if he looked any more, he would give himself a hard-on.

  'It looks great,' he said honestly, slipping the robe on. The queens high-fived each other, arguably having even more fun than he was.

  An hour later, they arrived by cab at a diner frequented by fire fighters. They were obviously regulars, by the friendly cat-calls and obscene banter from the fire crews already chowing down on t-bone steaks. It seemed that it was only Rob, watching four men dressed in drag, wolfing down huge slabs of beef, who found it disconcerting. Even more so when afterwards they checked in make-up mirrors to see if their lipstick was still intact.

  He caught his own reflection in the mirror behind the bar, and for the fourth time, he did a double-take. Not that anything outrageous had been done to him. His hair had been styled for the first time in years, short at the side and back and tousled at the top. The monobrow had been banished and the diamond ear studs sparkled under the lights. The Motorhead tee-shirt had been consigned to history and instead he wore an aubergine silk shirt with white bone buttons, unfastened to the middle of his chest, and slim-fitting black jeans. Even his shoes had been changed and once he wore them in, they would be a perfect fit. Black leather with exaggerated pointed toes, and to top it all off, a dark grey Armani jacket, just like the ones gangsters wore in the movies. He could imagine the reaction when he arrived at the church for Sara's wedding. It was never his intention to upstage a bride on her wedding day but his transformation was in serious danger of doing just that. He looked and felt a million dollars, and he had no way of adequately thanking Caressa for her kindness.

  'Like it?' Caressa asked next to him.