'I don't know how to thank you.'
'By letting us do this to you, you already have. Don't think any more about it. Now let's go dancing. The Peach Pit next,' she declared, looking out the window.
By then it was raining hard. The heat of the day had set off violent thunderstorms, and one was directly overhead. This was where Rob could prove his worth. He called Ty, praying he was still on call, and he was. Fifteen minutes later, he turned up in the long black Lincoln.
'After you, ladies,' he said smugly.
Screams. 'Oh, is this for us? You sweetheart!' They tottered off into the wet night, blowing kisses and farewells to the fire fighters, and gaggled around the doors of the limo. Ty's impassive face said he had seen it all before.
On the way, Caressa called Lex, who was still at the hospital with his father. The old man was happy, having been introduced to his attractive new nurse, and Lex was travelling back the following morning.
'Darling, we're calling from your car,' Caressa said mischievously. 'We're looking after Rob, aren't we, girls.'
A chorus of yeses. 'No, I won't let him do anything you wouldn't do.'
The other girls trilled at him and sent love and good wishes to his father. Rob didn't get to speak to him. The phone cut out and was tucked firmly into Caressa's bra again.
'He sends you his love,' she said, smiling.
He could not work out what her relationship with Lex was. It did not seem to be a sexual one, although they were very affectionate towards each other. They were more like brother and sister, in a way that reminded him of his closeness with Geri.
His phone chirped. He looked at it and smiled at the message.
Are you really ok?
He replied, I'm fine. You?
Can't wait to take you to bed. Don't kiss any strange men
Rob smiled. Too late I already have
WTF???!?!?!!!??
Rob sensed that Lex was jealous. He loved feeling so desirable. His heart raced at the infinite possibilities.
ROB? PLEASE ANSWER ME. I'M GOING FUCKING CRAZY DOWN HERE
I meant you, idiot XXXXXX
PS Can't wait to get reamed:O
As he sent the message, he was grinning like an idiot again. What was happening to him? When had he changed so irrevocably? His heart felt strangely light, as if he had found the place within himself that he had always been searching for.
'Excuse me,' Caressa said loudly, snatching his phone away. 'There's nothing more tedious than watching other people sexting. This is not coming out again this evening.'
'I want a picture of us all first,' Rob protested.
They all piled onto the same side and did selfies in various poses, giggling wildly. Rob sent his to Geri, knowing it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up.
Caressa snatched the phone from him again and wagged her finger admonishingly.
'That's enough. Let's go dancing.'
For the next few hours, Rob drank, danced and sweated in the heaving club. Caressa looked on approvingly as he was pulled onto the dance floor by a young man with glossy black skin. His body was superbly toned under a sleeveless mesh tee-shirt.
The music was way too loud for pleasantries. Instead, they danced and Rob was shocked when the guy moved in for a kiss. He moved away before it could happen, suddenly uncomfortable. He didn't belong in such a sensual environment, with strangers, dancing, smiling, kissing in the dark and spinning away. Sometimes they stayed together, eventually moving into the darkest corners for more intimate contact, but Rob was not interested in any of them. It seemed that randomly snogging other guys wasn't a big deal for a lot of gay men but it was for him. It highlighted how different his formerly straight world had been, where a ten second snog was tantamount to unfaithfulness. He could see Caressa being mauled by a tall man dressed in black leather. He wondered if he should rescue her when his buttocks were grabbed by someone else. They would be black and blue by the time the night was over. He felt over-stimulated, his cock rigid in his pants and his nerve-endings sizzling with sensory overload.
After dancing until he was ready to drop, avoiding the constant attention from other men wanting to snatch a few minutes' gratification, watching his companions hook-up, disappear then reappear in an ever-more disheveled state, Caressa dragged him out of the fray and out onto the rainy street. The others had gone for the evening. Caressa could have joined them but she was looking out for Rob, not wanting to leave him to the mercies of the hungry mob in the club.
For a while they walked, grateful for the rain after the sweaty innards of the club. Caressa was barefoot, swinging her shoes as they strolled down the street, hand in hand. She was quiet, melancholy surrounded her like an invisible cloak.
'How do you know Lex?' Rob asked, trying to lighten her mood.
Caressa breathed in deeply, almost as if bracing herself for a hard knock. 'My partner and I had moved over here to set up a gallery, but he died before it could get off the ground. Lex invested heavily because he liked my work.'
It wasn't quite what he had in mind, to make Caressa's mood worse. He squeezed her hand. 'How long had you been together?'
'Nearly all my life. I don't think I'll ever really stop missing him.'
'How did he die? If you don't mind me asking.'
'Pancreatic cancer. Two weeks from diagnosis to death. One day he just wasn't there anymore.'
'That's hard for you. My mother never got over losing my father. He left her with five children to bring up. He committed suicide when I was fifteen.'
'Why would he do such a terrible thing?'
'He was gay and in his position, that wasn't acceptable. We weren't enough, I guess.'
'That's so sad. To live a lie your whole life. He was a very brave man.'
'How so? I always thought he was a coward.'
'Because he tried to make a life. He loved his children, you say, and he was married for how long?'
'Twenty-five years.'
'So he tried all that time and finally, he was exhausted with it. I know that feeling. I've seen people go through it time and again.'
They passed a group of well-dressed youths. Instinctively, Caressa moved closer to Rob, almost as if needing his protection.
'Fucking faggots,' one of the boys muttered as they passed. There was laughter and Caressa's pace quickened. She glanced fearfully behind them.
'Is that limo of yours nearby?'
Rob called Ty, who appeared within a minute. He had been following them at a discreet distance. Only when they were inside the confines of the car and moving down the street, did Caressa relax again.
'Does that happen a lot?'
'Yeah. More than you think. At least they didn't have baseball bats or knives.'
'Would they have come back?'
'I don't know. You get groups of kids like that, boozed-up. Sometimes they think it's sport to cut up a gay boy. You know how it is.'
'Actually, I don't.'
'Then get used to it, Rob. From now on, you'll always be looking over your shoulder.'
Rob stared out of the window. 'I used to be like that,' he said quietly. 'Taking the piss. Not meaning anything violent but it was just ... funny, you know? Mincing about, doing the hand gestures, throwing that insult around. "You're so gay, you know that?" It's just ... something to say.' He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. 'I work in a garage and they always do it. Every time someone comes in with a new hair cut, a tight pair of jeans. Wolf whistles, saying "all the gay boys will love you now." That kind of thing. Now I'm the one they all laugh about. I mean, it's okay but they're just not as comfortable with me now.'
'Yet you're still the same person. You just like dick instead of chick. Who knew? Look, you'll lose friends and gain new ones. It's inevitable, but it isn't all bad.'
'Considering what I've just told you, you're being very calm about it.'
'It was ignorance, that's all. You're a nice person, Rob. I've only known you a couple of days, but I can't smell any BS on yo
u. And my BS detector is highly-tuned.' She looked outside. 'We're here. I don't suppose you want to come in for a coffee?'
'I'm knackered, to be honest. I'll call for you tomorrow morning. Thanks for everything, Caressa.' They hugged tightly. Caressa cut a forlorn figure on the sidewalk as Ty drove away.
CHAPTER 13 - Into The Lion's Den
The following day was uncharacteristically warm, even for the middle of May. Rob went back to Caressa's apartment, and as the door opened, he came face to face with a tall, lean man with thinning, sandy hair, dressed in a neatly-pressed Oxford striped shirt and cream cargo pants. Devoid of make-up, he had high cheekbones and full, sensual lips. He looked like an extra from Brideshead Revisited.
'I'll get my wallet,' he said, and left Rob in the middle of the room.
His apartment was not especially large but furnished with a mixture of antique and modern furniture, one wall completely taken over by bookshelves. The walls had been painted cream to offset the heavy furniture, and the whole effect was tasteful and comfortable. He was surprised at how well-read Caressa was. James Joyce, Evelyn Waugh, Chaucer, Dickens, together with Lee Child and Patricia Cornwell. There were European authors from the 1930's and other books that looked a lot older. He wondered if some of them were first editions. They looked pristine, as though they had never been touched.
When the man came back into the room, Rob did another double-take. He could not get over how different he looked in plain clothes.
'What do you keep staring at?'
'You! You look ... amazing.'
His expression softened. 'Do you really think so?'
'Absolutely. And I'm a bit relieved, to be honest. I was afraid your wig would blow off on one of the rollercoasters.'
'Oh, so was I. And the heels kill my bunions but don't tell anyone. If Victoria Beckham can deal with it, so can I but not today. Let's go and play.'
'But ... what's your real name?'
'It's Peter. Didn't Lex tell you?'
'No.'
'That's typical of him, especially when his mind is in his dick.' Peter ushered him out of the apartment. 'It's so lovely to have you all to myself. When he gets back, I won't see either of you for dust.'
They took the subway down to the ferry. By the time they reached Coney Island, Rob had told Peter practically everything there was to know about his life. Not that he had anything to hide. Hiding was for cowards. Despite the rocky road ahead, he felt a sense of almost giddy excitement.
For most of the day they wandered around, eating ice cream, chatting, riding the coasters. They had lunch at a burger restaurant, watching the boats drift along the Hudson. The weather was perfect, with a sun-drenched, endless blue sky.
'It was great of Lex to offer me the apartment,' Rob said in the afternoon. 'I still don't know what I've done to deserve it.'
'He's besotted with you, my dear. So many people fawn on him because he's so wealthy, so when he finds someone who doesn't care about any of that, he likes to look after them.'
'Is that why he doesn't do relationships?'
Peter grimaced. 'I guess. He keeps things pretty close to his chest.'
Rob had the feeling there was more Peter could have added, but he was being discreet and loyal to his friend. Fair enough.
Peter's mobile chirped. He looked at the incoming text. 'Speak of the devil. He's reminding us to be at his apartment for eight tonight. That reminds me, do you have swimming trunks?'
'I didn't pack any.'
'You mean you've been staying at that lush penthouse and not swum in his pool? What's wrong with you?'
'It scares me a bit, to be honest, the way it drops off the edge.'
Peter rolled his eyes. 'Good grief! We need to get back into Manhattan and get you kitted out.'
'Again? For God's sake, at least let me pay this time.'
'Certainly not.'
Rob knew he had no choice but to comply. Meekly he followed Peter back to the ferry and they took the subway to 5th Avenue. It was almost six by the time they got there.
'Between you and me, the shopping is better in Jersey. Less tax. It's not the same, though. No-one in this city wants to admit they hunt for bargains.' Peter marched into Saks, towing Rob by the hand behind him, and headed for the elevator to the mens' apparel department.
Rob picked up a pair of flowery board shorts and nearly dropped them when he saw how much they cost.
'No, no, no,' Peter said, back in hand-flapping queen mode. 'These, darling.' He thrust a pale blue pair of trunks at Rob. They looked ridiculously small. 'Try them on. They're very James Bond.'
Obediently, Rob did as he was told. As he was pulling them up, Peter rapped on the door. 'Let's see them.'
'Um... they're too small.'
The door opened. Peter gazed appraisingly at them. 'They look fantastic. If you don't buy them, I will.'
'But ...' Rob looked at himself in the mirror. They sat low on his hips and were tighter than anything else he had ever owned before, showing off his package to perfection. He smoothed his hands over his backside. He could get used to them. He peeled them off again, aware that Peter's gaze was glued to his underpants.
'It's what everyone is wearing, darling. Board shorts are for Californians.'
'What are you wearing?'
'Something totally obscene.' He snatched the trunks out of Rob's hand and went away, leaving him to dress.
By the time he found Peter again, he had bought five pairs of white Calvin Klein briefs.
'The state of your underwear is appalling,' he said tersely, thrusting them at Rob.
It took a further half hour before Rob could get Peter out of the store before he bought him another whole outfit. His generosity was outstanding, but he didn't want either him or Lex to think he was taking advantage.
As he walked back to his apartment, he realised how much he had enjoyed the day. Peter was a generous, warm and funny human being. Caressa was his dark side, vulnerable and unpredictable. He wondered who would turn up later at Lex's apartment. If it was Caressa, he was curious to see what she intended to wear in the pool.
When he entered Lex's penthouse apartment again, the tinted bi-fold doors were open, allowing a spectacular panoramic view of the city. Outside, the pool shimmered invitingly. There were plenty of people around, but Lex was not in sight.
A pretty waiter wearing only a black bowtie and a snowy white apron to protect his modesty approached Rob, offering him a glass of champagne. Peter padded past him in translucent bikini briefs.
'Why aren't you wearing your trunks?'
'They're under my trousers.' Together they joined the other men by the pool.
The sun deck looked as if Barbie and Ken had decided to throw a party but Barbie had forgotten to show up. Bronzed men and boys draped like panthers over every chair, soaking up the sticky city heat in the smallest of swimming costumes. A bar stood in the corner, behind which a good-looking bartender sliced fruit and made cocktails to order with a showmanship that made everyone gasp. It was just the right side of tasteful. From what little he knew of Lex, Rob presumed it had all been prepared with a certain amount of irony.
He hoped so, anyway.
A tanned, stocky man with a pelt of silver hair on his broad chest lounged on a double sun-lounger next to an even more tanned, much younger man in a tiny white thong. The younger man's muscles were impressive, as if he had swallowed a load of baseballs earlier that morning. He had a beautiful, calm face and gentle brown eyes. As Rob drew nearer, he heard them conversing in Spanish.
'Justin, darling, meet Rob,' Peter said.
The older man turned and smiled, then stood up. He was wearing small, revealing red bikini pants and nothing else. Rob shook his hand, trying not to stare. Each bulge he cast eyes on seemed bigger than the last.
'And this is Philip, my friend for the evening,' Justin said, motioning to the young man, who gave him a shy wave.
'Philip is everyone's friend, for a price,' Peter said with a saucy wink. 'Isn
't that right, Philip?'
'Not everyone can afford me,' Philip said good-humouredly, in a thick Spanish accent. Rob noticed the heavy gold watch on his wrist. It looked like a Rolex. Philip saw him looking at it.
'A present from one of my clients,' he said.
'I'm in the wrong job. What do you do?' Rob ignored Peter, who was chortling behind him.
'I'm an escort,' Philip replied, and Rob finally understood. He was at a loss to know what else to say.
The heat of the day had built up and grown heavy, making skin glisten and the air thicken with the scent of coconut oil and testosterone. Rob could not remember the names of the other men but he counted at least ten of them, as well as Peter, Justin and Philip. Lex still did not appear. He hoped when he did, he would be wearing something a little more decent than the cock-enhancing scraps of material sported by everyone else.
'Oh, FYI, Rob is a newbie, so don't scare him,' Peter said to the group. 'Until a month ago he thought he was straight.'
Justin looked at him with interest. 'Is that right? Well, it looks like you've just walked into the lion's den, doesn't it, lambkin?'
'I feel perfectly safe,' Rob lied smoothly.
'That could be fatal, darling.'
He sensed they were all waiting for him to get his kit off. Not that he had much to impress them with. He doubted that his white, skinny body would hold anyone enraptured for long.
He dropped his trousers and took off his shirt before sitting down on a large circular mattress, aware of their gazes. Peter nodded approvingly.
At that moment, a balled-up piece of paper landed on Rob's lap, making him jump. Puzzled, he unfolded it and read a hand-written note.
You look fucking HOT!!!!!
He looked up, and saw Lex leaning on a curvaceous clear glass balcony, talking on his phone. He wore a white linen shirt and narrow yellow swimming trunks. He gave Rob a brief wave. At the sight of him, Rob relaxed slightly. He did not feel quite as vulnerable and out of his depth, knowing he was there.
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