“How are you feeling about everything now?”
Noah took a deep breath and turned on his side. He was naked, but Oscar wasn’t, yet. Noah wasn’t sure whether it was just Oscar or the fact that Oscar was still clothed that he found so erotic. All he knew was that he never wanted to let go of this man. “I don’t know. I thought I could let it all go so much more easily if I knew the reason. But….” Noah shrugged and pushed his lips to Oscar’s. “Thank you for the massage.”
“Anytime, baby. No coupons needed.”
“You’re amazing,” Noah said with a huge smile.
“Not as amazing as you, my little private detective.”
Noah scooted closer to Oscar’s body, both of them lying on their sides. “I guess I’ll have to put the loft on the market now.”
“Why?”
“Once I turn that recording into Cherie’s attorney, I don’t fancy my chances of not becoming a target for Mr. Policeman across the hall.”
“Well, if you do decide to sell, make sure you get a temporary place. Just in case, you know, I manage to find more space for you later, down the road.”
Noah smiled at the meaning behind the words. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Oscar said, stealing a quick kiss.
“You’d better make sure that you’ve used up all your coupons by then.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, if I’m living with you, all of those things become part of my duties, so the coupons will be null and void.”
“I see,” Oscar said, nodding his head in understanding. “Then I have, what, maybe six months, a year to use them all up?”
“I’d have to check the fine print again, but those figures sound about right to me.”
“And you won’t miss this place?”
“No,” Noah sighed as he pushed Oscar onto his back and climbed up to rest on top. “This building is going to the dogs.”
Chapter Seventeen
NOAH looked over at Cherie, her face pale and her normally hard features softened as she listened to the recording of her husband admitting to not only infidelity but to having planned the entire charade. Noah doubted that he and Cherie would ever bond over this or that they would ever speak again, but he understood what she was going through. After all, Paul had used both of them.
“Turn it off,” Cherie said suddenly. “I don’t want to hear any more.” She stood and went to stand at the large window in the lawyer’s office, gazing at what, precisely, Noah didn’t know.
“I’m not taking any sides here,” Noah said, turning to look at the lawyer. “But when I heard what Paul and Tim had planned, I couldn’t sit by and watch him call Cherie’s parenting skills into question.”
“Is this the original recording?” The lawyer held up the cell phone. Noah nodded. “We’ll have to keep this, then. Copies aren’t as good to have as the original, you see.”
“That’s fine,” Noah replied and reached into the pocket of his cargo shorts. “I’ve already bought another one. You can keep it as long as you need it.”
“And to think I called you those names when I saw you in the hallway that day.” It was Cherie’s voice now, low and hushed, as if the words of the recording had sucked all the energy out of her. Noah supposed they probably had.
“He played both of us, Cherie.” Noah stood up from the table and offered his hand to the lawyer. “I’m just glad that the truth is finally out. Although I’m sure I’m happier about that than you.”
“Wayne? Could I have a moment alone with Noah?”
Noah saw the lawyer nod and exit his office, leaving Noah alone with Cherie. She walked back to the table and sat down, the fingers of her right hand worrying the wedding ring on the left. “I apologize, Noah.”
“Don’t worry about it, Cherie. I think Paul took advantage of the fact that we never really got along. He used it to his advantage.” Noah sat down again, across from her. “The only thing I still don’t understand about all of this is why it took you so long to grow suspicious of Paul’s relationship with Tim.”
“I believed him,” Cherie stated flatly. “When he first expressed interest in me—”
“He told me that you pursued him,” Noah said, interrupting.
“Well, we’ve already figured out that he’s a liar, so….” Cherie closed her eyes and continued. “When he first expressed interest in me, he would tell me about his religious family and how it gave him such a grounded upbringing. He wanted to come with me to church. Most other men, when they found out how involved I am in the church, they don’t really want anything more to do with me. But Paul was different.” Cherie shrugged and stopped fidgeting with her ring. Finally she finished her observations. “He talked about wanting children… how his parents wanted lots of grandchildren.”
“He told me his parents were dead.”
“I guess I was so convinced that he was my last chance for a husband that I ended up ignoring a lot,” Cherie said, ignoring Noah’s interruption. “Looking back on it all now, I guess I didn’t want to see what I knew I was seeing. If that makes any sense.”
Noah nodded. He wasn’t really listening as intently anymore. It seemed obvious now that Cherie wasn’t really interested in discussing so much as unloading. Noah understood all too well about the need to get it all out of your system. To say something about it all, the hurt, the betrayal, the feeling like a fool. Suddenly, Noah wanted to just get up and leave. He’d already done all of his unloading already, with the help of Aiden and Oscar.
Oscar.
Just thinking his name made Noah smile and ache. They’d been together for six weeks now, and there was absolutely no sign that Oscar had lost interest in him, nor he in Oscar. He loved the man with all of his heart, thought of him as his own personal hero. He’d helped Noah unselfishly, with no thought of himself. He’d convinced Noah to do the right thing, to help this poor woman sitting across from him. And Oscar had been right. As usual.
“I know you don’t really understand why I tried to stop those students who wanted to form that gay alliance group in the school.”
Noah was back to paying attention. Even though he’d been in the closet, when he found out that Cherie had rallied against the gay-straight alliance that four students wanted to start at the high school, Noah had had to restrain himself from physically attacking Cherie. She was supposed to talk about it at the staff meeting later that week but had been called away on an “emergency.” After that staff meeting, the issue had never again appeared on any agenda.
“What you may not have realized is that three out of the four students who’d first proposed the idea were quite radical in their thinking.” Noah remained silent, waiting to hear that Cherie’s idea of radical was that the students wanted the bullying and the ignorant remarks dealt with. “They only seemed to be interested in singling out certain students. They talked endlessly about how they could get this student or that student if they had the backing of the counseling department and the administration.”
“Would that have been so wrong, Cherie?”
“No, I suppose not, but I had to follow my conscience. As you did today.” Cherie was back to fiddling with her wedding ring. “No matter what I suggested about media campaigns to raise awareness or some of them brainstorming ideas as to how we could educate and not retaliate, they would make remarks that frightened me. As a guidance counselor, I’m responsible for looking out for all of the students, not just the ones who’re interested in getting back at others.”
“Fair enough,” Noah said finally. He wasn’t sure he really believed her, but he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. After all, he was not part of that life anymore. He hadn’t been for the past six years. It was up to people like Cherie and Paul and Shane and all of the other school staff to right those particular wrongs. He wished them all great success as they continued the battle to instill some sense of honor and respect into this latest generation. It wouldn’t be easy, but he wished them well nonetheless. He stood up and
extended his hand. He wished Cherie well with all sincerity. He wished her the best in her upcoming legal battle. “Take care of your boy, Cherie.”
Noah exited the lawyer’s office, nodded to him, and thought about how strange life was at times. He’d left a teaching career and thought his life was over at that time. Now, as he left the high-rise office tower and walked down the street to his car, he couldn’t help but think that his life—in many ways—was just beginning.
As he unlocked his car and slid into the driver’s seat, he made a rather impetuous decision to pay a visit to the man whom Noah regarded as the most important step in his new outlook on life.
NOAH pulled his car into the back alley and parked at the rear entrance to the club, noticing Oscar’s car. He decided against leaving another note under the windshield wiper and headed inside, greeting the lone bartender on duty at four o’clock in the afternoon. He silently made his way to Oscar’s office and found the door slightly ajar.
“Hey, handsome,” Noah said, pushing open the door.
“Hey yourself,” Oscar said. Noah looked at his handsome face. It lit right up when he walked into the office and sat in front of Oscar’s desk. “How’d it go?”
Noah smiled and nodded. “I think it went very well. Cherie might not actually be the total raving bitch I thought she was. Feel a little guilty about that,” Noah said, slightly embarrassed at having to admit this. “What happens between them now is anybody’s guess. I just feel sorry for that little boy.”
“That,” Oscar said, leaning back in his chair and stretching out his back, “is not up to anybody but the parents.”
“Which is why I kind of feel sorry for him.” Noah scrubbed at his face. “Feel kind of sorry for Cherie too. It couldn’t have been easy to sit there and listen to that conversation.”
“Did the lawyer say what might happen to Paul and Tim?”
“I didn’t ask,” Noah said with a smile. “Don’t really care anymore.”
“It’s really too bad that people feel like they have to hide who they really are.” Oscar leaned forward again and fixed Noah with a sad smile.
“That it is,” Noah sighed, bobbing his head in agreement.
“So, will I see you later tonight?”
“Bag’s in the car,” Noah said, raising an eyebrow.
“That sounds promising. Maybe I’ll take off early.”
“Good,” Noah replied, feeling quite bold all of a sudden. “But I feel like celebrating now,” he said as he stood again and walked to the office door.
“What are we celebrating?”
“An end,” Noah replied, a lascivious grin spreading across his face. “And a beginning.” Noah shut the office door and locked it. “And I thought we could celebrate both and fulfill a fantasy I’ve had for quite a while now.”
“Uh-huh,” Oscar said as he stood and met Noah by the sofa. “And what would this fantasy involve, exactly?”
Noah wrapped his arms around Oscar’s powerful neck and brought their lips together, his tongue touching the full lips. When Oscar opened his mouth, Noah felt their tongues touch, the electricity of the contact shooting straight to his groin. When they both came up for some air, Noah leaned forward and whispered in Oscar’s ear. “I’ve always wanted you to fuck my mouth on this sofa.”
“You have, have you?” Oscar’s hands descended to cup Noah’s ass. “Why am I only hearing about this now?”
“Didn’t want you to compromise your ethical behavior at work,” Noah said seductively, his hands moving to undo the button of Oscar’s slacks.
“Nick’s the only one in right now. The others aren’t due for another couple of hours.” Oscar closed his eyes, and his head rolled to the side when Noah’s hand made contact with his growing erection, the other hand moving around to play with the cleft of his ass. “Which should give us more than enough time to fulfill your fantasy and my fantasy.”
“I see. So I’m not the only one keeping secrets, huh?” Noah took his hands off of Oscar long enough for the taller man to pull his T-shirt off. “What’s your fantasy?”
“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to throw you on my desk and fuck you until you’re screaming my name and you come on my monster dick.”
Noah shivered at the image that formed in his head and luxuriated in the sensations Oscar’s hands were causing up and down his spine. “Do you have what we need for your fantasy?”
Oscar abandoned him for only a moment, just long enough to open a drawer and produce condoms and lube. “Of course,” Oscar said, returning to Noah, hissing as Noah started to undress him. “I’ve learned to be prepared when you’re around.”
“I do have impulse control issues when I’m around handsome men who are hung like horses.”
Oscar kicked his shoes off as Noah descended to take him in his mouth. Noah sucked and licked at the rapidly filling cock, then moved his head a little lower so that he could nuzzle the soft sac, taking one testicle into his mouth and then nuzzling some more.
“Fuck, Noah,” Oscar whispered as his hands stroked over and around Noah’s head for a few minutes. Oscar reached down and pulled Noah to face him. “Get on the sofa… on your back, head near the middle.” Noah started to comply, but Oscar stopped him and turned him around, his hands snapping open the button of his shorts, pushing them to the floor. “Wanna see you play with yourself while I’m fucking your mouth.”
Noah was sure that, under the right circumstances, Oscar’s dirty talking could make him come like a geyser. Noah had always been incredibly aroused by smells and touching, but this dirty talk of Oscar’s was something that turned him on to no end.
Noah was laid out on the sofa, and he reached out to stroke Oscar from root to head, thumbing the slit just once. An expression of sheer lust ghosted over Oscar’s face, and Noah began to play with himself, his eyes never leaving Oscar’s. Noah watched, completely enraptured, as Oscar straddled him and put his hands on the arm of the sofa as if he were about to do push-ups—which Noah figured he was, in a manner of speaking. Oscar lowered himself down, Noah mesmerized by the sight of Oscar’s straining muscles and the enormous cock descending toward his mouth.
With his free hand, Noah took hold of Oscar’s erection and licked it, then slapped it against his cheek several times, delighting in the sounds that were emanating from his lover. While he held the cock in his hand, he moved his mouth and tongue to suck and lick on the heavy balls. The smell of Oscar’s musk was incredible. He inhaled deeply over and over again until he heard Oscar’s growl.
“Wanna fuck your mouth, baby.”
Noah took his hand off of Oscar’s erection and put the head in his mouth, his tongue playing with the sensitive slit while Oscar began to slowly snap his hips up and down. Noah relaxed his throat as each snap pressed more and more of the monster into his throat, and reached up to grab and knead the globes of his lover’s perfect ass. Noah glanced up and saw Oscar staring down at him. He spread his legs for Oscar, his fist on his own dick as he pumped and thumbed his own slit.
“God, you’re beautiful,” Oscar groaned as Noah’s mouth took him almost all the way in. “Sweet, sweet mouth, Noah.”
Noah relaxed himself even more, letting the sensations flow through him. He moved one hand to between Oscar’s cheeks, tapping on and then entering the puckered hole. Oscar groaned a little louder this time as Noah’s finger sank all the way to massage his prostate. Noah stroked his own dick, tapped Oscar’s bundle of nerves, slid his teeth gently over the mushroom head of Oscar’s dick, so lost in pleasure that it took him a while to realize that Oscar had pulled out of his mouth and was standing by the desk, pushing everything out of the way.
“Put it on me, baby,” Oscar commanded as he stood with his hips jutting out, his impressive, throbbing cock mere inches from Noah’s face. “Wanna fuck you on this desk now.”
Noah’s hands trembled at the thought, but he managed to get the condom on Oscar’s dick. As he positioned himself on the top of the desk, he watc
hed as Oscar lubed and slicked his cock, then reached between Noah’s legs and did the same for his.
“Gonna fuck you and jack you at the same time, baby.”
“Oscar,” Noah whimpered as he felt Oscar’s hand still while he pushed inside. Oscar went far enough, smiling when Noah yelled out. There he stayed, moving back and forth, almost painfully slowly, while the head of his cock passed over Noah’s prostate over and over again. “Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me,” Noah as he reached under his own ass to fondle Oscar’s low-hanging balls.
Oscar’s only response was to grunt, and thrust, and pump Noah’s dick. Noah raised his other arm over his head, feeling as if his body was melting. Then Oscar was leaning forward slightly, his free hand trailing over Noah’s chest, pinching his nipples. Oscar was all the way inside of Noah now, his hips snapping with greater speed.
Noah felt the slight pressure against his frenulum and opened his eyes. Oscar’s impressive physique was covered in a glistening layer of sweat. He reached for Noah and pulled him up so that Noah was sitting on his huge cock. Noah wrapped his arms around the strong shoulders and hung on while Oscar continued to pump into his body. Noah knew he wouldn’t last much longer.
And when Oscar began to lift one thigh and then the other, the sensation of the beautifully long, thick dick seeming to fill him completely, Noah let out a long, slow growl. He felt the tip of his cock rubbing against the soft fur of Oscar’s firm belly. He threw his head back and screamed Oscar’s name over and over again as he emptied himself between their two bodies.
Noah went limp, his arms loosening their hold on Oscar’s neck as he rode out his orgasm. He heard Oscar grunt, a primal sound echoing in the room, and then felt the strong arms pull him closer. Noah hung on as Oscar cried out his name, kissing and nipping at Noah’s neck. Noah put his lips against one ear and whispered words that spoke to his love and affection for this gentle giant.
A Still, Small Voice Page 18