Tied: A Crown and Anchor Novella

by Kerri Ann

  Finishing the voicemails, I quickly panned the emails. Not many asked for my resignation, which still has me expecting the other shoe to drop. Hell hath no fury like that of a fairly Republican state. One main value of their core is man and woman. Though I’m not a Republican, the majority of my state is still rooted in that belief. The biggest surprise is that no one from the party specifically left me emails stating I should be looking for a job.

  “Guess I should open the mail and totally depress myself.” Grabbing up my half-filled glass with the half-full bottle, I tear into the last things left. Though some are pretty strongly suggesting I should stick a gun in my mouth and pull, most were supportive.

  Wandering off to the back of my now vacant house, I sit to watch the sunset. Leaving New York pretty early and arriving here midday, I’m amazed that reading all of those letters took so much time. Remembering the voicemails, I open the app and start through them.

  Carli, with her chirpy, chipper voice, instantly cheers me up.

  “Hey, cock swallower. Yeah, you’re the one I’m talking to. Stop moping because I know you are. Quit wallowing in regrets you can’t fix, and whack off in any room you want, as much as you want.”

  Wondering how she knew I’d come here first, her voice answers me. “Yeah, I knew you’d go to the house first.” Her voice softens. “I get it, Chris. You’re disappointed she left you. Your best friend from high school has up and left you at the imaginary altar. Being the softhearted guy I know you are, you’re upset. It was all a sham anyway.”

  Clearing her throat, the hard-ass Carli is back. “Now suck up those minuscule man balls. Toss on a sparkly outfit and hit the gay clubs. You’re a free man. You’re a free gay man. No use in hiding it now.”

  With a shout from Jamieson in the background, grumbling something unintelligible, she says, “Tata for now, manwhore. Girls are squealing for the boob. I gotta run. Love you.”

  Deleting her call and the subsequent calls that state literally the same thing, but in more flourishing ways, I move onto the rest.

  “Chris. It’s Jim from New York. I just wanted to say it was a pleasure meeting you. I think you’re a fabulous person, very sweet, and I hope everything works out when you get home. I have hope for humanity. I have hope they can be nice and not menacing. Take care of yourself. If you’re ever in New York, remember, brunch Sundays.”

  Awe, such a nice man.

  The next is from Julia. Honestly, I’m afraid of what she’s about to say. Anyone should be.

  “Chris. I’m only going to say this one time. Don’t get into bed with another reporter—like, ever again. I think I’ll fly to Indy to castrate you myself if you do. PS. Tyler is moping. Whatever you did to my boy, you better not hurt his feelings. I will send Rush out. Just sayin’.”

  With a decisive click, her voicemail ends. Menacing and adorable. I’m definitely never letting Carli and Julia meet. They’d swap recipes for disaster and mayhem. I wouldn’t fair well.

  Once I make it through those, there’s only one left. Tyler.

  Huffing into the line, he starts.

  “Chris. I need to get this off my chest.” He pauses. I imagine him pacing around the room. “I’m not a needy man. I’m not going to chase you, and I won’t expect anything in the future. I had fun last night…well, this morning, and I wanted you to know I have no expectations. I said that already, didn’t I? Shit. Well….anyway, I hope the flight was good, and I hope that things settle down quickly for you. Good luck in the future. Yeah, I think I said that too. Okay. Bye.”

  Clicking the repeat button, I replay it. I think I actually replay it four times before I decide to man up and call him.

  As the phone rings, my heart rate jumps and my palms sweat.

  “Hello?” Tyler says on the third ring.

  “Hi. It’s...um. Me. Chris.”

  “I’m glad you called.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. I, uh…I wanted to apologize for the crazy stalker type message I left. I don’t expect you—”

  “It was nice to hear from you. I left your message for the end. I wanted to hear a friendly voice.”

  With hesitation, Tyler’s voice softens. “Yeah? Well, okay then.”

  “I got in a few hours ago. I’ve been going through all the voicemails, emails and stuff. Not as bad as I’d expected.” I want to say something like “I miss you,” but it feels needy and to soon. Instead, I stick with the pleasantries, though I’m aching to say something more.

  We talk for almost an hour. I tell him about the worst of the calls, emails and letters, and he informs me that Julia is waiting for me to “fuck up,” as she put it.

  “Well, I best be going. I have to get back to my condo. I’ll need to be ready for an ass chewing at work. I doubt it’ll go well.” I know it won’t go well. The senate committees were the worst of my emails. They want to go over some logistical issues they have with my performance. In other words, they want to oust my ass.

  “Night. I hope it goes well. Call me if you want after. I have a short day tomorrow.”

  “Night, Tyler.”

  “Night, Chris.” By the time I hang up the phone, I’m feeling calm, and I’m actually more at peace than I’ve been in a long time. Tyler does that. He calms me. But as the room falls back into that deafening silence, the loneliness creeps back in.

  I suck at being alone.

  Chris

  “It’s been three weeks, Chris. They’ve talked, they’ve whined, and no one has deliberated on firing you, so I doubt they’re about to. Man up and do your job as if the tutu is still twirling.” Talking to Carli on Facetime, not only can I feel the emotion, but I see it too. I’m glad to see she’s well, but I’m thrilled she can’t hit me in person. If she could grab me through the phone and throttle me right now, I bet she would.

  “I know it’s only been three weeks, Car. But Maxan and Charlebois have been opposed to me from the start. This just fuels them further.”

  “Christ on a clementine!” Huffing loudly, she shakes her fist at the screen. “Look at me, Chris. You’re stressing me out. Stop being such a puss.” Looking over her shoulder, she turns back to the phone and whispers, “It’s a long shot that James will let me come out and save your ass, but I’ll try. Remember, there’ll be two babies in tow too. You don’t want me spilling boob as you bang some man against the table.” She quickly holds her hand up. “Actually, scratch that. I’m not scaring my baby girls with you strapped down. I think I’ll just stay here.”

  “I’m not with anyone, Carli. I mean—”

  “What happened with Tyler? I thought that was going well?”

  “It was—is.” I’m not really sure what we are. “I don’t know, Car. I haven’t talk to him in weeks. I’ve left messages, but he hasn’t returned any of them. It would be a really long distance thing. I mean, he has his company there, and I’m stuck here with the state affairs. Not really a great start for a relationship when you can’t see each other in person.”

  “Yeah, true. Have you been with anyone since?”

  Shaking my head, I purse my lips. “Nope.”

  Her brows rise to heights I didn’t think they could manage. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, I know you. Two days is a dry spell, so two weeks is an eternity. Three weeks without sex...You must really like this guy. Even when he’s not returning calls you’re staying off dick. I’m impressed, Chris.”

  “Yeah, me too.” I drive her back towards the topic. “What do you think I should do about the job?” A few State’s Senators are calling for my resignation, mainly because I’m gay, and of course a few states are backing me wholeheartedly, namely Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama and Florida, as well as the boys from New York.

  “Get the lay of the land from the Texan. If he thinks you need to worry, worry. If not, keep plugging along and do your job.”

  “I guess that’s best anyway. Not like I can help the state and get support if I stop doing the job asked.”

  “Damn right, I’
m right. Now, I gotta run. I’ll try to pop out and see you before we leave for Japan.”

  “You can stay at the house. All of you. No one’s there while it’s for sale anyway. So it’s yours to use if you stop in.”

  She smiles. “We might do that. A day in the country may make Jamieson feel better anyway. Sitting in this concrete jungle, he’s becoming unhinged. It’s taking a lot of —”

  “Yep! I get it. Sex. Okay, Carli. Let me know. Chat later, love.”

  “Sounds good.” With a big wink, she grins and signs off.

  I’ve been sex free—well, by the hands and cocks of others—for three weeks. I’m itching for a release. Her talking about having a romp with a sexy man like Jamieson Crown, I’m having a hard time containing my thoughts. They wander to visions of a sexy man and a big cock.

  Shit.

  Now I’ve done it.

  Where are those damn toys?

  Tyler

  “No, I’ve avoided talking to Chris for a couple weeks.”

  “And why is that, my puddin’ princess?”

  “Julia,” I say in a warning tone. She knows I hate when she patronizes me. Of all the guys, I’m the one she learned a long time ago not to taunt. I’ll go full Xena Warrior Princess on her ass.

  Rolling her eyes, she grabs up her Manhattan and shakes her head. “Fine. Sorry. Go on, Ty, why?”

  “I guess I’m wondering if he’s just stuck in my head because he was here, or because there really is something about him that struck a chord. It’s been years without anyone really getting past this barrier,” I tap my head, “that gets the first crack at stopping those who’d hurt the heart.”

  She touches my hand,. “Sweetie, you’ve put up walls. You don’t let anyone in that isn’t us. And if he made it to the apartment, in my books, that’s a barrier drop.”

  Fuck, she’s right.

  “So, what is it that’s stopping you?”

  “Really? I guess I’m scared. I don’t want to be hurt again.”

  With a sweet smirk that only drunk Julia can pull off, she says, “And how are you faring so far with that?”

  “Not so good.” I take a big gulp of my drink. I can’t deny that she’s right. She’s right in many ways, way too often. I hate admitting defeat to her.

  “Then why are you here, moping, whining, and drinking yourself into a stupor on a Friday night?”

  “Because…”

  “Yeah, that’s the answer—because.” Taking the drink from my hand, sloppily making a mess on the table, Julia licks the spilt liquid off her fingers. “I’m sure there’s a flight to Indy on a Saturday night, or early morning. Go see him. At least give it a try. You’ve had a really long dry spell.”

  “Really? You don’t think that’s a bit funny? ‘Hey, I haven’t responded to your texts and emails in weeks, so I hopped on a plane to visit. Surprise!’”

  She slaps my arm. I jump back slightly from her assault. “Go! Jesus, Tyler, do I have to drive you there drunk?”

  I toss my hands up in defeat. “Fine. I’m going,” I say, then murmur, “after one more drink.”

  She literally shoves me off the bench we’re perched on. “That’s it, I’m driving!”

  ------

  Chris gave me his address when he’d been at my apartment—in what feels like forever ago—and as I now stand in front of the door to his condo, I’m freezing up. “What the hell am I thinking?” A better question is why did I let Julia talk me into this?

  If I don’t at least see him, Julia will march my ass right back here. Those innate lawyer skills of hers can tell when I lie. If I do it and regret it though, she’ll never live it down.

  Well that made up my mind—years of torturing Julia if she’s wrong.

  Straightening my shoulders, I pull in a deep breath and step towards the door. Raising my hand to knock, I hear a sound. A low moan. A noise I’ve heard firsthand before.

  Stepping a bit closer, I place my ear to the door with my hands on either side of the frame, I push up against it. As his tempo rises and falls, the moans become deeper.

  “Fuck. Couldn’t keep it in your pants, I guess.” It’s my fault anyway. I shouldn’t have expected more when I didn’t talk to him for weeks.

  Moving my hands off the wall, I hit the doorbell by mistake.

  “Shit!”

  As the tone rings out, I rush for the elevator. Frantically hitting the button, not receiving the carriage, I look for the staircase. Breaking into a sprint, I make a mad dash for the door, hitting the release to pop the door.

  “Tyler?”

  Pausing, I curse myself in more ways than one before I turn around.

  Standing in all his God-given glory is Chris, with a monster erection and his chest heaving, out of breath.

  “Hi. Um, I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d grab a—”

  “Cup of sugar?” He grins wide. He knows he’s caught me in a lie, but I’ve caught him in the act, so I guess he’s proved he’s not the guy I thought he was.

  The elevator dings. “While you’re here, Tyler, why don’t you come in for a coffee?”

  What? Excuse me?

  Folding my arms across my chest, I step towards the elevator. “No. I’m really good. I didn’t mean to interrupt you and your company.”

  Laughing deeply, Chris leans against the door. As his cackling voice ramps up, his voice falters until he’s sucking in air.

  “What’s so funny?”

  Holding up a hand, he wipes tears from his eyes, trying to compose himself. “You think I’m with someone?”

  “I heard you moaning. It was a lot of moaning, Chris.” I’m actually pretty pissed he thinks it’s funny. He’s left some poor sod in his apartment with a hard-on, as he’s out here chatting with me.

  Turning around, he shows me the very large black toy sticking out of his rectum. “I’m alone.”

  Looking at it, back up to his face, and back to his hard-on—that hasn’t lessened thankfully—I involuntarily lick my lips.

  “So...um…so...”

  “You said that already, Ty.”

  Staring at his cock, I can’t articulate a thing. “Ah…” Is all that comes out as I gaze at his cock.

  “Will you come in if I ask, Ty?” Stepping to the side, he gives room for me to pass. His request is genuine and enticing.

  Snapping myself out of my trance, I look into his face and smile. “Well, I did come all the way here. It would be seen as rude if I didn’t at least come in for a coffee, right?”

  “Right,” he says, holding the door open.

  Stepping up to the door, where he half fills the entrance, I throw caution to the wind and grab Chris by the nape of his neck for a kiss and squeeze his naked cock. As soon as his tongue hits mine, we’re both moaning. Kicking the door shut, pushing me up against the hallway wall, Chris searches out the buttons on my pants. Pulling his cock tight, stroking it up and down, I remember he has a toy in his backside. Reaching around, touching it lightly, I search out the edge for the handle.

  With a wildness, Chris’ kiss becomes sloppy and passionate as he rushes. Sudden contact on the toy as I shift it around has sent him over the edge.

  Breaking away slightly, he looks at the hall table and picks up a little remote on edge of it. “Here. The power is yours.”

  Smiling devilish, because I know I am, I remove my hand from his cock and press the button on top. Feeling a low vibration start through the toy as I hold the handle of it, Chris sucks in a deep breath.

  “Do you like that? Or would you like me to up it?” Pressing the button again, the vibration increases.

  Moving his hands to the wall behind me, he slams them against the mirror, rattling it. “Fuck!”

  Turning him so that his back is against the wall, I bend down. “Stay there or I’ll up the speed again.” Leaving kisses slowly down his chest, I follow the clean line of trimmed hair. “No moving,” I growl as I relish the idea of reaching the cock that is straining for release. Moving to my knees, Chr
is’s back bows.

  “Fuck. Ty, I can’t hold out long. Please, please.”

  Stroking his muscular penis, I ask, “What do you want right now, Chris?”

  At first he doesn’t say a word; he’s too into the feeling of me stroking him and the toy teasing his prostate. So I press the button again for a reaction.

  Forcing his back against the wall hard, the toy rattles on the unforgiving wall.

  “Fuck! Suck it, please! Please put your mouth on me, Ty.”

  “All you had to do was ask,” I say, licking my lips with anticipation.

  I’m utterly turned on by the way he’s falling apart, that the thought of his cock in my mouth—that I never went for before—is driving me crazy. Licking the seam, kissing his tight balls before going back to the angry head, I cover it with my mouth. Now I’m moaning. The vibration must be driving him insane. With long strokes up and down, I hold it in my hand tightly. Chris grips my shoulders.

  “Fuck! Fuck!” His voice stammers as excitement builds bit by bit. “Oh my God, that’s amazing, Tyler! Yes!”

  So I stop, back down the toy and step away.

  “Whaa!” he cries. Standing there wanton, darkly flushed and heaving, I stand up. Peeling my shirt off slowly, I then release my pants, allowing them to pool on the floor, I step out of them and my shoes.

  Chris moves to step forward. “Nope. Stay there,” I order.

  “Why? What’s wrong?” He’s not mad, just concerned.

  “This won’t be quick. I want more tonight. This will be a long night.”

  “It’s noon.”

  “Exactly,” I tell him, smiling.

  Trying to calm his breathing, walking with a painfully stiff hard-on and a toy still firmly held in his ass, Chris is hesitant until I ask, “Where are your condoms?”

  “Bathroom on the left, first drawer.” Leaning forward on the table in the hall, as I move he stays rooted in place. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to wait here. I don’t think I can walk without going off. I need to relax for a minute.”