by Lynn VanDorn
Josh moved his legs again and tried to get the blood circulating in them before they cramped up. “Smart-ass. I meant what did he do to you? Besides call you baby.”
Tyler poked Oliver with his toe and the cat responded by licking it. Josh didn't care what Tyler said. That cat was weird.
“It's so depressingly Freudian. Big surprise, I’ve got all these daddy issues and David saw that and capitalized on all of them. I met him when he was working security on a movie that I had a bit part in. I had just turned twenty-one and he was thirty-two.” Tyler gave Josh a look. “I might have a thing for older men. Did I mention I have daddy issues?”
Josh tried not to smile, because it wasn't really funny, and failed. “I think I remember you saying something along those lines, yes.”
Tyler also smiled, but his was full of bitterness. “David swept me off my feet. He was so… intense, I guess. So focused on me. I loved that, big surprise, but there were red flags right from the start that I ignored the shit out of. He separated me from my friends, or tried to. He and Purvi couldn't stand each other, and he kept trying to get me to fire her. When David and I disagreed, I was always the one who was wrong. He made all the decisions, from what we ate to how we had sex. And at first that was fine, because I didn't care, and because the sex was great—until it wasn't. And that was my fault, naturally, because I didn't want to do the things he wanted. He got off on hurting me, and he wanted to tie me up. And while I am not judgy about people's kinks, being tied up makes me…” Tyler’s smile fell away.
Josh had a sick feeling in his stomach. He remembered Tyler mentioning that they'd tied him up at Bridges before branding him. “You’re allowed to not be into bondage, Tyler. That's a pretty niche kink.”
“I know,” he said, but he didn't sound as if he believed it. “He wouldn't stop going on and on about it, and sometimes I gave in, but I hated it and he didn't care. He also knew about the cutting. I let him see my scars because I didn't know any better, and he seemed to think that gave him a pass to hurt me, too, whenever he wanted, however he wanted.” Tyler pulled the towel tighter around himself. “He liked giving me bruises because of how pretty he said they looked on my skin.” Tyler paused and frowned. “I shouldn't have drunk all that vodka. I'm going to regret telling you this in the morning.”
Josh felt like he was going to be ill. He wanted to find this David guy and dismantle him. “I take it you’re not referring to the fun sort of bruises.”
Tyler flashed a grin and reached over to run his finger across the marks that lingered on Josh’s neck and collarbone. “No,” he murmured. “Not the fun sort. The ‘I guess I'm just clumsy and fell down into someone’s fist’ kind of bruises.”
“Fuck,” Josh said. “God dammit, Tyler.”
“Calm your tits, Sir Joshua. I got my shit together and left him. Or kicked him out, since he'd been living in my house. You know, I find it amusing that you feel the need to distinguish between bad bruises and fun ones. That’s just adorable.”
Josh said nothing, but he could feel his face flame.
Tyler made his expression very serious and gave Josh a poke to get his attention. When he spoke, it was as if he were imparting a great and solemn secret. “You like a little pain, don't you? The scrape of teeth. A little too much pressure.” Tyler grabbed Josh’s chin in a grip of steel and drew his face closer until they were only a breath apart. “Am I wrong?”
“No.” Josh’s cock twitched and he felt guilty because now was so not the time.
Tyler caressed his jaw. “Yeah, I figured that out pretty quickly. You like it when I boss you around and tell you what to do, too. It gets you off and I am more than okay with that, so it's all good.” Tyler kissed him, just a soft whisper of lips barely touching, then he released Josh’s chin. “David, though. He liked things I hated, and sometimes I think that the more I didn't like them, the more he did. Then one day I woke up with a black eye I couldn't see out of and bruised ribs, and that was it. I packed up his shit, had the locks changed, and then called the police and got a restraining order. I even got one of my friends to take his shit to his work so I wouldn't have to see him again.”
“Good for you,” Josh said, still wanting to dismantle David very slowly.
“That wasn't it, though. He ended up harassing and stalking me for months before he finally got arrested. Slashed all the tires on my car and keyed it, among other things.”
“Huh,” Josh said.
“Yeah, I know. Just like your car.”
“So that's what was bothering you yesterday. Bad boyfriend flashback.”
Tyler clutched the towel tighter around himself. “What if it's him?”
“Is that likely? Didn't you date him in California?”
Tyler nodded. “Yeah, but after he got arrested he moved away. I don't know where. One of his coworkers told me that it was back where he grew up, but in all the time we were together, I never learned much about him. Didn't think about him for years, or at least not much, then my wall got painted.”
“Okay, Ty, you've lost me.”
Tyler blinked at him owlishly. “Fuck,” he said. “So, here's the thing. And you can't get mad. Promise?”
“No, I do not promise not to get mad. It doesn't work like that. Now what the hell?”
“So, while I was back home someone painted ‘die faggot’ on one half of my wall and ‘die cocksucker’ on the other half. And now you're mad. No, you're disappointed. That's worse.”
Josh let out a deep sigh. “Why didn't you tell me?”
Tyler buried his face again. “I’d planned on telling you when I got here, then shit happened and I forgot.”
“Shit happened?”
Tyler turned his face so one pewter-colored eye peered at him. “Yeah, shit happened. That epic airport kiss, then the epic fucking when we got home. Then I was going to tell you at lunch on Thursday, but Nik happened. Then I was going to tell you Friday, but dinner didn't seem to be the right time, and the strip club wasn't conducive to conversation, then you took me home and there was more fucking and then you said you loved me, and I didn't think about it again until I saw your car on Saturday, but we were already late for the wedding, and then my dad had a heart attack and then I found out that he's not my real dad and my mom has lied to me my whole life. It's been a busy week.”
Josh started to feel prickles of apprehension, because he'd also forgotten to share something. “So,” he said.
“Are you mad?” Tyler asked. “Is this the portion of the evening in which I get yelled at?”
Josh ran a hand through his hair. “Well, here's the thing,” he said.
Tyler lifted his head and now two pewter eyes peered at him. “What thing?”
“There was this guy on Tuesday night. He kept ringing the buzzer on the door. I finally went down to see who it was because security was doing dick-all about it, and there was this man trying to get in and demanding to know where you were. I threatened to call the cops and he went away. I figured he was just a creepy fan of yours.”
“What did he look like?” Tyler asked. He gripped the towel so hard his knuckles turned white.
Josh closed his eyes, thinking. “About my height and age, muscular build, dark hair, beard, really noticeable blue eyes.”
“Oh, Jesus. Aside from the beard, that could be David.”
“It could be a whole bunch of people, actually. Hey, I took his picture. Let me get my phone.”
Tyler nodded and Josh went to get it. When he walked back into the bathroom, Tyler had gotten out of the tub, dried himself off, and put his pajama bottoms on. He sat on the closed seat of the toilet with the cat on his lap.
Josh thumbed through his pictures until he found the one he was looking for. He turned the phone around and Tyler flinched back, clutching at Oliver.
“Oh, shit. It's him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, yeah. That's him. What the fuck is he doing here? How did he find your building? How did he know I was her
e with you?”
“I don't know why he's here,” Josh said, “but the rest wouldn't be too hard to figure out from the internet. We’ve done everything short of taking out a billboard to advertise that we're a couple. Look, I've already given his photo to security. They know to call the police if he comes back, which he hasn't, and we'll tell the police about it when I talk to them about the car. If he keeps up this juvenile shit, he'll get caught and arrested again. Okay?”
Tyler nodded and said, “Sure,” although he didn't sound sure.
“But if David’s here, then it's unlikely he also painted your wall.”
“Yeah. It was probably some other asshole who did that. Because that's what I need in my life. More assholes.”
“We’ll deal with them, Tyler. Together. Got it? And maybe when shit like this happens in the future you could mention it right away.”
“Likewise,” Tyler said, giving Josh his death glare, which paradoxically made Josh feel better.
“Agreed. Now, are you ready to come back to bed, grumpy boy? You can bring your cat with you.”
Tyler gave him a long look, then said, “Yeah.”
After they lay down next to each other and Josh pulled Tyler close, he said, “You're a depressing drunk.”
“That’s what Purvi always says, too. She likes it better when I drown my angst in ice cream, but you were all out.”
“I need to meet Purvi, and I promise in the future to keep the freezer stocked, just in case. You still like Chunky Monkey?”
Tyler turned to face him. “How the hell did you know that? Have you and Purvi been talking behind my back?”
“Nope.” Although Josh thought maybe they should. “It was your favorite when you were a kid.”
“Oh. And you remembered.” Tyler cupped his face and gave him a quick, hard kiss. “You realize you're stuck with me now, right? You can't keep comparing me to artwork and offering me ice cream and then decide later that you didn't mean it. I will go all Glenn Close on your ass.”
“Charming,” Josh said. “Lucky for both of us I don't have a rabbit. Or a wife.”
“Shut up and make soppy love to my drunken ass.”
“Even with the cat watching?” Josh asked, brows raised.
“I think it's too late to worry about corrupting him, and he's already left to go on kitty night patrol.”
“Keeping us safe from intruders?”
“Who knows what his itty-bitty cat brain is thinking. Are you going to fuck me or not?”
Josh rolled so Tyler lay under him. “How about a blow job, since I didn't have any ice cream? I can follow it up with a back rub.”
“Well, I suppose,” Tyler said, making himself sound put-upon. “If that's my only option, I'll make do.” He flung an arm over his eyes and adopted a martyred mien. “The things I have to put up with.”
Josh stifled a laugh and kissed his way down Tyler’s body, pulling off Tyler’s pants as he went. The room was lit only by moonlight, so all Josh could see was the suggestion of Tyler’s pale form. It stood out against the slate-gray sheets like an El Greco nude: shadowy velvet skin over defined dark ridges of muscle and bone. “So beautiful,” he murmured, licking down a sharp hip bone to Tyler’s groin.
“You’re such a tease,” Tyler bitched. “Just blow me already.”
Josh’s tongue lapped the crease of Tyler’s sac, already drawn high and tight against his body. “Patience,” he breathed along Tyler’s skin, then bit his inner thigh, making him first jump then moan.
“Oh, fuck, Josh, please.”
“Please, what?” Josh traced his tongue along Tyler’s scars, following them like a road map back to his hip. He licked the skin adjacent to where Tyler’s cock lay against his abdomen, so much larger and darker than you’d expect, and gorgeous like the rest of him.
Tyler groaned. “Fuck you, Josh. Fuck you so hard.”
“Just for that…” he said, and pulled back.
“No, don't stop,” Tyler protested. “You get back here, mister.”
Josh reached over to turn on the bedside lamp. Tyler went from stark El Greco contrast to the warm, glowing tones of a Renaissance master. “Michelangelo would have painted the shit out of you,” he blurted.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He took Tyler's cock into his hand and pumped it, then lowered his head to lick away the precum that glistened at the head. “Just thinking out loud.”
“No, wait, wasn't he gay? I think I remember hearing that somewhere. He'd probably want to actually fuck me, unlike certain cockteases I could name.”
Josh gave Tyler’s cock another slow lick, stabbing his tongue into the slit and making Tyler squirm under him. “Eh. There's no proof he was gay, and even if he was, he was a devout Catholic. He would've painted you as an angel on a cathedral ceiling, composed odes to your spectacular ass, felt guilty about the impure thoughts you’d inspire, and left your actual person untouched.”
“How un-fun. Speaking of untouched…” Tyler thrust his hips up, fucking into Josh’s hand.
Josh took the hint and lowered his head. He took Tyler's cock into his mouth and sucked, tracing abstract designs on it with his tongue.
Tyler moaned, made mindless but not silent (never silent, Josh thought) by a combination of vodka and Josh’s mouth. “Oh, Jesus. Oh, yes. Yes. Fuck, yes.” Josh pulled his mouth away, causing Tyler to whine. “I didn't say stop.”
“I didn't say I was done.”
Josh crawled up Tyler’s body, only to have his face captured by strong hands and his lips devoured. Josh’s heart pounded in his chest, the beats almost painful. He loved Tyler in all his incarnations, even the less-pleasant ones, but his favorite was the Tyler stripped bare of everything but base need and want, because it was for him, all for him.
I love you. God, how I love you. “Can I fuck you now?”
“You didn't finish my blow job, and what about my back rub?”
“Good point.” Josh flipped Tyler over so he was facedown.
Tyler pushed up on his elbows and looked back at Josh. “Hey.”
“Yes?” Josh rubbed Tyler’s shoulders, then kissed the wing of each shoulder blade. He kneaded and kissed his way down Tyler's back, ending with dipping his tongue into the hollow of each perfect dimple that sat above each perfect cheek, just as he'd wanted to do from the first time he'd seen Tyler nude.
“Never mind,” Tyler breathed. “Carry on.”
Josh spread Tyler and even there he was beautiful, rosy and smooth and perfect. Josh bent his head to taste him, making Tyler hiss in through his teeth.
“Oh, Jesus, God, please, fuck, please!”
While Tyler uttered a medley of broken curses and pleas, Josh licked and nibbled, loving that he had the ability to make his elf lose himself so completely. Under his tongue, Tyler’s sphincter softened and spasmed. He jabbed his tongue into Tyler’s body and felt his entire body shudder.
“Please, Josh, please. God, please. I will do anything, I swear.”
Josh gave Tyler’s ass a playful bite. “Does that mean I can fuck you now, your majesty?”
Tyler moaned and raised his ass in the air and wiggled it at Josh. “Impossible man. Yes. Now. Or else.”
Josh grabbed what he needed out of the bedside dresser. “I think Michelangelo doesn't know what he's missing out on.” He pushed slick fingers into Tyler and desire pulsed through Josh. He was tight and hot and utterly exquisite.
Tyler cried out, then muttered, “Impossible man,” again under his breath as Josh took his hand away so he could put on a condom.
“Your impossible man,” Josh said as he slid his cock slowly into Tyler.
“Yes,” Tyler hissed. “Mine.”
Mine, repeated his brain in chorus, all the different aspects for once on the same page as he filled Tyler’s body. Mine, with each thrust. Mine, with each moan from the man writhing under him. Mine, as he stroked Tyler to orgasm, then came himself in a surge of sizzling electric pleasure. Mine, as he cleaned a bonel
ess and limp Tyler and helped put his pants back on. Mine, as Josh gathered him close and stroked the satiny skin on his back. Mine, as Tyler lay in his arms and snored softly in a way he shouldn't find adorable but did anyway. Mine.
“Love you,” he whispered into Tyler’s neck.
“Ugh. I was almost asleep,” Tyler complained.
“Sorry,” Josh whispered back.
A few seconds went by, then Tyler said, “It's okay.” He nestled closer to Josh, and soon the soft snoring resumed.
Josh’s arms tightened around Tyler. Mine, he thought as he drifted off to sleep.
–—
Sunday, October 2nd, 3:49 a.m.
Josh’s perfectly adequate condo
Evanston, IL
Josh woke with Tyler’s knee pressing hard onto his bladder. He extricated himself, went to go take a piss, and when he came back to bed, he noticed his phone’s blinking light. Settling back into bed, he looked to see who had contacted him.
Unknown number: Hi, Dr. McDreamy. This is Purvi, Tyler’s personal assistant. Any reason why he isn't answering his phone?
Josh: Purvi! I've heard a lot about you. Let me put you in my contacts.
Purvi: All good things, I hope.
Purvi: Who am I kidding? This is Tyler we’re talking about. Forget everything he ever told you. I am AWESOME.
Josh: I'm sure you are. Is there something you need?
Purvi: Is Tyler okay? Why can't I get ahold of him?
Josh: He's sleeping.
Purvi: Since when is the King of Insomnialand asleep when you aren't?
Josh: It's been a long day. Do you know about Tyler’s dad having a heart attack?
Purvi: Yeah. I got a message from Ryan. He said that I should try and talk with Ty so that’s why I was trying to call. I know he hates that old buzzard, but he’s still Tyler’s dad.
Josh: There’s more. I'll let him fill you in since it's all family stuff, but he drank over half a bottle of vodka, talked at me, then passed out. I'm not waking him up at 3:30 am just to chat.
Purvi: Wow. You got to experience the wonder that is drunken Tyler. You sure you still want to be his boyfriend?