by Carol Lynne
Mario grinned and bumped Jay with his shoulder. “You sweet on him?”
Jay looked surprised. “No. We’re friends. He needed to get out of his apartment more. When he’s alone, he gets paranoid, thinking he hears noises and stuff.” Jay shrugged. “I tried to tell him it was probably just the bakery oven cooling down, but I don’t think he believes me.”
“So who are you sweet on?” Asa asked.
Mario would have to remember to speak to Asa about Jay’s past. He didn’t fault his lover for being inquisitive, he had wondered the same thing, but Mario knew it was the quickest way to shut Jay down.
“No one.”
Hmmm, interesting. Mario could tell by the way Jay squared his shoulders his statement wasn’t true. It was also obvious Jay didn’t like the attraction he felt for whoever it was.
Ethan strolled by the table. “I’m getting ready to take an order.”
“Okay,” Jay answered.
“Before you have to go, let me say this is the best damn pasta I’ve had since my trip to Italy years ago. If you ever decide to strike out on your own, let me know.”
“Thanks, but I’m happy here. Erico’s already been hounding me about working for him, but Sean’s been really good to me.”
“Don’t let Erico get to you. He’s a persistent bastard when he wants something.” Mario noticed the subtle tick of Jay’s jaw as it clenched.
“Don’t worry. I’m used to dealing with people like him.” Jay stood and tapped his fingers on the table. “It was nice meeting you, Asa.”
“Pleasure was mine,” Asa replied.
“See you Tuesday?” Jay asked Mario.
“I’m sure I’ll be here, but you’re always too busy to talk. Maybe I’ll stop by during the day sometime soon so we can catch up.”
“Sounds good.” Jay waved and walked off towards the kitchen.
“You were right. He does seem like a nice kid.”
Mario took another bite of his dinner. Maybe he should also stop back by The Canoe sometime soon and have another chat with Erico about that wide berth he was supposed to keep when it came to Jay. “He’s the kinda guy you want to protect. Ya know? Jay’s been through enough for his age. It’s time he finally found some peace and happiness.”
Chapter Five
“Man, it’s really coming down.” Mario couldn’t get over the amount of snow falling.
“And we’re supposed to get another six inches before it stops,” Rio said, coming up behind Mario to look out the front window.
Mario hoped Asa made it home from his board meeting okay. Even though he’d hired a temporary driver to get him to and from the office, the thought of Asa’s car winding up in a ditch had him worried. “I think I’ll give Asa a call.”
Rio’s big hand mussed Mario’s hair. “It’s cute the way you worry over him. I’ve always taken Asa as the kind of man who could take care of himself.”
Mario knew the truth. Asa may be able to handle himself in the business world, but his lover was incredibly insecure when it came to handling things in his personal life. “In some things, but luckily he has me to help him with the rest.”
He excused himself to the office and placed the call.
“Hey,” Asa answered.
“Hi. Just making sure you got home okay.”
“Barely. The roads between here and town are horrendous. I felt bad about sending Max out into this mess, but Ms. Guttenberg needed to get home, and I didn’t want her driving at all, so Max ended up taking her.”
“So you’re alone?” The idea didn’t sit well with Mario.
“Yes and that’s exactly the way it’s going to stay. I won’t have you risking your life to babysit me. I’ll be fine.”
“What if I’d rather fuck you than babysit you?”
“What if I’d rather have you around to fuck me later than to go to your funeral?” Asa fired back.
“Okay. I get it. But don’t think this is going to be a regular thing. If I have to buy a damn plough to hitch to the front of my truck, I’ll do it. No way am I going through this all winter. As a matter of fact, maybe you should plan on staying with me in town when we know a storm’s coming in.”
“You wouldn’t mind?” Asa startled Mario by asking.
“Why the hell would I mind? I’ve spent damn near every night at your place for going on two months.” Mario knew Asa’s insecurities were once again popping up.
“Okay, then, that would be great. I’ve never stayed at a lover’s house before.”
Mario shook his head. Of course Asa hadn’t stayed with any of his lovers, because they’d all been too busy trying to get money and gifts in return for sex. Hell, half the guys probably didn’t even have a fucking house in the first place.
“As soon as the roads clear enough for me to get through, I’ll be out.”
“Don’t even attempt it until the snow stops and the roads are ploughed,” Asa warned.
“Fine, but I can’t promise not to harass the city until it gets done.”
Asa chuckled. “Call me later?”
“Of course. Keep warm.”
“I will. Bye.”
Mario hung up and smiled. Had he ever been so happy? He knew the answer right away. No. He just hoped nothing happened to fuck up what he’d finally found.
* * * *
After work, Mario noticed how empty the parking lot outside of The Canoe looked. He decided to make a stop and have that chat with Erico.
Pulling his stalking cap over his ears, he braved the blowing snow and made his way around the corner of the building to the restaurant. The new hostess perked up when Mario walked in. “Hi, Ellen, is Erico busy?”
She glanced around the almost-empty restaurant. “He’s not busy cooking, that’s for sure. He’s been doing phone interviews all day. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
Mario nodded and gestured towards the bar. “I’ll have a beer and wait.”
There was only one individual in the bar area, and luckily, it was someone Mario knew. He took a stool next to the high school football coach and pounded him on the back. “How’re ya doing, Kenny?”
“I’m okay, how about you?”
“I’d be doing fantastic if it weren’t for the crappy weather outside.”
“I hear ya. Why do you think I’m here instead of at practice?” Kenny chuckled.
Mario and Kenny had worked out many times together, so he knew about Kenny’s crush on a fellow teacher. “Any news on the Eli front?”
Kenny shook his head and took another drink of his beer. “Nope. He still treats me like a former student. I swear the guy’ll never get over it.”
“Eli’s probably never had to deal with a similar situation before. Most kids grow up and leave town.”
“Yeah.” Kenny nodded. “Leave it to the Trenton’s to raise a queer.”
Mario knew Kenny didn’t get along with his fathers and mother. One of the first ménage families to settle in Cattle Valley, Jefferson, Lisa and Martin Trenton had so much love for each other they didn’t seem to have any left over for their only child. As a result, Kenny was treated as an afterthought in his own home growing up.
“All I’m saying is maybe you should ask him out instead of waiting for Eli to come to you.”
Kenny shook his head. “I don’t handle rejection well. Better to love from afar than be avoided.”
How long had Mario had the same philosophy when it came to Asa? “Loving from a distance sucks. I should know, been there, done that.”
Kenny grinned. “Yeah, but I’ve heard around town that you’ve been spending an awful lot of time with your secret obsession.”
“Fully fledged obsession now.” Mario grinned back. “And all because I finally got the guts to make my move.”
“I hear you. I’ll give it some thought.”
“Hey!” Erico greeted, coming around behind the bar.
“Finally,” Mario teased. “What does a guy have to do to get a beer around here?”
; “Get off your ass and come around and get it yourself. I sent Mark home early.” Without asking what he wanted, Erico opened the cooler and handed Mario his favourite beer.
“You’d better make sure Kenny doesn’t want anything else because I need to talk to you in private.”
Erico whistled. “Sounds fun.”
Kenny finished off his beer and tossed a couple of bills on the bar. “Thanks, but I’d better get home while I still can.”
“Bye, buddy.” Mario waved as Kenny made his way out of the room. He turned back to Erico. Instead of beating around the bush, he decided to come right out with it. “I heard through the grapevine that you’ve been bugging Jay to come work for you.”
“Fucking gossipmongers.”
Mario snorted. “Yeah, like you don’t gossip as much as anyone else in town.”
“Whatever. So you’ve come to warn me, is that it?”
Mario rested his forearms on the bar and leant forward. “I thought I told you to keep your dick away from Jay.”
“How can you jump from me wanting him to work here to me wanting in his ass?”
“Because I know you, remember? I happen to know you’ve fucked every single sous-chef you’ve ever had.”
Erico crossed his arms. “Not every one. Besides, who could blame me? I’m stuck here fifteen, sixteen fucking hours a day.”
Mario knew Erico’s reasoning was valid, but he also knew his old lover’s sexual appetites. “Jay is not the man for you.”
“Why? You think my big cock would split that tiny ass of his in two?” Erico smirked as he said it, and Mario nearly jumped over the bar.
He knew it was an automatic defence tactic on Erico’s part, which calmed him down quickly. One of the reasons Mario knew it would never last between the two of them was because Erico refused to acknowledge he had emotions.
If Mario hadn’t known Erico as well as he did, he wouldn’t have even noticed the differences in the man since the grandstand collapse. Erico might be able to fool most people, but Mario had finally figured out his secret. Erico used sex to keep people from getting close. Mario didn’t know who’d hurt his ex-lover, but it had definitely left scars.
“He’s a friend of mine, and I’m asking you to please stop it. Jay’s been hurt enough. Leave it alone.”
A clouded expression crossed Erico’s face before he quickly recovered. “I’ll stop bugging him to work for me. That’s all I’m promising.”
Mario shook his head. “Not good enough. I want you to promise me you won’t play games with him. Believe me, you’re way out of his league. It wouldn’t be a fair matchup.”
Erico didn’t agree, but Mario knew his ex was thinking about every word Mario had said. He guessed that was the best he could hope for at the moment. He pulled his wallet out of his coat pocket, but Erico pushed the wallet back against Mario’s chest.
“Keep your money. It’s a sad day when I can’t buy an old friend a drink.”
Mario stuffed the billfold back into his pocket. “See? That’s the first time you’ve ever referred to me as a friend.” Mario leant across the counter again, inches from Erico’s gorgeous face. “I know there are emotions in there. Maybe it’s time you let them out.”
Erico laughed and took a step back. “Get out of here, you ass.”
Mario left the restaurant feeling conflicted. Even though he knew Erico wasn’t what Jay needed, he’d begun to believe maybe Jay was just what Erico needed.
* * * *
Asa had his suitcase packed and sitting by the door when Mario arrived. He’d become so used to having Mario with him in the evenings it had driven him crazy to be alone for even one night.
He opened the door and gestured to his suitcase. “Before you ask, I’m not moving in. I just thought it would be handy to keep a few sets of clothes at your place in case another sudden storm comes up.”
Mario answered Asa with a deep kiss. “Bring your whole damn closet if you want.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary, but thanks for the offer.”
Mario lifted the suitcase. “You ready?”
“Yes. I just need to set the alarm.” Asa waited for Mario to walk out before tapping the code in and locking the door. “I finally get to ride next to you.”
“Yep, but with the roads the way they are, no funny business. We’ll have to wait for a nicer day to play bob for the salami while I’m driving.”
Asa coughed. He’d never met anyone who could talk as crudely as Mario did and yet turn him on at the same time. With his walker, Asa slowly made his way to the truck. He hadn’t told Mario, but he’d been practicing with his cane. Despite what the doctors predicted, Asa knew he’d be finished with the walker in the next week or so.
Asa steeled himself for the approaching embarrassment. “Will you show me how strong you are?”
Even though he tried to make light of the situation, Asa felt uncomfortable as soon as Mario lifted him off his feet. He even received a gentle kiss as he was set gently into the seat. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” Mario kissed him again. “Definitely, my pleasure.”
Asa scooted to the centre of the bench seat and fastened his lap belt. He knew it was risky in the current weather conditions, but he really needed to feel Mario’s body heat at his side. Funny how quickly he was becoming addicted to his lover’s warmth and smell. He’d slept the previous night with his head buried in Mario’s pillow to try and convince his brain Mario was sleeping next to him.
Once Mario cleared the gate and turned onto the county road, Asa put his hand on his lover’s thigh. “You’ll be here for Thanksgiving, right?”
Mario glanced at Asa before returning his eyes to the road. “I’ve been arguing with my mom about that for over a week now. For some reason, she has it in her head that we need to try and become a family again. Don’t ask me what the hell she’s thinking. We’ve never been a family.”
Asa knew Mario’s mom was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. “Maybe she wants to make amends before it’s too late?”
Mario shrugged. “Who the hell knows what she wants. All I know is it’s my first year to spend Thanksgiving with you, and that’s what I plan to do.”
Asa thought of his own family, gathering for the annual holiday. He knew he wasn’t welcome to join them like in years past. He’d followed his gut instinct and had cut them off from his money nearly two weeks earlier. It had been the last time any of his siblings had spoken to him.
He didn’t want Mario to cut himself off from the only family he had in order to be with him. “If you don’t mind me tagging along, I’ll go to Atlantic City with you.”
Mario released the steering wheel long enough to squeeze Asa’s hand. “Thanks, baby, but I would never subject you to my mother.”
“Unless you’re planning to get rid of me sometime soon, I’ll need to meet her sooner or later.” Asa turned and kissed Mario on the cheek. “Come on, it’ll be fun. We can spend the day with your mom, take in a show or two, gamble…”
“I’ll think about it,” Mario finally answered, cutting Asa off.
They drove the rest of the way into town in companionable silence. It wasn’t until they were driving down one of the side streets that Asa realised he’d never even seen where Mario lived. He was surprised when they pulled into the driveway of a small pale yellow bungalow.
“That porch is fantastic.” He wondered if it was too cold to sit on the swing, snuggled under a blanket with his man.
“It’s not much, but it’s mine,” Mario said, opening his door.
As Mario lifted the walker out of the truck bed, Asa thought of all the things he could’ve said to the statement but didn’t. He kept hoping someday Mario would understand Asa didn’t give a shit what Mario had or didn’t. He just wanted the man.
Mario opened the passenger door and helped Asa down. Asa could tell Mario had taken special care to shovel the driveway and sidewalk. It was yet another reason Asa loved the man so much. Mario continued to do
things for him without expecting anything in return.
“Watch these steps. They’re clear, but they’re pretty steep,” Mario warned him.
Asa knew his lover wanted to carry him up the steps, but with a few folks in the neighbourhood, no doubt, peeking out their windows there was no way he was going to allow that.
By the time Asa made it into the living room, he was winded. He’d had a temporary elevator installed at his house, so stairs weren’t something he was used to tackling. “Maybe we should make steps part of my therapy.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Mario agreed, stomping the snow from his feet before taking off his boots. He held out his hand and took Asa’s coat, hanging it on the coat rack to dry alongside his. “Hang on a sec, and I’ll help you with those shoes.”
“I love this place.” Although Asa’s house was everything he’d dreamt of, Mario’s home had a completely different feel to it. Homey. He could definitely see the two of them curled up on the couch watching television as the storms raged outside.
Mario helped Asa off with his boots and put them on a mat next to the front door. “Would you like to lie down?”
Asa held out his arms and waited for Mario to come to him. “That depends on whether you’re ready to lie down? I’ve missed you.”
Mario ran the tip of his tongue around Asa’s lips before delving in for a kiss. Asa could feel his lover’s cock hardening against him and moaned. “You haven’t shown me the master bedroom.”
Mario chuckled and gestured towards the hall. “I don’t really have a master bedroom, more like a Master’s bedroom. The bathroom’s in the hall.”
The term Master brought up all kinds of images, and Asa was suddenly worried. He knew Mario had been gentle with him during his recovery, but every time they’d fooled around, he could feel the power in his lover dying to be set free. What if I’m not enough to satisfy him?
He pulled back and reached for his walker. “Lead me to your lair.”
“You make me sound like a damn vampire,” Mario said with a chuckle as they made their way to the bedroom.
Like the living room, the bedroom was decorated in warm tones of brown, cream and loden green. Asa set his walker to the side and began to undress.