by G. A. Hauser
Wanting Ted, hoping for more, Bill mumbled, “It’s okay with me if it’s just physical, Ted. It’s better than nothing.”
“I won’t play that mind game with you. It’s either all or nothing.”
Bill’s gut wrenched figuring it’d be nothing. “Okay.”
Ted took a quick peek again at the area, touched Bill on the chin and kissed him.
Bill’s toes curled at the heat.
“Go home and rest, Billy. I’ll see you Monday evening.”
“Okay, Ted. Drive carefully.”
Ted gave Bill a wink and got into his car.
As Ted drove off, Billy muttered under his breath, “You are an amazing man, Ted Green. An absolutely amazing man.”
* * * *
Ted looked into his rearview mirror for a last glimpse of Billy before he turned the corner. Recalling their night of fervor, Ted smiled broadly. “Well, well, Bill Patton, you surprised me. I had no idea you had so much passion in you.”
Turning on the radio to hear the latest update on the aftermath of the storm, Ted was anxious to get home and see if his own place was all right.
As he drove across town, Ted couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. Having a man as honest and adorable as Bill in his life could only be a benefit not a detriment.
“Billy, Billy, Billy,” Ted sighed, “You amazing man you.”
After a long journey through blacked out street signals and fallen trees, Ted arrived home. Kicking some branches off his front path, Ted removed his keys from his pocket and opened his front door. His orange cat curled around his legs instantly.
“You hungry, pudding?” Ted tossed his keys on the side table. “Sorry I’m late.” Taking care of his pet first, Ted opened a can of cat food and set it on floor. “There you go.”
Walking to his bedroom, Ted began unbuttoning his shirt, intent on a hot shower. Once he was naked, he caught his reflection in the mirror over the dresser. An image of Billy kneeling in front of him flashed through his mind, sending a shock through his body. Closing his eyes to savor it, Ted exhaled and muttered, “What’s wrong with me? Am I insane?” He picked up his cordless phone and dialed a number he knew by heart, Billy’s mobile phone number.
“Hello?”
“Billy.”
“Hi, Ted? Did your house survive?”
“Yes. Everything is fine here.” Ted caught another glance at himself in the mirror. “Look…do you have plans this weekend?”
“No. Why?”
He could hear the excitement in Billy’s voice. “Why don’t you come on by?”
“You mean it? I thought you said—”
“I know what I said. I just think it would be nice to spend time outside work. Get to know you as something other than a security guard.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Ted smiled. “Later on, you want to walk along the beach? Sometimes after a storm, all sorts of good things wash up.”
“I’d love that! I collect shells and stuff. Is that girly?”
“No. I do too. Good. Why don’t you come here at around one? That will give us both a chance to have a nap and freshen up.”
“Excellent! Thanks, Ted! I can’t wait.”
“Me neither. You remember how to get here?”
“I do.”
“Good. See you later.” Ted hung up, his smile still on his lips. “Why not? He’s good fun.” As he walked to the shower, he giggled, “Collects shells.” After turning on the water in the shower, Ted picked up a spiral seashell he had sitting on his sink basin. Admiring it, Ted sighed. “You better not beat me to the good ones, Billy!” Laughing at himself, he climbed into the steaming water to refresh himself. “My, oh my, whatever have I gotten myself into?”
Parking Blues
Pete opened his eyes. The muscles in his neck were aching. Jerking back in surprise, he realized he was naked in his car sleeping on top of David. The morning light shined down on them, exposing them to the world.
“Fuck.” He sat up and dug in the back seat for his clothing.
David awoke. “Oh, man…” he moaned, rubbing his face.
Pete checked his watch, it was nine fifteen.
“Fuck!” David seemed to have the same reaction when he became aware of where he was.
They both scrambled for their clothing frantically, tossing things around the interior of the car.
Once Pete had his shirt tucked into his trousers, he sat in the driver’s seat and slipped on his shoes. On the floor was a spent condom and wrapper. Shit. Pete rubbed his rough jaw and screwed up hair tiredly. Twisting the rearview mirror, he took a look at his face and tried to tame his hair in vain.
When David had stopped fussing, his clothing on his body to his satisfaction, he paused and gazed at Pete, panting nervously.
Pete held up his hands. “Look. It was just a crazy night.”
“I am so dead.”
“Why?” Pete asked anxiously.
“I…I have a boyfriend, Pete.”
Closing his eyes in relief, Pete replied, “So do I.”
“Jesus!” David moaned, “What did we do?”
Shrugging, Pete responded, “We did what we did. It was just a crazy night.”
David flipped open his phone. It was obviously drained of battery power. He closed it and slouched in the seat. “He’s going to wonder why I never came home.”
“Tell him you were trapped in your office building.”
“And that I happen to smell like another man because… why?” David sneered. “I was huddled together for dear life? Come on.”
Pete removed his own mobile phone from his pocket and turned it on. It beeped with messages. Biting his lip nervously, he put the phone to his ear to listen to them.
“Babe? It’s Danny. Where are you? I’m worried about you. Why aren’t you answering your mobile phone? Call me.”
Pausing to look at the number of messages Danny left, Pete felt sick inside.
“Your boyfriend?” David asked softly.
“Yes.” Pete scrubbed his rough face tiredly.
“Look, Pete,” David began, touching his thigh, “No one needs to know. It was just a one off thing to pass the time.”
Pete laughed sadly. “Yeah, he’d buy that.”
“You don’t have to tell him.”
“I know. But it’ll be our first nasty secret between us.”
“How long have you been with him?”
“A week.” Pete frowned sadly.
“A week? That’s barely a relationship. I’ve been with John for five years.”
Pete whipped is head around to David. “Five years? Five years and you cheated on him?”
“You seduced me!” David pointed at Pete in accusation. “I was sitting here minding my own business when you jumped on me!”
“I did not! Jumped on you? You were begging for my cock up your ass!”
David gathered his suit jacket in his arm and made like he was getting out.
Pete stopped him. “Hang on.”
Hesitating, David sighed loudly and closed his eyes.
“Let’s not make this any more than it was, okay? We were two horny guys trapped in a parking garage. Seriously, David, that’s it.”
“Two horny guys who fucked each other.” David rubbed his eyes in anguish. “And what a fantastic fuck it was, Pete.”
“It was the situation.” Pete rubbed David’s arm gently. When David met his eyes with his red ones, Pete stopped touching him. “Do you love this John guy?”
“Yes. Very much.”
“Then don’t mention it. Just forget it.”
“Forget it?” David laughed sadly. “Forget it, forget you?”
“Yes. Look, I’m just getting into a relationship with a great man. I really like Danny. I want to have an exclusive partnership with him.”
“After a week of dating you had your dick in another man’s ass. Nice beginning, Pete.”
Pete’s cheeks heated up. “Like I said, it was extenuating circumstances
.”
“Sure, babe. Whatever excuse gets you there.”
“David.” Pete held him back from opening the door again. “It meant something to me. Last night. I know it was nuts, but I do feel a strong bond with you.”
“Really? Do you intend on sharing that sentiment with Danny?”
“Don’t be glib. Is there a need to torment me?”
David’s expression dropped. “I feel so guilty.”
“Don’t.” Pete brushed his hair back from his face. “It was just one crazy night in a blackout. Don’t beat yourself up.”
Pete thought his words were ironic because he was just beginning to agonize over what he had done to his and Danny’s budding relationship. He hated secrets. Pete knew eventually he’d have to tell that adorable twin the bad news. It just would fester inside him if he didn’t.
Seeing David fret, Pete assumed this had to be harder on him. Five years? That was an eternity as far as Pete was concerned.
That had to be gnawing at David horribly. He felt terrible for him. “Babe.” Pete used one knuckle to feel the texture of David’s coarse jaw. “Don’t wallow in it. It’s done.”
* * * *
David’s eyes watered as he gazed at Pete’s handsome face in the morning light. Slowly he touched Pete’s jaw and drew him for a light kiss. When they parted, David whispered hoarsely, “It was like a fantasy, Pete.”
Pete smiled broadly. “It was.”
David shuffled around to get to his wallet. “There’s no reason we can’t keep in touch or go out for a coffee during the day. I mean we work in the same building.” He handed Pete his card.
“Is that wise?” Pete took it, inspecting it.
“I don’t know, but I feel it’s necessary.”
Pete nodded, slipping the card into his pocket.
“Pete.”
Pete met his eyes.
“I’ll see you around.”
“Yes.” Pete caressed David’s cheek.
Feeling emotional, knowing he was exhausted, David gave him a weak smile and climbed out of his car. As he walked to his own, he watched the electric gate pull back and waited as Pete’s car drove off, Pete giving him a last wave.
Sitting in his own car, plugging his phone into the adapter on the dash, David waited for the tiny mobile to light up. Instantly it beeped with messages. He put the phone to his ear reluctantly. John’s voice sounded first concerned, turning to furious.
“Where the fuck are you!”
David listened to them all, dialing as he started the car.
“Finally!”
“Sorry, John.”
“What the fuck is going on? You realize how worried I was all night? I didn’t fucking sleep!”
“I got stuck in the parking garage. My phone wouldn’t work until now,” he lied. “I slept in the front seat of my car. I feel like hell.”
“Are you on your way home now?”
“I am. Just leaving the garage. The gate opened finally.” David waited for the iron rail to pull back, freeing him.
“David, I swear I thought you were dead. I don’t understand why you couldn’t borrow a phone and just tell me you were okay.”
“I spoke to you last night about the gate barricading me in. I did call you. You had to know I was just stuck in the garage.” David peered at all the damage as he drove, astonished at the amount of trees down.
“I did. I just didn’t know why the communication stopped. How come you can call me now?”
“I kept trying but last night the phone just went out. I don’t know. Maybe the storms blew out some tower somewhere. I’m on my way home now. I need a shower and some food. I’ll be home in soon.”
“Good. I miss you.”
“You too, babe. See you soon.” David set the phone on the seat beside him and rubbed his forehead wondering how the hell he was going to get Pete off his mind. Sniffing his hand, David also had to find a way to get in the shower before John got a good whiff of him.
Keeping his fingers near his nose to remind him of Pete, David drove home with a heavy heart. “What an amazing man you are, Pete. Danny is one lucky guy.”
Seeing John standing at the front door of their home, David knew he was a dead man. The minute John embraced him he’d smell Pete’s scent on him. “Shit. Shit.” David pulled into the driveway behind John’s car and tried not to shake nervously. He loved John and the thought that he had cheated was making him nauseated. Seeing John’s bright, relieved smile only made David feel worse.
“Babe…” John reached out for him.
Pressing his hand onto John’s chest to keep him back, David said, “Let me shower. I know I stink and I feel like crap.”
“Since when do I care?” John laughed.
“I have to rinse off. Just give me a minute.” Walking past John’s suspicious glare, David yanked off his suit and immediately put it into a bag to take to the cleaners. Down to his briefs, standing in the bathroom with his hand under the spraying water, David found John glaring at him from the doorway.
“Who’d you fuck?”
“John,” David whined.
“Who’d you fuck?” John roared.
“No one!” David was so overwhelmed with guilt he was going to cry.
“You’re a fucking liar! Why else wouldn’t you want me to get close enough to fucking sniff you? You bastard.”
Covering his face, David tried to gain control of himself. Meeting his lover’s eyes, David sighed. “We just kissed. That was it.”
John threw up his hands in exasperation.
“I swear!” David said, “We were locked in together. We sat for a little while in his car to talk. We exchanged a peck or two. That’s it.”
“That’s it?” John approached him. “A peck or two?”
“The guy was married. He wasn’t even gay. He just wanted to see what kissing a guy was like. We didn’t even use tongues.” David wondered why lying came so easy? Why? If he lost John he’d die. That’s why. And he never cheated on him before. Never. It was just the crazy storm.
The shower began making the room misty from the heat.
“Can I wash?” David pointed to the tub nervously.
John barely nodded, his arms crossed over his chest. Once David stepped into the torrent, he caught John standing with the door partly open, as if inspecting his body. David prayed he had no unusual marks on him.
“Just a kiss with no tongue? To a straight married guy? Are you telling me the truth?”
Holding up his hand in a vow, David swore, “I am, so help me God.”
As it taking a moment to ponder it, John asked wryly, “Did he like it?”
“No. Hated it. He said it sucked.”
John chuckled softly. “Was he hot?”
“No. Kind of old and soft. Not hot. I was just bored.” David rinsed the shampoo out of his hair.
“And then what happened?”
“I got into my own car, lay down on the seat and slept.”
“And the guy?”
David shrugged. “I guess he slept in his car. I don’t know. I lost track of him.” Finished washing, David shut the water. John handed him a towel. “Thanks. I’m sorry, babe. It was just something that happened in the moment. He was kind of nasty. I certainly didn’t enjoy it.”
“I’m surprised you did it. You’re so picky when it comes to men.” John rubbed a towel over David’s hair.
“I am.” David felt sick.
John hugged him. “I’m just glad you’re okay. It was a rough night waiting for you.”
“Babe. I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”
“You will!” John grabbed David’s rump and gave it a squeeze. “Get in bed.”
David pecked his lips, tossed his towel over the shower door and walked to their bed. As John undressed for their lovemaking, David did his best to not think of Pete. From then on, Pete couldn’t cross his mind.
Easier said than done.
“You ready for me?” John smiled adoringly.
/> “Yes. I’m ready.” David gave him a brave smile and reached out to him. As John filled both their needs, David closed his eyes and hated himself, wishing he could absolve himself of this sin.
Voyeur
Miguel stretched lazily as light flooded into the bedroom. Beside him his best friend Stuart Jones still slept. Staring at him, Miguel leant up on his elbow and gazed down at Stuart’s shaggy blond hair and darker brown eyebrows. “So pretty.” Miguel smiled adoringly. “How long we wait to do this? Hm?” he breathed.
Caressing Stuart’s blond hair back from his forehead, Miguel was greeted with Stuart’s crystal blue eyes at his touch.
“Morning.”
“Buenos dias.”
“Did you sleep well?” Stuart rolled to his side, facing Miguel.
“Like a bebe’.”
Stuart sat up. “The power’s on.”
“Is it?” Miguel twisted around and found Stuart’s clock blinking the wrong time. “Muy bien.”
Stuart dropped to lay on his back and drew Miguel closer. “It’s Saturday. Do you have any plans?”
“Yes. We spend all day Saturday together. So? Why do any different today?” Miguel nudged the sheet down so he could caress Stuart’s chest.
“Are we crazy?”
“Who knows? All I know is I wanted you like this. In my arms. For too long. Now? I have you.” Miguel squeezed him close.
“You do.” Stuart pinched Miguel’s jaw. “But you always had me.”
Miguel’s smile softened. “No. Not like this I no have you.” Miguel ran his hand down Stuart’s torso to his pubic hair.
Seeing Stuart’s passionate expression and his legs spread under the blankets, Miguel’s excitement grew. “You are so pretty, Stuart. You and your blond hair and eyes azul.”
A shy chuckle erupted from Stuart. “I feel beautiful when you look at me that way.”
“Is because I love you.” Miguel caressed Stuart’s rough cheek.
“What now, Miguel?”
“Que? What now? How you mean?”
“Can you move in?”
Miguel’s heart skipped a beat. “You want me move in? Here?”
“Yes.” Stuart tightened his grip on Miguel’s body. “Please.”
Miguel looked around the huge master bedroom and thought about his tiny place in Inglewood. “You are sure? You no just say that because last night was good sex?”