Skipping Stones

by D. J. Manly

  "Not half, all gone, but I know he's strictly into men, isn't he?" She looked at Mark.

  "Last I heard," Mark said, "but then again, I think he may have taken his vows. He is now known as Father Reed."

  Leo shook his head and laughed.

  "So, why didn't he come into the house?" Mark asked, scanning for Reed.

  "He wants...serenity," Leo answered. "He's in Cabin 3."

  Mark sighed. "The shower doesn't work in Cabin 3."

  "I think he knows."

  "I'll go and see if he needs anything," Meggy offered.

  "Never mind," Leo scowled at her, grabbing her arm.

  "Anyway, no need," Mark said, checking out the interior of the car, "here he comes."

  "Hello, Mark," Reed said, as he approached. He was still wearing his sunglasses.

  Leo would have liked to see those beautiful silver blue eyes of his.

  "Nice car," Mark commented. "What happened to the other one?"

  "I sold it."

  "Oh. How was Italy?"

  Reed shrugged. "Okay. I see we've got a full house. We need to get Cabin 3 into shape in case there is a demand."

  "There is. I had to turn them down. There's too much work." Mark sighed. "Leo has been helping out, but with the guests we had to put some of the repairs on hold and--"

  "Don't worry," Reed said as Mark trailed off, "I'm here to help out now. And if we can't do it all, we'll hire someone at the end of the season to finish up what's left. Let's take a look at the bookings." He headed up the stairs to the front door of the house.

  Leo watched as Mark followed Reed inside. Reed seemed all business. He definitely didn't come home to socialize.

  His sister turned him around suddenly and studied his face. "I'm sorry," she said softly.

  "Sorry? Sorry about what?"

  "You're in love with him."

  "What?" He gasped feigning laughter. "Don't be stupid. I'm not in--"

  "I see it in your face, Leo. You were expecting something, for him to hug you maybe or look you in the eye without those glasses on. What color are his eyes?"

  "What do you want to know that for?"

  "Just tell me."

  "They're blue, kind of silvery blue, actually."

  "Oh, you got it bad," she accused.

  "Shut up, Megan, okay?" He didn't smile this time. Instead, he stalked off down the path, back to the laundry hut.

  He sat outside, watching one of the young families with their two children start up the brick barbeque. He didn't realize Adrian was coming in his direction until he was almost on top of him. "Hey, Leo."

  Leo looked up, lost in his thoughts. He stared at him for a moment, then smiled. "Oh, hi, Adrian."

  "You look like the cat's ass."

  "Thanks." He laughed. "You, too?"

  Adrian sank down on the bench beside Leo. "I think I like Mark a little more than I should."

  "Like?"

  "Um, let's not delve too much deeper, okay?"

  Leo nodded. He slapped a hand on his thigh, patted it and then withdrew it.

  "So, Reed has come home I see."

  "Father Reed, as Mark calls him."

  Adrian laughed. "I seriously doubt that."

  "Um, Reed is a priest only where Mark is concerned."

  "And where you're concerned?"

  Adrian was looking at him. "What...what do you mean?"

  "It's none of my business."

  "Yeah but..." Leo narrowed his eyes.

  "No buts. I'm a writer, honey; writers are natural observers of human nature. You're human nature has been hanging out for quite some time."

  "Oh."

  "When Reed was here, he might have played priest with Mark, but he didn't play priest with you, unless it was naughty priest."

  Leo lowered his head.

  "Ever since he's been gone, you...well...your heart went with him, Leo."

  "Let's drop it." He stood.

  "No shame in being in love."

  "I'm not in love."

  "Well then, you're in lust then, but you're definitely in something."

  "I don't think Reed gives a shit how I feel, or what Mark feels either. It all bounces off of him."

  "Don't be so sure," he said. He stood, raised a hand and walked off toward the water.

  * * * *

  A little while later, Leo heard voices in the distance. He looked up to see his little sister chatting with Reed. He was being nice to her, maybe even flirting a little, and she was gushing like a school girl.

  Reed didn't look over at him as he went into Cabin 3, which was just across from the laundry hut. He left the door open however.

  Leo stood and craned his neck, trying to see if he was coming back out or not. His sister was busy now talking to that nineteen-year-old who'd come with his parents. He had a Frisbee in his hand, and a few minutes later they were tossing it back and forth.

  Leo walked across the path. He stood at the door of the cabin for a few minutes, then walked in. As soon as he did he heard a gush of water and some loud cussing. "Reed?" he called out, rushing to the bathroom.

  When he got to the door, he tried to hold back his laughter. The shower head had popped off and Reed stood in the shower, fully clothed, soaking wet, and swearing. "Fuck!"

  Leo let loose now. He couldn't help it. Reed looked so funny. Leo howled with laughter.

  Reed issued him a surly look. "Mark told me the water valve was shut off in this cabin."

  "Ah." Leo placed a hand over his mouth trying to stop laughing. "Mark knows nothing about this stuff. Here..." He reached for a towel and handed it to him.

  Reed turned the wrench on the pipe and the water stopped. He took the towel from Leo. "You might want to stop laughing now."

  "I want to, I"--he started laughing again--"can't seem...to. You look so..."

  Reed stepped out of the bathtub and rubbed the towel over his hair.

  Leo sobered as he watched him. He looked pretty cute with his ruffled hair. "Let me help you," he said softly, moving closer. He took the towel and slowly rubbed it over Reed's hair, lost in his eyes. "You need to take off your clothes."

  Reed looked down at him. "Oh yeah? What for?"

  Leo licked his lips. "To, ah...dry off, of course."

  Reed yanked the towel away from him. "We both know what will happen if I take off my clothes. I'm not going to get dry, Leo."

  "Reed," Leo breathed. "I've missed you." He searched his face. "Kiss me."

  "Kiss you?"

  "Goddamn it," Leo muttered. "Fine. Don't. Don't kiss me." He took a step away.

  Reed smiled.

  "What? What are you smiling about?"

  "Nothing. You have quite a temper. Maybe you're just really horny. I thought you were getting some action with Adrian?" He lifted an eyebrow.

  "Mark was getting some action, not me."

  "That's not what you told me when we spoke on the phone."

  "I lied, okay? You want a medal?"

  Reed came closer. "No. A medal is not what I want." He met his gaze again. "I want to fuck you."

  Leo's heart began to pound in his chest. "That's what I want, too," he breathed. "Now."

  Reed grinned. He took a step back and shook his head. "Bad timing."

  "You're teasing me. That's not nice," Leo accused. He wasn't happy about feeling this needy.

  "Leo?"

  Leo turned around to see his sister standing in the doorway. "Meggy, what do you want?" He didn't hide his irritation at being interrupted.

  "I want Reed, of course," she said, grinning at the taller man.

  "What can I do for you, my beautiful lady?" he asked walking around Leo and over to his sister.

  Leo rolled his eyes.

  "Teach me to dance."

  "To dance?"

  "Yeah, I got asked to a dance and its old fogy style and I don't know how to do ballroom."

  Leo began to laugh. He slapped Reed's shoulder. "Well, this guy is the expert in old fogy style dancing, aren't you, old fell
ow?"

  "Very funny," Reed told him. "You will pay for that."

  "I hope so," Leo said softly.

  "It's not that you're old," Megan corrected, punching her brother in the arm. "It's just that Mark told me you know how to do those dances. I think you're just the right age actually."

  Reed chuckled. "Why thank you. I can show you the waltz if you like."

  "Yes, please."

  Leo smiled at him. "Where did you learn to do social dancing?"

  "I'm a man of many talents." He winked. "Come on, sweetheart," he told Meggy. "Let's go to the house and find some appropriate music."

  "This I gotta see." Leo chuckled.

  * * * *

  It was a good evening. Leo felt light-hearted, happy. Reed had told him he wanted him, and Leo knew that when everything was quiet and they could sneak away tonight, they would, and he'd hold Reed in his arms again. He didn't want to think about the aftermath. There was no aftermath. There was only here and now. He'd take what he could get, and worry about tomorrow later.

  Mark found some old ballroom music and put it on the stereo. Leo sat with Mark on the sofa and they watched as Reed took Megan's hands and gave her instructions in how to dance. Reed looked so handsome and gallant, as if he'd gone back in time, and Megan was enchanted with him. He was graceful and patient, giving her the same instructions over and over again. She stepped on his feet over and over again as well. Within an hour, Megan waltzed effortlessly in Reed's arms. Leo envied her closeness to him. He would have taken her place in a heartbeat. They looked beautiful together as they danced around and around the living room to the Blue Danube by Strauss, and Mark ran to get the camera.

  As the music wafted out the window, it drew several of the guests, who stood out front on the front porch watching them through the window. When the music ended, there was great applause. Megan curtsied and Reed gave a little bow, but he seemed slightly embarrassed when he saw the spectators.

  Mark introduced Reed as "the owner" to the guests standing around. Leo smiled when he noticed that the married couples were, for the first time, focusing on something else but each other.

  Everyone stood around chatting for a good twenty minutes, then the guests went their separate ways.

  Megan excused herself to meet her nineteen-year-old, and Mark served dinner, a cold seafood salad with hot rolls.

  The wine flowed and the conversation was quite easy. They talked of Reed's trip to Italy, and some adventures he'd had before in Spain, including his close encounter with a great white shark off the coast.

  They laughed together. And Mark refrained from his usual digs. Leo's heart ached looking at Reed, and he tried to control his gnawing hunger, but honestly all he could think about was ripping off Reed's clothes. By midnight, they were all tired. Mark spoke quietly with Reed in the kitchen, then called out "good night." Meggy had come home twenty minutes before and fallen asleep on the sofa.

  Reed picked up the stray wineglasses and Leo helped him put things in the dishwasher. Neither of them spoke for awhile. Leo wanted to ask Reed what Mark had said to him in the kitchen before he went up to bed, but he didn't.

  Reed broke the silence when he closed the dishwasher and pressed on the switch. "Why hasn't Adrian been around?"

  "I don't know," Leo replied. "He's leaving soon, you know. I think he hoped for more with Mark, but..."

  "It's better not to expect anything," he quipped. "You don't get disappointed that way."

  Leo narrowed his eyes. "That's pretty cynical."

  Reed came closer. "Not cynical, realistic."

  "That, ah...offer you made earlier, is it still..." Leo held his breath.

  Reed leaned down and softly kissed his mouth. "Meet me in the cabin in fifteen minutes."

  Leo sucked in some breath, his pulse racing. He nodded as Reed left the kitchen. Fifteen minutes right now seemed endless.

  Adrian was sitting outside his cabin as Leo left the main house. He knew Adrian could see him. He had no choice but to raise a hand in greeting. Adrian raised a hand in return, then got up and went inside. Damn.

  Leo didn't knock when he got to the door. He just turned the handle and walked in. The cabins were all one large room, except for the bathroom. The kitchenette was in the right-hand corner, the big open space with the sofa and television served as the living room, and the bed sat on a raised platform in the left-hand corner. The bathroom was in behind the bedroom area.

  Reed lay on the bed. The television was on, and he was watching it from where he lay, a hand tucked under his head. "Did you ever finish that painting?" he asked casually without looking at him.

  "You never once said you loved me," a woman on the television cried out to the man who had walked into the room. "Was it lust or love? Can we ever know the difference?"

  Leo laughed to himself. How fucking appropriate.

  Reed turned off the television with the remote and looked at him.

  A lone lamp glowed in the corner, giving off a low light.

  "Yes," Leo said. "I finished it. And I've done others."

  "Of Mark and Adrian?"

  "No. I never did paint either one of them. I've done others of you. Actually, I haven't painted anyone else but you."

  "That's boring."

  Leo walked over to the bed. "I couldn't stop thinking about you. Painting you helped some."

  Reed looked at him with those unreadable eyes, but didn't say anything.

  "Adrian saw me."

  "Adrian saw you what?"

  "Come here tonight. He was sitting outside."

  "So?"

  "I just thought I'd--"

  "You want to leave?"

  "No."

  "Are you afraid he'll tell Mark?"

  "Are you?"

  Reed sat up. "I don't really care if he tells Mark or not. But you do."

  "He's my best friend. He'll be around long after you've forgotten my name."

  "Whoa," Reed sat up.

  "What?"

  "That's some hostility."

  "Fuck you, Reed. I'm not hostile. I'm...how did you say that earlier...realistic? I know this means nothing to you."

  Reed met his gaze. "You seem to know a lot about the way I feel, Leo. I commend you. You must be able to see into my soul."

  "What does that mean?"

  "Just that you think you can read my mind. Like I said, I commend you for that. It's truly a gift you have."

  "You're laughing at me now."

  "A little bit."

  "Goddamned unreadable Reed. Your name has a certain irony to it, don't you think?"

  "What's ironic is that you tell me I'm unreadable, I show nothing, yet you assume I feel nothing either." He stood, titled his head. "If I'm such an insensitive, unfeeling bastard, what are you doing here, Leo?"

  "You said you wanted to fuck me. And maybe I want to fuck you. That's what it's all about, right?"

  "According to whom this time, you or me?" He had moved closer. Leo could feel his breath on his face now. He was looking down into his eyes.

  "Both of us," Leo hissed, his cock hard, his chest heaving. "You're a good fuck, Reed. And right now"--he reached up and took hold of the material at the top of his T-shirt--"a good fuck is what I need." He yanked, ripping the shirt down the center.

  Reed stood there with his T-shirt half hanging off his torso and Leo's only thought was devouring him. He pressed his lips against his chest and fumbled with his zipper. "Mr. Good Fuck," he muttered, nibbling one of his nipples and scooping his erection out of his jeans. He gasped with pleasure as his fingers wrapped around Reed's hard shaft. He yanked the jeans and underwear down with one pull, capturing one of Reed's round hard butt cheeks in his palms.

  Reed grabbed the back of Leo's hair. He pulled his head back from his chest. "Mr. Good Fuck," he whispered, looking into his eyes. "How many Mr. Good Fuck's have there been, Leo?" He leaned down and licked a trail up his throat, his lips caressing his ear. "What number am I? How do I rate?"

  "Christ, Ree
d," Leo pleaded, "touch me."

  Reed's mouth crushed his. His arms folded around his body as his tongue snaked around his. Suddenly, Reed lifted him off the floor and swung him around, depositing him on the bed. Leo stripped off his own shirt and began to take off his pants and underwear, as Reed threw aside what was left of his T-shirt and kicked his pants and underwear away from his bare feet.

  Leo moaned as Reed sank back into his arms. His body molded to his, his hard cock nudging against his own. Reed kissed him slowly and sensuously, his fingers tenderly caressing Leo's hair, smoothing over his forehead, down the sides of his face. Reed's hands reached down and laced in his and their kissing grew deeper, hotter, and more intense. Oh God, oh God.

  Reed's mouth left his and moved to his chest. He licked and suckled each nipple, taking them between his teeth, gently, while one hand slipped down between his thighs. Reed held his balls in his hand, rolled them between his fingers, made tiny circles around the head of his cock, then moved under him to open him.

  Leo's hips bucked as Reed's finger found his prostate, teasing it, driving him half mad.

  The mouth moved lower, licked his navel, licked his cock. Reed drove his finger deeper, then wrapped his lips around the head of Leo's penis.

  Mercy. Mercy. Was it like this the last time, too? This man knew how to use his hands, his lips, his tongue, God...I'm going...

  "Reed. Please?"

  Reed moved more of Leo's dick into his mouth, sucking and licking, two fingers now inside him. Leo moaned. "Oh God, Reed!" Leo came up into a sitting position.

  Reed pushed him back down with his hand, came off his cock. His lips glistened with Leo's juices. He rolled him over, removed his fingers and opened him more. His tongue darted inside of him, and a hand massaged his balls.

  Then a finger again, wet with cream, oiled him, readied him for what was to come.

  Leo went up on his knees, his hips rocking back and forth. "Fuck me."

  "You have to say, Mr. Good Fuck."

  Leo glanced at him sharply. "Reed, I..."

  He gave him a slow smile. "Come on, Leo. That's what I am. So, say it."

  "I love..." He stopped. "I love your cock."

  "Yeah, show me."

  Leo turned around.

  Reed was sitting back on his legs, his beautiful cock hard and on display.