The men hold and caress each other as they rest. Zachary is still inside Gustavo as they tumble into the most satisfying and peaceful slumber.
42
Conclusion
Several weeks later, the two dozen guests to the invitation-only event encounter unusually high security measures as they entrust their vehicles to the valets and enter the wondrous home on Franklin Avenue, nestled between the neighborhoods of Hollywood and Los Feliz in Los Angeles. The Lloyd Wright-designed Franklin House is altered only slightly from its restored state for the reception. The living room furniture in the prominent room at the front of the house has been replaced with a small collection of large acrylic and oil paintings on easels. The artwork is always in sight as the guests wander from the living room into the enclosed courtyard for beverages and hors d'oeuvres.
Lavonne Tejada, adorned in a full-length plaid robe with matching headwear, breaks away from mingling with art gallery owners and returns to the room to admire the largest of Gustavo's new pieces.
"Give me the brutal truth," Gustavo says, joining her.
"Honey, they are superb," Lavonne replies. "Better than superb really, especially this one."
Gustavo hugs and thanks her.
"This is your breakthrough," she adds. "If you continue developing this style, you will be artistically and financially triumphant by this time next year. I have no doubt now."
"I have never enjoyed the creative process more than I have in the past few weeks," Gustavo says. "I felt magic was happening, but I really had no idea if it had artistic merit beyond my enjoyment in creating it."
"Tell me about your inspiration. These are abstract—not actually representational at all—yet they are so alive with dynamic movement that they suggest a sixth or seventh or eighth dimension, or something metaphysically significant."
"I will tell you everything," Gustavo responds, "at lunch or in the privacy of your cottage. I just hope you don't have me institutionalized by the time you hear the fantastical details."
"Embrace the crazy, my love. I look forward to that."
"I hope to repay you, in full, as soon as one of these pieces sell. Thank you again for believing in me and helping me during my time of greatest distress."
"You are welcome," Lavonne responds. "I helped you as a patron, not as a loan shark. But let me make it easy for you. I will sell this one and the other two by the window—the ones with the clamoring and dueling colors—for you and my commissions will wipe out the so-called debt."
"In your own gallery?" Gustavo asks, astonished that she would consider his efforts worthy alongside her famed avant-garde style.
"Yes, even at a premium, these three paintings of yours will sell quickly. You will get invaluable exposure too."
"Lavonne, this is beyond generous! I am lack the proper words to thank you."
"If they sell as immediately as I expect, you need to have some other pieces ready. Paint with abandon. No so-called "zero days" of not getting anything accomplished. Paint every day. Paint to canvas, at the same time, every single day. Keep painting!"
AT THE FAR END OF THE courtyard pool of glistening emerald water, Zachary greets Makena Keahi by the fountain. In faux leather pants, boots, and jacket, she nurses her beer and studies the overflowing bougainvillea flowers, colored lavender and violet, and the vines cascading down from the courtyard roof.
"It's similar to honeysuckle," Makena says. "Really faint. But that is the smell. I knew flowers this beautiful could not possibly be odorless."
"If you love flowers, I insist you come visit us in Oahu," Zachary says. "I know just where to take you. There is an historical nature valley not far from us on the North Shore. It is home to native Hawaiian and tropical flowers. Trees and shrubs too. It is like a garden of Eden for anyone who appreciates nature."
"I lived most of my life in the islands before moving to Las Vegas to work at the animal sanctuary. So I know exactly the valley that you are referring to. When can I come?"
"Any time you want. The guest bedroom is ready and waiting."
"I accept," Makena says. "Thank you."
"How is King Tut?" Zachary asks.
"Marvelous and mischievous. That is my sweet boy in two or three words."
Zachary hands Makena a folded and sealed envelope. Handwritten in ink are Zachary's words.
"Donation in tribute to King Tut," Makena reads, then flips the envelope over to read what he wrote on the back. "Please accept this contribution to rescue animals in need so they share their unconditional love and make the world a kinder place. Save their innocent souls. Save them all!"
Makena opens the envelope. Her cheeks flush as she discerns the six figure gift to her animal rescue sanctuary.
"Oh my God, Zachary," she exhales. "I am trying to keep tears from streaming down my face."
"Don't cry," he replies. "You may get me in tears too. That may or may not help my reputation."
"Can I announce this to your guests? Your incredible generosity should be acknowledged."
"No, just save the animals. Do everything you can to save them all."
SEATED ACROSS FROM each other by the courtyard's fire pit, Aleksey and Eric stare at each other with smoldering eyes and sip red wine.
"I like what the flames do to your appearance," Aleksey says. "All the bouncing and flickering. I sure have a hot stud as a boyfriend."
"You couldn't be happier than me," Eric smiles. "Hearing you call me your boyfriend makes me explode with pride."
"We're like silly lovebirds out here. But no one is paying any attention to us. We are barely noticing anyone else ourselves."
"I'd rather look at you than the art, though Gustavo does seem talented."
"Did you happen to recognize the portrait he made of me?" Aleksey asks.
"Where is it?" Eric says, standing and gazing into the room full of paintings.
Aleksey takes him to the room and stops in front of a canvas with bold brushstrokes of blue, gold, and white. A solid and monumental vertical column of navy and blue-green is encircled by innumerable patterns and subtle shape combinations. Eric notices the identification plate simply bears the name "Aleksey" in quotation marks.
"I love it," Aleksey says, "though I don't really see myself in it anywhere."
"Did you sit for this painting?" Eric asks.
"Yes, I did, actually. Gustavo called it a representational abstract, or something like that. I will tell you this. It's a million times better than the last portrait someone made of me. This weird guy painted me in the park and I was so disgusted by the image that I had my head shaved that very afternoon. I have kept the buzz cut going every since."
"This piece by Gustavo is growing on me. More than anything, it conveys strength. There is complexity, yes, but nothing can shake the foundation of that bold line."
"You think that is what he meant?" Aleksey asks.
"That is what I see," Eric answers. "It's a truth about you."
"Maybe Gustavo will paint you too."
"Better yet, I wonder what we would look like together."
GUSTAVO AND ZACHARY take a break from the reception and sit outside on the front steps of Franklin House. Gustavo's old apartment is just across the street and he regards it, tilting and shaking his head.
"What are you thinking about?" Zachary asks.
"Everything," Gustavo answers. "Finding the a man beyond my dreams. Discovering a new path with my art too. The incredible journey I am now on, with you, compared to my life just over there. Just over the road."
"No regrets?"
"Not a single one. You?"
"Never. You bring me joys I never thought possible."
"Zachary, you were right to choose Hawaii. I feel we are safer there. We can pursue our careers on the island with more privacy. Let's get a dog. No, let's rescue two dogs. Maybe a brother and a sister. One for you and me, the other for Aleksey. The dogs will have us and each other."
"I am ready too. I have every toy, bowl, collar, blanket
, and whatnot that the dogs could ever want. My collection has been growing for years."
"Don't you think you have been eagerly awaiting this day to come?" Gustavo asks.
"In the past, I didn't think that far ahead," Zachary answers. "I just knew that building the collection made me feel hopeful for a future."
"Thank you for tonight's reception. The piece everyone loves the most is the portrait of you and me. They keep asking me what "GZ" means on the title plate and I answer that the name is as abstract as the piece itself."
"Is it one of the works Lavonne is putting in her gallery?"
"Yes. Part of me wants to keep it for us, but I can paint more of us. Our paintings will keep changing and growing, if you know what I mean."
"I understand completely," Zachary replies. "Plus I will divulge a surprise for you. We will have one of your most spectacular works in our new home. By the time we get back to the island, it will be hanging on the primary wall of the great room."
"You bought one of my pieces?" Gustavo asks.
"Your Diamond Head painting from the helicopter vantage point. I wanted it the first time you showed it to me online. I actually called the gallery and reserved it long ago, before I knew where I was going to live or whether I was going to be alone or with you."
"Maybe your feelings for me started right then? Because of my art."
"No, I love your soul. I really do. You could have been the worst artist in North America and still been able to steal my heart."
"Now that it's my mine, don't expect to get it back," Gustavo warns him.
"You have given me a new purpose," Zachary responds. "It makes me happy to be kind. I don't dread any days, because you are part of them all. I am also elated to no longer have to carry secrets or shame."
Gustavo nods, stands, and lifts Zachary to his feet. Zachary put his arm around Gustavo's shoulder to take him back inside to share time with their friends.
"Whatever new battles are ahead, Zach, we will fight them together," Gustavo says. "I promise to be right at your side."
"We are now quite a team of our own," Zachary replies. "I have a final confession, Gustavo. I continue waking up early just so I can watch you sleep. You know how I like the corners of your mouth curling up, perhaps from being in a divine dream, walking through paradise or whatever you are doing in that sleep dimension. Looking at your peaceful face renews all my faith. I think to myself that this is my guy. The one I love and the one who loves me. The one too good-hearted to ever betray me. Then all I can think about is what I can do to make you ever happier too."
Author's Note
Thank you very much for reading "Guarding His Desires" and joining the characters on their journeys for fulfillment and safety.
The characters of Aleksey, Nathaniel, and Zachary first appeared in "Guarding His Jewels," the first book in the "Passionate Security Series." Nathaniel is featured extensively, Zachary has an important, but secondary role in that story, and Aleksey is included briefly. Like this book, "Guarding His Jewels" is a stand-alone novel and its passion and suspense is not diminished by reading the books out of their order in the series. I hope you will consider adding it to your reading collection too.
Click here to learn more about "Guarding His Jewels."
I want to share some additional thoughts about the book you just read:
The locations are integral to the development of the story and sometimes described in as much detail as the characters. As much as possible for realism, actual places are included and utilized in a fictitious manner. Some specific structures—such as The Grand Vestige Hotel, Sky Beacon Lounge, and Franklin House—may resemble real businesses and buildings, but they have fictitious names.
The utilization of smart phone apps makes instant travel and home rentals possible. Neither the apps, nor the businesses associated with them, are named in the book.
The story includes information about remarkable actors from Hollywood's Silent Era. The details about Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis and their Greenacres estate is mostly accurate, though liberties were taken with all aspects of the fabled cobra wand and its clairvoyant properties.
Finally, Cobra de Capello is a completely fictitious league. Wanda Barrone and the other characters involved in it bear no known resemblance to any real people or professional sports operations.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review.
Best wishes,
Jaylen
JaylenFlorian.com
ADDITIONAL BOOKS BY Jaylen Florian include:
Antonio's Mask
Arousing Euphoria: Rugby Team Bundle
Garage: My Descent Into Satyromania
Ghost Town
Hollywood Tease
Uncovering Machismo
Uplifting Sports Romance: College Gay Bundle
Guarding His Desires (Passionate Security Book 2) Page 16