by Payne, Jodi;
“Yep.”
“And he goes to this book club with a bunch of…what?” Elliot looked at her hopefully. “Housewives, right?”
“Ha ha. Hardly.”
“Friends?”
“I would think by now, yes.”
Elliot felt himself slump in his seat. “Gay guys?”
“That’s what I’m lead to believe, Elliot. Yes.” Jenny refilled his coffee.
“He sees a bunch of gay men on a regular basis and he is still single?”
“Why Elliot, is that jealousy I hear in your voice? Surely you’re not holding a candle after all these long years?” Jenny sang at him. She licked her lips, and for a moment she looked just like she had the day Elliot told her Tony had blown him in the garage.
Elliot snorted and stuck his fork into his eggs.
“Oh my God, you are.”
He chewed the eggs and ignored her.
“Elliot? Are you?” Jenny reached out, and delicate fingers slid under his chin. “Sweetheart?”
Elliot looked at her, trying to answer her honestly. Honesty, after all, was his new credo. “I don’t know. I think maybe so. I came back here to find out.”
“I guess you’re happy to hear he’s single, then.” Jenny said, poking him.
“Yes and no. I’m sorry he’s not happy.”
“Who said he’s not happy?”
Elliot looked at her, mouth open, over the piece of toast he was about to take a bite of. He closed his mouth abruptly. “I didn’t mean…”
“I’d just be careful,” Jenny interrupted, “that you don’t assume the fact he’s single means you’re the one he’s been waiting for.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Isn’t it?”
Was it? Pride, as they said, goeth before a fall. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he realized he’d approached his first meeting with Tony in seven years all wrong. “Has he talked about me at all?”
“Not at all.”
“Ever?”
Jenny shook her head. “He doesn’t talk about you, Elliot.”
Elliot nodded, and set down his toast, uneaten. He stared into his coffee cup, working out his next move, and feeling a smile creep over his face. “I have to go buy some flowers,” he told Jenny suddenly, sliding off his stool.
Jenny smiled back and winked at him. “Attaboy!”
Elliot waved back as he hurried out into the chilly morning. “Thank you, Jenny!”
* * * *
Tony answered the phone sleepily. “Hello?” he said with a yawn.
Elliot winced. “Am I calling too early?”
“Elliot?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“Damn, do you still get up at dawn-thirty?” Elliot heard sheets rustling.
“Yeah, I’m afraid I do.” He’d always been a morning person, and Tony had always been…well, not.
“Sadist.”
“Look, uh. I’m sorry about yesterday,” Elliot offered.
There was a brief pause and then Tony sighed. “Yeah, thanks,” he answered softly. “You…I didn’t know you were in town. I was completely off guard, you know?”
“Yeah. I know. And I charged in like a rhino.”
“Kind of, yeah.”
“Can I try again?”
“Um, sure, you can try again. But can it wait until I’m more awake?” Tony chuckled over the line.
“How about I bring you breakfast?”
“You…wait, what?”
“Breakfast. Food. Coffee, even.”
“Ohhhhhh, coffee.” Tony sighed. “Yes, coffee. I’m getting in the shower. Thirty-four Mulberry. I’ll leave the front door open.”
Elliot grinned as the line went dead.
Coffee, fresh bagels and flowers in hand, Elliot made his way across town. He’d borrowed his mother’s car, a gold 2001 Lincoln Towncar convertible. It drove like a tank, seemed equally as heavy, and Elliot felt like some kind of pimp driving it, but it got him to Tony’s without having to ask someone for a ride or dig out his old skateboard and that was all he cared about.
There was a plaque at the end of Tony’s driveway that said the house had been built in 1906. It was a beautiful multi-level Victorian with a wraparound porch, and was painted a soft gray. All the details, including the railings and the gingerbread trim were painted bright white, as was the fence that surrounded the property. The house sat on what looked like a full acre, and was set back from the road a bit more than the other houses on his quiet street.
Elliot shut the car off and climbed out, carefully balancing his goodies as he made his way up the front steps. The door was indeed unlocked, and Elliot let himself in.
“Tony?” he called, making his way to the foot of the stairs. “Tone? I’m here!”
When he didn’t get an answer, Elliot made his way farther down the main hall, finding the kitchen more by instinct than by accident. It was a huge room with a big center island, an eat-in banquette, and French-style doors leading out to the porch and a garden beyond. There was a brick walkway that seemed to run the length of the garden.
Elliot nodded approvingly and set the container of coffee and the bagels down on the counter, then he scooped up the flowers and headed upstairs.
He could hear the water running but it was hard to tell which room the sound was coming from. He ducked his head into a couple of the bedrooms and found them completely empty. Empty, as in no furniture at all. The next room he looked in appeared to be a guest room with an enormous, king size bed, and the last one had a similarly enormous bed, only this one had been slept in.
“Bingo,” Elliot said out loud as the water shut off.
He stepped into the room and looked around. Tony was pumped and had good taste, too. There was a cozy looking pillow top on the mattress and a lush green duvet covering a fluffy comforter. The bed itself was a four-poster that was modern in its masculine design but made out of mahogany, giving it a classic period feel as well. The bureau and the matching armoire were heavy and stylish with large brass handles and clawed feet. Elliot was running his fingers over a handsome, red leather wingback chair when the bathroom door opened.
“Elliot!” Tony shouted and the bathroom door closed again. Elliot got only the briefest glimpse of a thick blue towel and a flash of Tony’s damp skin, but it was enough to send warmth into his cheeks and ears. “Go downstairs!” Tony ordered through the door.
Elliot noted the vintage glass doorknob on the bathroom door before answering. “I’ve seen it before, Tony.”
“I don’t care, go downstairs.”
“Why?”
“Damn it, just go!”
Elliot shook his head a little annoyed and more than a little perplexed. “Fine. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
He had two cups of coffee and ate half a bagel before Tony joined him. He’d prepared an indignant comment for that moment, but it completely slipped his mind when the man his lanky teenage lover had grown into entered the room.
“Tony,” Elliot said, astonished. He knew he was staring but what could he do? Tony had his full attention.
“Sorry about the…thing…upstairs.”
Elliot blinked. “Yeah, what was that about?”
“Honestly? I didn’t want to start this in the bedroom.”
Start this. Start what? And just a start? Did that mean they’d end up in…oh God, please. Elliot’s cock jerked hard in agreement. “I brought you flowers,” Elliot stammered like a smitten schoolboy and grabbed for them. He held the bouquet out in front of him like a trophy. “See?”
Tony laughed and took them. His smile could easily have lit up the Empire State Building, and Elliot took careful note of that fact.
“I love them. Thank you.”
Elliot watched as Tony put them in a vase, admiring the way Tony’s body moved. He was muscular enough that one would think he might be a bit stiff in the shoulders, but in fact he was as fluid as a cat, each muscle bending and flexing and releasing like a well-oiled mac
hine.
“Coffee?” Elliot slipped off his chair and hurried to the cabinet where he’d found his own mug.
Tony smiled again and set the flowers in a window near the banquette. “Yes, please.”
“Cream and sugar?”
“Black. Sugar is evil, Elliot.”
“Jesus, then the devil’s got my soul.” Elliot laughed.
“So,” Tony began, “what brings a celebrity like you back to small town East Podunk?”
“Uh. Lots of things.”
Tony, like Jenny, had never been one to talk around anything. It was a wonder either of them had let Elliot fall so far from grace. “Mmm. Like?”
Say it, Elliot thought. Say it now, explain it later. Avoidance is the better part of denial. “You.”
“What?”
“I miss you.” Elliot told him truthfully. Though he didn’t offer his whole truth yet. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot.”
Tony watched him closely. “Why?”
“Tony…” Elliot set the mug of coffee down in front of Tony. “I have a lot to tell you, I have a lot to make up for, but…fuck, Tony. I don’t think I’m going to be able to keep my hands off of you much longer.”
Tony stood up, threading the fabric of Elliot’s sweater in his fingers as he stepped close. Elliot felt his chest heave as he took a deep breath and his cock suddenly turned to stone.
“Too bad.”
“…wha…What?” Elliot struggled to drag his brain back out of his jeans.
Tony released him. “I have to go to work.”
“Christ. Tony!”
Elliot followed the shorter man, crowding him, but Tony stood his ground and met Elliot’s gaze solidly. “I have a store to run, Elliot. The world can’t stop just because the famous Elliot Cohen comes to town.
“Tony, that’s not fair…”
“Oh no? The world doesn’t revolve around you, Cohen. You want me, you can revolve around me for a while. Come back at six and we’ll talk.”
“Tony…”
“Six o’clock,” Tony repeated. “And then we’ll see where we are.”
Elliot stared at Tony for a long moment, finally nodding mutely.
“Go on, Elliot. I’m willing to listen, but you have to hear me, too.”
* * * *
Elliot didn’t call Jenny. He wanted to but he had no idea what he’d say to her. Yeah, I brought Tony flowers but I was thinking with my big city dick and he threw me out? So he didn’t do anything all day but wander around town trying not to over-think things. Time passed so slowly, Elliot thought he might lose his mind, so when six o’clock finally rolled around, he was standing on Tony’s doorstep with more flowers in his hands.
Tony opened the door and smiled that same soft, sweet smile he had been since that moment in the rain, and Elliot was confused but grateful as Tony invited him in.
“How was work?”
This time Tony took his flowers and tossed them on the narrow hall table. “Shut up and kiss me.”
“What?”
“Kiss me, Elliot. Now.”
“But I thought you said…?”
Tony stepped close and whispered, “Revolve around me, Elliot.”
Elliot swallowed hard. “Fuck, yes.” Elliot’s voice sounded strained even to his own ears and he pulled on Tony, crushing every corded, beefy inch of the man against his chest, and moaning as he took Tony’s mouth hungrily. Tony melted against him and made a soft sound, yielding in a manner that stood out in stark contrast to Tony’s powerful body.
Elliot was very happy with that. His dick was very happy with it, too, and it shoved impatiently against his fly. He reached down and started to lower the zipper and then Tony’s fingers joined in, unbuttoning his jeans. “Tony,” Elliot gasped around the kiss and Tony broke it, sinking to his knees.
“I want to see your body,” Elliot said with a groan, watching as Tony pushed his jeans down past his hips.
Tony tugged his shirt off and looked up at Elliot. “Like this?” he asked, his sweet, sexy, green eyes eager to please.
“Yeah. Jesus, Tony, you’re…stunning.”
Tony smiled and blushed and then turned his attention back to Elliot’s straining cock.
Elliot watched intently as Tony tasted him, licked his balls and scrubbed a hot tongue over his length.
When Tony finally took Elliot into his mouth, Elliot moaned and leaned back against the front door. God, the heat. Tony’s tongue. He spread his feet wider for balance and petted Tony’s wavy hair with trembling fingers. “Yeah.” The growl that escaped him echoed the sentiment, and Tony hummed around him before taking Elliot right to the back of his throat. Elliot shouted, tugging on Tony’s hair. “Shit!”
Victor had blown Elliot to get him off, in that purely functional, deliberate way that men do when they’re trading favors. Sure, at first it had been intense, years ago when Victor first lured him in. He’d been interested in Elliot’s young body and Elliot’s inexperience made him hungry. But as time went on and Elliot grew up, beginning to make moves and ask for sex when he wanted it, Victor slowly began to lose interest. When it became apparent Elliot wasn’t content playing the starry-eyed innocent anymore, that he’d become a man and even wanted to do the fucking once in a while, Victor brought in boys to entertain them both. The moment one of those boys showed more interest being fucked by Victor than Elliot, Elliot knew the game was over, and he’d definitely lost.
Tony blew Elliot slowly, teasing with his tongue and pumping his own damn fine erection with a tight fist. Tony was seriously enjoying himself and Elliot couldn’t tear his eyes off his former lover as Tony’s hand sped on his own cock.
Elliot felt his ass clench. He was panting and his skin was on fire. “Yeah, Tony. Fuck, so good.”
Tony moaned and Elliot grinned down at him knowingly. “What do you like, Tony? Hearing me talk? Hearing your name? Knowing you’re driving me fucking wild?”
Tony just nodded gently and swallowed Elliot’s cock down his throat.
“Fuck! Okay, then. Come on, Tony, faster,” Elliot ordered, testing. Tony responded eagerly. “Fucking hot for you, Tony. Love that mouth. Watching you suck me.” Elliot shivered, spurred on by his own words. “Jesus, Tony, that’s hot.”
Seconds later Elliot felt his world funnel down to two things, his cock, and Tony’s mouth around it. Everything else was irrelevant as Elliot’s orgasm built to an undeniable height. He shouted and came hard, his hips snapping forward, his whole body shuddering with the force of his release. “Christ. Tony.”
Tony was lost. Elliot watched him, choking his own erection with come-slick fingers and jacking himself hard. Elliot thought to stop him, to step in and take over, but Tony was somewhere else just then, chasing down his release with perfectly measured strokes. Tony threw his head back and gasped, uttering Elliot’s name on a panting breath as he came, slicking the tiled hall floor with his spunk.
Elliot sank to his knees in front of Tony and kissed him, and Tony surrendered willingly, opening his mouth and letting Elliot’s tongue slip inside. Elliot tasted himself on Tony’s tongue and groaned. It was a slow, sweet kiss; romantic in its way, and when they finally broke it off, Elliot’s head was swimming with things that needed to be said.
“Thank you,” he said, figuring that was the most pressing thought on his mind. “Tony, I’ve missed you. Honestly.”
Tony nodded. “I’ve missed you, too,” he said, gingerly standing up and guiding Elliot up with him. “Feel better?”
“Oh, Tony.” Elliot’s heart started to sink. “I hope you don’t think—”
“Shh. No, Elliot. I don’t.”
“Are you sure?”
“Are you ready to talk now?”
Greatly relieved and anxious to earn Tony’s forgiveness, Elliot nodded.
* * * *
The story Elliot wanted to tell went back years, to college where he met Victor. Elliot was taking a class in financial investing, not because he wanted to, but because it
filled a requirement for his major. Victor was a guest presenter, brought in to talk about real estate. He was charming and intelligent, entertaining and handsome, and at the end of his presentation he offered interviews for summer internships with his real estate investment company.
Elliot’s interview lasted five minutes and consisted of only two questions. One was whether he was available to start at the end of the semester, and the other was whether he was free for dinner that evening.
“You’re kidding.” Tony snorted and sipped his coffee.
“No.” Elliot shook his head. “I’m not.”
“And you agreed, it appears.”
Elliot nodded. “I did.”
The internship never materialized. At least not in the way Elliot had envisioned. Instead he began accompanying Victor to social functions, fundraisers and business meetings. He was given a desk in Victor’s office, but he was never given any work to do. He was put on the company payroll but he didn’t have a job description. His benefits included healthcare, dental coverage and options on a prime bit of real estate—in bed with Victor Bates.
“So while you were negotiating real estate deals you were sleeping with the boss?” Tony asked, setting his mug down on the coffee table.
“Tony, um.” Elliot shook his head. “I never did any actual negotiating.”
“Well, you did the Dempsey building deal downtown…and the Kelsey Basin development.”
“No.” Elliot shook his head. “Victor did it all.” Elliot had just sat at the table in an impeccably tailored suit and looked very, very pretty.
“Elliot, your picture was in the paper! Everyone saw it. You were interviewed by Forbes!”
“Victor was interviewed by Forbes,” Elliot said, clarifying. “I was eye candy.”
“You…you negotiated that line of swanky hotels…?”
“No, Tony. I didn’t.”
Tony paused and then looked at him hard. “You said you did.”
Elliot nodded. “I know, Tony. I lied.”
A silence fell between them as Tony processed Elliot’s confession.
“You lied? To your family? To me? You lied so you could fuck a celebrity and live the high life?”
Elliot shrugged. “Yeah. I wanted everyone to think I was successful. I wanted people to think I’d hit it big, made something of myself. As soon as I went to college all I wanted was the rush of the city. Every time I came home I felt like this town was pulling me down like quicksand. I wanted out.”