by K. C. Wells
“You’re not the one dating him, so shut up!” she said, eyes blazing.
Tommy chuckled, his head swimming just a bit. “I’m not datin’ him either.” He gave his head a little shake. Woo, this stuff was stronger than he’d thought.
“You may not be dating him, but you have kissed him,” Ben said smugly.
Bethany let out a squeal. “You kissed him?”
Ben put his hands over his ears. “Geez, Beth, I think you just went ultrasonic.” He grabbed the bottle and held it out to Tommy. “And you need some more of this.”
“No,” Tommy protested weakly, but Ben ignored him and filled his glass to the brim. Tommy stared accusingly at him. “You’re tryin’ t’get me drunk.”
“Yeah, and by the look of things, I’m succeeding too.” Ben gave a wicked chuckle. “Now drink it up.”
Tommy brought the glass to his lips and drank its contents in one mouthful. Peach schnapps was definitely growing on him. He liked the way it made him feel, warm on the inside and so comfortable it was like he’d melted into the couch. He lay on his back, a cushion stuffed under his head and his socked feet on Bethany’s lap. She didn’t seem to mind, judging by the way she was rubbing them. Damn, that feels good.
He lay there enjoying the foot rub, letting the pleasurable sensations roll over and through him. “So what you wanna know about Mike?”
“Oh, his name’s Mike.” Ben was still sitting on the floor near his head. “Where d’you meet him?”
“At Woofs. ’S a gay sports bar. Mike works there.”
“Is that where you were New Year’s Eve?” Bethany asked.
Tommy nodded. “Lord, you shoulda seen ’im. He was wearin’ this teeny tiny little leather jock strap that just about covered his dick.” He was dimly aware of Bethany’s muffled gasp. “An’ he has these really wide shoulders, an’ his chest is furry”—he grinned—“but not as furry as his butt. Oh, an’ his legs? Oh my, the muscles in those thighs….” This time Tommy definitely caught Bethany’s strangled giggle. “Whass’up?” He craned his neck to peer at her, but the room swam a little and he dropped back onto his cushion.
“Nothing,” she insisted after clearing her throat. “So where’d this kiss happen?”
“Oh, after he took me ’round Atlanta las’ Monday. We had a great time, an’ then we had burgers at Cowtippers.” He told them about the guys kissing behind them. “I kept thinkin’, if they can kiss, why couldn’t I? All I wanted was to feel those strong arms ’round me.” He closed his eyes, recalling the feel of that wide chest pressed against his. “Damn, he felt good.” That kiss had felt good—right up until the moment Mike had looked at him, that stunned expression so clear on his face.
“You got it bad, haven’t you?” He could hear the sympathy in Bethany’s voice. “What are you going to do now?”
“Do?” He snorted. “Girl, there ain’t nothin’ to do. Think I scared him off.”
“Pffft. There’ll be another one along, trust me,” Ben said with a smirk.
“Ignore my brother. If you want this guy, go after him.”
“An’ how’d you propose I do that?” Tommy propped himself up on his elbows, trying to focus his eyes on Bethany, but they weren’t cooperating. He blinked a couple of times, but she still looked a little blurry around the edges.
Bethany grinned. “Do like the girls do when they see a man they want—dress to kill. Make him notice you. Oh, and take him flowers.”
Ben guffawed. “You don’t take guys flowers.”
Bethany gave him a superior look. “Sure you do. Everyone likes flowers.” She turned her attention to Tommy. “When d’you plan on seeing him again?”
Tommy still wasn’t sure about this, but Bethany seemed in earnest. “I could see him at the bar t’morrow night, I s’pose.” His stomach did a little flip-flop.
“Excellent!” She glanced at Tommy’s clothes. “Then I have an idea. How about Mom and I take you clothes shopping tomorrow?” Her eyes sparkled. “We’ll have you looking like a million dollars. By the time you strut into that bar, Mike’ll be eating out of your hand.” She hugged herself, chuckling.
Tommy couldn’t quite see that, but the way his head was feeling, he wasn’t about to argue.
He wasn’t sure about the strutting, though.
CAROLINE BEAMED at them. “Oh, I think that’s a great idea! It would have to be this morning, because I’m meeting with my ladies at the club at three o’clock.”
“Mom belongs to this group of ladies who do lots of charity work in Atlanta,” Bethany explained to Tommy. She turned back to her mom. “We’re not taking Ben with us, Mom. It’s just you, me, and Tommy.”
Tommy was sitting at the kitchen table, just trying to keep up. He had only the vaguest recollection of their conversation the previous night, so when Bethany had appeared next to him that morning in her pj’s, as bouncy as Tigger, he figured the easiest thing was to go along with it. Still… clothes shopping? Not on his list of fun things to do on a Saturday, but Bethany was pretty determined. He wasn’t quite sure what she hoped to achieve with their shopping trip. Clothes were clothes, right? They surely couldn’t have the effect Bethany was anticipating… could they?
“There’s just one thing,” Caroline said slowly.
Both Bethany and Tommy turned to look at her. Caroline gave a little shrug.
“What do I know about how a young gay man should dress?”
Tommy smiled. “We dress like everyone else, ma’am.” He was beginning to have a bad feeling about this.
Beside him, Bethany snorted. “Oh, puh-lease! Have you seen my brother when he goes out on the weekend?”
Caroline gave a gleeful smile. “Well, I may not have much experience in this field, but I know someone who does.” She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone, her thumb sliding over the screen. Tommy nudged Bethany and gave her an inquiring look. Bethany’s shrug and blank expression were no help.
“Danny? You got a minute?” Caroline listened with a grin. “Okay, I’m putting you on loudspeaker, so behave.” She set the phone on the countertop.
Tommy stared at her. Danny?
“Honey, I always behave—badly!” Danny’s voice echoed around the kitchen. “Now what can I do for ya?”
“Where would I take a little gay boy shopping?”
Tommy gaped and Bethany giggled. Caroline fired her a warning look.
“Well, that depends. Which little gay boy are we talking about?”
There was a pause while Caroline bit her lip. “That would be Tommy,” she confessed reluctantly.
Danny’s squeal was very loud. “I knew it, I knew it! Didn’t I tell you, woman?”
Tommy listened to Danny cackling, his face hotter than hell.
“When you’ve quite finished gloating,” Caroline enunciated patiently, “perhaps you can offer us some suggestions.”
“Details, honey, I need details! Now, what are you shopping for?”
“We’re going to help Tommy buy an outfit to snag his man,” Bethany called out across the kitchen.
“Damn. Well, there go my chances.” Danny sighed theatrically. “So who is this person? Tell me something about him. Where will Tommy be meeting him?”
“Tommy will be meetin’ him at Woofs,” Tommy called out. His face, neck, and ears felt impossibly hot. “An’ he works behind the bar there.”
“Ooh, we’re talking butch crowd!” There was a pause. “Tommy? By the time I’m done with you, you’ll have the perfect ensemble, right down to the cock ring.”
Oh my God. Breathe, just breathe….
“TMI, dear, TMI,” Caroline interjected when she caught sight of Tommy’s open mouth. “We’re talking baby steps, okay?”
“Gotcha. How about I meet y’all at Boy Next Door at Ansley Mall? That’d be a good starting place.”
“You’re coming too?” Caroline queried.
There was a gleeful cackle. “Honey, I wouldn’t miss this for the world. How does eleven o’clock so
und?”
“That’s fine,” Caroline assured him. “We’ll see you there.” She disconnected the call and then met Bethany and Tommy’s gazes. “This could be… interesting.” Her lips twitched.
That’s one way of puttin’ it.
Chapter Eleven
“ARE YOU sure ’bout this, Danny?” Tommy gazed at his reflection in the long mirror. “This T-shirt seems awful tight.” It damn well clings everywhere it touches.
From behind him, Danny snickered. “Sweetcheeks, a T-shirt should be tight enough to show off everything—including your pulse.” He peered over Tommy’s shoulder, his gaze drifting lower. Danny grinned. “And those jeans—per-fection!”
Caroline paused in her perusal of shirts to nod her agreement. Bethany gave him the thumbs-up.
Tommy wasn’t convinced. “I don’t know ’bout that. They’re so tight, I don’t know how people are meant to walk in ’em.”
Danny waved his hand. “Pfft. Honey, I have jeans that are so tight, when I wear them? You can tell I’m not Jewish.” He winked and patted Tommy on the ass before wandering over to a display of briefs and jockstraps.
At least he looks a little less flamboyant today. Danny was dressed in jeans and a sweater—a fuchsia sweater.
Tommy groaned. “An’ no more underwear! You’ve already picked out four pairs of briefs.” Not to mention a jockstrap or two. Why is it gay men all seem to like underwear that leaves little to the imagination?
Danny stood still, one manicured hand resting on his hip. “You can never have enough underwear.” He pouted. “And I can’t believe you said no when I asked you to model them for me.” There was a wicked gleam in his eyes. “There is a fitting room, after all.”
“Danny.” The warning tone in Caroline’s voice was unmistakable. “Down, boy.”
He huffed. “Spoilsport.”
Caroline smiled sweetly. “Bite me, dear.”
She went back to searching through the rack of shirts. Bethany stood next to her, and Tommy could tell from the shaking of her shoulders that she was laughing quietly.
Danny folded his arms, studying Tommy through narrowed eyes. “Now what you really need to set off the whole ensemble is a black leather jacket.”
“Ooh yeah!” Bethany nodded enthusiastically.
“But I don’t have a black leather jacket,” Tommy explained patiently. “I have a jean jacket, an’ that’ll do.” He was beginning to wonder what this shopping trip was gonna cost him. He had money from Christmas, given to him by various relatives who’d figured he’d have more need of cash as a student, but still….
Danny rolled his eyes and sighed. “We are talking Gay 101 here. Every gay boy needs a black leather jacket. Maybe a pair of tight leather pants too.” His eyes sparkled. “And there’s really only one place to go—Atlanta Leather.”
“Say what?” This was getting out of control. Leather pants?
“Danny’s right,” Caroline announced emphatically. “So give me that basket, I’ll go pay for these things, and then we can go find you a leather jacket.” She stretched out her hand for the basket.
Tommy shook his head. “Sorry, ma’am, but I can’t let you do that.”
Caroline arched her eyebrows for a moment. “Last time I checked, I was over twenty-one, an adult, and could do whatever I wanted.” Then her expression softened. “Tommy, let me do this, please? Think of it as a belated Christmas present.” She winked. “Besides, I’m good for it.”
He had no doubt about that. Their house, Benson’s career, never mind membership for all the family at the Piedmont Driving Club….
“And before you get any ideas, that Christmas present? Also includes a leather jacket.”
Damn, but the woman was stubborn.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said resignedly as he handed over his basket of items. He knew better than to fight a losing battle.
TOMMY FINISHED dressing and stared at his reflection. He was so nervous, his knees were shaking.
Can I do this?
“I think you look great,” Bethany said from behind him, standing in the doorway to Ben’s bedroom. “Mike’s gonna be knocked out.”
“Mmm, still not sure ’bout this.” His stomach was in knots.
Bethany came into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “Tommy, if you really want this guy, then you need to make up your mind to go get him.” She smiled. “Women have to do this all the time.” Those brown eyes, so like her brother’s, sparkled. “If you intend going fishing, then you need the right bait.”
But what exactly am I fishing for?
The memory of that warm mouth, that firm chest, was enough to get his heart pumping. Yeah, he had a good idea what he was after, even if the very thought sent shivers running through him.
“Let Mom and Ben get a look at you, ’cause you know they’re just dying out there, waiting to see what you look like in all your finery,” she said with a grin. “’Cause you are surely gonna break hearts tonight.” Her admiring glances and words were doing a lot for his morale.
Tommy followed her out of the bedroom to where Caroline and Ben were talking, leaning back against the couch. Caroline’s eyes widened, and she gave him a huge smile.
“My, look at you. Why, I’d hardly believe it’s the same young man I was talking to this morning in my kitchen. Tommy—” She let out a contented sigh. “—you look great,” she said simply. Then she glanced at her watch. “And now that I’ve seen you, I’ll go spend some time with my husband. Apparently he’s feeling neglected, poor thing.” With one last grin, she left them standing in the small apartment.
Ben gave a long whistle. “The way you look, you could ask for anything you wanted, and anyone would give it to you.” He stepped closer, walking around Tommy slowly and then coming to stand in front of him. “You worked out what you’re gonna say to Mike yet?”
Tommy shook his head. “I’m kinda playin’ this by ear.”
Ben tilted his head. “Well, what is it you want?”
His mouth was suddenly moist, and his breathing quickened. “Him.”
Ben’s eyes glittered. “Then make sure he knows that.”
Bethany nodded. “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” She flashed him a wide grin. “So go get ’im, Tommy.”
Ben chuckled.
Tommy took a deep breath and nodded.
Time to lay my cards on the table.
SATURDAY NIGHT was looking to be as busy as usual. It was ten fifteen and the bar was full.
Except there was no sign of Tommy. The sight of that empty stool made Mike’s chest tighten.
“And I’m still not talking to you, bitch,” Kevin grumbled, collecting glasses from the bar and handing them to Mitch, who was working as barback.
In spite of his apprehension, Mike had to laugh. “What’s your problem?”
Patrick chuckled. “Oh, what you gone and done now, Mike?” He handed his customer his change and then turned to watch the two of them.
“It’s not so much what he’s done, as what he didn’t do.” Kevin looked for all the world like a sulky teenager. He’d been ignoring Mike all evening, which was fine by Mike. He was used to Kevin’s moods after working with him for so long. Now that Mike thought about it, Kevin had been in a similar mood the last three nights they’d worked together. Mike had thought nothing of it at the time. There’d been a couple of days in New York in between, and he’d had other stuff on his mind.
Like a tall hunk with reddish-brown hair and beautiful green eyes.
Mike threw down the cloth he’d been using to wipe down the bar and beckoned to Kevin. “Okay, Princess, I’ll bite. What haven’t I done?”
Kevin huffed. “Not one word. Not a fucking word has passed your lips about New Year’s Eve.” He glanced at Patrick. “Has he told you what happened with Tommy? No?” Kevin smiled smugly. “So it’s not just me.”
“What are you talking about?” Patrick looked plain puzzled.
Shit. Mike should’ve remembered what a nosy bunch
of queens he worked with. “What makes you think anything happened?”
Kevin grinned. “’Cause you’ve been too damn quiet all week, that’s what.” He folded his arms across that wide chest. “So?” That grin widened. “C’mon, Mike, give.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake…. “I took him for breakfast, okay? Then we met on Monday afternoon and I took him around Ansley Mall. And then we had dinner.” He smiled. “Happy now?”
Kevin stared at him. “That was it?”
Mike sighed. “Except for the part where he kissed me, yeah, that was it.” He groaned inwardly when Kevin’s face lit up. “But it was one kiss, and then he left.” Ran away might have been a more accurate description, but Mike wasn’t about to share that much. He still felt he could’ve handled the situation better.
“You didn’t try to tap that sweet ass? You’re slipping, Mike. Now if he’d shown an interest in me….” Kevin leered and rubbed his crotch.
“He’s just a kid,” Mike protested.
Patrick laughed. “Yeah, like we’re buying that. He’s twenty-one, Mike. You’ve fucked twinks younger ’n him.”
“For fuck’s sake, I got shoes older than him!” Mike didn’t want to get into this. Yeah, he had the hots for Tommy, but that didn’t mean he was going to act on it.
“Oh. My. Fucking. God.” Patrick’s voice was hushed. “Would you look at that.”
“What’re you….” Kevin’s voice trailed off. “Oh my.” He stared at the far end of the bar.
Mike shook his head. “What the hell are you two going on about?” He caught sight of Tommy’s head above some of the customers, and relief flooded through him. “I’d wondered if he was go—” The words died in his throat as Tommy came around the bar. “Dear Lord,” he said weakly. Tommy was dressed in a pair of black leather pants that fitted him like a second skin, a white athletic shirt that clung to that stunning torso—and it was stunning; Mike could see every inch of it—and a black leather jacket that finished off the whole look beautifully.