The Right Time

by Lane Hayes

  The double entendre may not have been intended but his intonation and way he lowered his lips to my ear gave his words a seductive spin. I chuckled and took a smaller sip, wracking my brain for conversation starters.

  “So what do you do for a living?” Lame, but it was the best I could do.

  Marco smiled over the rim of his cocktail. He took a long drink before setting his glass down. His eyes never wavered from mine. It was disconcerting rather than sexy. Whatever. I was in this for the duration of a martini. Not a big deal.

  “I’m a physical therapist.”

  “Ah.” Proper etiquette would probably have been to ask about his work, but I was more curious about something else. I glanced back to where Alex appeared to still be in deep discussion with the blond. “How do you know Alex?”

  “We met at UCLA.”

  “Huh?” College? Alex was a trainer and before that he’d been a professional athlete. When had he had time to go to UCLA?

  Marco chuckled. “We both studied kinesiology. We had some classes together. Integrative biology and physiology. A couple others too, I think. The guy is brilliant. He plays it down, but don’t let him fool you. He toyed with becoming a doctor for a while. He even took the MCAT and aced it. I know a few professors were disappointed he hadn’t taken that direction, but he had his own vision. He wouldn’t be swayed. Got to admire that.”

  I was caught completely off guard, realizing I knew nothing about Alex other than what he shared. Sure, I was interested, but I was tangled in my own thoughts, obsessing over ancient fears and insecurities like a fucking adolescent. I’d asked basic “get to know you” questions as I lusted after his incredible body and heart-stopping smile. I figured I knew what I needed to. He was a former athlete and now a business owner. On a personal front, I knew he was partially out and had some “issues” with his father. But now I understood that was merely surface information. There was depth to him I hadn’t thought to examine.

  Alex was like the inviting turquoise water near the shore on a tropical beach. Naturally beautiful with a hypnotically joyful presence. No one could fake the kind of joie de vivre he emanated. I simply hadn’t looked farther out to notice where the darker hues indicated a significant change in dimension. There was something within him, a spark that set him apart. It made me yearn to know more about him. Had he wanted to be a doctor or had someone wanted it for him? And what was the story with him and Marco?

  “So you’ve been friends for a while, then?”

  Marco stared at me curiously with his head cocked before picking up his cocktail. He swirled the contents lazily. “Yeah. A few years. He’s a good guy.”

  I turned back to look at Alex. He’d moved away from the twink and was talking to another man a few short feet away. I felt his presence like a physical thing. I was more aware of him than I was of the man next to me, who was standing so close I could smell his aftershave and the tang of vodka on his breath. He asked a question or two about my work and where I was from. I heard myself answer, but my distracted tone was painfully obvious. I didn’t want to make small talk with Marco, I wanted to know who the fuck Alex was with now.

  Marco downed his drink and stepped back from the table with a wink.

  “Have fun tonight, Nate. It was nice meeting you. If you feel like dancing later, come find me.” He squeezed my shoulder and disappeared into the crowd.

  “Fuck, I thought he’d never leave,” Alex groused, sidling up to the table seconds after Marco left. “You have another drink already? Watch out. Marco always has the bartender make ’em strong.”

  I studied Alex’s profile, admiring his strong chin and nose. His brow was furrowed in irritation, but a lock of hair fell into his eyes, lessening the effect of his scowl. He looked cute, not fierce. I gave myself an immediate mental smack upside the head. In spite of my recent epiphany, nothing had changed between us. I was here to test my “gay legs” with my gay friend slash neighbor. And that part of the program was a failure. I took another healthy drink and felt a buzzy feeling numb my head. I was half drunk and hopelessly lusting after the one man I couldn’t have. His exasperated snort and eye roll at Marco buying me a drink sparked a wave of unreasonable anger.

  “If you didn’t like the guy, why’d you leave me with him?”

  “I like Marco just fine. That’s why I left you with him. So you could get acquainted.”

  “That was your version of introducing me to gay life? You’re a terrible wingman, Alex. I think you’re supposed to stick around and partake of the conversation for a minute or two instead of leaving me with some strange dude so you could clean that kid’s tonsils with your tongue.”

  Alex gave me a comically incredulous glare. “Clean that—Are you kidding me? I don’t know where to begin.”

  “Start with Marco, and if I’m still interested, you can tell me about the teenager.”

  “What teenager?”

  “The one you were making out with.”

  “Ben is hardly a teenager. He’s twenty-two.”

  “Oh please! I’d be surprised if he’s nineteen. He’s either got a fake ID or a friend who works here.”

  Alex looked taken aback by my acerbic tone. “Are you jealous?”

  “I’m stating the obvious. Whatever. Marco told me you guys went to college together. Anything else I should know about him? I’m s’pose to finish my drink and find him in the club. Is he gonna try to take advantage of me, or do you think he wants me to do all the work? Jus’ askin’.”

  I was slurring like I’d been bellied up to the bar for hours. Downing two very strong drinks in less than thirty minutes only proved my tolerance for hard alcohol had slipped considerably with age. I was goading him. Or seeing if I could. I had no intention of doing anything other than calling a cab and going home.

  “You’re going to dance with him?”

  “Why not? He’s hot.”

  Alex glare was withering. “Hmph.”

  “Don’t you think he’s sexy? He’s muscular and very manly. I think I’m more attracted to hunky guys, you know? Manly men. He told me he’s a physical therapist. I bet he’s good with his hands.”

  “He is. He’s good with his mouth too. He’s got this trick where he massages your back until you feel like jelly, then he moves lower and lets his fingers ride your crack while he lick—”

  “Got the picture. Thanks.” I picked up my martini and took a quick swig.

  Alex snatched my drink from my hand and made a big show of finishing the contents before setting the empty glass in front of me. “Turns out I’m a better wingman than I thought. Have fun.”

  I clenched my jaw as I watched him weave his way through the mass of bodies. I was pissed and edgy and obviously in over my head. Maybe that was my cue. I backed away from the table, nodding absently at the men who swooped in to take it, and started toward the doorway. At the last second, I turned around and went after Alex. I wasn’t thinking. I was acting on pure impulse.

  The bar was crowded, but my height gave me an advantage. I spotted him heading toward a dark corner behind the bar area and set off after him. I bulldozed my way through the throng until I reached the back wall of the bar. He wasn’t there. A middle-aged man dressed in skintight designer duds rounded the corner with his arm draped over a much younger man. I turned down the surprisingly long, dark corridor they’d come from and pushed open the first door on my right.

  The restroom was a smallish space with two stalls and a cement trough sink across from a row of urinals. There wasn’t room to loiter. Two guys were checking their reflection in the mirror over the sink. The only other person there was standing at the urinals. I walked directly toward him and unzipped my jeans.

  Alex huffed a half laugh. “You are either clueless about public restroom etiquette… you know, the unwritten rule stating, ‘thou shall not stand creepily close to the only other guy taking a piss,’ or—” He grabbed his thick cock in his right hand suggestively and gave me a heated look. “—you really wanted to se
e my dick. Which is it, Nate?”

  I couldn’t help it. My eyes went straight to his crotch as he proudly held the flesh peeking through his tight black leather pants. I stared like I’d never seen another man’s penis in my life. It wasn’t erect, but it was impressive. Thick and long. I licked my lips and tore my gaze forward. Getting a hard-on now would be mortifying. I finished relieving myself, rezipped, and made my way to wash my shaky hands. The cute guys were still primping next to me, but I barely noticed them. Every nerve in my body was on fire, acutely aware of one man only. I swallowed hard when he joined me at the sink, standing impossibly close to me. When he met my gaze in the mirror I sensed I’d tripped a wire. I’d come after him with no real agenda or plan of action. I’d been uncharacteristically driven by desire. Now the table had turned, and the hunter was the hunted.

  And Alex fucking loved it. Challenge. I’d challenged him by coming after him, and I’d unwittingly provoked a heated response I hadn’t been prepared for. Gone was the easygoing, happy-go-lucky man I thought I knew. He’d been replaced by an intense competitor, accustomed to winning no matter the cost.

  I lowered my eyes, dried my hands, and exited the restroom knowing he’d be right behind me. He grasped my elbow as I turned left toward the bar area. He shook his head and steered me in the opposite direction. It was impossibly dark down the long corridor. The walls were painted black, and there was no light in the narrow space. And for now it was deserted. Alex didn’t stop until the shadows swallowed us. I could hear people laughing and talking above the din of a Pitbull song, but it seemed far away. Here in the darkness, I could almost believe we were truly alone.

  Alex came to an abrupt halt and stepped aside, striking a leisurely pose against the far wall. My vision was 20/20 with my glasses but even so, it took my eyes a moment to adjust to the blurred lines in the secluded space.

  “What are yo—”

  My breath caught in surprise as I found myself abruptly flattened against the wall with my head trapped between Alex’s muscular arms. His face was inches from mine. Close enough I could gauge the intensity of his gaze and know I’d never seen this side of him. He pressed his hips against mine and gyrated his pelvis in a sensual motion, never breaking his stare.

  “Tell me what you want, Nate. Want to go find Marco and see if he’ll show you the ropes? Remind you what it’s like to touch a man?” He lowered his right arm and grabbed hold of my hand, placing it directly over his obvious hard-on. “Remind you how fucking good it feels,” he purred into my ear and rolled his hips so his leather-clad cock was pressed firmly against my palm. My pulse went into overdrive. I was surrounded by sex incarnate. I could barely see straight, and it was too fucking dark anyway. This was all about feeling. I couldn’t believe I’d likened him to beautiful tropic waters. The guy was vibrating with a turbulent, almost demonic energy. There was nothing calming here. No lifeline. Only flight or fight.

  I leaned forward, brushing my nose against his, loving the scratchy abrasion of his stubbled chin against mine. His hum of pleasure and the strong martinis I’d consumed in record time spurred me to act. Not think. I squeezed his thick member through the tight fabric, delighting in his growl as I whispered in his ear, “Like this?”

  Bam! My head hit the back wall with a thump as he lunged forward, releasing his hold to shove his tongue deep inside my mouth. His hands were everywhere at once. Raking through my hair, grasping my shoulders, running down my back and finally resting on my ass. He stilled for a moment. I was painfully hard, and the feel of his erection sliding along mine, even through two layers of clothing, was enough to make me see stars. I fought through the haze of desire, knowing I had to make the most of this moment. I clutched at his hips with my left hand, inviting him to keep thrusting as I yanked at his glorious thick hair and cupped the back of his head to meet his tongue in a swirling frenzy.

  I couldn’t tell if we were jockeying for dominance or if we were simply two really horny men intent on getting off. I no longer cared about location or propriety. This wasn’t my idea, but I was going along with it. Alex bit my bottom lip and pulled back to lick the swollen flesh. The small space he left between us gave his talented fingers enough room to fumble with my belt. He stared into my eyes, daring me to tell him no. I couldn’t. I could barely breathe, but I managed to stay on my feet even as he lowered my zipper and dipped his fingers inside the elastic of my briefs. My low groan was swallowed as he captured my mouth and released my throbbing cock. He held me in his palm gently as though gauging the weight, length, and thickness of my member. My hips jutted forward silently, begging him to do something. Anything.

  He chuckled devilishly as he tightened his hold and began a languid stroking motion. My breath caught. The pressure and pleasure were intense.

  “Fuck, Alex!”

  “Mmm. Is that what you want, Nate? You wanna fuck me? Or do you want me to fuck you?”

  I gulped as his thumb swept over the head of my dick. His voice was low and seductive, and though I heard him clearly, I had a hard time computing. Fuck me? Fuck him? I didn’t know if I was ready for that, but I really liked what he was doing now.

  “That feels good,” I whispered.

  “You like that, don’t you? Think Marco can do it better? Or are you greedy? Want me to jack you off while he sucks your balls? Hmm? Tell me what you like, Nate.”

  I licked my lips and looked him in the eye. “I don’t want Marco.”

  “Good. Me either,” he purred, tightening his grip on my cock. “I want you. And right now, I don’t give a shit about whose friend you are or that this might be a bad idea. I want you to cum. All over my hands. I want to lic—”

  I leaned forward to kiss him and hopefully shut him up. I knew what he was doing. He was bent on provoking me. He wanted to catch me by surprise with his dirty mouth and talented hands. I’d lose the battle and embarrass myself like a teenager getting his first hand job if I didn’t stop him.

  He licked and sucked at my mouth greedily while his right hand continued moving below. He tilted his pelvis upward so my hot flesh slid against the cool leather of his pants. It felt incredible, but it made me hungry for something more. I reached for his zipper, making sure to apply pressure with my palm as I felt my way in the dark.

  Alex pulled back slightly. He ran a finger over my slit, gathering precum, then raised the slick digit between us. My heart raced as I waited to see what lewd act he’d perform next. He smiled wolfishly and licked the tip of his finger.

  “Mmm. You taste good. Try it.” He stuck his entire finger in my open mouth before I could protest.

  Everything happening in this dark hallway was new for me. Maybe not the hand job part, but this sultry intensity and the sense of wanton hedonism. I was dizzy and overwhelmed by the onslaught of sensation. Part of me wanted to pull away and urge him to squeeze my aching dick and jack me like he meant it. I needed release. But I wasn’t really ready to let this go. I sucked his finger hard and renewed my effort at getting to his cock.

  “Jesus, Nate. Slow down.” Alex pulled his finger from my mouth and nipped at my lip.

  “No. Enough. Stop playing with me. I need to feel you now.” I hardly recognized my voice. It sounded gravelly and raw with desire.

  Alex didn’t comply right away. He kept his firm hold on me, twisting his wrist skillfully at each pass as he stared searchingly into my eyes. I didn’t know what he was looking for, but I’d clearly told him what I wanted. He kissed me softly and released his hold. I groaned at the loss of his touch, but the sound of the soft leather unzipping made my mouth instantly water. I reached out instinctively to feel his naked cock.

  “Fuck, that’s good,” he purred, leaning in to lick at my jaw. “Like riding a bike, eh? You don’t really forget.”

  “Alex, shut up and move.”

  He chuckled and swiveled his hips so our erections glided over each other. “Move? Like this?”

  God, he was a horrible tease, and my patience was worn thin. I grabbed his
waist so he fell against me, supporting one hand on the wall behind me. Then I made a show of licking my right palm before taking both of our rigid dicks in hand and stroking them together.

  “Fuck!” Alex moaned, throwing his head back.

  He let me control the tempo for a minute or two, kissing and sucking at my lips and down my neck. Then he placed his right hand over my mouth and leaned in to whisper in my ear.

  “Lick it.”

  I obeyed, loving the challenge in his intense gaze. I wondered at this odd give-and-take. I never gave up control. Ever. But here I was with my back against a wall willing the man standing between my legs to give me whatever he had. To do whatever he wanted. All thought fled the moment he closed his hand over mine, gripping our cocks in a punishing hold. It was nirvana. He took over, setting a slow, even pace as his fingers entwined with mine. He rubbed his thumb over the heads to collect precum to use as lube and then upped the tempo, grinding into me as he worked our flesh together. His body heat, cool leather, and supple hands covering me were pure bliss. When he loosened his hold and dipped one of his fingers lower to fondle my balls, a tingly sensation moved up my spine, warning me I was going to fall apart.

  “I’m gonna cum, Alex.”

  “Do it. Cum all over me.”

  The dirty command delivered in a rough low tone was all I needed. I clutched his shoulder with one hand and rode out the waves of pleasure as he milked me. I was struggling to resurface when he grunted and squeezed us both harder as his orgasm claimed him. I felt his hot release coat our fingers, comingling with the mess I’d just made. We stood for a long moment catching our breaths. We were inches apart, breathing in sweat, cum, and each other’s air. And fuck if it wasn’t the best feeling I’d had in years.

  Alex kissed me. Soft and sweet with only a hint of tongue before pulling back.

  “You made a mess, Nate.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “Me?”