Their eyes met for an instant. Jesse felt a stirring in his briefs.
The moment passed and the two men and their dogs made for the dog park. Shelby and Clyde contentedly walked side by side, occasionally stopping to sniff to determine who had recently passed that way.
When they arrived, there were only two other dogs in the enclosure. Jesse greeted the owners with a wave. They sat on one of the benches and let the two hounds off leash. They bounded away. Or rather, Shelby bounded. Clyde, being lower to the ground and longer, sort of galumped. The men laughed. After a brief time of checking out the other dogs, the two new friends began a game of chase, attack and roll with Clyde doing most of the chasing, Shelby the attacking, and both rolling.
“They sure get along well,” Jesse commented. “I mean they just met and they’re playing like they’ve known each other a long time.”
“Yeah, sort of like us,” Nick said without looking at Jesse.
Jesse turned to Nick, who didn’t return the glance. Nick just kept smiling and watching their two pets frolic among the wood chips.
After an hour of hard play, the dogs returned to their owners and lay panting at their feet.
“Guess it’s time to go home, guys,” Nick said.
They re-connected the leashes and headed for the townhouses. They came to Nick’s first.
“You sure I can’t help with K.P.?”
Jesse was tempted. He had enjoyed his evening with Nick. He was easy to talk to, had a good sense of humor, and was sure attractive enough. Even so, he said, “No, thanks. I can handle it. But hey, thanks for a great evening. You took my mind off the bummer of not having my guy home to celebrate.”
“No problem…anytime,” Nick replied. Then he knelt between the two dogs, who were sitting next to each other, their heads swinging back and forth as the men chatted.
“Well, you two sure hit it off,” he said, rubbing their necks. “I bet you’d like a sleepover some time, wouldn’t you?” He directed the comment to Shelby, but ended the statement looking up at Jesse and smiling.
Jesse broke the eye contact.
Nick stood up. “Thanks again for dinner. We’ll do it again sometime.”
“Yeah, sure, I’d like that.” Jesse waved as he walked away, trying to focus on Dennis and tomorrow when he would come home to celebrate their anniversary.
After walking into the house, Jesse bent to remove Shelby’s leash. She went to her water bowl and drank noisily, then flopped down on the hallway floor, apparently exhausted from her romp with her new friend.
Jesse crouched down and scratched her. Her tail whomped the floor, but she didn’t raise her head.
“He tuckered you out, did he?” Jesse said softly, still stroking her head. “Well, you rest while Daddy cleans up this mess.”
Jesse stood with his hands on his hips surveying the remnants of the meal he had shared with Nick.
Maybe I shoulda taken him up on his offer to help me clean up. Woulda been nice to have someone help out with kitchen chores for a change. God knows it would kill Denny to even suggest it.
That thought reminded him of his boyfriend. He went to the phone to see if there was a voicemail. There was. Jesse dialed the code and listened to the dulcet female voice tick off his options. He pressed one and got Denny’s message.
“Hey, babe, guess you’re out walkin’ the dog. The flight was uneventful, as usual. I’m really sorry we couldn’t be together tonight. I’ll be home about eight tomorrow night and we can celebrate then. Okay? Wish you were here. The weather is great here in Miami and a nice midnight swim in the ocean would hit the spot, and you know which spot I mean.” He chuckled seductively. “See you tomorrow. Love you. ’Bye.”
Jesse smiled. Well, at least I got a voicemail. Usually he forgets to call.
Jesse went about the business of finishing up the dishes. There was still enough moussaka for dinner the next day, and after a day of marinating, it probably would be better than tonight’s. He could get some fresh greens for the salad and new candles, too. And another bottle of champagne, he thought as he dropped the one he and Nick had killed into the recycle bin.
That task completed, he checked on Shelby. She had moved from the hallway floor to the couch in the living room.
“Shel,” Jesse admonished, hands on hips. “You know what Daddy Denny would say if he caught you on the couch.”
Apparently Shelby did know because she slithered off the sofa onto the floor, giving Jesse one of those “oh all right, be that way” looks. Jesse knew she’d be back on the sofa as soon as he left the room. She always was when Denny banished her from the bedroom at bedtime, but she was clever enough to get caught only rarely.
Jesse then went into the bedroom and stripped for his shower. He looked at himself in the full-length mirror.
Didn’t do too much damage with the moussaka and the cake. He ran his hand over his washboard abs. Better go for a run before the workout at the gym anyway. His man liked him ripped and toned.
Stepping into the warm spray, he began to lather his body. He paid particular attention to his balls and ass. He began to fantasize what he had hoped would be happening about then if Denny hadn’t been assigned that flight. As he continued to massage his erect cock and rocks, he pushed a finger past the sphincter ring and began to massage his chute. He added more soap to the mix and began to stroke harder and faster, all the while picturing the hairy, muscular torso of his lover positioned above him, smiling as he pumped his thick manhood into his hole.
Wishing he had three hands, he removed one hand from his ass and began to massage his nipples. That connection between his tits and cock was true to form, and before Jesse was really ready, he began to shoot ropes of creamy, white cum onto the walls of the shower stall. What happened at that moment surprised and unnerved him. In his mind’s eye, Denny had faded, Nick taking his place.
“Oh…yes, Nicky. Yeah, man, fuck me. Nick, fuck me.”
Trembling, Jesse steadied himself with one hand against the wall, while he pumped the last dribbles of cum from his soapcovered cock.
Where did that come from? Shit, I know where it came from. That dude is one hot number. Better watch myself when Dennis gets home. Don’t want to be screaming out somebody else’s name when I’m with him.
Jesse got out of the shower, dried himself, applied his night creams, donned a pair of PJ bottoms and padded into the bedroom. He got into bed and switched on the TV with the remote. Shelby stuck her head around the door. She sidled to the bed and laid her head on Jesse’s hand.
“Oh, all right,” he said, patting the side of the mattress. “When the cat’s away—”
Shelby jumped joyfully onto the bed and rolled around on her back, eventually coming to rest curled up next to Jesse with her head on his stomach.
Jesse looked at her, patted her head and smiled. “Just remember, you don’t do this when he’s here. We’ll both catch hell.” I’ll wash the bedclothes tomorrow morning.
Jesse settled himself and focused on what the news anchor was saying.
“The tropical depression just off the Miami coast is moving north. Right now it doesn’t appear it’ll come ashore, but it has doused the Florida coast with torrential rains and dangerously high surf all day. There has been a lot of beach erosion and flooding of streets. If the storm stays offshore it has the potential of strengthening. If so, it’ll become Tropical Storm Deirdre.”
They went to a commercial break, and Jesse switched off the TV. He turned on his side and got settled with Shelby pressed to his chest. His eyes were heavy and he started to doze.
Then his eyelids popped open as he recalled the newscaster’s words—It has doused the Florida coast with torrential rains and dangerously high surf all day.
How did that jive with Denny’s voice mail? Wish you were here. The weather is great and a nice midnight swim in the ocean would hit the spot, and you know which spot I mean?
CHAPTER 2
Jesse hadn’t slept well. The inconsis
tency between the weather report and Denny’s assessment of the climatic conditions worried him. He had tossed and turned. His restlessness caused Shelby to give up and abandon him to sleep on the floor. Finally convincing himself there had to be a logical explanation, he’d drifted off to sleep.
The next morning he stood in his running shorts and tank top at the kitchen counter, drinking an OJ, taking his multivitamin, and getting ready for his morning run.
“Now for your tropical update,” the meteorologist on the countertop TV, which he had switched on, was saying. “Strengthening overnight into Tropical Storm Deirdre, the system has moved north up Florida’s East Coast. It has not moved on shore. It is expected to strengthen as it travels over the open waters of the Atlantic. We’re hoping that high pressure over the northeast will keep Deirdre from making landfall. This storm carries a lot of moisture, though, dumping over nine inches of rain on the Miami area in the last twenty-four hours. Orlando has received—”
Jesse switched off the TV. He didn’t want to hear any more. He looked at Shelby. She was sitting, waiting patiently for the next set of directions.
“Come on, let’s run.” Those words set her into a wiggling frenzy. He got her leash, clipped it on her collar and headed out the front door. He nearly collided with Nick, who was jogging up the walk toward his door.
“Hey, good morning, Jess,” he said. “I was just gonna ask you if you wanted to come for a run. Hi, Shelby.” He bent and petted the deliriously happy hound. “I see you’re ready to work off that moussaka, too.”
“Yeah, we need to keep our girlish figures,” Jesse quipped. Nick stood with his hands on his hips and gave Jesse a slow up and down appraisal. “That don’t look like no girl to me,” he said with a raised eyebrow.
“Well, I try,” Jesse returned, somehow pleased he was meeting with Nick’s approval.
“And you’re succeeding,” Nick added.
“Thanks. Hey, why don’t you go get Clyde and we’ll take them both with us.”
Nick laughed. “Duh! You remember Clyde, right…basset hound, three-inch long legs, burn marks from tummy dragging on the ground?”
“Oh, yeah, right. I guess he’s more the power walker type.” Jesse laughed as well.
The two men, with Shelby between them, took off down the block at a steady medium pace. They followed the same route as the previous night on their way to the dog run, which was part of a larger park system.
It felt good to run with another guy. Denny worked out regularly, but he hated jogging, so Jesse had stopped inviting him to come along. He watched Nick covertly as they pounded the pavement. He was a natural athlete. His stride was smooth, no wasted energy, poetry in motion. After a good half-hour, they slowed to a walk. They had worked up a good sweat, and Shelby’s tongue was hanging out.
“Hey, that was super,” Nick enthused. “Now, I just have to locate a good gym to work out in and I’m set. You got any ideas?”
“Sure do,” Jesse said, excited at the prospect of seeing more of this guy. “Denny and I belong to Sid’s. It’s not a franchise—it’s small, privately owned, well equipped and affordable. Not usually very crowded. Has all the stuff the big places do. I’m going over this afternoon. You want to join me? I can get you in as a guest.”
“That’d be great. I got the guy comin’ to check out the stove this morning, but I should be free later. Say about two?”
“If he gets done earlier, come on over and we can do lunch somewhere. I have some shopping to do, then we can hit the gym. But whatever works, I’m pretty flexible.”
Once again Jesse cottoned onto the possible double meaning of his words and blushed.
“I’ll take your word for it,” said Nick, smiling.
“God, I keep putting my foot in my mouth, don’t—”
Nick laughed. “I guess you are flexible.”
Jesse laughed along with him. He was easy to be with. Jesse liked Nick more all the time.
“Two o’clock then, if not earlier,” Jesse said.
Nick clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s a date,” he said and turned up his walk.
As Jesse walked away, he looked toward Nick’s place in time to see him looking at him, just as he was about to enter his house. They both smiled and waved. Nick disappeared inside.
Sure glad he moved in here, Jesse thought. As he continued on his way, the door of the townhouse between his and Nick’s opened, and Mrs. Kloswick, dressed in a wildly colorful flowered dress and wide-brimmed straw hat, carrying a basket of gardening tools, emerged. The woman smiled and waved him over.
“Good morning, Jesse…Shelby,” she said, bending a little at the waist to pet the hound, who had sat obediently in front of her.
“Good morning, Mrs. K.,” Jesse responded. “Something I can do for you?”
“No, not really.”
Jesse knew better.
“I was just wondering about our new neighbor?”
“Nick, Nick Warden,” Jesse offered.
“Hmm, nice ordinary name. Seems you two have hit it off pretty well. Walking the dogs together last night and jogging this morning.”
Jesse chuckled to himself. Still keepin’ tabs on all of us behind those lace curtains, eh, Mrs. K.?
“Yes, he’s a nice guy.” Then anticipating Mrs. K’s next question he added, “He’s a teacher.”
“Hmmm.” She nodded and looked expectant.
“And he’s single.”
“Ah, how nice,” Mrs. Kloswick said, looking over her shoulder toward Nick’s door. “I should really get to know him. My niece, Angela, is coming to visit later this month, you know.”
Jesse merely smiled. No need to burst your balloon just now with a news flash on Nick’s sexual preference.
Mrs. Kloswick started to turn away, then turned back. “He has a dog.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yes, a basset, named Clyde.”
“Well, let’s hope he’s not as noisy as you, dear,” she said, patting Shelby’s head once more. Shelby cocked her head to one side as if to say, Noisy, me? Mrs. Kloswick put her basket down, turned to her roses and started pruning.
With that, Jesse knew they were dismissed, audience over.
“Goodbye, Mrs. K. See ya,” he said.
She waved the pruning shears at him without looking up.
Back at the townhouse, he gave Shelby her breakfast.
“Sorry, girl,” he said as she sat looking forlornly at the bowl of dry dog food. “I told you last night that the moussaka was a onetime thing.”
He flipped on the counter TV while she lay down on the floor, the bowl between her paws, to make up her mind whether she should accept this as the fare of the day or if she should start a hunger strike. He turned to the Weather Channel. The “local-onthe-8s” was just finishing. It was going to be sunny and warm in Chicago and points east, including Detroit. He sipped a glass of water. He heard the crunch of dog food being consumed. He looked down. Shelby had decided not to starve after all.
“Good girl,” he said encouragingly.
She looked at him. Yeah, right, she seemed to say.
Jesse decided to take a quick shower. He knew he would be showering again at the gym. The thought of showering next to Nick and getting a good look at the man and his assets caused him to consider a quick j.o. session just to make sure his own equipment behaved itself; it wasn’t at the moment. He thought better of it, remembering Denny would be home that night. He wanted to have a full load to deliver to his man, and he had already blown one load the night before.
About quarter after twelve, the bell rang. Shelby was on it with her crooning bay.
“That’ll do,” Jesse said.
She sat and accepted her reward for good behavior.
He opened the door. Nick stepped inside, crouched to greet the dog and said, “I’m all set.”
“What was up with the stove?” Jesse asked.
“It was a fuse. Now I won’t be bugging you for handouts.” He stood up smiling. �
�Am I too early?”
“No, we’re good. We can catch some lunch. I’ll get my shopping done quickly and then we can hit the gym.”
“Okay, but lunch is on me. You fed me last night.”
“Not necessary, but it’s a deal. Just let me get my gym bag. You got your stuff?”
“Yeah, it’s in the car.”
They got into Nick’s Honda. Since Nick was new to the area, Jesse made the choice where to eat. They went to a sports bar not too far from their condos. Jesse gave Nick directions as they drove.
“Welcome to Shark City, gentlemen,” the server in a tight fitting, short sleeve umpire’s shirt, said once they were seated. “I’m Charlie and I’ll be taking care of you today. Can I get you anything from the bar?”
“It’s a bit too early for me, Charlie,” said Nick. “I’ll just have an iced tea with lemon.”
“Make that two,” Jesse chimed in.
“Okay, two iced teas coming right up. Our lunch special today is lemon-crusted salmon. I’ll be back with your drinks in a jiff.”
Nick looked around the room. There was a huge wall TV showing a Cubs game, as well as several smaller sets tuned to various sporting and news channels.
“Nice place,” he commented.
“Yeah, we like it,” Jesse added. “Denny is more of a sports fan than I am, though. I have to kind of have a connection to the team to be interested.”
“I know what you mean,” said Nick. “I get into college ball mainly cuz I graduated from the U of M.”
“Oh-oh. I guess I’m gonna be outnumbered. Denny likes the Wolverines, too, being from Detroit. I’m an Illini guy myself. Did my graduate work there. Went to a small liberal arts school here in the suburbs first. Their football team didn’t win a game until my senior year. Then they won homecoming, and they cancelled Monday classes to celebrate.”
More easy laughter was shared between them.
Charlie returned with their iced teas and took their lunch order. They both chose a light salad and a cup of the soup de jour as they were going to work out in just a couple hours.
“So, tell me about being gay. Are you out?” Nick asked, sipping his tea.
Second Thoughts Page 2