Desperate for Love

by Aliana James

  “He’s been let go, so if you can, I need you to take his shift on Wednesday.” He only worked Thursdays, Saturdays, and every other Friday. The extra money would help.

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks.” Billy turned and walked away. Travis grabbed a knife and started cutting limes.

  “How many more hours are you going to work?”

  Travis jumped. The knife nearly nicked his finger. His friend and fellow bartender, Jonas, stood in front of him, the rag in his hand waved back and forth as he spoke.

  “I need the money,” he answered.

  “Huh. You need sleep and a life.” Jonas grunted as he hoisted a tray of glasses to the side.

  “I get enough sleep and I have a life.” Not one he could brag to anyone. Jonas didn’t need to have more ammunition.

  “No, you don’t,” Jonas said. “You work crazy hours to take care of your brother’s debt and then when you aren’t working, you’re off taking care of everyone else.”

  “Leave it alone.” He threw the knife in the sink and slammed the container of limes closed. What possessed him to get drunk one night and spill his life story to Jonas? Jonas’s mind was a sponge. He never forgot a detail or a story.

  Travis knew he was right. His current schedule wasn’t good for the long term.

  He might get a good five hours of sleep before he headed to his parents’ house to help his Mom. After church, she liked to shop, to visit the wholesale club, and needed help carrying everything inside the house. His parents had a wedding to go to in the afternoon so he hoped they could finish all of the errands in time.

  Jonas tapped him on the shoulder. “I’ve been calling you. I almost dropped this shit.” He gestured to the counter where two racks of glasses lay. “I’ll grab a couple cases of beer.”

  “I’ll help.”

  “No, finish putting away the glasses and the rum. The doors should open any minute.”

  Billy stood behind him taking inventory. His boss insisted on counting every item, several times a week. “The guy from Thursday came back last night,” he said.

  “The idiot who refused to settle his tab?”

  “Yeah, him. He won’t be back. Not sure how he got back in here after the shit he pulled. We’re not letting anyone run tabs anymore. It’s too messy. Close the tab after the round.”

  “Makes sense,” Travis agreed.

  Jonas stacked two cases of beer and he emptied them into the coolers while Jonas prepped the remaining garnishes.

  “We finished just in time,” Jonas said. The thump of the music rang through the bar and patrons waved to get their attention.

  Travis

  “Your friend is here.” Jonas tilted his head toward the end of the bar. “I meant to mention it an hour ago, but we got busy. He’s been throwing them back hard. Haven’t seen him drink that much.”

  Travis had forgotten Alec said he was stopping by tonight. Tyler, his parents and Jonas’s earlier comments occupied his mind. What time was it? The drink orders on his side of the bar hadn’t stopped since they opened.

  Jonas strutted over to Alec and batted his eyelashes. Lots of guys hit on Jonas. He was the perfect twink, lean and blond. Yoga kept him in shape. And Jonas delighted in telling him how his hookups appreciated his flexibility. Alec and Jonas looked good together. This was the worst part of having Alec here. He hated watching the guys fawn over him. Hands touched his shoulders and lips leaned close. He turned as someone called him for a drink.

  He tensed as Jonas grabbed a bottle of beer from behind him.

  “Why do I bother flirting with him?” he asked as he opened a second bottle and placed it on the bar. “He’s only got eyes for you.”

  Soda spilled over Travis’s hand. He looked up and saw Alec staring. Was he looking at his ass?

  “Hey, sugar. Can I get a rum and coke?” A slender blond leaned over another man to get Travis’s attention. He served the two drinks at once, ran the guy’s credit card, and monitored Alec.

  A lull in the drink orders gave him a minute to walk over. “Hey, how are you?”

  “Good. Now.” Alec smiled at him and wobbled on his bar stool. Holy shit, he was wasted. He stopped by whenever Travis worked, hung out and nursed one drink all night. Guys came up to him, sometimes got him on the dance floor. And he never, ever smiled at him that way.

  That smile knocked him off balance. Travis grabbed the empty glasses and bottles. “How many have you had?”

  Alec threw back the drink. “Hitttttt meeeee.”

  Travis raised his eyebrows and then folded his arms.

  “Peas.” Not good. Oh, he’ll hurt in the morning. He could scratch their morning run off of his schedule.

  Travis reached into the cooler and pulled out a bottle of water. He put it in front of Alec. “Drink that and then I’ll give you another one.” A guy held his hand up at the far end of the bar.

  Jaime waved to get his attention. “It’s coming down hard outside so it’ll empty out soon. Billy’s thinking about closing early.”

  He nodded and took the empty water bottle that Alec was waving in front of his face.

  “You promised,” Alec slurred.

  “What gives? You never get drunk.” Travis grabbed a glass and mixed him a rum with extra cola.

  Alec took a sip and frowned. “There’s no rum in there.”

  His boss took that precise moment to appear. Billy knew who Alec was and didn’t complain about him being a permanent fixture at the end of the bar. He slapped Alec on the back. “How you doing? Having a good time?”

  Alec smiled and swayed as he shook his hand. “I wish he’d pour me a stronger drink.”

  Billy laughed. “Yeah so does everyone else. You sound like you’ve had enough.”

  Alec pressed his lips together in a pout as Billy walked away. “Killjoy,” he muttered under his breath.

  Jonas signaled Travis from the other side of the bar. Travis walked over to relieve him from the group of half-drunk sorority girls. He deflected a hand and served up the drinks, ignoring the requests for his phone number.

  “I hate this shit.” Travis pulled two bottles of rum from the shelf.

  “Me too.” Jonas laughed. “But admit it, that was funny.”

  “Yeah, sure. Why do they insist on coming to a gay bar? And get pissed when they can’t take a gay man home?” Travis asked as he poured two more drinks.

  Jonas glanced over his shoulder. “The bar is emptying out. You should go.”

  “What? Why?”

  Jonas pointed his chin toward Alec. “He’s gone. I’m not dragging his ass home if he passes out. Are you?”

  “Shit.” Travis watched Alec put his head on the bar.

  “Can you tell Billy I’m leaving?”

  Jonas put glasses in the sink and handed Travis a bottle of water from the cooler.

  “You’ve covered everyone else for the last month. You should be able to leave early. Go.”

  Travis cursed his timing as Billy walked toward him.

  “Leaving early?”

  “Yeah. Jonas said he’d tell you. Is it a problem?”

  “No, go. But take your friend with you.” Billy pointed to Alec at the end of the bar.

  “Yeah, yeah. I got him.”

  “Good.” Billy tapped Travis on the back. The DJ yelled last call over the speakers and Travis got to the other side of the bar before ten people came up to order one last drink.

  “Alec!” he leaned in to yell in his ear.

  Alec jumped up so quick he sent the stool out from under him. Travis had to reach under his armpits to keep him from sinking to the floor.

  “Let’s go, big guy.” Travis grabbed Alec’s jacket off the back of the stool and steered Alec toward the stairs. Jaime, the bouncer, raised his eyebrows and smirked. The bastard.

  “Can you help me with him?”

  Jaime helped Alec downstairs while Travis grabbed his coat, buttoned both of their jackets, and exited the alley door right into the rain. He didn’t h
ave time to change and hoped he could make it up to his apartment without running into any of his neighbors.

  Alec stopped. “They’re fucking up my status quo, man.”

  Travis laughed. This guy. “Yeah, who? Hold up a minute. Let’s see if the rain lets up.”

  Alec slumped into Travis, resting his head on his shoulder. “You’re so good to me.” His hand traveled up Travis’s shoulder. “You have nice arms. Wrap them around me.”

  Travis stiffened. What the hell?

  Alec’s hands continued to travel around his waist and squeeze his ass. Hello! He removed Alec’s hands and pushed them to his side.

  “Let’s get going. The rain is slowing.”

  Alec, unable to walk straight, weaved dangerously close to the street. All he wanted was a shower and his bed, not to deal with drunk Alec. When he looped his arm around Alec, Alec took that opportunity to latch on to him.

  The rain turned into a downpour as they got to the corner. Alec let go of Travis and splashed in the puddles.

  “Alec, man, come on!” he shouted.

  “No fun,” Alec mumbled.

  His idea of fun wasn’t a downpour at two o’clock in the morning. Drenched, tired, and cranky, his brain couldn’t get past Alec copping a feel when they left the club.

  Did Alec have feelings for him? Jonas thought so, but he said shit most of the time that Travis ignored. What was the point? Alec wouldn’t admit it if he asked. If he had the nerve to ask.

  Travis’s building was only two doors away when Alec halted. “I gotta pee.”

  He watched in horror as Alec started to unbutton his pants.

  “No! We’re almost at my place.” Travis grabbed Alec’s hands. Damn it, his junk was hanging out. Tonight kept getting better and better.

  Convinced he’d lose his mind any minute now, Travis held both Alec’s hands and pulled his shirt out of his jeans to cover him.

  “Oh, I love it when you take control. Boss me around, Travis, baby.” Alec licked the side of his neck. “Yummmmm.”

  He froze.

  Shocked and turned on, Travis adjusted his leather pants. Between the rain and his raging hard-on, they were uncomfortable. He spun Alec toward his apartment building.

  He jammed his hand into his backpack and located his keys. Alec slid to the ground.

  “Shit. Alec, get up.” He braced the door with his foot and grabbed Alec’s hand. Alec’s head bobbled, and he smiled at him. The water dripping from his hair to his face made him look even hotter. Travis’s dick throbbed. His pants grew tighter. He had never been this hard in his life.

  A car honked and reminded him where they were. Alec loosened the grip and then dropped his hand to the ground. Travis knew he only had a minute or two to get him up before he passed out.

  “Alec! You need to pee, right?”

  “Yeah.” Alec’s head wobbled as he looked side to side. His hand touched his face and wiped water away. “Why am I wet?”

  “It’s raining. Come on, this way.” If he got him into the building, he could persuade him to crawl to the elevator. “Don’t bother standing. Just crawl this way.”

  “Soooo dunk.” Alec slid on to his hands and half-crawled, half-dragged himself across the floor and into the elevator. “Sick…”

  Crap. Time to hurry. A minute later, the elevator opened on his floor. Travis pulled Alec across the floor and paused. How the hell was he going to make it from the elevator to his apartment? As he turned back, he saw Alec lie flat on his back.

  How the hell was he supposed to move him?

  Travis put the other strap of his backpack on his shoulder and clipped it tight in the front. With all his strength, he put his arms under Alec’s armpits and dragged him across the carpet. Once he got him moving, there was no way he could stop.

  He prayed none of his neighbors came out to investigate. Only three more doors to go. No time to think now. He leaned Alec against his door. Fishing out his keys, he opened the door and crawled over Alec.

  A door somewhere in the hallway opened. He yanked Alec inside his apartment. They both fell to the floor in a heap. Alec’s butt nestled into his crotch. Could this get any more awkward? Travis rolled Alec off of him. Alec slumped on his side, wet clothes stuck to his body.

  Alec moaned and Travis rushed back over to check on him. He remembered that he read somewhere that drunks could choke while they slept. No way he was leaving Alec by himself. He would sleep on the couch.

  Decision made, he dragged and pulled Alec on to the living room rug. He unbuttoned his shirt and took a good long look at his chest, his hand brushing across his taut abs. A fine dusting of damp hair ran in a V to his waistline.

  Ugh. One thing at a time. Travis hopped up and grabbed a comforter from the closet and a pillow to make a bed on the floor. The blanket ended up over Alec’s waist as he tugged off his jeans and his socks.

  He rolled him over onto the comforter, tucked a pillow under his head, and put a bucket nearby. Travis gave Alec one more glance. His best friend was now in his boxers, in his apartment.

  He turned the taps on in the shower and let the hot water warm him. Maybe just this once, he could indulge in this fantasy. Alec was hot. Wet Alec was hotter. And when he licked Travis’s neck? His hands gravitated toward his cock.

  Thoughts of what happened earlier entered his mind. The feel of Alec’s tongue on his neck. Alec’s hands grabbing his ass only inches away from his cock. It didn’t take long for his balls to tighten and within seconds he came in spurts, painting the shower wall.

  He slumped against the cold tile and tried to catch his breath. Guilt crept in and regret took over the blissful feeling the orgasm left. Damn it. Travis knew Alec didn’t date guys who looked like him. Alec liked blonds, tiny ones who he could manhandle like Jonas. No way Alec would remember anything he said tonight.

  Showered and annoyed, he slammed the drawer closed after he grabbed his pajama pants. After putting Alec’s clothes in the dryer and checking on him again, he made himself comfortable on the couch. His eyes, heavy and gritty, wanted to shut.

  Alec never drank to get drunk, not in the fifteen years they had been friends. He couldn’t picture him plastered in the Army. They discouraged drinking to oblivion while holding a rifle.

  A groan came from the floor and Alec threw the blankets off of his body. The temperature dropped at night and he didn’t want Alec to freeze. Travis grabbed the comforter off of his bed and covered him. That was much easier than trying to untangle the ones he was lying on. He didn’t want to touch his body any more than necessary. It wasn’t his to touch.

  Chapter Four

  Alec

  Alec woke with his head on a pillow. Someone moved around in the distance. His head weighed a ton and made it hard to push himself up into a sitting position. His eyelids opened, his naked legs peeked out from under the blanket. Before he registered why, a voice spoke.

  “Good, you’re awake. I ran your clothes through the wash since they were wet. There’s a towel and an extra toothbrush in the bathroom,” the voice said.

  He opened his eyes again and blinked. The picture by the TV looked familiar. How the hell did he get here last night? Travis must have brought him here from the club. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and saliva had dried on his cheek. A trip to the bathroom sounded good.

  With the couch for support, he pulled himself upright. The room spun as he attempted to stand. A sudden, severe need to urinate had him running to the bathroom. As he looked in the mirror, he gasped. On one side of his head, his hair had flattened to his cheek. His eyes, bloodshot and swollen, looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. What the fuck had he done last night?

  Thank God Travis had brought him to his house. Shaking his head, he spotted the towel and the toothbrush. A shower sounded amazing. He waited for the water to warm before he stepped into the spray.

  No use in trying to jog his memory. He grabbed a bottle of body wash from the shelf and squirted a huge glob into his hand. A fast show
er completed, he grabbed his towel.

  A brand new package of boxers sat next to his clean clothes on the counter. Why did he have brand new boxers in the right size? The smell of coffee hit him and he rushed to get dressed. He ran his fingers through his wet hair to tame it and hung up his towel. As he walked by the living room, the bedding lay folded in a stack on the couch. A loud growl erupted from his stomach as he entered the kitchen.

  “Hey. How’d you sleep?” Travis grabbed the spatula and flipped the pancakes.

  “Good, I guess. Coffee?” He needed something to dull the tapping in his head.

  Travis pushed a mug over to him. “Creamer is in the fridge.”

  Alec shuffled over to the fridge, surprised to find it full of food. Most of the items in his fridge bordered on becoming science experiments. He didn’t know what half the stuff was on the shelves.

  “There’s no space left in the fridge.”

  “You know I love to cook.” Travis cracked open two eggs in a bowl and whisked them.

  Alec climbed on the barstool, stirred his coffee, and took a sip. Ah, yes. Much better. “Why do you have boxers in my size?”

  Travis stopped whisking and dumped the contents of the bowl in a pan.

  “They were for my dad. I figured you guys might be the same size.”

  Something was wrong. He could feel it in the tone of Travis’s voice.

  “I hope you aren’t going through this much trouble for me. I’d have been fine grabbing something on my way back home,” he said as he continued to sip his coffee. He might need a second cup.

  “You went at it hard last night.” Travis shrugged. “Figured it’d be best to get food in you.”

  When was the last time someone had cooked for him? The cook at his grandfather’s house. That didn’t count. He gets paid to cook. His grandmother. Not his mother. She hated to cook. He poured himself another cup of coffee while Travis stood with his back stiff facing away from him. It was unusual for Travis to be this quiet.

  Travis plated an omelet and added a slice of toast as it popped. He reached into the fridge, grabbed the butter, and sat it in front of his plate.