Dating Rules And Pretty Fools – Ch. 7
By Laura S. Fox
Copyright © 2023 Laura S. Fox
All Rights Reserved
Gay Erotica
Intended for Mature Audiences Only
This story will contain graphic depictions of sexual intercourse, strong
language and it is not meant for readers who are less than 18 years of age.
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Chapter Seven – What
Boyfriends Do
Big fat raindrops began
pelting the windows while Hudson kissed him slowly. The only two things he was
aware of at the moment were the increasingly rapid noises made by the rain
against the car roof and the way Hudson moved his tongue inside his mouth so
unhurriedly as if they had a whole life in front of them to do only that.
That was a lesson his
teacher wanted him to learn, without a doubt. Clumsily at first, Otis began to
mimic the way Hudson kissed him, going left when he went right, and then the
opposite. It made for a peculiar dance of tongues, and one that melded with the
beating of his heart and the thumping in his ears, some of which he could only
blame on the two Cosmos he had had at Twinlight only
earlier.
So this was how people
kissed and he had to pay attention. After all, his teacher had been quite clear
that not shying away from kissing was essential for him to start dating. But it
was difficult to focus on one move or the other as overwhelming sensations
threatened to take him over. Hudson made things all the more tortuous as he
pinched his chin just a smidge, making him open his mouth wider.
Then, it suddenly
stopped. Otis met the dark gaze unflinchingly. The fact that he didn't blink as
often as other humans helped under the circumstances because he didn't want to
miss one beat, one clue that would make him understand what was truly going on.
"How is it?" Rough voice,
gentle tone. Because the man holding him so close was a mix of contrary
impressions, impressions he could elicit in those around him.
"The kiss?" Otis asked
slowly. His lips were tingling. He felt a terrible need for more of it. Could
kissing become so addictive to some that you wouldn't be able to live without
it anymore? That was a worrying thought.
"You're frowning. Don't
tell me I'm a bad kisser. I might not survive the disappointment."
"Are you addicted to
kissing?" Otis inquired, incrementally worrying that as outlandish as that idea
was, it had to have an ounce of truth in it.
"You could turn me into
an addict," Hudson replied and smiled.
Relief flooded through
Otis's system. His neighbor liked to joke a lot, it seemed, when he wasn't all
a frown and giving orders and expecting them to be followed to the letter.
"Well? Are you going to
tell me or are you going to keep me on my toes?" Hudson insisted.
"About the kissing?" Otis
watched closely until the nod of confirmation followed. "I do not have a lot of
basis for comparison. Based on what I know so far, you are an excellent
kisser."
"Thank you. That wasn't
so hard, right?"
Otis shifted in his
place. There was something hard, but he couldn't bring it up. It would either
make him sound like someone who couldn't keep it in his pants – he had heard
that expression enough times to understand what it meant – or as if he was
asking for something. Seeing how Hudson asked for nothing in return for these
lessons, that would be very rude of him. He opted for a little white lie. "No,
not at all. It was very easy. I could follow the steps because you did it
slowly."
Hudson had returned fully
to his seat, and Otis could take in his manly profile. There was still a smile
there. Maybe, after all, he was at least a little bit funny.
"So, it was a lesson?"
Hudson asked and looked at him. He reached for the keys, but Otis put one hand
on his.
"It's raining quite
hard." Out the window, the lights of passing vehicles left luminous trails that
faded rapidly into the night. "It's not safe to drive in such weather
conditions."
"Especially since I'm
such a bad driver," Hudson added and leaned slightly toward him.
He had managed to insult
his neighbor. Grandma would shake her head and purse her lips; she had never
scolded him but those were pointers that she believed that he could do better
than that.
"I am terribly sorry
about that," Otis said. "I'm not good with speeding vehicles."
Hudson wrapped one arm around
his shoulder and squeezed. "You're so well-behaved, Otis, that I wonder if
you're real. To prevent any questions on your part, that's why I'm touching you
right now, to make sure."
That made sense. And Otis
very much enjoyed Hudson's touch, his large hand so reassuring even through the
fabric of the shirt. For a moment, he wondered how it would feel against his
naked skin and shuddered. Was it because of the alcohol that he was
experiencing such heightened sensations at the mere thought of something like
that?
"I have nothing against
spending more time like this while we're waiting for the rain to let up."
Talking about the weather
was always a safe option for striking up a conversation with a stranger. While
his neighbor was no longer exactly a stranger, it couldn't be said that they had
known each other since forever, either.
"Summer rains can be
unpredictable," he offered politely.
"I believe there's
something else that can be called that. Or rather, someone." Hudson looked
pointedly at him.
Otis straightened up in
his seat. A different type of lesson was about to be delivered, without a doubt.
Hudson had said that he wasn't scolding him, and he was counting on that to be
the truth. Nonetheless, the part of him that just couldn't let go of waiting for
the other shoe to drop – another expression he had noted down for further
understanding – demanded to be listened to.
"I thought you were shy,
and then I find you in that place. Imagine my surprise," Hudson continued and
rubbed Otis's shoulder to convince him that it wasn't really a lecture he was
getting right now.
"I intended to work on my
shyness," Otis explained. "Going out to a club where young people entertain
themselves by drinking and dancing sounded like a way to do that. At the time.
I now know that I'm not allowed to go to such places," he added right away, to
prove his determination to follow Hudson's advice to the letter.
"Because..." Hudson said
slowly. He was smiling again.
"Because I'm not ready to
date or hook up," Otis uttered the first thing that came to his mind.
Hudson said nothing for
two beats. "That's a good answer, Otis. I'll take it."
He was serious. No matter
how weak the dome lights inside the car were, Otis believed that he could read
that handsome face well.
***
Interfering in this young
man's life in such an intrusive manner was in no shape or form in his job
description, and yet, here he was, trying to protect Otis from the likes of
Jackie and the people at that club without coming across as an arrogant
impossible prick. The most astonishing thing about the situation was the way
Otis actually helped him reach that goal without any moaning and groaning,
which he had expected from the get-go.
No, Otis placed his faith
in him for reasons Hudson couldn't well fathom, and that kind of trust was
beyond endearing. It was dangerous if misplaced, and therefore, Hudson very
much intended to make Otis understand that he was safe with him. A short look
at his pretty neighbor convinced him of another hard truth: danger played on
both teams. Never before had anyone placed himself like that in his hands. It
felt empowering and more than that.
It felt... exhilarating, a
sensation he had seldom experienced in his life. He could easily relate it to
what he had felt when having sex for the first time. It was also new, something
that settled into his very bones, just as easily as the sight of that gorgeous
mysterious blue eye had been etched into his memory forever now.
That was dangerous, too.
He had no time for exploring what having such a strange beautiful being in his
arms meant. Talking about bad timing. He shook his head as he pondered over it
for a moment, and then realized that getting lost in his own head with Otis by
his side wasn't truly an option. A part of him, a deep part of him, wanted to
assure Otis that he wasn't being neglected and never would be.
"So, have you learned anything
of value from your little outing?" he asked. Talking about things other than
kissing that beautiful mouth until he could no longer breathe was the safest
choice.
"I saw two boyfriends
kissing," Otis replied dutifully. "It was quite odd."
"What was?" Hudson was
intrigued. "That they were kissing in public?"
"No. One was the
bartender. He gave me two drinks for free. The other was a young man named
Danny. He caused some drama and called me--"
"What did he call you?"
"It doesn't matter. He thought
his boyfriend was flirting with me and got mad. It was all a misunderstanding,
after all. It appears that Utah--"
"Who's Utah?" Damn, the
investigator in him never slept, it seemed.
"That's the bartender's
name. But I don't think that's his real name. Because it would be quite unusual
to be called that. Although it's a very interesting name. You won't forget it
after leaving the bar."
"Otis is also an
interesting name," Hudson said with a small smile, only to see again that
expression of innocent surprise on his cute neighbor's face.
"Thank you," came the
dutiful reply.
"Go on," Hudson
encouraged him. It didn't hurt to learn a thing or two about the bartender. Was
he in on the scheme involving the business they were keeping in the back? Or
was he just someone playing his part as an employee of the legitimate business?
"Utah accused Danny,
that's the boyfriend, of believing that they were in an open relationship,
although they weren't. What kind of a relationship is an open one?"
"That's when the two people
involved decide to see other people on the side."
"See them for what?"
"Usually, for sexual
satisfaction."
Otis pursed his lips and
seemed to consider. "Utah said he didn't know. He seemed both upset with Danny
but also happy to see him. Why?"
"It must be because he
likes the guy and is willing to forgive whatever happened before," Hudson
offered his two cents. "Most relationships between people are not this
complicated, Otis."
"Ours is very simple.
Very straightforward," Otis said, seemingly convinced of the validity of his
statement.
"Is that so? What kind of
relationship do we have?" Hudson asked.
"You're my teacher, and
I'm your student."
"Hmm, it sounds like the
premise for an illicit relationship," Hudson said and smiled. Otis was so endearingly
cute that he felt the need to play with him like a cat with a toy mouse.
"How so?"
Hudson slid one arm
behind the back of Otis's seat and inched closer. His neighbor had such a soft,
beautiful mouth. Just looking at it for a moment made his tongue feel like
sandpaper. He wanted more of those lips, that pink tongue in his mouth,
everything. The rational part of him told him to pull back, look forward, turn
the key in the ignition and take Otis home. No, not his home. Damn, who was he
kidding? He felt attracted to this young man like he couldn't remember ever
feeling attracted to anyone. And it wasn't only sexual, an area where he
performed well. No, this time around, he was on shaky ground. It didn't scare
him; on the contrary, it was challenging him, making him want more.
"Because of this," he
eventually replied to Otis's question and angled his head for another kiss.
Otis pushed his head
forward, while the rest of his body still remained stiff. But his mouth was hot
and sweet, with a hint of alcohol, and Hudson found himself wanting more. He
snuck one hand upward to caress Otis's cheek and then caught his chin to deepen
the kiss.
"See?" he asked in a
heated voice he barely recognized as his own. "Student and teacher. Kissing. It
should be forbidden."
"But it's part of the
curriculum," Otis said and gazed at him so candidly that Hudson had to look
away or else something inside him would snap like a twig.
"Is that why you let me
kiss you? Because of the curriculum?" Why did he sound like a scumbag right
now? What did he have to prove?
"No. It's," Otis licked
his lips and his eyes went to one side, "because I also find you very
attractive."
Hudson felt a jolt of
pride and satisfaction. "Oh, yeah?" he said and grinned, mostly to himself.
"Yes, you have a muscular
shape and a very good meat percentage by what I can see of your body."
Hudson began laughing. It
was good to laugh because it took away from the tension rising in his body; it
wasn't the bad kind of tension, but he truly needed to get a grip. "Okay. What
else?" he challenged Otis to come up with more compliments about his physical
appearance.
"You also have tattoos."
Otis pulled at his sleeves and he appeared to shiver for a moment. Hudson could
swear his cute passenger was experiencing some pleasant sensations of his own.
"They're... what do people say? Sexy. They're very sexy." At this point, he
sounded like he was choking on his own breath.
It wouldn't be merciful
to continue. Otis was attracted to him, and that was the only thing that
mattered.
"What other things do
boyfriends do?" Otis asked, changing the topic.
Well, he was the young
man's teacher, right? He could give some advice. "A lot of things. Together.
Such as going on dates, sharing meals, and so on. And no, open relationships
are far from being the norm." Wow, his knowledge about what boyfriends did
together was abysmal. Not from a theoretic point of view, but a practical one.
Otis had a bad, bad teacher. He didn't have to know that just yet.
Otis seemed pleased
enough with the answers he was getting so far. Then, once more, he changed
tack. "What do you have against Jackie?"
He had a feeling that
saying something such as that man might
be part of a human trafficking ring and I'm investigating just that wouldn't
be wise. So, he opted for something else. "He's a rat."
"A rat?" Otis seemed
abnormally astounded by that characterization of the person in question. "He
seems to me more like a tomcat. And he knows how to dance."
"You don't say," Hudson
said dryly.
"If Jackie is a rat, what
animal are you?"
Good. They were doing
some childish quiz. "I have no idea. I haven't thought about it."
"I think you'd be a huge
dog," Otis supplied the answer for him. "No. Maybe a wolf. No, that's not good,
either. I think you'd be a wolf master," he concluded.
Hudson closed his eyes
for a moment. Outside, the rain still raged on. He could play with Otis for a
bit longer. "A wolf master?"
"Or just a dog trainer,"
Otis supplied and giggled. It had to be because of the alcohol still in his
system.
"What about you? Are you
a kitten, maybe?" Hudson played along. And then, he leaned toward Otis again,
eager to smell his scent and feel his body heat. "Or a puppy?"
The mysterious unique eye
set on him. "If I'm a puppy, will you put a leash on me?"
Okay. That was enough
playing for now. Hudson straightened up and tried hard to ignore the tightness
in his pants. This kind of conversation with his innocent, yet very daring,
neighbor was very dangerous. As cool as he had been over the last few weeks,
all business and no play, being close to this beautiful being was enough, and
he was turning into a playful dog. Yes, that comparison was right; he was a
complete dog, and a horny one, there was not that much blood left in his brain
to keep it functioning since it was busy going somewhere else.
Damn, the image of Otis
wearing nothing but a thin leather collar was going to haunt him for many
nights. "I think I can drive us both home now," he said and put his hands on
the wheel.
***
His eyes kept closing. He
didn't realize that he was resting his face against the window inside Hudson's
car until he was shaken gently to wake up. "I'm not sleeping," he said right
away.
His denial was met by a
low chuckle. Was that how sexy people laughed? He needed to work on that, too.
"Not yet. But you will be
soon. In your bed," Hudson said, as if he needed to use that much redundant
information.
"Yes, in my bed," he
repeated in a perfunctory manner.
The rain had turned into
a soft drizzle, so he shuddered after he got out of the car. Hudson threw an
arm around him and pushed him gently toward the apartment building. "Sorry, I
don't have an umbrella."
"Summer
rains are unpredictable," Otis murmured and then realized that he had repeated
what he had said earlier, like a parrot. Maybe his animal alter-ego was some
creature between a crane and a parakeet. That would explain certain things.
"Come on, puppy, before
we get wet," Hudson urged him on and breathed warmly over the crown of his
head.
As they stepped into the
elevator, it felt as if meeting his new neighbor had happened long before and
not only a few days ago. That was an odd feeling, certainly not unpleasant, but
unexpected nonetheless. He sensed his lips quirking into a smile, as his body
still felt partially boneless because of the last traces of alcohol in his
system, without a doubt.
"Something funny?" Hudson
leaned into him, crowding his space.
According to books on
human behavior which he sometimes read to get more in touch with humans in
general and understand them better, that kind of move could easily be
interpreted as intimidation and a sort of territorial display. The elevator
space definitely didn't qualify in any way, shape or form as Hudson's
territory, and Otis didn't feel intimidated, either. So, it had to be something
else.
"I was thinking that it
feels as if I've known you since forever," Otis replied honestly. "Isn't that
strange?"
Hudson caressed his cheek
briefly. "You know what?" he whispered. "I don't think it's strange at all."
The elevator stopped at
their floor that moment, interrupting their conversation. Hudson stepped out
and held the door for Otis, who followed with a polite nod and murmured thanks.
His grandma would have liked Hudson a lot, despite his scary tattoos and
overall rough demeanor. It had to be one of those cases when the old adage of
not judging a book by its cover held more truth than usual. However, Otis had
to say that he liked the cover just as much and breathed in Hudson's scent
while moving past him.
A low chuckle coming from
the other made him giggle again. The way Hudson did that was tickling him on
the inside. He'd have to learn that trade. It was impossible for men not to
fall at Hudson's feet if they only heard that sound. Wasn't it nice to be that
attractive? Still, Otis had high hopes of his education. Some skills could be
learned, right? Especially from an excellent teacher like his dangerous-looking
neighbor.
Hudson escorted him to his
door, pressing a hand against the small of his back, a simple gesture that felt
so comforting. They stopped in front of it, and Otis began rummaging through
his brain for the right words to say as goodbye until their next encounter.
Once more, Hudson showed
who was the more experienced in dealing with humans in general, and such
situations in particular. He moved closer, tipped Otis's chin up gently, and
kissed him featherlike. "Good night, Otis. Don't let the bed bugs bite your
lovely ass."
Wow. He had no words. If
he told someone – a potential date – the same words, would that date swoon the
way he felt like swooning at that moment? Hudson's touch lingered as the man
moved away, still looking back at him over his shoulder a couple of times
before he reached his door.
"Good night," he said
loudly and waved, realizing that he hadn't said one word back, which was a very
impolite thing to do.
Hudson smiled at him and
winked before stepping inside his apartment. Otis waited until the door to 505
closed and then hurried into his place. He had a lovely ass, according to
Hudson! He hadn't thought of that part of his anatomy in such terms, but if a
man like that praised his behind, it had to be at least a little true.
Otis pressed his back
against the closed door and allowed the rush of pleasure to course through him.
Ah, now he remembered. He stared into the large mirror he had left there, just
leaning against the wall and said, "Would you like to come in for a cup of
coffee?"
He giggled as he noticed
how flushed his face looked. Of course, he should have asked something like
that, but, in the heat of the moment – and heat was a very good word to
describe the situation because he felt hot all over now – his memories of such
phrases must have gotten all jumbled.
He had to buy coffee and
figure out a way to make it with his meager means for preparing anything in his
apartment. Or he could make it at work and then store it in a thermos and bring
it home. He would make a fresh cup every day and take it home until Hudson said
`yes' to that question.
Or he gathered enough
courage to ask it.
***
Hudson had to shake his
head several times to get away from the avalanche of pleasant sensations that
had taken both his body and mind by storm ever since he had put his hands on his
beautiful neighbor tonight. What was he truly doing, getting Otis all mixed up
with his investigation?
But that wasn't what was
truly happening, was it? That damn Jackie had to try his luck by trying to lure
Otis of all people to that den of iniquity, and left him with no choice. Yeah,
he snorted at himself, rationalize more. If he were completely honest – an
ability that he appeared to be incapable of lately – he could protect Otis
without kissing him and telling him how beautiful he was.
Easier said than done,
right? Hudson felt hard-pressed to explain the situation to himself. If Otis
weren't so endearing, so innocent, and so willing to fall into his arms, things
would be completely different. But beggars can't be choosers. Another rationalization.
Great. If that made him a beggar, he was one lucky mofo,
because it definitely felt like someone had just dropped a million-dollar check
into his lap.
He pressed his forehead
against the door and groaned. He needed to get his head screwed on right and
fast. There was an investigation that wanted him, no, needed him to be on top
of his game, and it had to be now that the most beautiful person in the world
had chosen to step into his life.
He walked into the room
and took in the BDSM paraphernalia on the wall, waiting for the dark images
from the case file to flood him and erase every trace of the overwhelming
pleasure he had felt while kissing Otis only earlier. The whips, the paddles,
the muzzles and the leashes seemed nothing but inert objects that tonight
failed to elicit anything of the kind in him. Actually, it was the opposite
when he happened to look at a thin strip of leather, which he touched gently.
How would Otis look if he were to play the puppy-in-training part?
He shook his head. He was
getting ahead of himself. He would try his damnedest not to picture his pretty
neighbor in such a getup. Because that was an off-limits fantasy. Yes,
definitely.
***
"How's your stomach?"
Missy asked him as soon as she saw him at work the next day.
"My stomach is fine,"
Otis replied, wondering why his friend was asking him about that in particular.
"Maybe those drinks
didn't agree with it," Missy said and leaned into him. "Me, I got a little
smashed. Jackie had to carry me home."
Jackie, according to Hudson,
was a rat. Not a cute mouse like a cartoon character, but like a pest. Otis
didn't know how to tell Missy that. Rats could be dangerous; they could bite
and, depending on the century, give you the bubonic plague. Sure thing, Jackie
wouldn't bite Missy, because that would be a ludicrous scene.
"You know, that boy is
smitten with you," Missy continued. "He kept on blabbing how disappointed he
was about not seeing you before you left. And he wasn't the only one. Hey, you
know Utah said that you disappeared with a tall tattooed stranger? I thought he
was just pulling Jackie's leg to see him squirm, but now that I think about it...
did you hook up last night, Otis?" she asked in a conspiratorial whisper.
"No," Otis said and felt
a bit disappointed over it. He would have hooked up if Hudson had offered. What
was he thinking now? He shook his head in horror. That kind of behavior made
him into a... He didn't know the right word for it. Maybe he could ask Missy, but
that didn't feel like the right thing to do, either.
"What about the tattooed
stranger? Was Utah talking out of his ass?" Missy nudged him playfully.
Otis snickered. No one
could talk out of their asses, but it was a funny thing to imagine. "That was
my neighbor."
Missy stopped for a
moment and her mouth formed a perfect O. "Your neighbor? Do you mean, THE
neighbor?"
Otis could stop her and
explain that Hudson was one neighbor of many, but she seemed too excited to
listen to such explanations. "Yes, the one with the tattoos. Who I kissed," he
added. "In the past. Last night, he kissed me."
Missy began fanning
herself rapidly with her hands. "Wow, wow, wow, Otis, slow down, this train's
moving too fast." What train? "I mean, anyone would look at you and sees this
prim and proper dude who you'd take home to momma, and you're actually a total
vixen."
He would prefer to be a
puppy and get properly trained by Hudson with the help of a leash. And maybe...
squeaky toys? Or treats? He shook his head again, afraid that Missy might read
such thoughts on his face.
"And? After he kissed
you, what happened?" Missy asked, apparently unaware of whatever was going on
through his head.
"He escorted me to my
door, although that's not very far from his door, and said `good night'. After
he kissed me one more time, very briefly. Also, he mentioned bed bugs, although
I should have told him I don't have those. My apartment is clean, and I do the
laundry every week."
Missy shrieked so loudly
that he cringed. "He took you to the door and kissed you goodnight? O. M. G.,
Otis, how did you find this guy? He's a total gentleman. How could he let a
little scrumptious thing like you get away without a scratch?" Were there
people who scratched others for fun? Otis felt his head swimming with new
information, as his co-worker continued her tirade. "Don't tell me. Is he
straight? Or bi, at least? Because if he is, and you don't introduce me to him,
I will hate you forever."
Otis had no intention to
bring Missy's wrath upon his head, and he also needed to be honest. "I don't
think he is interested in women. Even his work is about having men over all the
time."
That seemed to confuse
Missy even more. "What is he doing with them? Oh, don't tell me. I hope he's
not a manwhore. You know, one for cash."
"What do you mean by
that?" Otis asked, now interested in tapping into the well of knowledge that
Missy seemed to be.
"You know. A guy who
sleeps with people and gets money for it. Gay for pay, my sweet innocent
friend," she added and laughed.
"Oh, no. He pays people.
Not to sleep with them, but to take pictures. He has a couch for it, too. And
many interesting things on the wall." Otis was, indeed, very much interested in
those things on the wall. Not only the leashes, now that he thought about it.
"Wow, a real casting
couch?" Missy asked, adding even more information to the things he needed to
understand. "Did he ask you to pose for him?"
"No. I don't believe that
I'm in the same league," he used the phrase clumsily hoping that it was
correct, "with the men who visit him. They are all attractive. And they tend to
have a good meat percentage."
"Meat percentage," Missy
said slowly as her eyes fogged up. "Ah, you mean, muscles?" She caught her left
bicep with her right hand to make a point.
"Yes. Some have big
muscles. Others, not so much, but they're still handsome," Otis explained.
"Your neighbor is a very
interesting fellow. And it looks like he's big into courting you," Missy said
and flashed a huge smile at him. She gave him two thumbs up.
The door opened and Mr.
Smith was there, glaring at them. "What are you two doing, chatting like two
mindless birds? Get to work."
"Right away," Missy said
brightly.
Ever since he had started
waiting on tables, Mr. Smith had changed the way he treated him. He was no
longer made of glass, and the manager treated him just like he treated Missy.
Otis was glad about it. That kind of thing made him feel normal, like he was as
much a human being as any other.
Was Hudson really
courting him? No, what was he thinking? Missy didn't have all the facts. She
didn't know that Hudson was actually his teacher of dating rules.
TBC
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