Friends, Sexcapades, And Love Affairs – Ch. 13
By Laura S. Fox
Copyright © 2020 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 Thirteen – Awake
Edward leaned into his
shoulder as they walked inside the house as if he was drunk. Adrian was pretty
sure they hadn't imbibed that much so it had to be something else. Throughout
their ride back, Edward had proven fascinated with sucking on Adrian's thumb,
and shivering lightly whenever touched.
Adrian just hoped it
wasn't because of Brown's stupid show that Edward felt like that. It had to be
because he had dared to put a collar on Edward, albeit not a suitable one. He
would see to that, and soon.
"I'm sure you have a toy
room," he said as soon as they were inside.
Edward nodded and walked
in front. Adrian reached for him and then searched for the end of the tie. He
pulled at it to make Edward heed. There was no one else around, so they were
safe to roleplay as much as they wanted.
Edward threw him a heated
look, but he didn't protest. He continued to walk, with Adrian holding him like
that until they were in front of a black door. Maybe it was a bit too obvious,
but Adrian doubted that the personnel who took care of the house ever dared to
comment on certain secret habits of the master of the house.
Edward pushed the door
open and then flicked the lights on. Adrian walked inside and stared at the
austere design. The furniture was sparse, only a black leather sofa, and
armchair, and a table that was covered with a large piece of the same material.
The floor was granite or some other type of stone, polished to a shine.
"Toys," Adrian asked
curtly. "Where are they?"
Edward gestured toward a
cabinet in one corner that Adrian must have missed the first time he had
glanced around the room. He let go of the tie to walk over and pull open the
drawers. Now it was no time to express his surprise; but, after all, he had
expected some of that. The first drawer contained nothing but collars in all
shapes and sizes.
"Undress," he ordered
Edward without throwing one look back.
The rustling of clothes
let him know that his order was obeyed.
"When I turn, I want to
see you on all fours."
Movement followed. Adrian
smiled to himself. He took a hard look at the collars. He had to pick and do it
correctly. A fussy aristocrat like Edward probably expected him to guess
everything now. It was in his DNA to succeed, so Adrian went for the heaviest
of the bunch without one moment of hesitation. It was a training collar, the
type that came with heavy metal insertions needed to exhaust a dog's strength
and make him yield.
He turned with the collar
in one hand and read the surprise in Edward's eyes. Edward was obediently
sitting on all fours, completely naked on the polished floor, a blurred
reflection of his nakedness in it.
He was a marvelous
specimen, Adrian thought to himself. Unlike the first time, when he had tried
to convince himself that he wasn't impressed, now he believed Edward to be the
sexiest man alive. He wasn't a twink, and he wasn't
overly muscular, either, but he was beautiful like an old statue, his body lean
and strong.
Adrian could feel his
resolve shaking. His cock twitched painfully in his pants. Damn, he needed to
get off so badly. But this was about conquering Edward for real.
"This one will do,"
Adrian said with confidence and walked over to Edward.
He crouched to fix the
collar around Edward's neck. Edward looked down obediently, and his shoulders
sagged a bit as if the weight of the collar did that to him. It was pretty
heavy, Adrian had to admit. He let his fingers linger around Edward's neck,
enjoying the small shiver shaking that beautiful body.
Adrian risked one look
across the reversed arch of Edward's back. At the other end, the two mounds of
flesh rose enticingly. He barely kept in a sigh. Delayed gratification, he told
himself.
He stood up again and
then went back to the cabinet to look for another item. He needed to keep it
simple and efficient; that was one way of not doing it wrong. After a few
moments of deliberation, he picked a training stick, although he knew that he
would use it in ways much different from a real dog trainer.
With the stick in one
hand, he moved back to Edward, who was waiting obediently on the floor. That
had to start hurting, all determination and arousal aside. He used the stick
first to draw an invisible line on Edward's back from the tailbone to the
collar that sat firmly around his neck. Then, Adrian brought the tip of the
stick to his own lips and kissed it.
Edward watched it with
curiosity. Adrian pointed the stick at him.
"What?" Edward asked.
Adrian smiled. "I've
never had a dog, but I know a few basics. You should know what to do, too. It's
not food for you to lick, but --"
Edward rolled his eyes
and stuck out his tongue to lick the tip of the stick.
"Good boy," Adrian
praised him. "Now, hop on the sofa."
Edward obeyed, but Adrian
could tell that he was unhappy about being made comfortable. Well, they would
see about that just a bit later. Adrian plopped down on the sofa, with Edward
next to him on all fours. Steadily, he let the stick to the side and opened his
fly. With firm moves, he pulled at his strained cock until there was a clear
bead of precum in its eye.
Carefully, he then picked
it with the tip of the training stick and then offered it to Edward, who
hurried to lap at it this time.
"Suck. No hands."
Edward threw him a look
as if he wanted to challenge him, but Adrian stared at him. The green eyes
looked down, and their owner dropped his head to grab Adrian's cock between his
lips. The training stick was quickly abandoned. Adrian did not need it anymore.
"You're such a good
cocksucker," Adrian praised him. With one hand, he began to caress Edward's
back. Bobbing his head up and down like that, with the heavy collar on, had to
be a feat, but Adrian could tell that Edward welcomed the strain by how
enthusiastically he did his job.
His cock was released for
a moment. "If you're too gentle, I won't like it," Edward warned.
Adrian stopped his
caress. So someone wanted to play a little rough. But Adrian had his own set of
values, and he would impose them on Edward without fear. He grabbed one
muscular buttock, squeezed it, and then slapped it hard.
Edward had already
returned to his sucking, but he gasped and dropped the cock from his mouth when
Adrian spanked his ass. If Edward thought he would go easy on him, he needed to
reconsider. Adrian could still recall the spanking he had gotten from Edward,
not such a long time back. And he remembered that Edward had spared nothing
while reddening his behind that time.
"Suck," he ordered
curtly.
Edward seemed even more
enthusiastic now. To think that he had had the man all backward. The things he
wanted to be done to him, Edward did to others in the not so transparent hope
that he would be served his own lessons back. Lucky for him, Adrian was a keen
observer.
Also, it frigging paid
off. His cock was in absolute heaven. Edward slurped and used his tongue to
tease the head and the sensitive skin under it over and over again. Adrian
continued to spank Edward's glorious behind, but this time, Edward didn't
stop.
Like this, he would come
way too fast. He needed to up the ante somehow, and he recalled one particular
thing Edward had seemed to like watching earlier that night. He snuck one hand
between Edward's legs from behind and caught his hard cock. Pulling it back, he
brought it into a position he could use. Edward's slurping intensified.
Adrian could feel his
lips quirking into a smile. If Edward thought it would be this easy, he needed
to think again. He removed his hand from Edward's cock and pulled his own from
Edward's mouth, as well.
"Get on the floor," he
ordered.
Edward obeyed fast.
Adrian could swear that if the man had had a tail, he would have wiggled it
furiously by now. With one hand, he grabbed his cock and began pumping it slow,
his release too impending to risk spilling it prematurely.
"Open your mouth. Here
comes your treat."
Edward stuck his tongue
out, and Adrian could swear that he had never seen a sexier image in his life.
Maybe he would snap a picture sometime and then put it in a super-secret folder
so that he could fap to it later.
Right now, there was no
time for that kind of stuff. Adrian pumped his cock hard as he got closer. He
pushed Edward's head back, pulling it by the hair, enjoying the gone look in
the beautiful green eyes.
"Move your tongue, show
me how much you want it," Adrian whispered.
Edward began rolling his
tongue slowly, lasciviously, licking his lips in passing. Adrian cursed and
began spraying his lover's face, making a real mess out of it. Edward's tongue
moved so fascinatingly now, trying to catch everything but failing.
Adrian laughed as he
regained his breath. "You're such a messy boy. Here, I need to teach you how to
eat properly. On all fours again."
Edward obeyed while he
still used his tongue to catch the elusive drops of cum. Adrian knelt next to
him, grabbed his cock from behind again, and began moving his hand fast. Edward
started breathing sharply, and his entire body shook.
"Let me help you, you
messy boy," Adrian said lovingly and began licking Edward's face for every
droplet of his earlier release, only to push it into his lover's open mouth.
The position was awkward,
and the arm he used for jerking Edward off was starting to hurt, but it was all
in the presentation. He was sure now that Edward would come and fast.
He didn't have to wait
long. Edward gasped and moaned into his mouth while still being fed cum, as he
exploded in Adrian's hand.
Adrian didn't suppress a
victory shout. "Yes!"
He pulled Edward into his
arms and brought his face near his. Resting with his back against the sofa, he
stood there, listening only to the sound of their breathing for a while.
Maybe Edward was a bit
tired now, but Adrian didn't intend to put him to work. On the contrary, he
wanted Edward just to lie down and welcome everything obediently. He stood, and
Edward followed him with sleepy eyes. Adrian made a small gesture for the sofa,
and Edward climbed on it.
"On your back," he asked
softly.
Edward obeyed. His chest
was still rising and falling a bit fast; his lips were moist, and his gaze was
dreamy. Rogue locks had evaded the carefully brushed hairstyle and now glued to
the tall forehead, a sign of being spent. Adrian climbed on the sofa, too, and
pushed Edward's knees to his chest. He observed the naked body in front of him
for a while, in silence.
With two fingers, he
began teasing Edward's backdoor. A small shiver was the answer. Adrian stood
only so that he could get what was needed. His cock was conveniently hanging
out, as spent and delighted as Edward, but Adrian trusted his stamina to get it
all back in full force.
This time he teased the
tight hole with lubed fingers. Some he poured on his cock, making it slick and
ready for action with steady pulls, which Edward observed slowly, through his
eyelashes.
You're so beautiful like this,
Adrian wanted to say, but he rightfully feared that Edward would scoff at such
a declaration. The man in front of him needed something else to let down his
guard and allow anyone in. Doe eyes and soft words were not enough to break
him.
"One thing," he said.
The sleepy eyes made an
effort to stare at him.
"Have you ever been
involved with that asshole?"
"Brown?" A quirked
eyebrow expressed surprise.
"Yeah."
"No. I would never."
Adrian placed his cock at
the tight entrance, ready for delving. "Have you ever thought about it?"
"No."
"Fantasize about it,
then?"
There was a short
hesitation. "No."
"I will never be a prick
like him, and that's a promise." Adrian pushed in, eliciting a short gasp from
Edward. He didn't wait for another reply; he clamped his mouth hard on Edward's
and kissed him deeply. There was still the faint taste of cum there, but that
only made Adrian more heated.
He moved amply, making
sure to gain momentum before slamming down hard and making Edward squirm. All
the time, he didn't allow either of them to breathe; Edward needed to
understand that there was someone in the world who could give it to him as he
desired.
Adrian withdrew each time
to the point of almost being out completely, only to bottom out inside Edward's
ass over and over again. The stop and go strategy was arousing, but Adrian knew
he needed more if he wanted to achieve his goal. So he started to speed up. At
one point, he released Edward's mouth only so that he could hear him moan and
curse and say all the dirty words that surely didn't belong on the tongue and
lips of such a person of high status.
Adrian wasn't sure if he
was the only one to bring Edward to his level or whether, secretly, that was
who Edward truly was. They were two acrobats, walking the same rope, from
opposite directions. If they were careful, they would reach each other into a
tight embrace.
"Adrian," Edward
whispered. "No more, it's too much, I'm going to --"
Adrian bit down hard on
the arched neck, presenting itself so prettily. He was sure it was a mess
between them and that maybe Edward wouldn't be able to sit once the arousal and
the pleasure of the night would fade away. But, for that moment, it was
everything they both wanted.
Later, Adrian kept Edward
close to his chest while touching his collar once in a while. He was dying to
ask a lot of things, but tonight was not, by far, a good time to do that. They
were scratching the surface, and Adrian liked what he discovered. Now, he only
needed to be patient.
"That guy, will he be all
right?" he asked instead.
"Hmm?"
"Brown's ... I don't know
how to call him. Sub?"
"I will check on him tomorrow.
We're not close, but I feel like I should do it."
"How do you think
happened that he fell under that asshole's spell?"
"That wouldn't be hard.
Brown knows too much about everyone. And he's a real charmer when he wants to
be."
"Still. It's written all
over him that he's an asshole."
"Callan is young, and,"
Edward sighed, "he has been kept on too short a leash by his parents. I have no
idea how Brown got to know him in the first place. I've only seen him once at
The Awakening."
"The asshole knows how to
pick his victims," Adrian said through his teeth.
Edward laughed softly.
"Your pissing contest tonight was a sight."
"Did you enjoy it?"
"I have to admit that
yes, I did, albeit shamefully. I should be above such things."
"Was it really okay to
leave this young man, Callan, in Brown's clutches tonight?"
"Brown wouldn't dare to
go further than he had already gone. And he achieved his purpose."
"Or not. I kinda pissed on his parade."
"You did. Callan will be
fine, Adrian. I don't want to sound cynical, but people with a lot of money
often tend to fly over any sort of trauma like it barely touches them."
"He appeared pretty
desperate to me when that asshole exposed him."
"Yes. And yet, I still
wonder whether he would not dismiss everything the moment I call him tomorrow
with the intention of offering him comfort."
"Because of pride,
maybe."
"Or because not many
things can touch someone like him. Momentarily, I'm sure."
"How can you know that?
You don't really know the guy."
"That's true. But Brown
has pulled all kinds of shenanigans up till now. People tend to forget all
about his misdeeds, for some reason."
"For some reason? You
don't know it?"
Another sigh followed. "I
do. Rich people keep to themselves and are a pretty tightly-knit group. No word
of Callan's humiliation will ever get out. And I have seen people forgiving
Brown for more than this."
"I don't even want to
know."
"Correct. And I won't
tell you, either. You're too pure to be contaminated by such things."
"Me? Pure?"
"Yes, you are. You have
no idea."
Adrian wondered what sort
of comeback he could have to that. "I've done plenty of stupid things in my
life."
"Shut up. You don't even
know what truly stupid means. All right, maybe you do, but at least, you've
never been evil on purpose."
And like that, the
balance between them was reversed once more. Edward might have been the one
with the collar, but he was in charge again, and he made Adrian feel the age
gap between them and not only that.
Edward stood with a
groan. "I have a feeling I will experience some well-deserved pain when I wake
up tomorrow."
"I can offer a bit of
massage first thing in the morning." Adrian smiled and took in Edward's behind,
while his cock twitched in sympathy.
"I'm afraid I'll have to
pass. You should go, Adrian."
Edward's voice was
switched to neutral in a heartbeat.
"Excuse me?" Adrian
wasn't sure that Edward really meant that. He was turned, and Adrian couldn't
see his face. "I thought I would spend the night."
"Hmm, not a good idea."
Adrian ran one hand over
his face. So Edward wasn't that easy to conquer after all. "What's this about?"
"Sundays are dedicated to
certain activities, and I can't indulge a bed partner, as sexy and satisfying
as he might be." Edward turned to him and smiled. Then he caught Adrian's chin
and shook it gently. "I need to be at my best tomorrow."
In charge. Adrian
couldn't believe he had fallen for the act. Could it be that Edward had played
him and had him walk right into a well-crafted trap?
No, it couldn't be. There were way too many uncontrollable factors involved.
"Really? And what were
you tonight? At your worst or something?" He didn't want to sound petty, but he
couldn't help it. They had just had the best kind of sex, and now he was
dismissed like a random booty call.
A shadow passed quickly
over Edward's attractive features. "I believe you could say that."
So maybe not so much in
charge and in control, Adrian thought. He stood and pushed his cock back in his
pants. "Talking about being damned hot and cold." Suddenly, he wasn't that much
in the mood for games. They had just shared something real. Or was it only in
his head?
"Adrian," Edward said
reproachfully. "Sleepovers are earned."
"Right? What do I have to
do to you next time? Strangle you while I fuck you?"
It was annoying to see
Edward just slightly amused at the suggestion. "Let's not slip. We had fun
together. Now each of us should sleep in his own bed. After all, I am quite
certain my body would hate me if I gave in again, and that is why I should keep
you as a reward. If we're getting too familiar, I might get bored of you."
Adrian could feel his jaw
hurting. "Fine," he said through his teeth.
"Come now," Edward
grabbed his ass and gave it a tight squeeze. "You know I like you."
"But not too much."
"Maybe too much."
"How is that a problem?"
"It can be. I don't do
relationships, Adrian. I have my reasons."
"Care to share them?"
"Let me fuck you, and
I'll tell you."
"Ha! Nice try."
He would find out, all in
due time, Adrian was sure. Now he needed to rein in his neediness. As much as he
would have loved to sleep in Edward's bed and wake up with him, the fact that
Edward was playing hard to get only made things more challenging. And he was
always up to a challenge.
"So, when are we going to
see each other again?"
"Next weekend would be a
safe bet."
"Are we going to that
stupid club again?"
"No. I'll take you
somewhere truly nice."
"I hope it's nothing like
this Awakening crap."
"Nothing like that. I
promise."
"Will you call?" Adrian
wanted to slap himself silly. He needed to tread carefully. Edward didn't have
to think that he was desperate; it would just ruin things.
"On the dot, as usual."
"Can I kiss you?"
"May."
"What?"
"May I kiss you? That
would be the correct phrase."
"Shut up, already."
Adrian pulled Edward close and relished in how the taut body in his arms
relaxed as they kissed. He would find out all about Edward and get the
satisfaction of truly bringing him to his knees.
It wasn't even about
that, but Adrian didn't want to admit that he felt smitten. There was a vague
sensation, hovering at the edges of his mind, that maybe, just maybe, he didn't
have any idea what he was getting himself into. So far, Edward's penchant for a
bit of tough play hadn't come as a big surprise. But how Edward acted, how cool
he can be after being in the throes of ecstasy just earlier, Adrian couldn't
quite wrap his mind around it.
***
Jared tossed and turned
the entire night. In the end, he had managed to avoid Chris and his husband at
the restaurant, although he had thought a few times about how making a scene,
there would have gone down. He would have shocked Sam and Mrs. Daniels, for
sure, and they would have only been collateral victims. Also, he didn't need to
cause a scene. That was beneath him, he had decided.
Still, the mix of anger
and disappointment he was feeling got the better of him once he was back home.
How could he have been so stupid? Chris's avoidance of talking about their
relationship in a serious manner, his affable, but distant behavior whenever
Jared had tried to make things clear, even his somewhat offhanded methods while
having sex, all those made good enough signs for him to have read them already.
Maybe Chris was so
aroused when they were together because of the illicit nature of the affair.
And to think that he would catch the eye of a man like that! He had thought it
a bit strange at the time, and now he knew the reason. Chris just wanted a side
piece; only chance had made it that Jared had managed to occupy that position.
What else could he have
lied about? Was it all true about his profession? Or not? What about that
penthouse where he lived? Could it be it was only a fuckpad?
It didn't sound that hard a thing to believe, looking at things
retrospectively.
Jared grabbed the pillow
and smashed his face a few times with it. How was he going to handle the
situation? Only the thought of confronting Chris about it made him sick to the
stomach. The thought that he had been picked up and used as if he were an
object, not a person.
Fury and disappointment
mingled in his mind. Maybe he was young and not at all versed in this world of
dating, but he couldn't fathom why Chris had thought it would be a good idea to
pick him up from all the young people in the city. Why him? Was it written on
his face that he was gullible? Was he too polite? Was that a sign of stupidity?
He felt tempted to reply `yes' to the last one.
He stood and sat on the
edge of the bed, his face buried in his hands. He needed to end things and
fast. And he had to do it without showing how affected he was. That kind of
satisfaction was not something Chris would get out of him. Jared imagined
himself being cool and collected, telling Chris their relationship, whatever it
was, couldn't work out. If he were someone versed in the ways of the world and
sophisticated, he would do that.
Only that Jared Boyle was
as far from being that as someone could be. That meant that he needed to enact
a different type of scenario in his mind. But first, he wouldn't call Chris at
all for several days. Maybe it could all die on its feet, whatever they had,
and Jared could continue without going through the shame of being used by a
married man.
He ran his hands over his
face, again and again, rubbing his eyes and trying to chase away the last
grains of insomnia from them. If he couldn't sleep anymore, he just had to wake
up. Maybe coffee was a good idea, after all.
He was in the kitchen,
fixing the bitter medicine when his phone rang. It was seven in the morning.
Adrian was probably sleeping like a log after a night spent fucking, and Mike,
well, he probably did the same if things had worked out with Ryan.
As he walked back into
the bedroom, Jared played different scenarios in his head. Could it be it was
some emergency? He hurried to pick the phone from the nightstand. His face fell
when he saw the caller ID.
For a couple of moments,
he debated whether he should take it or not. But postponing it meant that he
would only prolong the uneasiness and disgust he felt with himself for falling
prey to a player like Chris. At twenty-five, he should have known better. He
hadn't been born yesterday.
"Yes?" he asked in a
voice he hoped that it sounded calm and collected.
In his ears, it was too
loud and strained.
"I can't sleep anymore.
I'm thinking of you," Chris said in a low, seductive voice.
Was his husband still
sleeping, so Chris needed to whisper so that he wasn't caught in the act of
calling his lover on the side? The thought alone made Jared's gut recoil.
"Hmm." That was all he
could manage. How did one react to such a situation?
"I was wondering if I
could see you today. And sorry for calling so early. I was hoping to hear your
sleepy voice. But," Chris hesitated for a moment, "you sound awake."
Awake. That was a good
word to describe the situation.
"Yes, I am very much
awake," Jared said, trying to rein in the need to shout obscenities at Chris
and then end the conversation.
"Good." There was another
moment of hesitation. "I have the perfect place in mind. I heard seven
different publications consider it as one of the most romantic getaways around.
Don't worry; I will take you back before midnight so that you can catch some
sleep in your own bed."
Oh, how considerate.
"A romantic getaway?"
Jared could feel his hackles rising. "Do they have rooms for three?"
"Three?" Chris made a
small pause. "What are you talking about?"
"Ah, you know. Since your
husband must be coming with us." Jared hoped to dear God he didn't sound
bitchy. It was only this much he could do to rein in his emotions.
Chris remained silent.
Then, the seductive whisper from before turned to ice. "Have you been following
me?"
Jared let out a small
nervous laugh. "Isn't it rich to accuse me of stalking you when you're a
fucking cheater?" As much as he had told himself to keep his calm, it didn't
look like it was possible.
"Then how do you know?"
"Are you still busy
accusing me? Aren't you even going to apologize?"
"Saying `sorry' won't
solve anything."
Jared couldn't believe
his ears. He had a mind to end the conversation and finish things right at that
moment. "Why are you cheating on your husband, Chris?" He couldn't ask why
Chris had cheated on him, Jared. That was not how things worked, regardless of
how he felt inside. And Chris's husband was, even more, a victim because he had
said and heard some vows and had trusted the man next to him to value what they
shared. Jared couldn't even fathom how that man would feel if he found out
about his husband's philandering. He didn't think he was the first illicit
affair Chris was indulging in, as a married man who should have known better.
"And no, saying `sorry'
won't solve anything. But it would at least prove that you're a human being,
not a fucking asshole." Jared didn't shout this time, and he was proud of
himself for being able, at least, to control his voice.
"I never meant for you to
find out."
Jared squeezed the phone
in his hand. "No shit," he said through his teeth.
"Not like this, I mean."
"Not like this? Were you
planning to tell me? How? Dropping it in casual conversation? And by the way, you're a side piece, and I'm actually
married!" Jared stopped and bit his lips hard. Without intending
to, he was shouting again.
"You're making things
unnecessarily complicated."
Jared could swear he was
starting to see red. "I don't know what you mean by that. Wake up your husband
and ask him whether he thinks the same thing. I'm curious what he has to say."
"Are you threatening me?
That you're going to tell my husband?" Chris's voice was still cold, and Jared
could bet, calculated.
"I've just had enough of
you. No, I'm not going to tell him. Although I should, because he deserves to
know. But I don't know him, I don't know who he is, and I was taught a long
time ago to stay away from getting involved in other people's business unless
they're my closest friends. I just have one question. How the hell do you live
with yourself?"
"Watch it, young man --"
"True, I am young,
compared to you, at least. But I really thought we were together." Jared hated
himself for letting that last bit slip. It was clear as day that Chris was an
unapologetic asshole, and that he didn't appear to have one ounce of remorse in
him.
"I was trying to curb
your enthusiasm. And I thought young people are more about flings than serious
relationships."
"Young people. You make
it sound like I'm just another person walking by. If you truly believe that
about me, then you've never listened to a word I said. And I think it's fine. Because it proves that you've never wanted to
know me at all."
"That's not true."
Coldness turned into sharpness.
"Chris, let's face it.
You just wanted someone convenient so that you could get laid whenever you felt
like it. I just don't get it. Your husband is very attractive."
"So, you did follow me."
"No, you arrogant fuck."
Jared couldn't believe he was capable of talking to someone like that. "It just
happened that one of the agents I work with invited me to dinner yesterday so
that he could introduce me to a client. I guess I was lucky to set foot in the
same restaurant as you."
"Lucky?" A small snort
accompanied that single word.
"Yes, lucky." Jared set
his chin high, although Chris couldn't see him. "Otherwise, I would have just
continued to believe you. What did you think, Chris?" He needed to ask, even if
it made him sound pathetic. "That I was just some stupid kid you could play as
you wanted?"
"Not exactly."
"This is the last
conversation we're ever going to have in this life," Jared said. "If you have
anything else to say, go ahead. I have a life to live. And rest assured, your
husband will find out. Not from me, don't worry. You will slip one day. And
then you'll lose him. It's true that I don't know him, but I have a hunch that
it will be your loss, not his."
A short laugh was the
answer. "It's true."
"What?"
"I did think you would be
easy."
Jared could feel the
blood draining from his face and then rushing back to his head. "Oh, did you?"
The words fell from his mouth, tumbling one over the other.
"Yes. But I've come to
know you a little, despite what you're saying. You're more than a pretty face
and a nice body, Jared."
"Should I address my deepest
thanks?"
"This sarcastic act
doesn't suit you."
"Tough luck. It's the
only one I have available right now."
"My husband knows."
One single sentence and
Jared fell silent. "Do you think I'm a complete idiot? And what? He also sleeps
on the side, so it's all `kay. Is that it?"
"We're in an open
relationship, yes."
Jared shook his head. "I
don't believe you. Why didn't you tell me anything, then? And when you say that
he knows, he knows about me or about you sleeping around, in general? Fuck, I
can't believe I went bareback with you!"
The realization hit him
in the middle of his chest with the force of a hammer. Caught in his
disappointment, he hadn't even though about what that meant.
"We're responsible
adults. We test regularly."
"Like that's supposed to
make me feel good. You could sleep with who knows how many people. And your
husband, too, if what you're telling me is true. Why did I trust you?"
That was a rhetorical
question.
"You trusted me because
you wanted to."
As much Jared wanted to
come back with a nasty retort, he knew that there was a grain of truth in that.
"Yes, I think so." There was no point denying it. "I wanted a relationship so
badly that I decided it would be better if I ignored the signs."
"That's not it." Chris
sounded so full of himself that Jared wanted to reach him at the other end and
strangle him. "You trusted me because you liked me. I like you, too, Jared."
Jared caught the bridge
of his nose between his thumb and forefinger and squeezed. "Of course. I'm very
likable. I'm totally side piece material."
"That not what I meant.
You put words in my mouth and thoughts in my mind."
Jared decided that he
wouldn't allow being pulled in an argument that couldn't lead to anything good.
"I'm done with you. I have no idea why I feel the need to tell you this since
it's obvious."
"It's not. We do have
something, Jared. I see how learning about my being married must have shocked
you --"
"That's the
understatement of the year. You and your husband can go and have fun for as
long as you want and with whomever you want. But I don't see things the same
way. You cheated on me, the way I see it. And you can't stop being a prick
about it, too. Talking about adding insult to injury."
"That's not my intention,
and you're overreacting. We can talk about this like adults. I can even
introduce you to my husband."
"No, thanks," Jared said
dryly.
"I don't want what we
have to end. Think about it, Jared. We can have a lot of fun together."
"Seriously? It's not fun
what I'm after."
"Sure. You imagine
yourself an idealist. Maybe you need a bit of a wakeup call."
"I just got it, thanks.
I'll know better from now on."
"Well, I see that you're
difficult to talk to. If you reconsider, you have my number. I hope that you
call."
"I really can't believe
you." Jared could feel the bitter taste of disappointment on his tongue.
"Whatever you think you're doing right now, stop. I'm not interested."
"Be it as you say. For
what is worth, I did and do like you. And the sex has been amazing."
Jared closed his eyes and
exhaled. "Telling me I was a decent fuck won't change how I feel about you. And
you could go ahead and find plenty of guys who might be interested in what you
offer. A lot of people wouldn't mind having a sponsor instead of a boyfriend. I
guess that's what you wanted to provide."
"Just as a token of my
appreciation."
"My head hurts already.
Goodbye, Chris. I hope what you say about your husband is true so that he
doesn't suffer from your cheating. Or I don't. I don't know which alternative
is worse. But you should delete my number. I'll do that with yours."
Jared didn't wait another
moment. Trembling in anger, he ended the conversation, and then he did as he
had promised. For good measure, he turned off his phone, too. Now he had the
entire Sunday to wallow in misery with no one to disturb him from it.
***
Moping around the house
proved to be a tedious affair, after all. Jared tried to work for a while, then
he fell asleep, only to wake up with a headache. To think that he had wanted a
relationship that badly. It hadn't been worth it, after all. He needed to
create a different strategy. Maybe he needed to wait for a boyfriend to happen
as a natural thing –
It hadn't been like
Chris, and he hadn't happened naturally. Jared had thought the attraction to be
real since, at the time, he had had no idea of Chris's careful strategy. Could
it be that Chris had waited that night for just any young man coming out of the
club so that he could pick him up? It sounded like something Chris would do,
the scumbag.
Their last conversation
had been the most honest they had ever had. At least now, Jared knew who Chris
was, for real. He rubbed his forehead and grimaced. He wasn't going to start
crying now, was he?
A loud rap on the door
startled him. Had Chris gone completely out of his mind and was now trying to
bring down the door? He stared through the peephole and then opened the door
quickly. A much disheveled Mike was standing in front of him.
"Oh, thank God you're
okay!" Mike cried out.
Jared accepted Mike's
tight embrace without reacting, first. Ah, damn, he had forgotten his phone
turned off. And for a worrier like Mike, that must have been an ominous
sign.
"There was no sign of you
on your social media, either," Mike began jabbering. "I was worried sick."
Jared knew better than to
make fun of Mike's reaction. He patted Mike on the back and then closed the
door, taking him inside.
"Were you working? On
Sunday?" Mike peeked into the space Jared had appointed as a small office.
"Wait, why are you so quiet? Did anything happen? Something happened, I'm
sure."
Jared placed one hand
over Mike's mouth and smiled at him. "Mike, it's okay. I'm here. Breathe,
okay?"
Mike nodded but pointed
at Jared's hand, clamped over his mouth. Jared moved his hand away
quickly.
"Something did happen,"
Mike said with conviction. "I rarely see you sad."
"I'm not sad," Jared
protested, not really knowing where and how to start. It wasn't like him to
complain all the time, and he didn't feel like starting to do that now. "It's
just that --"
"Yes?" Mike asked, his
eyes wide.
Jared felt the need to
comfort Mike. Secretly, how Mike needed him made him feel good about himself,
and he thought that it must be proof that he was a decent person. Why would
Mike hurry to him each time he had a problem?
"Wait, what happened with
Ryan?"
Mike's face shadowed.
"Later. What happened to you?"
Jared sighed. "Chris is
married."
"What? Is he cheating on
his wife? I mean, he's cheating on you? I mean --"
"He's married to a man."
Mike stood there for a
moment, baffled. "Wow," he whispered, and the corners of his mouth dropped. "I
don't know if that's worse or not."
Jared shrugged. "I found
out by accident. Last night, he canceled our plans, and it happened that Sam,
one of the guys who bring me clients, contacted me and invited me to a business
dinner. And in that posh restaurant, guess who I see?"
"Chris, with his
husband?"
Jared nodded.
"What did you do? And
what did he do?"
"He wasn't aware I saw
him. And I kept a low profile all evening. I confronted him this morning."
"Did he come here?"
"No. Over the phone. We
had a really interesting and eye-opening conversation. Apparently, Chris is in
an open marriage, but he didn't care to let me in on that little secret.
Actually," Jared added with a small snort, "he pretty much said that he would
have told me at one point. What point that could be, he didn't say. Hell, he
even said that he would introduce me to his husband. Can you believe it?"
Mike shook his head, and
his eyes were filled with empathy. Jared smiled when Mike embraced him again.
"He's a total scumbag, and he doesn't deserve you."
"Thanks for saying that,
Mike. I think it serves me right. I was so obsessed about having a relationship
that I lost track of what was the most important thing. I needed to make sure
Chris was the right choice for me, not just find excuses and explanations – But
never mind me. I'm much in the mood for a romantic story."
Mike fidgeted. "I don't
have one to tell. We did dance on the roof --"
"On the roof? Wow!" Jared
massaged Mike's shoulders and guided him toward the kitchen. "Let me make you
some cocoa. I know exactly how you like it."
Mike's phone went off.
"It's Adrian. He asks me if I found our mother hen."
Jared rolled his eyes.
"Tell him `no' just to see how he would react. No, no, no. Just tell the truth.
Although I bet, he gave you hell for being too worried."
"He did say something
like maybe you took a trip to the Bahamas and now make some beds shake in rooms
with the `do not disturb' sign on the door. Therefore, your phone turned off,"
Mike said quickly.
Jared offered a crooked
smile. "Oh, yes, and he had called me this morning to ask me to go with him to
some romantic getaway. I think I will never get some people. Or all of them. I
don't know. I suck at relationships and that, without having any experience
whatsoever."
"It's not your fault,"
Mike said as he typed a message for Adrian quickly.
"So, you danced on the
roof."
Mike made a sad face, and
with him, it was for real. "And then he told me we could not happen. Do you
remember how Adrian said something about sexual harassment lawsuits and
whatnot?"
"Yes."
"Ryan almost lived
through one. He settled, but --"
"Wait, did he harass
someone?"
"Not really." Mike
sighed. "He used to date some guy from the company he was in charge of before
coming here. And then, things got stale, and that guy wanted some cash."
"What a story." Jared
didn't want to taint Mike's image of Ryan with his current disappointments
regarding men, most of all because he honestly thought that there had to be
good people in the world left.
"So, Ryan had to pay him
so that he didn't sue, but Ryan's family is now adamant that he must keep a
clean image and all that."
"Oh." Jared didn't know
what to think. "But he has never harassed you."
"I told him that, but he
said, just like Adrian, that people wouldn't see things the same as me. They
would start spreading rumors."
"Oh, damn, poor you."
Jared pulled Mike into a hug.
Mike's phone let them
know there was a new message. "Adrian wants to come over. Also, he says that
you should turn on your goddamn phone."
"Oh, right. I simply
didn't want Chris to call again and ask me for a threesome."
Mike put his hand up.
"I've been in that situation. It's not as funny as people might think."
"Sure it isn't. How does
Adrian do it? How does he waltz from one kinky situation to another, with no
regrets?"
"I think he just likes
having fun," Mike said with a shrug. "You know Adrian."
Jared sighed. "It's
definitely good to be at peace with yourself. Also, since he doesn't care about
relationships, he doesn't need to get annoyed with the same things as us. So
what are you going to do about Ryan?"
"I don't know. He tells
me he can't remember feeling about someone the way he feels about me, and then
he gives me the boot. I mean, not the boot. I mean --"
"Here's your cocoa,"
Jared interrupted him. "There is one solution, as you know."
Mike nodded. "I can quit
and work somewhere else. This should eliminate any conflict of interest or
whatever that is. I don't know much about these laws."
"I'm no better myself.
So, what do you feel about quitting?"
Mike stared at his hands
for a while. "I don't know. I've never worked anywhere else. I don't know if I
can adapt."
Jared patted his arm in
sympathy. "Take baby steps, Mike. And maybe try to learn a bit more about Ryan
first. I don't want to be a cautionary tale, and I'm sure that Ryan is a great
guy, but you need to show a bit of interest in him."
"That's a good idea. I'll
ask Google."
"It's a good place to
start."
***
"Am I late to the party?"
Adrian said jovially and gave Jared a hug.
"If by party, you mean
cocoa and biscuits, you're not late. I have plenty left."
"Don't bother." Adrian
patted his shoulder energetically, making Jared sway a little. "Why was your
phone turned off?"
"Long story."
"Good. I have plenty of
time."
"And I don't mind hearing
it again," Mike added, as he emerged from the kitchen.
"Is it that good?"
"No. Actually, it's
pretty bad," Jared replied.
Adrian didn't smile or
joke. He watched Jared with a serious expression on his face. That meant that
he paid extra attention.
It was good to have
friends, Jared thought. He could cry on their shoulder and tell all the bad
things he wanted to say about Chris, knowing someone will listen. And that was
a pretty important thing, after all.
TBC
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