Love at the Right Tempo

by Michael Mandrake

  “I was worried, Freddy. You’re getting involved with a guy who isn’t even in your league.”

  Frederick shoved his hands into his pockets and narrowed his eyes at her. “There you go again. He isn’t out of my league. Just because he isn’t the child of a socialite or rich snob, doesn’t make him unfit for me. I thought you were better than that, Deena. Has being around my parents changed you in any way?”

  “No, but … I do know they won’t be happy you’re bumping and grinding with a common man.”

  Frederick shook his head. “He happens to be a former Marine, Deena. Where he has landed has nothing to do with his status. He’s beautiful, sexy, intelligent, everything I could ask for.”

  “And what if he begins to take advantage of the fact you’ve got money?”

  “He won’t because that’s not how he is.”

  “You don’t know that, Freddy! You’ve known the man less than three days.”

  “It doesn’t matter!” Frederick snarled at her and stalked towards his already packed suitcase. “You did this?”

  “Yeah, I … I got bored. You were taking too long so I decided to get your things together for you. Now I wish I would’ve burned them, knowing how you’ve been treating me the last forty-eight hours.”

  “Oh stop. Stop that now. And you call me the drama queen.” Frederick sat on the sofa and closed his case. “You were aggravating me, and I needed to put you in your place. I still do because it appears you are developing some of the same nasty traits my parents have. They look down on people because they aren’t in their famous circles. I’ve never been that person, Deena, and I hope you aren’t turning into that.”

  “Oh Freddy!” Deena scampered to him and threw her arms around him, hugging him tight. “I just don’t want to see you hurt again. That dang Julian broke your heart, and I don’t want to see you make the same mistake again. That’s all.”

  Frederick grunted and moved his shoulders to signal to her to loosen her grip on him.

  Seemingly, she got the message and patted him on the back, before taking the spot next to Frederick.

  Frederick faced her. He gently ran his hand against her cheek. “I’m grateful you care for me, Deena, but really, you have nothing to fear. I’ve met this wonderful, gorgeous man, and I’m crazy about him. I know it’s only been a few days, but have you ever felt like you were so sure of something even when things surrounding it seemed to be bleak?”

  “No, but…”

  “Deena, although I am leaving Vaughan behind for now, I feel confident we can overcome the time we’ll be apart. I care for him, he cares for me. We both want a relationship. I’ve never wanted anyone so much in my life.”

  “Freddy, is it the sex? I mean, I’m supposing the two of you have been knocking boots these last couple of nights, so it’s gotta…”

  “Yes, but it’s so much more than that. And I didn’t think anyone said that anymore.”

  “No, they don’t, but I had to explain it in dork terms for you.” Deena smirked.

  Frederick twisted his lips to the side and shook his head. He placed his middle finger on his lips and blew her a kiss with it.

  Deena gasped, her eyes widening. “What? Are you saying what I thought you said?”

  “Yes. I learned it from you, but I mean it in the sweetest way possible.” Frederick leaned in and kissed her quickly before getting up. “I need to call Vaughan before we board the plane,” Frederick said, walking to his temporary bedroom. He spun on his heel. “Please don’t interrupt, but could you be a dear and have room service bring me some Rice Krispies?”

  Deena shrugged. “You don’t want any real food?”

  “That is real food, lovely. My favorite.”

  “But you’re not even performing yet.”

  Frederick nodded once and toyed with his necklace. “No, but I do need some breakfast. Besides, I don’t need a whole lot of food anyway. It will do nothing but make me sleepy.” Frederick closed the door behind him.

  Wanting to hear Vaughan’s voice, Frederick plucked his cell from his pocket. He punched in the numbers and fell back on the bed, waiting for Vaughan to pick up.

  “Hello?” Vaughan’s sleepy voice came over the line.

  Frederick smiled to himself. “Good morning, sexy man. How did you sleep? Is your headache gone?”

  Vaughan laughed. “I had to take an Advil. But I’ll survive.”

  “I wish I could be there to rub your head for you. By the way, I left my bag at your place and I have your jacket along with your helmet. I’m sorry to tell you, I decided to keep the jacket with me as a reminder. I’d thought to send it back to Prince’s at first, but I couldn’t let go of it. Especially after last night.”

  “Especially last night?” Vaughan asked, his voice dipping. “I think I know the answer to this, but I want to hear you say it.”

  “After I left you. I couldn’t bear to part with it. At least I’ll have a piece of you while I’m gone. It smells like you and me. It makes me remember that sexy dance in the warehouse, when we were all tangled up and I didn’t care who was watching.” Frederick sighed inwardly and closed his eyes, thinking of the hot moment they shared. “I want to go back there when I get off tour to recreate those memories and make new ones.”

  “Well. Why don’t we skip the party and I just give you a private dance?” Vaughan asked.

  Frederick laughed and dragged his hand over his chest until he found the charm around his neck. “I think I like that idea better. If it’s private, does it mean you dance without clothes?” With all this talk, Frederick’s face heated.

  “It would be all about you, Frederick. But I wouldn’t start out naked. Perhaps I start out in my uniform from work and when I’m finished, I’m bare for your eyes only.”

  Frederick’s breath caught in his chest, and he moved his legs around to relieve some of the pressure building down below. He opened his eyes again and nibbled on his bottom lip. “I’m going to hold you to that, Vaughan. I want my dirty dance the minute we have a moment alone. Maybe I will return the favor for you.” Frederick smirked. He had no idea how to dance, let alone do a sultry, dirty one. He could imagine seeing Vaughan’s naked body on a bar however, sweaty, with no shirt on, his pecs and abs glistening under the low lights.

  Frederick cleared his throat. “Dammit, I already miss you. I haven’t left, and yet I cannot wait to return.”

  “Tell me something, Frederick. Do you want to touch yourself?”

  Frederick smiled. “I do, but I need to make sure the door is locked first. Deena is in the next room.” He got up quickly and turned the lock before running back to the mattress and throwing himself on top. Frederick rolled onto his back and ran his hand down from his collarbone to the center of his chest. He closed his eyes, hoping to imagine Vaughan being there with him instead of his home. “Now, tell me what to do. And please tell me you are naked and will be doing the same thing.”

  A soft laugh floated over the line. “No, no, my sweet. I am controlling this little scene. Now, are you naked?”

  “No. Not yet anyway.” Frederick unbuttoned his pants then rose up from the mattress pulling them down. His erection stood at attention inside his boxer briefs. Once he got the jeans down to his knees, he tugged at his underwear until they were also out of the way. “Now. From the bottom down, yes. I can’t totally get naked because I’ll be leaving for the airport soon.”

  “You’re still wearing too much, Freddy,” Vaughan told him. “But I want you to touch yourself—starting at your neck and making your way down. Imagine your fingers are my mouth and tongue and remember what I’ve done to you.”

  Frederick inhaled a sharp breath and loosened the buttons on his shirt. Trailing his hand down the path Vaughan asked him to, he closed his eyes thinking of Vaughan’s lips and tongue on his flesh.

  “All right. I’ve opened my shirt. Are you circling my nipples with the tip of your tongue?”

  “Feel my breath traveling from the side of your neck, again
st your pulse. Feel it hot at your nipples, teasing them, making them harden and throb. Now, I will put my mouth where ever you want me to, lick whatever you want me to—but you’re going to have to make me.”

  Frederick drew in a ragged breath and used one of his fingers to pinch his nipples, hard until it became taut under his fingertips. He continued that action, while using the other and to continue going down to shaft. “I feel you, Vaughan.” From the moment he started, his skin felt moist. He rubbed the top of his length with his hand, running it down to the base. “I feel your lips going down until you get to my cock. It feels amazing, your hot mouth, on me.”

  “Breathe for me, baby,” Vaughan whispered around a moan. “Allow your cock to go deep in my throat. Feel it squeeze against you.”

  “Ugh.” Frederick gasped and nearly dropped the phone from being so into what Vaughan was saying. He grasped his shaft tightly into his palm and began stroking it as if it were Vaughan’s mouth taking him in completely. He rose up off the bed a little, just enough so his cell would stay in the crevice between his neck and shoulder. The more he moved, the more it did, so he gave up on his nipple and held on to his phone while he continued bucking into his own hand. “I’m almost there … almost to where you want me to be. Suck me harder, Vaughan. I want to feel your teeth.”

  “My teeth? Your wish is my command. And just to help you out…” Vaughan paused as his breathing quickened. “I will ease a finger inside you, wet and filling you. Come for me, Freddy.”

  Frederick continued to stroke, making his grip tighter to mimic Vaughn’s sharp teeth grazing his skin. He clenched his buttocks and sped up the pace of his motions, making the bed bounce.

  “There, oh God, right there.”

  Frederick gnashed his teeth together, bracing for what would be his undoing. He rubbed the tip of his cock with his thumb, feeling pre-cum leak out. Frederick was so caught up in the emotions, Deena’s voice from the other side of the door was basically null and void in his mind.

  “Vaughan, I coming. I’m…”

  One last movement and Frederick spilled his seed onto his stomach and thighs. He stopped bucking, only rolling over, trying his best to keep the phone in hand while he cried out. He could only hope Deena didn’t hear his muffled cries with his head in the pillow.

  “That’s it, baby,” Vaughan cooed. “Just a little something to remember me by. When you come back, you get the real thing.”

  Frederick continued lying on his stomach. He sensed the wet spot building on the covers underneath him and suddenly he didn’t give a damn. “You’re amazing. You … I don’t know how is it possible that you have such an effect on me from so far away.”

  “Freddy!”

  At the sound of Deena’s voice, Frederick shifted back over and stared at the ceiling. “I’m exhausted again. I think I might be sleeping the whole way home on the plane.” Frederick swallowed hard, trying to catch his breath.

  “Well, we need to fix that because when you return there won’t be any sleeping for you for a while. And, Freddy, while I love hearing you scream for me, you’re going to have some explaining to do.”

  Frederick nodded. “That I do. And I look forward to being back here just to prove that point.” Frederick wiped his forehead of the moisture. “All right, I must go. I know she is probably very upset now that I ignored her screaming through the door. I will call you once I touch down in Los Angeles.”

  “I’ll be here,” Vaughan promised. “Be safe. Say hello to Deena for me.”

  “I will, love. Take care. Promise me you won’t work too hard.” Frederick rose up and got off the bed. When he eyed the mess on his stomach and his thighs, he shook his head laughing. “God, you are incredible. You should see the mess on me. The one you helped to create.”

  Vaughan laughed. “Bye, Freddy.”

  “Goodbye, Vaughan. I’ll miss you.” Frederick closed his eyes, fighting back a tear, He truly didn’t want to leave Cardova or Vaughan behind, but his tour had already been planned. Hearing Vaughan hang up, Frederick looked back at his body and dropped his head.

  “Freddy? God dammit, what are you doing in there?” Deena sounded annoyed.

  “About to shower!” Frederick yelled back, but he didn’t dare open the door. It came out harder than he wanted, but again, he was upset that he wouldn’t be seeing Vaughan for a couple of weeks.

  “Shower? You asked me to order the cereal for you. I poured the milk in it, and now it’s freaking soggy.”

  Frederick inhaled a deep breath and shrugged. “That’s not all that’s soggy, my dear. No worries, I’ll order another one after I’m done.” He tried sounding a little more cheerful with that comment, but he didn’t think Deena heard him.

  Frederick heard Deena grumble and the sound of her heels fading.

  Thoroughly exhausted and sticky, Frederick sat down on the bed and kicked off his shoes. He removed both pairs of socks, along with his pants and underwear that sported a huge stain on the front. After taking off his shirt, he threw it into the pile of clothes, then got up, walking towards the bathroom. He was sure thoughts of Vaughan would come back to him while he showered and Frederick would need to try his best to stave them off just to get clean.

  Chapter Eighteen

  A few days phased into each other. Though Vaughan occupied himself with Nefertiti and working his new position, it felt as if something was missing. The news reported on Frederick’s concerts, but he couldn’t stand watching them without feeling as if he was missing a part of him. When around Kelliani and at work he smiled, turned on the charm, and did his job. At home, he played with the queen then spent the night staring out the window.

  Patrick had been hovering around a little more than usual, and though other workers were worried, Vaughan figured something happened. Each time he asked, however, Patrick would tell him that he was worried over nothing, smile and disappear into his office. Vaughan wasn’t going to worry about that unless he saw something. He had too much on his brain as it were with Frederick gone. A few times, Vaughan had to admit that he missed Frederick so much, he couldn’t sleep.

  The third day dawned on them, and it found him at a basketball game for Matt. The young man had made the team, and since his father wasn’t there, Vaughan agreed to go.

  “Um, Captain Singleton?”

  Vaughan, who had been busy poking Kelliani’s ice-cream with an index finger then sucking the cold dessert off, looked up. “Yes?”

  “Um—Matt wanted to see you.”

  Vaughan exchanged looks with Marietta but rose and followed the shy teen back to where Matt stood, wearing a grove into the ground.

  “Stop that pacing,” Vaughan said to Matt. “You’re starting to make me nervous.”

  Matt chuckled. “Sorry, V. I’m scared. I mean, what if I can’t do this? I mean, this is my first team. I used to play with Dad all the time, but who knows if basketball is my thing.”

  “Think about it this way. The coach wouldn’t have picked you if he didn’t think you had some skills. And besides.” Vaughan reached in and hooked a finger into the silver chain Matt wore and lifted until Luis’s dog tags were visible. “You have your dad right here.”

  Matt wrapped his fingers around the tags and nodded. A new determination filled his eyes, and he glanced toward where the rest of the team was standing.

  “Your mom, Kelly, and I will be cheering you on. You got this.”

  Matt hugged him before running off to join his team. With a smile, Vaughan ventured back into the stands. When he fell into the seat between Marietta and Kelliani, Marietta was first to speak.

  “Is he okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Just a little nervous. But I think he’ll be okay now.”

  “I really hoped he would have talked to me.”

  Vaughan stared at her for a silent moment. “He didn’t ask for me because he doesn’t love you. He asked for me because—well as archaic as this sounds, I’m a man and he just needed that kind of ear. There are going to be tons of t
hings he’ll never feel comfortable talking to his mom about.”

  “I know. I wasn’t prepared, that’s all.”

  “It’s all good. If Luis was here, he’d talk to him, but…”

  “Yeah,” Marietta whispered just as the crowd around them erupted in cheers.

  Vaughan turned to see Matt’s team jogging onto the court. When Matt looked up into the seats, Vaughan gave him a mock salute, and the teenager smiled before stepping into his team’s huddle.

  The game started, and for a kid who was terrified of sucking, Matt was really good. Vaughan supposed that was how things worked inside the human brain. Even as he watched Matt tear across the court, he couldn’t help imagining he was at his own son’s game. At one point the thoughts were so strong, he bowed his head and laughed. After he was disowned, Vaughan had resigned himself to not having a family—not having children. Yet a few tosses in the hay with a man who drove him wild, left Vaughan thinking there might be a chance after all.

  How quickly things can change.

  “What’s so funny?” Kelliani asked before surging to her feet and screaming. “Dee-fence! Go, Matt!”

  Matt passed the ball to another player who stopped, dribbled once, pivoted and found Matt at the right corner of the basket for another shot.

  “Woohoo!” Kelliani screamed.

  Vaughan applauded.

  “Just thinking,” Vaughan said. It wasn’t exactly a lie.

  “Oh yeah? About what?”

  “Kids.”

  “You’re rethinking your position on having some?”

  Vaughan nodded. “I didn’t think it was possible before.”

  “Freddy?”

  “Sorta. I mean he hasn’t promised me anything or the other way around. But if the way I started feeling for him is any indicator…”

  “Well, the world has advanced to the place where if you want your own kids or adoption—you can do both.”

  “I just wish I had more to offer him.”

  “More? Than your heart and this very delectable body?”

  Vaughan laughed. “Well, yeah. I mean he’s bringing all this money, and I work as a bartender. I’m sure his parents would love that.”