by J. P. Scott
“Oh, do I? I got dinner. I thought breakfast was on you.”
“We can do rock, paper, scissors when the bill comes.”
Jeremy kissed Ollie’s forehead. “I suck at that game. You have a good shot of winning.”
They looked at the time and decided it was time to get out of bed and ready for the day. “I’m supposed to be touching base with Jessica about interview stuff. I should probably check in on Cam.” Ollie had Jeremy swear that he would not tell a soul.
Jeremy pulled Ollie close to him, “Hey, considering what happened to your friend, I know we should have been more careful. I am on PrEP, but there are other diseases that it doesn’t prevent. I hope you’re okay.”
“I’m totally capable of putting up a protest. I was okay with everything that we did.”
“If you want us to switch to condoms, we can. I have some at home and will have them ready for you tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“I’m not sure I can let you out of my sight for a whole night. I was thinking you could come over to my house later. I can cook, or we can order in. Maybe a movie and snuggles on the couch. Then we could mess up my sheets for a bit.”
“I guess I’ll pack on overnight bag then. Now, get in the shower.” As Jeremy turned to head to the bathroom, Ollie slapped his ass. “Hurry up, I’m hungry.”
“I thought you were watching what you ate.”
“I think I burned enough calories last night to splurge.”
He heard the shower start to run and imagined the rivers of water starting to flow down Jeremy’s naked body. Part of him wanted to run in there and join him in the shower. The other part needed to give his body a rest and to recharge with some food. If there was more play ahead tonight, the restful approach seemed best. He fell back onto the bed, doing a little bounce. He could not believe it, but he may just have found his guy.
Seventeen
“You are off in another world, Ollie. What’s going on?” Jessica sat at the coffee shop table with papers strewn in front of her, eyes scanning for the next interview question to throw Ollie’s way.
“I wish I could focus, Jess. I really do. I’m sorry.”
“What has changed your mood this weekend?” Her eyes narrowed. “You got laid, didn’t you?”
Ollie smiled, “A few times.”
“Wait, does that mean multiple times with a guy…or did you go to an orgy?”
“Keep your voice down,” Ollie looked over his shoulder to see if any other patrons had heard. Most had earbuds in and were focused on computer screens. “Do you really think I would go to an orgy? Where are these orgies even happening?”
“Oh, you mean to tell me the gays don’t post about orgies on those apps you log into?”
Ollie had to admit that he had been approached by guys on Flame to meet up for group sex. It had never really been an interest of his. On one hand, he worried he might be the only bottom and there would be too many guys to handle. On the other, he might be one of a million bottoms and there were not enough tops to go around.
“Well, no orgies, but I did start talking to a guy last week. We had our first date last night.”
“And it went well?
He answered with a wide grin and shifted in his chair. “Let’s just say this wooden chair is hard to sit in this afternoon.”
“Oh, my god. You slut. I’m so jealous.”
“I’m spending the night at his place tonight.”
“Can your ass take it?” Jessica raised her eyebrow and shook her head, “Don’t get too distracted from prepping for this interview.”
Ollie looked down at the papers in front of him. At this point, all the questions were a blur and was not confident that he could put together a coherent sentence. Answering the questions, he felt wooden and rehearsed. Or he stammered, barely able to find the words to explain how he had been able to overcome some particular challenge that showcased how he demonstrated a certain competency.
“I have to be honest, Jess, I’m not sure I think I can do this.”
Jessica put down the papers and pen in her hand. She folded her arms on the table and looked at Ollie with a serious expression. “I know it feels like I’m forcing you into this. That’s because I am. You are perfect for this role. No one else at the company should have a chance. The problem is, you don’t believe it. And without believing it, you would never go for it on your own.”
“You’re right. And I appreciate you helping me.” He really was grateful. His current role was a dead end. This was his chance to break out of that life and possibly make an impact to the company. “You really think I can do this?”
“Yes. But it’s going to take some work. So, we need to focus. At least for another twenty minutes. And I want to meet with you throughout the week.”
Ollie breathed in and out a few times. His stomach continued to twist at the idea of answering questions, even if they were just for practice. With more practice, maybe he would feel more at ease. He secretly wished someone would walk up to him and just offer him the role. It was a fantasy, but it would make everything better.
“Okay, let’s get at this. I’ll focus. I promise.” He did sneak a glance at the time. I still needed to give Cam a call and check in on him. He hoped his friend had been able to pull himself together enough to do more with this Sunday than drink and lay in bed. “Hit me with another question.”
Jessica smiled and picked up a page in front of her, “Let’s see…what looks good.”
They ran over the twenty-minute goal, having found a good rhythm. Ollie’s answers were starting to come out more smoothly. Even though it was a minuscule amount, he did feel more confident than when they had started. Maybe this idea was not as hopeless as he feared.
Eighteen
Ollie had Cam on speaker as he grabbed a small bag from the closet and threw it on his bed. He tried to make a mental list of what he would need for his sleepover at Jeremy’s.
“Please tell me you did not hang out in our pajamas all day.”
“I deserve a little Me Time. Pajamas are required.” Knowing Cam, pajamas could be fully covered in a matching top and pants with slippers or stripped down to a thong and tank top. It would depend on his overall mood. I doubted he was feeling cute and would be in the actual pajama set.
“You also need to figure out what you’re going to say to Mark. Did you see him today?”
“He was at the office. The trial. His whole team is working overtime.”
“So, he doesn’t suspect anything’s going on? Have you even talked?”
“No, just texts.” His voice quivered, “God, Ollie. There’s got to be a way that I don’t have to tell him.”
Ollie rolled his eyes. “How the hell could that happen? You have to start taking medication. And Mark needs to get tested!”
“Maybe not. I can’t even remember the last time we had sex.”
“Any time in the last six months.” Then my thoughts moved to other potential encounters Cam had recently. “You need to try and think of who else you had sex with. They should know and get tested as well.”
Cam coughed in disgust. “It’s not like we exchanged names. I’ll probably never see any of these guys again.”
“But if there’s anyone that you will see again, you owe it to them to tell them the truth. They can get tested and start treatment. And maybe they will take better precautions going forward.” Cam’s situation was serious, but he seemed to not want to confront it.
Cam was quiet and Ollie decided to change the subject.
“Well, if we’re not going to solve your problems, help me figure out what to pack for tonight. I’m staying over at Jeremy’s.”
“Sounds like all you need is that jockstrap he gave you. You probably don’t even need to wash it.”
Ollie groaned, “He said dinner, a movie, cuddles. I feel like this is multiple clothing changes.”
“A. Jock. Strap.” Cam was screaming into the phone, enunciating each word. “You are the dense
st gay ever.”
“I’ll bring the jockstrap. And I need clothes for work tomorrow.” That part was easy. Ollie grabbed a collared shirt, dress pants, belt, colorful socks, and his dress shoes. “Let me put it another way. What do I wear if there isn’t going to be any sex?”
“The answer is still jockstrap, Ollie. Don’t make me say it again.”
“Fine. I’ll figure the rest of it out on my own. But I appreciate your help. Text me if you need anything tonight.”
“No, I’m not going to bother you tonight. I don’t want to interrupt your date night.”
I stopped moving around my room, “You won’t be interrupting. If you need to talk, call me, text me. Whatever. I’m here for you.”
“Thanks, friend.” Cam sounded like he might be starting to cry. “And, Ollie? Question for you.”
“What is it?”
“You and Jeremy are being…careful. Right? Tell me you’re being careful.” With his world falling apart, he was worried about me.
I lied, “Yes, we’re being careful.” I believed Jeremy was on PrEP, but he was ultimately taking Jeremy’s word for it. Ollie could ask for them to use condoms tonight and for the coming weeks, but would it already be too late? They had exchanged plenty of cum last night. If he were at risk, it might already be too late for him.
“Good.” There was more silence on the line, and then, “And one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Jockstrap.” Ollie shook his head and hung up the call.
Nineteen
The first thing they did was kiss. Jeremy opened the door to his house, pulled Ollie in, and kissed him with passion. Ollie was caught off guard, but soon relaxed and kissed back. He dropped his back to the ground and grabbed Jeremy in a strong hug.
“I think somebody missed me.”
Jeremy growled, picked up Ollie’s bag, and said, “Come in.”
When Jeremy had sent Ollie his address, he had not expected to find the house he was standing in. Most of the houses in the area were built in the fifties and sixties. Small, compact, and the bare minimum a family needed to get by. Jeremy’s gated street had about eight houses on its cul-de-sac. Ollie guessed they were all built within the last five years. The styles were modern and large. The older neighborhoods featured carports with maybe extra space on the side of the house that had been paved to allow for additional cars to park. Jeremy’s house featured prominently a three-car garage.
The center of the house was a large great room with vaulted ceilings. The back wall to the backyard was all glass windows and doors. The sun was setting with another Arizona rainbow sky and they were not missing a moment of it from being inside. “This place is amazing.”
“I love it here. I couldn’t believe I got this place. I had seen this strip of land for years and wondered why no one had built on it. Some sort of tie-up with the kids who inherited it and a disagreement on what to do with the property. Finally, they sold to a developer and I happened to catch the notifications early. I was third in line to buy a place.”
“I never knew buying a home was a competitive sport.”
“It can be pretty crazy, but fun, too. I used to fix and flip homes in the area. I’ve lived in so many homes in the surrounding neighborhood that I knew the place well and had done some research and had contacts. When I saw what was happening, it was easier to get in the game. People want to live in this part of town but aren’t looking for the smaller homes of previous generations. No place to put the kids and the dogs and all the extra stuff we have in our lives.”
“It makes me wonder how anyone ever did it.”
“Come on, I’ll show you around.” On the garage side of the house was the laundry and half bath. These connected with a hallway that led to three additional bedrooms and a large bathroom. Jeremy was using one as an office, one as a guest room, and another as a workout room. “You have a home gym and also a gym membership?”
“I like going to the gym to work out. Better equipment…and better views. I use this if I only have time for a quick workout. I had the stuff from before when I only worked out at home.
The center of the house was the great room, that opened up to the kitchen and eating areas. The opposite side of the house was the master suite. “This place is bigger than my apartment.” Ollie peeked into the bathroom, “Maybe three times bigger.” King size bed with designer sheets and pillows, large soaking tub in the bathroom, double vanity, a walk-in closet. Everything that Ollie thought he wanted in luxury living, Jeremy seemed to have. This did not even take into consideration the finer details of the house that he was yet to discover.
“It may be big, but here is where I usually spend most of my time.” In the corner of the room was an archway surrounded by drapes. Jeremy stepped through and turned on the light. “It’s my cozy den. I watch tv, read, or just hang out in here.” The small room had a large screen TV, couch, two tall bookcases filled with books, and a small refrigerator on the side.
“You have your own man cave? Aren’t you the only one who lives here?”
He laughed, “Yes, it seems silly. I have the whole house to romp around in, but I end up nesting in here.”
I entered and had a seat on the couch, “Do I get to nest in here?”
“It is where I planned on watching a movie tonight. After dinner.” He walked to Ollie and leaned down and kissed him. “I hope you’re okay with a quiet night in.”
“If it means spending time with you, I’m quite okay with it.”
“Why don’t you get comfortable. I’ll start seeing what’s on TV in the way of movie options. Any preferences?”
Ollie headed back into the main part of the bedroom to start unpacking and change his clothes, “I think I saw a few new releases on streaming that looked good. Honestly, I can never remember what I wanted to see when it was in the theaters until it pops up as a suggestion. I’ll let you pick, if you don’t mind.”
“I’ll find something good. And there are open shelves in the closet. Feel free to claim some space for your stuff.”
Ollie stepped into the closet which was more the size of most rooms. The left side held all of Jeremy’s clothes. A couple of suits, a dozen dress shirts in white and blues, casual pants and shirts coordinated by colored sections. One whole section was designed to hold shows and Jeremy had every style of dress and casual shoe. There was a bank of drawers that Jeremy assumed held socks, underwear, t-shirts, etc. What the hell is in the dressers out in the bedroom? The right side was completely bare. Ollie unzipped his bag and took out his work clothes and hung them up. He then removed the several options he had brought for cuddle time for movies and debated what was the best look.
“Doing okay in there?”
“Be right there,” Ollie called back. He changed out of his clothes and into his new one. He stepped to the archway. Jeremy was looking at the TV and scrolling through options. “You said to get comfortable, right?”
Jeremy looked up to find Ollie standing in nothing but the jockstrap he had given him the night before. He dropped the remote, stood up, and crossed to Ollie. He turned Ollie around, ran his hands over Ollie’s butt cheeks, and then knelt down. “Dinner and a movie can wait. We’ll skip straight to dessert.”
Twenty
Ollie sat in his cubicle looking at this computer, but he was not really comprehending what he was reading. He was too lost in thought about Jeremy and their second incredible night together. They had taken a break from lovemaking for dinner and to watch a movie on the couch in Jeremy’s little den, but had resumed with a few more rounds of play before crashing with exhaustion.
When the alarms went off this morning, Ollie had a hard time figuring out what day it was or where he was. The grand expanse of Jeremy’s place was disorienting compared to the snugness of his one bedroom. He rolled over to cuddle with Jeremy for a few minutes before getting up to get ready for work. The shower controls took a few minutes to figure out. Too many options for sprays to come from too many angles. His body w
ash smelled like sandalwood.
When he was dressed, combed, and ready for the day, he found Jeremy in the kitchen finishing making some eggs.
“The most important meal of the day.”
“My body is indeed lacking in protein,” Ollie joked. They had used condoms as he requested. It did not feel the same as without, but they were too hungry for each other to notice too much. In time, they would reach the moment when they would ditch the condoms.
They kissed like a couple would as one leaves for work. “See you tonight?”
“I’ll bring some fresh clothes.”
“Don’t forget the jockstrap.”
Ollie had not minded the traffic. When he stopped for coffee, he offered an extra twenty to pay for people behind him.
He messaged Cam that the jockstrap advice had worked out—a fact that Cam one hundred percent knew that it would. Cam’s doctor’s appointment was at one. Conveniently, they both went to the same doctor. He knew that Cam would be dreading the appointment and probably an emotional wreck. When he got to work, he checked his calendar and messaged his boss that he had an appointment after lunch and would be taking the afternoon off.
“Everything okay?” The response from his boss was warranted. Normally, he would try to take care of things on a lunch break and offer to flex his time. Today, he decided to let the paid time off burn. His friend needed him.
Once that was done and the demands of the daily grind set in, he found himself unable to focus. He reread the morning update three times before just filing it away in case he needed to reference it. He flagged a few that seemed important but he just could not deal with. Then he headed to the break room.
“How was your night with Jeremy?” Jessica rushed him as he contemplated getting a soda.
“You would love his house. You know those ultra-modern ones off of 72nd Street? He’s one of those.”
“Oh, my. Rich bitch.”
