“Check this out.” Quinn’s excitement was contagious.
Moving closer to read the box, Henry started checking out all the functions. Facts. World News. Population. Time. Currency. History. Language. Capital. Weather. The list of the Smart Globe’s features went on and on.
“What kind of batteries does it take?” Henry got up from the table.
“Looks like four double A’s. We should have plenty. I just put some in the corner drawer.” He pointed to the far end of the kitchen. Laughing, “It even plays the national anthems from countries all over the world.”
Returning with the batteries, Henry sat down next to Quinn and handed them to him. Quinn inserted them and looked around the globe. “How do we make it talk?”
Henry looked it over. No on/off switch. He touched all the little labels on the base, including volume, still nothing.
“Ahh,” said Quinn, looking satisfied as he pulled out a little panel in the front, but all it revealed was a map of the fifty states. Looking at Henry, “So, it appears the Smart Globe is not for dumb adults.”
“Here’s a novel thought,” Henry laughed, “maybe we should actually read the instructions.”
Leveling a dirty look at Henry, Quinn shook his head. “That would be like stopping to ask someone for directions.”
Picking up the connected stylus-type pen apparatus, Henry touched it to different spots on the globe. Nothing. He touched it to the labels on the base. Nothing.
“This is why we need a kid.” Quinn surmised, sitting back with his beer.
Henry laughed, “We need to get better at this or we are seriously going to embarrass a kid.” Henry looked at the stylus in his hand and tried pressing a round area with the Oregon Scientific logo. He tried touching it to the globe again. Nothing. And then he hit this little rectangle on the stylus that he thought might or might not be a button.
Loud music blared from speakers on the base of the globe, “Welcome to Oregon Scientific’s Smart Globe.” Both men jumped, startled by the sound and quickly descended into laughter.
“Oh my God, you are brilliant. You found the start button.” Quinn was practically in tears, he was laughing so hard at their joint ineptitude.
“How hot am I now?” Henry laughed.
“Seriously fuckable.” He reached over, giving Henry’s package a squeeze. “But now that we’ve got it working, let’s play with this big ball first.” Spinning the globe and smiling, Quinn took the stylus from Henry and stabbed it down onto the globe. “First stop, the Seychelles.”
Quinn was spooning him from behind, their legs tangled. “That was really fun learning about all of those countries. I’ll definitely pick up the form for my passport next week.”
“How long do you think you’ll be able to get away for?” Henry snuggled into Quinn a little tighter, feeling the beginnings of Quinn’s stirrings.
“I’m going to ask for three weeks, I know I’ll definitely be able to get at least two off.”
“There are so many places I want to go with you. We need months off.”
“Tell me where you want me to take you?” Quinn’s lips gently brushed his ear before trailing to his neck. With each kiss, his cock hardened against Henry’s ass. “Because I know exactly where I’d like to take you.”
“You going to ride me there?” Henry was moaning with every twitch of Quinn’s cock.
“I’m going to ride you hard until I’m all done.” Quinn’s arms were wrapped around Henry’s chest.
“It’s going to be different this time.” Henry turned his face back and Quinn reached for his chin, pulling his mouth to him, his tongue immediately beginning its deep exploration.
Finally letting go of his chin, Quinn let his hand trail down to explore the effects of his kiss. “Mmm,” he moaned seductively as his hand wrapped tightly around Henry’s erect cock and began stroking him from base to tip.
Henry took Quinn’s hand off his cock and brought it up to his mouth. With his face turned so that Quinn could see him, he slowly licked Quinn’s palm from heel to fingertips, sucking his fingers into his mouth. He then placed Quinn’s now slick hand around his hard cock again and hand over hand set the rhythm of Quinn’s strokes.
“It’s going to be even better.” Quinn nipped at his ear lobe.
With well over two years’ worth of clean AIDS tests and a dedicated monogamous relationship, they had finally made the decision to forego protection with a conversation that went, “I thought you wanted to keep using it,” “I thought you did,” “No, it was just habit more than anything else,” “Think you can kick the habit?” “Consider it kicked.”
“You have amazing self-control,” Henry commented. “If I were in your position, I would have been plowing into you by now.”
Laughing, Quinn tightened his grip around Henry, squeezing with his thumb as he stroked him. “Yeah, but you’re not in my position.” Henry hardened even more with his stroke.
“Oh God, Quinn, do you want to hear me beg you to fuck me. Because I will beg you,” he groaned.
“How bad do you want me inside you?” Quinn whispered, clearly enjoying how worked up he’d gotten his lover.
“Oh God, I don’t think I can last another minute. Fuck me already, damn it,” Henry was whimpering as Quinn continued to relentlessly stroke him.
“You sure you’re ready to really let me have you? That’s my ass, Henry. Mine.”
“Oh God, Quinn.”
“Tell me, Henry.” He slowed down the pace of his stroking.
“It’s yours, Quinn. I’m yours.”
Letting go of Henry, he rolled away and grabbed a bottle of KY liquid from his nightstand. Just rubbing it on himself, he thought he’d explode in anticipation. Even after two years, the significance of this night was huge. It was the final level of trust amongst gay men, and although it had been there between him and Henry almost from the moment they met, it was the final vow in a bond that they both knew meant forever.
Squirting some of the liquid into his fingers, he gently massaged it into Henry. “I love you,” he whispered.
Turning his head to look into Quinn’s eyes, “Show me how much.”
Quinn grabbed Henry’s thigh, lifting it and with one forceful drive, breached the tight ring of his ass. Both men moaned, synchronized in perfect unison.
“Fuck, you feel good,” Quinn’s voice was gruff, as he lay still for a moment as if acclimating himself to his new home. And then without warning, he began pounding into Henry’s ass, lost in the new sensation. Needing more, greedy for his own release in the warmth that was now forever his. Forever more.
“Oh God, Quinn. God, Quinn.” Henry’s cries exposed the brink upon which he was teetering, the pleasure of pain eclipsing all other input from his senses. Turning his head, his voice a raspy cry, “Oh God, Quinn. I love you.”
With a final thrust, Quinn consummated their bond, holding Henry tightly against him, and staying within him long after they were done.
Quinn was out on the deck doing maintenance on the bikes when he got home from work. Heading to the bedroom to change out of his suit, Henry threw on a tee-shirt and shorts, before grabbing two cold bottles of water and heading out to the deck.
Sitting down on the glider and tossing a bottle to Quinn, he looked at his handsome partner with a smile, “So, I’ve got some news.”
Quinn stopped what he was doing and looked up, “Good news?”
Smiling, Henry nodded. “They announced 4th quarter and year-end sales numbers today.”
“And?” Quinn was already smiling in anticipation of the answer.
“You’re looking at him. Number one for the quarter and number one for the year.”
Quinn got up from where he was sitting on the deck to envelop Henry in a bear hug. “You’re a fucking rock star.”
“It gets better,” Henry was bursting at the seams. “Seventy-five thousand dollar bonus.”
“Are you shitting me?” Quinn’s mouth was hanging open.
Henry was shaking his head, “No. Seventy-five K. How’s that for mind blowing. They based it on earnings and those just came out.”
“Holy shit, Henry.”
Henry’s violet eyes were wide, “I know,” he laughed, “and that’s not all. Turns out the awards ceremony is out here this year, it’s going to be at The Marine Room in La Jolla. So, I am officially asking you to be my date.”
“Are you sure?” As much as Quinn wanted to be there to see Henry accepting his accolades, the thought of potentially harming him in a corporate environment was not anything he wanted to do.
“Fuck, yeah, I’m sure. I’ve never hid my sexuality at work.”
“Not hiding it and throwing it in people’s faces are two very different things and you know that.”
“I’m their top sales guy, Quinn. Trust me, they’re not getting rid of me anytime soon. Any other person who was number one for the year would be bringing their significant other without thinking twice and I’m not going to think twice either about bringing you. I want you by my side. Where you belong.”
Trailing his fore and middle finger down Henry’s cheek, the look in his eyes was a mixture of pride, love and triumph. “I’m so proud of you and I’d be honored to accompany you.” When his fingers reached Henry’s jaw, his hand slid to the back of his neck and he pulled his lover in for a long, slow kiss. When their lips finally separated, Quinn shook his head, “A seventy-five thousand dollar bonus?” He still couldn’t believe it.
“I know, right? I was thinking it will totally pay for the vacation and the rest we should put toward a down payment fund.”
“Down payment for what?”
Henry smiled, “At some point we might want to move.”
Quinn looked lost.
And Henry’s smile grew exponentially. “I don’t know, I was thinking a small backyard. Somewhere with enough room for one of those wooden playscapes that looks like a fort. Someplace where the schools are good.”
“Mr. Clark, where is this coming from?” Quinn’s smile was contagious.
Pointing a finger at Quinn, “Just know this, first we will be filling up pages in those passports with many stamps.”
“It sounds like we’re now in a position to do that.”
“Yes, we are,” Henry corroborated, “so let’s start working on it this weekend and figure out the details.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“And I’ll need you home early on the twenty-third, that reception at The Marine Room starts at seven.”
“You’ve got it.” Quinn sat back down on the floor next to one of the bicycles and picked up the chain checker.
As Henry walked over to the sliding glass door, he turned around, “Oh and Quinn, one more thing.”
Quinn looked up, smiling, “There’s more?” he sassed.
“It’s black tie.”
“Seriously?” He looked pained.
Henry nodded, thinking about how handsome he was going to look. “I can’t wait to see you in a tux.”
Quinn was silent for a moment, his eyes walking all over Henry just as they did on the day they met. “I can’t wait to get you out of your tux.”
Standing in the bathroom, Henry struggled to get his cufflinks through the miniscule holes on the starched shirt cuffs and knew he was not going to have an easier time with his bowtie. Finally, he put the cufflinks down, he’d get Quinn to put them in for him and flip the fastening bar. He was definitely going to need Quinn to tie the bowtie that was hanging open around his neck, that was a given.
Running some mousse through his hair to tame it, he stood before the mirror and took some deep, cleansing breaths. Surprised that he was as nervous as he was, the importance of the night was really beginning to hit him. He was making a big statement tonight bringing his gay lover to the company’s awards banquet. He hoped in doing this, maybe other gay and lesbian staff members might feel more comfortable sharing joyous work occasions with their significant other at their side.
When the doorbell rang, he laughed and shook his head. Quinn was picking up their matching boutonnieres from the florist and he could just imagine him on the other side of the door balancing the two plastic containers holding the delicate flowers, afraid one would drop and get damaged if he tried to dig out the key in his pocket. It was so Quinn.
In his tux pants and shirt, with his bowtie hanging open, waiting for Quinn to tie it for him, Henry made his way across the apartment, smiling. “Two boutonnieres and a key is too much for you to…” He flung open the door, the rest of his sentence hung in mid-air. Unfinished.
Their faces and their eyes gave the complete story and he knew the answer to the question that he never needed to ask, but reflexively did. “Where’s Quinn?” Alarm in his first query. Anguish after that, “Where’s Quinn?” his voice reverberated down the hall.
Terry looked down, his shoulders heaving in heavy sobs. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Henry looked from Derek to Willie, their eyes swollen with anguish. “What happened? Somebody please tell me what happened,” he begged, because this could not be happening. Quinn was coming home with boutonnieres, not in a body bag.
“What happened?” Henry was now on his couch surrounded by the officers, although he had no recollection of moving out of the doorway. “Wasn’t he wearing his vest?”
“He was,” Derek confirmed.
“Oh God, no.” Henry fought back the nausea. If he was wearing his vest…
“It was just a DV,” Terry began, his voice shell shocked as began to relay the details of what they thought was a routine domestic violence call. “We’d been to this address before, the guy was a hot head but it had never escalated to anything. He and his old lady just usually needed to calm down.”
“But what happened this time?” Henry looked from cop to cop wanting the story to change, for someone to give him an alternate ending. Tell him Quinn just didn’t want to wear a tux tonight.
“We got up on the porch and rang the bell. The door flew open and there was the guy, gun pointed and cocked. He got off his first,” Terry’s words choked in his throat, a new stream of tears making their way down his face, “and only, shot before either of us could draw our weapons.”
“Point blank?” Henry’s breathing was becoming rapid as the air in the room dissipated. He felt like he was on a mountain peak 15,000 feet up and he’d cycled too hard.
Willie got up and went into the kitchen, returning with a cold bottle of water for Henry.
“Yes.” Terry’s voice was barely a whisper.
“To the head?” He needed to know what happened to his wonderful Quinn.
Terry just nodded, unable to verbalize as he broke down, the vision of what happened clearly ripping his heart out and macerating it, a nightmare that would remain in his soul forever.
Squeezing his eyes shut, Henry envisioned Quinn’s last second and was glad he didn’t suffer. His last second. How can any of this be real? Quinn gone? Just like that. How could that even be possible? Tonight we’re celebrating. He was going to be standing next to me, my beautiful partner in his classic black tux playing up the beauty of those pale blue eyes that make me melt every time I look into them. I’m not going to look into them again? Quinn can’t be dead.
“I’d give anything…” Terry looked Henry in the eyes.
Nodding, “I know you would. And Quinn knows that, too.”
Derek’s big arm was around his shoulder and he looked from man to man. Quinn wasn’t just a fallen comrade. He was their friend. Their brother.
“The guy? What happened to the guy?”
“Gone.” Terry’s eyes looked dead.
Henry just nodded, attempting to process. Quinn was not ever going to sit next to him on this couch again. How could that be? How could any of this be? “Jeanne and Katelyn? Do they know? Have they been told?” Henry panicked at the thought of their pain.
“The Captain wanted us to call him after we spoke to you. He and the chaplain are going to meet u
s there. He thought you’d be more comfortable hearing it from the three of us.” Derek explained.
Henry nodded, “I’m going with you.”
As he stood, the room spun from the motion and he stilled himself, employing his Yoga techniques to regain his equilibrium.
Reaching the door, he looked back. Everything looked the same. Nothing in the apartment was moved or different, nothing askew or awry. Except that he’d never see Quinn in their home again. He wasn’t going to fall asleep with Quinn’s legs tangled with his. Ever again. How could that be?
He sat in the row behind Jeanne and Katelyn in the church. The last thing he wanted to do was to make Jeanne feel uncomfortable in her house of worship, surrounded by her relatives and her priest. Knowing the Catholic Church’s view on homosexuality, he didn’t want to do anything to add to her stress.
Edwin sat on his left, his hand on top of Henry’s left hand. Schooner was on his right, his left arm slung over Henry’s shoulder. Next to Schooner was his wife, CJ, and beyond her sat Schooner’s parents, Dee and Gavin. Henry’s mother and sister didn’t make it down.
Staring straight ahead, preternaturally calm in an eerie sort of way, Henry was focused on something in the distance, though most likely not the priest’s words, as he conducted a High Mass. In Henry’s lap sat a small, black day pack, which he held tightly with both hands.
Edwin and Schooner were having an entire conversation around him, mouthing the words to one another as Henry sat oblivious to their exchange.
“What’s in the pack?” Edwin mouthed, his eyes darting to Henry’s lap.
Schooner shook his head, “I don’t know,” he mouthed back.
“He’s scaring me,” Edwin’s eyes shifted to Henry.
“I know.” Schooner rubbed Henry’s shoulder softly.
The ornate church was filled to capacity. Law enforcement from all over the state were in attendance, as were elected officials and far reaching members of the Callahan clan. The turnout to say goodbye to the fallen officer brought an odd comfort, as if hiding in ritual would bring some answers that would never actually come, but as long as the voices droned on, goodbye was still a breath away.
Henry's End Page 16
