The Russos 6

by D. J. Manly

  Johnny looked up at him. "Hi, gorgeous. Where have you been all my life?"

  Tony watched the exchange between them.

  "Don't ask. Are you tired?"

  "A little."

  "Want me to help you to bed?" Drake asked.

  Johnny smiled. "Will you tuck me in and sing me to sleep?"

  "If you like," he returned with a slow smile.

  Tony volunteered to help, but his father quickly told him, "No. Drake can handle it."

  Tony got the message. Was his father planning some sort of seduction? His eyes had followed Drake all night. Actually both his and his father's eyes had. Drake was the best-looking thing in the room.

  Tony left the living room and made his way upstairs.

  He knew he shouldn't spy on them, but he felt compelled. He made his way down the upstairs hallway. There were murmurs and sounds coming from several rooms.

  Tony stopped at the end of the hall. He could see Drake and his father's reflection through the mirror of a dresser. The door stood half open.

  Drake was helping Johnny to undress. He slowly undid the buttons on his shirt. Tony watched the expression on his father's face as Drake busied himself with the buttons. His head was back a little, his eyes half closed. He moved several times to kiss Drake's hair as he bent a little to undo his pants, but clenched his fists at his side in order to hold himself back. There was such desire in Johnny's face that for a second Tony couldn't remember ever seeing anything quite so erotically beautiful.

  "Lift your leg." Drake stooped down to remove his pants. His father placed both hands on Drake's head, forcing him to his knees. Drake looked up at him as Johnny pushed his underwear down over his hips. He was totally erect.

  Drake tried to get up off his knees, but Johnny pushed him down again.

  "Johnny, stop!" Drake told him. "Let me up."

  Johnny pushed his hips against Drake's face, his erection brushing across his lips.

  Tony felt his knees weaken.

  "Please," his father breathed. "Baby, it's been so long. It's Christmas. Give me just a little."

  Again he was moving his erection against Drake's mouth. Drake was trying his best to avoid it. Johnny's hands were in Drake's hair. "Baby," he said, "Oh, baby."

  They were struggling, and Drake tried to stand.

  Finally, he broke free from Johnny's hold and cried out with an agonized moan, "No!" He was on his feet, his chest heaving, his eyes blazing.

  Johnny moved toward him. "Look at me, look what you do to me. How do I go on like this? Should I go downstairs and find someone to relieve the tension? Anyone right about now would do."

  "No," Drake replied softly. "Don't do that."

  "So I can't have you, and I can't have anyone else either. Is that the way it works, Drake?" Johnny demanded. "Oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway. No one can ease the pain except you, and maybe cocaine temporarily."

  "We can't..." Drake threw his hands out weakly.

  "We can, but you won't," Johnny sighed. "Fine. Then get to hell out and let me do what I usually do when you come this close to me..."

  After a few seconds, Drake laughed. "I didn't do this."

  Johnny laughed with him. "Of course you did, but you can't help it, because you're so goddamned beautiful." There was a pause, and then Johnny pleaded, "Make it stop, Drake, make me stop wanting you."

  "I can't," Drake replied helplessly. "Help me. Stop me from wanting you."

  "I can't do that either," he laughed sadly.

  "Good night, Johnny," Drake whispered. He turned to leave, but Johnny reached out for Drake and slammed the door shut with his foot.

  "Not tonight, Drake," Tony heard his father say, "Tonight you're mine. I don't care about tomorrow."

  Tony moved closer to the door. He heard Drake say, "No, don't do this, Johnny, don't...please," but the words were muffled and soon replaced by the softer sounds of moans and whimpers.

  When a hand took him by the collar and pulled him backward, Tony was completely taken by surprise.

  It was Pepi.

  "What are you doing?" he asked. "Spying on people?"

  "No...not at all. I was...okay, I was. Sorry." Tony blushed in embarrassment. "What time is it?"

  "Almost three in the morning," Pepi replied, walking with his nephew down the hallway. "The guests that haven't passed out have dug in for the night. I guess you're staying here."

  "Are you staying?"

  "Ya. We have a big family dinner at four tomorrow. It's tradition. We'll get up and open the gifts when all the strays go home."

  "Looks like the bedrooms are all occupied," Tony muttered.

  "Where is Drake?"

  "In that room at the end of the hall...with...eh...my dad," Tony said.

  "They always shared a room growing up. Drake probably fell asleep in there."

  I don't think so, Tony thought but didn't say anything.

  "Anyway, take Drake's room and I'll sleep in the living room on one of the sofas. I'm so bushed, I could sleep anywhere."

  Tony felt a little strange about sleeping in Drake's room, but he was too damned tired to worry about it.

  He walked in to the huge room, threw off his clothes and climbed into the bed. God, if anyone had told him that one day he would be sleeping in this man's bed, he would have told them they were nuts.

  He fell asleep almost immediately and didn't wake up until well after eleven in the morning.

  He discovered he wasn't alone.

  Drake's bed was one of those super king-size beds that could have slept about five people comfortably.

  Tony wouldn't have even been aware that someone else was in the bed if he hadn't heard him.

  There was someone moaning and more then this, it sounded like crying. Tony moved over in the bed and was a little startled to find Drake there with him. He must have come to bed later and not even noticed that Tony had been sleeping there.

  Drake was restless, talking low in his sleep and moaning. Then there were definitely the sounds of sobs.

  Tony reached out and touched his shoulder. The blankets were draped over his waist, just barely. It was quite evident that Drake slept in the nude.

  His skin was warm. He didn't stir when Tony touched him. Tony moved closer to him and placed his arm around him. He could feel his naked flesh against his own.

  He slid down the blanket and ran his gaze over him.

  Yes. Drake was exactly how he'd pictured him, only better. His body was lean and muscular, hills and valleys in all the right places, and his sex was absolutely beautiful. He ran his hand over his hip and then reached around and began to caress his sex. He was already erect, and as he moved his fingers up and down the shaft, Drake grew harder.

  Tony placed his lips on his throat, moving back the long hair, and then began to kiss his mouth. "I've waited so long for this," he whispered against Drake's lips.

  Drake began to kiss him back. He wasn't fully awake but he reached for him, bringing Tony's body down on top of his. He ran his hands over him, clutching his buttocks, and then began to hotly kiss him.

  Tony moaned as he felt Drake's sex brush against his own. Drake lifted him again, laying him on his back. He moved his lips over him, tonguing his nipples, licking down to his navel. Then he took Tony's cock into his mouth.

  Tony was lost. His flesh was alive. Drake Russo was making love to him. "You're all I've ever wanted," he told him.

  Drake closed his eyes. "Johnny...Johnny..." for a minute, he was sure he was dreaming and then something didn't seem right. This wasn't Johnny, because if it was, he wouldn't be making love to him like this.

  Tony came in his mouth, causing him to choke and then sit up and rub his eyes. He blinked in the morning sun. When he saw Tony lying there naked, he let out a cry. "What in hell are you doing in my bed?"

  Tony didn't want it to end. Not now. God, it was too good. The mood was slipping away. "Drake..." he reached for him. "Please...I want you. I have since..."

  Drake scrambled
off the bed. "Are you crazy?"

  "I'm of age. I'm not jailbait. I..."

  "I know how old you are, Tony, but you're an eighteen-year-old boy and I'm a thirty-six-year-old man, for Christ's sakes. Goddamn it! What kind of a man do you think I am? And shit...you're Johnny's son. What in hell is wrong with you? Can't you find someone other then your relatives to sleep with?"

  "Maybe I'm just like my father!" Tony snapped, feeling angry and hurt. "Have a good time with your brother last night, Uncle Drake?" he sneered.

  For a minute, Drake looked as if he was going to hit him. He made a move toward him and raised his fist, then stopped.

  Tony cowered in the corner of the bed. "I'm...I'm sorry...I shouldn't have said that."

  Drake took a deep breath and reached for his robe.

  He put on the tattered old terry robe and tied it securely with the sash at the waist. For a minute, he said nothing and then walked over to the window.

  He looked back at his nephew. "Get out of my bed," he said gruffly, "before someone sees you there. That's all I need."

  Tony crawled off the bed and began to dress.

  "So, you were spying on me last night," Drake sighed.

  Tony coloured. "I...I suppose I was. I saw you. You didn't leave his room last night, did you?"

  He didn't reply.

  "So what now?" Tony asked.

  "I don't know 'what now'!" Drake yelled. "If I knew what to do, I'd...forget it. I don't want to talk about it."

  Tony was taken aback by the anger. He fell quiet.

  "And if you must know, nothing really happened last night anyway," Drake said. "Your father is not strong enough yet to...well...to go the distance even if he thinks he is."

  "And when he is strong enough?" Tony raised an eyebrow, buttoning his shirt.

  "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

  "And meanwhile, allowing me to make love to you is out?" Tony asked, walking over to where he stood.

  Drake turned from the window and met Tony's eyes.

  "What do you want me to say, Tony? If I say it will never happen, you'll try all the harder to prove me wrong. If you want to seduce me, go ahead, you probably could. You certainly have enough of your father in you to turn me on. I can fight, but I'll probably lose one of these nights when the timing is right. But it will change things and it could destroy what you've built with your father. Have you thought about that?"

  Tony shook his head.

  "How do you think he'll feel knowing I've slept with his son? He'd never forgive either one of us. Ask yourself if a night in bed with me is worth it. I would wager no. I'm good," he grinned, "but I'm not that good."

  Tony had to smile at that.

  "I am flattered, you know," Drake looked at him.

  God, he was gorgeous. Tony sucked in some air.

  "Okay, I'm all right. Still friends?"

  "Ya, friends," Drake said.

  Tony came closer. He stood up on tiptoe, kissed his mouth and then backed away. "You're a good kisser," Tony told him.

  "Watch it," Drake teased. "Go on now so I can kick myself for sending you away."

  Tony nodded and left the room. He felt dizzy, dizzy from his kisses and dizzy with wanting him. He didn't expect to run into Drake's son walking down the hallway.

  Angelo stopped. He deliberately turned around and walked in the other direction.

  Tony ran to catch up to him. "Angelo...hey...where you going?"

  Angelo turned now and looked at him. He gave him a hateful glare. "What's it to you?"

  "Hey, what's up? You angry at me for something?"

  "Did you get my Christmas present?" Angelo asked him.

  "Ya...I did. I think we should talk about it. I..." Tony began.

  Angelo reached up to his neck and ripped at something. The other half of the heart fell on the floor at his feet along with a broken gold chain. "Here's the other half. Now you have a matched set!"

  Tony reached out and grabbed his arm. "Wait, I don't understand. What did the heart mean? I thought you were trying to tell me that I broke your heart. I mean...I..."

  Angelo gave him a harsh laugh. "Is that what you think? It was my way of telling you that you meant something to me...that maybe...just maybe we might have something together but you know what...fuck you. Take that and give it to someone else. Maybe my dad can appreciate it more then I can."

  Tony felt like crying, although he didn't know why.

  "Nothing major happened between me and your dad, I swear."

  "But you wanted it to. It's what you were in training for, right?" He sneered. "I was the teacher and Dad was to benefit from the learned pupil. I hope he had a good fucking time...did you tell him it was my pleasure?"

  Tony was speechless. How could he argue?

  Everything he said was true.

  He watched Angelo walk away, down the hall. Was he leaving? No. He was staying, moving into an empty room and putting down his bag.

  Tony followed him into the room. "I'm sorry."

  Angelo looked at him. "Get out. Get away from me, or I swear I'll kick your ass."

  "Oh...violence, now there's a solution!" Tony snorted.

  "Tony, I'm warning you," Angelo told him, taking a step toward him. "Get out of my sight. I'm not in the mood to discuss anything with you. Later, when I calm down I'll be okay, but for now, leave me alone."

  Tony laughed. "You wouldn't hit me. I'm..."

  It took all of a fraction of a second for Angelo to hit him. Tony didn't even see the punch coming.

  He was on the floor, holding his mouth. It hurt like hell. He looked up at him. "You really hit me, you motherfucker!"

  "Now get out before I hit you again," Angelo seethed at him. "This time I'll do some serious damage, I swear."

  * * * * * *

  Mac was worried about Janet. She hadn't slept all night and she wouldn't eat any breakfast. When he got up, she was sitting on his front porch, smoking a cigarette.

  "You really should give that up, you know. Cigarettes will kill ya," Mac told her as he stepped outside and handed her a cup of coffee.

  She took it with gratitude, warming her hands on the steaming mug.

  Mac sat down on the stoop beside her. A soft breeze blew through the trees. Birds sang overhead.

  "Merry Christmas," Mac said, smiling at her.

  She smiled back. "Merry Christmas."

  "You didn't come to bed at all last night," Mac mentioned, gazing at her over his coffee mug.

  "There wasn't much left of the night by the time we got back here. Maybe we should have stayed at Drake's like he suggested. A lot of people did."

  Mac nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "Are you going to tell me what's bothering you, or do you want me to guess?"

  Janet sighed. "Last night Sophia told me something and then begged me not to tell anyone what she had said."

  "And?"

  "What do you mean by 'and'? Isn't that enough?"

  Janet shot him an irritated look. "She passed the burden of this secret to me."

  "Is it something bad?"

  "It's not that it's 'bad', it's just that it's something that could change people's lives forever."

  "In a positive or negative way?" Mac enquired, worried now.

  "I don't know. Both ways, maybe. What I don't understand is why she told me about it. I didn't ask to know this. In fact," she stood up, "I wish I didn't know. But it sure as hell explains a lot of things. I've been thinking about it all night. I can't get it out of my head."

  Mac stood up too. "It must be really heavy stuff for it to bother you so much."

  "It will affect all of us. It changes everything," Janet told him. "And in an odd sort of way, it gives me peace."

  "What is it, Janet?" Mac asked, taking her by the shoulders. "Tell me what it is that Sophia said to you."

  She shook her head. "I can't. First, I have to talk to her again and try to convince her to tell the truth..."

  "And if she won't?" Mac asked.

&nbs
p; "I don't know," Janet let out a sigh. "It's not my place to reveal this, but too many people have suffered and they suffer still. It's got to stop. Sophia will have to put aside her prejudices and let the chips fall where they will or I may have to..." She closed her eyes a minute. She dreaded that possibility.

  Damn you, Sophia.

  Mac shook his head. "I haven't a clue what you're talking about. To change the subject, are we still planning on going to Christmas dinner at Drake's?"

  "Yes. I hope Angelo is there. He promised me he would be," she muttered.

  "He'll be there, but I don't know if we will. We had better get ready if we're going. The dinner is at four and it's five after three already."

  "Shit," Janet said and then walked inside.

  "Just tell me one thing," Mac asked, placing a hand on Janet's shoulder as she moved to take a shower.

  "If I can."

  "This thing that Sophia told you, will Drake be devastated by it?"

  She waited for a minute, noting the concern on Mac's face, then she slowly nodded.

  * * * * * *

  Drake heard the commotion coming from the other side of the house. He left his mother sitting in the dining room drinking a cup of tea and ran down the hallway.

  He stopped dead as he saw Tony sprawled out on the floor of one of the bedrooms, holding his mouth.

  There was blood on his shirt.

  His son stood on the other side of the room, his back turned to him.

  "What in hell is going on in here?" Drake demanded, reaching down to pull Tony to his feet.

  "Ask your macho son over there. Mr. Butch socked me in the mouth!" Tony raged.

  "Oh, go whine somewhere else, will ya?" Angelo shot back, turning around to glare at him.

  "What did you hit him for?" Drake asked, examining his nephew's mouth. "You've split his lip."

  "Why don't you go and kiss it better, Daddy?" he cooed, glaring at his father.

  "What in hell's wrong with you?" Drake took a step toward his son.

  "What's wrong with me?" Angelo asked, astonished.

  "What is wrong with this whole fucking family? My father sleeps with his brother, my cousin asks me to make love to him so that he can get enough experience to sleep with his uncle, and you ask what is wrong with me?"