by Cooper West
“Yes, yes, okay, yes,” Gary breathed into his mouth as they kissed again, slow and deep like they never got to their first time around. Gary pulled back and flapped a hand at the door handle. “Inside.”
Chuck leaned against the door, facingGary. “You sure?”
“I’m sure that I want this right now.” Gary finally got his brain in gear enough to open the door. “That’s as good as this offer gets, tonight.” He got out and walked into the house, leaving the front door open. He was not in any state to second-guess himself, and he was not going to be a cock tease about something they both wanted. He heard Chuck walking in after him a few seconds later, followinghimup to the bedroom.
Gary stripped out of his clothes. This was not going to be about the slow tease of lovers, for him. It was about getting fucked, in a lot of ways, but he was okay with that. Too horny to care, he crawled on the bed as Chuck entered the roomand started undressing. Gary pulled out the lube and condoms he bought preemptively the week before in a fit of hopeful optimism. Behind him, Chuck sucked inhis breath.
Gary rolled over to find Chuck naked and getting on the bed, on his knees, his cock jutting out hard and dark from the thatch of hair surrounding it. Gary’s mouth watered. He waved Chuck up the bed. “Come here, come here.” He yanked at Chuck’s thighs untilhis knees were up against Gary’s armpits. Gary used one hand to pullChuck’s dick to his mouth.
“Damn, Gary, yeah….”Chuck’s words trailed off into stuttered gasps as Garystarted suckingonthe head of his cock, rubbing his tongue over the underside of it. Chuck leaned forward, bracing his hands on the wall, his body tense with the effort to hold back fromfucking into Gary’s mouth. Gary took as much as he could with the next downstroke, sucking Chuck’s cock into his mouth over halfway before having to pull back. He made it as wet and filled with suction as he could manage, his hands gripping tight on Chuck’s hips. Gary’s own hips thrust up into empty air, his cock throbbing with the shock of blood and arousal flooding it. He groaned.
“Okay, okay, wait, here,” Chuck babbled, backing off, his dick sliding out of Gary’s mouth to leave trails ofsaliva and pre-cumdown Gary’s chin and throat.
“Unh,”Garytried to saysomethingwithhis dazed and buzzed brain, his mouth following Chuck’s dick in retreat. Chuck laughed.
“Here,” Chuck repeated, shoving Gary’s legs apart. “Youmind?”
Gary shook his head slowly. “S’my idea.” He grinned at the gorgeous man settling between his legs, Chuck’s long torso and muscled shoulders and arms silhouetted by the light from the lamp on the dresser. Gary loved getting fucked. It was something that he responded to in a primal way—the feeling of being needed and wanted flooded him as Chuck slicked up his fingers and gently rubbed them over Gary’s hole. With his other hand, Chuck took up a maddeningly slow strokingofGary’s dick.
“Oh, come on!” Gary whined, arching up and pushing down to try and impale himself on Chuck’s fingers. The low rumble of Chuck’s laughter filled the room.
“Eager little bastard. Alright, let me… ah.”Chuck pushed a finger in. He gasped, let go of Gary’s cock, and grabbed his ownina deathgrip. Garysmirked.
“Don’t go off without me,” he said, trying not to pant as Chuck pushed his finger deeper.
“Oh, shut up.” Chuck grinned back at him and shoved ina second finger. Gary’s eyes went wide at the intrusion and the slight burning sensation, but the following moment his senses were overcome by lust. Chuck rubbed a fingertip over Gary’s prostate, making thembothgroan. Garyfelt boneless.
“Chuck,” he breathed out. Chuck looked at him, stillclutching his own cock, his eyes dark and filled with need. He pulled his fingers out and shuffled forward, pulling Gary’s legs up to rest on his shoulders and fumbling at the condomas he put it on. Quietly, Chuck lined himself up and started to push in. Gary breathed through his nose, anxious and excited and trying to stay relaxed as Chuck’s thick cock shoved into him.
“Oh, oh, oh, oh, yes, hell yes, please!” Gary pushed down again, and this time Chuck’s cock head popped inthroughthe tight ringofmuscles.
“Damnation, Gary, I—” Chuck stopped, closing his eyes as he stuttered. “Thank you.”
“Move, move, move,”Garychanted.
Chuck nodded and pushed in slowly and steadily, saving the thrusting for later, Gary assumed. Or hoped. He bounced his hips a little to move things along.
“For fuck’s sake, let me do this,” Chuck snarled, leaning forward and pinning Gary’s hands down to the bed. “I’mnot rushing this. I’ve waited for you, so slow down!”
Gary wanted it rushed and hard, so he would not think too muchabout whether it was a mistake or not to let Chuck into his bed, or into his body. He wanted release free of demands or insecurities or fears. Whining, he pushed back against Chuck’s hold.
“What is this?” Chuck let go, dropping Gary’s legs offhis shoulders but stayingseated.
Gary shook his head, wrapping his legs around Chuck’s waist. Chuck was holding himself up on his arms, staringdownat him, so Garyclosed his eyes.
“No. No, damn it, we aren’t doing it that way.” Chuck lowered himself and kissed Gary possessively until Gary could barely breathe. “Look at me,” Chuck whispered. Gary opened his eyes, knowing that everything he felt was written large across his expression. Chuck did not smile or frown, just nodded. “Me too, lover. Me too.”
He started thrusting, slowly at first, but it was not too long before both of them, already on edge, were straining against each other with a pounding rhythm. Garygrabbed his cock, strippingit intime withChuck’s pistoning hips, and came seconds later. His cumstriped his stomach and torso as he cried out, trying desperately to pull air into his lungs while his brain whited out.
With a loud groan, Chuck followed him over the crest moments later, shoving in hard as he emptied himself. His body shook, covered in sweat and looking glorious as he reared up over Garyinhis release.
Gary gasped for breath as they regrouped, letting his arms fall out to his sides. Chuck remained crouched over him, pantinglike a racehorse, his dick continuingto throb a little as he unwound from his orgasm. After a few seconds he sat back onhis heels, pullinghimselfout ofGarybut holdingonto his legs.
“Thank you.”
Gary smiled, trying not to act coquettish, despite his embarrassment at the mid-sex-insecurities meltdown.
Chuck grinned down at him, and for a moment Gary felt the possibilities between them—friendship, love, companionship—sprawl out and into the future. The feeling was warm and even better than the afterglow, so he reached out and put his palm on Chuck’s chest in a gentle caress. Chuck put his own hand on top and held it there, his expression turning serious.
“I want this, Gary.”
Gary bit his bottom lip but did not move his own hand. “I went throughthis before.”
“I understand that. I’m asking, knowing that.” Chuck dropped his hand and closed his eyes. “It’s a lot to ask. But I’ve got no options, not here in Marker County. Truth be told, neither do you.” He opened his eyes. “This isn’t the big city, and you won’t find what you're looking for unless you move. But I’m offering you all I’ve got to give, with no lies about it or pretense ofgivingyouwhat I can’t.”
There was more honesty in that than anything Roger ever offered with his vague promises of coming out “someday” which were more like a man promising his mistress that he would eventually get divorced. Chuck was right about where they lived, and that much Garyhad to concede.
He nodded. “Okay.”
Chuck eyed himsuspiciously. “Yeah?”
Gary huffed in annoyance. “Yes, okay, count me in.”
Chuck bent over and kissed him. Gary reached up to meet him, and they stretched out languidly to get closer while still kissing, until Gary was plastered head to toe, lyingacross Chuck.
“Just so you know, I’m the jealous kind,” Chuck offered when Gary shifted down to rest his head on Chuck’s shoulder.
“Is that yo
ur suave way of asking me to wear your letter jacket?”
“It’s my classy style that won you over.” Chuck nodded gravely.
Gary chuckled. “I’m a one-man man, so I think we’re onthe same page.”
Chuck hummed, obviously pleased, as he wrapped his arms around Gary to hold him. Gary slipped into sleep, refusing to worry about the many ways their relationship could fail. Right then, he was sated and happy and naked in bed with a man he was verypossiblyfallinginlove with. Life was good enough.
ChapterThirteen
Forall that things moved forward with the familiar,
relentless grind of regular practice sessions and pennypinching, life for Gary took on a positive feeling that he had not experienced in years. The music he was writing or arranging was all folding together into beautiful bluegrass melodies that were the musical equivalent of origami, while his relationship with Chuck moved forward comfortably. They did not have to hide it from Fran or Jamie, which helped. Often Chuck stayed the evening or afternoon after practice, a legitimate excuse for his absence from the family business. He always picked Gary up for Thursday evenings at the Lower Forty, so he could take himhome later that night. Gary knew that some people suspected the reason for that, but it was easy to pass it off as two guy friends sharing a ride. People generally adored Chuck, which helped, along with Fran’s sometimes purposefulmisinformationas-gossip that Chuck said she was particularly known for amongthe localqueers.
There was also the “double dating”that started up with Chuck’s cousin Carrie, who was about as femme as a dieseldyke could be, and her girlfriend Sal. In fact, Carrie actually was a diesel dyke who drove a big rig regionally, and Gary thought it hysterical that anyone would ever take her for anything but gay. It was a nice mutual cover for the four of themto hang out (even if it was fairly transparent to most everyone in the county) because it, at least, offered Chuck plausible deniability.
In a strange way, being completely in the closet was easier on Gary than the half-life he had shared with Roger. In Chicago, Gary flipped back and forth between being out and being a secret, and had to always be onhis guard not to make the flip at the wrong moment. He kept himself tied to being in two places at once, mentally, whenhe was withRoger, and now Gary realized the stress it had put on him. He was not happy about being in the closet, and he felt like he had betrayed his own ideals a little by doing it, but it was a relief to not worry about when it was safe to be out, simply because it was never safe. Hardly his perfect world, but in exchange, he got Chuck, and that made up for a lot.
Rarely, he saw a flare of Chuck’s jealousy, but when he did it was at the Thursday jam session and then only when it was late and everyone was relaxed (or drunk) and comfortable. Chuck never acted on it, though, whichGaryappreciated. InreturnGarykept his interactions withanyone who tried to flirt withhim(male or female, and there was a surprisingnumber ofboth) at a friendly level. He was not sure if Chuck was extremely cautious or very mature, but either way, Gary was glad not to put up withterritorialism. It was another plus inthe relationship.
Naturally, Tallythought he was crazy.
“When I encouraged you in this, I naturally assumed you would grab the piece of ass being offered and have some fun. Not get married insecret in the deeplytwisted South.”
“Glad you liked the songs, Tally. Why yes, it’s nice to hear from you too. I’m fine, thanks!” Gary sat down at the kitchen table and stared longingly at his dinner, which consisted of one sandwich and a dill pickle. Withbeer.
“Don’t even. Not with me. I’m just worried that they willstring you up by your balls. Didn’t you see Brokeback Mountain?”
“We’re not married, Tally. We see each other two, maybe three times a week. We spend a lot of that time practicing my music. Remember that? The music thing?”
“Smart ass. Yes, I do, and admittedly what you’ve managed to send me is excellent. Difficult, but not obscure—it’s goingto sellwell. I canpromise that.”
“Thanks, I—”
“Especiallyifyoudecide to tour.”
“Talllllyyyyyyyy….”
“Throw me a bone, here. It’s been nearly two
months, and we’re over halfway through December. I’ve got your website ready for rollout after the first of the year. You need to get to a studio and make serious recordings of the four best songs—hell, the whole album while you’re at it—and let me start planning a tour.”
“We’re not going to a studio. Chuck’s store in town is solid wood and brick. He’s got space in the back to clear out for a makeshift recording area. With a few baffling curtains it will have a really genuine sound to it.”
“Where’s the equipment comingfrom?” “Braedon. There’s a pro musician’s rental place there, so Chuck and I are going over to pick up what we need this weekend.”
“How muchis a week’s rentalcostingme?”
“Less than you spent on dinner last night, probably.”
There was a thoughtfulsilence on the other end of the line. “True, I did host a group at Alinea’s on Tuesday.”
Alinea’s, one of the most famous and most expensive restaurants in Chicago, where the twentyfour-course tasting menu was nearly $200 per person. Gary had been once, and only once, and then because Tally picked up the tab. He looked again at his lonely white-bread sandwich on the plate in front of him, this time withless affectionthanbefore. “Right.”
“Oh, don’t sound so remorseful. You go on tour, and I promise youat least one decent mealper stop.”
“Tally, don’t pushme onthis.”
“Who’s pushing? I’mthrowing you to the wolves. You need to tour. Hell, that’s where the money is, in case you missed the revolution in profit models for the music industryover the last two decades. I’mbeingnice about it, because I haven’t actually scheduled the tour yet. I’m giving you time and space. But it needs to happen, Gary, and you fucking know it.” Tally sounded all business, and Gary nodded once, obediently, before he remembered that Tallycould not see him.
“I’llsee what I cando. I promise youthat much.”
“And trynot to get strungup while you’re at it?”
“Chuck’s an old hand at this. We’re even double datingwithsome rural, horse-lovinglesbians.”
Tallystarted laughingso hard he snorted.
“Thanks for the support, asshole. Goodbye!” Garyhungup.
He tried not to concentrate on Tally’s warnings, but with everything else going so well, he did not have a lot else to worry about. What he was looking forward to was starting the recording sessions, so he focused on that instead. Chuck’s shop was in an old warehouse, or at least half of one. The rear area by the roll-drop door had bare brick walls and lots of wood but was not too high-ceiling or hard-sounding. Gary had visited Chuck on a “shop day,” and they practiced a few songs in the space, tryingout the sound. Elba was there coveringthe register, so it was not quite a date, but it had been fun to be out of the house, playing music and goofing off with Chuck. They ended up shoving inventory around and staging up the area for the four of them to use as recording space. Chuck thought he could curtain off the metal roll-drop door, which was the only seriously bad surface they had to confront. With the Christmas holidays coming up, Fran and Jamie had time to spare, as most of the entire county shut up shop for the last two weeks of December. Everything was falling perfectlyinto line.
Gary finished his sandwich and went to bed early. The following day was Saturday, and Chuck was picking him up early for the “long haul” to Braedon. While it was a working trip for them, Gary looked forward to spendingthe daywithChuck, just the two of them, listening to new music that Chuck had put on his iPod.
They stopped for a quick drive-thru breakfast on their way out of town, Chuck promising better fare in Braedon. Gary was at the point of daydreaming about chain pasta restaurants and ice cream that was not out ofa carton, so he did not really care what Chuck had in mind.
“I called the store, and they said allthe equipment is re
adyfor pick up. I hope that means theybundled the cords, and not just ‘we dumped it all in a pile.’ Eating lunch and loading it willput us near dark by the time we make it back to the store.” Gary tapped his knees as the sceneryflowed by.
“Not much to worry about there. I got Elba covering for the whole day. She likes being in charge, and I’m expecting a slow weekend, so she won’t do muchdamage.”
Gary smiled at Chuck, feeling fond and amused, enjoying the private camaraderie. “You sure about that?”
“She’ll re-price everything she hates to be half off and everything she likes to cost twice as much,” Chuck snorted in amusement. “If she had her way, every decent antique that came in the store would go straight to her front porch.”
“Ah, family.”
Chuck nodded, resigned. “Yep. She’s honest and reliable but also reliablyaggravating.”
“What made you open the store in the first place? Seems out ofline withthe familybusiness.”
“Sure, we’re in agro, have been for… always, I guess. But things are changing, and tourism is the county’s only bet for the locals. I’ve upgraded the two biggest farms, merged theminto one large combine, but it’s still small stuff compared to what the corporations bought up over the last thirty years. I decided we needed to dip our toes in other waters. Opened the store by cleaning out two of my aunts’ attics. It just naturally made money after that. I send my cousins Lisa and Janet on buying trips into the mountains. They love it. Sometimes take mykids with’em.”
“Pet project, then.”
“Prettymuch,”Chuck said witha smile.
“And your father hates it, right?”
“Ohyeah. A lot ofkindo. But thenchange comes slowlyto some. I’mtryingto think ofthe future. No one wants to selloffthe farms or side businesses we’ve built around us, but Cornerstone is going to be just another suburb of Holden in fifteen, twenty years. What then? Daddy doesn’t like to think about it, but someone has to.”
