In Flesh and Stone

by Hal Bodner

  Aries continued his onslaught, abandoning his assault of Alex’s chest in favor of digging his fingers into the artist’s shoulders, putting his body behind each thrust and penetrating deeper. Alex’s cries of pain turned to moans of pleasure. Each time the giant staff pressed against his prostate, he sensed a pulse of pressure building in his groin. His fingernails caught on the weave of the pillowcase he was clutching and ripped the fabric; he pressed his belly and cock deeper into the mattress, the sensation inside him moving toward a release which he knew would be nothing short of spectacular.

  The Ram pulled out almost entirely, leaving only the huge mushroom of the tip of his dickhead still embraced by the rosebud of Alex’s ass as Alex’s screams of pain morphed into desperate pleas. Wiggling on his stomach, arms and legs thrashing, he begged his visitor to have mercy on him, to plunge in once again. After what seemed like an interminable delay, Aries complied. It was a swift, deep stroke, stabbing to the very center of Alex’s arousal.

  Alex’s eyes bulged from their sockets as the Ram’s penis hit home. His muscles seized for an instant, the only indication of life being a raucous gargle leaking from the back of his throat. He teetered on the edge for what seemed a long while but for what was probably only moments, knowing he was about to cum, unable to stop it, but not quite shooting yet.

  The climax was explosive, a burst of hot, viscous cum pumping from the end of his dick, seeming to spring from someplace within him located much deeper than his testicles. His stomach sucked in and out with each thrust, his limbs twitching spasmodically, his ass contracted with each pulse. An inarticulate, strangled scream burst from him without warning and he bit deeply into the pillow to stifle it. The orgasm went on and on. Whenever the pulses grew weaker, Aries sensed it, pulled out and thrust again. Each time Alex thought he was completely spent, the Ram’s motion squeezed more cum from his sore and aching balls until finally even the personification of the God of War must have realized he had completed his conquest.

  Alex barely knew when Aries pulled out completely. He lay on his soaked bed, the sheets drenched with a combination of sweat and sperm, feeling like he’d just been ravaged by an army. Lightheaded, body sore from the abuse, he finally managed to roll onto his back, eager to embrace his newest lover and, now that the initial assault had passed, to take his time exploring that magnificent physique with his lips and hands. He longed to taste that amazing cock to find out if it mirrored the open-field flavors of the rest of the Ram’s body.

  But Aries was gone.

  Puzzled, but not too surprised, Alex hoisted himself onto his elbows and searched the room. No one was there except the statues, all thirteen of them – including Aries – standing on their pedestals exactly where they were supposed to be. Wincing at the twinges of pain in his raw ass, and rubbing lightly around each nipple to restore the circulation, Alex sat up and swung his feet onto the floor. He stood and, hobbling into the bathroom to clean up, he grinned. If this was all only an extended fantasy, he must be a damned sight more creative than any of the art critics had given him credit for.

  He showered, and afterwards, massaged some skin lotion into his chest, hoping it would reduce the tenderness. On his way back to bed, he accidentally kicked his shorts and, stooping to retrieve them, frowned. They had indeed been torn from his body but, from several experiments in rougher sex with Tony, Alex knew he’d never have had the brute strength to tear the elastic without cutting partway through with scissors first. Yet, somehow, if his therapist was right, he must have done so. Shrugging, he tossed them into a corner and lowered himself onto the damp sheets with a grimace. He knew he should change them or risk being uncomfortable until morning, but before he could drag himself to his feet again to do so, he was asleep.

  Above his slumbering form, thirteen pairs of eyes looked down. The statues did not move. Their faces were partly concealed in shadow. However, in the muted light creeping in through the skylight, a few of them seemed to smile.

  CHAPTER 5

  “Think of it as helping out an old friend. Come on. I’ve never asked you for anything before.”

  Alex snorted and when the iced tea went down the wrong pipe, he coughed until he was red-faced and dizzy. Corey sat patiently until Alex’s breathing had more or less returned to normal before wheedling again.

  “If I’m staying with you, and you want to choke on something...” He cocked one eyebrow with mock lasciviousness. Evidently, he’d either spent a good deal of time in the sun during the last few days, or he’d recently started dating a stylist because the red highlights of his hair were very hot. If Alex ignored the deep tan, the combination of raised eyebrow, newly russet hair and mischievous grin made his friend look much like an Irish leprechaun.

  “I’m sorry,” Alex said, “but no.”

  “Gimme one good reason.”

  Mildly amused by the not-so-thinly veiled demand, he retorted, “I don’t have to. It’s my place. Besides, no matter how bad the drama, you always manage to get out of it okay.”

  “It’s not for me, buddy. It’s for you.” Corey forked a bit of salad into his mouth and chewed while his eyes roved past Alex’s shoulder and focused on something – or more likely, someone – seated a few tables away. “Did you get a look at the blond guy with the hairy chest by the door?”

  “Corey, stop cruising. I’m waiting to hear how your moving into my condo is supposed to be for my benefit.”

  “I’m not cruising.” His tone was pettish. “I may have just fallen in love at first sight, thank you very much!” He plucked a cherry tomato from his plate and, never taking his eyes from whoever he was flirting with, he slowly licked the dressing from the fruit using only the tip of his tongue. When it was clean, he sucked it into his mouth and rolled it around obscenely before biting down, half closing his eyes as if he had just experienced the most intense orgasm of his life, and strategically allowed a trickle of juice to escape his lips so that his tongue could dart out and slurp it up before it dripped down his chin.

  Alex watched his friend’s antics with a smile. “That is either the grossest thing I’ve seen today...”

  “Or an admirable display of talent.” Corey interrupted cheerfully. “Sometimes, my innate skills leak out at the strangest times.”

  “See? You don’t need to stay with me. With oral technique like that, I’m sure Mr. Hairy Blond will be begging you to move in with him by the time we’re ready for coffee.”

  “Puh-leeze! As a trick, he’s a ten. As potential husband material, I’d say less than a four. The jeans are knock-offs and the watch is a fake. I can tell even from here. But you have got to turn around and see those pecs!”

  “I can see him fine in the mirror over the bar.” Usually, Alex enjoyed jumping in to share Corey’s fun when he was in an outlandish mood. But today, he was tired and frankly still so sore from his nocturnal imaginings of the night before that even the brief wait between ordering and being served made sitting uncomfortable.

  “Seriously. I saw Nadine yesterday and she agrees with me.”

  “About what?” Alex allowed some exasperation to show. “What does she have to do with your wanting to move in with me for a week?”

  “She’s concerned. Hell, Alex, I’m concerned. You rent out the townhouse, buy this bizarre condo...”

  “It’s not bizarre.”

  Corey ignored him. “And spend almost every waking moment you’re not at the hospital or at therapy cooped up there.”

  Alex thrust out his jaw. “I’m working. I need privacy.”

  “Maybe. But I know you better than you know yourself. I think you’re brooding. Isolating. Besides...” Corey took a swig of white wine to mask his unease at what he was about to say.

  “Besides...?” Alex prompted, a little piqued. He was an adult and could take care of himself. He certainly didn’t need a perpetual party boy and an almost-octogenarian gallery owner watching out for him.

  “I...er...stopped by your place last night.”

 
“Duh-uh. I found you curled up in the hallway outside the front door this morning, remember? Some wild story about being locked out of your apartment because you wouldn’t put out for the super? I’m sure being two months behind in your rent had nothing to do with it. I’m just surprised you didn’t find some hot stud and bunk at his place.”

  “Waited too long for something even better to come along,” Corey confessed. “Didn’t find out about the lock out ’til I got home, and by then the bars were already closed and I was not about to go trawling down some alley to find some drunken toothless wonder to take me home with him.”

  “You could have rung the bell. I would have let you in...for the night,” Alex hastened to add in case Corey decided to “creatively” interpret the statement as an invitation to show up later in the afternoon carrying everything he owned.

  “You were busy.” A grin and an outrageous wink followed.

  “I was sleeping,” Alex corrected. “It wouldn’t be the first time you woke me up.”

  “Sleeping?” The disbelief was palpable. Corey clutched his chest like a damsel in distress, threw his head back and, to Alex’s embarrassment, began carrying on dramatically. “Oh, yes. Yes! Oh God! Please! Don’t stop! Ohhhaahhooooh!” Corey arched back and rose half out of the chair, pumping his groin in mock intercourse, before collapsing back down. “Right. Sleeping.”

  There was a brief smattering of applause from the other diners in the restaurant at the impromptu performance, and in the mirror, Alex could see the blond man who had been the object of Corey’s attention looking suitably impressed.

  “The thing is…” All levity had vanished. “You were alone. At least, no one left last night. I was leaning right against the door. They would have woken me. Chilly hallways, by the way. And when you let me in this morning...”

  Alex squirmed, covering his unease with another swallow of tea. “Bullshit. If you heard what you say you did, you would have been banging on the door itching to get inside and dive in to keep us company.”

  “Normally, yeah. But I figured with what you’ve been going through, you didn’t need me spoiling your fun.” He batted his eyelashes coquettishly. “You have to admit I’m much prettier than you are and I didn’t want you to be left out once your trick got a look at my beautiful bod.”

  “There...was...no...trick,” Alex said through gritted teeth.

  Corey nodded. “I realized that this morning. So, that leaves only one thing.” He lowered his voice to a very loud stage whisper and pitched it in the direction of the blond he’d been cruising. “Masturbation!”

  “Keep your voice down!”

  “Why? D’you think anyone here would be offended?” He made a great show of inspecting the other restaurant patrons – almost all of whom were youngish gay men wearing as little as legally possible in the way of clothing so as to show off their bodies to better advantage. The remaining diners were mostly well-outfitted gray-haired gay men, sipping white wine and goggling at the aforementioned younger boys sitting at neighboring tables.

  Corey made sure to blow a kiss to the hairy blond when their eyes met and smirked when the young man flushed fire-engine red.

  “I don’t think I like you spying at my front door,” Alex said, not amused.

  “I don’t think I like you feeling you’ve gotta jerk off – and from the sound, it was quite a jerk – just because you’re having issues about Tony.”

  “What’s wrong with jerking off?”

  Corey held up a finger. “One. Nothing. Two.” Another finger joined the first. “You’ve got someone right in front of you who would gladly take care of things for you. No strings attached. Three. What I heard last night...well, I would have bet my truck there was someone with you. It sounded so...real. I know you don’t watch porn so... Fantasizing is healthy, Alex, but what I heard was way too intense to be...I dunno...” He shrugged before suggesting. “...healthy?”

  Alex frowned but, before he could snap at his friend, Corey barreled on. “If I’m there, I can keep an eye on you. Cheer you up. You might even find yourself having – God forbid! – a little fun? You know, the way we used to. Even without the sex we always had a great time together. Besides...” He looked at Alex with a grin. “I really do need someplace to stay. At least for tonight. Tomorrow, I can make nicey-nicey with the super and whore my way back into my place long enough to get my stuff.”

  “And tomorrow night?”

  “Wannamaker’s gonna be at Nadine’s again tomorrow, right? Charles has always got a spare room I can sack out in for a few days. All I gotta do is let him blow me and...” He grinned. “He may be older than I like, but with age comes experience – so they say – and the guy’s got a truly talented mouth. I think,” he said, with cartoonish bravery, “I can handle the sacrifice.”

  “One night? You’re sure?”

  “It will be a night to remember, I promise you.” Corey’s grin was practically a leer.

  “I am not having sex with you, Corey.”

  Inadvertently, Alex had spoken too loudly. At Corey’s pretended crestfallen look, an old queen at an adjoining tabled called out, “If he won’t, honey, I will!” and the hairy-chested blond looked distinctly hopeful.

  “I warn you,” Alex said. “One hand on my thigh and I’m dumping you onto the floor.”

  “Don’t worry. From the looks of things...” He inclined his head to indicate the blond. “I might fall in love this afternoon. What do you say to a three-way?” Corey seemed like a little kid begging mommy for a toy. Alex knew the cuteness was studied, but nevertheless he found he couldn’t fully resist it. “Corey, I’m warning you.” Alex was unable to repress a smile.

  “Gotta keep in practice for Wannamaker!” Corey chirped merrily.

  “What am I getting myself into?” Alex wondered aloud.

  “Like I said,” Corey winked. “A night to remember.”

  For both of them, his words would prove all too true.

  * * * *

  In less than an hour, it was as if Alex and Corey had never ceased being college roommates. The two had known each other so long and so well, and were so used to each other’s quirks, that the transition was seamless. They’d managed to sneak back into Corey’s apartment and retrieve most of his clothing. In his quest for perpetual trendiness, Corey rarely held on to any garment for more than one season except for the odd T-shirt, so his entire wardrobe barely filled half the trunk of Alex’s Saab. The furniture would have to wait until Corey had made amends to the superintendent. If reconciliation wasn’t possible, Alex was pretty sure Corey would just abandon it without a backwards glance.

  Within seconds of arriving at the condo, Corey dumped a tangle of jeans and shirts into a corner. Alex pointedly went to the closet and took out a few hangers, which Corey ignored in favor of stripping to the waist, pouring himself a glass of wine and flopping on the sofa in front of the television. Sighing, Alex made a perfunctory effort to slip a few shirts onto hangers before abandoning the idea in favor of bundling them up and stowing them at the bottom of one of the closets. Thus were their old habits re-established.

  “I’m gonna run over to the townhouse and see if there’s any mail,” Alex said. “I’ll stop at the store and pick us up something for dinner, so do me a favor and don’t order pizza.”

  Corey waved, absorbed in a rerun of The Golden Girls. Wondering yet again what he was thinking when he agreed to let his friend stay, Alex locked the condo door behind himself.

  The tenants at the townhouse, a gay couple who were longtime clients of Tony’s, were both home when Alex arrived. Though Alex was reluctant to disturb them and wanted to return home and interrupt any potential chaos Corey had gotten into while he was gone, the couple was anxious for news of Tony’s condition. Adding to the delay was the younger of the two’s eagerness for Alex to sample some new hors d’oeuvres he’d recently created for his catering company’s revised menu. Between the canapés forced on him and the lengthy gossip over several cups of tea, the five mi
nutes Alex had planned to spend with them turned into almost two hours. Once he’d extricated himself, he met with further delays due to long lines at the supermarket. He’d also noticed that Corey’s container of protein powder, religiously imbibed twice daily, seemed almost empty. Feeling generous toward his friend, Alex dropped into the health food store to pick up another with some idea of removing the burden from Corey of having to fork out thirty or forty dollars from his own pocket in order to replenish the supply. But the computers controlling the cash register were temporarily down and the original thirty minutes he’d planned to be gone turned into close to four hours.

  By the time he got back to the condo in the old library, Alex was tired, hot, irritated and wanted nothing more than to strip out of the clothes stuck to his body with drying sweat and step into a cool shower. Arms laden with grocery bags, he elbowed the door open and opened his mouth to yell for Corey to help him. When he saw what was going on in the center of the room, the words dried up in his throat.

  Alex knew immediately who it was. His eyes flicked to the pedestal above his head and he frowned, puzzled. Though the identity of the naked man Corey was kneeling in front of was unmistakable, his stone twin was still gazing down from above. The grocery bags slid forgotten to the floor; the door swung shut behind him unnoticed. Alex stood in the entryway dumbly, unable to do anything but drink in the beauty of Corey’s strange visitor.

  Though he was slim, his nudity revealed a taut, muscular body – the chest, arms and shoulders lean and powerful. A cappuccino tan covered him from head to toe, coating even those areas not normally exposed to the sun, as was revealed when Corey shifted position and Alex could feast his eyes on more of the vision’s amazing flesh. From beneath the skin, a healthy ruddy glow emanated, as if the young man had spent years running naked across a primeval savannah under a blazing sun. And though Alex normally found himself attracted to smooth-skinned men, at the exhibition of a mat of lush hair the color of dark honey covering the man’s chest and stomach, he felt his own dick stiffen and begin to press against his slacks. When Corey paused, glancing over his shoulder at Alex with a pleased grin, he could see the hairiness wasn’t limited to the torso. The thighs and legs were lush with a tawny down contrasting with the thatch of darker sienna pierced by an elegantly slim dick of astonishing length.