Tales From Cushman Row

by Suanne Laqueur

  Stef dropped his hands on the small of Jav’s back—warm and a little damp with excited sweat—then slid them down his jeans.

  Who’s the luckiest son of a bitch in the world?

  His hands squeezed.

  That would be me, ladies and gentlemen.

  Whether in male or female company, Stef had never considered himself an ass man. His interest usually went to upper body first. His eyes checked out boobs, arms, abs and shoulders. Not necessarily in that order. Jav had serious torso game but this ass was in another stadium. Stef filled his hands and pulled Jav in more, grinding their hardness together. His fingers slid along the crack. Then slid in a little.

  Jav yelped a laugh and bucked back, dragging Stef’s wrists under the waistband.

  “Ow,” Stef cried. “Dude. Easy. Let go.”

  “Sorry,” Jav said, still laughing as he came back down again. “That was just…”

  “Too weird.”

  “No, it…tickled.”

  “Uh-huh.” Stef crossed his smarting wrists over Jav’s shoulders and bit on his ear. “Quite the knee-jerk reaction there, my friend.”

  Jav chuckled weakly. “Yeah, I… Yeah.”

  “Listen,” Stef said.

  “Oh, God. I killed the mood.”

  “Shut up.”

  “You’re gonna be shrinky, aren’t you?”

  “I’m going to talk about your asshole for ten seconds, okay?”

  Jav howled laughing then, rolling off Stef and tumbling to the floor. Roman came trotting over, ears perked up.

  “Dude,” Stef said, peering over the side of the couch. “I’m losing my erection.”

  “Sorry,” Jav gasped, one hand over his face, the other rubbing Roman’s head and neck. “Go ahead. What about my asshole? Talk slow.”

  “I’m not going to sneak a finger in when your guard’s down, okay?”

  “I know.”

  “My hands may go there but I’m not going there until you’re ready. I’m not going to accidentally on purpose trip, fall down and whoops, sorry about the digits in your ass, Landes.”

  Jav exhaled out the last of the giggles. “I know. I mean my brain knows but I guess my body doesn’t quite believe it yet.”

  “Well keep telling your bod that when it happens, it’ll be because I asked if I could, or you asked if I would.”

  Jav looked up at him. “That’s hot.”

  “Consent is hot.” Stef drew a fingertip along Jav’s mouth. “So is your asshole.”

  Jav reached up a hand, closed it around Stef’s shirt and yanked him down to the floor. They rolled over the rug, laughing and pummeling. Roman circled them at a distance, watching, ears quivering and his head tilting this way and that.

  One wonders if you are happy…?

  Confused Desire

  “All those years,” Jav said. “I said all kinds of things to all kinds of women. Sweet things. Sexy things. Dirty things. Everything. Anything. Or nothing. It wasn’t scripted but I was just saying what the mood required. Reading a woman’s vibe and saying what she needed to hear. It was never about me. Half the time I had some kind of story or narrative in my head to help me stay into it. But now with you…being me… It’s not that I don’t want to tell you stuff, but I… I don’t know, man. It’s like I’m fucking seventeen. Everything I feel literally gets stuck in my throat and I just stand here like a dork.”

  Stef slid arms around Jav’s waist. “I get it.”

  “I know you do. That’s another thing. I mean, God, I could be hooked up with some loser who didn’t get it and I’d be feeling like an even bigger dork.”

  “You’re not a dork.”

  “Admit it, I’m a dork.”

  “You’re a hot, cool, funny, intelligent, talented, sexy and awesome dork,” Stef said.

  And right now, you’re my dork, thank you very much.

  Jav’s smiling mouth opened, then closed around unspoken words.

  Stef ruffled his hair. “Want me to leave you alone?”

  “No. I’ve had enough of being alone. I just want you to bear with me.”

  “Newsflash, Landes: bearing with you is like my new favorite hobby.”

  “Smartass…”

  They shoved and pummeled each other for a while. That roughhousing with Jav brought him so much pleasure was something that got stuck in Stef’s throat. He had a pretty good idea why his insides yapped like a hyperactive dog when Jav grabbed or tackled him. It woke up memories of childhood days when his father would wrestle with him. Or the few precious years when his older brother Nilas had a personality, and he’d chase Stef all through the house, finally tackling and tickling him. Stef had lived for those wild, laughing, brawling sessions. He made an eye-rolling show when he was hugged or canoodled, but he loved it. Loved the feel of his father’s hands and his brother’s weight. Too soon those carefree, physically demonstrative days came to an end. First he was told he was too old for it. Then too tall. And finally, the truth…

  “Too gay,” his middle brother Kurt said. “It’s outright weird how you’re all touchy-feely with guys. Knock that shit off. It’s fucking embarrassing.”

  Maybe that’s why I like sex with men, he thought, as he and Jav came to rest against the kitchen wall, the horseplay downshifting into kissing.

  Maybe I’m just trying to recreate my childhood.

  Or maybe I just fucking like it and Kurt can go suck a bag of dicks.

  “What?” Jav said.

  “What?”

  “What are you giggling about?”

  “Nothing,” Stef said. “Everything.”

  “I know. I haven’t laughed this much in a long time.”

  “It’s my second-favorite hobby.” Stef slid a hand beneath the hem of Jav’s shirt, up the tight stomach and broad chest and out his collar. Jav slid down the wall a little. Still chuckling, but looking up at Stef with eyes full of confused desire.

  “I have the fucking best time with you,” Stef said, planting his palms flat to the wall and pinning Jav to it. Their panting laughter melted away as they kissed. Jav’s hands moved up into Stef’s hair and held on, turning his head around the kiss, moving him this way and that. Finding the best fit. Little noises in chests and throats.

  “It’s too good,” Jav whispered. “You…”

  “Tell me.”

  “You get me so fucking hard.”

  “I love that,” Stef said, licking Jav’s bottom lip.

  “I swear, nothing’s ever gotten me this worked up. And that makes me feel seventeen in the best way.”

  It was like sunshine on Stef’s skin. “Unbuckle your belt.”

  A jingle and a small slap of leather as Jav obeyed. He went for his button but Stef took his hands and pinned them up high, kissing again, rubbing his erection against the bulge in Jav’s jeans.

  “Feel what you do to me?” he said, taking the lobe of Jav’s ear between his teeth.

  A breathy laugh. “Yeah.”

  Stef let go a hand and curled it around the back of Jav’s neck. “Now open them.”

  He pushed Jav’s shirt up while Jav’s fingers unbuttoned and unzipped.

  “Pull them down,” Stef said. “Just your jeans.”

  His groin ached and throbbed as Jav pushed the denim down his legs and left them at his knees. Strong thighs and dark blue boxer-briefs, the outline of his hard cock tenting up and out to the right. Stef ran his hand along it, squeezed through the fabric, slid along that stiff length, forcing a grunt out of Jav’s chest.

  “You’re hot with your clothes half off,” Stef said.

  “You fucking make me nuts.”

  Stef hooked his arm around Jav’s neck, pulled his head in tight and kissed him. Mouth and tongue and teeth while his hand squeezed and slid and jerked Jav through his shorts.

  “Mm-nn,” he murmured when Jav reached for Stef’s fly. “Not me yet. Just you.”

  Jav’s hands dropped and his chest heaved
for breath. His hairline was growing damp. His mouth sucked and bit hard as Stef tugged and teased at him. Sliding a hand down the back of his briefs and stroking it up the crack of his ass. Easing the waistband down a bit on one side. Then the other. Stef bent his head and ran his tongue around Jav’s nipple, which rose up into a tight bead. He sucked hard and pulled Jav’s pants down all the way. His cock sprung free and stood up high. Stef moved his hand up Jav’s thigh, caught his balls in a palm and then gathered as much as he could hold in a fist.

  “Feel good?”

  Jav made some kind of assenting noise.

  Stef buried his face in Jav’s shoulder. “I think about this all day long at work. Coming home and doing things to you.”

  “So do I.”

  “I spend half my time with a hard-on for you.”

  “Same. I…”

  “What?’

  Jav swallowed, hesitation making his muscles seize under Stef’s body.

  “It’s okay,” Stef said softly, running his teeth gently along Jav’s skin. “I won’t laugh.”

  “Want your mouth.”

  Stef slid Jav’s shirt up and over his head, then took Jav’s jaw in his palms and kissed him hard. “Say more.”

  Through the feverish kissing, Jav said more. “I want your mouth on my cock.”

  Stef crouched on his heels, letting his hands trail down Jav’s body and pulling the rest of his clothes off. “I’ll just warn you up front,” he said, putting his face into Jav’s skin and inhaling.

  “What?”

  “I suck at this.”

  Jav barked a laugh, which melted into a groaning sigh as Stef wrapped his mouth around him. Stef rocked down on his kneecaps, eyes closed and his concentration pulled deep within. He didn’t just want this to feel good. He wanted it to be the best fucking head Jav got in his life.

  “Christ,” Jav whispered, threading fingers through Stef’s hair.

  Stef sank his consciousness into Jav, going down on himself as well, doing what felt good to him. Listening to what made Jav hiss his breath in, what made the fingers in Stef’s hair clench, and what made him go limp and sink into the wall.

  “Jesus Christ.”

  Stef paused for breath. “Feel good?”

  “Feels like the worst blow job ever.”

  “Sorry.” He took Jav in again, exhaling slow and relaxing so he could get him all the way into his throat. Holding Jav there a long wet moment. Then releasing him out, spit-slick and hard like gold. His hand cupped around Jav’s balls and squeezed, the other hand wrapping around the shaft, feeling the veins pulse beneath the smooth skin. “God, I want to make you come,” he said, the tip pressed against his chin.

  “I’m so fucking close.”

  “Are you?”

  A wet click as Jav swallowed hard and nodded. “Can I come in your mouth?”

  “Oh hell yeah.” But he ran his mouth up Jav’s stomach and chest, standing up to glide his tongue along Jav’s throat and catch his mouth in a kiss he put his soul into.

  “I love hearing you ask for what you want,” he said. “You know why?”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’ve never done it before.”

  One side of Jav’s upper lip twitched. Then a corner curled into a lopsided, wicked grin under Stef’s mouth. “I want you to suck me off,” he whispered.

  Stef’s groin tightened like a clenched fist and he rubbed up hard against Jav’s hip. “What else?”

  Jav’s teeth closed on Stef’s lower lip, then let go. “I want to stop talking.”

  Stef carefully pulled away and dropped back onto his knees, happier than he’d been in years.

  Later that night, Stef lay on the couch in the dark living room. Sprawled naked in the cushions with Jav between his knees, and Jav was going down on him.

  He’s fucking going down on me.

  He’s never done this before in his life.

  It was almost too much to think about. Definitely too much to look at. If he watched, he’d come in six seconds. He kept his eyes closed, feeling out the moment with all his other senses. The smell of his own desire, thick and earthy, like a forest floor. His tongue pressed to the roof of his mouth, tasting what he knew Jav could taste. Hearing the soft hum in Jav’s chest and little sucking noises. The cool, soft dryness of Jav’s hair through his fingers. And the softer, hot wet of his mouth.

  God, his mouth.

  Stef opened his eyes. A bit of streetlight sliced through the curtains and threw a beam across the couch, lighting up the curve of Jav’s back. The sliding planes of his shoulders. The shape of his mouth and the hollow of his cheek. The dark crescent of his closed eyes. Behind them, what was he thinking? Feeling? Deciding?

  He’s never done this before.

  Jav’s open mouth slid along the length, up and over the tip. His tongue circled. He held still, drawing a breath through his nose. Then slowly his head sank down.

  “Fuck,” Stef whispered through the wall of his teeth. Orgasm stirred to life at the base of his spine, a Pegasus spreading wings out through his groin, squeezing and sucking from inside. Jav nudged under one of Stef’s knees, scooping a calf up onto his shoulder. He moved in closer. Tighter. Hotter. Wetter. A strong hand wrapped around the base of Stef’s cock. His other hand slid up Stef’s side and twined with his fingers. Knuckles tight. Tendons straining in the skin.

  “It’s getting there,” Stef said. “I’ll tell you when.”

  Jav gave a grunt and nodded into Stef’s lap but didn’t say anything. He seemed to be doing fine.

  Jesus, he was doing great.

  Any other guy and Stef would’ve made a teasing joke over his head. You sure you’ve never done this before?

  A rush of cool air followed by Jav’s slow wet pant against Stef’s stomach.

  “All right?” Stef whispered.

  “Mm. I keep forgetting to breathe.”

  No, he’s never done this before.

  Jav went after him again and Stef closed his eyes, feeling it start to bring him around.

  God don’t have been lying to me I don’t want to know don’t tell me just tell me I’m the first one…

  His mind was coming apart while his body drew in close and small and tight.

  Say I’m the only one and let me keep this mine keep it for me keep it in your mouth me for me please your mouth just for me—

  “Now,” Stef said hoarsely, the hand in Jav’s hair tightening hard and pulling him off. Pulling him up. Pulling his mouth in, sucking on his tongue as Stef’s other hand wrapped around Jav’s slippery fingers. Together they stroked Stef the rest of the way, up and out and over. Holding on tight, shivering and shuddering down. Twitching into stillness.

  “Jesus,” Stef said.

  “Dude, let go my hair,” Jav whispered.

  Stef’s fingers sprang open. “Oh God, shit, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Jav collapsed on Stef’s chest, both of them heaving hard heavy breaths. Jav’s back was damp with sweat, the tattoo between his shoulder blades fluttering.

  “Holy fuck,” Stef said.

  “I know.”

  “Jesus, man, you suck worse than I do.”

  “I didn’t want to show you up the first time.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Well…” Jav blew his breath out and rubbed his forehead against the ball of Stef’s shoulder. “I enjoyed that more than I thought I would.”

  Stef rested his cheek against him, shaking his head at the universe’s smug expression. “Me too.”

  This cannot be real. This cannot be happening.

  He tightened his arms around it. Tucked his chin over Jav’s shoulder, pinning him close. Hooked a heel into the back of Jav’s leg, locking him in.

  “I could fall asleep right here,” Jav said. “Everything about you is just so damn easy.”

  All at once, the room swam warm and wet. Stef opened his mouth to answer but the words got stuck
in the back of his throat.

  Shh, the universe said. Let him talk.

  A Little Spring

  The night trembled, pink and anxious. Stef exhaled as Jav carefully slid a fingertip inside him.

  “Oh my fucking God…”

  “All right?”

  Three little chuckles from somewhere deep inside Stef’s chest.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.” Jav’s heart thudded in his ears as Stef pulsed around his finger. Smooth and hot and tight, Jesus Christ, like a tiny suction clamping his knuckle still.

  “Come in more,” Stef said. “It’s good.”

  Jav moved his finger, up to the second knuckle now in that heated vacuum of hot space.

  “Bit more,” Stef said. “Curl up a little with your fingertip. Yeah…” His entire voice fell apart, replaced by a gasping laugh.

  “That?” Jav said, moving his finger around a soft little bump. It had an easy spring to it, like the tip of a nose.

  Stef made a garbled sound. He clenched down and his foot on the bed curled tight.

  Thrumming with a slick power, Jav leaned and ran his tongue along Stef’s cock. Up to the tip and down again. Filling his lungs with the scent of skin and sex. A purring moan in his own chest as he gathered the head into his mouth.

  Welp, it’s official, he thought. I crave dick.

  He closed his eyes as the shape of Stef filled his lips and glided behind his teeth, making his own cock stand up in sympathetic interest.

  And it’s official. I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks.

  The power surged and he sucked harder, timing it with the slide of his finger. Tuning into Stef’s groans, the twist of his shoulders and the rise of his hips to meet Jav’s mouth.

  “It’s gonna make me come really fast,” he said thickly. “And really hard.”

  Jav hummed, his eyes closed, his entire being on fire. “Good.”

  “I’ll try to warn you.”

  “Don’t worry about me.” Bold and brave, he pushed up on his free hand and leaned long to kiss Stef’s mouth. “I’ve been wondering what you taste like anyway.”

  “Oh Jesus, man.”

  Jav slid a second finger into him. “Okay?”

  “Little more lube.”