Foolish Me Page 5

  While the oven was preheating for the garlic bread, I went to take a shower and change my clothes. Tree sap had gotten all over my jeans, but I’d been expecting that and so had worn old ones I kept for chores around the house.

  Back in the kitchen, I put the garlic bread in the oven, broke the pasta in two and dropped it into the boiling water, and made a salad. Within fifteen minutes, dinner was ready. I poured myself a glass of Chianti and ate in the kitchen.

  I didn’t like eating alone. I’d had to often when I’d lived with Franky, but before that there had always been Ma and Acacia and Poppa—and on holidays, my enormous family—and after that there had been the boys: Tim and Paul and Cris and the rest of them. And now, of course, there was Wills.

  Dammit, I missed him so much, and I wanted him home.

  I cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, filled the dishwasher, and took my wine and went into the living room.

  I had a fire going in the fireplace. The architect had suggested using it to make sure it was in working order. Wills wouldn’t be home for a few more days, so I hoped that would be enough time to get the smell of smoke out of the apartment.

  It was dark, but I didn’t turn on the lamps. I plugged in the tree lights instead, put CDs into the player, then sat on the couch, admiring the tree and the warm glow from the fireplace, and sipped my wine and stared at the flames.

  How would Wills react to this gift?

  I smiled to myself and took another sip and imagined him tearing off his clothes and mine and jumping my bones.

  My cock was half hard, and I stroked my palm over it. Yes, that would be a suitable reaction.

  The phone rang, and I grinned and picked it up. “Hello?” I was expecting this phone call.

  “Hi, babe.”

  “Wills! I was just thinking of you!” I put my wine down and pressed the heel of my hand harder against the front of my trousers.

  “Talk about great minds.” There was a smile in his voice. “I was thinking of you too. I miss you, Theo.”

  “Will you be able to come home soon?”

  “In a day or so, I think.”

  Sooner than I had thought. My cock got harder.

  “God, I’ll be glad to get home. There are just some loose ends that need to be tied up now, but once that’s done….”

  “I’m so glad. Did you have dinner?”

  “Yeah.” He sighed. “The menu said it was spaghetti and meatballs, but it tasted like something from a can. Nothing like yours, babe.”

  “I knew it,” I teased. “You only love me for my cooking.”

  “Among other things.” He chuckled. “Hey, it wasn’t easy to find someone who looks as good as you and who can cook as good as my mom.”

  A blush warmed my cheeks. Other men had told me I looked good, but that was my job, and it had never meant as much to me. I glanced at the clock I’d placed on the mantel. It was a little before nine, but with the one-hour time difference, that made it only about eight in St. Paul. “Uh… Wills….”

  “Yeah?”

  “Where are you?”

  “I told you. I’m in—”

  “No. I mean… are you in your hotel room?”

  “Yeah. I am.”

  I put my feet up on the coffee table, making myself comfortable. “Where are you in your hotel room?”

  “Ah.” I heard the smile in his voice. “I’m lying on the bed.”

  “What are you wearing?”

  “I just got in. I took off my jacket and my shoes, but otherwise I’m still dressed.”

  “Would you… would you take off your clothes?”

  “Hold on. I’m putting my phone on speaker.”

  Smart boy! Why hadn’t I thought of that myself? I pressed the button and heard the slither of his tie as he pulled it out of his collar.

  “Okay, and I’m unbuttoning my shirt now.”

  “Are you wearing an undershirt?”

  “Yeah. It’s cold here, and I need all the layers I can get.”

  “Take them all off.”

  “Just give me a second. I want to turn the heat up.”

  “I’ll turn it up, babe.”

  “You already have.”

  I closed my eyes and pictured him parting his lips and slipping his tongue out to touch his lip.

  The sound of clothing rustling came over the line, and I licked my own lips, the image of my lover reaching for the hem of his undershirt to pull it off over his head unfolding behind my eyelids.

  I lowered my fly, eased my shorts and trousers over my ass and down my legs, and freed my cock. The warm air of the room flowed over it. With my eyes closed, the feeling was intensified.

  Wills came back on the line. “Okay. My shirt and undershirt are off.”

  “Are your nipples hard?”

  “Yeah, and getting harder. So is my cock. It’s pushing against my pants. Just the thought of you….” His voice was a little hoarse.

  “Unzip your fly.” In the silence that followed, I could hear him following my instructions.

  “What now, babe?”

  “Did you take off your pants?” I reached for my cock, rubbing the spot under the crown that always got me going. I’d have liked it better if Wills was here touching me, but I’d take what I could get.

  “Just about to.”

  “Good. Are you wearing the boxer briefs I gave you? Take them off too. I want you naked.” I opened my eyes. The head of my cock had emerged from the foreskin, and the tip was slick with precome.

  “I have to….”

  “Stay as close to the phone as you can. I want to hear you.” I ran my thumb over the slit and spread the moisture.

  His breathing was becoming raspy. “Okay. I’ve….”

  “Are your socks still on?”

  “No. If I’d worn the white ones….” He knew how turned on I got when he wore those.

  “Never mind. Dark socks are too much like cheesy porn. Lie down on the bed. Spread your legs. Tell me what your cock looks like.”

  “Hard. Red. Shiny with precome. God, it’s dripping down my shaft. I want you so badly…. The vein underneath is bulging. I’ve pulled my cock back so I can see it.”

  “You gonna try to catch it in your mouth when you come?” My cock twitched at the idea. The first time he’d jerked himself off with me watching and running my fingertips over his thighs, his mouth had been opened wide as he’d gasped for breath, and although it had been unintentional, he’d gotten a mouthful.

  “If I don’t hit myself in the eye this time.” He’d done that once, unintentionally, too.

  I couldn’t laugh; I was too close to the edge.

  I wanted to hear him jerk off, wanted to hear the slick sounds as he fisted his cock, wanted to hear his moans and whimpers and the hitch in his voice as he came closer and closer to climaxing.

  I wanted him here with me. “Did you bring lube with you?” I circled my cock, then pulled on it with long, languorous strokes.

  “No, but the hotel provides hand lotion. Hold on a second. My cock is leading the way to the bathroom. Okay, here it is. Hmm. Looks like I’m gonna wind up smelling like roses doused with come—”

  “Does that bother you?”

  “Not when I’ve got you at the other end of the line. Besides, I’ll take a shower after my brains settle back in my skull.”

  “That’s my boy. Now where were we?”

  “Well, I’m back on the bed. Where are you, babe?”

  “I’m in the living room in front of the—” Just in time I caught the words, and I cleared my throat. “—couch.”

  “Oookay. Is that gonna be comfortable for you?”

  “Yeah. I’ve got my legs up on it. They’re spread wide, and I’m fondling my balls. As soon as we’re on the same page, I’m gonna slide a finger into my ass.”

  “Oh God!” As I’d hoped, that gave him something else to think about. And come to think of it, that sounded like a damn good idea. I stripped off my jeans and shorts and positioned myself at the
same time Wills said, “Okay, I’m all slicked up!”

  “Okay. Hold yourself open. I’m going to—”

  “Wait, babe. Not to put a damper on this, but… I don’t have any condoms.”

  “Condoms? We don’t need no stinkin’ condoms!”

  I thought that would make him laugh, but instead he gasped, “You shouldn’t have….”

  “Who’s the boss? I’ll damn well do what I want, and right now, what I want is you, bareback. Get on your hands and knees, Matheson. Can you feel my tongue stroking your hole? I’m gonna rim you.”

  He whimpered, and the sound went right to my balls. “I’m… I’m not gonna last!”

  Yes, he would, but I’d have to tie him down to insure that, and there was too much distance between us.

  “Okay, babe. We’ll get down to brass tacks. I’ve got my cock against your hole—”

  “Yes!”

  “—and I’m pushing in.”

  “Yes! You’re stretching me. You’re giving my prostate such a workout.”

  “Take every inch of me.”

  “Theo! Theo!” He groaned. “Oh, God.”

  “Babe?” I could hear him panting over the speaker, and I knew he’d come. Just that knowledge set me off, and I exploded all over my hand

  “I’m s-sorry,” he said. “You made me come too fast.”

  “I did?”

  “Yeah. Mmm.” I could picture him lying back, his legs sprawled apart, his chest heaving, and a sated grin on his face. “Talking about making love without a condom really pushed me toward the edge.”

  “Me too.”

  “Hmm?”

  “But it was the sound of you coming that tipped me over.”

  “You came?”

  “Mmm-hmm.” I licked my palm clean. “Y’know something?”

  “What, babe?”

  “I like the taste of your come better than mine.”

  “Mmm?” He was going to be asleep in a matter of minutes. And so was I.

  “Go to sleep, Wills. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Mmm. Love you.”

  His phone went silent before I could tell him I loved him too, but that didn’t matter. He knew that.

  Didn’t he?

  I pushed myself to my feet with a groan and banked the fire. Everything else… the half-empty glass of wine, my clothes scattered all over the couch… could wait until the morning.

  Chapter 6

  I HAD just finished loading the dishwasher after breakfast when there was a tap on the apartment door. I looked through the peephole and saw Gus, one of the ladies from downstairs.

  It was early in the day for her to be coming for a visit. I was glad Wills wasn’t home. She was one beautiful redhead, and while I was sure… pretty sure… well, kind of sure… that Wills wouldn’t leave me for another man, he could leave me for a woman. The fact that Gus was a call girl didn’t mean anything. He’d already shown he had a weakness for our profession.

  I unlocked the door and opened it. “Hi, Gus. Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s fine.” She yawned. “Sorry, I’m just about to go to bed. We were wondering if you’d do us a favor and pick up a Christmas tree for us?”

  “You’re not going away for the holiday?”

  “Yeah, we are, but until we go, we’ll still be entertaining. A couple of our johns are going to be away from home, and we thought it would make them feel less like strangers in town.”

  “That’s really sweet.”

  She made a scoffing sound.

  “Don’t tell me you’re doing it because it gets you the big tips.”

  “It does.”

  “Yeah. You forget I used to be in the business too.”

  She gave me a tired smile. “When they’re nice guys, it makes it a pleasure.”

  “So how big do you want it?”

  “Five feet? Six feet?”

  “Got it. Want one for your apartment as well?”

  “No… yes…. No, I guess not. It would be too much of a waste.” She shrugged. “I’ve got to get some rest. We’re having an orgy tonight.” Her brow furrowed as she studied me. “Want to come?”

  “No!”

  “Don’t get your panties in a knot. I was just teasing. You’ve got the key for the first floor. Can you set up the tree? We should be up around four or five, and we’ll decorate it then.”

  “I’ll put the tinsel garland and lights on it if you like.”

  “Would you, Sweets? Sorry, Theo? Thanks. That’ll be a big help. I’ll tell Sable to leave the lights and garland out.” She yawned again. “I’ve got to crash. I was a birthday present for a virgin last night, and what he didn’t have in staying power, he more than made up for in recovery time.”

  I remembered my own virgin. He had plenty of staying power. Except when I talked of taking him bareback. Then he went off like a firecracker, and I was smugly proud of that.

  I knew we’d never make love without a condom, but I could dream.

  And almost every night I dreamed that he was home.

  I WENT back to the same Christmas tree lot. In spite of tying me out of my car, they’d sold me a beautiful tree, and they did again. And this time I made sure the door was open when the tree was tied to the roof.

  No one was parked in front of the house, so I steered the Corvair to the curb, swearing under my breath when I jumped it. I cut the wheel to the left, and the driver of a car passing by leaned on his horn and flipped me off.

  “Son of a bitch!” Well, fuck it. I’d leave the car where it was until I unloaded the tree. I turned off the engine, got out, and tugged on the cord that kept the blue spruce in place.

  I dragged it up the steps to the front door and propped it up until I could get my house key out. I dropped the car keys, and when I bent down to pick them up, the tree fell.

  What the fuck? I’d have thought it was Friday the thirteenth, but it wasn’t Friday, and it wasn’t the thirteenth.

  I unlocked the door, retrieved the car keys, and wrestled the tree into the front foyer. “Stupid tree,” I muttered at it. “Stop giving me such a hard time.”

  And of course I didn’t have the first-floor door key on my ring. I left the tree where it was and ran up to the third floor, out of breath by the time I reached my apartment. Jesus, was I getting soft? I pinched the skin at my waist. Was I putting on weight? I couldn’t take any chances. I’d kept myself in shape all these years so I would be attractive to my clients. And while Wills wasn’t a client, I still wanted his mouth to go dry and his fingers to twitch with the need to touch me whenever he saw me.

  I poked my gut. It seemed firm enough, but as soon as I was done with the tree, I’d head to the gym.

  I let myself into my apartment and huffed my way to my office. On one of the walls was a small glass-fronted cabinet. Inside it were a series of hooks, and above each hook was a label describing what the key that hung from it was for. Wills had done that for me too, after I’d torn apart the junk drawer in the kitchen looking for the garage door key and had exploded in a rare burst of temper.

  After that, he’d not only put up the cabinet, but he’d installed an automatic garage door opener on one of his infrequent days off.

  I took out the key for the first floor door, stopped in the bedroom to change into my ratty jeans, and ran back downstairs. Going down didn’t leave me as out of breath, but I was still determined to go to the gym.

  I let myself into the foyer and headed for the large living room. The ladies had really been on the ball. The stand for the tree was set up on a skirt in front of the bay window. I’d shed my jacket upstairs, and now I went to do battle with the tree once more. I got it into the living room and then realized I needed a knife to whittle the trunk to fit into the stand.

  The last thing I wanted to do was use one of my chef’s knives, but might Wills have a knife in the tool belt he kept in the chest at the foot of the bed? If he didn’t, I’d have to go down to the basement, which I tried to avoid doing at all costs. E
ven with the light on, it was dark down there!

  Fortunately, I found a pruning hook knife among Wills’s tools. And while I was in our apartment, it occurred to me I’d need some newspaper to put under the tree while I removed some of the trunk, so I took a few sheets from the recycling bin we kept paper in, and then once again I ran down the stairs.

  With everything in readiness, it only took about ten minutes to prepare the tree. I sliced off the netting that held the branches in place, hoisted the tree up, and maneuvered it into the stand. It would need about six quarts of water, and I had to make a few trips to the wet bar, which was closer than the kitchen, but finally it was ready for the lights and garland.

  The ladies really were tidy. The lights were on a spool, and they’d been wound from the bottom to the top, so they were ready to be placed at the top of the tree. I plugged them in first to make sure all the bulbs would light, and then I put them around the tree. I was tall enough that I didn’t have to go hunting up a ladder or stepstool.

  With that done, I wove the red tinsel garlands through the branches and then stepped back to admire my handiwork. I had done an amazing job, if I said so myself.

  I wrapped the netting and wood chips in the newspaper and let myself out, and after I got rid of everything in the trash can off the drive, I went up, cleaned and put away Wills’s knife, and poked my gut again.

  Yeah, I’d better go to the gym. I changed, grabbed up my gym bag, and headed out.

  I RAN on the treadmill, pressed some weights, swam a dozen or so laps, and then decided that was enough for the day. I planned to attend a play that evening, and I had to get home. I showered off the chlorine, toweled myself dry, and was just tying my Reeboks when a couple of men entered the locker room.

  “I told you that’s him! Go ask him!”

  “I don’t have any—”

  “Ask him!”

  “Uh…. You’re Sweetcheeks, aren’t you?”

  “No.” I wasn’t going through the whole explanation that I had been but I wasn’t anymore. I rose and looped the strap of my bag over my shoulder.