
"Happy birthday," the little blonde girl said perkily from behind the counter after scanning his membership card.
"Thanks," Hugh responded, with absolutely no enthusiasm whatsoever. He gave her the best smile he could muster and moped his way toward the locker room, the noise, the banging, the grunting, the damn bouncy music that drove them all crazy, all of it adding to his sour mood. "Excuse you!" Hugh growled as a man hurried out of the locker room, nearly bumping into him.
"Sorry," the man replied, looking Hugh over from head to toe like he was deciding if he was going to give him shit. He must have decided that at six-four and big as hell, Hugh wasn't someone the musclehead wanted to mess with. Lumbering into the locker room, Hugh plopped his bag on one of the benches and began tearing open lockers, trying to find an empty one.
"What crawled up your butt?" Dan opened the locker behind him, and of course it was empty.
"Nothing," Hugh huffed, and he willed his mood to lighten. His friends didn't need to pay just because it happened to be his birthday... alone yet again. Granted, it was his own fault. He'd spent his entire life going from man to man. "It's fucked getting old."
"Quit your whining," Dan scolded lightly as he pulled off his shirt, "I'm older than you are. And it's all a state of mind, anyway."
Hugh half watched as Dan lowered his pants. "Then I'm eighty."
"Hey, Birdgazers!" Lonnie called as he walked in, taking the locker next to Hugh. "You look like shit, man."
"It's his birthday," Dan teased with a little too much glee.
Lonnie smacked Dan's bare ass, the slap resounding through the room. "You were moaning like a cheap whore about your birthday a few months ago."
Dan glared at Lonnie as he rubbed his butt, pulling on his underwear and shorts. "You'll pay for that."
Lonnie shot him an "ooh, I'm so scared" grin and finished changing. "You gonna work out with us or be a pussy all your life?"
Hugh looked at Lonnie, trying to see if he was serious. He was about to respond when a kid walked into their bay of lockers and undid his lock, and Hugh found his gaze pulled to the blond-headed wisp of a man who looked like a stiff breeze would blow him away.
"Hey, you listening to me or looking at dick?" Lonnie would say anything, and Hugh almost retorted, but it would only draw more attention to the fact that he was indeed looking at the young bit of eye candy instead of paying attention to what was being said.
Hugh forced his eyes away from the smooth back that appeared when the little man slipped off his shirt. God, he was young---cute as hell, but way too young for Hugh. "I don't think I'm going to be very good company."
"Okay, we'll see you out there."
Lonnie ignored him and shut his locker, waited for Dan, and the two left. With the room quiet, Hugh found his attention drawn to the small man, who was tugging on a fresh T-shirt. Pulling his attention to where it should be, Hugh closed his locker and followed the small man out to the weight floor, enjoying the bouncing globes in front of him the entire time.
Hugh walked as far as the stairs to the mezzanine and stopped. He really didn't feel like lifting, and he didn't feel like cardio. After a few seconds, a blur passed in front of him and up the stairs. Focusing his eyes, he saw that tiny, tight butt and followed it upstairs. What the fuck, at least he could enjoy the scenery.
Ascending the stairs, he found an elliptical machine, climbed on, and started moving, his mind going on autopilot, his attention turning inward. Hugh was always like this---he'd start his cardio workout and let his thoughts take over, the noise fade, and the time fly.
"Your friend is a real ass." A soft voice cut through his thoughts, and the sounds of the gym assaulted him again. Looking at the machine next to him, he saw the man from the locker room looking back at him.
"That's just Lonnie; he has a mouth on him like no one else." Hugh got a good look at the man's face for the first time. "Don't I know you?" Then it hit him; he did know him, if he could only remember the kid's name. "Max."
The blond man smiled. "Yes, Max Pierce. You come into The Grill a few nights a week, but I don't know your name." Max looked a little embarrassed, but there was no need to be. It wasn't as though they'd been formally introduced.
"I'm Hugh Douglas." He returned the man's smile. "I haven't seen you here before."
"This is my first day." He indicated the woman working out next to him, and she smiled at Hugh briefly before stopping her machine. "Lila dragged me here."
"I'm going downstairs, Max. I'll see you tomorrow at work." She touched his shoulder before leaving.
"Are you going to join?" Hugh asked, making conversation.
He seemed to be thinking about it. "Will that mean I'll be able to look like you?" Max's smile was huge, and Hugh wasn't sure, but he thought the kid was flirting with him. "Because if it does," Max went on, "I'll join up today."
Yup, the kid was definitely flirting. "I don't know about that, but you already look just fine to me." Hell, the kid looked more than fine, and he imagined how good it would feel to bury himself in that tight little body. And fuck a duck, if the kid could flirt, why couldn't he? Besides if he'd been a girl, the little thing would have been batting his eyelashes and swaying his hips. As it was, Max's smile was enough to get him going, let alone the rest of the small, hot package.
"I am not," Max argued, but Hugh could tell he was being playful. "I'm skinny and small, not all strong and, if you won't punch me out for saying so, freakin' huge like you." Max's eyes went appropriately wide just before those eyes raked over every inch of him. Hugh could almost feel them before they zeroed in on his crotch, which had definitely taken up a now somewhat visible interest. He saw Max lean in a little closer. "And you're big all over." That smile turned wry, and Hugh tugged involuntarily at the collar of his shirt. Was it getting hot in here or what?
It had been a long time since anyone had looked at him like he was laid out on an all-you-can-eat buffet. Well, happy fucking birthday to me. Maybe the day wasn't going to turn out so bad after all. "You could get somewhat bigger if you lifted weights."
"I don't think everything could get bigger." Max looked down again, and Hugh felt his dick jump and throb. "Not that some things need it." Max's voice seemed to wrap right around his dick and grab a good, tight hold. Taking a look at the man again, Hugh took a deep breath and reminded himself that the kid was probably half his age. And while he wouldn't turn down a good old-fashioned fuck, Hugh had to ask himself what this kid could possibly see in him except the size of the bulge in his shorts.
Hugh heard beeps as buttons were pushed. Max's machine came to a stop, and the man stepped off. Thank God---Max had had his fun getting him all riled up, and now that he was done, Hugh could try to get his dick under control and finish his workout. Closing his eyes, he tried to get back in the zone. He had to tell his body that there was no way the sexy little man was really interested in him anyway; Max had probably just been having a bit of fun with the old guy.
"Hugh."
He opened his eyes and saw Max standing right in front of him, leaning on the machine, face just above the display. "You wanna go back to your place so I can ride you into next week?"
Hugh's feet stumbled, and he nearly fell backward before regaining his balance and bringing the machine to a stop. "You serious?"
Max inclined his head once as he stepped off to the side, glaring straight at Hugh's crotch. There was no mistaking what that meant. "You're damn right." Max stepped close enough that Hugh could smell his breath. "So let's shower and get out of here. The sooner we're at your place, the sooner I can ride you like the stallion you are." With that final invitation, Max turned and walked down the stairs, looking over his shoulder, giving Hugh one last smoldering look before disappearing around the bend in the staircase.
He didn't have to be asked twice. Grabbing a paper towel from the dispenser, he wiped down the machine before hurrying down the stairs and into the locker room. Racing to his locker, he carefully stripped down---it wasn't seemly to be seen sporting wood---wrapped a towel tightly around his waist to hold everything in place, and made a beeline for the showers.
After what had to be one of the fastest showers in history, Hugh returned to the locker room, where Max was already dressing. He knew he was being watched, and since no one was around, he dropped the towel, giving Max a bit of a show before pulling on his briefs, adjusting himself properly, and then putting on his pants and shirt. He knew he saw Max swallow as Max watched him, and Hugh smiled to himself as he finished dressing.
In five minutes flat, he was dressed, packed up, and heading out toward the front door, where Max was waiting for him.
"Do you live close?"
"Just a few blocks," Hugh answered as he watched Max lick his lips invitingly.
"I'll follow you, then."
Without any more preamble, Hugh left the club, briskly walking across the lot to his red Mustang convertible. He saw Max get into his car, and after pulling out, led the way home.
Hugh half expected Max to be playing some sort of joke on him, but the young man pulled up right behind him as Hugh parked his car on the street in front of his house. Getting out, he led the way up the walk and unlocked the door. He could feel Max's gaze on him, and Jesus Christ, it made him feel good. He might be twice the man's age, but there was no disguising the naked desire in Max's eyes. It felt damn good to be wanted like that, even if it was just for a quick fuck and maybe a snuggle for a few minutes afterward.
Walking inside, he dropped his bag near the door. Turning around, he found Max right behind him. The door closed with a thunk that vibrated through the floor, and then Max was trying to climb him. Leaning forward, he took the little spitfire's mouth in a kiss and found his tongue sucked hard as Max did his best imitation of a vacuum cleaner. It felt as though the man was trying to suck his brains out through his mouth. And that small body vibrated against him as arms wrapped around his neck. Straightening up, Hugh lifted Max off his feet as Max's short legs wrapped around Hugh's waist, ankles feeling as though they locked together, and Hugh began to walk both of them toward the bedroom.
He could barely see. Thank God he knew his way around the house, because Max's lips never separated from Hugh's, and he could feel Max's arousal against his stomach. The man's body might have been small, but not everything was proportional, that was for fucking sure.
In the bedroom, he laid Max on his back. Max's arms unwound from around his neck, and fingers began tugging at the hem of his shirt. When their lips separated so they could get Hugh's shirt over his head, Max's lips latched onto a nipple, teeth scraping along his skin, just enough to send a zing down his spine. Dropping the shirt on the floor, Hugh palmed Max's head, hissing softly as those lips and tongue worked magic on his skin.
Tugging gently, Hugh pulled Max's shirt over his head and brought their lips together again, holding Max firmly against him, chests pressed together. Hugh felt Max struggle a little, and he pulled away, looking down into the smaller man's eyes. "Maybe I should have you on top," Hugh commented, and Max took that as an invitation. In no time, Hugh found himself on his back on the bed, Max straddling him, and a hot tongue lapping against his skin as warm fingers worked their way into his pants. "Jesus." Hugh's eyes widened as Max's fingers wound around his length, gripping him hard, and he was still in his pants. But not for long---those fingers slipped away, his pants parted, and Max returned, pulling him free, gripping him tightly.
Hugh had to give Max credit. Hell, more than credit---the kid was a master. Max had him writhing on the mattress like a first-time teenager.
Max stepped off the bed, tugging down Hugh's pants before pulling them off. "Fuck, you are big everywhere," Max commented softly, eyes wide, pink tongue licking his lips.
"Get yourself naked too."
Max didn't have to be told twice. Shoes thunked on the floor, and briefs slid down short, slender legs. Naked, Max stared at Hugh for a few seconds and then jumped, landing on top of him, and Hugh found his arms filled with a bouncing, wriggling, live-wire of a man whose lips, hands, and body all combined to get Hugh's motor running in a way he'd never experienced before. Everywhere Max touched came alive. Max's tongue licked a line up his chest, and Hugh could have sworn he felt the skin almost burn, it was so sensitive. And when Max did it again, Hugh thought he was about ready to come right then and there. It was only sheer force of will and an overwhelming desire to bury himself in that intense, tight body that kept him from going over the edge.
"Damn, you even taste good," Max murmured as lips and tongue trailed down Hugh's chest and stomach. Hugh watched that pink tongue dart out, barely touching his crown, and his dick jumped as though it just had to get closer to Max. "Damn good." Max went in for another taste, and this time his lips slipped over the head, and Hugh felt that tongue do something that made his head throb.
"If you keep that up, I'm not gonna last very long, and I want to be inside you," Hugh groaned as Max took him deep down his throat. "Max!"
The lips slipped away, and Max's huge, expressive eyes glowed back up at him. "Fuck yeah!" Max moved over him again, and Hugh reached to the bedside table, retrieving a bottle of lube and a condom.
"I need to get you ready," Hugh cautioned lightly, as Max was already reaching for the condom, tearing it open, and then rolling it down Hugh's length. The bottle of lube snapped open, and Hugh felt the cool liquid lubricating the condom. Watching in delighted fascination, he saw Max's fingers reach around him, and the man's mouth fell open, eyes glazing over as he prepared himself. Then Max moved himself into position. "Don't you need more?"
Max sank onto Hugh in one smooth motion, and Hugh felt the air fly from his lungs and his eyes bulge as he was completely surrounded by the tightest heat he'd ever imagined, let alone actually felt in his life, and that was saying a lot. Max began to move almost immediately, lifting himself and then sliding down Hugh again. Faster, harder, the small body picked up the pace, tight butt grinding against him.
Then without warning, Max slid away, and Hugh's eyes flew open in surprise. Max said nothing; he just lay on his back, legs in the air. Hugh didn't have to be told twice what he wanted. Kneeling on the bed, he pulled Max to him and slid into that body.
"Yes!" Max practically screamed as Hugh nailed his prostate on the first shot. After all the men he'd fucked over the years, Hugh knew his way around, and the surprised look on Max's face was just what he wanted to see. "That's it, God, fuck me!"
"You got it, hot stuff." Hugh began thrusting deep and hard, the bed rocking.
"I won't break, for Christ's sake. Fuck me like you mean it!" Max punctuated his demand by grabbing the back of Hugh's legs with his hands and driving them together with some sort of unintelligible cry.
Hugh began driving into the smaller man. "That what you want?" He thrust as hard as he dared, the bed jumping beneath them.
"Shit yeah! Now that's a fuck!" Max began fisting his cock as Hugh drove hard and deep, Max crying out after each and every thrust. Hugh saw sweat break on Max's chest, making the other man's skin glow as the late afternoon sun shone through the windows.
Leaning forward, Hugh drove as deep as he could, arms pulling Max to him, their lips crashing together in a mashing kiss. Bending Max until he was nearly standing on his head, Hugh thrust deep into that sweet butt, and felt Max go wild beneath him as the younger man shot ropes on his chest, neck, and cheek, screaming his release at the top of his lungs. "Holy Fuck!" The cry triggered Hugh's own climax, and it slammed into Hugh with the force of a space shot.
Hugh could barely breathe as they both stared at each other, unmoving, trying to catch the breath that had been orgasmed out of them. Slowly, feeling and reason returned to Hugh, and he withdrew from Max's body, helping the smaller man settle on the bed before taking care of the condom and retrieving a warm cloth.
Max practically purred as Hugh cleaned him and then himself before returning the cloth to the bathroom and rejoining Max on the bed. Hugh half expected Max to get up and dress, but the younger man curled next to him. "That was amazing," Max purred, a hand gliding over Hugh's chest. "How soon before we can do it again?" Max's eyes caught his, and Hugh saw the expectant look.
There was no way he could do that again soon. Hell, he doubted he'd be up to doing that again before a nice nap, a good dinner, and maybe a few vitamin E pills. The frustration with his birthday that had slipped his mind returned with a vengeance. There was a time when he'd have been as ready to go as Max was now, and his mind was willing, but there was no way his body was going to be up for it. "Not for a while, I'm afraid." Fuck, he hated those words, and he hated realizing that they pertained to him.
"Okay," Max replied, and he shifted on the bed. Hugh figured that was the kiss of death and that Max would leave, but the other man's weight resettled on the bed. "I'll wait."
Max's hot little body snuggled close, and Hugh could already feel the younger man's awakened arousal. Hugh couldn't stifle the groan of frustration. He wanted to be young again, to have his life ahead of him. Instead, the most energetic and thrilling years seemed to be behind him, and what did he have to show for it? A string of men he'd fucked and an empty house he shared with no one---in other words, an empty life. And it was no one's fault but his own.
He felt Max's long erection glide against his hip. "We may not be able to do that again, but there are other things." Hugh slid his hand down Max's side and over his hip before clasping the man's now-throbbing cock in his fingers.
"Yeah? Like what?" Max's eyes glistened with curiosity and wonder as Hugh slid his fingers over the steely hardness covered with soft skin, letting his thumb slide over the head.
"Oh, there's a lot we can do," Hugh hummed softly as he shifted Max onto his back, spreading those legs wide. Opening his mouth, he slid his lips over the head of Max's cock as he used two fingers to tease the skin around his opening.
"Jesus, yes!" Max began pushing toward him, and Hugh let his fingers breach the opening, careful not to hurt him. Hugh was initially reticent about going inside him, but Max seemed insistent.
"Okay, now slowly fuck my mouth." Hugh took Max deeper, and he began to move. Whenever Max slid into his mouth, his fingers withdrew, and when he pulled back, Max fucked himself deeper on Hugh's fingers. From the sounds and steady stream of soft curses, Max wasn't sure what to do.
"Want more." Max began moving like he was trying to figure out how to get his dick sucked and Hugh's fingers deep into him at the same time.
"Just enjoy them both," Hugh soothed, and then he sucked hard on Max's long cock, giving the man what he wanted, and was rewarded with moans and whimpers.
"Gotta... wanna," Max muttered, as he kept moving, head thrown back, body just writhing between the two sensations. Rubbing Max's perineum with his thumb, Hugh heard a loud hiss and then felt Max throb in his mouth before Max's sweet saltiness burst on his tongue. And fuck if the man didn't look absolutely beautiful when he came: mouth hanging open, eyes rolled back, and head tilted slightly like he was unsure of what was going to happen.
Withdrawing his fingers, Hugh hugged Max to him, kissing the man as he lowered him to the bed. This time when they cuddled, Max didn't stir at all. He just curled close, their heat mixing together. With a slight sigh, Hugh watched Max begin to drift off to sleep. This was nice, almost too nice, and Hugh knew he'd better enjoy it, because as soon as Max woke up, he'd realize the man next to him was too old, and he probably wouldn't be able to get dressed fast enough.
"Aren't you going to rest?" Max's brown eyes slid open. "'Cause if you're not, you could always fuck me again."
"God, are you trying to completely wear me out?"
"Come on." Max smiled, resting his head on Hugh's shoulder. "I was only kidding. I think it was you that wore me out."
Hugh chuckled, feeling a little less old. "Thanks for that." He still figured Max would get up and leave at any minute.
"So, would you like to get something to eat? I'm starved." Max got off the bed, waiting for him.
"You're not leaving?"
"You want me to leave?"
"No." Hugh answered quickly, maybe too quickly, but he really didn't want Max to go, which was unusual for him. "It's just that most guys leave once they've gotten their rocks off, you know?"
"Well"---Max put his hands on his hips, glaring down at him around a smile---"I'm not most guys. Besides, I'm no virgin, and no one has ever blown my mind like that." Max leaned closer, kissing him, lips pulling gently. "So can we get dressed and go eat something so we can come back here and fuck again?"
"Don't you have to work or something?"
"Not till tomorrow, so tonight I'm all yours." Max began pulling on his clothes, and Hugh got off the bed and began dressing as well.
"Do you like Middle Eastern food?"
Max nodded and flashed a bright smile as he finished dressing, and Hugh thought that maybe, just maybe, this was turning out to be the best birthday he'd had in a long time.
Max arrived home at almost midnight. Walking up the driveway, he was relieved that there were no lights on in the house. If he was lucky, his dad would already be asleep, but as he reached for the door, lights flashed on. Max huffed softly as he stepped inside, knowing his dad was waiting for him.
"Where in hell have you been?" Max's father barked.
"Out with a friend," Max answered as he avoided where his father was sitting at the kitchen table, a bottle in front of him---in other words, his usual behavior. "I told you I'd be late."
"Which friends were these?" Max's dad stumbled as he tried to get up, making it to his feet after the second try. "The same friends who kept calling to see when you were going to be home? Or were these different friends?" he slurred as he stepped toward Max, grabbing him by the arm.
"Just a friend, okay?" Max wrenched his arm away and stepped back. "I went to dinner and spent the evening with a friend. Geez, Dad, why don't you go to bed?" It was always like this whenever his dad started drinking.
"Some faggoty friend I bet," his dad slurred as he let Max take his arm to lead him down the hall to the bedroom. "I guess I should expect it having a fruit for a son." He stumbled through the door and flopped on the bed. "A big faggoty fag for a son."
Max thought about helping him out of his clothes, but he was soon snoring, and Max decided against it, pulling a blanket over his dad's shoulders and closing the door as he left. Walking to his own room, Max undressed and stepped quietly into the bathroom where he cleaned up before returning to his bedroom and climbing beneath the covers. He could still smell Hugh's scent on his skin, and he thought about showering, but decided instead that he liked the idea of smelling like the big, sexy man.
His phone rang, and Max reached for the table, grabbing for the phone so it wouldn't wake his dad. Even drunk, the man was a light sleeper, and when someone woke him, he was as mean as a grizzly bear fresh from hibernation. Looking at the lighted display, Max answered the call.
"Max, I was starting to get worried. I called you earlier, but you didn't answer. And when I called your house, your dad started acting weird."
"I'm fine, Lila." She knew about his dad and was always telling Max he should leave and find his own place, but he really couldn't afford it. And if he left, who would take care of his dad? "My phone was off, and I just got home a few minutes ago."
"Were you with that old guy from the gym all this time?"
"Yes, and he was really nice." Max rolled his eyes even though she couldn't see. "Besides, he's not that old."
"I heard some guys talking at the gym. Today was his birthday, and he's forty-four, almost twenty years older than you." He heard the scolding in Lila's voice. "I know you like older guys, but isn't that taking things a little far?"
"He was nice and we had fun. It's not as though we're falling in love or anything," Max replied defensively, although he was hoping he'd be able to see Hugh again. The man really flipped his switches.
"If you say so, Maxie." He heard her sigh. "Just be careful. I'll see you tomorrow at work." She disconnected, and Max closed his phone, listening for a second to the sounds of the house and his dad's snoring before turning off his light and going to sleep.
Max woke to the sounds of banging in the house. Throwing back the covers, he padded down the hall and into the kitchen. His dad was trying to make coffee and had dropped the can on the floor. "Morning, Dad." Max tried to be cheerful.
His dad humphed as he finally got the coffeemaker started. "You got any money?" Max shook his head slowly, and his dad held out his hand. "You always got money, kid, hand it over."
"I was off yesterday so I don't have any tip money. All I got is enough for my lunch." Max backed away a few steps and then turned and walked down the hall toward his room.
"How'd you get home last night, anyway?"
"I drove myself home," Max called back, and then he closed the door loudly to cut off any other questions. It wasn't as though he was the one who'd been drinking. Hugh had been nice enough to offer him a ride home in case he didn't feel like driving. He hadn't asked Max to stay, and if Max were honest with himself, he'd been a little disappointed, but he got the idea that Hugh wasn't much for anything other than a good fuck, which was a shame, because they'd talked at dinner and the man was smart and funny. He'd met guys who were great in bed and could barely put two words together, but Hugh wasn't like that at all. Still, Hugh had offered to give him a ride home, which was nice.
Stepping into the bathroom, Max shaved and then got into the tub, turning on the water and starting the shower. Standing under the spray, he let the water sluice over him and thought of Hugh, wondering what it would be like to have Hugh with him. He could still feel the big man's hands running over his skin, and he could almost taste the man on his tongue. Soaping his hands, he curled his fingers over his length and squeezed just like Hugh had done the night before.
God, he was still sore from Hugh's very athletic fucking, not that he was complaining in the least. If he never saw the man again, at least he'd have that little reminder for the next day or so. Letting his hand slide, he gasped softly as a finger ghosted over the head, just like Hugh had done when he was deep inside him that last time. The man might have been older, but he knew his way around a man's body, that was for damn sure. Wetting his other hand, he slid a finger into his opening and began moving his hips, recreating what Hugh had done the evening before. It wasn't quite as good as Hugh's mouth on him, but his body remembered and reacted with almost as much force. Snapping his hips, Max felt his balls tighten, and he quickened the pace as his climax hit him. He wanted to cry out, Hugh's name on the tip of his tongue, but he stifled any sound as he coated his hand with his release.
Finishing his shower with a satisfied smile, he padded to his bedroom and got dressed for work. Leaving the house awhile later, he heard his dad getting dressed for his job at the mill. "I'll see you later, Dad," he called out, but he didn't listen for an answer---probably wouldn't be one, anyway---and left the house.
As he was climbing into his car, he saw the front door open, and his dad strode up to his door, saying, "I need the car today." Max sighed to himself, turned off the engine, and got out. "Don't look at me like that. I never drink and drive." The lie fell off his tongue so easily. Max knew he shouldn't give him the keys, but did it anyway. "Don't look at me like that, kid." His dad scowled as Max grabbed his things from the backseat and started walking. The spring weather was great, trees flowering, the blossoms falling like rain as he walked the few blocks to the restaurant. 
Opening the front door, he found Lila already getting started. He sat next to her and began rolling napkins around the cutlery and then putting on the paper bands. "You okay this morning?" Lila asked, without stopping what she was doing.
"As good as it can be, I guess," Max replied as he, too, kept working. "I stopped hoping that he'd quit drinking a long time ago."
"Do you know what started it?" She stopped what she was doing and looked up. "He used to be so much fun before...." She paused and swallowed.
He completed the sentence for her. "My mom died. He always drank, but when Mom was alive it was at parties and stuff. But once she was gone, he seemed to get worse and worse. Now I don't think he can function at all without alcohol." Max put his completed work in the tub.
"You deserve better than that, Maxie." Lila touched his hand. "You really do."
"But I'm all he has," was the only thing Max could say that might make any sense. "Let's talk about something else."
Max wasn't sure she'd let the subject go, but then her expression burst into an evil grin. "Okay, tell me all about the silver fox from the gym." Her eyes danced with anticipation.
"What about him?" Max couldn't keep the shy smile off his face.
"Come on, tell me. I want to hear everything."
Max folded his arms over his chest in mock indignation. "I am not telling you about my sex life. If you want to know what one feels like, you should get your own."
"You know I promised to save myself for marriage, so spill. Your stories are all I get until I find Mr. Right."
"You're weird. You won't let yourself have sex because of some religious belief that it's wrong, but you want to hear all about my sex life with other men, which according to those same beliefs is also wrong."
She thought for a minute. "Well, yeah. But you'll be the one going to hell and not me, so spill it." She waved a fork at him like it was a sword, and Max burst into laughter. "Your depraved love life is all I get." She was grinning back at him.
Thankfully, before they could say any more, Jackie walked into the dining room. "I'm opening the doors."
Max grabbed the tub and put things away, and Lila made a final check behind the bar as a few of the regulars wandered in, taking their usual places. Max brought them their cups of coffee and offered menus, which most of them waved away, instead placing their usual orders.
About an hour later, the lunch rush began, keeping Max hopping. Lila elbowed him in the ribs and stopped in mid-stride. "Hey, look who just walked in." She tilted her head toward the door before hurrying away to handle her next order, and Max saw Hugh standing just inside the door, looking around the restaurant. When he saw Max, Hugh smiled and walked toward him.
Max felt himself color with excitement, thankful that in the dim light of the room, Hugh probably couldn't see it. "Take any open table you'd like," Max said, trying to keep his cool even as his body hummed with excitement under the gaze of Hugh's blue eyes.
"Which tables are yours?" Hugh asked softly, and Max pointed quickly before rushing away to put in the order he'd just taken.
Returning, he saw Hugh seated at the table with Lila standing next to him. Max approached and bumped her hip. "Trying to take my tip?" he said as he winked at her.
"No, I was trying to get some of the dirt you wouldn't tell me, but he's not talking, either." She giggled and walked back to her tables.
"So what can I get you?"
"How about an iced tea and your phone number?" Hugh set the menu on the table, and Max saw the older man looking up at him, head tilted slightly. He looked adorable, and Max wanted to taste those lips again right then and there. "Eating here was the only way I could think of to be sure I'd see you again."
"Well"---Max made a show of thinking things over---"I'll get your drink and think about the other." He winked and hurried away, wondering why the temperature had suddenly jumped. He got tea and brought it back to Hugh's table, setting it in front of him. "So did you really come in just to see me?"
"Yeah, I did." Hugh smiled, and Max felt his stomach jump in a really good way. "I was disappointed that we couldn't spend more time together last night."
Max felt some of the happy feeling start to fade. Hugh was only back because he was interested in a little more of what had happened last night. He admonished himself silently that Hugh wasn't really interested in him other than as a good lay. His few past lovers had always told him he was a lot of fun in the sack, but then they'd go on to tell him that he was way too serious and needed to lighten up and have a good time. "I had fun last night too." He tried to muster a little extra enthusiasm---after all, Hugh had been great, and he'd had a fantastic time. Hell, if Hugh was interested in a repeat, which it looked like he was, then Max wasn't going to say no. "You were a lot of fun." Max stood at the edge of the table shifting from foot to foot. "I really should take your order."
"Oh, yeah." Hugh picked up his menu and began glancing through it. "What do you recommend?" Hugh glanced up at him, the expression alone hot enough to melt butter. "What I really want, though, is to spend a little more time with you and not just in bed." Hugh picked up his glass and took a gulp of tea. "I know I'm a little old, probably too old for you, and I don't want to come off like some old letch, but you were fun and I liked spending time with you." Hugh was rambling, and Max thought it adorable that he could make this confident, older man babble on like a teenager. "I guess I was wondering if you were going to the gym this afternoon and if you'd like to meet me there. We could work out together, if you'd like." Hugh held up his hands. "And we don't have to do anything afterwards except maybe dinner if you're interested. Honest."
Max found himself smiling. "I suggest the chicken pot pie, it's incredible, and if you manage to eat all of it, then I suppose I'll have to meet you at the gym so I can help you work it off." Max found himself winking like he had the day before, his insides quivering with excitement.
"Hey, Romeo"---Lila bumped into him lightly---"there are other tables, you know."
"I'll have the pot pie then, and I'll see you at four." Hugh set down his menu but didn't stop looking at him.
"Good. I'll be right back." Max hated turning away, but he had to get back to work before he got in trouble. Not that Lila would say anything, but if the owner caught him talking unnecessarily, especially when there might be other customers waiting, there would be trouble. Hurrying to the terminal, he put in the order and then made the rounds of all his tables, checking on customers and taking additional orders.
When Hugh's order was ready, Max carried it to the table, setting it down in front of the handsome man. "It's really hot, so be careful."
"Are you always this busy?"
"Well, today's rather slow, actually. Sometimes it takes four of us, but that's usually at dinner."
"You're very good at what you do." Hugh picked up his fork and tasted his lunch.
"Were you watching me?" Max asked as he waited for the slight nod and smile of a customer who liked the food.
"Of course. The décor is nice, but doesn't compare to you."
Max began to laugh. "Now you're just being corny."
"Actually, I was being serious," Hugh replied, and Max felt like he'd been mean. The man had paid him a compliment, after all. "But I guess it did sound kinda corny."
"No, I'm sorry, it was really nice." Max beamed a little and saw Hugh return his smile. "I'll let you finish your lunch, and I'll definitely see you at four." Hugh touched Max's hand lightly, and then Max had to scurry away or he was going to get seriously behind.
"I got the drink order at table two for you," Lila told him with a smile as she cornered him at the drink station.
"Thanks," Max replied, and she gave him the rundown on the order. After bringing the drinks, he took their order and got it put into the kitchen. Between handling his tables, he found himself constantly looking at Hugh. The man was fucking gorgeous, with muscles that showed through his business suit when he moved just right. Who cared if the man had a hint of gray at the temples? That wasn't what was important. Hugh had actually asked him on a date, a real sort of date, rather than just inviting him to the gym for a workout and then back to his place for a different workout. For all Max knew, this was part of the guy's routine, but he really didn't think so. If it was, then Hugh would have been more confident and wouldn't have gotten all stammery. After making another check of his tables, he took Hugh's plate, placing it into one of the bus tubs, and brought Hugh his check. He thought about putting his phone number on it, but Jean would see that when she tallied the checks, and he certainly didn't want her asking questions.
Hugh glanced at the check and handed Max a twenty. "Keep the change." Hugh smiled at Max again and then checked his watch. "I need to hurry, but I'll see you at four." With a wink, Hugh walked to the door. Max watched those thick legs as the door opened and closed. It was only after Hugh was gone that Max unfolded the twenty and found a card with a phone number on it. Taking the cash to the register, he shoved the card into his pocket with a smile and forced his mind back on his work.
Thankfully, the rest of the lunch service kept him hopping, and the time flew by. He only got a few quick seconds near the end of his shift to talk to Lila. "Are you going to the gym today?"
Lila gave him her best mischievous smirk. "Maybe."
"Come on." Max wasn't in the mood for coy. "Hugh invited me to work out with him, but I don't have a ride. And since you've been preaching to me"---Max rolled his eyes---"like, since the day after we met, about how I should get more exercise, I'd think you'd be supportive." He glared at her for a grand total of two seconds before they both burst into laughter.
"You know I will, Maxie, but I can't stay very long. I have to work the dinner shift as well and need to be back here at six. What happened to your car, anyway?"
"Dad's using it. His is in the shop," he lied. They were sharing Max's car, but only because his dad had crashed his own and had let the insurance lapse, so he couldn't afford to get it fixed right now. Now it was Max's turn to smirk. "I think I can get home from the gym." He certainly hoped Hugh would be willing to give him a ride home after their dinner, but that he could figure out later. Right now he was too excited to worry about details like that.
"Then we're leaving in five minutes." She went in back and got her bag, before grabbing Max by the arm.
The ride to the gym was relatively short. Even so, it was close to four when they walked inside. Max showed his guest pass and hurried to the locker room, turning to check on Lila, who waved him on with an indulgent smile.
Max found a locker and changed as quickly as he could.
"There you are."
Max knew that voice, but turned around anyway.
"Are you ready?"
Max closed and locked the door. "Yup." With a smile, he followed behind Hugh, watching Hugh's butt in those tight shorts.
"Since you haven't lifted before, I thought we'd start with the basics," Hugh said as he led them to a long line of floor mats.
"Aren't we gonna use all that stuff your friends use?" Max looked over to where Lonnie and some of the guys Hugh had been talking to the day before were grunting and pushing up huge barbells.
"Maybe eventually, but you need to start with your core." Hugh stood on the mat and motioned for Max to join him. "This is where you need to start." Hugh motioned on his own body, sweeping from his neck to just above his groin, which made Max smile. "This is your core, where all your strength starts. Your chest, upper and lower back, and your abs, as well as your upper legs. Those muscles keep you straight and tall. The other muscles all take their cues from those." Hugh touched Max's arm. "You can work your biceps and triceps all you want, but they don't mean much if the basic core muscles aren't strong."
"Okay." Max smiled at the intensity in Hugh's eyes. "How'd you learn all this anyway?"
"I was a personal trainer for a while after college." Hugh motioned for him to sit on the mat. "What we're going to do is start with push-ups. Now, I don't want you to overdo it on the first day, so we're just going to do a couple sets of ten."
Max watched as Hugh got himself into position, arms stretched, back straight, and Max began to snicker. "That looks like what you were doing last night."
Hugh began to chuckle lightly as he demonstrated the exercise a few times and then stopped. "You start too, Mr. Dirty Mind." Max mimicked Hugh's position, and then felt Hugh's hands on his back. "Keep your spine straight, your legs taut, and clench your stomach. Good, now lower your body and push yourself back into position."
Max could feel the tension in his arms as he did what Hugh instructed. After two, he could feel a tightness in his chest and back. Hugh kept counting and encouraging each repetition before telling him to stop. Then Hugh got into position, and Max counted out the repetitions, watching Hugh's back muscles flex beneath the tight shirt. Then Max took his turn again before watching Hugh pound out another twenty with relative ease. "You make it look so easy."
"It'll get easier for you too. You just need to build up your strength, and believe me, at your age, it'll happen pretty quickly." Hugh sounded a little nostalgic, and Max waited to see if he would say more, but he motioned them to their feet and led them to a surprisingly large machine. "This is an upright row, and it's for working your back." Hugh put on some weight and then demonstrated the exercise before standing up and letting Max have his turn.
"Can I ask you something?" Max said as he sat at the machine.
"Of course."
"I was sort of wondering why you're doing this." Max gripped the handles, but didn't start. "I mean, you're really handsome and I'm just some kid who flirted with you. We had a good time last night, but...." Max stopped when Hugh began to laugh. "What's so funny?" Max gripped the handles tighter.
"I was going to ask you the same thing, but from the other direction. Yes, last night was a lot of fun, and you were something else, but I can't help wondering what you see in me. Every time you look at me, you get this smile and your face sort of lights up a little. But I can't help wondering if I'm not too old for you."
Max started the exercise, grateful for the momentary distraction and the chance to think a little bit. When he was done, he let the machine fall against the stops and then stood up. "I can't say anything about how I look at you, but I could care less how old you are if you're nice to me and care for me too. My experience has been that guys want one thing." Max pinked and looked at the floor. "Like I'm one to talk after yesterday," he said, chuckling lightly. "But you actually asked me to work out with you and then to dinner, like a real date with a real person, not just some kid you want to boink."
Hugh added some more weight to the machine and sat down. Max watched the muscles work as the big man pulled the handles forward.
"Hey, I see you came back."
Max turned around and saw Dan standing next to him. "Yeah, Hugh invited me to work out with him."
"Are you going to join?" Dan asked, and Max found his attention divided between the handsome man talking to him and Hugh's muscles flexing on the machine next to him.
"I'd like to if I can swing it." That always seemed to be the issue. He didn't have a lot of bills of his own, but his dad tended to bum most of his extra money, and he never seemed to have any for himself, no matter how much he earned.
"I'll let you get back to it, but it was good seeing you again."
Max watched as the man walked back to where his buddies were working out as Hugh finished his set, but Hugh didn't get off the machine right away; instead he leaned against one of the handles.
"Max"---Hugh looked so serious---"I asked you out because you deserve to be treated as something other than a lay. You're fun, and no one's looked at me the way you do in a very long time." Hugh got up and stood close enough that Max could smell the scent of the older man's musky sweat. "I've spent most of my adult life moving from man to man, never staying with anyone for very long. Most of my relationships barely lasted the night."
"Is that what I was?" Max swallowed hard. He didn't like the thought of being used like that, but it was better to find out now rather than later.
"No. That's why I asked you out. I think you could be more than that, but I don't know how to have a relationship with anyone. Fuck, I don't even know if I'm even capable of it, but something told me I should try with you." Hugh let Max take his turn. "Maybe I'm just an old fool to think someone as young and vibrant as you could be interested in me, but that's why I asked you out."
Max didn't know what to say. That was probably one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to him. He took his turn on the machine before standing up again. Hugh looked like he didn't know what to do.
"Would you at least tell me to fuck off if this is too weird for you?" Hugh said softly.
Max stepped closer and said, just above a whisper, "If we weren't in the middle of the gym and surrounded by guys who'd probably kick my ass out of here, I'd kiss you within an inch of your life." The smile he got from Hugh was nearly blinding.
Hugh could hardly believe his luck. He'd told Max how he felt, and the younger man hadn't thought he was some sort of old guy perving on him. He had no doubt that Max's sentiments were genuine. The man's face was just too open for him to really lie, especially about something that was important to him, but Hugh could feel his own doubts exerting themselves, and he had to push them away, at least for now.
"Do you think we can finish this torture... I mean workout"---Max grinned at him---"and then go to dinner?"
Hugh chuckled lightly. "Sure. We've got just a few exercises to go." Hugh gazed across the gym and pointed. "We'll use one of the squat racks next." He led the way to the far mirror-covered wall and stood in one of the large steel cages. "What we're going to do is use a light weight to work our legs, butt, and lower back, all at the same time." Hugh saw Max watching him intently as Hugh got into position, bar across his shoulders. Hugh kept an eye on the smaller man in the mirror as he demonstrated. "Keep your back straight and squat until your upper legs are parallel with the floor, then straighten up again." He did the exercise a few more times and then walked the bar back into the rack before lowering it to Max's height. "Since we're just using the bar, try for fifteen."
"Yeah, right, like I can actually do that," Max scoffed, but he got into position anyway.
"You did the other night." As soon as the words were out of Hugh's mouth, he wished he could shove them back in, because Max took that moment to begin the exercise, and as Hugh saw Max's shorts tighten around that small butt, he nearly lost it and actually had to look down to make sure his thoughts weren't showing. And fuck all if he wasn't sporting wood right in the middle of the gym with mirrors on each and every wall. He tried to think of something else, but whenever he looked at Max, his mind kept flashing pictures of last night, and then his dick would start throbbing all over again.
"What's got you all worked up?" Max had finished his set and was standing in front of him, looking down. "Is that for me?" Damn if Max didn't actually lick his lips.
"Maybe," Hugh retorted, and he took his turn at the bar. He normally did this with considerably more weight, so instead he decided to try a set of fifty, and began setting a steady pace. His body just didn't want to cooperate, and he gave up after twenty-five.
"Why'd you stop? You said you were going to do fifty," Max asked, looking like he was trying to be all innocent and crap.
"Because, do you have any idea how hard it is to squat with a hard-on?" Hugh hissed softly through his teeth, and Max just grinned back at him.
"I noticed, and for the record, that's some view."
"Smart ass," Hugh chimed back.
"Not yet, but it could be later." Max turned around and wiggled his backside a few times, reducing them both to fits of laughter.
"What's got you pole-smokers going?" Lonnie quipped as he walked over.
"Nothing," Hugh answered as his laughter died away.
Lonnie glanced down. "Nice bird, you showing it off for everyone?" The smacking sound resounded off the mirrored walls, and Lonnie rubbed the back of his head. "Hey"---Lonnie turned around to glare at Dan---"what was that for?"
"It's not necessary to comment on absolutely everything, you know! Christ!" Dan replied, and he jumped back as Lonnie took a halfhearted swipe at his friend.
"You know you're going to pay for that." Lonnie glared at Dan, and Hugh saw Max put a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing.
"Yeah, right." Dan rolled his eyes like he'd heard all this a million times before. "Let's get back to work." Lonnie wandered back to the bench, with Dan hanging back for a second. "Nice bird, by the way." Dan grinned and dashed away before Hugh could grab him.
"Are they always like that?" Max asked, lowering his hand, eyes still filled with suppressed laughter.
"Yes." Hugh looked to where the two men were working out. "Lonnie's always been like that, but since Dan started hanging around him more, he's picked up on it too. I'm starting to think Lonnie's behavior is contagious."
"You mean like the flu?" Max retorted.
"I was thinking more along the lines of the clap," he said loudly enough that both men could hear him, and Lonnie flipped him off with a smile before giving Dan a spot. "Come on." He turned his attention to more important things, like Max. "Let's do some abs and then we're done." Max nodded, and Hugh led them back to the mats and showed Max how to do a basic crunch. "We'll start with these for now." They did the exercises together, with Hugh continuing until his stomach muscles burned, before resting back on the mat. Refocusing on the area around him, he saw Max staring. "Is something wrong?"
"God, no." Max stood up and extended his hand. "You just look really good doing that, especially when you bring your legs up to meet your arms."
"Geez, Max, and I thought I was bad."
"Oh, please," Max scoffed, "you know the old saying?" Hugh shook his head and waited. "A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste."
Hugh made a grab for Max, who tried to dodge out of the way, but didn't quite make it. "Let's get cleaned up so we can go to dinner. Then we'll see just what that dirty mind of yours can come up with." Max nodded against his chest, and Hugh could feel Max's silky hair on his arm and smell the deep scent of a man who'd just exercised. Not wanting to get excited again, he released Max, and they walked toward the locker room.
Hugh tried his best not to watch the other man undress, but failed miserably, and when Max's shorts dropped, he had to force himself to look into his locker and only there. Getting undressed himself, Hugh wrapped a towel around his waist and began walking toward the showers. There was no sign of Max, and for now that was a good thing. He had to get cleaned up and out of the gym without embarrassing himself. Opening the door to the shower area, he walked through and found an empty shower. Turning on the water and dropping his towel, he stepped under the hot spray.
He began soaping down. His hands automatically made their way along his length, and Hugh had to stop himself from jerking off right there. He heard Max's voice calling to him from the next stall, and he wanted some relief, badly. But he forced himself to keep his mind on what was important. Turning the dial, he shivered as cold water coursed over him. Turning the water back to warm, he continued his shower. At least the cold water had taken his mind off that small, nimble body standing naked in the next stall soaping himself all up. Damn! Hugh's libido perked right back up, and he groaned softly.
The water in the next shower stopped, and Hugh jumped when his shower curtain slid back. "Are you doing what I think you're doing?" Max asked with a huge smile on his face, and Hugh felt those big blue eyes rake over his skin.
"No." Hugh turned toward the wall, hiding himself in case other people came by. "Close the curtain." He could feel his face heating despite the cool draft.
"You want some help?" Max looked like he was going to step in with him.
"Here?" Hugh looked around and saw no one else, but then he heard the outer door open, and Max walked back to his own shower, slipping his towel around his waist and walking out toward the locker room.
"I'll be waiting for you."
Hugh knew he should be angry, but he just couldn't manage it. The man was playful and fun, and whenever he was around, Hugh felt younger and more alive than he could remember feeling in years. He'd also noticed another thing: when Max was around, he had no interest in looking at other guys. He'd always checked out the other men when he was at the gym, but Max seemed to occupy all his attention. That was new and a little bit scary. How in hell could he meet someone and almost instantly feel them deep inside? Returning to his shower, Hugh rinsed off the soap and turned off the water.
Back in the locker area, Hugh dressed quickly, grabbed his stuff, and walked out through the club toward the front door. Max got up from the chairs and followed him out to his car. "I thought we'd go for Italian."
"Cool, I love pasta." Max made some nearly indecent motions with his mouth, and Hugh wondered how in the hell he was going to make it through dinner.
He unlocked the car doors and climbed into the driver's seat. "I half expected you'd follow me like you did yesterday." Hugh leaned close to his passenger, kissing the man hard, letting some of the pent-up energy flow into the kiss. "I'm glad you're not, though; you look almost as good in my car as you do in my bed."
Max rolled his head against the headrest. "Do you want to go right back to your place?"
God, did he ever, but Max deserved better than that. He wasn't just a lay---Max was someone he wanted to get to know, and Hugh hadn't met anyone like that in quite a while. "Yes. But we're not going to. I asked you to dinner, on a real date, not back to my place for a quickie or something." Hugh saw Max smile and started the engine.
"Does this mean you really like me?" Max's words were very soft, like a scared little boy.
Hugh stilled a minute and glanced over before returning his attention to his driving as they glided through the parking lot. "Of course I like you. Why?"
Hugh heard Max swallow. "You have a bit of a fuck-and-run reputation."
He figured he should probably be angry, but there was no heat in Max's voice, no accusation, just a touch of confusion. "I probably do, and that accounts for the reason I'm forty-four, alone, and dreading each passing year and each gray hair."
"When was the last time you took someone on a 'date'?"
Hugh had to think about that one. "It's been awhile. I guess it would have to be about five years ago. I met this guy"---Hugh smiled to himself---"Rod was his name. He was a great guy, and we seemed to get along well. Turns out a little too well. I thought we had a chance, but I guess that we were just too much alike. I wanted to give things a try, and he wasn't interested. After that, I went back to having a good time." Hugh turned onto the street and they rode toward the restaurant. "It's funny, I can fuck a different guy every night, but the few times I met someone I was really interested in, I had no interest in sharing. Rod said we could still see each other; he just wanted to see other guys too."
"And you couldn't do that?" Hugh answered by shaking his head, and he saw Max nodding. "I couldn't, either." Max shifted in his seat. "I love sex." He had the decency to color, because from their last night together, that was obvious to anybody. "But I have no interest in installing a revolving door in my bedroom. I've been with lots of men, but that was mostly in college, when I was younger and really stupid. Now I'm a little more careful and definitely more selective."
Hugh pulled the car into the parking lot of one of his favorite restaurants. Parking right in front, he got out and waited for Max before guiding him gently toward the door. Inside, they were greeted by one of the servers and ushered to a table. "Your usual martini?" she asked, and Hugh nodded. She took Max's drink order as well and then hurried away, leaving them alone in the quiet dining room.
"I come here about once a week. The food's good, and they make everything themselves, including the pasta." Hugh flipped through the menu and then set it aside. He already knew what he wanted to eat and was having fun just watching Max. "You know, I still can't understand why you're interested in me."
Max put down his menu as he shook his head lightly. "I've been out with lots of guys my age, and mostly I find them boring. They're interested in their clothes or going out to the clubs every weekend. The last time I went out, it was to the symphony in Lancaster." Hugh's eyes widened in surprise. "See, that's just how they look when I tell them." Max's voice became louder. "Like they can hardly believe I'd spend my time doing something other than prowling for dick."
"I think I get it. By the way, what did you hear? I was there with friends last year when they did Beethoven's Ninth. It was quite something." The server brought their drinks and took their food orders before leaving them alone again. "I know this couple---they've been together for years and keep trying to fix me up; we go to the theater and symphony quite a bit."
"So you understand?" Max added with surprise. "I think sharing interests and having fun together is more important than how old someone is."
"But there are a lot of differences between someone your age and someone my age." Hugh was having a difficult time expressing what he wanted to. It wasn't as though he wanted to drive Max away, but it wasn't fair to hold the younger man back. "I'm at the peak of my career. I've worked hard and done very well for myself. I like my job as a financial consultant, and I'm not really hungry for more." He took a sip of his drink and set the glass back on the table. "You've got your whole life ahead of you." There were so many thoughts that raced through his head at this point, so many ways he could finish that statement, but he just left it there.
Max took a gulp of his beer before saying anything. "You're way too hung up on how old you are. It's not as though you're over the hill or something. So you're forty-four and I'm twenty-six. What is it you're really afraid of?"
"I don't know." Hugh had taken the easy way out and he knew it. He liked Max, and he was afraid of getting hurt, really hurt. This man spoke to him deep down. "I don't want to get hurt." He finally said the words.
"Who does?" Max grinned back at him. "But even I know that if you don't take a chance sometimes, then nothing will ever happen." Hugh didn't quite know what to say, and thankfully the server brought their salads. "I won't hurt you, Hugh, at least not on purpose."
"I didn't think you would, but will you outgrow me? Or hell, will I be able to keep up with you?"
Max grinned and winked. "That didn't seem to be a problem last night." Max took another gulp of beer.
Hugh wasn't quite sure what to make of Max. He really seemed interested in Hugh. The eyes don't lie, and Max's eyes got soft and sparkly whenever he looked at Hugh. Maybe he should just relax and go with the flow. Wasn't that what he'd always told the rest of the guys he'd been with? Of course, he'd used that line when he was interested in backing off, and that was the last thing he wanted to do now. They got quiet, and Hugh saw Max looking at him, eyes all warm. How many times had he seen his friend Maddoc look at his new partner Ivan that way and wished someone would look at him like that? Max was, right now, and all he could do was worry about what might be.
"I know this is going to sound really dumb, and probably kind of lame after what we did last time, but I'd like to take things slow, or at least slower." It was the only way Hugh could think of to keep himself from really getting hurt, and at the same time, show Max that he was more than just a quick lay.
"Does that mean I don't get a repeat of last time?"
"It means that I want the chance to treat you right, spend time with you, and get to know you." Jesus Christ, those were words he never thought he'd ever say, and here he'd actually said them... and meant them. "I always jumped into bed with men first and then that was it." The server returned and brought their meals. Hugh waited until she was gone before continuing. "If you don't want that, I'll understand."
Beaming eyes greeted him. "Of course I understand. So we'll take it slow, but not too slow, okay?"
"I'll do my best." Hugh wasn't really sure he was fully capable of going slow, but he was willing to try. Changing the subject, he said, "Would you like to try my pesto?"
"Okay, if you'll try one of these ravioli." Max hummed after he swallowed. "They're unbelievable." Spearing a bite onto his fork, Hugh reached across the table as Max opened his mouth. Max's eyes drifted closed in near ecstasy. "God, that's awesome."
Max returned the favor, spearing a ravioli, feeding it to Hugh, his fingers sliding along his chin as the fork glided between his lips. The rich sauce and cheesiness burst on his tongue as he chewed, and Hugh couldn't hold back a soft sigh of pleasure. "That's one of the few dishes I've never had here---looks like I've been missing something."
They ate and talked, spending the rest of dinner laughing and getting to know one another. Max ordered tiramisu for dessert and fed more of it to Hugh than he ate himself. Eventually, after they'd talked for hours, Hugh paid the bill and they walked to the car. Part of Hugh wanted to take Max home with him and forget what he'd said earlier about taking it slow, but he forced himself to keep his word and had Max give him directions.
"It's the house on the left." Max pointed just after they turned onto a working-class street, surprisingly close to the restaurant where Max worked. Hugh parked the car and opened his door, waiting for Max to get out. A bang caught Hugh's attention, and he turned as the front door to the house Max had indicated slammed closed, and a figure not much taller than Max hurried down the walk. He couldn't have weighed more than 110 pounds soaking wet.
"Where the fuck have you been?" The man's flushed face and slight wobble told Hugh that he was probably drunk. Hugh looked to Max; the smaller man's face was pale as he tried to melt into the car seat. "Is that some fag you're with?" The man's voice got louder, and as he got closer, Hugh could see the curl around his mouth, face pinched in disgust.
Hugh stuck his head in the open doorway. "Who's that?"
"My father," Max replied very softly.
"Is he drunk?" Hugh barely got the words out, and he could already smell the man coming near him; the alcohol stench seemed to ooze from his skin. Hugh saw Max nod softly, and he whirled around, looking into the face of Max's very drunk father. "What's your problem?"
A shaky hand pointed at Max. "That's my fag of a son, and I need to teach him to be a man so he'll stop taking it up the ass."
"What you need to do is go back inside and sleep it off," Hugh replied calmly. It was obvious the man was drunk off his ass and could barely stand; talking made him wobble and bob his head.
"What I need is to defag my son." His lethal breath was enough to knock Hugh off his feet. "You his fag boyfriend or something?" Hugh saw bloodshot eyes try to focus. "Little long in the tooth, aren't you? But I suppose you old guys have to recruit the young ones." The drunk tried to bend down and nearly fell against the car. "That what happened, boy, he turn you into a fag?" His voice grew louder. "I knew it. No son of mine would be a fag unless some queer put him up to it." Max's dad straightened up too quickly and wobbled before taking a swing at Hugh and bouncing on his butt in the grass, looking like something out of a cartoon.
"Can we just go?" Max asked, still belted into his seat, looking miserable.
"Sure." Hugh got back in the car and closed the door, pressing the automatic locks. "Isn't that the car you drove yesterday?" Hugh motioned toward the blue sedan parked with the front wheels up on the curb.
Max peeked over the dashboard. "Yeah, he wrecked his and needed to get to work." Man, he sounded miserable---the quick smile and sparkling eyes were nowhere to be seen now.
"Do you have your keys?" Max nodded again, and Hugh pulled his car up next to Max's, keeping an eye on Max's father in the rearview mirror as the falling-down drunk tried to get back on his feet. "Then get in your car, and I'll follow you back to my place. At least that way, he won't try to follow you and kill himself or someone else."
The seatbelt unsnapped and Max opened his door, fishing out his keys. Hugh waited until Max was behind the wheel and on the road before falling in behind him. At the stop sign, Max stopped, and Hugh saw him waving for Hugh to take the lead. Realizing Max didn't remember the way, Hugh rolled past and Max fell in behind him.
Hugh continually checked his mirrors to make sure Max was behind him. Pulling up to the house, he turned off the engine and opened his door, waiting for Max.
"I'm sorry," the smaller man said as he approached, "I didn't want you to get involved in all this."
Hugh put his arm around Max's shoulders and guided him up the walk. "Don't you worry about it." He unlocked the door and walked into his living room, settling on the sofa with Max next to him. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Max shook his head and rubbed his eyes with his fingers. "No, but I guess I have to."
"No, you don't, but you'll probably feel better."
Max raised his head, finally looking up at him. "My dad drinks a lot, has for years. When he's sober, he's really great," he said as his gaze traveled to the floor, "but he's rarely sober anymore."
"Does he hit you?" Hugh asked, afraid of the answer.
Max shook his head vigorously. "I've never seen him physically violent before today. He usually just calls me names and laments that his only son is gay." Hugh felt Max's arms slide around his waist, and Max buried his head against Hugh's side. It wasn't until he felt the slight wetness that he knew for sure Max was crying. Hugh could feel the bile and anger rising in his chest. That damned bastard. How could he do that to Max? The man was sunshine and smiles, with bright eyes that danced with mirth, and his fucking father had reduced him to tears with an alcohol-soaked fury.
"Why do you stay?" Hugh let his hands run through Max's short hair.
A sniffle was his initial answer. "I'm all he has."
"Max." Hugh waited until Max lifted his face up. "No, because what's really important to him is at the bottom of a bottle. That's all that matters anymore, isn't it? He goes to work, comes home, starts drinking and wandering through the house talking to people that aren't really there and then falls into bed so he can wake up and do it all over again. The only reason he isn't drunk at work is because then he wouldn't be able to buy his next bottle."
"H... how'd you know?" Max sat back up, still leaning against Hugh's shoulder.
"My dad did the exact same thing---didn't care about anything except his next drink. Friends, family, we all tried to help him, but he wasn't interested, just drank himself to death."
"Do you miss him anyway?"
"I miss the way he was before he turned to alcohol." Hugh got up and walked to the cabinet near the television. Picking up a framed picture, he handed it to Max. "That's me and my dad when I was about nine. He took me to the shore and we went swimming." Max took the picture, staring at it.
"Where's your mom?" Max handed back the frame.
"Behind the camera. I have tons of pictures of us, but almost none of her. She loved taking pictures. She died just after I graduated high school. I went off to college at Dad's insistence. Didn't want to, but he said it was for the best." Hugh breathed deeply, steadying himself. "I went to college, and Dad crawled into a bottle and never got out again. After a while, I stopped coming home. Dad wasn't pleasant when he drank. He yelled and often lashed out at God knows what. Toward the end, he didn't even know who he was anymore."
Max's hand slid into his. "You couldn't have stopped him. You staying home from college wouldn't have changed anything. I know it's hard to accept, but it's true. I agonized over my dad's drinking and finally, one Saturday afternoon while he was sleeping one off, I had an epiphany." Max stopped and waited a second. "I very suddenly realized that his drinking was his fault and his problem. It was only mine if I let it be. I know it sounds stupid, but I had to let go of the guilt. Yes, my dad hates that I'm gay and tries to make that the reason he drinks, but it's just an excuse. It hurts, but it's still only his excuse." Max wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, looking steadier and stronger by the second. "I figured I could let it define my life, or I could let it go."
"But... what if you could help him?"
"You know from your dad that you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped." Max stood up and began walking through the room. "I love my dad and I've tried to be there for him, but I can't stop him, and you couldn't have stopped your dad, either." Max sat back down. "I noticed that you had a drink at dinner."
"Only one," they said in unison, and they smiled together as Hugh nodded. "I think it's my way of saying that he's not me."
"Exactly," Max reinforced with a slight smile, "you're not him, and I'm not my dad."
"Is that why you're always so happy?"
"I am?" Max looked surprised.
"Yes, you are. I've seen you smile almost constantly in the last few days."
"Maybe it's the company." Max's eyes began to sparkle, and that bright smile appeared once again.
That took Hugh a little bit by surprise. As far as he knew, he'd never made anyone smile like that. A warmth flowed though him, settling in his chest. "If it's the company, then it's definitely because of you," Hugh replied softly as he leaned closer. Kissing Max seemed like the most natural thing, but he stopped himself.
Max's eyes fluttered open when their lips didn't make contact, before a small head-tilting motion conveyed his silent "what happened?"
"Does it seem strange that I really want to kiss you after the discussion we just had?" There were times when he felt like some sort of old letch, and this was definitely one of them. They'd just had a frank discussion about their alcoholic fathers, and his reaction was to jump into kissing. Yes, he'd said he'd take it slow, but having Max right next to him, touching him, seeing those big eyes full of sad disappointment, made him want to kiss those emotions away forever.
"No." Max moved closer. "It's not strange to want to replace disappointment with hope, or hatred with happiness." Then it was Max who kissed him. Those smooth lips, tasting of the espresso from the tiramisu, touched his, lightly at first and then with more heat. In a split second, the tender kiss went hot and needy, their lips sliding together, and Hugh felt Max's hands against his cheeks as the kiss deepened further. Passion and heat rippled through them, starting in Max and slamming into Hugh with the force of a train. The man might be smaller, but his lips sure packed a wallop.
"Max"---Hugh pulled back, gasping for breath---"are you trying to kill me?" His breathing was ragged as he tried to say more but couldn't when Max pulled him back into another kiss. This time Hugh tugged them down onto the sofa, straddling Max's lithe body, knees against his hips. Max's heady scent filled his nose, his flavor filled Hugh's mouth, and his heat seared Hugh through his clothes as tiny sighs and whimpers reached his ears. The sensory overload threatened to overwhelm his brain, but something deep inside called Hugh back, and he lifted his head away from Max's sweet lips, touching their foreheads together as they both heaved for breath.
"Fuck, that was hot." Max moved his hips slightly, and Hugh could feel Max's hardness against him. "I know... I should probably go." Max wriggled back into a seated position.
"Go where?"
"Home," Max said matter-of-factly.
"But what if he hurts you?" The thought of Max returning there scared the crap out of him. Hugh knew firsthand that people weren't stable when they'd been drinking. Max's dad was capable of just about anything right now.
"He's probably passed out and won't remember a thing in the morning anyway."
"You don't know that. Stay here for the night, and I'll follow you home in the morning. You can take the guest room if you want."
Conflict, doubt, and confusion all flashed across Max's face in an instant. "Guest room? I know you said we should take this slow, but what if I don't want to?" Tears filled Max's eyes. "What if I want you? What if I don't want to feel alone?" Max moved against him, tackling him on the sofa, lips searing, imploring hands wandering everywhere.
"Max, that's the pain and hurt talking. I know, that's what I did for years, what I've always done. You can hide it behind a smile or upbeat attitude, but it's still there." Hugh hugged Max tight, stilling his movements, comforting the hurt. "And it won't go away through sex or anything else."
A frustrated groan echoed off the walls, filling the room, and Max stilled in his arms. "Will you hold me?"
"All night, if that's what you want." Max hugged him back and said nothing, but the message was loud and clear. It might kill Hugh to have Max sleeping next to him, but the man didn't need someone to fuck him, he needed someone to love him. Hugh swallowed at the thought and wondered.
Max woke slowly, as if from a drunken stupor. At first he wondered what he'd been drinking, but realization slowly bloomed inside. Arms wound around his waist, and as he began to move, they tightened, hugging him closer, a warm hand making small circles on his skin. He knew the arm was Hugh's, and soft, light breath caressed his neck with each breath Hugh took.
"It's not time to get up yet." Hugh's sleep-filled voice smoothed over him.
"I was just thinking," Max murmured, as the memories of last night came back to him. Turning over slowly, he buried his face in Hugh's strong chest as the emotions he'd done his best to keep hidden deep down threatened to surface again, like they had last night. Hugh had seen right through his smile and his laughter to the pain and hurt. Yes, his father was a drunk, one who hated what his son was, and used it as the cause of his drinking.
"Shhh...." Hugh's hand stroked along his head. "It's okay."
Max lifted his head away from Hugh's skin, looking up into those blue eyes with the small crinkles in the corners. Inching upward, eyes locked, Max brought his lips to Hugh's. At the first touch, he felt Hugh's lips respond, moving with his. Then Max was rolled on the bed, Hugh's weight pressing down on top of him, Hugh's lips taking his in a hard, demanding kiss. Arms pulled them together, Max's breath heaving, his chest crushing to Hugh's with every breath he took. Hugh's lips tugged on his, and he opened willingly, hungrily, as Hugh's tongue licked and teased for entrance, which he granted with equal hunger, returning every kiss, meeting every thrust of Hugh's demanding tongue. Max raked his fingers along Hugh's back, feeling the powerful muscles flex and ripple beneath them. Hugh's skin pressed to his, as though he were trying to meld their bodies together, Hugh's chest tight to his, hips bucking together, hairy legs stroking along his, nearly overloading his mind. "Hugh, I want...."
Hugh's kisses stilled, eyes peering deep into his. "What? What is it you want?"
"You. I want you," His thoughts were a jumble of raw emotion, and his body longed for Hugh to be with him, to... love him. The realization hit him that he'd never truly been loved, at least not by anyone since his mother. His father hated him, and all the men he'd been with had only wanted his body. Max stilled and Hugh stopped moving, looking down at him, eyes warm and lips so close to his that Max could feel the heat of Hugh's breath.
"Are you okay, Maxie?" Hugh whispered as he caressed Max's cheek. "What's wrong?"
Max shook his head, no longer able to meet Hugh's gaze. It was just too intense, almost as if Hugh could see deep into his soul. "Is this just sex? I mean, if it is, that's okay. I understand that we've only known each other a few days, but I need to know if this is just sex to you or if you care for me." Max could barely see through the tears that filled his eyes. "I know I sound like a girl." Max began to struggle, suddenly embarrassed and feeling badly that he was ruining the moment. Hugh probably thought he was some sort of freak who couldn't make up his mind about anything.
"It's okay, Max." He felt Hugh stroking along his arm, and then the weight was gone and Max jumped off the bed. He knew he must have looked to Hugh like some startled deer caught in a car's headlights, but he had to get out of there before he completely lost it. "Max." Hugh's voice was so soothing. "There is more to this than sex---a lot more, I think."
Max bent down to pick up his pants. "Then why do you look so scared?" Max held his clothes in front of him, looking down at Hugh, head resting on his hands, worrying his lower lip between his teeth. The man was adorable and smokin' hot, even with the worried look on his face.
"Because this is new to me, and the first time I tell a guy that he means more to me than just sex, he stands on the other side of the room, holding his pants in front of him like an embarrassed virgin, which I know you're not." Hugh patted the mattress next to him, and Max dropped his pants on the floor, moving toward the bed. He climbed back onto the mattress, and Hugh pulled him close. Then those sweet lips were on his again, kissing him hard, and Max was under his spell again. Hugh's scent filled his nose, and his heady taste made him fly. "I am scared, Max. Scared you won't feel the way I do and scared that you'll realize you couldn't care for an old man."
Now it was Max's turn to kiss, and he took Hugh's lips with the energy of a soldier attacking the enemy. "You don't feel like an old man." Max kissed him again before tilting his head down and capturing a nipple. Hugh hissed softly, and Max knew he was doing it just right. Swirling his tongue around the now-hard bud, he sucked hard, feeling Hugh arch his back beneath him. "You don't taste like an old man, either."
"So are you telling me you have experience with that? Tasting old men?" Hugh's gentle laugh rang through the room until Max clamped down on the other nipple, the chuckle turning to a groan, and then a soft, whiny cry. "Maxie."
Lifting his lips, Max licked the abused bud, soothing the skin as Hugh's cries lessened to soft, whimpering moans. That was what he wanted, to reduce the man to soft sounds so he'd forget about all this "old man" business. On some level he knew Hugh was teasing, but Hugh said things like that often enough that Max knew his age was the source of worry. Kissing the skin on Hugh's chest, Max snaked his body lower, sliding down the bigger man's body as he kissed a trail across his belly. Max looked up when Hugh's belly began to flutter against his lips. "Ticklish, huh?"
Hugh propped himself up on his elbows, eyes wide. "Yes, but please don't."
Max returned to his kissing, letting his tongue lap at the salty skin as he inhaled deeply. Hugh had this wonderfully rich scent of musk and something sweet that he could never figure out where it came from. "Wouldn't think of it," Max replied between licking kisses, hands sliding up over Hugh's chest. "Hate being tickled," Max said as he looked into Hugh's eyes, "but I love this...." He gave Hugh what he hoped was his best mischievous smile and then tucked his head lower, sliding his tongue along Hugh's length.
"Shit!" Thunk. "Oww."
As he let Hugh's length slip from his lips, he saw Hugh rubbing his head. Knowing the best way to make Hugh forget his head, Max took him deep, letting the heavy cock slide over his tongue.
"Jesus God!"
Max hummed around Hugh's length, tongue swirling around the head. Fuck, Hugh tasted good, and felt even better.
"Gonna...," Hugh gasped softly. Max slowed his pace and let Hugh slip from his lips, bringing his lips to Hugh's, his kiss met with equal fervor and need. "Why'd you stop?" Hugh asked between kisses, sounding a little disappointed.
"'Cause if you come, you can't fuck me." Max went for another kiss, but heard a deep growl and found himself flipped on the bed, lips kissing the breath out of him. Hugh's knees spread his legs, and he opened himself, wanting Hugh inside him, needing to know that the man felt something for him, that someone cared for him.
Strong fingers brushed over his opening, slick and hot as one of them pressed inside. Max felt his back arch and he cried out, but any sound was swallowed by Hugh's deep kiss. Another finger joined the first, stretching him so full, so very good. The fingers slipped away, sliding back inside, sliding away again. Hugh's kisses stopped, and Max flopped back on the bed, wired from the electric excitement that coursed along his spine. Then Hugh was back, pulling him close, guiding his legs around Hugh's waist. Slowly, exquisitely, their bodies joined, and Hugh filled him. Eyes rolling to the back of his head, Max cried, "Yes!" Hugh stopped moving, and Max's eyes flew open, wondering what was going on. He saw Hugh looking back at him. "Give it to me!"
"No." Hugh continued looking into his eyes, unmoving except for the occasional flex deep inside. "I'm going to take my time, and I'm going to love you." With near agonizing slowness, Hugh withdrew and then re-entered him.
Max arched into the movement, thrusting himself forward, trying to increase Hugh's pace, but Hugh was having none of it. Slowly, steadily, stroke by passionate stroke, everything but thoughts of Hugh were driven from his mind. Wrapping his arms around his lover's neck, Max held on as Hugh tugged him forward, holding him tight against that powerful chest, driving into him, touching him so deeply that for a few seconds he couldn't tell where he ended and Hugh began. Their breathing became synchronized, the cries of each echoed a second later by the other---nothing intelligible, but the understanding was as clear as anything ever said. Sweat broke out, muscles cried out from exertion, and still Hugh continued that pace, replacing thought and reason with a blaze of white-hot passion.
A cry cut through the haze: "Come for me, Maxie!"
"I can't. I can't get...."
"Yes, you can. It's all in your heart---let it loose and come for me."
Max could feel it racing like a fire, welling up from deep inside him. "I can't." He could feel tears running down his cheeks as Hugh drove deep and hard, holding him, a steady stream of soft words washing over him, carrying him along.
"Yes, you can. Show me how you truly feel. Come for me now, Max!"
The pressure inside built to unbelievable heights, and Max felt himself coming, holding on to Hugh to steady himself through the flashes of light and almost epileptic convulsions of his body. Gasping for breath, he fell back against the bed, floating on a wave of endorphins that seemed to go on and on forever.
The next thing Max remembered, he was lying on the bed, feeling warm, with an arm around his waist, and soft words with a definite hint of worry were being whispered in his ear. "Max, you okay?"
Max gasped for breath. "Uh-huh."
"Oh, thank God."
He felt the bed dip and heard footsteps pad away. Water ran, and then the footsteps returned. He knew something was happening around him, but he didn't have the energy to even open his eyes. A warm cloth caressed his skin, followed by a fluffy towel. Then the warmth was back, cuddling him. Sleep tried to claim him, but his mind wasn't quite ready to let go, not yet. Something Hugh had said kept him from sleep. Hugh had used the word love, said he was going to make love to him. Max thought it was probably something said in the heat of the moment, and he told himself not to put too much stock in it. That's what his head told him, but his heart had already grabbed onto it and was holding on for all it was worth.
The next time Max woke, light was streaming through the windows. With a start, he bounded out of the bed, looking around for a clock before relaxing. He hadn't overslept.
"Nervous much?" Hugh teased from the bed. "We've still got a few minutes, I think."
"I have to get home so I can change before I go in to work." He truly did feel nervous, and not just about work. The words were on the tip of his tongue to ask Hugh if he'd meant what he'd said, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. If Hugh said he didn't, Max knew he'd just feel silly and the small hope that had taken root in his heart would be dashed---and he'd had enough of that. No, it was better to say nothing.
Hugh threw back the covers and padded around to where Max was standing. "Then why don't we get cleaned up, and I'll take you home." Hugh's arms snaked around his waist, holding him close to that furnace-like body. "You're incredible, you know that?"
Max shook his head. "No, I'm not."
A hot tongue glided over the skin behind his ear. "Oh yes, you are. Last night was incredible, and you, my little spitfire, are absolutely amazing." Hugh's hand glided over his chest and down his stomach, circling his length, which had awakened long before the rest of him.
He wasn't sure about that, but those hands felt pretty amazing. "Hugh," he cried softly as fingers wrapped tightly around him, stroking briskly along him. "What?"
"You're just beautiful, you know that?" Hugh whispered into his ear, but Max couldn't reply. "You wanna see what I see? Then lift your eyes and look straight ahead."
Max found himself looking into the full-length mirror on the back of the closet door, and he tried to get away. He knew what he looked like---small and scrawny. He didn't need to be reminded of it.
"Don't squirm, look. See what I see." Max stopped and looked. "See how your eyes shine when I stroke you, feel your leg shake." He could, he did.
Max saw and felt a hand slide over his chest, fingers stopping to pluck at one of his nipples, watched as Hugh nibbled on the base of his neck. Hugh's length slid along his butt. Max wanted to look away, but Hugh held him there, not through his will, but by his touch. The last thing Max wanted was for Hugh to stop.
"See how beautiful you are?" Max could only nod once in response. "Love how you respond to me." Max's leg shook harder as Hugh picked up the pace of the stroking, and Max rested his head back against Hugh's shoulder, getting lost in the myriad of sensations Hugh was providing. "That's it, let it all go, just feel."
"Hugh!"
"That's it, let yourself go."
His climax built from his toes, legs shaking, hands clutching, stomach clenching, and he came over Hugh's hand and onto the floor, gasping for breath as Hugh held him tight to his body.
"I've got you, just relax and feel."
Max couldn't respond other than to gasp for breath and let himself fall back against Hugh. Lips smoothed along his neck as he allowed his eyes to drift open. "What did you do to me?"
"I hope I showed you just how beautiful you are."
"If you say so, but I still think you're the one who's beautiful." Max turned in Hugh's arms, kissing his lover deeply. "What about you?"
Hugh looked surprised. "I came when you did." Now that Hugh mentioned it, his butt was a little damp. "You looked so fucking awesome, I couldn't help myself."
"Can we shower now?" Max moved away, taking Hugh by the hand, leading him into the bathroom. Turning on the water, Max stepped in, with Hugh behind him. Hands explored, slowly stroking over warm skin. Soapy fingers slid around nipples; hands caressed muscled limbs. There was no rush, no hurry. Bodies sated, there was just time for two, time for them. Lips found their companions as water cascaded over them.
Finally, only after time re-exerted its influence, Hugh turned off the water. Stepping out first, he was waiting for Max with a huge, fluffy towel and a smile. Max groaned softly as he was wrapped and then lightly buffed within the towel, Hugh's hands providing a vigorous rubdown that invigorated his skin.
Max turned to return the favor, but Hugh had already dried himself and motioned him toward the bedroom. Unfortunately, he didn't have clean clothes and had to put on what he'd been wearing the day before. "Do you have time to eat?" Hugh asked.
Max smiled as he followed Hugh down the stairs. "I wish, but if I don't get home soon, I'll be late for work."
"Okay." Hugh grabbed a cup of coffee, drinking it as quickly as he could. Max followed Hugh out, and Hugh then locked the door behind them. After getting a kiss, Max walked to his own car.
"Do you want me to follow you in case your dad gives you trouble?"
"I'll be fine." Max smiled over at Hugh as he opened his door. "He should be at work and probably won't remember anything anyway. He rarely does."
"You sure?" Hugh's concern made him tingle inside, and the hope he'd been nursing bloomed a little more.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." He got in the car and was about to close the door.
"Promise you'll call me if there's trouble." Hugh gave him his cell number, and Max reached into his pocket, programming the number into his phone.
"I'll call, I promise." Closing his door, Max started the engine and waved as he pulled onto the street.
Pulling up in front of the house, Max watched for a few minutes, but the house appeared quiet. He hoped his dad had gotten a ride into work and wasn't home. Parking the car, he got out, walking briskly up the walk. Inserting his key, Max unlocked the door and pushed it open.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he walked inside the quiet house, closing the door before walking through the messy living room with beer cans on the coffee table and an ashtray filled with cigarette butts. Sighing to himself, he ignored the mess and made his way down the hall toward his bedroom.
Opening the door, Max stopped when he got a good whiff of cigarette smoke. The house always smelled like that, his dad smoked like a chimney, but it shouldn't have been coming from his room. Pushing the door further, he saw his father sitting on the side of his bed as a cloud of smoke billowed out of the doorway. Waving his arms and coughing, he waited for the cloud to clear before stepping inside. "What are you doing in here?"
"Waiting for you." The words were clear, and Max could see by the rare clarity in his dad's eyes that he was unusually sober.
Max hesitated. "Why aren't you at work?"
"You took the car."
"I took my car." Max knew he had to be firm.
His dad snuffed out his cigarette before standing up. "Let's get something straight, boy. As long as you live here, everything is mine." The man may have been shorter than Max, but his personality more than made up for it, especially with Max. This was his dad, his family. No matter what Max thought of the man personally, he was still his dad. "So let's get something straight, right here, right now, I don't want you seeing that old man anymore." His dad shuddered. "How I could raise a fag is beyond me, but it seems I did, and I'm not dumb enough to think I can change you. Lord knows I've tried."
"You didn't do shit!" Max bellowed as his temper threatened to break, and then he did his best to calm himself down before continuing. "Except drink yourself numb and expect me to watch out for you. Well, that's over."
"I may be older, but if you think I'm going to take that crap from you, you've got another think coming."
The smack reverberated around the room, and a flat pain bloomed across Max's face. Fuck, that hurt, but Max did his best not to let it show. "So that makes you a man? Hitting me makes you a man?" Max shook his head, letting his eyes fill with pity, making sure his dad saw it. "You're a pathetic drunk, and I've had enough of you. Cook for yourself, do your own laundry, wallow in your own filth. Hugh was right, all you care about is what's at the bottom of a bottle."
"Maybe if I didn't have a fag for a son...." He left the rest unsaid and glared at Max, undoubtedly knowing that had worked in the past.
"That's enough of that shit, dad! You drink because that's all you want to do. You're an alcoholic, and the only person at fault for it is you. I kept telling myself that the dad I remembered, the one who took me camping and fishing, was still in there somewhere, but he's not. The dad I knew is long gone." Max felt his throat close as a wave of sadness and loss came over him.
"You gonna cry, boy?" his old man sneered as he stepped closer.
"For you, no." Max rubbed his sore cheek with his hand. "You're not worth it. Now get out!"
"This is my house, so you'll be the one doing the leaving!" He folded his arms in front of his chest.
Max had no freakin' clue what to do, but he'd definitely had all he could stand. "Fine, but I don't want you stinking up the place while I pack. So get out!"
For a second, Max saw a touch of fear in the old man's eyes, but then he walked around Max and into the hall. Max slammed the door and leaned against it, breathing heavily, wondering where in the hell he was going to go. One thing he was certain about, there was no way in hell he was going to apologize to his dad. Hugh was so right; he'd allowed himself to take the blame for his dad's problem. Well, with Max gone, his dad would have to find someone else to pin his drinking on.
Snapping himself back to the present, he opened his dresser drawer and pulled out clean clothes for work. "Fuck, everything stinks." Dropping the clothes on the bed, he opened the window, letting in some blessed fresh air, and then stuffed his work clothes into a bag. Leaving the room, he saw his dad leaving his own room, dressed for work. With a glare, Max walked toward the front door.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To work, if it's any of your business." Max had had enough, and he didn't give a shit what happened to his dad. The days of caring for a drunk were over.
"Not without a car you aren't."
Max stopped and turned, grinning at the man who seemed to be getting smaller by the minute. How could he have stepped around the man all those years? "It's my car and in my name. You try anything and I'll report it stolen." He was done being a doormat and taking the man's crap. "I'll drive you to work, but that's all. You can get your own ride home." Max threw his bag in the back seat and got behind the wheel. He didn't look at his dad, and as soon as the door shut, he put the car in gear and took off as fast as he dared.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man reach into his pocket. "Light up and you'll walk!"
They rode in silence, his dad staring at him and Max ignoring it. He'd ignored plenty over the years, and this was it. Stopping in front of the gritty building, Max heard the door open, but didn't look as his dad got out. Once the door closed again, he peeled away, feeling free, hurrying to the restaurant.
As Max pulled into a parking space, his phone started vibrating in his pocket. Stopping the car, he pulled it out.
"Are you okay?" Hugh's voice rang through the phone, and for a second Max wondered if he could read his mind.
"I will be," he sighed into the phone, as the adrenaline that had been carrying him suddenly vanished.
"What happened? I knew I should have gone with you. Did he hit you?" Hugh's questions flew at him, and Max couldn't help smiling slightly. Hugh wouldn't be upset if he didn't care.
"We had a fight of sorts and decided that we shouldn't live in the same house anymore." Max knew he was being flippant, but so many things were running through his mind that he needed to make light of them or he'd be overwhelmed.
"Max, did he hit you?" Hugh asked firmly.
The soreness in his cheek reasserted itself. "Yeah, he slapped me."
"I'll kill him!"
"No. He's at work, and I just want to forget about it and find another place to live." He knew he sounded whiny, but he figured he was entitled.
"How late do you have to work?" The sweetness in Hugh's voice settled him down.
"Till closing."
"Then I'll meet you there," Hugh added hurriedly.
"You don't have to."
"Max, I want to," Hugh said softly. "I don't want you to be alone. God, I hate saying this over the phone, but you're important to me."
Max held the phone tight, leaning toward Hugh's voice. "I care for you too."
"Then you'll let me help you?"
Max smiled. "I'd appreciate all the help I can get. I'll see you tonight." Max closed the phone, holding it with a smile on his face. Hugh cared for him. That was a good thing, because Max knew he was falling in love.
His watch had to be running backward. Every time Hugh looked, it seemed like there was more and more time until he was to meet Max. He'd thought about going for lunch just to see Max, but stayed away, figuring the man needed to work. And Hugh knew he'd start questioning Max about what had happened with his father right there in the restaurant. He checked his watch for the eight-millionth time; he actually tapped the offending timepiece before forcing his attention back to his work. But it wasn't working. He'd read the same information eight times and it wasn't sinking in, anyway. Finally, it was time to leave, and he shut down his computer and hightailed it to the parking lot. He still had hours to burn and figured a workout would take his mind off Max, at least for a while.
Entering the club, he saw Dan right in front of him, and after scanning his card, Hugh followed his friend into the locker room.
"Where's Max?" Dan asked, as he opened and closed the unlocked doors, trying to find an empty locker.
"Working." Hugh got an empty locker on the first try and began pulling off his shirt. He threw it in his bag and then began fishing for his workout clothes. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Dan had stopped moving. Straightening up, he saw Dan staring at him. Hugh stared back, cocking his head a little.
"What's wrong?"
"Who says anything's wrong?" Hugh countered, and he went back to his rummaging, finally pulling out a T-shirt and shorts.
"Come on. You look worried about something."
Hugh set down the clothes and took a step closer to Dan, lowering his voice. "I guess I'm wondering about Max."
"What about him? He seems like a really nice guy." Dan's eyes widened and his face broke into a sly smile.
"He is, but...." Hugh's voice tapered off, and he pulled on his T-shirt, not sure he really wanted to talk about this here, or ever.
"But what?" Dan's knowing smile stayed in place. "You have to say it."
"Say what? That I'm afraid I'm way too old for him?" Hugh felt his voice rise on its own, and he stopped himself from shouting.
"Yeah, because that's a bunch of crap, anyway. There are almost as many years between Gene and me as there are between you and Max. When we first met, I thought the same thing you did, and Gene showed me that it didn't matter." Dan pulled off his shirt and dropped his pants, hanging them in the locker and pulling on his workout shorts. "If you want my opinion, you're worrying about something that's less important than a lot of other things. Like how you get along, and whether you like the same things---basic things that you get to find out as you get to know him."
"But what if he decides he doesn't want to date someone older than him?" Hugh pushed off his own pants and pulled on his shorts, then sat on the bench to put on his shoes.
"You've had relationships before, you know there are no guarantees...." Dan let his words die away, and Hugh saw him searching his face. "You haven't really had a relationship before, have you?"
Hugh concentrated on tying his shoes. "Not really. A few one-night stands who stayed around for a few weeks, but nothing serious."
"But Max is different?" Dan sat next to him, pulling on his own shoes.
"Yeah, he is. I think that's why I'm nervous about all this shit." Lord knows, he'd never worried about this kind of stuff before. "I mean, I've had lots of younger guys before."
"But none of them got under your skin the way Max has." Dan finished tying his shoes and pulled on his lifting gloves before standing up again. "Have you asked Max how he feels?"
Hugh nodded. "He says it doesn't matter to him."
"But you don't believe him." It wasn't a question.
Hugh stood up as well, putting his bag in the locker before closing the door. "It's not that I don't believe him, because I think that's how he feels now, but what about....?"
"Hugh, you can't worry about tomorrow, next week, or next year. If the looks he was giving you are any indication, he's interested. Take things one day at a time and don't worry about the rest." Dan's hand gripped his shoulder. "Come on, join Lonnie and me for our workout. When we're done, you'll be too tired to worry about anything."
Dan let go of his shoulder, and Hugh followed him out of the locker room over to where Lonnie was talking to Gene, gesturing wildly before turning toward Dan, a gleam in his eyes. "Hey, Dances with Dick, you ready?"
Hugh saw Dan roll his eyes. "Lonnie, you need some new material."
Without missing a beat, Lonnie added, "Fine, Captain Cock, let's get to it."
Hugh couldn't stop his laughter and followed the other two men to the bench presses.
Leaving the gym an hour later, Hugh could barely move. That had been one hell of a workout, and had taken his mind off Max, for a while at least. Walking out to his car, he again toyed with the idea of going to the restaurant, but he headed home instead. An idea was forming, and if it was going to work, there were some things he needed to get done.
Hours later, Hugh left the house to meet Max, locking the door behind him. Finally, he'd get to see the man again and reassure himself that Max was truly okay. Max had said his dad had only slapped him, but Hugh kept getting visions in his mind of Max really hurt. Pulling away from the house, he drove as fast as he dared, arriving at the restaurant just before closing. He parked out front, and through the large front windows, he could see Max moving around inside. He knew when Max realized he was there: that smile shone through the glass. God, the man was adorable, and his heart took a small leap, knowing that the smile was for him.
Getting out of the car, he walked inside. "Sorry, sir, but we're closed," one of the other servers told him politely.
"It's okay, Gerald, he's waiting for me," Max said with a grin before adding to Hugh, "I should be just a few more minutes. They just paid and are finishing up their coffee."
"Take your time." The agitation he'd been feeling all day seemed to drain away as soon as Max was near. Looking closely, Hugh could see what he thought was a lingering redness on Max's face, but he appeared fine otherwise. Max hurried away, visiting the table in question before returning, placing a cup of steaming coffee in front of Hugh, and then hurrying back to work.
Hugh sat and watched the proceedings as the servers cleaned tables, filled shakers, and did other things that were a mystery to Hugh, but kept everyone busy until the couple got up, saying their good-nights as the door closed behind them.
"I should be just a few more minutes," Max said.
Hugh smiled and nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. Max scurried back to work, obviously hurrying, and Hugh glanced over the top of the cup, watching Max move. The man seemed so graceful, almost elegant, as he walked---no, glided---around the room. Hugh's stomach did a flip when those black pants drew tight around that small bottom. Finishing his coffee, Hugh got up and placed the cup in a tray with other dishes and returned to his seat. He'd barely sat down when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"We can go now."
Hugh turned, and Max's lips were so close to his that Hugh couldn't resist and leaned a slight bit closer, touching their lips together. Whistles echoed around the room, and Hugh took that as encouragement and deepened the kiss, feeling Max respond.
Not wanting to give everyone a show, Hugh backed away, caressing Max's cheek softly before getting up. "I think we better take this somewhere private."
Max nodded slowly, eyes wide, lips still slightly parted.
"Do you want to follow me?"
Max shook his head. "I can leave my car where it is if you'll give me a ride back in the morning."
Taking Max's hand, Hugh led him out of the restaurant to the car. "I have something I want to show you." Hugh started the car, glancing over at Max. "I think you'll like it, but if you don't, you have to promise me you'll say something." Hugh could feel his heart start to race. "I mean, you don't have to say you like it just to be nice." He felt Max's hand on his arm.
"You can stop being nervous, even though it's kind of nice. I promise I'll be honest."
Hugh glanced over at his passenger, chewing slightly on his lower lip. "Me being nervous is nice?" He wasn't quite sure what to think about that comment. He'd always been the nervous, worrying type, and he absolutely hated it, but had never figured out how to stop it.
"'Cute', then?" Max's eyes glowed with mischief, a wry smile curling his lips.
Hugh ignored the cute remark and checked the street again before pulling out into traffic. The short ride was quiet, with Max relaxing back into the seat. Hugh found he liked it. He'd been alone for years, and whenever he'd been with someone, he'd always felt the need to fill the space, but with Max it wasn't necessary; the silence was comforting.
Pulling up to the house, they got out, and Max started up the walk, but Hugh caught his arm. "Come with me." He couldn't keep the smile off his face.
"This must be good. You feel like you're going to jump out of your skin."
Hugh led Max around the side of the house and into the backyard. "When I bought the house, it came with an unexpected bonus." He carefully led Max down the path through the dark backyard. "It seems that the people who built the house had a relative they needed to take care of, so"---he paused outside a door and opened it, turning on the lights---"it's a mother-in-law's cottage." Hugh placed his hand on the small of Max's back. "If you like it, you could move in here. It needs some work, and I did some cleaning today, but it has a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and full bath. They're kind of dated." Hugh let his eyes travel over the shag carpet and seventies-style ranch cabinets in the open kitchen.
"You're giving me a place to live?" Hugh watched as Max's eyes widened in a kind of disbelief. "I just met you a few days ago, and you're giving me a place to live."
"I know what you're going through. I've been there, and...." The words caught in Hugh's throat. "I like you Max. I like you a lot. But the house comes with no strings attached. We'll come up with a reasonable rent, and if you work on the house, we'll deduct it." Hugh stopped, looking at Max, who just stared back at him, face unreadable. Hugh felt his nervousness return and shifted from one foot to another. "Say something."
"You're the kindest, sexiest, most wonderful man I've ever met."
"Then you like it?"
"Duh, of course I like it," Max replied bouncily. "But is this what you really want?"
Hugh narrowed his eyebrows, questioningly.
"I don't want to cramp your style or anything."
Now Hugh understood. "I think you're my style. That is, if you'll have me."
Max took a step closer. "Is this that age thing again?"
"Partly, I think. The other part is that I don't do relationships well." Hugh took Max into his arms, holding him to his body, needing to feel Max next to him.
"Then how about if we learn together?"
Hugh nodded, his chin rubbing lightly against Max's hair. "I think we can do that."
"But only if you give up on this age thing. You're not old and I'm not young. We're just two people doing a little core training." Max must have seen the confusion Hugh had tried to hide. "When we worked out, you told me that the core was the source of all our strength, and what's more core than the heart?"
Hugh had never thought of it that way, but communicated his agreement by way of a kiss that left Max breathlessly panting. "Can we take this to somewhere more comfortable?" Max whispered as their lips parted.
"Yeah." Turning off the light, they walked hand in hand back across the yard to the back door. Inside the house, Hugh led the way through the dark rooms and up the stairs without bothering with a single light. He pushed open his bedroom door and stepped in as Max decided he'd waited long enough. Arms snaked around Hugh's neck, and legs wound around his waist. Hugh found his hands full of tight, warm butt as lips kissed away the thought of everything except the luscious man in his arms.
Tumbling backward, they bounced on the bed, kissing hard, lips pulling, tongues dueling. "Get naked," Hugh panted, and he watched as Max backed away, clothes flying. Before Hugh could get his shirt off, Max was there, tugging on his shirt. Hugh managed to get it off and hissed softly as Max clamped onto a nipple, hot lips sucking hard. "You're going to kill me."
The suction lessened and a hand soothed over his skin. "I thought we were through with the old man talk."
"Old, young, wouldn't matter. You'd kill me anyway."
"Wouldn't want to do that." Max's fingers worked Hugh's belt open. "That naked thing goes both ways, you know," Max teased, as Hugh shimmied out of his pants, and then Hugh's arms were filled with Max, his warm, squirming, live-wire.
"If I live to be a hundred, I swear I'll never get over how you feel in my arms."
Max stopped moving, their eyes locking together. "You know, that goes both ways too."
"What did I ever do to make you look at me twice?" Instead of an answer, Hugh got a kiss, hard and deep. Suddenly, the question, the answer, none of it mattered, because Max was there. Dan was right---tomorrow didn't matter, because right now he had his spitfire, and that was all the core training his heart needed.
Andrew Grey grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation. Andrew's hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world's most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Visit Andrew's web site at http://www.andrewgreybooks.com and blog at http://andrewgreybooks.livejournal.com/.
E-mail him at andrewgrey@comcast.net.
http:/www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Also by Andrew Grey
http:/www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Core Training ©Copyright Andrew Grey, 2010
Published by
Dreamspinner Press
4760 Preston Road
Suite 244-149
Frisco, TX 75034
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors' imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design by Mara McKennen
This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the Publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
Released in the United States of America
October 2010
eBook Edition
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61581-670-5

