The Other Man Read online

  “I have to tell Robbie something. I’ll be five minutes. You can wait in the car if you want.”

  “No. I’ll come in, but don’t be long, okay?”

  Charlie parked the car. He looked at him. “Can I come home with you tonight, Kendal?” His voice was soft, pleading. “It’s been a long time and I’m…well…”

  “We’ll see,” Kendal said, getting out.

  Charlie threw an arm around his waist and they walked into Contact together.

  The music was pumping, half naked men gyrating on the dance floor. Kendal looked around, and there he was, right in front of him, less than a few feet away. He looked incredible, dressed in soft leather tan pants and a dark brown shirt, opened at the collar. His hair was tied back, showing off his handsome face. He was leaning against the bar, facing front, a drink in his hand. He spotted Kendal immediately.

  Charlie tightened his hold on him, he too, not being able to resist looking at Aaron Radcliff for a moment. “There’s Mr. Wonderful himself. Come on, I see Robbie,” he muttered, pulling Kendal with him into the crowd.

  Kendal wanted to say hello, at least to acknowledge him, but he didn’t get the chance. Charlie was like a steam engine, and before he knew it, he was headed towards the bar on the other side of the room. He glanced back once, but couldn’t see him at all anymore.

  Charlie released him as soon as his friends came into view. He began chatting up a blue streak, leaving Charlie standing on the sidelines. He felt his feet move away, retrace his steps through the crowd of men and women huddled in small groups, back to where Aaron had been standing. Charlie looked around, disappointed. Aaron was no longer standing there. He was just about to turn around and head back to Charlie when a voice behind him said, “Hello, Kendal, looking for me?”

  Kendal turned around, his heart pounding in his chest. He smiled up into those blue eyes. “Hi Aaron. How are you?”

  “Fine. You?”

  “I…sure.” Kendal nodded.

  Aaron took his elbow and steered him over to an empty place at the bar. “Quieter here. I can’t hear anything with this music. Can I buy you a drink?”

  “No thanks.”

  “This is no place to have a conversation.”

  “Well, people usually don’t come to these places to talk.”

  Aaron laughed. “You’re right.”

  Their bodies were close, too close. Kendal turned to the side, which made it worse. He finally wiggled away from the bar, and stood a few inches away.

  “I see you and Charlie are back together.”

  “Did Charlie ever ask you to dance?”

  “What?”

  Kendal raised his voice. “Did Charlie ever ask you to dance?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “No. I can’t remember. A lot of people ask me to dance.”

  “I bet.” He grinned. “Don’t blame them.”

  “Want to dance with me?” A slow song just started and people were making their move.

  “No, I…I mean, I didn’t say it for that.”

  Aaron put down his drink and reached out for his hand. “Tell me about it on the dance floor. I can hear you better there.”

  Kendal tried to protest but Aaron was pulling him forward into the crowd of dancers. He put his hands on his waist and dragged him into his arms. “Now, what was the question?”

  He stared into those blue eyes, and went blank. Aaron had left a reasonable distance between their bodies, but Kendal felt himself melt up against him. God, he felt so good, he smelt so good. He reached up and tangled his fingers in the baby softness of his hair. Their bodies swayed together. Aaron lowered his head and pressed his cheek against his, his arms tightening around Kendal’s waist. Kendal’s hands squeezed his muscular biceps, moving down to his forearms. He suddenly didn’t know where to put his hands, although he knew where he’d like to put them. Focus, he told himself. “Did you turn Charlie down for a dance?” he asked again, his mouth close to his ear.

  Aaron looked at him. “What’s this all about?”

  “Nothing, I don’t know. Just Charlie said you were too full of yourself to dance with him.”

  “Honestly, I don’t remember. Could be I was tired when he asked. I’m not much of a dancer.” He laughed.

  “You’re doing okay. I almost called you a few times.”

  “Really? Why didn’t you?”

  Kendal met his gaze again. He widened the distance between them. “Because…” He felt his eyes sting with tears. What in hell was wrong with him?

  “Because why?” Aaron stopped dancing. He released him. He was staring into his eyes.

  “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I guess because you could really break my heart. Charlie hurt me when he left.” He swallowed. “But you,” he breathed, “if I let myself love you, and you…you’re not for me, Aaron. I can’t stop thinking about that night we spent together. If I’d let it go on, it would get out of hand. I wouldn’t be able to live without you.”

  Aaron reached out and clutched his hand. “What makes you think that I could live any easier without you?”

  “If Charlie leaves me again, it would be okay. I know that now.” Tears ran down his face. “I don’t love him.”

  Aaron reached out and blotted his tears with his thumb.

  “That night we spent together, well, I guess that’s when I realised it.”

  “Then tell him,” he urged, moving closer. “Tell him, Kendal, and give us a chance. I can’t stop thinking about you either.”

  He went to touch him, but Kendal shook his head. “I can’t let you touch me. I’d lose control.”

  “Then lose control,” Aaron growled, reaching out and grabbing him. He pulled him roughly up against him, and crushed his mouth to his.

  At first Kendal fought him, but then his body slacked, and his mouth opened to his kiss. He allowed his arms to creep up around Aaron’s neck. Aaron lifted him half off the floor, his kiss growing more passionate as the slow song ended, and some rock tune began to thump out of the speakers. They were totally oblivious to the people around them, their kisses coming in gulps, their hands roaming freely over each others bodies.

  “What in fuck is going on?” Someone shouted suddenly, which startled them both into abruptly wrenching apart.

  Kendal looked at Charlie with a surprised look. Aaron nodded at Charlie curtly, and glanced at the dance floor.

  “We’ll talk about it on the way home,” Kendal said breathlessly. He glanced at Aaron. “I’m sorry. I…” He brushed past Charlie and headed for the door.

  He was standing in the parking lot when Charlie caught up to him. Neither one of them said anything for a moment, then, Charlie exploded. “May I fucking ask what you were doing kissing him?”

  “We were dancing and…” Kendal sighed, biting his thumbnail.

  “That was some fucking dancing. It looked to me as if you were getting ready to fuck. What in hell is going on?” He grabbed Kendal by the arm and yanked him around.

  “Don’t grab me!” Kendal protested.

  Charlie released him. “Answer me. That fucker wouldn’t even give me the time of day, and there you are, kissing him? What is he doing now, working the streets, charging by the kiss?”

  “You think I paid him?” Kendal gasped.

  “Guys like him just don’t go kissing guys like you for nothing.”

  “Thanks a hell of a lot. That’s shows how much you think of me.”

  “That’s Aaron Radcliff you were pawing all over in there,” he spat out, his eyes were filled with rage. “He wouldn’t even fucking so much as…dance with me, and now…”

  “You know what I think is really pissing you off right now, Charlie? It’s not me. You’re not jealous because I’m kissing another man, you’re pissed because it’s your fantasy man, the one you could never have, and he was kissing me, not you.”

  “You’re full of it. We were supposed to be getting back together and…”

/>   “And you know what?” Kendal went on, his anger boiling to the surface, “We did more than that. We fucked. He came to my house one night and we fucked all night long, and never, never in seven years, were you able to turn me on like that.”

  Kendal didn’t even see Charlie’s fist flying in the air. It hit him in the face, then sprung back to hit him again. Before it did, a hand reached out and blocked it. “Need a little help, Kendal?” Aaron Radcliff asked, standing between him and Charlie.

  Charlie lowered his fist. “This doesn’t concern you. This is between Kendal and I. So move out of the way.”

  “Sorry,” he said, “I can’t do that. See, I’m falling for this guy, and when he decides to unload you, well, I’m going to do everything I can to get him to see that I’m dead serious.”

  Kendal sucked in some breath. Charlie moved around his car and stuck his key in the lock. “I’ll call you later,” he said, looking over at Kendal.

  “No,” Kendal said. “It’s over, Charlie. I never want to see you again.”

  “You’ll change your mind, after you think it over. We’ll talk.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m not interested in talking to your fist. Goodbye, Charlie.”

  Charlie got into the car and drove off. Aaron watched until he’d disappeared, then came over and placed his hands on his shoulders. “Are you all right? Let me look at that eye.” He tilted his head and examined it. “Ouch. You’re going to need ice. Come on.” He fumbled in his pants for his car keys.

  “Where we going?”

  “Back to my place so that I can take care of that eye.”

  “Aaron,” Kendal said, “I’m really not…”

  “No pressure,” he said. “I just want to take care of you. I don’t have any ulterior motives.”

  Kendal nodded and followed him to his vehicle.

  * * * *

  Aaron handed Kendal an ice bag wrapped in a soft towel, and Kendal pressed it to his eye. It was really beginning to sting now. “Keep it on there,” Aaron said, sitting down beside him on his sofa.

  “You know,” Kendal scoffed. “He was more pissed off about you, than me.”

  “What? I don’t get it.”

  “Well, because,” Kendal laughed, surprised about how good he felt suddenly, in spite of his eye, “he would have liked to be in my place.”

  Aaron shook his head. “That guy is a first class idiot. I’m sorry, Kendal, but…”

  “You’re right,” Kendal said, nodding. “You don’t have to apologise. Thanks for being my hero. Why did you follow us anyway?”

  “Well, your Charlie was ripping angry, and I figured he was pissed off enough to hit something, didn’t want that something to be you. Wish I’d arrived faster, but I lost him for a minute in the parking lot.”

  Kendal reached over and stroked his cheek. “I’m sorry for the trouble.”

  “It was worth it.”

  Kendal raised an eyebrow questionably.

  “You’re here, aren’t you?”

  Kendal smiled softly. “God, I wish I could just believe every word that comes out of your mouth.”

  “You can. Why don’t you? Why do you want to paint me as some frivolous cad…some Romeo with a different guy in his bed every night?”

  “You fit the image, darling,” he said softly, laughing, lifting off the ice bag.

  “Leave it there, darling,” he protested, in a mocking tone. “Some fantasy you’ve cooked up.”

  “Probably. We all want to look like you. We all want to have men falling at our feet and…”

  “I’d prefer one man falling at my feet.”

  Kendal smiled. “I’m beginning to believe that.”

  “My parents have been married for almost fifty years. They are hopelessly devoted to each other. That’s the type of love I want, it’s what I’ve been looking for.”

  “You’re scaring me.”

  He laughed, and got up off the sofa. “I’ll fix up the bed in the den.”

  Kendal nodded. “I can get a cab if…”

  “No. And, Kendal, I promise, I’ll be good. Okay?”

  “Okay, thanks.” He sat there alone for a few minutes, wondering what in the hell he was thanking him for.

  He got up and walked down the hall. Aaron was there tucking a sheet into the bed. He looked up when he walked in. What a sweetheart he was. “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “Ah, can I sleep with you?” He met his gaze. “We don’t have to make love or anything, I’d just like to…”

  “Yes,” he said before Kendal finished. “I’d like that.” He left the den and walked back down the hall. “I’ll get some towels and stuff. You can wash up if you like. Do you want pyjamas? I don’t wear them but my aunt keeps buying them for me every Christmas.” He laughed.

  “Why don’t you just tell her?” Kendal asked, suddenly feeling light hearted.

  “I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”

  Kendal shook his head, studying him as he handed him a towel out of the bathroom. “You are too sweet.” What was inside this man’s heart matched his beautiful exterior.

  Aaron looked kind of embarrassed. “No, I…” he began.

  Kendal reached out and took his hand. He squeezed it. God, he’d been so blind.

  “Let’s got to bed,” he said softly. “You must be tired.”

  “Yes,” Kendal said, walking into his bedroom.

  “Pyjamas are in the bottom drawer if you want them,” he said, folding down the sheets.

  Kendal glanced at that fire truck above the bed.

  When Aaron saw where he was looking, he said, “My grandmother painted that for me when I was a little boy. She knew that I always wanted to be a fireman, and she said that one day, I would be one. And, I am.” He laughed.

  “That’s a nice story. Were you close to her?”

  “Very. She was a super lady, very smart. I’ll show you a picture sometime. She was a nurse, and she went to Africa to help poor people. My mother spent five years in Africa growing up.”

  “Wow, that must have been something.”

  “Yeah. I took her back there last year and we visited the village where she lived. It’s a different world.”

  “I bet.” Kendal watched as Aaron stripped off his clothes, except for his underwear, and crawled into bed. Kendal’s cock stiffened. He felt his mouth go dry.

  “Are you coming to bed? I promise I won’t…I’ll be a good boy.”

  Kendal swallowed. He took off his clothes, and moved around to the other side of the bed. He crawled in beside him and pulled the covers up over him.

  Aaron reached over and turned off the light. “How’s your eye?”

  “Feels better. Thanks.”

  “Well,” he said softly, “goodnight, Kendal.”

  “Goodnight,” Kendal said, moving his hand down and placing it on his aching cock. Oh God, he wanted Aaron so badly, and yet, he was hesitant to jump right into this again, especially after he’d just told Charlie goodbye. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but he was acutely aware of the presence of Aaron’s half naked body lying within reach of him. He tossed and turned some, listening to the sounds of Aaron’s deep, even breathing. Was he asleep?

  “You’re really restless, honey,” Aaron said suddenly, answering his silent question. “Is your eye hurting?”

  “No.” Kendal laughed a little.

  “What then?”

  “Not my eye,” he said.

  “Kendal?”

  Kendal turned onto his side and threw his arm over him. “My eye is fine, but my cock is…”

  Aaron pulled him up onto his chest and dragged his face to his, tenderly kissing his lips in a slow hypnotising way, coaxing a moan from deep within Kendal’s chest. Kendal’s hand reached down and tore at his underwear. Those things were driving him crazy. He broke away from his mouth long enough to move down and pull those things off of him. “Turn on the light,” he breathed. He’d never wanted to make love with the lights on
to Charlie, but oh God, with Aaron, he just had to expose all his senses to his beautiful body.

  Aaron reached up and over to turn on the lamp. When he did, his hips lifted, bringing his erection in contact with Kendal’s forearm. “Incredible,” he breathed, as the room was suddenly bathed in soft light, illuminating Aaron’s perfect body.

  Aaron smiled at him. “Hey, I thought you didn’t want to…”

  “My head and my body disagree.” He smiled at him, feasting his gaze on Aaron’s cock. “I want to do something kinky. Will you let me?”

  “Do what you want,” he winked, “as long as you do it soon.”

  Kendal laughed. “Got anything I can ah…” he blushed a little.

  “You can ah…what?”

  “Tie you up with?”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Why, you afraid I’m going somewhere?”

  “No. I just…it’s a fantasy, that’s all.” He lifted Aaron’s sex in his hand and moved it slowly back and forth.

  “Um, yeah, okay,” he muttered. “Ah, use the tie off my bathrobe. It’s there on the door.”

  “And what about the legs?”

  “Oh come on,” he laughed.

  Kendal lifted his eyebrows. “I’m serious.”

  “There’s another robe in the closet. It’s ah…a horrible orange colour.”

  “Another gift from the aunt?”

  “No, it was a complimentary hotel robe. Will you hurry up?”

  Kendal came back to the bed holding the two ties. “What a pleasant job,” he said, reaching down and licking one of Aaron’s nipples. “Your nipples always look erect, you know that?”

  “I do now,” he replied.

  Kendal kissed his mouth slowly, while lifting his hands over his head. “So sexy,” he murmured against his lips, tying his wrists together.

  “Ouch,” he protested, laughing, looking above his head as he tugged lightly against the ties. “Are you sure you weren’t a sailor in another life?”

  “Nope,” Kendal said, moving down his body with his tongue, wigging in between his thighs. “I should have two more ties really, so I can spread you out.”

  “What a dirty boy,” he teased.

  “I never used to be such a dirty boy. You bring it out in me. So,” he said, moving his hand over one muscular calf, “I’m going to tie the right one. I’ll leave the left one free. It will give me more manoeuvrability.”