Christmas Delights 3 (7 page)

I was breathing hard as I watched the evidence of what I had
just done wash down the drain. I stood there for a moment before pushing off
the wall to wash. Getting out of the shower, I dried off, I was sure to fall
asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.  I set the alarm for four so I
wouldn’t sleep the day away. Of course this was what I told myself, but I knew
the real reason was because I wanted to have time to get ready for dinner
tonight. I slid between the sheets, my eyes closed immediately and Adonis
appeared, leaning over me and sliding his lips over mine demanding entrance
with his tongue. I knew it was a dream but it’s a damn good one.

Chapter Eight

Coolidge

I went out for a walk earlier, I wasn’t tired, and I just
needed to stretch my legs. I came across a Walgreens and bought a few things I
was hoping I would need tonight. Now I had an hour to get ready. My shower took
longer than usual, with me having to relieve the pressure that had been
building up all morning. I had never been that hard and the blinding release I
had imagining it was River I was sinking my dick into had me needing to know
how it really felt. I had laid out my clothes trying to figure out what to
wear. I didn’t want to wear my work slacks so that left me with shorts and
jeans. Shorts were out so I went with the blue jeans, white T-shirt, and my
Timberlands. It was very basic outfit while lying out on the bed but I gave myself
an approving appraisal as I studied myself in the full length mirror hanging on
the wall. Everything fit perfectly, the shirt stretched tight across my chest
and muscles, the jeans hung on my ass just right and my boots gave just enough
edge.

Sighing while giving myself the once over I realized how
much I really wanted to impress River. We were friends, I found myself
anticipating our bi-weekly conference calls. There were days that I wished we
had a problem just so I could talk to him. Those calls at times would last at
least two hours and we never ran out of things to talk about.  He’s smart, he’s
funny and lately I’d found myself still thinking about him long after we’d said
our goodbyes. I wondered what it would be like to date a guy like him. I took
one last look in the mirror before grabbing my room card, wallet and phone off
the dresser. I double checked my pockets to make sure I had everything before
closing the door and making my way over to River’s room.

My stomach was flipping all over the place; I’d never been
this nervous going out with a guy.  I’d already come across as a complete jerk
and I wanted to turn this around. We might not hit it off going out but I
didn’t want to lose him as a friend.  I took a deep breath and rubbed my hands
together before I knocked. I stood there waiting for him to answer; I tried to
loosen my tightening muscles by rolling my shoulders and neck, shaking out my
arms. He didn’t open the door so I knocked again.

“Yes,” came the muffled bass of River’s voice through the
door. For some reason his oddness made me smile.

“River, it’s Coolidge,” I waited, “are you ready?”

“Yes.”

I laughed “Well are you going to open the door and come
out?”

“No.”

I rubbed my hands down my face. “Why not, River?”

“Because it’s not time, it’s two minutes until seven.”

I checked my watch and it was two minutes till. “River, by
time you unlock and open the door it will be seven.” The second hand ticked by,
one minute left. I could tell he wasn’t buying my theory. Thirty seconds left
and at seven on the dot the door opened.

“Hey,” was all he said when he stood in front of me and I
couldn’t breathe. This man was walking sex on a stick.
Damn.

“Hey,” I pushed the word out with a hard breath. My eyes
moved over his body, again he wasn’t as thick as I am but his muscles were
defined in his red T-shirt. His black jeans were hanging loose on his hips, and
he was also wearing Timberlands. I realized I was blocking his exit so I
stepped back to give him room. He was looking as nervous as I felt. “Is
everything okay?”

Chapter Nine

River

“Yeah, I’m good I just need to lock the door.” I could only
imagine what he was going to think when he saw this.
He’ll call off dinner
because he’ll think I’m crazy.

“Okay.” He stepped back a little to give me more room.

I closed the door, just as he was about to say something I
opened it again. I sighed and closed it again. This time he waited, sensing
that he was staring at me I closed my eyes and finished up my ritual. I didn’t
turn around because I didn’t want to see the horror on his face. I leaned into
the door.

“I have to do this or I can’t leave.” My voice was shaking.

I heard the shuffle of his feet on the carpet, he stood
right behind me, and I could feel the heat coming off his body. I felt the
weight of his hand on my shoulder and I braced myself for ridicule before I
turned around. His smile was big; it reached his deep brown eyes. “Are you
ready?” was all he said.

I nodded. “Yes,” was all I could manage. His hand caressed
my arm as it slid down entwining his fingers with mine. We were holding hands
and my body caught on fire.

He gave a slight tug causing me to propel forward. “Let’s go
then, I’m starving. I went out earlier today to take a look around, found a
restaurant within walking distance. I asked one of the front desk attendants
about it and they said it was one of the best places to go. It has great food
and live hula dancing.” He started talking like he didn’t just witness a true
act of nuttiness. We reached the elevator, he pressed the down button and
continued to talk. All the while he was still holding my hand. I guessed I
must’ve breathed a sigh of relief because he pulled me closer to his body.

When we reached the hotel lobby we bumped into Kelsey, I
thought he would let go of my hand but he just held on.

“Hey, Cool, man what are you two up to?” Kelsey asked as he
reached us.

“We’re heading down the street to eat.” Coolidge made no
effort to invite Kelsey so I kept my mouth shut.

Kelsey looked down at our entwined fingers and the light
came on. “
Oh
…Oh okay then well, umm, you two have fun, I’m going to go
call my wife.”

“How’s the family doing? I know this hasn’t been a good day
you.”

“Yeah, it’s been a tough day. I’ve been on the phone most of
the day with my wife and other members of my family. My grandmother was kind of
the glue that held us together. I guess I’m just calling to hear my wife’s
voice.” Kelsey smirked at that. “Sometimes I just need to hear it.”

It made me wish for that, that look of being in love and
knowing someone was waiting for you with the same feelings. “Good for you and
her,” I said.

“Thanks, well I’m out, you kids have fun.” He waved as he
walked away.

We walked out and turned right heading down the sidewalk.
Coolidge let go of my hand and put his arm around my shoulders. I hesitated at
first but then I put my arm around his waist, he sighed. “This is better.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. I know it’s fast, I was ready to kill him
earlier but it felt right being with him, being in his arms. We took our time
getting to the restaurant; I listened to the ocean waves crash on the shore and
took in all the Christmas lights adorning the shops as we walked by.

Chapter Ten

Coolidge

Having him close to me like this while we walked felt good,
I didn’t want to let him go, but we reached the restaurant. I opened the door
and soft sounds of Hawaiian music floated out to greet us. I attempted to let
River walk ahead of me but he told me to go first. I walked up to the hostess
and confirmed that there would only be the two of us. She took us to the middle
of the dining room asking if we liked the table and informing us that it was
the best view to see the dancers. The table was fine for me but I could see
that it wasn’t for River. “Where would you like to sit River?” I asked knowing
that this was connected to the closing and opening of the door.

He pointed to a table further back against the wall. “That
one, if it’s all right with you.” I assured him that it was.

I turned to the hostess. “We would like to sit in the back.”

“But this really is a better table.”

“Thanks,” I said, “but we we’ll take that one.” With no
further argument the hostess led us to our table where River would feel more
comfortable. He sat in the chair with his back to the wall; I sat down scooting
my chair closer to him. We were given menus and informed that our waitress
would be with us shortly. I thanked her again before she turned and left us
alone.

River moved his utensils around until they were how he
wanted them. He wasn’t ready to talk so I let him do what he needed to do.

“I guess you’re wondering what all this is about?” he said
with apprehension in his voice.

“I figure you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”

River slid his hand over his smooth head, the head I wanted
to rub while he was down between my legs sucking me off. My dick took notice
and started to wake. “Well, I’m going to just tell you because you need to
know.” He paused. “I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder a.k.a OCD coupled with
Agoraphobia.”

He waited for me to say something but I wanted him to
finish. He only confirmed what I was thinking. “It’s not as bad as it was and
not as bad as other people. I have been in treatment since I was a teenager and
well the highlights are—high anxiety and panic attacks. Some of my compulsions
are I can’t have people behind me, the opening and closing the door has to do
with feeling safe, the number four and there a few others that I won’t go into
now.” I waited to see if he was finished, he wasn’t. “And my parents put me in
the psych ward for a while because they couldn’t deal with me.” Now that
shocked me and pissed me off.

I knew what he was thinking, that I was going to run, but
the only place I was running to was to him. The need to be with him was so
strong I was finding it hard to contain myself. The waitress came over and
asked if we were ready. “Could we have a few more minutes?’

“Of course,” she stated. “Would you like something to
drink?’

I looked towards River and took his hand. “Do you drink
white or red wine?”

His eyes  moist as if he wanted to cry. “White.” His voice
cracked a little.

“Riesling?” He nodded. I asked for a bottle.

“Would you like to start out with an appetizer?”

I gave the menu a once over and saw sautéed mushrooms, I
asked River if he would like some and he agreed. “Just the sautéed mushrooms.”

“I’ll be back with your wine in just a minute.” 

River gave me a puzzled look. “I just told you I have a shit
load of issues.”

“Yes, you did and thank you.”

“There’s more.”

“I know you told me.”

“And you’re okay with it?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I like you.”

“But you don’t know me.”

“Yes, I do, River. You’re the guy that makes me smile almost
every damn day. You’re the guy that I can talk to when I am happy or angry.
You’re the guy I can talk to about anything and you keep my secrets. And you’re
the guy I think about before I go to sleep. I know you, River, and now I know
even more and it doesn’t change a thing.” 

Chapter Eleven

River

As Coolidge spoke, I listened to him tell me that my OCD, my
issues with feeling safe and my panic attacks didn’t matter, they weren’t going
to scare him off. That it didn’t change how he felt about me. My heart was
beating so fast I felt like it was tapping out Morse Code. The waitress brought
us our wine and appetizer then took our order. We both ordered steaks medium
rare. We sipped our wine quietly at first and then he looked at me with a
question on his face.
Shit, here it comes, I hate playing twenty questions.
So
I decided to let him off the hook. “You have something you want to ask me?”

“Yes and no.” He focused on the stage. “I don’t really want
to talk about work, but I need to tell you something and ask you something at
the same time.”

I was intrigued; apparently this wasn’t about my OCD. “All
right go for it.”

Coolidge cleared his throat and shifted in his chair to face
me. “You know the new security software I developed for Reese?” I nodded.
“Well, it’s not my best work, in fact it’s a very basic and very poor knockoff
of what I developed at home.”

My mouth fell open. “Is that legal, can you do that?”

“I have no clue but I am going to use the software as a
catalyst to start my own company and I need a good troubleshooter to head up
tech support.”

It took a moment for what he was saying to sink in. “You
want that person to be me.”

“Yes, I would have asked you in a couple of months, but us
being here together sort of moved up the time table.”

“And what’s the time table?”

“I’m turning in my letter of resignation after the New Year.
I’m giving him two weeks’ notice, it would have been a month until he told me
yesterday that if I didn’t like my job I could leave and be replaced the next
day.” I could not hide the surprise on my face. “Yeah, it sort of pissed me
off.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “I’m surprised you didn’t walk
out right then.”

“Oh believe me I wanted to but that bastard is going to give
me my end of the year bonus that he promised we would get on January second, I
earned it.” Those soul searching eyes were back. “I know I’m asking you to take
a risk, but I need someone who understands me when I'm not making sense and
you’re by far the best troubleshooter I know, next to me of course.”