Joy led me by the hand down a short hallway. Rope lighting lined the floor as the only source of illumination. Show posters and hundreds of pictures littered the tiny walls, each one having Joy as the subject in various outfits, sashes and crowns. As we neared Joy's bedroom, a lone black and white picture of a man in his 40's looking off over a perfectly flat lake hung directly across from the door. I quickly passed it as we entered the room.
This is it , I thought.
I inhaled deeply and quietly as I arrived in the epitome of a boudoir. An explosion of fabric draped everything from the walls to over the lampshade, casting a warm feathered glow on the side table on which it sat. It was neat and presentable, but obviously the home of a performer.
“So….shall we get to it soldier?” Joy stoically asked.
“Ummmm…I guess….” I stuttered.
“Don't be nervous now there solider. Tell me your fantasy and I'll help it come true. That's why you came here.”
I was slightly frightened by Joy's cynical smile, but the feeling was short lived as I began to think of my fantasy. The image of Jeff flashed in my head as I remembered our first meeting.
8
I just finished moving the last box of my belongings up to my new room. I was the first to move in. My room, which was in the attic, was quiet and the only room on the floor. It would be a nice change from last year in residence. Another guy, who lived here last year Jacob told me, was coming later on today. The others were coming next week. I came back downstairs to see my parents off. I waved good-bye as the Explorer pulled away. The worried look on my mother's face almost brought me to tears, but my father's stern and disgusted look snapped me back from emotion. He was always one to make his disapproval known. I turned slowly and walked up the front porch, exhausted from taking the boxes up three flights of stairs. Almost regretting my room selection, I flopped down on the top stair to relax.
As I leaned against the railing and absorbed what was left of the warm August sun, I heard rock music grow louder. It was a familiar song that was heard many times at the bars during the summer. A shrill female voice droned as its source drew closer. It was more then mildly annoying as a shiny bright white Toyota pick-up truck stopped in front of the house. Silence was only restored after the occupant revved the motor slightly and clicked off the ignition. The driver hopped out and gingerly shut the door. In his hand was a duffle bag that was quickly slung over his shoulder. He looked up at me as he rounded the truck and began to toss more bags onto the sidewalk.
“Hey, you must be Chris. Jacob mentioned that you were moving in today. Can you give me a hand?”
This man shot me a smile that could melt steel. I was shocked at my reaction. I was attracted to him.
“Sure, no problem” I responded. My body protested, but I wanted to meet my new roommate. I didn't want to be rude.
Every ounce of chrome glistened and the paint job was flawless. Inside the cabin was black leather, fine detailing and a state of the art stereo system. This truck was well cared for.
“Nice Truck,” I commented.
“Yeah, it gets me around. My name is Jeff, by-the-way, was I right?” He extended his hand to shake mine.
“Ug…yeah I'm Chris. Nice to meet you.” I obliged his offer.
The handshake was firm and cordial. I was in awe as I found myself staring. I shook it off and quickly scooped up three bags from the sidewalk. My arms twinged with pain, but I hid my discomfort from view.
“What room is yours?” I asked.
“Same one as always, Second floor on the right. Which one is yours?” He ran his hand through his hair tousling it slightly and beaming with an interested grin.
It just so happens that I have to pass his room to get to mine.
“The Attic” I nervously blurted.
“Hey that's a cool room. Don't have to worry about anyone bothering you…unless you want them too…” Jeff began to laugh and I followed suit like an actor who just remembered his lines.
“Let's get this stuff inside…it's starting to get dark” I suggested.
I helped Jeff move his bags inside. As we worked we chatted politely about school, it was both our last year. The last time we got drunk. Jeff shared a story about the last girl that he fucked. I shared too, leaving out the fact that I paid for her. After about half-an-hour, I wished him good night and retired to my room to unpack.
I stared at the boxes in my room and sighed. Where the hell did I get all this stuff? I was exhausted, so I searched for my bedding and made my bed. A few moments later a soft knocking was heard at my door, I turned around to find Jeff standing there with two beers in his hand. He was in a t-shirt and his boxers, Joe Boxer I might add. I tried to contain my excitement to see him in this state.
“Busy?” His green eyes stared back at me with that sexy smile.
“Na...I was just getting ready for bed; I have been up since 6 this morning.” I glanced away from him.
“Well, I wanted to say thanks for helping earlier.” He outstretched his hand and held out the beer.
“Thanks,” I replied as I took the bottle from his hand nervously. We both cracked open the bottles and took a thirsty swig.
“I'm heading out tonight to hit the bars, care to join me if you're up for it?” He punctuated that sentence with a toss of his hair and that smile again. I can believe he gets laid a lot and not just bragging conquests.
“Damn, two more of these and I'll be asleep on the bar! I was planning to go out tomorrow, care to join me then?” I wanted to go so badly tonight, but I would make more then an ass of myself.
“For sure…tomorrow it is then…G'nite”
“G'nite Jeff...” He smiled and turned down the hallway. I walked over to the door and shut it. I sighed as I leaned against the shut door.
“Then it's a date…” I giggled as I walked over to the bed to finish; I needed to get some sleep.
I downed the beer and put the bottle down on the box substituting for my bed side table. The rush of the alcohol hitting my blood stream guaranteed that I would be asleep in no time. I ripped off my clothes and jumped into bed. I flipped on the radio for some background noise and switched off the lamp.
As I closed my eyes I thought of Jeff. I examined every inch of his body in my memory. This was the first time that I had thought about a man like this since my locker room fiasco many years ago. My sleep-deprived mind wandered as the scene played out again only with a different outcome.
Jeff appeared in the doorway of my room again as before holding two beers for us.
“Hey there, I just wanted to thank you for today.”
Both the beers were freshly cracked as he took a few steps into my room. His outstretched hand and killer smile brought me to my feet. As he handed over the bottle, I grabbed it at the bottom. His hand slid down the bottle and touched mine. Startled, I jerked back, spilling the beer onto my hand.
“Shit…”I blurted
“No Worries…lemme get that”
Jeff set down his beer on the nearest box that would hold it and took mine and positioned it beside his. He then took my beer soaked hand and placed it on his hard stomach. Jeff, while staring into my eyes, proceeded to dry off my hand with his t-shirt. A glimpse of flesh peered out from the top of his boxers, Joe boxer I might add, and modeled his abs. His touch was gentle and nurturing. After all the beer was absorbed into his shirt, he pulled me close to him moving my hand around to his back. We stood in each others arms inspecting the man before us. His face was caring as it donned an eleven-o'clock shadow. He stared at me deeply.
“You have the most beautiful eyes, Chris.”
An orchestral wave of speech escaped his lips as he continued his observation. At the end he placed a loving kiss on my forehead. He held it much longer than I expected. I shut my eyes to absorb the moment and felt two more kisses fall. One on each of my eyes. It was now my turn.
My profile fit perfectly in the base of his neck. I drew a deep breath and experienced the intoxicating headiness of his scent. My hand left his back and found solace under his ear. I drew my fingertips down and traced the outline of his collarbone. I placed a kiss under his jaw and followed with one just below his ear. Music played as Jeff's right hand found my waist and he lead in an ethereal slow dance, moving his hips slightly to the beat that enveloped us.
We circled slowly for a few moments in each other arms like nothing else mattered.
8
I turned to Joy as she looked at me impatiently doe-eyed.
“Can we dance?” I asked.
“What???” she blurted out. A moment passed before she replied.
“Sure, it's your dollar…”
8
I felt as if there was nothing more in the world than these four walls, Jeff and the music. It was an old 80's song playing on the radio. This moment was so full of acceptance, happiness and deep love that in my short life, I could not ask for anything more. The song did not end, it was my fantasy. Jeff took his hand for my waist and slowly moved it up my back, only touching me with his fingertips and looking deep into me the entire time. When he reached the base of my neck, he tilted his head and moved into me. Our eyes closed as the pinnacle moment arrived. My heart pounded louder and violently in my chest. His guiding hand was gently behind my head as we moved closer and closer. My hands were soaked as our lips electrified I awoke to Jacob's wife knocking on my door.
“Morning Chris,” she called out through the door, “any laundry this morning?”
8
“Too What…” Joy asked.
“Huh?” I asked aghast. Disoriented I shook my head snapping me back to reality
Joy rolled her eyes. “To dance to?”
“You choose” I quietly responded
Joy begrudgingly fumbled with the CD player on the dresser and knocked over a teetering stack of CD's. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips as she choose a CD reluctantly, snapping the case closed, inserting it into the player, and haphazardly pushed random buttons to select a track.
The haunting chords of a much too fast song played as another gasp filled the air. Joy pushed a few more buttons and found a song of appropriate tempo. She turned towards me and regained her composure. She looked at me and smirked as she asked,
“Care to lead?”
I smiled as we came together in our forced embrace. The expected feelings of safety, warmth and love were absent. I wrapped my arm around Joy's back standing in my boxers. We circle with the nervousness of school kids at there first dance. I knew at this point I wanted more.
More to come.