"Let's pursue it with everything we've got."
41
Intimacy
Night rain drizzles cool Aleksey's cheeks, scalp, and forehead. The faint sound of a distant party from a beach house further down the coast of the North Shore, a neighborhood on Oahu's northern coast, is no match for the soothing noise of the crashing and retreating waves near his feet. He finishes his coconut and papaya drink and considers the attractive young man still staring at him.
Both Aleksey and the stranger stand in front of adjoining two story beachside homes. The house behind Aleksey is a lemon-color family home with wide eaves and a large balcony. The stranger, dark-featured with a full beard and closely-cropped haircut, is stationed before a trail through brush leading to a lime-green two story home with extensive windows. Aleksey is dressed casually, while this man is in slacks and a grey, long sleeve, button-down shirt.
When Aleksey's nod is answered with a grin, he amiably walks toward the stranger through the thick sand, careful to avoid the dark and hidden boulders protruding along portions of the beach.
"I know that stance anywhere," Aleksey quips. "Are you a cop?"
"Maybe someday," the man replies. "Tonight, I am working security."
"As am I."
"Eric," the man says, introducing himself and firmly shaking Aleksey's hand.
"Aleksey."
"What kind of client do you have?"
"An entertainer," Aleksey answers. "You?"
"A Silicon Valley CEO and her husband. Are you on duty too?"
"I am always on duty," Aleksey chuckles. "But I can visit with you if you'd like."
"Please do," Eric responds and smiles.
"You have been staring me down, I noticed. Do you deem me a security threat?"
"No, should I? I admit I just can't keep my eyes off you."
"I appreciate your candor," Aleksey says. "You have my full attention as well."
Eric strolls the beach with Aleksey, circling so that they remain near the vicinity of the lime-green home. During their conversation they discover common ground with things important and trivial, from a shared work ethic and dedication to professionalism, to an affinity for classic movies and classic rock. Aleksey catches Eric stealing glances at his body. Even in the darkness, he notices Eric's impressive chest, broad shoulders, and intelligent eyes. Eric's humble spirit appeals to him even more.
The men change numbers after talking for hours. Eric relays that he will be at the home throughout the week of his client's vacation. Aleksey tells him that he hopes to remain on the North Shore for a long time to come, but his plans could change at any moment based on his boss's wishes.
"I can't wait to get to know you better tomorrow," Eric says, embracing Aleksey with a goodbye hug. "If for any reason you are gone before morning, let's pledge to meet again someday, wherever that may be."
"We'll have tomorrow," Aleksey answers. "My guess is we will be here all week too. But don't worry, if anything happens and we end up fleeing from here in the middle of the night, I won't forget you."
Aleksey leans forward and Eric kisses him. They push their bodies together. Aleksey gives Eric a last kiss on the cheek and turns to head back to the lemon-color rental home. Eric holds his arm.
"Don't go," Eric pleads.
"You are the one who has to check in," Aleksey counters.
"I know. I just don't want to risk not seeing you again."
"Tomorrow night we can sneak out of our beach houses, like teenagers, and get into some trouble."
"I'll be counting on that."
ZACHARY, BRUSHING HIS teeth, strolls from the balcony into the master bedroom. Gustavo, already mostly nude under the covers of the king size bed, removes his socks and tosses them onto the chair with his other clothes.
"Aleksey found a friend on the beach," Zachary says.
"Good," Gustavo replies, "he needs to be fortunate too."
"Aleksey is not attracted to men easily, so this guy must have special qualities."
"Where does Aleksey want to live?"
"Here. Hawaii."
"Really?" Gustavo asks. "I never heard him say that."
"Earlier tonight, I asked Aleksey where he wanted us to live," Zachary says, unbuttoning his shirt and removing his clothes. "He was taken aback. We already had an understanding that he would remain my bodyguard no matter where I chose to move to. I assured him again nothing has changed on that front. I just wanted to know his thoughts. Aleksey thought I was asking his opinion for me, but I corrected him and said I wanted to know where he would be happy. Aleksey answered he can be content almost anywhere. So when I finally got him to understand I wanted to include his wishes as part of the decision-making process on where we can live, Aleksey was very touched. Almost emotional. Aleksey said he would love to spend more time on the island."
"All of this was even before he met the guy out there. Another promising sign."
Zachary turns off the lights and stands nude by the bed. The moonlight glows on his skin and illuminates his musculature and wolf-like countenance. Gustavo folds back the blankets, exposing himself too.
"Come here," Zachary says. "I want to enjoy the reflections and discover your whole body."
Gustavo slides out of bed, takes Zachary's hand, and leads him close to the window. Gustavo's creamy smooth skin and flowing shapes contrast harmoniously with Zachary's hairy body, tattoos, and bulging shapes. Their fingers continue discovering each other's curves and sensitive places as they tenderly kiss.
Tasting each other's mouths, their intensity escalates. Gustavo kneads Zachary's nipples. Simultaneously, Zachary squeezes Gustavo's butt cheeks and rubs his finger around the perimeter of his hole. The men return to the edge of the bed. Gustavo squats to the floor and Zachary enters his mouth, throbbing and leaking. Zachary's taste causes Gustavo to moan and tickle Zachary with the tip of his tongue for more. Zachary's hairy scrotum is heavy in his palm and Zachary reacts to every shift of movement.
Gustavo lays on the bed on his back. Zachary climbs between his legs, flicks his tongue over his toes, and massages his calves and thighs. Zachary flattens to the bed on his chest, lifts Gustavo's ankles up, wide apart, and explores under his balls. Gustavo's strained erection aches for release.
Zachary applies lube and a condom. He crawls on top of Gustavo, who traces his fingertips up and down Zachary's back as Zachary plunges inside him. Gustavo, though yearning for him, staggers from Zachary's hefty size. Zachary gives him a few moments to relax and adjust to his dimensions. In this moment, Gustavo's mind finds tranquility too. He sees and senses the piercing forces-red, grey, black-excitedly springing in Zachary's aura.
For the first time, Gustavo outright witnesses his own energy. Flowing, intricate strands, in shades of green and orange-as he had surmised when painting his self-portrait in his studio-cavort the length of his body. Zachary begins pushing deeper inside, then slowly twisting and retreating outward, for Gustavo's maximum pleasure. Zachary kisses Gustavo and nuzzles his neck as he speeds his pace and further develops their connection. Gustavo, overwhelmed with the physical and spiritual sensations, watches the strands of his energy envelop Zachary and his aura. Their colors and lines frolic, playfully merging together, separating, and creating new formations.
Gustavo's hands are clasped behind Zachary's back. Though he is not touching himself, the mounting pressure on his erection reaches its zenith. Gustavo cries out and trembles into orgasm while Zachary plummets further inside with profound thrusts. Zachary feels every pulsation from Gustavo and moves his body to heighten Gustavo's ecstasy.
Gustavo collects his seed that has rocketed onto his stomach, entwines it in his fingers, and rolls it onto Zachary's tongue. Zachary surges and bucks, savors Gustavo's taste, and swallows him as his own body can no longer restrain from climax.
The men hold and caress each other as they rest. Zachary is still inside Gustavo as they tumble into the most satisfying and peaceful slumber.
42
Conclusion
Several weeks later, the two dozen guests to the invitation-only event encounter unusually high security measures as they entrust their vehicles to the valets and enter the wondrous home on Franklin Avenue, nestled between the neighborhoods of Hollywood and Los Feliz in Los Angeles. The Lloyd Wright-designed Franklin House is altered only slightly from its restored state for the reception. The living room furniture in the prominent room at the front of the house has been replaced with a small collection of large acrylic and oil paintings on easels. The artwork is always in sight as the guests wander from the living room into the enclosed courtyard for beverages and hors d'oeuvres.
Lavonne Tejada, adorned in a full-length plaid robe with matching headwear, breaks away from mingling with art gallery owners and returns to the room to admire the largest of Gustavo's new pieces.
"Give me the brutal truth," Gustavo says, joining her.
"Honey, they are superb," Lavonne replies. "Better than superb really, especially this one."
Gustavo hugs and thanks her.
"This is your breakthrough," she adds. "If you continue developing this style, you will be artistically and financially triumphant by this time next year. I have no doubt now."