Chapter Three

Kaleb

T hirty-one-year-old Kaleb took Daisy to the Special Service Counter check-in, then they stopped at the airport store, and each picked out a book to read on the plane. His driver, Adam, also had a ticket to San Francisco. Kaleb was pleased at Jasha’s behavior in public and especially at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Jasha acted like a perfect gentleman, but his clenched jaw and furrowed brow betrayed his true feelings about the unfortunate situation his father had created for him.

For two months during his personal investigation of Jasha and his father, he had studied Jasha’s behavior at various gay clubs in New York. The young man was quite enthusiastic on the dance floor. He preferred older men who protected and adored him. Kaleb had also followed Jasha to The Rink at Rockefeller Center where he and his father went ice skating, then out for hot chocolate. Another time, Valentin took Jasha to walk on Brighton Beach, then after they had shopped at the Russian open markets. Kaleb hired a man to watch the comings and goings at their apartment. No one ever visited them, they stayed to themselves.

Once they boarded First Class, Kaleb adjusted his seat belt, a familiar pre-flight ritual he’d perfected over countless hours in the air. Beside him, Jasha took the window seat and sat stiffly with his seat belt fastened, his eyes fixed on the in-flight magazine.

He’d been drawn to Jasha from the moment he began investigating him as an option for his father’s nonpayment. There was an innocence, a vulnerability about the younger man that was both endearing and maddening. Kaleb wanted to protect him, to shield him from the world’s harsh realities. But there was also a magnetic pull, a desire to explore the depths of his vulnerability, to see what lay beneath the surface.

“Excited about Tahoe?” Kaleb asked, trying to break the silence.

Jasha jumped, his hand fluttering to his chest. A blush crept up his neck to his innocent face. “Yeah, sure,” he whispered.

Kaleb smiled, trying to project warmth. “We’ll be doing some ice skating on the lake, and maybe taking some sleigh rides. I thought we could ride some snowmobiles too. Or, if you’d prefer, we can just relax by the fireplace with the view of the lake.” He noticed Jasha put the magazine away and opened his book by James Patterson about a high-powered lawyer.

Jasha nodded, his eyes darting around the cabin. Kaleb noticed his hands were trembling slightly. He leaned to the side and covered one of them with his own. Jasha froze, his eyes widening.

A sense of satisfaction washed over Kaleb, leaving him content. He’d touched him. A minor victory but a step in the right direction. He removed his hand as quickly as he’d placed it.

“It’s up to you,” he said. “Whatever you want to do.”

Jasha nodded once more. His beautiful gray eyes focused on the floor. Deep in thought, Kaleb studied his profile, admiring the way his brown hair contrasted with his fair skin. There was something about the way his lower lip trembled that stirred a powerful desire within him to reach out and comfort him. But he hesitated. He didn’t want to scare him off. He was too frightened to run away, but he was intelligent enough to find a way of distancing himself until he trusted him.

As the plane climbed higher, Kaleb found himself lost in thought. What was it about Jasha that intrigued him so? Was it the challenge of breaking down his walls? Or was there something deeper, something more profound?

Kaleb wondered if he was reading too much into the connection between them. Jasha was merely courteous and extremely cautious. A wave of frustration washed over him. He wanted to shake Jasha, to make him see how much he was missing out on by not talking to him. But he knew that wasn’t the answer. Patience, he reminded himself. This was a marathon, not a sprint.

Kaleb turned back to his book, his mind racing. He needed a plan, a way to break through Jasha’s walls, to show him he was someone he could trust. He wanted to talk the entire trip, but Jasha hid by pretending to lose himself in his reading.

The flight attendant asked if he wanted something to drink.

“I’ll have Jack Daniels on ice.” He tapped Jasha’s shoulder, and he nearly jumped out of his seat. “What would you like to drink?”

“White Russian.”

“Do you have any identification?” the attendant asked.

Jasha must know he looked younger than his actual age, as he confidently pulled out his wallet, presenting his New York driver’s license to the flight attendant.

“Does that happen often?” Kaleb asked.

“Not in places that know me.”

“Do you like to party?”

“On the weekends with my friends.”

The flight attendant brought them their drinks.

“I want to get to know you, Jasha. Please don’t shut me out by reading or just nodding.”

“I’m a little nervous sitting on this plane beside you. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me when we land.” Jasha took a huge gulp of his drink.

“Nothing is going to happen to you that you don’t want. You’re under my protection because you belong to me now. You have no reason to trust or believe me, I understand that, but after we spend the month together during Christmas, I hope your view about me will change.”

“I guess there’s nothing I can do. I’m stuck with you.”

“There’s lots you can do to avoid me. You can stay in your bedroom or walk outside without me. I’m not going to stop you from doing anything, but there are rules for your protection. We’ll talk about them tomorrow. You’ve been through a lot today,” Kaleb explained. It must have been the white Russian he’d scarfed down, because Jasha’s true feelings for him were surfacing. Jasha would rather not be around him if he had a choice. It would be his choice, of course, but Kaleb had other plans. He would find a way to gain his trust and love one day. He had his work cut out for him.

Kaleb picked up his Alex Cross book and ignored Jasha to see if he was more comfortable. For an hour he was deep into his book, then he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He looked up at Jasha.

“Do you need something?”

“I was wondering how we are going to get to Lake Tahoe from San Francisco?”

“Another plane, then Adam will drive us to my house.”

“It seems like forever.”

“Are you bored?”

“You stopped talking to me.”

“Well, you did say you were stuck with me, so I thought I’d give you space.”

“Please tell me how you knew that I was aware of this type of gay relationship.”

“I saw you hanging out with a one at a gay club.”

“What gay club?”

“The gentleman goes by the name Daddy Sergei at the Cubbyhole.”

“Oh, Daddy Sergei moved to Canada.” Jasha’s face lit up when he spoke about his daddy.

“How long were you two together?”

“One year.”

“I used to have a boy, but he didn’t like my rules, so he left.”

“Daddy Sergei had rules for my protection. We lived in the same neighborhood.”

“All good daddies have rules to protect their boys.”

“How long have you been without a boy?”

“Too long.”

“I’m hungry.”

Kaleb pushed the button for the flight attendant, and within moments, she hurried over.

“Can I help you, sir?”

“We’d like dinner. Do you have a menu?”

“I’ll bring one,” she said, stepping away, but returning quickly to hand them menus.

“What do you feel like eating?”

“I’d like the chicken marsala,” he said.

“Sounds good.”

“I hope you let yourself enjoy Lake Tahoe.”

“I want to, but I don’t know you.”

“That can change, Jasha.”