Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

All day, Mike had thrown himself into reviewing the financials of his downtown restaurant and inspecting the premises. The work had taken him away from social media and his thoughts about his conversation with Jessica.

By the time he had returned to his apartment, he knew he wouldn’t sleep because of his nervous energy. He realized it was, in part, due to his angst about James. Mike remembered how James had sometimes seemed sad, and it made Mike wonder why such a handsome, talented man wasn’t on top of the world. The text from Billy suggested James had issues with relationships, but why was a mystery. Nevertheless, Mike was drawn to James, and potential concerns couldn’t dissuade his interest in pursuing him. He remembered he hadn’t called James the night before and he didn’t want another day to pass without the two of them connecting.

It was almost midnight and by most peoples’ standards, too late to contact someone. However, Mike knew it was a working day for James, and he remembered James telling him that after an evening performance, he didn’t get home until eleven-thirty or so. Chances were, James was still awake.

Mike sat at his computer to initiate a video chat. He figured if James was in bed, he would have shut down everything or, at least, he could ignore the pinging from his technology. The dial-up signal displayed for a couple of moments without response, so Mike was ready to disconnect just as James appeared on Mike’s screen. James was sitting in a room lit by a background lamp, giving him an ethereal glow. Mike almost gasped at his good fortune, as James was shirtless. Although Mike could only see from the collarbone up, the exposed skin was making his heart beat faster. He hadn’t lost his attraction to the man since they had last spoken…that was for sure.

“What’s up?” James asked, seeming apprehensive.

“Hi. Is it too late to talk?”

James’ expression remained unreadable. “I was about to go to bed. I shouldn’t talk long. There’s a matinee tomorrow.”

Mike swallowed like a nervous teenager asking for a prom date. “Oh. I just thought you might be up, having worked tonight and all.”

“A call last night would have been better,” James stated.

Mike realized from the hurt in James’ voice that the man had felt rejected when Mike hadn’t called. The night before, Mike had been so focused on his conversation with Jessica, he hadn’t taken the time to consider how going silent on James would impact the man’s emotions. “God, James, I’m sorry that I didn’t call last night…or this morning.”

James’ expression turned sad. “I’m sure you had your reasons. You didn’t owe me anything, and you don’t need to explain. Thank you for your apology, though.”

“Listen, don’t disconnect. Please,” Mike begged. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ghost you. My head was in a bad place last night.”

“Why?”

“My ex-girlfriend called me,” Mike explained. “It was upsetting. She called me things I wasn’t expecting. I guess it was my first experience of what it’s like to be hated for who you are, and it wasn’t good. I should have called you, but I didn’t want to end the day we had together by dumping and projecting drama on you.”

James seemed to contemplate that, and his expression became more relaxed. “I’m sorry that happened to you. You should have called me. If you want us to be friends, then it’s okay for you to share the bad as well as the good. I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I only wanted to hear from you when you’re happy.”

Mike nodded. “You’re right, James. And from now on, if I tell you I’ll call, I will.”

James smirked. “I believe your words were ‘maybe I can call you later,’ so you didn’t break a promise.”

“But I can tell I hurt you. I’m sorry about that.”

James smiled a little. “Okay, stop apologizing. I understand.” Mike sighed with relief and grinned in return. “Truth though, did you really have business to tend to when you dropped me off yesterday?”

Mike decided to be honest, even though he feared it would anger James. “No.”

James’ face fell. “I see. Listen, thanks for the apology…”

Mike cut him off before he could disconnect. “Wait. Let me explain. I shouldn’t have lied to you, but I panicked.”

“Over what? Did you think if you came up to my apartment, I was going to push you to do something you weren’t ready for?” James asked with annoyance.

“No, James. From what little I’ve seen from you, it’s obvious you’re not like that,” Mike replied. “I hate to tell you why because I don’t want to get your brother in trouble with you. He texted me…”

James rolled his eyes. “Ah, yeah. Don’t worry. He was just here. He told me what he did.”

Mike was surprised to hear that. “Oh? Interesting. James, no offense, but the two of you have an odd relationship.”

James shrugged. “I suppose.”

“So, then you understand why I backed away. I didn’t know what to do once I read his text. I had wanted to be more affectionate with you all day, then he threw a wet blanket on the idea. Did he tell you that his message was that if I had sex with you, that you’d be done with me? Listen, I don’t know what that’s about, and you don’t need to explain. I’m just saying, in that moment, I imagined what it would be like to never see you again, and I didn’t want to do anything that would cause that. I got caught up in my thoughts and wasn’t sure what to do next. But the bottom line, James, is I’ve enjoyed being with you. Even if you only want to be friends, I want to continue what we started yesterday.”

James nodded. “I liked being with you, too, Mike. And yes, I want to be friends.”

Mike bit his lower lip. “Just friends?”

James smiled. “Let’s say…at a minimum.”

Mike let out the air he had been withholding. “Good. Me, too. At a minimum, I mean. Okay…wait. No, I’m lying to you again. The truth is, I want to try for more than friendship, James. I’m not saying we have to do something right away. In fact, maybe it’s for the best we didn’t do anything physical yesterday. It gives you a chance to think about what you want, and if you do want more, it gives me time to build up the courage. Look, I’ve never had sex with a man and there’s no guarantee I’d be good at it.”

James wiped a hand over his mouth, unsure how much he should say. “Listen, I have fears, too. There’s stuff I need to tell you. But Mike, none of it has to do with being unsure of whether I want to be friends with you…or take things to a physical level. And I doubt you’d disappoint me.”

Mike blushed. “You say that now. My first time with a woman was a disaster. She didn’t criticize how awkward I was, and how…fast I was. But I knew, and it was mortifying. The thought of reliving something like that is scary. And based on Billy’s text, you have lots of experience in that department.”

James narrowed his eyes. “That isn’t the compliment you’re pretending it is.”

Mike gulped. “It wasn’t a slam. I promise.” When James’ face relaxed, Mike exhaled with relief. “Sorry. I’m saying things that upset you when all I wanted to say was how much I wish I could kiss you right now.” James looked away, and Mike could tell the man was holding back. “James, what is it?”

“Mike, there’s stuff…”

“Nothing that would change my mind,” Mike interjected. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the night I met you. Your attractiveness is a given. But yesterday, at the ballgame, I saw other sides of you that were doing things to me. You were fun and silly, manly yet sensitive, and you weren’t afraid to poke fun at me just because I’m Mike Cooper. I don’t think you understand how hard it is to find someone who is real with you when you’re a famous person whose picture is plastered all over the city. And James, I see how kind you are. You were nice to the people around us and Christ, you even went out of your way to make conversation with the guy who brought us beers. My impression is reinforced every time I see you interact with your brother. I can’t help but think how wonderful it would be if things between us got serious.”

“I don’t do relationships,” James cut in.

That blew the air from Mike’s bubble. “Oh. Okay.” They were silent for a couple of moments, just looking at each other through their cameras. “James, would you be willing to take things a step at a time? Maybe go slowly, and if you still want to, we could go back to being friends?”

James sighed, looking away from the screen again. “You saw the photo of us made the wire? My father already called me with a threat to stay away from you. You don’t want to go up against him.”

Mike grimaced. That was unexpected. Already, he hated Charles Vicksburg. “Would he hurt you?”

“By hurting you,” James responded. “He did it to someone else I cared about, my former boyfriend Daniel. My father destroyed his career.”

Mike nodded. “I’m sorry, James. That’s…terrible.” The two were silent for a moment. “Listen, James, I may not be a senator, but I have some clout, too. I’m not intimidated by people like your father. Maybe he should be the one who fears me.”

James stared back with surprise. “Mike, I don’t know that you should take that risk for me.”

Mike didn’t flinch. “Well, I do know.”

James was looking down at the keyboard, but Mike could almost see the wheels turning in the man’s head. “Mike, he will come after you if he finds out we’re seeing each other. You may not be afraid, but I am. If you’re serious about wanting to see where things go between us, we need to stay out of the public eye. And who knows? After a couple of dates, you might stop thinking I’m worth the risk. It’s better for you to realize that before triggering a war with my father.”

“I’m sure I will think the same of you after getting to know you better, James,” Mike countered. “Unless you have a split personality that you’re not telling me about.”

“How would I know?” James laughed. “Do people with split personalities have awareness of their illness?”

“I don’t know,” Mike admitted with a grin. “James, I’m not afraid of your father, but I will do as you ask and keep quiet about us seeing each other.” James nodded, and they continued to look at each other for another couple of minutes. “Since we’ve confessed that we’re interested in more than friendship, maybe you could give me a little something that gets the ball rolling?”

James quirked an eyebrow. “Huh?”

Mike scratched the back of his neck with some nervousness. “Does it sound too weird to ask if you’d back up from the camera so I can see your chest?”

James jerked his head back, startled before grinning. “Mike Cooper…are you trying to turn this into a sex chat?”

Mike shrugged. “I just asked to see your chest.” When James still looked at him with suspicion, Mike added, “Pretty please, James?”

James chuckled, but pushed his chair far enough from the screen that Mike could see James’ entire torso. Mike looked at James’ lightly dusted chest, nice-sized nipples resting on chiseled pecs, and he thought his dick couldn’t get harder.

“Disappointed?” James asked, though his smile indicated he knew Mike wasn’t.

“Um, no.” Mike gulped. “You are as beautiful as I imagined. You know, when we were in your dressing room, your shirt was unbuttoned a bit. I kept trying to get a glimpse of your chest. I went home chastising myself for being a dirty old man.”

James laughed. “You aren’t that old. And from what I’ve seen from the underwear ads, you don’t look like an old man either. Of course, one never knows how much Photoshopping happens before the end-product is revealed. Perhaps you should take off your shirt to convince me that it isn’t false advertising.”

Mike sniggered. “Well, I wouldn’t want a customer to think we’d stoop to such depths.” He rolled his chair away from the monitor so James could see his torso, then lifted his shirt up and over his head.

“Jesus!” James whispered. “Okay, the advertising has been the real deal.”

Mike laughed some more. “Glad I staved off a customer complaint. But does my chest look as good to you as when you used to jack off to it?”

James blushed. “God, I still want to wring Billy’s little neck for sharing that.”

Mike bellowed with laughter. “Will it help if I confess something to you? Since meeting you, I’ve done it more times than I can count while picturing you—usually with you wearing that little Nazi-seducing outfit.”

James gave Mike a flirtatious side-eye. “You liked that, huh?”

“Oh yeah,” Mike groaned. “If that were on film, I’d be watching it every night. I think the skin on my palm or my dick would bruise from overuse.”

James chuckled. “Well, then it’s good it wasn’t recorded.”

“It would be worth it,” Mike countered. “What are you wearing below the waist?”

James eyed him with suspicion again. “So, you are trying to push online sex.”

Mike bit his lip once more. “So untrusting. I just wondered if you had on boxers or briefs—or nothing at all. It’s a natural thing to wonder.”

“Is it, though?” James snickered. “Well, for your information, you were wrong on all three counts.”

“Oh, pray tell,” Mike pressed.

“I’m wearing trunks,” James answered. “They’re shorter than boxer-briefs.”

“I’m familiar. I’m an underwear model, remember? May I see them?”

James shook his head like a put-upon school teacher, but stood from the chair so that Mike could see him from the waist down to his knees. Then, he sat back on the chair, smiling at the expression on Mike’s face.

“I know the other vision I’ll be jacking off to now,” Mike rasped. He delighted in James’ laughter. “Holy crap. You have such nice thighs—and a huge dick.”

James looked down, almost as if to remind himself. “Uh, guess the light gray-colored, jersey-knit underwear reveals more than I thought.” Mike just moaned in return. “Okay, it’s not fair that I had to show you my underwear and you don’t have to show me yours. I think you should return the favor.”

Mike mentally slapped himself from his daze. “Huh? Oh, you can see me in underwear any time you walk in a store.”

“Not with you having a hard-on, I can’t,” James replied. “I expect you to show me something more personal and special—just for me.”

Mike smiled. “Already, I can’t refuse you. Okay. I need to take my pants off first.” He did so out of camera view, watching James who was staring with anticipation. Once his trousers were chucked from his legs, he stood up to reveal his black boxer-briefs. He turned sideways so James could take in the view of his muscular butt as well.

“Um, that is…hot,” James managed to say, his excitement evident.

“I’m not as big as you,” Mike stated, taking his seat once more. “I can tell. I’m kind of average-sized. I’ve been told that’s a bigger deal to guys than it is to girls. Is it?”

James snickered. “Don’t perpetuate the stereotypes against the LGBTQ community. No, I’m not disappointed. It looks nice and…it works, right?

Mike laughed. “Oh, it works, James. It’s always up for what needs to be done. In fact, it’s wanting to put in a shift right now.”

“Ah. Back to that, are we?” James mused.

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to show me anything else. I’ve decided I don’t want to see any more of you,” Mike declared.

James jerked his head back with surprise. “Ouch. Is it something I said?”

Mike shook his head, holding up his hands in the air. “You misunderstand. I want to see everything. Just not tonight. I’d rather wait until I can see you naked in-person instead of through a dimly lit blur.”

James laughed. “Clean your screen sometime. And we’ll see how things go before we talk about getting naked.”

Mike grinned with confidence. “James, don’t fight it. You know you’ll show me everything and you can’t wait. But as for tonight, I thought maybe we could jerk off together. We can just look at each other’s faces and chests while we do it.”

“Ha! I knew that’s where this was leading.”

“Hmm, another thing that draws me to you. You’re smart and perceptive. So, what do you say? You know if we don’t, you’ll end up whacking alone in bed when we disconnect anyway. Don’t deny it. I know I would. So, why not do it together instead?” Mike reasoned.

James blushed with a shy smile. “God, you’d think I was the same-sex virgin and you were the experienced one.”

Mike ignored James’ procrastination, reaching down to start stroking his cock through the fabric of his boxer-briefs. “Mm, so good, James. I wish you’d join me.”

James’ eyes hazed—he couldn’t hide his desire at watching Mike pleasuring himself. Mike knew he’d won when he saw James’ hand slip below the view of the camera. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“Take your trunks off,” Mike commanded. “I want to know your hand is stroking your bare skin.”

James seemed past protests as Mike watched his partner bend forward, using his arms to push down the unseen fabric. James sat back up with a dreamy expression. “They’re off.” He held them up with his right hand to prove it to Mike.

“Oh my God,” Mike muttered, before reaching down to remove his own underwear. He grabbed onto his engorged dick and began stroking it, watching the panting and chest-heaving on the other side of the camera.

“I won’t last long,” James whispered. “I haven’t jerked off in a couple of days.”

“Me either,” Mike concurred. “Brush your fingers over your hole. It’s how I pictured you stroking with me when I masturbated to images of you.”

James blushed. “Jesus. Are you sure you’re a novice at this?”

“Just do it,” Mike growled. “I want to see your face when you’re touching your most private places.”

James hesitated, but Mike knew he had given in when James’ eyes fluttered and he emitted a soft moan.

“Are you doing it?” James ventured after a moment

“You want me to?” Mike asked. “You want me to breach myself?”

“God, yes!” James replied as he leaned back in the chair. Mike used the index finger of his freehand to penetrate his hole. “You’re so fucking hot,” James managed through his pants. “My dick is leaking like a burst pipe.”

“Mm. I wish I was there to see it. To lick it,” Mike gasped.

That statement put James over the edge, and he shot several hot spurts up his belly and chest. Mike was in awe, seeing the white cream splattering James’ torso, propelling his own intense orgasm. He felt the liquid creating mini-puddles into the crevices of his six-pack abs.

“Christ!” James shouted as he finished his orgasm.

Mike gasped as his ejaculation was ending. “Fuck. I needed that.”

Both sat looking at each other, watching the other’s breathing begin to slow. After a couple of minutes had passed, James managed to smile. “You need to clean the cum gutters now.”

Mike chuckled in return. “I’d say I hate when that happens, but I promised no more lies.” He looked at James’ messed-up stomach and chest. “And speak for yourself. You shoot high. That’s fucking sexy. I can’t wait to see you come in-person.”

James gave him the bashful smile that Mike was starting to love. “Maybe.”

Mike pursed his lips. “Nah. It’s a definite. And you know I’ll savor licking every drop.”

James was wiping himself dry with tissue, but he looked up with eyes wide at Mike’s comment. “Don’t get me hard again.”

“Why not?”

“Because, there’s a matinee tomorrow and I should be in bed already,” James reminded him. “Then I have an evening show, too.”

Mike frowned, beginning his own clean-up. “So, I can’t see you tomorrow, can I?”

James shook his head. “It wouldn’t be possible. Sorry. It’s more than just the two shows. I have rehearsals and physical therapy between performances.”

“Injury?”

James shook his head again. “No. The show is so rigorous, it’s just a good idea to keep my body limber so I don’t get hurt.”

“Well, you having a limber body just adds to your appeal. I’m not sure I like picturing someone else rubbing you down every day, though.” Mike frowned.

James sighed. “Mike, it’s a professional physical therapist. She’s massaging my muscles, not giving me a blow job.”

“Bet she wants to.” Mike pouted. “Don’t make me brand you so she knows you’re off limits.”

James raised an eyebrow. “Okay, that’s wrong on so many levels. Nobody brands me, I say when I’m off limits and I’ll remind you that I don’t do relationships.”

Mike swallowed hard. “James, I was playing. Your father may be a controlling jerk, but I’m not. And I won’t push you on the relationship stuff.”

James looked skeptical. “Are you sure you can refrain from trying to control me? Yesterday you said you have connections—people who’d help me get a gig singing the national anthem at Yankee Stadium.” Mike remembered the displeasure James seemed to have when Mike made the offer. “That’s something my father would do if he wanted to encourage my singing career. I don’t want your help, at least not like that. I’ve worked for everything I have, and I don’t need someone pulling strings trying to control me or my career.”

Mike nodded. “I understand. Thank you for telling me, James. I wish you had said something yesterday. I respect how you’ve carved out your own life, even in your father’s shadow. I don’t want to be someone else who is trying to bend you to their will.”

That seemed to cut the edge from James’ expression. “Thanks.”

Mike felt a bit shamed, but also relieved that he was beginning to understand what was behind some of James’ troubled expressions. “Hey, go shower and get into bed. I don’t want to be the reason you’re off your game tomorrow. Maybe I could see you Thursday?”

“What time?” James inquired. “I need to go in for rehearsals by early afternoon.”

“Perhaps I can bring breakfast over? I’ll wear a nondescript hat and clothes and sneak in. Nobody will know it’s me.”

James laughed. “Just know, we’re not having sex Thursday morning. I’ll need energy for the show, which is already tough on Thursdays because of the two shows each Wednesday.”

“I’ll be on my best behavior,” Mike promised.

James gave Mike a side-eye again. “Well, I’m not saying you have to go that far. I think you owe me a kiss that you withheld when we parted yesterday. I don’t care what Billy texted. A kiss is just a kiss. That was cold of you, man.”

Mike’s expression dipped. “I didn’t mean to be. It took everything in me not to kiss you.”

“So why didn’t you? Was the limo driver a homophobe?”

Mike shook his head. “Carl? Nah, he’s cool. He congratulated me on my announcement. I didn’t kiss you because I knew if I did, there was no way I’d be able to resist going inside with you and doing what Billy warned me against.”

James nodded. “Okay. I would have had a difficult time refusing, too. Listen, if I have time tomorrow, I’ll text you. It will be hard since I’ll be on the stage most of the day.”

“I understand. Hey, speaking of you being on stage, I’d like to see the show again. Next time, I want you to do your sexy parts knowing I’m watching you.”

James moaned. “Christ. I don’t think that’s a good idea. Do you want me parading a boner on stage?”

Mike chuckled. “Oh, yes. I want that very much.”

James shook his head with a grin. “You’re a voyeuristic perv. Do you realize that? I’m seeing a pattern. I can get you a ticket for the Sunday show. There’s only a matinee. Then I’m off until Tuesday.”

Mike was excited at the prospect of that much time with James. “I like the way your head is thinking. I can accompany you home after the show is done?”

James nodded. “Sure. Now, let me go to bed. And you can go shower and think about what you’ll surprise me with for breakfast on Thursday morning.”

Mike’s face fell. “Now you just put pressure on me. I don’t know what you like.”

“You’ve implied you know everything you need to know about me.” James grinned. “I’m sure you’ll come through.”

“But…”

James smiled. “Goodnight, Mike.”

Mike snickered to himself after James disconnected from their chat. James wasn’t going to be a fawning groupie like so many others had been. Mike had a secret weapon, though—he had Billy’s phone number from the text the man had sent. He would check with Billy about James’ likes and dislikes, then surprise him on Thursday with his favorite breakfast food.

Mike was thrilled that his conversation with James had gone much better than expected. He hadn’t thought they’d end up having online sex, and it made him hopeful that things would progress quickly.

Mike knew he’d have to tread carefully, though. That meant finding out as much about Charles Vicksburg as possible. He didn’t want to be in reaction mode if the senator attacked him. He had to be ready to launch his own offense. Mike figured he had better warn his agent and publicist, as well. If it was his character that Vicksburg attacked, Mike wanted them ready to respond.