Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The next night, Joseph’s phone alarm went off promptly at 7:30 PM, a good bit before sunset. He went through his wake-up routine, showered, and tried to pick out a nice semi-casual outfit for the date with David. Joseph appreciated Rafaél for keeping his wardrobe current via a quarterly stylist, but he wished he had some help right this moment. He wanted to impress David but hadn’t been on a real date in thirty years. Cruising West Hollywood or Soho in a casual shirt and jeans, or attending board meetings in a high-end suit—these were looks he was comfortable with. But this in-between place confounded him. A quick Google search for “men’s first-date outfit” gave him some ideas, and Joseph ended up picking out a warm grey sharkskin suit and paired it with a blue-striped fitted dress shirt. He added a blue-grey tie and a sharp pair of brown dress shoes with matching belt to complete the ensemble.

Joseph took a step back from the mirror. “Rahhhhr,” he said, smiling. He looked pretty good for north of five hundred years old. He glanced at his watch—a classic Uhrenmanufaktur Heuer he’d gotten to celebrate the end of the first World War—and realized he was running late. Joseph called for a Lyft while he popped into the kitchen and heated up a container of blood. He didn’t suppose there was going to be much on the menu at the club that would sit well with his stomach, and it wouldn’t do to be hungry for what was sure to be a fun-filled evening with the hot young man.

The empty blood bag was just being dropped into the incinerator when Joseph’s phone pinged him that his ride had arrived. He quickly rinsed his mouth at the kitchen sink and suddenly found himself feeling nervous about the date. What? Nervous? He had fought in hand-to-hand combat in the hellscape of war. He had traveled the world and met kings and emperors and dictators. He controlled the livelihoods of thousands. How was he nervous about a date with a man he just met?

The answer came to him in pieces as he rode in the back seat of the mercifully unchatty Lyft. From his dinner conversation with Rafaél where he admitted his loneliness and reminisced extensively about his past loves, to his long night with David. It had mostly been sex, sure, but everything leading up to it, and the in-between breaks, had been great. Little clues pointed to him being a genuinely good guy. The way David spoke about family when they were covering the basic get to know you stuff. His passion for life and compassion for people. And the fact that he spoke in complete sentences, which set him apart from the usual WeHo boy toys.

And that waiter at the restaurant with Rafi! On any normal day, he would have been back at Joseph’s castle bent over an extra-plush pillow that night (or, given the bulge under his apron, had Joseph bent over one). But no, Joseph had walked home alone. Well, mostly alone.

The fact of the matter was that he felt differently about David than he had about any guy in decades. It was a scary and exhilarating feeling. Joseph spent most of the Lyft ride trying to bring himself back to Earth. In all his life, Joseph had been in love only three times. Four, if you count the teenage love for that Roman soldier when he was still human. It just didn’t happen in one night. His romance with Connor had taken years to develop. There was no reason to get overly excited just yet. Although, another part of his brain countered, we are going on an actual date. What gays do that anymore in the age of Grindr and Scruff?

He tried to distract himself with other thoughts. What was the stock market doing? What about the rocket work that was being done in the space division? But business led his train of thought to Alexander and what Joseph suspected his progeny of being up to. That was too far in the wrong direction, so he thought again of David, and the last moments he saw him. As Joseph had been getting dressed to leave the apartment following their night together, David had remained naked; his smooth, toned torso glowing with the sheen of sweat, lube, and cum. The younger man had been completely at ease with his nudity, leaning on the kitchen counter and cocking his hip to the side, one foot crossed over the other. He looked so sexy with his weight on one leg like that, the abs on one side of his stomach flexing to maintain his balance as he watched Joseph pull on his shoes, the hallway light highlighting one side of his body, and the curve of his butt…

“Wow,” Joseph said aloud at the visual memory. He noted with interest that his skin was tingling in a very not-unpleasant way.

“Everything okay?” the Lyft driver said. He was a Persian or Armenian fellow, probably been driving a taxi since he got to America, but now relegated to trying to make a living as a gig worker.

“Yeah, yeah, just thinking about someone,” Joseph replied, making eye contact in the rearview mirror.

“You are in love, yes?” Joseph started to disagree with the assertion but the driver cut him off. “Yes, yes, I can see this.” He continued defending the point as if Joseph had been insulted by the accusation. “It is good to be in love! Love is the purpose of life. There is nothing without love.”

“I agree completely, my friend. It’s just a little early to call it love.”

“Pah! You can love little, or love completely, or anywhere in between. What they say? Love is love is love.” He made a wave with his hand to demonstrate that kids today don’t know and just trust me with this.

Joseph smiled but didn’t say anything. He supposed tonight would prove or disprove the driver’s theory. Either way, the world would keep spinning and life would go on. David and Joseph could be a part of each other’s lives or they could not.

The Lyft turned onto Sunset Boulevard and then pulled off into the parking garage. Joseph got out, thanking the man for the ride. On the way to the Starbucks, he tapped the max tip option on the rideshare app and noted the time before he put his phone away. Despite the time spent trying to figure out his wardrobe, he was still a few minutes early. He decided to surprise his date with a drink and was thinking about what David might like when he opened the cafe door and spotted him sitting at a table already, facing the door so he could watch for Joseph’s arrival. And he already had two to-go cups in front of him.

Joseph found himself charmed out of words. He took a few steps towards the table, hoping his brain would get in gear.

“Hey,” he said. Good one, he thought.

“Hi, handsome. You look fantastic! Love the outfit.” David rose from the table and met Joseph with a hug, like they’d known each other for years. When they parted, David grabbed Joseph’s face gently and kissed him deeply. Joseph’s hands wrapped around David reflexively. After a couple of seconds, they parted naturally. It was a perfect hello kiss between lovers. Not too much for public, but clearly not chaste either.

“Wow,” Joseph said for the second time that evening. “Hello to you, too.” He took in David’s wardrobe selection, which consisted of a subtle houndstooth jacket with a bolder burgundy windowpane pattern that played off his dark pink button-down Oxford shirt. He wore charcoal slacks that matched the slim tie and pocket square. White sneakers featuring rainbow accents completed the outfit. “You look great, too.”

“I didn’t know if you were a kisser, but since we already did way more than that, I figured throw out the first-date rules,” David rambled.

Joseph couldn’t help but smirk at the adorkable nature of it all. “I like the way you think,” he said.

“Oh!” David remembered, stepping to the table for the cups. “I got here a little early so I got you something. I figured green tea would be a safe choice; I hope you like it.”

“Actually, that’s my favorite thing here, thank you!” It was true, in that it was pretty much the only thing Joseph could stomach at Starbucks. Most teas were fine for him to drink, and it was what he always got during “coffee meetings.”

“Awesome. I figured it wasn’t enough caffeine to worry about, and I didn’t want to risk any dairy allergies on a first date.”

David ended the explanation with a cute little shrug that made Joseph swoon the tiniest bit. “You didn’t have to get me anything, but that is incredibly sweet. And I do, in fact, have an aversion to dairy, so really good call.”

A slight look of concern crossed David’s face. He indicated his own drink. “I got an almond milk chai, is that going to cause any problems?” He paused while he tried to think of what possible problems it could cause and laughed. “Really, really bad nut allergies, maybe?”

Joseph laughed, too. “No nut allergies. You’re good.” There was a comfortable moment while they both just kind of enjoyed standing in front of each other, then Joseph broke the silence. “It’s really good to see you again.”

“Yeah, me too. I’m just going to risk it and say I have thought a lot about you the last couple of days.”

“Really?” Joseph replied, feigning mild shock. “Because honestly I almost forgot we had a date tonight.” He was teasing, but as soon as he said it, he regretted it. They didn’t know each other’s senses of humor yet and he wouldn’t want David to think he was being a jerk.

As if reading his mind, David retorted, “Oh, I know you’re lying, my friend, because this— ” he waved his index finger at Joseph’s ensemble, “Is a man who dressed to impress.”

Joseph meant to say, “You got me!” and laugh roguishly, but instead he just stood there, a smirk blooming into a grin. He pushed into the moment, leaning in a bit. “Is it working?”

David leaned in the rest of the way to close the gap between their faces. “Oh, yeah.” He pressed his lips to Joseph’s. He only held the kiss for a second or two, then pulled away a few inches, looking Joseph in the eyes. Joseph tried to lean in for another kiss, but David backed off just an inch so Joseph missed his target. They both grinned at the game.

“So this date you have planned, is it super cool or should we ditch it and go back to my place? I mean, as much as I love you in a suit, I really dig you out of one, too.”

Joseph acted as if he were considering the idea. “Well, that depends. How do you feel about magic?”

David sniggered. “Ha! Good one.” He waited for the back and forth to continue, but Joseph instead had a slight but very genuine look of worry cross his face. “Wait, you’re serious? You’re taking me to a magic show?”

Joseph faltered. “Kind of. I mean, it’s more than that. Dinner—”

“Oh, no, that’s cool, I’m sure it’ll be great.” David tried to hide his disappointment, but the truth snuck out of his mouth. “I mean, I’ve never really been a fan of magic, but I trust you.” He tried to recover the moment. “Hey, if I’m with you, I’m sure I’ll have a great time. That’s what’s important.”

Joseph eyed him skeptically, assessing the man, and his plan. He suspected his idea for the evening was still a good one, but though he had wanted it to be a surprise, he decided it was better to be safe than sorry. “Have you ever been to the Magic Castle?”

David’s eyebrows scrunched together at the name. “No… It’s a private club, isn’t it? You have to be a member to get in?”

Joseph was relieved. A magic show was one thing. A night at the Magic Castle was something else entirely. “I know people,” he said simply. “I think you’ll have a good time.”

David straightened to his full six feet and stated sincerely, “I trust you.”

The second Lyft of the evening drove north on La Brea Avenue towards the Hills until it turned right into Franklin, driving behind the Hollywood & Highland center and tourist trap. On the left, set up high on the hill, was a great gothic Victorian mansion. The stained-glass windows were brightly lit, as was the rest of the building, and a large sign next to the driveway proclaimed it “The Magic Castle: Academy of Magical Arts.” The car turned into the drive which banked steeply up and curved around to the front door, where a valet opened the back doors for David and Joseph. The gentlemen said thanks to the Lyft driver, who was directed to keep driving forward to get out of the lot.

In front of the building, there was a small red carpet set to the side with a step and repeat backdrop behind it so people could take pictures to commemorate their visit. There was an awning jutting out from the door (which people could wait under for their cars in case of inclement weather, which did happen in Los Angeles a few days a year), a valet station, for those that brought their own cars (a Tesla Roadster was pulling in behind them just now), and there was a large swinging double door leading into a foyer where a greeter station was set.

“Do you want to take a picture?” Joseph asked tentatively, gesturing to the red carpet, where a group was doing that very thing. He still wasn’t sure where David’s mindset was on this.

“Our first picture together? Ooh, at least we dressed up for it,” he said, putting his best foot forward. Joseph could tell he wasn’t yet sold on the magic aspect of the evening but liked the fact that he was making it about them being together.

One of the other guests took their picture, arms around each other like they’d been boyfriends for months, and David returned the favor, taking the strangers’ picture with proffered phones. The pair then made their way into the foyer, where the club hostess confirmed reservations and made sure dress code was being followed. The man in front of them, a cocky actor-type dressed sharply in an expensive-looking designer shirt, was being told that he needed to have a jacket and tie to go in. He was trying to argue his way in (a solution that almost never worked, in Joseph’s experience), and the hostess, with the help of an intimidating-looking bouncer, informed him that the only options available were to leave and return with the required wardrobe, or use one of the items available from the club’s supply. But, being a magician’s club, those were considerably less flattering. The actor pushed past Joseph and David and stormed out in a huff.

Joseph leaned over as they moved up to the reception counter and whispered, “They’re very strict about the dress code.”

David was looking over his shoulder at the irate guy. “He acted like he was really important, but I’ve never seen him before in my life. He’d be handsome, but bitchy looks really bad on him.”

Joseph elbowed him playfully and gave his name to the host. She gave them tickets to present to the dining room, welcomed them to the Castle, and gestured to a wall of bookshelves opposite the desk, saying, “Just say the magic words.”

Joseph turned to David. “Go ahead. You know what the phrase is for doors, right?”

David looked curiously at the door and then back to Joseph. “Please? Please is the magic word, isn’t it? But that doesn’t make any sense.”

Joseph grinned. He loved watching other people solve puzzles he already knew the answers to. “No, the phrase Ali Baba used to get into the cave of wonders.” He was delighted when an expression of recognition dawned on David’s face.

“Oh … Seriously? Open sesame?” he said to both Joseph and the woman at the counter.

“Not to me, to the owl.” Joseph pointed at a bronze statue of an owl that was sitting on one of the shelves.

David turned to the owl. “Open sesame!” At the utterance of the phrase, the owl’s eyes glowed red and one section of the bookshelf slid into the wall, revealing the interior of the mansion beyond. David was unable to control a small squeal of glee, and Joseph knew the rest of the evening was going to turn out just fine.

David’s delight only increased the more he saw. Immediately inside the Castle was a bar room, and they each ordered drinks to carry with them as they explored. David got a rum and pineapple juice while Joseph got another Killepitsch, the drink he had the night they met. Behind the bar, Joseph led them into a smaller sitting room that featured a grand piano, the seat of which was roped off. The piano was playing itself.

“That’s Irma the Ghost,” Joseph explained as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “She’s been playing here since she was alive. She takes requests and can play pretty much anything, but only for tips.” He pointed at a large gilded birdcage that was hanging next to the piano. It had singles and five-dollar bills stuffed between its thin bars. David looked at Joseph doubtfully, but he only shrugged in response. To prove his story, Joseph pulled a skinny wallet from his jacket pocket and dug out a fiver.

He approached the piano. “Hi, Irma,” he said amiably. The version of “Magic to Do” from Pippin stopped, and the piano trilled two short chords that somehow sounded exactly like Hello.

“How are you tonight?”

Another sprightly series of notes played, and David realized that the keys were indeed moving, apparently of their own accord.

Joseph slipped the five into the birdcage, and the piano trilled in thanks. “I’m glad to hear it. Could you play ‘Canon in D’? I’m here on a date.”

The piano chirped a congratulations and immediately began playing Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D’ beautifully and romantically. Joseph turned back to his date, whose mouth hung open in bewilderment before dissolving into a grin as he made eye contact.

“That’s cool,” David admitted. He very much wanted to ask how do they do it, but something inside him really enjoyed the enchantment of not knowing how the illusion was pulled off.

“Thought you’d like it. The story goes that Irma played the piano here at the club like fifty years ago. She loved playing so much that she died while performing one night and just kept on playing,” Joseph said with absolute sincerity. “Go ahead and request something.”

David excitedly dug out a dollar bill, looking at Joseph for confirmation, who nodded that it was just fine. He turned back to the piano but paused. “Actually, I want to hear the rest of this.”

Joseph sat in a plush loveseat facing the piano and patted for David to join him. They put their drinks on the table in front of them, and David sat, Joseph wrapping one arm over his shoulder. They enjoyed the music together.

People wandered in and out, but the club wasn’t too busy this early, and they had the room pretty much to themselves. At one point, Joseph felt David’s gaze on him and turned his head to meet it. They both smiled and kissed lightly. No need for an intense makeout, not when they could enjoy the romance of being serenaded by a ghost.

The song ended and David stood up, pushing on Joseph’s knee to get out of the soft cushions of the sofa. “Irma, that was beautiful!” Irma tickled the ivories in thanks, and again when David stuck the bill into the cage bars. “Could you play ‘LoveGame’ by Lady Gaga?” He looked over his shoulder at Joseph, who smirked knowingly. “I want to see if I can stump—”

The piano started a pulsing beat. The hard electronic chords that opened the original version of the song came out strong and loud from the strings of the grand. Irma somehow managed to play the bass line and the melody and the talking rhythm that began the song. It was so good David could almost hear the words talking about taking a ride on a disco stick. His mouth dropped. The normally techno dance song sounded amazing on piano. People started wandering in from the bar to hear Irma the Ghost positively slay the Lady Gaga tune.

David started getting into it, dancing a bit despite the trickle of patrons wandering into the sitting room. He dance-walked back to Joseph and sang the lyrics as they came up. When he got to the part where he got his ass squeezed by sexy Cupid, he included the appropriate hand gestures.

Joseph laughed and stood up to meet him on what was becoming an impromptu dance floor. They got close and moved their bodies together. Some of the other patrons wandered in and started dancing and singing, too. When it got to the chorus, the voices of half a dozen people joined with the pulsing piano rhythm.

Instead of repeating the chorus and all the dance breaks, Irma found a spot to end the song on a high note with a flourish and a hard double-beat chord. The room united in applause.

“Irma, that was incredible!” David effused, and Irma trilled a bashful series of notes. He turned to Joseph. “How?”

“I have no idea.” He jerked his head to the room’s exit. “Let’s look around. I want to show you some stuff before dinner.”

The next hour was spent wandering the labyrinthine maze of the mansion. Down a flight of stairs led to a series of basement corridors and performance spaces. Every room had a magician doing a show: close-up magic, card tricks, mixed shows with comedy. There must have been a dozen magicians performing in all corners of the club. Some were in rooms that had scheduled shows, and others sat at tables set in various corners where patrons could come and go as they pleased. In the lowest basement, there was a small theater where a magic practitioner was performing with a stuffed monkey who hypnotized the audience. David had never seen anything quite like it. Every performance amazed and delighted him.

The Castle itself had tricks and secrets, including a phone booth that looked empty, but when you went inside and closed the door, a skeleton appeared in the mirror behind you. There were bits of history crammed into every nook and cranny—videos about WC Fields and his early comedy, programs and posters from Houdini (and even one of the large milk cans he escaped from).

Before they knew it, it was time to report to the dining room for dinner. Joseph informed David that they dare not be late, because the reservations were strictly timed to lead from dinner to the show in the large theater.

They were seated in the dining room at an intimate table with a candle and cloth napkins folded in the shape of roses. “Order anything you want, it’s on me,” Joseph said, adding, “But please excuse me, I’m on a liquid diet at the moment. Not the way alcoholics say it, it’s for a medical thing.” He realized he had not needed to explain away his inability to eat solid food in quite some time. He hadn’t spent much time coming up with his excuse for tonight, and now that he said it out loud, it sounded stupid and unbelievable. He immediately wished he had just skipped dinner reservations and brought David for the shows, but then plenty of the actors and models he’d taken to bed had claimed to be on liquid diets in preparation for shoots—

David interrupted his mental flagellation. “I hope it’s nothing serious?”

Joseph was impressed that David’s first reaction was concern for his well-being. It was somehow an unusual reaction among men in Los Angeles. “Yeah, totally, no worries at all.” He changed the subject. “I recommend the filet mignon, by the way, it’s amazing.”

Dinner was amazing. David ate his steak, salad, mashed potatoes, and grilled Brussels sprouts while Joseph ordered wine for them both and sipped that. He had asked David to request no onions or garlic, as he was allergic to that group of vegetables, and David was happy to order his dinner without them. Of course, onions weren’t really a problem, but broadening the scope of the fib somehow made it more believable and, more importantly, less suspicious.

During the meal, the conversation flowed as naturally as if the two men had known each other much longer than two days. The topics were very get-to-know-you things. David talked about being the only child of two staunch Southern Republicans, while Joseph spoke truthfully of his childhood on the farm with four siblings, though he strategically omitted certain details, such as the century, the country, and that one brother and one sister had died before the age of fifteen due to a contagious disease, leaving only him and the remaining older sister. They talked early sexual encounters: David’s in a bathroom stall at the mall with an older man at the age of sixteen; Joseph’s a year younger with a soldier at his sister’s wedding.

They spoke of their life’s passions. David told Joseph about the show he worked on called Hardly An Angel, and about how he wanted to be a director. He enjoyed narrative filmmaking but had a love for documentaries and wanted more than anything to inspire people. When asked, Joseph spoke vaguely about also wanting to help people, while doing a little of everything for work. It was technically true, if lacking in specific details.

They both opted to skip dessert. Joseph paid the check, and they exited the opposite way from which they’d entered the dining room. They went down the stairs into a completely new part of the mansion, which David was amazed could exist. How was the building he’d seen from the outside big enough for all this?

There was another bar at the bottom of the stairs but neither of them felt like another drink. It was about fifteen minutes until they were allowed to get in line for the show, so they explored this previously unseen section of the club. Another close-up magician was doing card magic at an octagonal poker table at the other end of the bar. They passed him and his ecstatic audience of seven people (plus a few more standing and nursing their drinks) and came to a velvet rope line that led to a smaller theater.

A club employee (or perhaps a young magician’s apprentice) saw them and gestured to the entrance. “The show starts in two minutes. There’s a few seats left!”

“How long is the show?” Joseph inquired.

“About ten minutes.”

“Perfect!” Joseph turned to David. “You want to…?”

David grinned amiably. “Oh, I am following your lead on all of this.”

Joseph returned the grin, and they entered the small theater. It wasn’t that small, in actuality. About seventy or eighty seats, set stadium style in ten rows, gave everyone a perfect view of the diminutive performance area. Just as they got to their seats, the apprentice/employee came out to give the club speech about not taking pictures or video, and basically don’t be a jerk. The sign next to the stage read “The Incraigible Cred!” The young maybe-magician finished the spiel, and the lights dimmed.

A drumroll started as a voice over the speakers said dramatically, “Ladies and Gentlemen, children of … childhood age … prepare yourself for the show of a lifetime. Direct from the Orient, where he was sightseeing after growing up in Cincinnati and going to college all the way in Columbus but dropping out because he wanted to be a magician…” The drumroll built in intensity and dramatic music swelled. “Please put your hands together and then apart in a sort of clapping motion as we bring to the stage…”

The curtains parted to reveal a thin man holding a microphone. The audience laughed, realizing that the awkward magician was providing his own awful introduction.

“The Incredible Crai—” He stopped short when he saw the sign. “The Incraigible…” He trailed off in disbelief. He waved his hands at an imaginary sound guy. “Stop the music! Stop! Jeff, stop, turn it off.” Craig pulled a music player out of his upstage pocket and pressed pause. The music stopped.

It was supposed to be obvious, and his timing was perfect. The audience loved it.

The rest of the show was a mix of storytelling, comedy, and trick magic. Like putting a bottle of ketchup into a bag and then crumpling the bag like nothing was there. The tricks weren’t impressive, at least to Joseph, who had been around the block a few times, but the performance itself and the story accompanying the trick was solid and funny, and David was enjoying himself.

When the Incredible Craig finished, he got a nice loud ovation, and the audience obediently filed out of the theater. Joseph gently took David’s hand for the first time and directed him towards the large theater space called “The Palace.” There was a moderate line, and the door had just opened to let people file in. They joined the end of the line and were able to ogle more magical memorabilia along the wall as they moved, until they were inside and seated, with approximately a hundred and fifty other people. A waitress was walking the room to make sure everyone was drinked up. She stopped at the pair, who now each had their hand on the other’s thigh. “You boys are adorable. Need a drink for the show?”

Joseph was fine, but he turned to check in with David, who was sporting the most contented little smirk and looking at him. “Mm-mm,” he said, shaking his head slightly.

“No, thank you, we’re good,” Joseph told the waitress, and then directed his attention to the stage. Just looking around. But then he sensed David’s gaze was still on him and turned his head. The young man was still grinning slightly and trying to fight it getting bigger. “What?” Joseph laughed.

“You held my haaaaand,” David accused, teasing in a singsong voice.

“Oh my God, I did? I’m sorry, it won’t happen again,” Joseph jibed in return. “I wouldn’t want anyone to think we were—” he looked around conspiratorially and leaned closer, whispering “—gaaaaaaay.”

David matched his volume, whispered, “Heaven forbid,” and closed the gap between their lips for a quick kiss. Then he looked around, pretending to make sure no one had seen.

“Mmm, I think we’re safe from suspicion,” Joseph purred and grabbed David’s nearest hand, entwining their fingers.

In perfect timing, the lights dimmed and the show began, as every show should, with a song.

“At the Magic Castle…” David sang as they rode back to his apartment. It was a refrain from the opening number of Jeb’s show, sung by his beautiful assistant, and included instructions for the audience, as in:

Make sure you turn off all your phones,

At the Magic Castle…

Then it was used as a punchline throughout the first act.

Jeb had been on fire. One time, literally. His show was hysterical and amazing, with illusions that even Joseph in all his worldliness couldn’t figure out. The best part of the evening, though, was the moment when he looked over at David, the guy who “didn’t really like magic,” and the look on his face of pure childlike wonder had filled Joseph with a warmth he hadn’t felt in ages.

After the show, they’d hung out with Jeb at the bar. All the patrons and performers mingled into the late hour, and David had met a couple of famous actors who were guests of member magicians. The club didn’t close until 2:00 AM when they were forced to stop serving liquor, but Joseph had whispered something into David’s ear around midnight that had perked up his date’s ears, and they’d made their way swiftly to the entrance after saying quick goodbyes.

As they arrived at David’s apartment, still laughing and recounting all the funny and incredible things they’d seen while they rode the elevator, Joseph pulled David close. “I’m really glad you had a good time,” he cooed.

“I had a great time.” He wrapped his arms around the ever-so-slightly taller man. “I didn’t think it was going to be that fun, but it was perfect.”

“Well, it’s not over yet. I’ve got something special in mind for you,” Joseph whispered seductively.

David shifted his gaze back and forth between each of Joseph’s deep blue eyes. “Who are you…?” he mused out loud.

“I’m just a guy. But I’m a guy who keeps liking you more and more, mister.” Joseph planted his lips on David, and they kissed deeply, the pent-up passion from the entire evening of romance and restraint spilling between them. It lasted the remaining ascent and was so intense they almost missed the doors when they opened on David’s floor. David grabbed Joseph’s hand and pulled him to his apartment, fumbling to retrieve his keys with the remaining hand and unlocking his door.

Their fervor intensified as the door closed behind them. They couldn’t keep their hands and mouths off each other. They were both torn between touching and kissing and removing clothing. By the time they got to David’s bedroom, they each had one sock, and a trail of semiformal dress strewn to the front door. They were both hard to the point of bursting and ravenous for each other’s bodies. Blindly, they fell on the bed, David on his back and Joseph on top, their legs staggered and intertwining.

David’s hands roamed everywhere they could reach on the body of this amazing man he’d somehow found on the dance floor. Joseph didn’t bother to use a hand to hold himself up, instead wrapping them around David and pulling them together as they ground their dicks between them, their sweat and precum creating a slick lubricant for their straining. David grabbed Joseph’s head in his hands and held him above, looking in his eyes with lust and wonder. This was different, and they both felt it.

As his hips continued to gyrate autonomously, Joseph unlinked his hands from behind his lover and with one hand on the bed, used the other to stroke David’s face. David looked like he wanted desperately to say something but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he shifted so that both his legs were outside of Joseph’s, and lifted his knees above Joseph’s hips, wordlessly inviting Joseph to enter him.

Joseph looked into David’s eyes, and then looked into him, allowing himself to tap into his vampire side. He shared hundreds of years of passion and lust and joy with the man under him as he swiveled his hips back, the head of his uncut member slipping between David’s legs. They maintained eye contact as he slid slowly inside. It wasn’t just fucking. It was deeper and a hundred times more intimate. They were both more connected with each other than they’d been with anyone in years.

This was lovemaking.

They lasted over an hour before they climaxed. By then, they’d switched positions at least half a dozen times, and David had taken a turn doing the penetrating. Unlike their first night, this time they were always face to face. Sometimes it got intense, the sound of skin slapping against skin echoing in the room and mingling with their moans of pleasure. If they weren’t kissing, they were making eye contact, seeing each other deeply in the most intimate moment they’d shared yet. When they did climax, it was simultaneous, with David riding Joseph and unloading on his chest and stomach, while Joseph came inside him. The size of his load and the powerful release of the orgasm surprised David, and he laughed involuntarily. He couldn’t help it; it was more intense than any sex he’d ever had. Joseph lay sweating below him, chest heaving and covered in cum. David could feel Joseph inside him, still hard and twitching with the aftershocks of his orgasm.

They looked into each other’s eyes and David’s giggles became contagious. Joseph’s own stoicism cracked, and he laughed lightly, mostly because David was, but also a result of his own euphoria.

David’s gaze fell to Joseph’s chin, which had been hit by one of his first volleys. Then his neck, where the muscles and tendons still twitched from the exertion of their lovemaking. When he looked at the mess he’d made on his lover’s chest, an uncontrollable and ridiculous urge took him. He took two of his fingers and ran them through the puddle of his own cum, then brought them over Joseph’s forehead, which was already slick with sweat. Joseph looked mildly confused as David ran his two fingers in an arc above Joseph’s eyes.

“Simba…” he said in a deep-voiced impression of Robert Guillaume’s Rafiki.

There was half a moment of complete silence as Joseph put the Lion King reference together, and David waited to both see his reaction and process the fact that he’d done it at all. Then they both erupted into gales of laughter. It was the funniest, sexiest moment of either of their lives, and they both howled at the absurdity while they were still physically connected, one inside the other. It lasted about thirty seconds before Joseph softened enough to slip naturally out of David, who then laid on his side next to him, placing his head on his shoulder, still giggling.

Joseph was the first to speak. “That was incredible.”

“I’m really glad you think so. I loved it, too,” David replied softly as he ran his fingers along the other man’s taut abs, spreading the fluids as the air began to dry them. He was thinking much more but didn’t want to say too much.

Joseph sensed the reticence and acknowledged his own, for different reasons. He had never connected this quickly with another person. The conflict he’d felt leading up to the date was washing away. Of the several times he’d been in love over the centuries, the one thing they all had in common was that they were all different in the way the relationships matured. There was enough anecdotal evidence for love at first sight. Joseph’s reason for restraint was more complicated, but he was, for the first time in decades, powerless to resist his feelings.

“We fit together really, really well.”

“Yes!” David replied excitedly, clearly relieved to hear some confirmation that Joseph felt the same way. “I was thinking the exact same thing. I’ve never felt this way with someone before.” He stopped abruptly, afraid of having said too much, too enthusiastically.

Joseph was staring at the ceiling, trying to make mental relationship calculations, but his pleasure at just being with this man interfered with his thoughts. He traced his fingers lightly around David’s back, his free hand rested on his hip. One clear question came forward, though, and he asked it, “Hey. Have you ever been in love? Like, not just love someone, butin love?”

It was the first time either of them had said the “L” word out loud in reference to a relationship, and David’s heart sped up. Though he didn’t answer right away, Joseph could hear the increased heart rate, and feel it through their pressed bodies.

After thinking a moment, David said, “Yeah, one time. I was just about to graduate college and I met this guy online. We eventually moved in together, had a dog and everything. It lasted three years before something changed in him and everything went wrong. I had my heart broken. But I know the difference you’re talking about. How about you? Have you been in lovein love?”

Joseph thought of Marcus, and Connor, and Rob… “Yes. A couple of times. Each relationship was different. And I know what heartbreak feels like, too.” He wanted to ask the question, the hardest question, but he was also afraid of his own answer. He had sworn a vow to himself while holding Rob’s lifeless body almost thirty years ago that he’d never love again. But hadn’t he also made similar promises to himself after Marcus and after Connor? Was it a fair promise to make?

“Do you…” David began but stopped.

“Hmm?” Joseph thought he knew how he’d answer if David asked the question. He just didn’t want to presume to ask it himself.

“Want to sleep over?” David changed the question mid-sentence.

Joseph glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was just after 2:00 AM. “I would love to, but I have to be up early for a morning meeting. I’d have to leave by 6:00 AM, is that okay?”

“For sure. Let’s just stay like this. I’m so comfy,” David sighed. He wrapped his free arm around Joseph’s chest and squeezed. Joseph wrapped his arms around David in return. “I really, really liked this.”

“Me too. It was a perfect night,” Joseph agreed. “And I should know, I’ve had a lot of good nights.”

David loosened his grip and rolled back to put his head on its previous perch of Joseph’s left shoulder. “I bet. I was going to say, I usually don’t go for guys so very old as you.” He resumed stroking Joseph’s stomach innocently to counter the joke.

Joseph played into it while deciding to test the waters in the smallest of ways. “When five hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not, hmm?”

David slapped Joseph’s abs in excitement. “And you’re a nerd? I love that!” He turned his head and playfully bit Joseph on his chest above his left nipple. “I hate to be this guy buuuut … Yoda was nine hundred years old.”

“Oh, that’s it, I’m going home!” Joseph feigned getting out of bed, but he allowed David to push him back down and climb over him. Their eyes met. It wasn’t a searching or yearning stare but a comfortable one. A sure and steady delving into each other’s souls. David leaned down, and they kissed, slowly and deeply, tongues flitting and flirting with each other. Joseph’s arms caressed David’s body until they were wrapped around him completely. The kiss ended and David lowered his body to snuggle into the man he couldn’t yet admit aloud that he loved.

Entwined together, they slept.

Joseph’s sleep was light but wonderful. The feeling of David lying against him was a soothing balm on his psyche. A contentedness filled him in a way he had nearly forgotten. The simple necessary thrill of sharing yourself with another human being. Not just sharing your body, but your mind and soul, too, if there was such a thing. He recognized the feeling for what it was, though he didn’t know if he was at peace with it. His demons wrestled inside him as he sensed the imminent rising of the morning sun.

He stroked David’s face softly to rouse him from his slumber. “Hey, handsome, I need to go. Do you want to shower with me first?”

David’s hand moved along Joseph’s torso then lengthened into a stretch, which accompanied a yawn, and he made the cutest little squeaking sound, making Joseph chuckle softly.

“Yes, please, I would like that very much.”

Joseph slid out of the bed and helped David up. They were both a bit crusty from the previous night’s climax, which made Joseph’s skin looked like it was flaking off in certain spots on his abdomen. He led the way to the bathroom, holding David’s hand behind him, who made more cute sleepy noises with every other step. By the time they got to the small standing shower, David was awake enough to turn it on, then wrap his arms around Joseph again.

“Good morning, beautiful man.”

Joseph smiled and held him in return. “Good morning to you, sexy.”

They kissed while the water warmed, and by the time it was ready, they were both hard and pressing their cocks against each other. David looked down as he grabbed hold of Joseph’s tumescent shaft. They were both similar in size down there, each slightly above average, about seven inches, though David’s was circumcised, and Joseph’s was not. “I really like this,” he said, admiring the penis as one would admire a work of art. “I like that it gets so hard.”

“Yours does, too,” Joseph pointed out. “And I like it quite a bit myself.”

“But some guys don’t, though,” David continued, though Joseph knew this about men. Cocks were as varied as the boys that sported them, and he’d been with plenty of guys who just didn’t get rock hard. “I also like that you’re uncut. You don’t see that a lot these days.” He looked up into Joseph’s eyes as he stroked him. “It’s exotic…”

Joseph was also stroking David as he replied with the truth, “My parents were European,” and silenced the subject with a kiss.

Steam billowed from the shower so David turned and walked inside. He grabbed a loofah that was hanging on the wall and squeezed bodywash gel into it, working it into a thick sudsy lather before handing it to Joseph, who followed him inside and shut the door.

“Wash me.”

Joseph began gently rubbing the loofah on David’s chest and used his other hand to work the slick suds over his skin. He felt the water and soap dissolve the sweat, lube, and cum from last night. He washed David’s torso, massaging his abs and even running a finger into the boy’s belly button, making him laugh. He then lowered himself and ran the sponge down each leg, cleaning them in turn. Lastly, he grasped David’s member, which was hard as a railroad spike, and used the slick soap to jerk him off, causing him to moan. All the while, he was pelted with water from the showerhead.

Joseph stopped, stood, and physically turned David around. He started washing at the neck with the loofah and then David’s back, stroking gently until David whispered, “Harder,” and Joseph started scrubbing with earnest. When he was done with the back, he grabbed David’s hands and lifted them up, holding them both with one hand as he used the other, with the loofah, to wash each arm in turn, and then the armpits. They were so close that Joseph’s cock was rubbing on David’s ass, gliding against his cheeks and sliding between them.

Joseph continued to hold David’s arms up with one hand as he squeezed the loofah, letting loose a small torrent of suds onto his back. Joseph dropped the soap-laden sponge to the shower floor and ran his free hand down the young man’s back to his slick toned butt. His middle finger ran down the crevice of David’s cheeks until it found its target and rubbed against the puckered sphincter. It relaxed with a soft moan from its owner, and the finger slid inside.

Joseph didn’t intend to take long with the foreplay. Time was against him and, after all, this wasn’t lovemaking. This was passionate morning fucking. After massaging David inside for a moment, just long enough to get him whimpering, he pulled his finger out and replaced it with his rigid dick, holding the head at the entrance to David’s hole just long enough for him to prepare, then shoved the entire length of himself in with one easy motion. They both moaned in unison at the pleasure of it. Joseph with the hot pressure of David’s hole, and David with the incredible feeling of hard fullness massaging his prostate. They wasted no time before each found the same rhythm, and the sound of wet skin slapping against skin reverberated on the tiles of the small space.

Joseph released David’s arms and pulled his chin to the side to kiss him while he pounded him from behind. With the other hand, he grasped David’s cock, still slick from soap and copious amounts of precum, and jerked him off. David kept one arm on the wall for support and reached behind with the other, grabbing Joseph’s ass and pulling him in faster and harder. The sensation was so intense, it peaked sooner than either of them expected.

David scream-moaned as he shot all over the shower wall while Joseph came inside him for the second time that night. If they hadn’t already been in one, they’d have had to take a shower.

As it was, they were able to rinse off as they descended from their orgasms, Joseph apologizing for needing to rush. David fetched an extra towel from the hall closet while patting most of the water from himself with the towel hanging by the shower.

When Joseph was dry and dressed, David walked him to the door as they had two nights before. And instead of the awkwardness of the end of a hookup, this goodbye felt more at ease and full of potential. Their kiss was passionate and affectionate, with the unspoken promise of many, many more to come.

Joseph rode down the elevator to the ground level, contemplating the extraordinary and wholly unexpected evening and the events of the last few days that led up to it. He realized as the doors opened, he’d forgotten to call a Lyft, and sat down outside on the short brick structure lining the sidewalk while he awaited his ride. He smelled the blooming jasmine in the air and marinated in an unaccustomed feeling of contentedness.

About twenty minutes later, Joseph walked into his house, which this morning somehow felt far more empty than usual. His phone buzzed the arrival of an incoming message.

<Tonight was amazing. I know I’m supposed to be all coy about it but eff that, I’m not in college anymore. I had a spectacular time>

Joseph typed back <I had an okay time too, thx>

<fuck you> with a laughing emoji.

<Kidding, of course. Best date I’ve had in a long, long time>

Joseph headed down to the bedroom and noted the animated dots that indicated a reply was imminent. When it came, he stopped, frozen in place on the stairway.

<I wanted to ask you something tonight, and I think you know what it is. But anyway, my answer is yes. I do. I hope you have a fantastic day!>

Joseph sat down on the steps, holding his phone in front of him like it was a precious treasure, and he was the first to see it in a hundred years. He read the text three more times. Then he realized that David might be on the other end waiting for a reply, and he was also suddenly certain what the answer was. His fingers flew on the virtual keyboard.

<I do too. And I can’t wait to see you again> and then, to explain his daytime absence, <Heading in now, I’ll be AFK most of the day. TTYL>

Joseph stood, feeling lighter than he had moments ago, and got ready for bed.