Chapter 20 

 

Twenty minutes following the departure of Billy and Nick from the room, not including the ten minutes or so when she left her seat and the room to go and see Billy earlier that morning, Ann had now been sitting at Honey’s bedside for around twelve hours. Since waking in the stairwell to John shining a torch in her face, the headache that was pounding in her head had still not gone. She had asked one of the nurses for a couple of Tylenol but they had only lightly dulled the ache. She was absolutely exhausted but she was determined to be there for Honey with the answers to the questions she knew Honey would have.

 

Ann’s eyes stared at her girlfriend’s face and it hurt her to think of what Bobby had actually done to her. She loved Honey like she had never loved anyone in her life and with a fleeting thought; she remembered how she associated her feelings for Honey, with how Billy described his feelings for Nick on the night when she met him.

 

She remembered sitting in the kitchen eating while Billy reprised the experience of Nick’s fall in the street and how he looked after him. What had gotten to Ann in particular was right at the end of the story. Billy told them how he was feeling and how he kissed Nick’s eye and ran his fingers through his hair. The look on Billy’s face and the powerful emotion displayed in his eyes had touched Ann’s heart. She had turned and gazed at Honey unsighted and knew she felt for her what Billy felt for Nick. It had been outright understanding and empathy.

 

Ann felt warmed by her love for Honey but she was warmed further by the knowledge that she knew with certainty, Honey loved her too. Her hand squeezed her lover’s hand on the bed beside her and the simple emotional release from deep within her body, capped her exhaustion that was built on the fact that apart from being knocked out, she had not slept in approximately thirty hours. She had awoken Tuesday morning and it was now Wednesday afternoon. Unconsciously her eyelids began to drop and her mind switched off without her awareness. She was completely at the mercy of her body, which decided it no longer gave a damn what she wanted to do or achieve. She was asleep before her eyes were fully closed and her body was pleased with its victory over her disciplined mind.

 

Honey’s eyes opened at the same moment. However, without any awareness that Ann was beside her, where she was or what had happened, it was the extraordinary pain in the back of her skull, which caused the verbal cry and the gasp that followed.

 

Ann’s eyes sprung open less than five seconds after they had closed. She jumped to her feet and was leaning over the bed, her hand gently squeezing Honey’s arm at the shoulder, her rich voice a reassuring tone as she tried to ease her discomfort.

 

“Hon, it’s okay. Be still my sweet one,” she said.

 

Despite the agonizing pain in her head, Honey responded to the voice that could soften her so easily. Her eyes turned to her and incongruously, Honey assumed a momentary smile when she saw her lady beside her. Ann leaned closer and kissed her forehead tenderly and then resuming the distance between them, she stroked her thumb against Honey’s cheek, as she began the long explanation of what happened the night before.

 

***

 

At the moment they arrived home and Nick turned off the engine, he was out the driver’s side door and racing around to the passenger side to help Billy out of the car. Billy was about to complain but when he looked at the handsome face and those blue eyes filled with concern, he was falling in love all over again. When he felt the huge hands carefully gripping him and supporting his weight, he hushed his complaints so he could really enjoy what Nick was doing.

 

Billy was not in a great physical state and he was in some pain but he was still perfectly capable of looking after himself. It was not as if he could not do something as simple as walk to his apartment. He was not anti-help or anti-support but for over four years he had basically looked after himself. He had become quite independent and self-sufficient and he did not like it when words or actions suggested he was in any way infirm.

 

Nick treated Billy like he was practically an invalid. It was not done condescendingly or to demean Billy’s abilities or dignity; Nick was just worried about him and so all of his actions came from a desire to make sure Billy would be okay.

 

Billy knew if anyone else treated him that way, he would have been harshly bent out of shape but because it was Nick, he reveled in the extreme concern. When he felt Nick’s huge arm encircle him and then pull him against his body supportively, Billy’s mind went to libidinous places. His physical condition, the events of the previous night or anything that was of concern to him, suddenly vanished from the horizon of his mind. The warm press into the big body of muscle became Billy’s instant priority of life’s concerns.

 

When they entered the building but before they even reached the stairs, Billy stopped them and he wrapped his arms around Nick. He laid his face on Nick’s chest and squeezed him. Nick accepted the embrace while returning it. They stood in a quiet silence holding each other but minutes later, Nick felt Billy’s hand sliding to the place that reacted instantly to his touch. Nick continued to hold Billy but suddenly Billy was becoming overly heated. Billy’s touching offered heightened sensations but despite Nick’s desires to let it evolve, it suddenly occurred to him he needed to implement some control.

 

The speed Billy lifted Nick’s passions spoke volumes. It confirmed a strong sexual attraction existed. They had barely spoken about what was going on between them but Billy wanted him and now Nick was beyond certain he wanted Billy as well.

 

Though Nick was a man and in a split second he wanted to strip Billy naked and throw him down on the stairs, he also knew he could not because of Billy’s condition. It was a realization that was frustrating beyond belief. He had Billy and in effect, Billy was saying yes but Nick knew he could not. He not only knew he could not in that moment, he also knew he could not for quite some time. Until Billy was better there was going to be a period of necessary abstinence or at least adjustment.

 

“Billy,” Nick said, halting what was happening.

 

Billy looked up into Nick’s eyes. He did not care about anything, other than being in Nick’s arms or that touching Nick was seriously hot. When he saw the expression on Nick’s face and then he felt Nick push him back a step, he wondered what was wrong.

 

“Come on, we have to get upstairs. We don’t want Maggie or John coming out and discovering us like this,” he said.

 

They continued up to the apartment but halfway up the final flight of stairs, Billy was all over Nick again, as he pushed him against the wall. Billy was ready to be raped before they entered into his apartment. Unfortunately for Billy, he was in no condition for flexible activity, let alone rape. Nick was bone hard and he wanted Billy desperately but again he pushed him backwards.

 

“Billy, we can’t, not yet. You’ll rip your stitches open and I’ll have to take you back to the hospital. Don’t get me wrong, I want to as well but we’re going to need to be careful,” he explained.

 

Realizing what Nick was saying was true, Billy’s eyes filled with frustration followed by devastation. He had been so caught up in the idea of being with Nick naked and having him take him to heaven, he had completely forgotten about his physical condition.

 

“Shit, Nick, I didn’t think of that. Talk about being the bearer of bad news,” he said.

 

“Hey, don’t try and put the blame on me, Billy. I wasn’t the cause of what happened to you.”

 

“Maybe not but you were definitely the cause of this,” Billy said, looking downward and pointing at the bulge in his pants.

 

Nick looked down and then looked back at Billy and rolled his eyes and said, “Come on, let’s get inside.”

 

They walked directly to the couch but neither of them sat down. Nick suggested Billy get comfortable while he got them something to drink. Billy agreed and told him there was some cold fruit juice in the refrigerator. Nick nodded and walked into the kitchen.

 

Once Billy was alone, he looked down, his eyes silently questioning the origin of the table before he asked, “Nick, where did the coffee table come from?”

 

“I brought it in from my place. I thought you’d need it more than I would, at least until you were finished convalescing.”

 

“Thanks, Nick,” Billy said. “I also want to thank you for everything else you did here. The door looks great, you’ve cleaned everything up and I can barely notice anything has happened. Well, except that I no longer have a bookcase.”

 

“You’re welcome, Billy. I’ve stacked the books in your bedroom beside your closet. Anything else you need just ask,” he called from the kitchen.

 

Billy turned and saw the black sweatshirt draped over the back of the couch. He thought of Bobby instantly and wondered how he was. He thought of the night before and he felt fear wrap around him, as he remembered the knife and so many other things that had unfolded. It was, however, the knife sliding over his face that gripped him the most. Every time he thought of that moment, the thought evolved into a high definition film inside his mind. Reality changed in those moments and everything became surreal but mostly the fear made him feel insignificant. Billy wrapped his arms around his body and shivered. He forcibly dragged his eyes away from the sight of the sweatshirt and then also forcibly, he tried to push the memory out of his mind. His armpits were suddenly damp with sweat and he felt like he wanted to hide in some dark and unknown place.

 

A few minutes later when he returned with the drinks, Nick saw Billy still standing and unmoving. He looked at him curiously, expecting he would already be slouched on the couch but Billy seemed annoyed.

 

Nick asked, immediately concerned, “What’s wrong?”

 

“The shirt is pulling at the bandages, which in turn is pulling at the stitches. I want to take it off but it hurts,” Billy said.

 

“Let me help you,” Nick offered.

 

He walked over, put the glasses of juice on the coffee table and then stepped behind Billy. Gently, Nick’s arms moved around him and pulled the t-shirt, stretching it every which way, making certain Billy barely had to alter his body during its removal.

 

Initially, Billy was frustrated from the position he was in but then like a subplot within a film, he realized what was happening within what was happening and he said, “I like the idea of you taking my clothes off me.”

 

“You and I both but it appears we’ll have to wait for that,” Nick replied.

 

“Fuck Bobby,” Billy whined accusingly.

 

“At least we’re together,” Nick said.

 

“I can’t argue with that,” Billy replied.

 

“I’m glad to hear that. I can’t believe the difference in the way I feel about you. I want to spend time with you, Billy. I want to get to know you and I’d also really like to hold you. I’m not saying I don’t want sex with you; I’m just saying I want more than sex. I mean sure I’d like us to get naked and I want to make love to you but…”

 

“Nick, it’s okay and I understand. I want it all as well,” Billy interrupted.

 

“I’m glad,” Nick said.

 

“Nick? Can you take off your shirt? I love your body and I want to look at you,” Billy said and almost laughably, Nick’s face flushed from the unexpected request.

 

Nick swiftly thought of Eric because his reaction to Billy’s request was self-conscious. He remembered Eric telling him he had to stop feeling insecure and so he dragged his t-shirt from his body and tossed it onto the back of the couch.

 

Billy’s eyes became hungry and Nick watched as they scanned over his huge, smooth chest and over every inch of skin. Billy’s eyes fell onto Nick’s upper left arm and he saw a large bruise on it.

 

“Shit, Nick, what happened to your arm?”

 

“It’s nothing, Billy. It happened when I broke down your door.”

 

“I’m so sorry, Nick. I’m sorry that I got you involved in all of this and that I got you hurt.”

 

“Billy, you already know I’ve had a lot worse injuries than this. Just know that I’m fine, really I am.”

 

“My man of steel,” Billy said.

 

Billy’s comment about him made Nick feel so good. He knew it was just a simple reference to his size and strength but Nick loved Superman and he related it to Billy calling him his savior. Nick thought if he could, he would fly around the earth and turn time backwards so he could change the night before.

 

Billy noticed the proud look on Nick’s face from the term of endearment and he made a decision right there on the spot. He filed it away for later and then he took a half step so that the naked skin of their bodies touched. He sighed as he instantly became hard and then he immediately sighed again, from both exhilaration and exasperation. Nick’s skin and muscle felt incredible and he wanted Nick to crush him against him, until their bodies became one. He pushed himself against Nick a little harder and he winced as the stitches pulled again.

 

“God damn it,” Billy yelled.

 

Nick grinned with amusement but also with understanding. He had wanted to rip the clothes from Billy in the stairwell and then fuck him through the building’s foundation but he knew he had to restrain himself. Right at that moment, with Billy standing in front of him shirtless, he wanted him even more.

 

“It’s okay, Billy, we’ll get to it,” he said.

 

“I want to get to it now, Nick. I want you so bad it hurts. I’ve wanted you for so long and now that I can finally have you, I can’t. It’s driving me crazy.”

 

“How about we just sit on the couch together,” Nick suggested, suppressing his equally growing desires while also subduing an amused laugh.

 

“I want you to hold me,” Billy said.

 

“I think I can accommodate,” Nick replied with amusement and then he sat down on the couch, his legs spread wide, one along the L and the other hanging off with his foot on the floor.

 

Billy looked at the massive, brown and muscular body, ridiculously smooth and ridiculously taut and impossibly beautiful. “God, I want to cook you and eat you,” he said and Nick’s eyes bulged wide and his mouth fell opened.

 

Billy looked at Nick expressionless. He saw the look on Nick’s face but Billy knew his remark had been completely serious, figuratively speaking. It was one thing looking at Nick in general and it was another looking at him naked last Saturday night but now he was aware they felt the same and they both wanted the same thing, his wanton lust for this hunk he was in love with was turning him into a lascivious slut. He wanted to get naked and then get down and dirty, down and very, very dirty, in deed.

 

Billy shook his head with resignation and then he turned and began to lower himself, really slowly and with cautious control. Moments later his butt was on the couch. He inched back between Nick’s legs, his chest hurting no matter how he moved or what he did. He then rested his back against Nick’s chest. Nick’s manhood turned to stone the moment Billy’s weight pressed against him but he pretended nothing had happened and he wrapped his arms around Billy’s waist.

 

Billy asked, “What’s that?”

 

Nick questioned, “What’s what?”

 

Billy said amusingly, “The enormous, hard thing sticking into my ass?”

 

“Quit it, Billy, this is hard enough.”

 

“It certainly is. It’s also harder than anything I’m used to,” Billy quipped.

 

“Jesus, Billy, give it a break.”

 

Billy asked with a snicker, “Is that even possible?”

 

“Billy, stop it. Stop teasing me. Don’t you realize I want this as much as you do?”

 

“Okay,” Billy feigned guiltily and then said, “You know, Nick, I think I could live forever in your arms.”

 

“Well I could certainly hold you forever. I don’t know what it is about you but you’re really getting to me,” Nick replied.

 

“Well, I hope that never changes because you’ve been the emotional and sexual bane of my existence for the last three months,” Billy explained.

 

“I wish we both had realized that,” Nick said.

 

“Ouch,” Billy cried out.

 

Nick queried, “What?”

 

“Nothing, it’s just that I twisted a little too much again.”

 

“Relax and sit back against me and let me just hold you,” Nick said.

 

Nicks arms tightened around Billy’s belly and he pulled him closer. He then pressed his lips to the back of Billy’s neck. Billy moaned and so Nick let his lips slide and kiss as he inched around to the side. Billy’s head fell to the opposite side to give Nick’s lips full access. Billy sighed and moaned again, as his heart began to melt from the touch of Nick’s soft lips.

 

Touching and kissing Billy was driving Nick wild. A desired action crossed his mind but he questioned his inexperience out of habit. Immediately he heard Eric’s voice telling him to trust his instincts. He moved one hand down from Billy’s waist and slid his fingers beneath the seam of Billy’s shorts. He stroked the erection and Billy groaned in absolute pleasure and said, “Oh, Nick,” before he gasped.

 

Nick was more than pleased by the reaction. It was like the way Eric had reacted to him. He was happy that he turned Billy on so much, even with such a simple thing. He squeezed Billy’s hardness and then he began to stroke firmly and erotically. Billy gasped again and suddenly a warm and natural, silky lubrication, covered Nick’s palm and fingers.

 

“God, Nick, I’ve never ejaculated prematurely but if you keep this up with the effect you already have on me, you’re going to make me blow in under a minute.”

 

Nick’s hand stopped and his lips moved away from Billy’s neck, revealing he was shocked. He had not stopped because he did not want Billy to ejaculate; it was just the idea of this reaction after only about twenty seconds, which seemed inconceivable. He thought it was a good reaction but still Nick did not understand what he considered was an overreaction toward him, by both Eric and Billy. Even so, he thought at least it told him Billy was attracted to him.

 

The movement of Nick’s hand began again but still he said, “Sorry, Billy. I didn’t mean to push the boundaries so quickly. The thing is, since realizing how you feel about me, at least as of today, it makes me want you even more. I couldn’t help it and I had to touch you. Billy, I can’t wait for us to be naked together because I just keep thinking I want to look at you, I want to touch you, I want to kiss you and I want to fuck you.”

 

That was all it took. Billy exploded into Nick’s hand.

 

To be continued...