Reclaiming Austin
By:
William Tyler King
(Copyright 2005-2007 by the author)
The author retains all rights. No reproductions
are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...
Chapter 21
The day after Thanksgiving,
I asked as if his attitude might have had changed since last night. Cool as a winter morning he snorted and lifted his paper to read the sports section and after drinking some coffee he just said offhandedly, “We’ll see, depends on what you buy me today.” I knew he was smirking like a little kid behind his paper, “You mean besides the house?” I asked innocently. Our exchange died there as I just wasn’t feeling into it, so he read his sport section and commented that we needed to get back to the gym as we’d missed several days already. I mused that he was already bigger than Charles Atlas and I was getting pretty damned big in my chest and arms too, he replied that we were gay and had images to uphold… I didn’t say anything, but I suspected he just ate up the envy by “normal” guys who saw either of us, and particularly gay men who saw us together.
If Austin hadn’t kept pushing me, I’m not sure I’d
even have gotten ready that morning… thankfully the biggest puppy
I’d ever known was nipping at my heels and actually carried me to
the shower and washed and shaved my entire body by hand. I was
then lathered up and fingered in the most blissfully teasing fashion
I think he’d ever done to me. By 11 we were out the door, and a
bouncy
The Museum was packed when we got there, and there were various foods and drink displays set around the gallery between the displays by the new artists, While Austin was more drawn towards the paintings that he saw as “normal” art, I was drawn to the sculpture and pottery and metal craft, which I interpreted as “genuine” art. As quietly as we could we kept snipping at anything the other liked, we were careful to do this under our breath because I’d already had an artist mad at me once before for overhearing my comments to ma friend. Luckily that artist didn’t know my mom was the curator and I’d been careful after that to avoid her in his presence. Mostly we were being funny and dismissive.
I was forcing
Austin dragged me to a display of paintings of
nudes done in oils with metal sculptures and wire screens attached
as well as plaster and wood pieces, Austin was gawking at the few
female nudes while I was admiring both the men and the metal
sculptures when a voice from my past assaulted my ears with the
force of a hunting raptor, “Alex??? Alex Johnson?” I turned when I
heard my name and stood dumb when I looked up at the now foreign
dark haired blue eyed face from my past. It took a second for my
eyes to readjust before I realized whom it was, “Jake?” His
superior smile and sneering shark like gaze affirmed it, my blood
ran cold, something
“An old friend of Alex’s?
Well god, I’d love to invite you over,”
Not content with just taking the wind from his
sails,
“Michael?” Jake asked suddenly? “You’re still friends with Michael?” Jake asked me.
Jake had hated Michael which was evident from the way his voice dropped when he said his name. Michael had been part of the reason Jake had lost control of me.
“This is a different Michael, a football player;
but my Michael is dating an ex of mine down in
Jake had always hated Michael, even before Michael began talking to me about leaving Jake. Michael was taller and totally unimpressed with any of Jakes bullshit and told him so the first time they met. And when Jake threatened him Michael stepped closer and laughed in his face. The last the time they saw each other, Michael came over to our apartment after having gone out to the bars to see why I hadn’t met him there… and when he saw my black eye and bruised face, he marched in and dragged Jake out of bed by his foot and yanked him right out the door screaming and yelling and locked him out in his underwear and stayed the night with me, never asking me a thing and later pretended the entire thing hadn’t happened. We never talked about that night later, about what either of them had done. It was less than two weeks later that Jake left me. Though to be honest, that was as much because Natasha had back handed him over our kitchen table and slapped him so hard he lost a tooth when she’d seen my black eye, then told him her brothers would be happy to kill a “fucking white trash faggot” if she asked them to, and insisted that they’d never get caught because they knew how to dispose of bodies the right way, “Gators!”
“I’ll go get the artist, I know who he is, we’re
kind of dating….” Jake offered a lot less arrogantly than he had
been moments ago. I could tell by
“So, you know Jake from College, yes?” This older Hispanic man said as he walked up, his name tag said “Julio Juarez” just like the works we were looking at.
We discussed his work a while as Austin purposely
stared at Jake and intimidated him through unsmiling eyes, though to
be honest, he never made so much as an aggressive move. His actions
said clearly that Jake no longer had any power over me no matter
what he thought, and
“Please, you come with me,” Julio said to me, “I
want to show you pieces in the back that management said were too
‘controversial’ for this exhibit.” Julio said as he turned, I
squeezed
After we entered the back storage room Julio walked over to a table with several of his more… “graphic” pieces on them, one had a three dimensional penis that stuck out 6 inches.
“You like? Is more your style maybe?” Julio asked looking up at me. I was thinking how sad it was for a successful artist, a fairly good looking man in his 40s, to be stuck with a leach like Jake, who had once been a an attractive guy, but who now looked like any bar fly some one might drag home at the end of a long night of partying. Julio smiled as he read my eyes. “Maybe Jacob overstated that he was your friend yes?” He asked with an arched brow. I didn’t know what to say. “He… we dated, it didn’t end so well.” I said simply. I walked over and held up a piece with a nude man throwing a football; a wire mesh audience surrounded it. “There is more you are not saying I think.” Julio added while looking at the piece I held. “Look, he seems to treat you well, maybe I just didn’t have the money or the age to know how to keep him. We were in college and both very young.” Then I added softly, “He had a cruel streak in the past.” I said as I was hoping to change the subject.
“Your both still very young, children, and he still has a cruel streak, but he doesn’t let it out around me.” Julio said. He then added, “I know he hit you Alex, he bragged about it once to me, I told him that a real man doesn’t need to hurt others to be a man, That it only showed his weakness and an evil soul!” He said as he put a hand on my shoulder, I started to shake and suddenly felt trapped. “Relax Alex; I saw how he was getting to you. That’s why I got you away from him. You wonder why I am with someone like him yes?” I nodded trying to look at the canvas. “He is a companion with free time, nothing more, although he wants to date me I think, mostly for my drugs and my house on south beach I suspect. However I will be leaving him in Ft Lauderdale with his mother when I go home. His drug use will kill him soon enough, that or his Aids.” Julio said ominously. I suddenly went pale, it all made sense now. I looked up in his eyes, shocked. “I had no idea.” I said. He nodded, “He hasn’t told me yet to be honest, but I know the signs, to be my age and gay, you learn to spot the signs. But know this Alex, when he is gone, all the evil he has done to you and the others, it all dies with him, and he will have left no one to mourn him… not even me really. And you, you will be happily married to this Austin, with friends and loved ones about you. Do not forgive him if you don’t feel ready, but find it in your heart to pity him until you can, your heart needs forgiveness Alex, yes? Hatred and regret will sit like a poison on your soul.”
I looked up at this artist with big eyes, “Thank
you.” I said in awe, in 20 seconds he had… given me a peace I hadn’t
known since I’d been a sophomore. So I asked about the piece of art
and he said, “Since you are family, for you, $250.” I was stunned;
his works all went for $800 and up. So I asked him to hold the
small female nude
Outside I walked up to find
We talked a great deal about Jake on the ride
home, and I told him how utterly proud I was of how he’d handled
everything. “We’re getting married in
“What is it?”
“Jake’s got Aids.” I said slowly, the truth still harder to say than to believe…
“What an Idiot!!!” was all
“It’s not as if he didn’t know the risks, not like
he caught it before people knew how to stop it,”
“It doesn’t change anything baby, he was trying to bully me and you stopped it decisively!” I added.
“Know what I want right now?”
“Nope, I want you at home with your mouth so full
you won’t be able to talk for a while,”
“MMmmmmmmmmm, sounds
great… How bout we stop for haircuts and maybe some lunch first?” I
asked. We needed haircuts before we went to
We went to the shopping center I usually went to
get my hair cut, as usual Tom was working, Tom was Florida’s only
straight male hairdresser and always a fun and wound up character.
“A Caesar???”
Tom asked, “Yup, just like
“Thanks Michael!” I said sarcastically as he knew who Michael was only too well. The two of us had put on our trademarked show here several times.
So when I fuck you later, I wonder if it’ll
be like masturbating…”
“Keep that up and you won’t have to wonder!” I added smartly.
“Ohhh get off it, you know you owe me after this
morning!”
It smacked me a bit and I could see
Austin was serious a moment, his fire gone in light of my seriousness, “Alex, you know I’ll never make that fucking demand of you… though to be quite honest, I can’t think of a thing that I could ask you to do that you wouldn’t do, hell, haven’t already done with me.” He was referring to our forays into bondage and roll playing.
“Jake thought of a whole lot that he pressured me into.” I said softly before eating a chip.
“Jake… used to arrange for me to…sleep with
friends of his… turns out he was trading me for drugs and favors…” I
was barely audible, though we were far from anyone who could hear
me. I could see the anger in
“He WHAT?!?!?!?”
“He… whored me out for
drugs… but honest, I didn’t know at first. He would guilt me into
it… and then call me names afterwards,
make me feel ashamed for cheating on him. That was before the
physical abuses started.” I said barely audible… I was so worried
“Look at me Alex.”
I looked up though my head was hung in shame.
“NO ONE gets to touch you ever again, NO ONE! That ring means what you said, about me owning you, and you owning me. WE are a fucking couple now, and that fucking bastard is paying for all the things he did to you. He’s lucky as shit I didn’t know this earlier or I would have taken him outside and shown him my fist over and over as it pounded his fucking face in.”
And that’s when I realized how deeply the two of us were connected, when he was worried about my past, and wanted to protect me from any hurt… and more than ever, I wanted to give this man everything I had.
“I’m getting lunch baby, then we’re going home and
doing whatever you want… well, before
“God you’re easy!” he teased through eyes that told me how much he loved me, and that he’d meant every word he’d said earlier.
I stuck my tongue out but gave him my sexiest eyes.
Later, back at the apartment, I was cleaning up
the crap Austin had knocked on the floor as he’d wiped it all off
the top of my dresser when he’d moved me up there for what can only
be termed, an extremely athletic sex act after we’d showered. Ryan
and Michael were chatting with
“And how did all that land up on the floor?????” Michael asked with great amusement as he stood in the doorway.
“Earthquake!” was my short answer as I was putting the colognes on the tray.
Michael reached over my head and gently lifted something as he said “Ohhh, I can believe that!” Then he dropped an opened condom wrapper down to the floor before wiping his hands on a towel.
“Uhhh, you might want to go wash your hands now Michael”
“Don’t worry, I barely touched the condom,” Michael said.
I was looking down at the broken lamp when I said, “Yeah, but that was our cum rag!”
Michael ran to the bathroom after dropping the towel screaming “DISENFECTENT I have dog germs.” Like Lucy on the Peanuts.
Austin and Ryan were in the door way a moment later, “What did you do to my boyfriend?” Ryan asked in mock annoyance.
“Nothing, I only told him the towel he was using
to wipe his hands was… uhhh, dirty” I grinned letting everyone
absorb my meaning. “YUCK, don’t you put it in the dirty laundry
when you’re done?” Ryan asked.
“Welcome to the frat house!” I shot up to Ryan through rolled eyes.
“You two are fucking rabbits.” Michael laughed as he came back in the room.
“Horny rabbits!” Ryan corrected.
“Well shit, when I dated girls, I walked on egg
shells and tried everything I could to get some once in a while, now
all I have to do is ask, “hey, you wanna?” and he’s naked and
wondering why I’m still dressed.”
“And he IS 23!” I added as though that explained everything.”
“We’re going to the Lobster Pot unless one of you objects.” I said as I started changing into a button up shirt.
“Nooo, not that one, wear the silver one!”
“Rabbits!” was all Ryan said as he turned off the lights and pulled the door shut behind us.
Ryan and Michael had brought up some extra pieces
of luggage for us as we were both… local boys.
“You only brought three suitcases? Shit dudes!
Alex can’t even get all his shoes for a weekend in that.”
“Sure I can Baby, I’ll just treat you as a carry on!” I said with a smirk.
“We have a room for you where we’re staying at the CCBC.” Michael said.
When we finally arrived and were seated I suddenly felt as though I was sitting at a table full of straight men as the conversation turned to football teams. After five minutes of rolling my eyes and sighing as if I’d thought any of them might notice I suddenly let out with, “Holy crap, that waiter isn’t wearing any underwear!” He was of course, but the three of them suddenly stopped talking.
“Yeah he is!” Michael said bewildered that I would make such a simple mistake,
“I know, I was just
making sure the three of you were still gay!” I said with a smirk.
Ryan gave me a dirty look which I’m sure
Not wanting to let him down too quickly, I said, “You made a few a really good passes but the past five minutes have been a total fumble!” I said as I raised my glass for a drink.
“Someone isn’t happy unless HE’S the center of attention!” Ryan said looking right at me.
“Contrary to popular belief, I don’t need to be the center of every conversation. BUT, I should feel a part of any I’m privy to at least… talk real estate, business, legal strategy, or fucking nuclear physics, ANYTHING but sports!!!” I replied then took a long drink.
“He’s got a point.” Michael said backing me up.
The waitress came over a minute later, we always got waitresses as a group of men, unless My Michael asked for “a really cute waiter” when we were being seated. Before smoking in restaurants became illegal, when the host would ask if we wanted smoking or none smoking, Michael would proudly say” We’ll need FLAMING! Thank you!”
So Michael, Ryan and I got seafood and
I told Ryan and Michael about how proud I was of
how
“It would have been more fucking satisfying if I hadn’t found out he was so damned sick though…” he added as an after thought.
“Sick?” Ryan asked.
“The artist told Alex that Jake had fucking Aids.”
We were all quiet after that. We walked to the jeep in a cool dark night devoid of the billion mosquitoes that haunted the tree lined walk during the summers.
At the top of the stairs to our apartment we found
a large round box, It was crudely wrapped in white paper and had a
large silver bow on it.
Then
“A nice young man left that box for you my dears.” Mrs. Tremere said from her kitchen window which looked out at the walk way.
“Hello Mon Cher” All of us said in unison. I mean while was shoving everyone out of the way as I dragged my cowboy to the apartment and unlocked the door.
“Ryan, why is Alex dragging
Ryan reached over and tapped Michael and whispered loudly,” Remember, they’re rabbits! Horny fucking rabbits!”
I stopped inside the apartment and turned to face
Ryan and Michael, “Look at that boy!” I said indicating Austin who
was grinning his award winning smile,
“Now picture him smiling wearing nothing but that hat!” Ryan
suddenly pushed me out of the way and dragged a laughing
“Does this mean I should dig my hat out?” Michael asked from behind me.
“YES!” Austin, Ryan, and I said in unison. Then we all laughed. Ryan and Austin retrieved the luggage while I fixed everyone a drink. I handed Michael his and said I was sorry I didn’t have any martini glasses or makings yet.
“Well, you will soon dear, you’re moving to
“I’ll have to invent a Southern Comfort martini I guess!” I said sipping my drink.
“Ahhh, we can take the small town southern boy out of the small town, but…” Michael mused.
“Hey, at least my drink doesn’t have a pull tab!” I said indicating the fridge full of Budweiser we had.
“Touché” Michael said holding his glass up in a mock toast.
So the four of us talked and bantered until 10 when Ryan and Michael left “cowboy frisky” and me. “So what do you wanna do now?” I asked innocently as he walked in the bedroom.
“Just a second hon, I need to find something then
I’ll let you decide.”
I waited about five minutes before
“Howdy partner!” was all he said as I slid off the couch to the floor with my mouth agape.
True to his earlier word, he tied me to the bed and used every trick he’d learned so far to make me speak in tongues. Mostly I said his name and cursed erotically, but a few times my speech devolved into moans, and guttural exclamations.
After he finally finished and was cuddled around
me in a tight spoon he asked innocently, “Do you objectify me?”
“Yeah, you mind?” I responded smiling. “Naa, I think it’s kinda
sexy to be honest.” He was quiet a moment then he asked “so, is
that it though? Is that all I am?” I was curious about his sudden…
curiosity. So I turned over to face him. “How
can you think that Baby? Hon, you’re my mate, my playmate,
my partner… my hero, Austin, You’ve become the biggest and best part
of every day.” I said before kissing his lip softly.
Since I wasn’t working that weekend as Henna and
George had gone to her Moms for Thanksgiving, we were free to spend
a Sunday as we wanted to. Austin and Mrs. Tremere made a huge
breakfast and we all had a nice relaxing breakfast when Mrs. Tremere
got a huge grin and said, “My children, this may be one of the last
meals we have together like this.” It was then that it sunk in and
both Austin and I sat stunned a moment. “Nooo, Mrs. Tremere, we’ll
have dinners, an occasional breakfast, I’ll still be coming over for
cooking lessons…”
“I can’t remember if we discussed this before the
two of you left for
“Do I guess or are you gonna say something?” I asked.
“I am moving as well, after Christmas I think.”
Mrs. Tremere smiled as she poured more coffee in
“With Mr. Riley?”
“Yes, he invited me to stay with him… one day we
may marry, but neither of us is rushing this yet.” She said with a
glow. I stood up and hugged her and said how glad I was she
wouldn’t be here alone, and then
Mrs. Tremere left shortly after that to go down
and visit “Ivan”.
At about
“What is it?” I mouthed up at him from his lap.
“Natasha said the girls are moving out early and the place will be
free this weekend!”
“Shit shit shit!!! I said sitting up suddenly. “We have to move a week early???”
“TEASE!” He yelled after me before he whined that we had no boxes yet. I grabbed a few broken down boxes and some packing tape and tossed them on our bed and said “Nice try whiney boy!”
It was about 45 degrees out when we finally packed the first few boxes in my jeep and headed down at dusk to start moving in. The conversation on our ride down was… well… interesting.
I gambled on a comedic approach, “You do plan to
keep trying though right???” I asked excitedly.
“Not sure that’ll help, me not having ovaries and all, but if you think it’ll help!” I said shoving him in the arm.
“Hey, you could be on Oprah and
“That Republican says one thing about my baby and there won’t be near enough guards!” I said defiantly.
“Besides hon, there are ways around the whole adoption ban; we just have to have the money for it.” I added trying to bring his mood up.
“You mean aside from getting you pregnant?” he said,
“I’m not saying I want you to stop trying or anything, but there are several other ways we can do this when we’re ready…”
“When we’re ready?”
“So you’ve thought about this?”
“Yeah, even before you proposed…” I admitted.
“What about a dog?”
“You mean a cat?” I countered thinking about the
walks in the rain but knowing
“No, I mean a dog, a big barking rough housing
dog.”
‘Honey,” I said sighing, “with our crazy schedules
right now, a dog isn’t feasible, we’ll be gone a lot, and who will
walk him? And where in that little place will we keep a large
dog???”
“Baby, one day we’ll get a big new place, and we can fill it with kids, dogs, ponies, soccer equipment and baseball diamonds if that’s what you want…” I said proudly.
“Mmmm, you have a point my little toast maker. Well, can I keep you naked and fucking pregnant?”
“What will the children say with me walking around naked?” I smirked at him.
“Alex, sweetie, who says I’m ever going to untie
you from the bed?”
“Ok, we’ll both stay naked, you do the kitchen and I’ll carry the babies.” I agreed.
“You just want my fucking cock in you!”
“Keep up that attitude and you’ll have to get yourself pregnant.” I shot back before kissing his hand.
“I can’t wait to fucking try to get you pregnant
all over the new place.”
“I’m gonna fucking nail you on the bare floor
tonight.”
To be continued...