Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
In his lexicon and experience, the phrase was code for, “Let’s go somewhere and fuck.” Will, not used to sublimating his physical desires, forced himself to ignore the erection pressing like a bar of iron against his fly. He had promised to take this on Jack’s terms, at his pace, and he had meant it.
Will had been with a few other bi-curious guys in the past, though more often than not he’d found their curiosity was more like uncontrolled, unbridled lust. After a few hesitant, perhaps awkward moments, they’d been as voracious and eager to get into his pants as any openly gay guy he’d been with.
Yet he knew with Jack it was different. His shy confession about having once kissed a guy was at once endearing and arousing. It had been so long since Will had been with someone not intent on fucking him as quickly as possible, he barely knew how to act.
“Take a look at that.” Jack stepped back from the telescope. “Just put your eye there, don’t move the position. I’ve got it in perfect focus.” As Will moved to obey, Jack stood just behind him. It took every ounce of willpower not to lean back against him. “That’s Mars. Isn’t that something? It’s actually got a red cast to it.”
Will peered through the eyepiece, focusing on the pale pink blob visible through the lens. “Can you see it?” Jack asked excitedly.
“Yeah, that’s awesome,” Will said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into his voice to match Jack’s. Jack began to talk about polar icecaps and the atmosphere of Mars. Will stepped back from the scope and said with sincerity, “You really know a lot about astronomy.”
“Me?” Jack looked embarrassed. “Not really. I’ve just read some stuff. I had these astronomy maps when I was a kid, plastered all over the walls and ceiling of my bedroom. My grandfather was a real enthusiast. He got me interested, I guess. It’s just a hobby.”
“Well, this old telescope hasn’t been used in years. I’d be honored if you’d like to have it.”
“Oh, I couldn’t take that. That’s a real antique. See there?” He pointed at some words ornately engraved in the brass. “This is a Dolland, probably from the early nineteenth century. That’s mahogany on the barrel. The brass should clean up nicely. The lens is in excellent condition. This is definitely worth something.”
“It’s worth something if you use it. I don’t know the first thing about it. It would make me happy to give it to someone who appreciated it.”
“How about this? I’ll accept it, but I’ll keep it here. That way I’ll have an excuse to come out here whenever I want.”
Will laughed. “You don’t need an excuse, but all right. It’s a deal.” He wanted to go inside, to take Jack up to his bedroom and somehow get him naked. But how to do it without being too pushy?
Seizing the first thing that came into his head, he said, “You had mentioned some ideas about my master bathroom. Should we go have a look? I was thinking about that steam shower you suggested.”
“Sure.” Jack took the bait. “We can leave this in position and check out the moon later.” He patted the telescope as if patting the head of a favored dog.
He followed Will into the house, through the kitchen and living room to the curving staircase. Jack turned back and gave the room a sweeping gaze. “This is a great old house. There’s a lot of potential here.”
“Yeah.” Will laughed. “Potential. Not yet realized.”
“Hey, the kitchen’s done—that’s a good start. That fireplace could use some work. It looks like someone tacked that faux marble mantle onto an existing one. Who knows what original work lies beneath it? Just look what we found under that hideous dropped ceiling.”
“Yeah,” Will said, wondering if he’d made a mistake in suggesting they look at the bathroom. Jack had seemed to switch to a business mode, his mind on renovation instead of his newfound curiosity. He would have to redirect Jack back to the matter at hand, he thought with a wry grin.
Standing in the bathroom, Jack seemed to lose his train of thought, his patter about possible designs for the space trailing off as he stared at the glass-enclosed shower. Will saw the color seep into his cheeks and knew he was recalling what he’d witnessed earlier that afternoon.
Will came up close behind him. “Did you like what you saw?” he said softly, his mouth close to Jack’s ear.
Jack drew in a breath, his body stiffening. “I didn’t mean to—”
“Hey, it’s okay. I should have closed the door. Maybe I left it open on purpose. Maybe I wanted you to come in.”
“Look, I—” Jack spun around, but whatever he’d been about to say, Will prevented by leaning down and kissing those wide, mobile lips. Jack started to pull back but Will stopped him by gently cupping the back of his head.