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We got in the car. Rudy, calling up his GPS app, said, "William Murphy." When we got home, Will came to the door. As we entered, he asked. "Did you have fun?"
"It was absolutely wonderful," I said.
"I was really asking Mike, Finn. You've been here a dozen times."
"Yes, Will," Rudy answered. "Finn is right, it was wonderful in many ways."
Edith had come up behind Will. "Thank you for the flowers and the champagne. The card said Finn and Mike, but I know it was you. Finn has never sent flowers." Rudy blushed.
"I'll have to remedy that, Edie." I said.
"We have the wine on ice waiting for you." We went into the living room. A beautiful bouquet was on the table and the champagne and flutes were chilling. Will opened the bottle, poured a small glass for Rudy. Rudy sipped it and said "Very good, thank you, Will." Will filled Rudy's glass, then a glass for Edith. "Finn?" "A small one," I said. Then he poured one for himself. Rudy stood and said, "To the charming Murphys." Then he recited an Irish toast/blessing in Gaelic, then translated it. "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your faces and the rains fall soft upon on your fields until we meet again." Will and Edith were in awe. Nothing about this man surprises me anymore. We are Irish, but I have a feeling if we were Pakistani, he would be prepared with something in Urdu.
"That was beautiful, " said Edith. We sipped the wine. I took a small sip and set down my glass.
"So where are you off to?" Will growled under his breath. " ... Finn," Edith continued.
"I'm going to visit Aunt Ruth and Aunt Josie." Ruth is my aunt, my father's sister and in her seventies. She's lived in Indianapolis with Josie since as long as I can remember. Josie is unrelated, but she's always been Aunt Josie. Ruth and Josie are spinsters and have lived together in Indianapolis for years. Theirs has been a life of propriety for all I know, but I have deep suspicions.
"Give them my love, and tell them we miss them." said Edith.
"What time are you fellows leaving in the morning?"
"We've got to be on the road by ten A.M." said Rudy, "I'm taking Finn to the Baltimore airport. We leave about the same time. Before you offer, Edith, we'll sleep in as I'm sure you and Will would like to as well. We'll get something to eat on the way to the airport. We'll say our goodbye's tonight." We talked for a while., then Rudy said, "I think we need to get to bed. Thank you so much for sharing your home with me."
"Will we see you again, Mike."
"It's very unlikely, Edith." We all went off to our rooms.
"Kiss me, Finn, like you did this morning." I did, and we undressed each other again. We crawled into bed. "Good night, gentlemen," called Will, then we heard the door shut. "Told you, "I said. We made out like teenagers, until Rudy said, "Will you fuck me, Finn?"
"Like in the Ass?"
"Yes."
"How do you want to do this?"
"Just lay on your back with a pillow under your butt. I'll finish getting this bad boy happy, then I'll sit on it and ride." He got me erect than straddled me and took me into him, all the way. He may look twenty, but that hole has been used before. "You've done this before, haven't you Rudy?"
"Many times. You're a decently hung man, Finn; but I've had a lot bigger in there. Just relax and let me do the work."
Oh, had he done this before! I've never had a fuck this good, and I've had more than several. I jerked him while he rode me. He came on my belly. "Do it again, Finn." I did, and he did. Then I came in his ass. He laid on top of me, as I softened and slipped out of him. There was cum dripping down my balls and on to the pillow.
"For an old man, you do that pretty good, Rudy." He laughed. We kissed softly. I turned off the light and we slept in each other's arms. Rudy still had a warm boner pressed against my belly. There's a song that says, "It's shame that such a thing as youth is wasted on the young." Rudy, is the singular exception.
We rose in the morning. "Want a repeat, Finn?" "Yes, but no. We need to get these linens in the wash, they're kind of messy, and head out. We showered together and dressed. We left quietly.
"Where are you off to, Rudy?"
"Indianapolis, if it's alright with you."
"I thought you had work to do?"
"I didn't say that. I hardly ever do, and no one pays me to do it. I travel, Finn, that's all I do. I have to."
"Of course you're welcome, but I don't think I can introduce you to my aunts. They talk with Edie. If Edie knew you were still with me, let's say it would be difficult. You can share a hotel with me."
"I'd like that." said Rudy. "So would you, if the last couple of nights are any example."
"I'm staying at the Marriott. I have a junior suite with a king size bed, so there's plenty of room. I don't know what there is to do in Indianapolis, though."
"I do," said Rudy.
"You've been there?"
"Never." he said with an evil smile.
"You rangy old mongrel." I said.
"Like it's not what you're thinking, Finn?"
We got to the airport. I checked in and Rudy went to buy a ticket. Flying from Baltimore to Indianapolis isn't easy. Only one major airline does it, and only four times a week. No competition, it's expensive. It's less than a two-hour flight, but the average flight time on other major carriers is over four hours because they all have a stopover and a plane change en route.
I was reading a magazine someone had left in the departure area. FLEX. A bunch of nearly naked body builders. Not exactly my line of literature, but the pictures were nice. "Mr. Murphy." I heard my name called. I raised my arm. "May I see your boarding pass please." Oh shit, I thought. If there's something wrong, this is going to be a real fuck up. "Here's you new boarding pass, sir." I looked at it, seat 1-D. First class. They called boarding for First Class, only Rudy and I stood up.
"You did this?"
"Of course."
Once seated the attendant, a male and handsome, asked me if I wanted a drink, while giving Rudy a onceover. I ordered Bloody Mary mix on ice. He asked Rudy, "Would you like a cocktail before departure, sir." "Do you have a single malt scotch?"
"Not sure what that means, sir, but these are the scotches we have."
"The Glenfiddich would be fine, neat." Said Rudy.
"Would you like that over ice?"
"No," said Rudy. "Just pour it in a glass."
Someone may be cute, but needs a lot more training, I thought. The attendant brought the drinks. Handed me mine and then gave Rudy the Scotch.
"Is this only one?"
"No, it's two, sir."
"Attendant, there's vodka in here."
"Yes sir, it's a Bloody Mary."
"I only wanted the mix; I don't drink alcohol."
"My bad sir." He took my drink. "I'll be right back with just the mix."
"But we met in a bar?" said Rudy,
"Yes, but I wasn't drinking."
"Do you want me to give this back. Does it offend you? I don't need it."
"I need you to, Rudy. I don't drink because of my wayward youth. I never fucked anyone without at least two drinks under my belt. Usually more. I've fucked a hell of a lot of men. Because of that I can't drink anymore, my liver won't tolerate it. But I appreciate a man enjoying an adult beverage in my company. Besides, that drink probably cost you about seven hundred dollars."
He laughed, tipped his glass to me, said l'chaim., and sipped. "To life," a Hebrew toast, how much more must that mean to him than any other man.
"So Finn, how long are you going to be in Indianapolis?"
"Only tonight, right now. I'm taking my aunts to dinner but I don't know where. It's their pick. I should be back to the hotel around nine-thirty. Then I'm yours for as long as you want me."
"Were that true. Give me your phone, Finn."
"What are you doing?"
"Calling my phone."
"Now I've got your number, and I'll call you back. Capture the number and save it, but don't use my name, make up a name you'll remember."
"But I've got your number."
"Only I can call that one, it knows my voice. But it isn't in your call log anymore, anyway"
"But you didn't say anything."
"It's got good ears."
My phone rang. "That's me," said Rudy.
"But you didn't take out your phone, you didn't call anyone." "That's what it looked like, Finn. Save the number." I saved it and entered Mowgli in the name field. "Mowgli, very clever, Finn. You've read my great uncle's book?"
"Every grade school kid my age has read Jungle Book. I was going to enter Shere Kahn, but my marauding tiger days are well behind me."
"I'm not so sure, Finn."
"How many people have this number?" Rudy.
"Only you, Finn."
"How many numbers do you have?"
"Only two working numbers. That one and the one I call."
"In fifty odd years, you've only given your number to me?"
"No, I've had many numbers, but no one called before the others expired. That number won't work in six months if you don't use it. If you do, your number will pass through when it changes."
"Sounds clandestine."
"My whole fucking life is clandestine, Finn, every damn bit of it. We have a lot to talk about; but not now, not here."
The flight was smooth, we had a bit of a tail wind and landed a few minutes early.
Rudy got a car and drove us to the hotel.
We checked in. "When do you have to leave, Finn?
"In about two hours. I'll catch a cab. We have time for a nap."
"A nap, or a nap?"
"Both, Rudy".
"Which first, Finn?"
"A nap!" We walked to the elevator, laughing. The desk clerk was obviously confused, but we knew.
"Wow, Finn! This is palatial. I don't abuse myself (well, I do sometimes) when I travel, but nothing like this. "
"I've made J. W. (Marriott) a whole lot of money over the years. I always get upgraded, Rudy. Ready for a nap?" I put my arms under his shirt and slowly slid my hands up his body, taking his shirt with me.
"I need a shower first, Finn. I'm a little ripe."
"Let's both start in there. A nice intimate shower, rather than the splash-and-dash we've had the last couple of days." I finished undressing him.
"Go and get things started, I'll undress and join you shortly."
There was a huge shower, big enough for four, easily. But it looked like it had the controls of a space capsule. "
"Get in, Rudy. We'll figure it out" It was really a double shower, with handles and spray heads on both ends, four heads each. We lathered each other up repeatedly, and washed each other while we kissed."
"Will you do me, again, Finn?"
"Sure, Rudy, in here or the bed?"
"Here, now, I need it." I lubed my cock with conditioner then inserted it in him.
"That's so nice, Finn, maybe a little harder and a little faster."
I adjusted. "Cum when you're ready Finn, I already did."
It didn't take long, but I wasn't in any hurry. Rudy just made me feel good all over. I kissed him as I emptied my load.
"Do you want to fuck me, Rudy."
"If you want me to, but I'm thoroughly happy with your oral skills."
"We'll see," I answered.
He rinsed off his butt, then said, "We've got to get you in bed. You probably do need a nap before you go. We toweled off, but crawled into bed still damp.
"Sweet dreams, Finn. I'll get you up." For the first time since we'd met we didn't sleep in each other's arms.
"You need to wake up, Finn." Rudy said, kissing me on the cheek. "I've got your clothes ready."
"That was sweet, Rudy, but you didn't have to."
"I wasn't sleepy. I laid next to you for a while, then got up. I guess I could have laid there whacking off, but I didn't want to wake you."
"Do you need to, after that shower?"
"No, but that's never stopped me!"
As I was leaving, I asked. "What are you going to do while I'm gone?"
"I don't know, get some dinner, watch some TV or a movie, go for a walk"
"Whack off?"
"Maybe. I'll be here when you get back. Give me a good kiss to tide me over." I did, If I didn't have a commitment, it would have gotten us back in bed.
I had a fun time with Ruth and Josi. We went to a pretty expensive for Italian restaurant, but the food was good. They are both in their late seventies and lack stamina, so the evening ended around 8:30." It was fun, but I missed Rudy.
I got back to the room, opened the door and called out, "I'm back, Rudy." Dead silence. "Rudy?" I called out, louder. My heart got in front of my head. The car was still parked downstairs, I saw it. Rudy's leather sack was by the dresser, but I was afraid he was gone. A pair of arms snaked around me, and I felt a kiss behind my left ear.
"Sorry, I wasn't here when you got back."
"I've got no claim on you, Rudy."
"That's not entirely true, Finn. What's in the bag."
"A retirement present from my aunts." I opened the bag and showed him.
It was a framed picture of the tower bridge in London, and a cigarette lighter. They told me it was time to burn my bridges.
"If you need help with that, Finn, it's an avocation in which I'm particularly skilled."
"The night is young, if we aren't. What would you like to do?"
I scoped the hotel facilities while you were gone, Finn. They have a nice adults-only hot tub. I thought a good soak would feel good. I noticed you have a swim suit with you. It's laying on the bed. I'll slip into mine." I stripped and put on my swimsuit. I turned around.
"W-o-o-f!"
"Is this okay, Finn. I hope it doesn't embarrass you." Rudy was almost wearing a very small, very tight black swim brief, with a really nice bulge in the crotch.
"If it doesn't embarrass you, I'm fine with it."
"It does embarrass me, a little, that's why I like to wear it."
"When we get back up here, I'm going to take it off you ... with my teeth."
Rudy laughed. "When it's wet it's really hard to get off. How about we dry it overnight and I'll put it back on for you in the morning?"
We grabbed robes from the bath and went down to the pool area. There was a nice pool with a few kids in it, but the hot tub is in a separate room and is adults only. We were the only ones there. We hung our robes and slid into the water. It was hot, but not too hot. We sat next to each other and got a little handsy under the water. His bulge was nicely packaged in that bikini.
"Sometime I have to tell you who I am, Finn. You've got to know ."
"Anytime you're ready, I'm all ears."
"I know my existence may seem idyllic. Always young, rich in both assets and experience. It's hell, Finn. Everyone gets older but me. Because of it, I have no family, I have no friends, I can't have a home. My whole life is hidden and a lie. I don't even know if I can die!"
"You do have a friend, Rudy."
"I know," he said, kissing me in front of everyone, if there were anyone.
"I knew around 1940 that I had to hide. I was a freak. Doctors, in the name of science, would love to take me apart to see what makes me tick. Unlike the goose that laid the golden egg, I had self-awareness, and the prospect of what could happen to me scared the fucking shit out of me. Over the years, I've found that the safest place to hide is in plain sight. That's why I have so many degrees. Colleges and Universities are the only places populated by people with perpetual youth, one class graduates, a younger one replaces it. It was good for three of four years at a time, and then I had to move on to another. I was totally on my own. College dorms were legal residences, the only ones I had. I worked odd jobs at the schools. The best job I had for many years, was nude modeling for art classes. It paid really well. I remember when I first realized that I was a lab fee. Girls used to giggle during art class, and talk about me under their breath. A few guys talked, too. Some girls actually approached me, after I was dressed. Boys didn't wait. Yes I accommodated the guys sometimes. Prostitution was something I never did. For years I was able to bounce from school to school fairly easily. You didn't used to need documented identification, and I used stolen social security numbers. After WWII, that didn't work so well any more. I was able to do a work-around for about ten more years, all the time planning what I had to do next."
A couple got into the tub with us. A handsome man in his early thirties, and a woman who was just beginning to show a baby bump in her bikini. The hotel had a posting of do's and don'ts for hot tub use. Pregnancy is one of them. There are a lot: have an illness, compromised Immune System, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, high blood pressure. She wasn't too far along, and the tub wasn't that hot, so I kept my mouth shut. My doctor recommends them.
"Lecture's over for a while, Finn. Are you ready to go?"
Rudy sat on the edge of the tub then stood up. There was an audible gasp from the couple in the tub with us. If Rudy's suit was sexy when we came down, wet and clinging it was absolutely obscene. It even took me by surprise. We rinsed off in the shower by the tub.
"Enjoy your soak," Rudy said to the couple. I waved good bye
We climbed into bed together. We cuddled, but no sex.
"What's next, " I said.
"I've got to be in New York on Wednesday."
"Oh, how I love Manhattan, Rudy!"
"If that's your way of saying. Take me with you, Mr. Valenti, please, please. The answer is no. This isn't a fun trip. I have to take it periodically, and I hate it. You wouldn't like being with me. I'm going to be an insufferable tyrant in a couple of days. I couldn't take you where I have to go, you wouldn't be safe."
"You're scaring me, Rudy."
"I'm scared myself."
"This is more than clandestine, " I said.
"When I see you again, I'll still be Rudy Valenti to you. To the world I'll be an entirely new man. I won't be Michael French. I'll have a new name, a new address, all new identification. It will be like Michael French never existed."
"Don't even know what that means," I said.
"And you won't, Finn."
"That's Wednesday, what shall we do until then?"
"I've sketched out some plans, Finn. Want to hear them."
"No, let's just do them."
"We drove from Indianapolis to Cincinnati. It was a beautiful late Spring day and it's was a very pleasant ride. We took the old road, US 52 instead of I-74. It was a lot less crowded than the interstate, and you could enjoy it. A little over an hour into the trip we pulled into Brookville, Indiana. Rudy stopped at a restaurant. "Back in a minute," Rudy said.
Rudy came out with a good-sized box labeled Butcher's. "What's that," I said. "Lunch, Finn." He popped the trunk and put the box in. We pulled into a dirt road north of Brookville. Rudy parked on a hill overlooking a large lake. It was beautiful and almost deathly quiet.
"What are you doing, Rudy."
"Taking off your clothes, you can take mine off."
"Here?"
"This is private land, owned by Otis Richfield, Jr. He's about 92, and still alive. I called him to ask if we could use his high woods. He offered to join us but said he didn't do that anymore. He was surprised that I did. Otis and I had a lot of fun up here. If his father only knew."
"Does he have your number?"
"When I was here with Otis a phone, if you had one, was attached to the wall. My phone service found him."
"Pretty sophisticated."
"It's military proprietary and top secret. It's illegal to have it. But legal doesn't mean much to me; moral yes, legal no."
We were naked and sitting on the grass. "Hungry, Finn?"
"Not yet."
"Want to fuck?"
"Not yet, I want to just sit and take all this in." The lake ran for some distance North. In the southeast you could see a skyline of what I assumed was Cincinnati.
Rudy and I laid side by side, naked in this open field. Two horses were grazing in the distance. It was just us. "Kiss me, Rudy." He did, not like he was raping me, but like we did in the meadow in Baltimore. We had fucked each other a lot, but now we were making love. It's different.
"Want to fuck each other, Finn."
"Uh-huh, thought you'd never ask."
"Let me get some lube." He popped the trunk.
"You got lube at the restaurant?"
"No, I picked this up at an adult book store last night."
"Did you pick anything else up?"
"No, but two guys tried to pick me up."
He sat down with what looked like a 12 ounce bottle of something call Splash-tastic. "Do you think you got enough?"
"For now, Finn. Do you want to try something I've only done once.?"
"I don't believe there's anything you've only done once, especially when it comes to gay sex."
"I want us to fuck each other ..."
"We've already done that."
"But not at the same time, it isn't easy, and may be more fun than erotic."
I'd seen it done in porn by guys with unimaginably long cocks. I assumed they had help getting things together. Neither Rudy nor I had anything to be embarrassed about, but I didn't think we were well equipped enough.
"He sprayed some lube on his hand and my ass hole. He rubbed my sphincter then slid two fingers in me. He did the same to himself.
"You just relax, Finn. Let me handle this. If you tense up on me, it ain't going to work."
Rudy somehow got us together. "Scoot your butt up toward me a bit, Finn."
"That's it," Rudy said, "were coupled. Now do what makes you feel good." I was hard, but not totally erect, his ass was in the way. Rudy was right, this is really more fun than erotic. It took a while.
"I'm ready to cum, Rudy." "
"Go ahead, Finn. So am I. We'll go together."
We uncoupled, it was messy, but Rudy had a lot of napkins. "Did you and Otis do this?"
"No, Otis and I got together here in the late 40's. I didn't know this was even possible then. I never fucked Otis, he didn't think he'd like it. He was only sixteen when we met. He thought I was his age, and I was the only guy he'd been with then. I was attending college in Cincinnati at the time. He never fucked me. Not only did his family raise horses, he was one. He was too big for me. I could barely blow him."
"Ready to eat, Finn?" "Yeah, sex can whet the appetite."
It was a grand lunch. I was gnawing on a spare rib. "How many men have you been with?"
"Thousands, Finn."
"Do you remember them?"
"Not really. The sex, some. The men, no."
I put the rib back on my plate. "Stop pouting, Finn. I'll remember you and the sex." He kissed me.
We finished lunch. For a picnic it was a damn good one.
"Ready to go?"
I laid down and he laid his head on my stomach. "No I'd like to stay here a while, Rudy. Just so we don't have to do that again."
"What if I said if it's not that, it's not me?"
I bolted upright, dumping Rudy on the ground. "Damn you, Valenti, that's the meanest fucking thing you've ever said to me!"
"I haven't said anything mean to you."
"You just made up for it."
"I'm sorry, Finn, I didn't mean it. Kiss me."
"I don't want to."
"Yes, you do."
I did kiss him and then we spent the better part of an hour making a crop circle in that field.
"I love you, Finn."
I sat up. "How many men have you said that too?"
"In a hundred years, just you."
"Love is a dangerous word, Rudy. What do you mean?
"I really don't know, Finn. You are the only serving of reality that's been in my fantastic life in fifty years."
Jeeze, I thought to myself. I was only ten.
"We better pack up and go, before I say something stupid, like I love you too, Rudy."
As the song goes, "If this is all there is, then let's keep dancing."
"Can I lead?"
"You have to, Rudy. I've never been to Cincinnati."
I was surprised, we got to Cincinnati and then kept driving across the Ohio River to a City in Kentucky called Covington. The Cleveland airport was in Kentucky. I didn't know that. "What are we doing. "First, Finn, we're going to check in for our flights."
"Where are we going and when?"
"Day after tomorrow, me to New York, and you to Philadelphia."
"I can't let you pay for me, Rudy."
"It's not money, it's miles. Wednesday the man who owns them won't exist."
We checked into a hotel in Kentucky near the airport, showered quickly, dressed, and headed out to see some of Cincinnati.
"What are those? "
"P and G," Rudy answered.
"Which one is P and which one is G?"
Rudy chuckled. "It's Proctor & Gamble. They aren't separate buildings. They're part of a much larger business complex. Around here they are known affectionately as the Dolly Parton Towers."
"Wonder why?" I said, facetiously.
As the sun was setting, Rudy said, "We've got to get you some 5-way chili."
"I'm not especially hungry."
"Doesn't make any difference, you have to have some. If you don't, you haven't been to Cincinnati."
"I guess it's very good."
"Not especially, Finn, but it's tradition."
We pulled up to a place, It said, Cincinnati's Original 5-Way. It looked like a hash house, but it had valet parking.
"There's a wait for tables, gentlemen, but you can sit at the counter." "Counter works," said Rudy. He ordered two 5-ways.
They brought two platters, along with bowls of oyster crackers and a bottle of not-too-hot sauce.
"So what's with 5-way, Rudy"
"You can get it 2- 3- 4- or 5-ways, but if you're not going all the way, don't bother. Way 1 is spaghetti, way 2 is with beefy chili gravy, way 3 adds cheddar cheese, way 4 adds kidney beans (They're not cooked in the chili) or chopped onions, way 5 adds beans and onions. "
"This isn't bad, Rudy."
"I didn't say it was bad, but it's not exactly haute' cuisine."
"Don't twirl it like that, Finn, it's not Italian. Just grab a forkful, put it in your mouth, let it hang down your chin and slurp it in. That's the way to eat it. You can cut it with the fork if you want. Don't ask for a spoon. Twirling and spooning will make you look like a numb-nuts in Cincinnati. If it ain't messy, it ain't Cincinnati chili."
"Well, if any one knows I'm not a numb-nuts, it's you. Rudy."
"That's true, so don't act like one."
"This doesn't taste Tex-Mex at all."
"Because it's not, Finn. It's Greek. The recipe is secret, but that chili tastes much like Pastitsio. I had it first at the original restaurant which is no more, over by the University. I was actually served by the son of the original owner. The owner was at the stove. I don't know how many sons he had, but they were all good-looking Greek hunks. Before you ask, yes, but only one."
I couldn't finsh what I had. Rudy did. That old man has a teenager's appetite. I grabbed the check. "No let me, you've taken care of everything else, Rudy."
"Want to walk this off, Finn."
"The last time you said that you gob smacked me. Any surprises today?"
"Don't think so."
"Let's take a hike.
We hit a gay night club with some young male strippers. There was a waiting line to get in. Posted by the door was a billboard announcing the headline entertainment. I asked Rudy if he knew these guys. He didn't. After paying a hefty cover charge, we went in. It wasn't your typical gay bar, more of a cocktail lounge. There wasn't an actual bar, just table service by bare chested waiters and bikini topped waitresses. Unlike cruise bars, this place was dimly lit, but not dark. A handsome well-built man with a hairy chest and abs came to our table. He wore low riding black Levi 501's with the top button open.
I asked him, "Do you have a hairnet for that?"
"I would if I worked the kitchen, but out here anything, and sometimes nothing, goes. I need to see your I.D.'s gentlemen, whether you're drinking or not."
We produced them.
"Calling us gentlemen is awfully straight forward these days, isn't it."
"I call them pretty well, you two are definitely gentlemen."
"Here is your menu. Pease note, there is no tipping. A mandatory 20% gratuity will be added to your check. If you can give me a credit card, we can run a tab."
Rudy and I both opened our wallets, still on the table. "Let me get this Finn, you paid the door charge, and I'm going to rack up a lot more than you."
Rudy handed the waiter a Diner's Club card. "Do you know what you want, gentlemen."
Rudy had a top shelf fifteen year old single mallet scotch, I had my usual tall tonic water on ice.
Rudy ordered a double, neat. The waiter said, "Our drinks are normally poured heavy are you sure you want a double, sir, that's forty bucks."
"I know," said Rudy, "Plus the eight bucks for you. Yes, a double."
"I see you intend to get comfortable." I said. "I'm driving!"
Precisely at 9:30 the house lights dimmed and moving colored spot lights illuminated the stage. A voice worthy of a ring master called out, "Ladies and gentlemen, which ever you choose to be, I give you The Men of -- Animation."
Rudy put his chair next to mine. I put my arm around his shoulder and he laid on mine.
The curtain opened, and what was behind it deserves some description. There were six well developed, but not muscular, young men. They were wearing Chino Bermuda shorts, and all with (chemically dyed) hair color to match. Odd, since there was one Latino, one Oriental and one Black in the troupe. Each wore an embroidered satin stretch t-shirt with their name on it and the slogan "Never paid to get laid!" The names were obviously stage names: Ryan, Owen, Yves, Gary, Brad, Vern. And each wore a shirt with color to match their name: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet.
They sang a few songs and did a few highly choreographed dances which were very good. Then things got hot. The six men stood side-by side- with spread legs, shoes touching. They slowly raised their t-shirts over their heads and dropped them on the floor behind them. It was totally synchronized. It was like one giant pride flag being raised.
"They're cute." whispered Rudy.
"Not as cute as you, and they don't have this fuzzy stuff," I said, rubbing his chest. He smiled and kissed me on the cheek.
"That slogan is an interesting double entendre."
"I don't get it, Rudy."
"Never paid to get laid, could mean either I never sold it or I never bought it, or both."
They strutted to the front of the stage, then, in one instant, the Chinos were gone and dropped. Each man was now dressed only in a satin thong with their name and in their color. They didn't go any further, but the thongs were so clinging they might as well have not been there. They were all nice in the basket, but nothing excessive. They did one more dance, then jumped off the stage and worked the room, dancing tableside. They may not have sold it, but for a tip inserted in the waist band, they were more than happy to let you grab a handful of their package.
The show ended around 11:30. Two double scotches and a hundred bucks later, Rudy was definitely ready to go.
That night we were both very tired from the long day. We skipped the shower, each promising to pick it up again in the morning. We went to sleep in each other's arms. No sex tonight, tomorrow is another day.
When I woke, Rudy was rummaging through our luggage. "Do we have to pack up and go already?"
"Not yet, Finn we don't need to be out of here until eleven thirty tomorrow morning." He turned around. He had my swim suit in his left hand and his bikini hanging from two fingers on his right. "Do you want to do that tub thing again after breakfast, they have one?"
"You promised, Rudy and you didn't make good on it."
"Okay, Finn, I'll put it on and you can take it off me." He threw my suit on the bed and went into the bathroom, took a leak, and came out wearing the suit.
"What are we doing," he asked?
"Just get your sexy body over here and I'll show you." Rudy stood in front of me. I got on my knees, slipped a finger under the waist band of the bikini, then bit down on it. I tugged, but the suit wouldn't budge.
"You're not going to get this over my bubble butt like that, let me help you." Rudy slipped the suit across his ass and tucked it under his ass cheeks. That was all it took, I slipped it down to Rudy's thighs. The newly freed cock flipped up and hit me in the nose. I sneezed.
"Should I pull it back up now."
"Not just yet Rudy, climb in bed. Put your hands under your butt so they almost touch palms up." I adjusted them. Then I took the bikini off his feet and slipped it over his head so he couldn't see.
"What are you up to Finn?"
"Not going to tell you. You made me wait, now I'm going to make you wait."
I put my fingers behind Rudy ears, then slowly moved them down his neck and across his chest, going very slowly across his nipples.
"Nice, Finn, do I get to play too?"
"Don't know yet, Rudy. "
I moved my hands down across his abs counting each square of muscle with my fingers. I made my way to his crotch hairs and then jumped to the middle of his thighs."
"Did you forget something, Finn?" His cock was pulsing. I ran my fingers down the inside of his thighs and behind his knees. Rudy couldn't see me so he didn't know what I was going to do. I moved back to his left shoulder then slowly ran my fingers down his right side using both my hands, then his left side. Then I replaced my fingers with my nails and started all over again.
"You're killing me , Finn, let me loose."
"You're not tied up, I'm not holding you down. That's the bitch of that position. It seems like there's no reason you can't get up, but a single hand resting lightly on your belly makes it impossible. Rudy was panting and sweating. I climbed on top of him and tea-bagged my nuts into his mouth.
"Suck those babies, Rudy." I said. "Hold on and suck hard, I'm going to try to pull them out of your mouth." He held on really tight. I pulled with my hips, it was great, then Rudy did something I didn't expect. He started shaking his head violently from side to side with my balls still in his mouth. It was like a dog breaking the neck of its prey. There was saliva flying everywhere. The bikini was thrown off his head and on to the floor. It was great.
"-ake -em oud, Vinn." He tried to talk. I pulled my sack loose as his jaw dropped.
"Can I have my hands back?"
"Open your mouth again." I shoved my cock in. Then I took him in my mouth and started to suck. I put my hands on his ass and rolled him on top of me. Hands free, he supported himself on his elbows and fucked the hell out of my mouth, all the while doing a great job of repeatedly swallowing my dick and easing up. "I gon cum, Vinn," he gurgled. I forced his cock as deep as I could into my mouth, he must have been millimeters away from my gag spot. He sent a load straight down my throat. He was so deep, I didn't even taste it." Rudy took my cock out of his mouth. "Do you want me to make you cum, Fi--." Before he could finish, I blew a load on his teeth and chin.
"I guess you did," he said.
"Are we going to do that again, Finn.?"
"Yeah, I said, " maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow morning, maybe both"
"Can I do it to you?"
"We'll see," I answered. "Let's go get some breakfast and then the hot tub.
Breakfast was included in the room, but whenever it is you can't expect much. And we got what we expected. We didn't have dinner last night. We'll find something good in Cincinnati tonight, but not chili.
We put our swim suits on. This hotel has no robes so we went downstairs dressed to swim with a towel over our shoulders.
In this hotel, even though the hot tub is indoors (pool is outdoors, but not heated) you have to go through the lobby to get to it. When we reached the lobby there were a lot of people waiting to check out, and most of them checked out Rudy while they were waiting.
"You're strutting like a fucking peacock. I thought you said that suit embarrassed you."
He turned around so everyone could see him again and said to me while walking backwards, "I said a little, but it's fun to see peoples' reaction."
"Rudy you are a pretentious pig. Wipe that big grin off your face and turn your cute cocky ass back around and let's get to the hot tub."
"Ouch! That's a little raw, Finn. Boo-hoo!" he said, pouting and feigning to wipe tears from his eyes. We both broke out laughing.
"This water is h-o-t." Rudy said, sitting spread legged on the edge of the tub.
"It's not that hot, I'm in it. You're mugging for the other bathers again. Get your pretties in here. If it's too hot for them I'll kiss them, probably will anyway."
"Promise," he asked, sliding into the tub?
"Promise. This is a side of you I haven't seen, Rudy."
"I was naked with you several times before you saw me in this. I had nothing to hype me. I don't wear it for myself, I wear it for other people."
"What do you want to do in your one day in Cincinnati, Finn?"
"I'm sure there are many things about this city to make its residents proud; but honestly Rudy, if that river out there were the Tiber instead of the Ohio and that was the Vatican instead of P & G, I'd want to spend this last day with you for what I hope is a not-very-long time."
"I haven't been here in over forty years. The baseball Great American Ballpark is supposed to be amazing but I've never seen it. The Reds are away anyway. The Reds played in Crosley field when I went to school here. It was a state-of-the-art field for it's time."
"I like baseball. I'm partial to the Phillies, of course. Even if the Phillies were here playing the Reds, I'd still want to be with you."
"Well, there's always the underground brewery tour. It's a classic but I guess that's out the question."
"Just you."
"Okay, it's just us. We can go down to riverfront park and walk around, or lay in the grass."
"Can we kiss and snuggle?"
"Don't know, Finn, but we'll work something out. I have an idea. Do you have jogging gear?"
"No, not with me. You were not part of my plans when I left Philly."
"We'll get you some, then off to McFarlan Woods in Mt. Airy Forest."
At about eleven we set off. We stopped at a sporting goods store.
"Do you like these, Finn?" He was holding up a pair of short low rise, split-legged nylon running shorts.
"Don't you think those are a little young for me?"
"Age is just a state of mind, Finn. I know. You're acting a lot younger now than when we first met, anyway. Wear what you want."
"Okay, how about Navy?"
"Okay. We'll need jocks."
"Why?" I asked.
"First, because I want to see you in one; and second, Finn, because these are unlined. You might want to avoid a visible penis line or accidental fallout."
"Navy OK?" I nodded. "Size?" "large," I said. Rudy picked up a large and a medium.
We got the rest of the gear we needed.
"Do you want to try these on, Finn."
"Not necessarily, "I answered.
"Yes, necessarily. We need to put them on somewhere, and we both like to watch each other getting dressed and undressed."
We stripped in the dressing room. We pulled the jocks on. "Looking good, Finn." Rudy said, cupping my balls in his hand.
"You're fucking hot, as usual," I answered, reciprocating his grope.
Standing next to each other in the mirror I said, "We look pretty good. Kind of like the Bobbsey Twins."
"More like Mother and Daughter going to a church social," Rudy said, laughing..
We left in our running gear, carrying the clothes we came in with.
Shortly we entered Mt. Airy Forest and turned into McFarland woods.
"This is beautiful, Rudy."
"Probably the most popular park in Cincinnati both for exercise enthusiasts, family outings, and gay cruising."
"Did you and Otis come here?"
"Many times, when we weren't back at his farm. I haven't been here in years, but I looked it up while you were out with your aunts."
We walked for about an hour and saw very few other people, mostly men. We went off trail into the woods. Stopping and resting in a clearing in a wooded area, we sat on the grass.
"What is that heady aroma?"
"You are a Yankee city boy, Finn! That's honeysuckle."
Rudy stood up and said, "Stay there I'll be back in a few minutes."
He was gone longer than I expected, and I didn't watch which way he went. I Iooked around and finally saw him coming back. He was carrying a five or six foot vine with little white trumpet-shaped flowers. It had the aroma I have commented on.
"This, Finn, is honeysuckle. Unmanaged it can engulf anything: trees, mailboxes and traffic signs. Pull off a blossom and suck the drop of nectar that forms at the base and you'll know why it's called honeysuckle." I did. It was sweet, but didn't really taste like honey.
"I'm glad we rely on bees to collect this stuff, it would take for ever to collect enough for a breakfast waffle." I said.
"I made this for you, Finn." He handed me a wreath of honeysuckle blossoms that he had plaited into a ring.
"So this is what took you so long. If it's a bracelet, Rudy, it's a little small."
Rudy looked at me with a lascivious smile. "It's not for your wrist, it's for your cock. Let me put it on you."
"Here, now?"
"Noone's going to see us. We only saw a few guys on the way here and they were all gay. If we hadn't been walking together, they would have probably approached us. Older-younger gay couples tend to attract other gay men."
"How would they know you're older than me?"
"Funny, Finn! Give me the ring and get your cock out."
I stood up, but Rudy didn't wait. He grabbed my jock and shorts and pulled them down to my knees. He grabbed my balls and fed them through the ring, followed by my rising cock. Then he put his mouth on me and dove straight down until his nose was buried in the ring. He grabbed my ass cheeks and massaged them while he sucked a few times and then asked, "Do you want me to finish him off now? You're getting pretty hard."
"I'm too nervous, Rudy, even if he isn't. Not here." I bent over to get my clothes.
"Don't put your pants on yet, Said Rudy. "I want to get a picture of that." He opened his fanny-pac and got out his phone.
"Why," I asked.
"Because it's cute, and I didn't think you'd wear it, let alone let me put it on you. Besides, it was the sweetest smelling blowjob I ever gave."
"What are you going to do with it?"
"Don't worry, it's not going to end up on Pinterest. It's just for me, and I'll treasure it forever, which for me may indeed be forever."
He took two closeups, a full-frontal and a side-angled shot, then kissed my cockhead and said, you can pull them up, now."
We spent over three hours in that park. I wanted to kiss and cuddle, and we did a lot of that. A couple of guys saw us. One walked up and said, "I see you guys are enjoying yourself, do you want to share the fun.
Rudy looked at me. "It's your party today, Finn."
I thanked the guy and told him we were leaving soon.
"Nothing like timing," he said, and gave us both a parting kiss. Mine was perfunctory, but he was more serious about Rudy's. I don't believe I felt jealous.
"What do you want to do with the rest of our day, Finn."
"You said you were going to tell me what was coming down for you tomorrow."
"I'll let my boss tell you. I've got to call him tonight."
"Your boss! You said you didn't have a job."
"I don't but he's still my boss. He pulls all the strings."
"I don't understand, Rudy."
"You will."
"Why don't we go back to the hotel, get cleaned up, call your boss, and then we can get some dinner, come back to the hotel and fuck each other until neither of us can stand up."
"Well do all that, but not in that order. We'll go back to the hotel, fuck the shit out of each other, get cleaned up, go to dinner, then call Adam, my boss. Once we talk to Adam it's likely neither of us will be hungry or horny."
"You're scaring me again, Rudy."
"I'm more afraid than you. If I had my choice, none of it would be going down, but I don't."
"Adam is pulling the strings?"
"Yup!"
"I don't think I like him, Rudy."
"You will, he's nice. He wouldn't do it if he didn't know it has to be done."
"That's for tonight. But other things first. What do you want for supper? I have to tell you, Finn, Cincinnati is a drinking town. It was when I went to college here and it's not likely to have changed. I'm sure some restaurants here have larger bar menus than dinner menus. Are you prepared for that?"
"Social drinking doesn't bother me, In fact at the strip club you got more than a little mellow, and I liked it. Staggering drunks I don't like, but I've had several friends including myself who fit that description."
"Okay, what do you think you'll like?"
"I have a hunger for Creole/Cajun. Do you think that they have such a thing around here?"
"I'm pretty sure, but let me check."
He picked up his phone and talked to it. "They've got several. Do you want Creole or Cajun?"
"Not sure I know the difference."
"Tell me what you like about it."
"It's spicy and tomatoey. "
"You've got me on the horns of a dilemma. Finn, Cajun is spicy hot but no tomatoes, usually there's pork or chicken in it.. Creole is tomatoey with herbs rather than hot peppers and usually contains seafood. It makes a difference in Louisianna, but probably not here. All of these say Creole and Cajun. They are pretty similar and dietary lines blur. I'll pick one that lists Creole first."
Rudy talked to his phone and told it to make reservation for us at 8:30. I've got to get that App, If it will fit in my phone.
"Next stop shower then bed for a couple of hours, then and off to dinner."
We got back to the hotel and stripped down..
"You're still wearing it. Come here , Finn."
"Why?
"Because I put it on you and I'm going to take it off you, and this time I'm going to use my teeth."
Rudy knelt in front of me, chewed his way through the honeysuckle vine in two places then let it fall to the floor.
I had already gotten most of a hard when he went deep on me. Sucked a couple of times then looked up at me and said, "Let's take a quick shower to rinse some of the dust off and wash this thing," he said, taking a swat at my boner. "A man isn't supposed to smell like that, least of all his dick."
"Get your clothes off, Rudy. I'll go start the shower."
Rudy stepped in, already with a full boner. "What made him so happy?" I asked.
"Me, you." We started soaping each other up. I planned on using a lot of soap. We're both going to be very clean when we go to dinner.
What we started in the shower we finished in bed.
"I think I'm up for a Finnegan Murphy whirley."
"Your very lucky you happen to have a Finnegan Murphy right here, at your service."
"Do you want to make this a 69, Finn."
"Nope. I just want to do you nice and wet and slow. You just relax and let me have fun making you have fun."
Rudy laid back on the pillow, but bunched it up so he could see me. He likes to watch, especially when I take his whole shaft in my mouth very slowly. I can tell he likes it because what was already hard gets harder. I alternated between sucking his glans like an apricot and taking him all the way in until my nose is buried in his pubes. Then even slower on the withdrawal, with a lot of tongue action on the way out."
"Damn, Finn that feels so, so good. I've had thousands of those. I won't lie to you, I may have had better, but your talents are way up the hierarchy. Can I cum?"
"Not yet."
"I'm just going to lay back and close my eyes. I'm done watching."
"Okay, Rudy, throw your knees up on your chest. I've got some work to do down here." With his asshole winking at me, I gave it a good rimming. Circling slowly around his anus with my tongue then rapidly darting in and out his sphincter. Once he was sloppy wet, I inserted two fingers and reached for his prostate."
"That's it, Finn. Oh, that's so it. Do you have other plans for that hole."
"If you beg me nice, I'll consider it." Rudy puts on this "poor little neglected me" act that is really cute as well as erotic. He sounds like a French whore, who hasn't been fucked for two months.
"Okay, you sorry baby, how do you want me: doggy, missionary or cowboy."
"Reverse cowboy, that way you can hug me and jack me off while you fuck me, and I get to set the pace."
I got into position then said, "Okay caballero, mount up." He sat on my cock fairly slowly, I could tell I wasn't hurting him, but he wanted it that way. That didn't last long. Once he had as much of me as he could get in him, he started to ride me as if I was a bucking bronco. I obliged him by becoming one.
"This isn't going to take me long, Finn, I was close before I took you in me." He was jumping around so much I couldn't jack him off and really couldn't hold on to him. "Let me know when you're ready. I'll try to hold off until you cum, but no promises."
"Gotta blow Finn, now!" He did and I did too. We collapsed on the bed. The cowboy and his mount became a set of spoons, but I was still inside him. "Are you still hard Finn?"
"Surprisingly yes. My little guy is very happy to be in there, Rudy."
"And we're very happy to have him there."
I kissed him on the neck and said, "Want a little nap before dinner?" He didn't answer just forced his butt deeper into my lap, and my cock deeper in him.
As the waiter was clearing the plates, Rudy said, "I'm sorry, Finn, that wasn't what you wanted, I know."
"It's not your fault, I chose it. If the chili you get when you come to Cincinnati isn't what most people expect, why should Cajun/Creole be any different?" Rudy smiled, not a happy smile a sardonic grin.
"Time to get back to the hotel and call Adam, Finn."
"Not sure I want to, Rudy."
You should, Adam is better able to answer any questions about me than I am. There's nothing not to like about Adam."
"Who is he?" I asked.
"Adam isn't a who, he's a what. But I can't tell you exactly what he is. He can, and will if you ask. He's not Adam, like the first man, but that fits, I may be the last man. He's spelled in all caps except the d. It's an acronym that I don't remember what the second A stands for, I know the Ad stands for Advanced, D is Digital, the M is Military Intelligence. He used to have the I, but I made him drop it. Now he's AdAM.. I consider him a program, but when I say so he corrects me, politely."
"Why do you call him your boss?"
"Because he has to approve everything I do. I don't have to ask him, just tell him. He will tell me if I can't do it, and why. He has total leverage over me, but would never use it."
"That's a scary thought, Rudy, I don't think I'd like that."
"Adam is the least scary thing about my life, and before you, my only source of stability. Let's get back to the hotel. He can answer your questions better than I."
Back at the hotel, I ask Rudy, "How do we do this."
"Like any other night, get undressed and crawl in bed. Before I call, could I have a scotch Finn."
I thought you said you weren't afraid."
"Not what I said, Finn, Adam is not to be feared, what we have to talk about is scary."
"I'll get it for you, hop in bed."
I handed him a double scotch neat.
"Are you ready, Finn?
"No, but let's get on with it."
Adam hit Cntl-Shift-A. his screen instantly lit up.
"Voice mode, Adam."
"You are not alone, Michael, can we revert to text mode?
"No Adam."
"Your room is secure, I booked the rooms on either side of you, there are no recoding devices in the area. Mr. Murphy is not secure, Michael."
"How did he know I was here?"
"I can see you, Mr. Murphy."
"You haven't seen me before, how did you know it's me?"
"I have seen you before. First in Michael's rental car in Baltimore."
"You were in his phone?"
"No, but I control it, just like this laptop."
"Do you want to ask him anything, Finn?"
"Can I?"
"Ask him?"
"May I call you Adam?"
"Yes, Mr. Murphy, Michael does."
"If you're not in the phone or the lap top where are you, what are you?"
I'm neither a what nor am I anywhere. I exist in cyberspace, but my location is fluid and dynamic. Watch the screen."
Line after line of letters and numerals filled the screen and it began to roll. The screen came back on with Rudi's face again.
"That is a small part of where this conversation is located, or at least was when I began to report it to you. It's not there now.
I am widely dispersed throughout the cloud. I cannot be hacked, because I'm not anywhere."
"Don't try to understand, Finn, you'll get a headache. Adam is what Adam is, that's how I choose to deal with it."
"We have business to attend to Michael."
"We will, but first tell Finn what this is all about."
"May I call you, Finn, Mr. Murphy?"
"To quote you, yes Adam Michael does."
"Can I ask him anything, Mike?"
"Yes, but if you don't want the answer don't ask. Adam will give it to you."
"Adam, can you find information on a man named Rudyard Kipling Valentini?"
"Searching," said Adam.
Rudy, who had been fondling my balls beneath the duvet gave me a hard, painful squeeze.
"The man you asked about does not exist, Finn."
"Did he ever exist?"
"No."
"I told you, Finn, that there is no record of Rudyard Kipling Valenti."
"What about the picture in your phone, doesn't he have it?
"Yes, but he doesn't know why. Actually he is forbidden to know."
"Can't he hear you?"
"Yes, it doesn't make any difference."
"Tell Finn why I need you, Adam."
"Mchael is a very unique man as I'm sure you know, Finn. If he had any real public identity, forces that be would destroy him. I don't know how he managed to conceal his identity become I came on line. Since then I have been his Jiminy Cricket on Steroids. I manage his life as if it were my own. He's neither a slave nor a puppet, but there's little that can happen in his life that I don't know about. Every few years, he has to be wiped clean. When next you meet after tomorrow ..."
I liked the sound of that.
"When next you meet after tomorrow, he will not be Michael French. He will have a totally new identity and Michael French will not have existed."
"How can that be."
"Every public record of Michael French for the last eight years,, since he was created, will be expunged.. No one will be able to prove he ever was. People who have known him will know he existed, but there will be no proof. If you want to verify that, call the airline that you flew with to Indianapolis ..."
I looked quizzically at Rudi.
"there will be no record of who bought your ticket."
I presume you know what will be happening in New York, Mihael,"
"Yes Adam, but pretend I don't. I want Finn to know it all."
"Very well, Michael. When you land at La Guardia in New York, you will be met at your arrival Gate by a man in a tuxedo holding a sign that says FRENCH. Ask him who he was sent by. He should say "I am Henry, Mr. French, Mr. Adam sent me." It should be exactly vas I said it.. He will offer to take your bags, give them all to him, that will be the last you will see of them. Henry is not only your chauffer, he's your bodyguard and your roommate while you are in New York. He knows everything about what you need to do in New York, but nothing about what is being done. When you get to the car Henry will give you your new laptop and phone. The phone will not work until you log on to me as usual on the laptop. Mr. Murphy's phone will be passed through for calls, there are no others. As soon as you log in, Michael French will cease to have existed. I will tell you your new name then. You will be staying with Henry at a private residence in Manhattan. Thursday morning you will begin the process of documenting who you are. You're at the hands of the worlds most accomplished forgers. You will spend at least three days in New York while I validate your new identity and create a social history for you. You will not leave the city until I am satisfied that you know who you are. Henry will dismiss himself when you re ready to move on, you will then be on your own devices. "
"Will you be making my travel arrangements?"
"That process will be as before, but I can't do it until your new self exists."
"Do you have any more questions, Michael?"
"No Adam, thank you."
"Finn, any questions?"
"Thousands, Adam, I just don't know what they are."
"Then farewell until we meet again, Finn. Good by, Micael, until I greet the new you tomorrow afternoon. "
"Are you alright, Finn?"
"I don't know , I'm in shock. I heard it but I don't know what I heard. I certainly couldn't repeat it."
"You better not. It's on the edge, Finn, but it's really very safe. I've done this several times, it always goes off without a hitch. Adam is very competent. I trust him totally."
We slept together in each other's arms. Me restlessly, Rudy seemed fine. No sex tonight and probably not I the morning. I was so scared and confused I couldn't get a boner to save my life.
Rudy's flight wasn't for an hour. He accompanied me to my gate. Gates 24 and 26 were pretty crowded, but there weren't many people at Gate 27, we sat there. We chatted, more like strangers, than friends. The speaker blared, Flight 47 for Philadelphia and Flight 219 for Miami/San Juan will begin boarding in fifteen minutes.
"Would you like to go to San Juan, Finn?"
"Now?"
"No, not now, but someday?" That broke the ice that was keeping us apart.
"Will I really ever see you again, Rudy?"
"Finn, you can't imagine how many times I've been asked that or similar, often in bed."
I didn't like what this was sounding.
"I've always said, probably not. Other people are risky complications added to an already risky and complicated life."
"Don't say it, Rudy, forget I asked." Tears were welling behind my eyes.
"Let me finish. Yes, Finn, we will meet again. I don't know where, I don't know when. Until then, you can always call. I promise to answer if I can."
"What about complications?"
"I've broken the rules with you from the moment we met. Finn. "
"That's your flight, you have to go; but before you do, kiss me, Finn."
"Here?"
"It won't be conspicuous. It's perfectly acceptable for a grandson to kiss his grandfather goodbye."
"I won't say goodbye, Rudi. Let me say this, "May the sun shine warmly on your face, until we meet again."
Rudy said it back to me in Gaelic. We kissed. He walked me to my gate, we hugged. I found my seat, settled in. I felt like shit!
I got back to my town house around 5:00 P.M. I had mixed feelings. This had been my home for a long time, I loved it, it was totally familiar. It's like it loved me. But I was alone again. That wouldn't have bothered me two weeks ago. I've lived alone for a very long time. It's not that I don't have friends. I do, both male and female, gay and straight. But, except for Ira, in Philadelphia I'm straight. The business would suffer if any local dalliances I might have were made public. Besides, I didn't have much time for dalliances. I traveled nearly every week to confer with our clients, C-level corporate officers. Ira never did for several reasons. First Rachel, his wife, wouldn't let him. Second, Ira is excellent at running the company. (He has gotten several head-hunter calls for CEO positions, never considered them.), but at glad-handing he's abysmal. That's my forte. The company would not have been the success it's been without both of us.
The first thing I did was call Rudy, I got his voice mail. "Hello dear Finn. I can't take calls yet. Leave a message if you want. I'll know you called. When I can, I'll call you." I left a brief message. I was feeling very sad. I called Ira to see if he could cheer me up. "How was your vacation," he asked? Before I had a chance to answer, he continued, "Rachel is home packing for a two-week cruise. I'm sorry, Finn, we won't be able to get together next Tuesday."
I had forgotten that next Tuesday was the first Tuesday in June. "There's always next month," I said.
"Nope, it's the Fourth of July. The office will be closed. We'll have to wait until August."
"I'll survive, Ira, it's not the first time."
Ira is a total creature of habit. There isn't an innovative bone in his body with regard to anything but the business, especially sex, at least with me. We began our sexual relationship in Business School. We fucked about every week, on Tuesday. When we started the company we were too busy and dropped down to two Tuesday's a month. Then Ira married Rachel and it dropped to one, the first Tuesday of every month. If it wasn't the first Tuesday, it wouldn't happen. I guess we've fucked each other maybe 400 times. Ira is not a creative lover and his love-making is certainly not prolonged. He's an okay fuck, but not the best. It's an easy stroll to our office from here. Ira lives in New Jersey in a private home with his family. He used to take the train in, but for the last 20 years he's had a private car bring him to work and home again. When the weather is inclement, he picked me up.
I walked out on my patio. "Hello, Will."
"Welcome back, I missed you. Finn."
No, my uncle isn't here. I'm talking to William Penn, or the 36 foot tall statue of him atop the Philadelphia City Hall clock tower. It may look like he's ignoring me since he faces northeast and I live northwest of him. He's a reason I bought this unit, sight unseen, when the contractors first broke ground. It was convenient to the office (even more so when L & M moved in 2002), a now three-star restaurant was planned for the first floor named Boots and Stirrups (English, not Western) with hotel-like room service to the living units, 24/7. It opened about the same time I occupied my suite on the fifth floor in 1998. So how did the statue figure in my decision? From my veranda I have a perfect view of "Billy's Boner." The right arm of the statue is extended slightly. I view it from the left side. The arm looks like a hefty semi sticking out of the man's britches (Google it!)
"Good to be home Will. I've got to change, unpack, and order some dinner."
I answered the door. "Hello, where's Carl?"
"Carl is moving to Florida to live with his daughter. We had a going away party for him last Saturday morning."
"I hope he's well. "
"He's not. He had a severe arthritis flare up. He can't walk unassisted anymore and he has no family locally. Let me introduce myself, Mr. Murphy. I'm Stan Napolitano. I'm filling in for Carl, no one can replace him. He has me we well versed in your gustatory preferences. Both Carl and I hope you find yourself to continue to be well served."
"This is a good start, Stan. Only my gustatory preferences?"
"That's all he told me, if there are others I should know about you will have to teach me. Shall I serve your dinner? Here or on the veranda?"
"It's a lovely evening, outdoors would be nice."
As Stan set the table I asked, "Do you have to leave right way?"
"No, sir. Until my phone rings I'm all yours."
Oh, Stan, if that were only true I mused, I have a new-found hunger for young men. "Can I get you a beer, Stan?"
"If they found out downstairs I could lose my job, but yes if it pleases you I would enjoy joining you."
"I doesn't matter a flying fuck whether it pleases me or not, if you want a damn beer you shall have one."
Stan was totally startled and taken aback. "Excuse me sir, it's just that I didn't expect to hear quite that."
"Stick around, Stan, and you're likely to hear a lot more. I'll go get the drinks."
"Let me, Mr. Murphy."
"Who invited whom to this party? I will get them. Grab a chair or the chaise, I'll be right back."
When I got back Stan said, "Thank you sir, this is very kind."
"First of all Stan, you've got some more preferences to learn. I am Finn, not sir, not Mr. Murphy, just Finn, short for Finnegan."
"As you please si ... Finn."
I raised my stein and said, "Cheers, Stan, to a budding relationship."
We clinked rims, "Thank you, uh ... Finn."
"So are you just Stan or maybe Stanley?"
"Actually, I'm Constantine Habsburg Napolitano. Stan is a nickname that comes from Constantine, it wouldn't all fit on the restaurant badge.
"Habsburg, of the Viennese House of Habsburg?"
"Yes, Finn, my mother is Von Habsburg. She met my father in Trieste where he was working as a stevedore, they still live there with my brother and sister.
By right of peerage, I am a Duke, though not in line for succession."
"I'm honored, your Grace."
"Very good, Finn, you seem versed in nobility. Any form of address is said in jest because the title is meaningless. Most people when told call me your Excellency or your Highness; your Grace is the proper form of address for a Duke."
"That said, I much prefer to be called by my full Roman name, Constantine."
I stood, raised my glass and announced loudly to downtown Philadelphia, "Then hereafter in Chez Murphy, you shall be known as Constantine!"
He laughed heartily. He had a deep, beautiful warming laugh.
I continued, "Does the kitchen know?"
"Yes Finn, they know who I am and about the badge."
"So what does the Arch Duke Constantine do when he's not making me happy."
"Please don't mock me, Finn."
"That was intended as praise surely, but no worse than jest."
"Taken as intended. I'm a graduate student at The Wharton School. I'm majoring in Marketing."
Impressive, Wharton is arguably the best business school in the country, and difficult to get into. L & M is on the advisory board. Make a mental note, Finnegan.
"That is why I was a little hesitant about the beer. This job and my apartment down by the Schuylkill are convenient to the campus. They pay well here, and I need the money."
I finished my dinner, "That was a wonderful meal, as usual, made so much the better by my charming dinner guest." Constantine blushed. His tanned Italian face turned slightly browner.
"Shall I clear that."
"No, just leave it. I call some lackey from downstairs to get it in the morning."
"That lackey will likely be me, sir, Mr. Murphy, Finnegan, --- damn it, Finn."
"Well spoken, Constantine!"
We talked for a while, then Constantine's phone rang. "This is Stan. Mr. Murphy has just finished. I'll bring his service down right now."
"I've got to go now, Finn. And I need to take these with me."
"I'll let you go, but only if you promise to be back tomorrow evening."
"Count on it, Finn. When your room phone rings the restaurant, Constantine comes running." At the door I said goodbye and extended my hand. When he reached out to mine, I grabbed his forearm and led his hand to mine. We closed with a Roman salute. "Thank you, Constantine," I said. He smiled, "My privilege, Tribune." I smiled back.
I watched Constantine as he walked to the elevator. He is really a sexy animal. That two hours with Constantine made me want him, but it made me want Rudy more. I called again. I got the same message. This time I just hung up.
Even though I don't usually eat breakfast in the condo I was tempted to order one just to get Constantine back up here. The restaurant was open 24/7. I mused that I could have Constantine's butt up here anytime I wanted. It would cost me, but it would be worth it. I needed to remember to ask him his schedule at Boots.
The next day I called Rudy three times, left no message the first two. The third I screamed plaintively into the phone, "Please, Rudy!"
Constantine brought dinner around six thirty. "Can I set this up quickly for you, Finn. I've got another run, then I can come back if you want me to."
Of course I want you to. Let me set it up myself, go do your run and come back."
"Thanks, Finn. I'll be no more than 20 minutes."
"Are you finished already."
"I didn't finish it, Constantine, but I'm done eating. I don't have much of an appetite, it's not been a good day."
"Is there anything I can do, Finn?"
"Stay with me a while, I need some company." There was a loud clap of thunder. Constantine startled.
"I feel like such a shit, Finn, but I have to run. I need to get back to my apartment and Taco before this storm breaks."
"Taco, you live with someone?"
"In a manner of speaking. Taco is my cat, he obliges me by letting me live with him."
"It's too late, Constantine. Look at that rain pelting the porch door."
"Shit, I can't run in this and I'd never get a cab now. I'll just wait it out in the lobby."
"If you feel you need to get home I'll call the company car for you, my nickel. You can stay here if you want. I've got a spare room that is all made up and hardly ever used."
"Are you sure about that, Finn"
"If it means I can have some company, I'm more than sure."
We had a brief but very pleasant evening, weather notwithstanding. We tuned in the weather channel to check the progress of the storm. The map was solid red all the way from Baltimore to Newark. There were alerts and warnings running rapidly across the bottom of the screen. There was a brilliant flash of light and a deafening peal of thunder. "Oh Shit, No!" screamed Constantine. The lights flickered and went out.
"I guess it's bed time, Constantine. Let me get you a flashlight."
"I've got my phone, Finn, I can use that."
I guess I could have used mine too, but I'd need a light to see how to turn it on. I'm still a "phones are for talking" guy. All the other stuff on this thing I hardly ever, as in never, use. I showed Constantine to his room and told him that I sleep with my door open. I've just always done it that way. I patted him on the shoulder and said good night. I wanted to kiss him, but felt that might be going a little to far, at least for now.
"Finn, are you awake?" I heard Constantine whisper. "Can I sleep in here with you? I'm deathly afraid of thunder storms. I have been since I was a little kid when I saw a bolt of lightning kill my dad's Lupo. I've got my pillows and blanket, I can bed down on the floor,"
"Nonsense, young man, get in this big bed with me, there's plenty of room."
"I don't have any pajamas, I'm just in my briefs."
"That's one more piece of clothing than I'm wearing. I'll get up and put on some undies if you want."
"Don't bother," he said, then slipped his briefs down and stepped out of them. Oh, was I not ready for that! The room was repeatedly lit with brilliant flashes of lightening. An absolutely beautiful image of a nude Roman Adonis, foreskin and all, appeared before me. It seemed like I was staring at him for twenty minutes. It was more like five seconds, but the image was burned on my retina. He crawled under the covers.
Twenty minutes later I asked quietly, "Are you asleep Constantine?"
"No, can't you feel me shaking?"
"This is one hell of a storm, I don't blame you."
"Finn, I can't ask ..."
"You don't have to. Put your head on my shoulder and I'll hold you until you fall asleep." He didn't say a word, immediately cuddled up to me and rested on my shoulder. Now who can't sleep? We both actually did relatively quickly as the storm subsided.
Constantine woke me with coffee, orange juice and a sweet roll. I missed the show on his arising. Probably for the better, it could have been awkward. He was fully clothed, but I could still see his naked body.
"Did I get it right, Finn?"
"Perfect, Carl trained you well."
"I've got to run. I have to get home, change, feed Taco, go to class and be back here by four."
"Are you bringing dinner tonight?"
"Just call, I'm the only one who catches your line."
"If I order for two can you stay and eat with me?"
"I'm not supposed to, but I'm not supposed to sleep naked with the residents either. If you can make it until 8:30, it's a date."
"Not sure I can make it `til 8:30 this morning without you. Why don't you plan on bringing a change of clothes to keep here, just in case. Pajamas aren't needed."
"Last night, Finn, was that a "personal preference that I need to know about?"
"Hadn't been before, could become one."
"We've got to talk about that, Finn."
"We will Constantine. Run along, hurry back."
Watching Constantine reminded me so much of Rudy. I started to cry, it was a happy cry.
I showered and dressed then called Rudy. Same message. I screamed "No-o-o!" and threw my phone angrily at the wall. It shattered into a dozen pieces. I fell to my knees amid the rubble sobbing, "Oh no, Rudy, you're in here somewhere and I don't know if I'll ever be able to find you."
That was the beginning of the worst day of my life. I'd destroyed the only man I'd ever loved. Constantine called the suite phone, cancelled our dinner arrangements, and said that he can't be any more to me than Carl was. I asked him what about "We have to talk."
"We can't, Finn, that would make it much harder for both of us. What has to be is what has to be, regardless of whether we want it to be or not. I will miss what we had together, Finn. I'll never forget it."
I didn't answer, I just hung up the phone. My life was falling apart, I had just about lost my will to live.
The phone rang again. Maybe Constantine had a change of heart. "Yes," I answered.
"Mr. Murphy, this is AdAM, your cell service is not functioning. Lars Johansson would like to talk to you. I'll put him on."
"It's me, Finn, Rudy. I'm here, outside in the hall, open your door."
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