Beneath the Palisade (18 page)

Harper bolted up out of the sheets onto his knees, his body drenched with sweat. Looking frantically around the room, his eyes settled for a second on the television. Cleopatra’s barge, propelled by dozens of rowers, glided across the cobalt water. The buzz from a lawnmower in the neighborhood floated in through the partially open window. Collapsing onto his side, he moaned in agony. Hadn’t he suffered enough? A gentle breeze fanned his steaming body, the terror his vivid nightmare had produced still a frightening reality.

Minutes passed. Anger replaced fear.

There is no way, no way in hell I’m going to allow Phyllis Flynn to have this kind of control over me.

Harper stomped down the worry that when his body was finally back to normal, he’d still suffer at the hands of this lunatic woman by way of these horrible nightmares. Something had to be done to stop this from becoming a bigger issue than it already was, but at this point, he didn’t have a clue where to start.

“Harper?”

Ian’s home. He can’t see me like this.
Harper climbed out of bed and rushed across the hallway into the bathroom. He splashed his face with water and rubbed it dry with a towel. “I’m up here,” he hollered. Seconds later he heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

“Hey, sweetie.”

Harper forced a smile for his handsome partner, placing the towel back onto the rack.

“Okay, what’s going on? Harper? Talk to me. You just had a nightmare, didn’t you?” Ian moved into the small room, pinning him between the sink and the door.

“No… I….” He stopped himself.
Why lie? Why lie to Ian?
“It was a really bad one.”

“Phyllis again?” Ian reached for him.

“Yes.” He melted into Ian’s strong arms. “I can’t go on like this.”

“I know. We’re going to get through this together. I want to be a part of the healing process. I want to help you, and you’ll let me help, right?” Ian lifted his chin off his chest.

He was helpless to prevent the rogue tear that trickled down his cheek. He nodded, the sparkle in Ian’s eye offering hope and comfort.

“Oh, honey, I’m always going to be here for you.” Ian wiped the tear from Harper’s cheek. “No matter what. I might not be able to predict these nightmares, and it might be some time before we can wipe them away altogether, but you can always, always count on me to be here for you. Like it or not, you’re stuck with me.”

“I like it… so much.” He hugged Ian hard until his rib ached.

“Hmmm… now let’s see if we can drive a stake through that nasty Mrs. Flynn’s heart. I’m feeling more than a little inspired this afternoon.” Ian led him by the hand back into the bedroom and up onto the bed.

Harper gasped when, unexpectedly, he found himself naked. Ian, smiling, triumphantly held the trophy boxers in his hand. “You’re no match for me, Mr. Callahan, and the sooner you come to understand that, the easier this is going to be on us both.”

He giggled, scooting over to his side of the bed. Ian tossed the boxers over his shoulder and began to strip, starting first with his T-shirt. Undoing his belt, he let his shorts fall to his ankles, followed with breakneck speed by his own bright red boxers. Using the headboard for balance, he stepped out of his clothes.

Harper clenched his pillow in anticipation.
Phyllis who?

“I had an idea on the way over here.” Ian opened the drawer of the bedside table and removed the familiar tube of gel. Kneeling on the bed, he leaned over and took Harper into his mouth.

“Oh God.” Harper felt his cock turn to stone. “God, oh, that feels so good.”

Ian slurped and sucked, nibbled and bit, until Harper begged him to slow his assault.

“I think it’s time.” Ian crawled onto the bed. Tossing a foot over his man, he straddled him. “For you to drive.”

He watched Ian squeeze a dollop of gel into his palm. Bending down, Ian planted a kiss on his nose.

“Your body, it drives me wild. I’ll never get enough of you. Not ever.” Harper reached around to caress Ian’s marvelous butt. “Oh God, your ass is heaven.”

“I’ve been wanting this for a long time, Mr. Callahan.” Leaning forward for another kiss, Ian prepared himself for his man. When he straightened back up, he used the remainder of the gel to coat Harper’s stiff cock.

He looked on, mesmerized by the efficiency. Ian’s own dick and balls rested patiently on his stomach. A slumbering giant, he thought.

“Wait, don’t we need…?” Harper looked over to the bedside table.

“When you told me you were tested last week, and you were clean, I thought I’d better take care of that too. My test came back this week, and I passed with flying colors. We’re both on the honor roll, babe.” Ian locked eyes and began to ease himself down.

At first, Harper felt resistance, but after a moment, he entered Ian. “Oh wow.” It felt so warm and tight, like velvet. “I had no idea this would feel so incredible. It’s like we’re one, you and I. By the way, you have the most amazing chest, did you know that?” Harper traced the dark circles outlining his lover’s nipples.

“Of course I do, I hear it all the time.” Ian winked, inching down further and further.

Ian’s hard butt stopped its descent when it landed on his pelvis. During the journey, his hot lover never once lost the sparkle in his eye or his sexy smirk.

“How do you like your new home?” Ian kissed his lips.

“Snug as a bug in a rug comes to mind.” He reached up and gave Ian’s mop of hair a toss.

“Am I hurting you if I lean way back like this and then do this?” Ian began rocking his body from side to side and back and forth.

“Not at all. I… you feel great.”
My dick feels like it’s a foot long.

“I love it both ways.” Ian continued his gyrations. “We haven’t had a chance to talk about that.”

“I think I love it both ways too.” He reached for his talkative partner’s neck, bringing him down for another kiss. “Ian, you might not believe this….”

“First time batting?” Ian hoisted himself up and down.

“It’s the first time I… yes, it’s the first time.” He looked away and instantly hated himself.

“Hmm….” Ian reached out for his hand, guiding it into place. “Make yourself useful. Why the hesitation?”

“Ian, I don’t want to…. Okay.”
Just tell him. He’ll understand.
“I have tried this before, but it didn’t go too well.”

“Let me guess. Were there different parts involved?” Ian giggled.

“Yes, sir.” He slid his hands under Ian’s hot, tight butt, slowly lifting him up and then letting him fall back down. His apprehension over his performance dwindled by the second.

“I had the same experience. I lost interest. Does that ever put a damper on the party. So, you’ve never done this with another guy?” Ian reached for his hand and once again placed it on his cock. “Remember to multitask.”

“Sorry.” He petted and stroked Ian back to life. “Yes, but I’d had too many beers, and I wasn’t inspired. Pretty much the same results.”

“I love how you feel inside of me.” Ian wiggled from side to side. “Ah, you like that? Here, what about this.” Ian rocked back and forth in earnest. “Feels great, doesn’t it?”

“Ian, I mean this in the best possible way. Shut the hell up.”

“Huh?”

“This isn’t a seminar. I’m getting the hang of it.” Harper dug in his heels and bounced his gabby partner with so much force Ian caught air time.

“
H
ELLO
, Ms. Hardpecker. Fancy meeting you here.” Harper stood to give his new best friend a hug.

“Hey, Harper! Sorry I’m late. I had a ton of things going today.” Allison hugged him hard and then freaked. “Oh God, I’m so sorry, I forgot. Did I hurt you? What was I thinking?”

“Chillax. It hurt like hell, but I’m a man.” He could hardly wait for the sassy reply he was sure to receive.

“Okay, I love role playing. So you’re a man. Where are we? Are we here, at the game? Come on, give me just a little more to work with.”

“Why do I even try?” He accepted a wine cooler. “I hate these, by the way, but I forgot to bring something else to drink, so thanks. I might want another one. I hope you come prepared.”

“For me, preparing to cum is like packing for Europe. A lot of thought goes into it. I was thinking I hate these too.” Allison sipped and savored like she was sampling an expensive wine. “We can blame my book club. Those broads suck these things down like they’re sodie pop. I tell you what, next time you treat.”

“Can we start over? I’m exhausted already.” He laughed, understanding he’d met his match in Allison and then some. And he loved it.

“I’m kind of jazzed tonight, sorry. Spencer took me from behind in the kitchen while I was putting up soup. Makes me crazy when he does that.”

“Woman, I’m serious, stop.” He clutched his chest and roared. “Do you know no decency?”

“Gotta love this weather.” Allison took another sip and winked.

The game was just getting started. It was a perfect night for baseball. These early mid-July evenings were his favorite part of summer. It stayed light forever, and the temperature was perfect. He and Allison sat in silence while they watched the Hornets take an early two-run lead.

“Those knuckleheads are starting to look pretty good,” Allison observed while the Litigators came in from the field. Harper had heard about the Litigators, a team made up of attorneys, but this was the first time he had ever watched them play. Secretly he hoped the Hornets kicked their asses, and this had nothing to do with Ian.

“Spencer, Andy, Ian, these guys really love the game. It’s so fun to watch, knowing how much they’re into it.” He felt blessed to call them all his friends.

“They really do. Spencer is so into it. He reads books about baseball in the winter. Being captain this season is something he’s secretly wanted to do for a long time. Between you and I,”—Allison leaned in to rub shoulders—“this team will never have a leader as committed to the game as Spencer.”

“Isn’t it great to watch people enjoy something they’re passionate about? You feel this vibe coming off them. It’s humbling in a way.” He thought back to his days in law school. There had been a time not too long ago when he’d had passion.

“Yeah, I pick up on that too. It’s most of the reason I give Spencer such a long leash when it comes to this game.”

“What’s the rest of the reason?” He peered over at his new friend in hopes of catching a hint of where this was headed.

Doug Trebtoske pitched a lazy strike to make it a full count. His next pitch, a curveball, caught the hungry Litigator by surprise to retire the inning, bringing Harper and Allison to their feet.

“Spencer wants a wee little one. I’m not sure I do.”

He weighed his response options. He felt honored Allison had trusted him with something so personal. He analyzed how he would respond and carefully chose the path of least resistance and then abandoned the strategy as being too careful. No doubt she had a need to discuss this with someone other than Spencer. Friends shared, and they relied on one another for support and advice. Allison was a friend. “That’s a huge decision.”
Oh come on, she deserves better than that.
“I’m not sure how I would deal with this if I was in your shoes.”
That’s better. At least it was honest.

“Here’s what I’ve been contemplating. I’m not going to close the door on this kid thing. I mean, it’s a part of life, and we didn’t marry with the agreement we’d never have kids. In that regard, it’s not fair to Spencer to remove that option. But deep down, I’m not sure he’s done a thorough job of evaluating what it is he likes about wanting kids of his own. Oh, here’s another thing.” Allison took an impressive swig of her cooler. “If we do end up going down that path, one wee little one isn’t the route to go. We need at least two. A matching set. I’m not sure he realizes that.”

Harper breathed easier. He had a tried and true response for her concern. “I don’t know a whole lot about raising kids, but I’m not sure you’re right about the two-is-better theory. I was raised an only child, and I don’t think I suffered. My grandparents made sure I was around other kids my age. The other reason I don’t think I suffered, they were really involved with me. School, homework, sports, they were there for everything. I almost think that’s a more important consideration. Are you guys willing to devote the time?”
Whew!
It was his turn to take a swig.

“That’s a good point. I haven’t progressed that far in my thought process. But it makes sense.”

The discussion stalled as they watched Snotty Scotty, at the top of the Hornets’ batting lineup, hit a line drive along the inside of third base, successfully making it to first.

“That’s the way to start the inning.” Allison clapped and whistled.

Despite her grumblings, there was no doubt in Harper’s mind she loved the game of baseball almost as much as her husband.

“Anyway, I was planning on proposing to Spencer he start volunteering his time at some type of organization that deals with kids.”

“The Little League comes to mind. He’d be a great asset to them.” He looked over for a reaction.

“Oh man, you and I do think a lot alike. Yes, exactly. I think it might help him sort out his priorities. Well, you know, help him to identify what it is about having children he’s looking forward to. I feel like such a stick in the mud. Childbearing is on the top of the list for most women.”

“I’m not so sure about that either.”
This should be interesting. I bet she can’t wait to hear a gay man’s thoughts on women and pregnancy.
“I think many women go down that path because of the pressure from society. I say stick to your guns. Besides, if he likes taking you from”—Harper coughed to make sure his double entendre was fully understood—“behind, what’re your worries?” Harper knew he’d scored a keeper with that last one.

“You’re impossible, impossible in a really good way.” She leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. “Wow, there’s a ‘from the behind’ position for the ladies
and
one for the gentlemen. Well actually, there’s
two
for the ladies and
one
for the gentlemen. We win!” Allison threw her head back and laughed.