Cartography for Beginners (16 page)

"That can't be true."

"It is," said Stuart. "Keep him in London, Leo. He'll be much happier."

"I don't think I have that much influence on him. Ben might, but he doesn't want Ben to know."

"Because he knows Ben would say the same thing I did. Not to go -- not to endure their rejection one more time. Not when he's on the brink of so much success." The stairs creaked and Stuart said, "Tell him not to go," as Micah bounded into the kitchen.

"Whatever you're making, make it double," he announced. "I'm starving!"

***

It was late, according to Stuart's clocks, when the boys went to bed. Leo supposed he should as well, instead of drinking wine in Stuart's garden, which was lush and opulent and had steps that led down to the Thames. Roses bloomed, honeysuckle was intertwined among the ivy vines, and strawberries grew in neat boxes.

The houses across the river were not lit up except for a few security lights, but the lights from the city were still too bright to see stars. Still, Leo looked up at the sky as he propped his feet on an empty chair and his glass against his stomach. "You bought the house for this, didn't you? The view, the river, the quiet."

"I like the quiet. It's like being in the country." Stuart sipped. "Tomorrow we'll go to the gallery so you can see the progress on Jamie's exhibition. I have a wall set aside for him to paint a mural, too."

"He'll jump at it, I'm sure."

"I hope so." Stuart was quiet for a while. Leo closed his eyes and listened to the river. "Have you heard from David?"

"Yes," Leo said. "He doesn't have any free time until Sunday but he wants us to watch him film before that. I was thinking I'd go on Saturday."

"I thought you'd be eager to meet up with your lover."

Leo looked at Stuart. His expression was neutral as he gazed at the river. "He's not my lover."

"Then I suppose the boys will start looking for a plaything for you."

"I'd rather they didn't."

Stuart looked over to him. "Isn't that why you came?"

"No," said Leo. "I came because I wanted to see more of the world. I wanted to see London. I wanted to keep an eye on Dune." He took a long drink, draining his glass. "I'm going to bed." He rose and paused at Stuart's chair. He put his hand on Stuart's shoulder. "Do you want to join me?"

Stuart didn't say anything or move for a moment -- and then he grabbed Leo, pulled him onto his lap and kissed him roughly. Leo's heart kicked into high gear. He held Stuart's face and kissed him back, tasting his mouth and breathing in the scent of his skin.

"That feels like a yes," Leo whispered when Stuart pulled back, and Stuart chuckled darkly and kissed him again. His hand moved between Leo's legs to palm his cock, and Leo moaned, rocking forward. He licked Stuart's neck and nibbled the artery, teeth sinking in deeper than he intended when Stuart rubbed him harder. Stuart moaned with surprise and grasped the back of Leo's head, and when he didn't push Leo's head away Leo sucked on his neck, hard enough to leave a mark.
The boys will know,
he thought, but found himself remarkably not bothered.

"Leo," Stuart breathed as Leo kissed his neck. Leo held his face and kissed his mouth.

"Bed." Leo kissed the tip of Stuart's nose. "Take me to bed, please." He pulled Stuart up by the hands and tugged him inside, up the stairs, and to Stuart's room.

They undressed each other hastily, Stuart's fine clothing mixing with Leo's T-shirt and jeans on the floor. Leo ran his hands over that magnificent body greedily and dropped kisses onto Stuart's chest and hips. Stuart lay back, his neck arched and his eyes closed, and his fingers combed through Leo's hair as Leo kissed and licked his cock.

"What are you planning?" Stuart said. He sounded dazed.

"I'm not," Leo said and let Stuart drag him over for long, deep kisses that felt so good they made him dizzy. "I'm not thinking. It's worked well so far."

"Brilliant." Stuart kissed him again, and then pushed Leo onto his back to kiss his body.

Leo knew Stuart was capable of intense focus, but it had seemed to him that focus was always directed to either the young men who were drawn to him or the dealings he made over the phone, his voice calm and authoritative in a way Leo suspected made the party on the other end tremble at the thought of disobeying him. Watching Stuart watch him as Stuart's slick, blunt-tipped fingers twisted inside him made Leo tremble the same way he imagined those subordinates did, with pleasure so strong he had to muffle his cries in Stuart's pillows.

He came back to himself when Stuart smeared lubricant on his thighs. "Intercrural?" Leo said. "I haven't done that since I was a kid."

"I like it," Stuart said simply. "Would you rather do something else?"

"No, it's fine, it's fine." Leo pulled Stuart to him, kissed Stuart's mouth and clamped his thighs together for Stuart to thrust between.

The feeling of Stuart's blunt cockhead against his skin, of his own rubbing against Stuart's ridged abdomen, made him shut his eyes and a keening escape his throat. Stuart moved in fast, sharp thrusts that jarred Leo down to his toes and felt so good he thought he might cry. Stuart's powerful body over him, those trusted hands tight on his hips, so welcome on his skin -- Leo thought,
How could I want anything more than this?
and pulled Stuart's mouth to his for more kisses, which Stuart gave and gave and gave again.

They both finished hard, gasping, Leo's fingers knotted in Stuart's hair. Leo released Stuart slowly and Stuart slumped against him, his breath hot on Leo's skin. He drew his fingers through the mess on Leo's stomach. "Ought to clean you up."

"Mmm." Leo pushed a lock of dark blond hair behind Stuart's ear. Stuart looked up at him, eyes warm, and Leo traced his nose and lips and cheekbones with light fingertips.

"I see how it is." Stuart kissed him and got off the bed. "Stay there, though I suspect you would anyway."

"You suspect correctly." His words slurred together, and he closed his eyes to the sound of running water from the little lavatory off the bedroom.

Leo woke from his doze to the feeling of a warm, wet washcloth cleaning his stomach. He chuckled and caressed Stuart's hair. "Sorry," he murmured. "Jet lag."

"I didn't think it was a comment on my performance." Stuart kissed Leo's mouth and got out of bed, and when he came back he smelled of soap and wore pajama bottoms. Leo stretched out and then settled comfortably on his side as Stuart got back into bed and picked up the book on his night stand and a pair of reading glasses.

"Hot nerd," Leo said and Stuart looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Hot intellectual," Leo amended.

"Hot anything is a compliment." Stuart opened his book. "Leo."

"Stuart." He found Stuart's leg under the duvet and cupped his hand around Stuart's knee.

"I still think you should let the boys help you find someone to distract you on your holiday."

Leo stopped rubbing Stuart's knee. "Why?"

"You need the practice for when you get back to California. You're going to want to date. You may as well try out a few things here."

"Try out a few things," Leo said. "Try out my game, you mean? I've never had game."

"I believe you," Stuart said. "You're not capable of wiles. I don't think you need wiles, however, not for what you're looking for. All you need is honesty." He turned a page. "Still, it never hurts to try out a few methods. Conversation starters, for instance. You're a good interviewer -- translating those skills to breaking the ice with a potential partner shouldn't be difficult."

Leo propped his head on his hand. "You listen to my interviews? Do you even listen to the bands my station plays?"

"I do now. Often with the volume low."

Leo laughed, pleased. "Good. You've shown me so much I'm glad to repay the favor, however small."

Stuart put the book down. "You ought to sleep in your room. I'm sure you don't want Dune to know."

Leo blinked at the abrupt change in Stuart's attitude. "Oh." He'd hardly thought about Dune. Micah, of course, had been trying to match-make them for weeks now and would probably light fireworks and hire marching bands once he knew -- but Dune, while he liked Stuart well enough, wouldn't take it well. Not when he was still so angry about Adam.

He got out of bed and pulled on his jeans, gathering up the rest. "I don't suppose--"

"No," Stuart said. "You're here to move on. I've done what I can but from here on out you need somebody new."

"Right," said Leo and went to his own room, wondering what the hell had just happened.

***

In the morning, Leo lay in bed for a while, listening to the sounds of Stuart's house. It was quieter here than at home, which surprised him since London was so vast and sprawling -- but, he supposed, they were far from the bustling center of the city. This was a residential neighborhood, and judging by the hour, he'd slept through the commuters leaving for the day.

He looked at the clothes he had hung in the wardrobe the night before. Black T-shirts, black button-downs, black Henley shirts -- when was the last time he'd worn a color? A bright color? He couldn't remember. He had stacked his folded jeans -- at least some of them were blue instead of only black -- in the bottom of the wardrobe and arranged his shoes alongside them -- black formal wingtips, to wear with a suit for Jamie's opening, and a few pairs of sneakers and work boots. Shoes intended for walking, plain and not requiring much thought.

He liked his clothes to require as little effort as possible, but he was starting to wish he'd packed a color or two, something to catch Stuart's attention. Jamie liked to tell him he should wear more green...

There was a light tap on the door. "Dad? You awake?"

"Come in, Dunie." He sat up and scrubbed a hand through his hair.

Dune flopped comfortably on his bed. He was already dressed for the day, looking like his old self in a mock turtleneck and khakis. No more sweats and Micah's ragged T-shirts. "Stuart's housekeeper made us breakfast, so it's ready whenever you want to eat. We thought we'd do some sightseeing before we meet Stuart at the gallery, and then Jamie wants us to go to the restaurant he worked at when he met Stuart tonight for dinner."

Leo's stomach growled. "Breakfast sounds like a great idea. Has Stuart left already?"

"Glenys -- she's the housekeeper -- she said he always goes into the city before nine." Dune plucked at the coverlet a moment. "Dad? Did you come here to be with Stuart?"

Leo floundered for a response for a moment. "You know I've wanted to see where he lives for a long time."

"I know." Dune shifted, looking uncomfortable. "He was looking at you last night like he wanted to eat you up."

"He was?" Leo said, pleased.

"Yeah." Dune looked away. "Dad -- I know you're lonely, but please don't. Not with Stuart. He's no good for you. He'll break your heart like Adam and I don't think either of us could handle it."

"I can look after myself, Dune."

"Can you?"

Leo sighed. "Please try to remember I'm your father and talk to me like I am sometimes."

"I remember that all the time. You're my daddy and I worry about you. I love you more than anyone except the Moms and Micah. I don't want you to pin your hopes on somebody who's not worthy of them -- not worthy of you."

"Not
worthy
of me?"

"You know what I mean," Dune said. "I'm all for you hanging out with David or following Jamie's plan of finding some sweet young thing to satisfy your ego on this trip. I think either one would be awesome. But you know as well as I do, what you want in the long run
is
the long run, and you're not going to find it in another country, and not with a guy like Stuart Huntsman." He pleaded, when Leo didn't answer, "I'm trying to look out for you. I can see how attractive he is to you. You've always like the solid, take-charge type. I don't want to watch you make a mistake."

Too late,
Leo thought, but said, "I know you are, Dunie," and tried to smile. "Always looking out for your old dad." Dune kissed Leo's cheek and got off the bed, and Leo said quickly, "Dunie. Do you remember the last time I wore a color?"

Dune stopped and thought about it, then shook his head. "Nope. You always wear black. I've figured it was just your thing. Why?"

"I was thinking I might branch out."

Dune chuckled. "Come eat soon." He closed the door behind him.

Leo got out of bed and went down the corridor to the main bathroom. The floorboards creaked under his feet, and when he looked out the windows of the bedrooms that faced the Thames he could see boats and flat barges slowly moving along in both directions.

After his shower -- during which he discovered finger-shaped bruises on his hips which made him shiver at the memory of how they got there -- Leo went downstairs, to the Spartan black-and-white main rooms. In the kitchen, a matronly woman with a Welsh accent introduced herself as Glenys and directed him to the garden, where the boys were eating at the loaded wrought-iron table. "Good morning!" they chorused, and Ben pulled over one of the chairs for Leo to sit.

Leo loaded up his plate with eggs, fruit and one-sided toast, and sipped the vanilla-scented tea Jamie prepared. The boys were full of talk about what they wanted to see and do. Ben had a list of restaurants he wanted to try, most of which he knew about because he had met the chefs doing cooking competitions. Micah wanted to visit clubs and record stores, while Dune wanted to see literary sites like the Sherlock Holmes museum. Jamie kept quiet through most of this, and finally said, "What about you, Leo?"

"Me?" Leo lowered his tea cup and thought a moment. "I don't know. I'm here to experience the city. I suppose the typical tourist spots would be good. Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, a Jack the Ripper tour, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace..."

The boys groaned. "No imagination, Dad," said Dune.

"Okay, how about if I see a play? There's got to be some good plays going on. I want to pay my respects to Oscar Wilde, too."

"Oscar Wilde is buried in Paris," Micah said. "I visited his grave when I was there. It's got this great abstract sculpture of an angel."