Love in La Terraza (3 page)

Cain was stuck on the whole naked part before the rest of it sunk in.

Henry must’ve seen the change in his expression because he added, “As someone who
is
new to town, I’m perhaps a bit more attuned to spotting things others who’ve known you for years might overlook.”

Cain wanted to look away, but with Henry right there in his face, he didn’t have anywhere else to go.

“Of course, you also weren’t trying to put on a happy face when your friends weren’t watching, either.” Henry cleared his throat, looking panicked for moment, as if he’d just spoken out of turn. “I also thought you were beautiful and couldn’t help but imagine that underneath whatever sadness had a hold of you this evening lies a good-natured man with friends who seemed genuinely excited to see him.”

This sort of blatant honesty wasn’t exactly what Cain had in mind, nevertheless he was somewhat hypnotized by it, as if having the curtain ripped away allowed him to take the first breath of fresh air he’d been able to get in weeks.

“The way you jumped in to rescue me after I tried offering my hand to a man who can’t see showed me you’re also an inherently kind and chivalrous man, the kind who’d reach out and lend a helping hand to perfect stranger.”

Cain just sat there, stunned, mouth slightly agape.

Henry’s forehead scrunched up, and he sighed as if he’d given up. “Despite the saucy, flirty front you put on after the way your friends ran out of here, you’d blushed at the time, a visible sign that you were embarrassed by it and self-conscious about that fact, which I found so incredibly sexy. That was first moment I found myself wanting to kiss you.”

Cain glanced down at his lap when Henry’s hand found its way back to his knee.

“The thing that got me in the gut more than all the rest of it combined was the fact that anyone who still managed to look that fucking sexy at the end of what had obviously been a very shitty day was someone I wanted to get to know.”

Cain blinked several times, finding it difficult to catch his breath. “Well…fuck me.”

“I’m certainly still hoping to.” Henry was being cute but quite serious at the same time. “Unfortunately, I can’t get a read on whether or not I’ve completely screwed the pooch, which is why I can’t seem to make myself stop rambling on incessantly.”

“I think you can stop now, Henry.” Cain grabbed his beer, suddenly feeling quite naked, despite being fully clothed.

“Damn…I was afraid of that.” He sat back, cringing. “Knew I shoulda stopped after the wanting to see you naked part.”

“Oh no, we’re totally still having sex.” Cain grabbed him by the arm in order to pull his attention back. “I’m merely calling uncle on all the insight bullshit. You are officially the grand master guru, and I bow at your feet unworthy…and mildly disoriented to boot.”

“Disoriented I can work with,” Henry said, sitting back up in his chair. “You still planning on telling me about me, or should we stop now and try not to tempt fate?”

“I think you’re likely the most unusual trick I’ve ever had,” Cain said, his gaze now running up and down Henry’s frame. “And I can’t wait to get you naked.”

Henry smiled, briefly looked as if he might have something to say, but simply winked instead. “Your place or mine?”

“I’m about a block and a half away,” Cain said before downing the rest of his beer in one long gulp. “You?”

“That was impressive,” Henry said as Cain fought to get his wind back. “You’re certainly closer; I’m in a hotel out by the interstate.”

“My place it is.”

Henry stood, taking another swig off his long neck.

Chapter Two

Walking along the sidewalk, Cain watched as Henry squinted through the dark as he was being led along the eight-foot stucco and brick wall toward the gate that opened into the courtyard. Ivy snaked up the plaster, having nearly completely covered the long wall which was capped with terracotta roof tiles. The Spanish influenced architecture was a little out of place for northern Illinois, but La Terraza had been originally been built as apartments for the professors of an all-girls college that now housed the school for the blind where Eddie worked a few blocks away.

“Where in the hell are you taking me?” Henry asked, beginning to sound a bit nervous.

“To my home,” Cain said, stopping in front of the wrought-iron gate.

The outside lights were all on, including the twinkle lights he’d just finished wiring into the dogwood trees. The rose-colored lamps glowed in the fountain that gurgled in the center of the courtyard. He opened the gate and watched as Henry stumbled forward, already drunk on the visual bonanza.

This place looked its absolute best like this.

La Terraza was like an aging conquistador, still dashing in the hazy light of night, inspiring romance at each and every turn of the head.

Eventually the light of day would rise, revealing the cracks and wrinkles that time in an unforgiving environment had cruelly left behind.

Cain winced, the physical manifestation of the very real pain it caused him, knowing he may not—no strike that—knowing he most likely would not be able to save his Grandmother’s beautiful, beloved La Terraza, the only place she’d ever felt at home and the only one he had as well.

“Wow,” Henry said, walking slowly into the private courtyard and turning slowly while making his way across the brick and cobblestone paved patio as if attempting to drink it all in at once. “This place is…amazing.”

Cain felt his chest swell with pride, impressed with Henry a little more for instantly being able to see what he had the very first time he remembered coming here as a very small child. “Like magic.”

He was slightly envious. Despite how beautiful and breathtaking this place was, one only got one first time. Cain smiled, holding back a tear that threatened to escape. Fear and desperation now seemed to come and go, gripping him in waves of panic, only to vanish as mysteriously as they had come.

Built back in the 1920’s, the apartment complex was shaped like a U and built out of limestone, brick and stucco. Inspired by the villas along the coast of southern Spain, she was a true beauty—a jewel that went mostly unseen by the general population. That made the place more special, as if only a lucky few were allowed behind the velvet curtain.

There were eight apartments altogether, four two-story, two bedrooms on the right and left and four single-story, one bedrooms across the back, two up and two down.

“It’s stunning, Cain,” Henry said, genuinely astounded as he headed toward the fountain which sat in the center. “Like Romeo and Juliet—the Capulets and the Montagues.”

Each apartment had its own private stoop that led onto the large shared terrace with the exception of the two apartments along the second floor in the back. Those had private balconies that overlooked everything, though much of the views were blocked by two of the four dogwood trees that sprouted large pink blossoms in the spring.

“You
own
this?” Henry asked, shaking his head as he went back to Cain. “You lucky
dog.
It’s gorgeous.”

“It’s not all romance and roses, but thank you. I’m glad you approve.”

“Shit, I’m sorry—probably think I’m quite the hick, fresh of the farm or something.” Henry leaned in, pausing long enough to kiss Cain. “Fuck you’re hot. I’m an architect, by the way. Hence my shock and awe over your pile of bricks here.”

“An architect?” Cain grinned, kissing Henry this time, with slightly more interest now. “My goodness, but that makes you so much hotter than you already were.”

“Oh yeah?” Henry laughed, now looking frightened. “You have a thing for architects?”

“I’m a property owner, baby.” Cain discretely ran the palm of his hand over Henry’s semi-hard cock.

Henry groaned, a low grumbling noise as he dry humped Cain’s hand. “I’m not complaining, mind you. Just not something I run into a lot.”

“Then consider tonight your extremely lucky night. You’re like a Beatle or a Bieber.” Cain leaned in, kissing him softly, sensually sucking on his bottom lip for a moment before mumbling, “Second apartment on the left.”

Henry began walking Cain backward in that direction, pausing when he heard someone coughing. Henry turned toward the sound, and Cain frowned, seeing Ned Snead slithering out of his loft apartment in the back.

Perpetually dressed in all black, the guy was just plain creepy looking. With bony arms, gangly legs and dark circles under his eyes, Ned looked like an Addams Family reject. His eyes seemed to be stuck into a sneer, disgusted by and loathing anyone who stumbled across his path.

“He live here?” Henry asked, visibly not caring for Ned in the least.

“He does.” Cain sighed, tapping Henry on the chest. “But I’m over here. Remember me, that charming guy you picked up at the pub around the corner?”

Henry smiled, kissing Cain once again, as if apologizing for forgetting why he was here.

“Is that music, or am I hallucinating?” Henry asked, pulling away from Cain’s lips.

Cain winked as Dean Martin belted out the lyrics to
That’s Amore
. “I don’t hear anything. Must be my kisses.”

Henry laughed, seduction pouring off of him in waves. “I’m going to make this a night you’ll never forget then, stud.”

Hearing that, Cain felt his dick go rock-hard. “Bring. It. On.”

“Open. The. Door,” Henry said, nudging his head to signal they had arrived at Cain’s apartment.

“Oh…right,” Cain felt his face flush with heat, grateful for the lower lighting as he fumbled to fish his keys from his pant’s pocket. He hopped up the two steps onto the covered stoop and went about unlocking the door, jiggling slightly, feeling Henry’s warm breath on the back of his neck.

“
Please
tell me you’re a bottom?” Henry whispered, his hand squeezing and kneading Cain’s ass.

“Fuck…I mean, yes.” Cain tried to swallow as his voice had just cracked, but found it difficult as the anticipation ratcheted up about one-hundred-and-fifty percent. “I am. I mean…I can be versatile, but yes. I definitely enjoy taking it up the ass.”

“Unless you plan on taking it right here, right now, I suggest you get that door open.”

“Christ,” Cain whispered with the click of the lock, stunned into a sexual haze at the feel of Henry pressing his hard-on against his ass.

Henry reached around Cain, pushing open the door as Cain stood there sporting a goofy smile. “Want me to carry you over the threshold?”

“Huh?” Cain turned then realized he’d drifted off in anticipation. “No…fuck…I mean, come in, please.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” Henry pushed them both through the door, his hand massaging Cain’s erection through his khakis.

A floor lamp sitting behind the chair and ottoman in the far corner lit the room, along with the light above the sink in the tiny L-shaped kitchen.

Their mouths came together in a heated power play of spirited sucking and lip smacking. It went from sweet to primal in the seconds it took to move things indoors.

A bit nervous at having the critical eye of an architect examining his hand-me-down interiors, Cain was more than happy keeping the focus on the sex. It was the only nerve racking bit about dating older guys in general, they’d passed that age where shabby could still be considered chic.

Henry absently kicked at the door until he managed to get it shut while hastily attempting to un-tuck and unbutton Cain’s shirt.

The clumsy fumble to get skin-on-skin was on, and Cain already had Henry’s belt off. Now, he worked on getting his pants undone.

“What are you hiding inside here, sir,” Cain mumbled in between kissing.

“How many fucking buttons are on this damn thing?” Henry said, hands sliding underneath, too impatient to wait any longer for naked skin.

Cain groaned when Henry roughly twisted a nipple. He broke away long enough to rip the shirt over his head, yanking and stepping on it in order to pull his hands free—made more difficult by the fact Henry was back on him the second he spied bare flesh.

“Fuck, you feel incredible.” Henry jerked Cain’s shirt the rest of the way off with one hand, still twisting and torturing Cain’s nipple with the other.

Cain desperately yanked on Henry’s polo, pulling it over his head and stopping long enough to take in the man, now naked from the waist up. If there was such a thing as the man lottery, he’d just won it. Henry’s upper body was built. Cut arms and shoulders and a chest that had some hair in the center, nearly made Cain come in his pants right then.

“Everything okay?” Henry asked, as if he might be worried he wasn’t measuring up to Cain’s approval.

Cain growled, all but leaping back into his arms, shoving his tongue down Henry’s throat.

Henry took a few steps back in an attempt to keep from being knocked over by the force. They both dry humped one another, Cain moaning his approval the instant Henry’s hand squeezed his ass.

Cain was attempting to touch Henry everywhere at once on the off chance his ticket to Henry-land became suddenly revoked. It wasn’t insecurity so much as an unnatural fear that anything this hot was bound to come with an expiration date.