"One For The Road"
Rating: NC-17
The answering machine picked up. "Hi, you've reached Bailey O'Gannon. If I'm not here, I'm probably still at work. Leave a message and I'll call you when I get in."
"Bailey, it's Ben. Are you home?" He paused. "All right. I'll try your office."
He hung up and dialed the office number. After two rings, Bailey's secretary answered. "Mr. O'Gannon's office."
"Hi, Sheryl. It's Ben Kendall. Is Bailey in?"
Sheryl was the one person on staff that knew Ben Kendall and Bailey O'Gannon were more than just friends and occasional golf partners. "Hi, Ben," she said warmly. "No, you just missed him, but he left a message for you."
"He did?" That wasn't like him. But Ben wasn't complaining. He'd lost track of time with Janus. He was an hour and a half late for his date with Bailey, and it would have served him right if Bailey had been livid. It sounded like instead he'd been tied up working. Ben had never expected to be glad his lover was so busy with work.
And he was going to have to do something to make it up to Janus, too. Christ, that was going to be fun, he thought, rubbing his eyes. The look on Janus's face when Ben had noticed the time and cut him off mid-sentence... god, had the boy needed to look so crushed? This ground had been covered: Ben had told Janus there were two other men in his life. It was fucking Friday night, for god's sake -- should it have been so surprising that he already had a date?
"Mr. O'Gannon says to meet him at his place with a bottle of wine as soon as you can."
He was getting off easy and he knew it. "Thanks, Sheryl."
"No problem, Ben. Have a good evening."
"You, too, love."
Back out again. He sighed but quickly tracked down Bailey's favorite wine and headed over to Bailey's entirely-too-large house. This was the kind of place that you should get if you have eight kids and a dog. Bailey loved it. It made Ben feel overwhelmed.
He opened the door with his key and walked in, resetting the alarm system after he shut the door. Next to the alarm was the intercom. He hit the button for Bailey's office. "Bail, it's me. Sorry I'm late."
"You're forgiven."
Ben spun around as Bailey came walking out of the den. He was rolling up his shirtsleeves, part of his evening routine that made Ben want to jump him every time. First the shoes came off, and the sigh of pleasure that went along with that. Then the tie, loosened with one hand, then pulled over his head, leaving his hair and collar ruffled. The first two buttons of the shirt. The jacket, tossed lightly over the nearest available piece of furniture. And the shirtsleeves. Ben was sorry he'd missed the first part. It was arousing as hell.
Bailey was taller than Ben, but not by much -- certainly not as much as Janus. Wrong man, Kendall. Keep your focus on where you are right now. Bailey was also better built, owing to workouts and, god help him, a semi-strict diet. His black, curly hair was cut short, conservatively, and his eyes were dark and... fuck. Serious.
"Evening, Ben," Bailey said. "How are you?"
"I'm good." He shuffled his feet and continued. "Sorry about the time. I ran into an old friend."
"Anyone I know?" Sleeves secured, Bailey slipped his hands into his pockets and came no closer. Not good.
"I doubt it. He's a former student."
"A younger man." Bailey flashed a grin. "Should I congratulate you?"
"Shit, Bail, I don't know. Here." Ben thrust the wine at Bailey. "Now what's wrong?"
"Later." Bailey took the wine and led Ben into the den. He set the bottle in a cooler full of ice, next to a pair of wine glasses with charms on the stems -- one blue, one amber. Bailey turned back to Ben, closed the distance between him, and pulled Ben into his arms. "Missed you."
"It's been a while," Ben murmured. He leaned forward and kissed Bailey, sighing inwardly. Maybe it was nothing. "You taste good."
"So do you." Bailey leaned forward for another kiss, his tongue exploring Ben's mouth with practiced precision. "Like hot coffee." Another kiss. "Hazelnut?"
"Yes..." Ben hissed. He pushed Bailey forward until they reached the couch and shoved him down on top of it, burying his fingers in Bailey's hair and pressing his body against Bailey's. Bailey parted his legs for Ben and let him settle comfortably between them until their groins were squeezed together, thrusting up against Ben and panting softly.
"Went out for coffee with this former student of yours, eh?" Bailey asked. "Is that why you're already so hard?"
"Maybe," Ben panted. "Do you care?"
"Shit, no, I'm grateful. I might be jealous if I didn't get to fuck you senseless..."
"Oh," breathless now, "but you do."
Bailey freed a hand and explored under the couch cushions, digging for the lubricant he'd stashed there after the last time they'd been unable to wait long enough to get to a bedroom. Ben pulled back a bit, enough to start unbuttoning Bailey's shirt. When his fingers slipped, he let out an impatient growl and ripped, popping buttons off right and left. Bailey groaned. "Damn it, Ben, I lose more buttons this way..."
"You'll live." He was already working on Bailey's belt and unzipping his pants.
"God, you're hungry." Bailey lifted his hips as Ben yanked his pants over his legs and off. "Must be some student."
I will not think of Janus while I make love to Bailey. I will not think of Janus while I make love to Bailey. Ben pulled back and started ripping off his own clothing, throwing his sweater over his shoulder and yanking his pants and socks and underwear off in quick succession. Bailey took off his socks and undershirt, but when he reached for his own boxers, Ben stopped him.
"I love this," he said, eyes now dark grey and ravenous. He slid his hand over the black silk. "I love how you go to work every day in silk." He wrapped a hand around Bailey's erection, rubbing it with the silk and watching as Bailey gasped, throwing his head back, arching his back with pleasure. "I love watching you on the news and knowing that this is under those neatly pressed slacks of yours..."
"I'm going... to send flowers... to your new boyfriend..." Bailey gasped. "I really am."
Ben shook his head, grinning. "I'm trying damn hard not to think of him, and you're not making it easier."
"I don't want it easy..." Bailey looked up. "I want you to fuck me until I'm out of my mind. Have you had enough foreplay? Will you fuck me now?"
"Condom," Ben panted. Bailey sat up and untangled himself from Ben, then picked Ben's pants off the floor and rummaged through the front pockets.
"You didn't bring...?"
"Sorry. I thought you'd be too pissed at me to want me tonight..."
"Well, fuck." He stood up. "I'll be back. Don't go anywhere."
He disappeared. Ben threw himself back against the couch and watched him go, wondering how many servants he might run into between here and his bedroom. Ben would have needed to get dressed first; Bailey just seemed to be used to it. Doesn't seem pissed, he thought. His hand dropped to his lap, and he began caressing his cock. His eyes closed. He saw blue. Blue eyes and that golden brown hair, and lips running over the length of his cock. He fell into the fantasy, hand moving faster, imagining the feel of that neatly-trimmed beard on his inner thighs. He had to pull back a bit. Too close. He heard Bailey's footsteps, and grinned.
"I love watching you," Bailey whispered. Ben heard him kneel in front of the couch, heard the ripping of foil and felt Bailey gently move Ben's hands out of the way. A slight pause, and Bailey rubbed a small drop of lube over the head of Ben's cock, following it with the condom. Ben sighed happily and thrust forward, gently, into Bailey's hands. Bailey cupped Ben's balls in one hand as he finished unrolling the condom, and then came up and kissed him. Ben could feel a smile under his lips.
"Do you want to fuck me with your eyes closed?" Bailey asked, teasing.
"No," Ben said. He opened his eyes and ran his hand down Bailey's chest. Bailey had lost his boxers somewhere between here and the bedroom and back. It left Ben free to move his hand down to Bailey's crotch, sliding his hand around Bailey's cock and grinning at the small groan that escaped Bailey at the touch. "Lube?" he asked. Bailey slipped it into his hand.
Ben drew Bailey up on the couch, and Bailey dropped a small towel onto the arm of the couch before draping himself over it. Ben laughed. "Decided you wanted to keep your upholstery clean this time?"
"I was going up for condoms anyway."
"Hmm." Ben ran his hands over Bailey's beautiful backside, and then began applying lubricant. He was impossibly slow, incredibly gentle, and Bailey arched into his touch.
"Oh, god, you feel good. So warm and soft and... oh, god. Yes, just like that."
Ben came up and lay across Bailey's back. "You want me to drive you out of your mind this way? Slow? Gentle?"
"Yes... oh, god, yes."
Ben kept his pace slow, getting his lover thoroughly ready and stretched. Bailey was thrusting back against Ben's hand before long, panting, begging. "Please, now... oh, I need you, need this... please..." Ben smiled, but didn't rush things. He could sense the moment when need gave way to desperation and Bailey was practically sobbing for it, and only then did he kneel between Bailey's legs and slide ever-so-very-slowly, gently, into him. He held Bailey's hips down, refusing to let him slide backwards as Ben slid forwards, pressing forward inch by inch until Bailey was moaning and screaming, incoherent, lost. When he was fully inside him, Ben's hips pressed firmly against Bailey's ass, the only sound in the room was Bailey's desperate panting.
Ben moved, sliding out even more slowly than he'd slid in. Bailey tried to move backwards, to end the long, slow slide, and Ben kept him pinned to the couch. "God," Bailey managed. Ben grinned. "You're wonderful," Bailey said.
"I know."
"Nnnnnhhh. Modest, too," Bailey panted.
"Well, perhaps not." He grinned. "You can still speak. I don't think you're quite out of your mind."
"Oh, god, Ben, mercy..."
Ben was utterly focused on Bailey, the only thoughts in his mind the sound of Bailey's increasingly urgent noises and the feel of Bailey surrounding him. He waited until Bailey lost all ability to speak, to think, to do anything but feel, before letting up on Bailey's hips, letting him thrust backwards. The first solid backward thrust left Bailey screaming, and Ben began moving just a bit faster. Bit by bit, the pace increased, until Bailey was almost hysterical with need, and Ben, too, was lost in sensation, only able to feel, not able to think or talk or see straight. Guiding Bailey's movements with his hands, he slammed against him, seeing stars, eyes closed, seeing nothing but Bailey's golden skin in his mind. Bailey screamed first, rearing back and shouting his orgasm at the top of his lungs. Ben held on tight and followed, his own orgasm feeling as if it came from the base of his spine and all the way down his legs. He collapsed on top of Bailey, making Bailey wheeze a bit but drawing no complaint.
After a few minutes, Bailey asked, "Do you think you can move yet?"
"If I have to."
"I'd love to be able to breathe again."
"Oh." Ben yawned hugely and then somehow managed to back up, carefully holding on to the condom before pulling out. Bailey sat up a bit, toweled himself off, and tossed the towel to Ben. Ben grimaced as he pulled the condom off and cleaned up, hiding the condom in the towel and tossing it onto the coffee table. He sat back.
Bailey leaned forward and began dressing, and Ben sighed inwardly but did the same. He left the sweater off, as he was still a bit sweaty from his efforts. Bailey was already leaning forward to pour wine, and held a glass out to Ben as soon as he was mostly-dressed again.
"To great sex and one of the most outstanding lovers I've ever had the good fortune to have."
Ben tipped his glass and drank. "And what's the catch?" he asked. Bailey put his glass down, and stared straight ahead. Ben put his glass next to Bailey's and crossed his arms over his chest. I was right the first time. This isn't good at all.
"The catch is that I can't see you like this anymore."
"Ah." Ben looked around, found his socks and shoes, and put them on. He didn't look at Bailey.
"Ben, for fuck's sake, it's not easy for me, either."
"No, no, it's fine. One last magnificent fuck for the road and then I'm out of your life? What happened, reporters getting too close? You need a female lover to look good on campaign posters?" Bailey said nothing. Ben felt his stomach lurch. "Jesus, Bail, how close am I?"
"I'm getting married."
The world spun. Ben fumbled for his sweater. "Oh, I see." His voice was like an echo across an empty room. Bailey turned away.
"Her name is Emily. She's an..."
"I really don't give a fuck." He tugged the sweater on, then cursed when he realized it was inside-out and tried again.
"I've been seeing her for four months. This isn't spur-of-the-moment."
"I don't need to know this--"
"I love her."
"Oh, fuck you." Ben stood up. Bailey grabbed his arm.
"Ben, please, listen. It's not about my career, and it's--"
"Bullshit."
"All right, that's fair," Bailey whispered. "You have every right to be angry with me..."
"Would you just shut the fuck up already? How do I get the point across to you? I don't care. I don't need to know."
"I need to talk to you about it. Please. It's important."
"Why? So you don't end up feeling guilty for dropping me the minute someone of the proper political gender came along?" Ben glared at him. "Does she know about me?"
"Yes."
"She knows you've been fucking another man? What's her angle?"
"She loves me."
"And there's nothing in it for her at all? Just you? She's not excited about the fancy house and the dozen cars and all the media attention? And what about you? Are you looking forward to having a lover you can take to charity auctions and glitzy winter balls?"
"You're going too far."
"Oh, you're right. You're right. We never talked about love, or commitment, or fucking honesty, did we? It was always a matter of being discreet and being careful and fucking with the blinds closed so no one would know what was happening between us." Ben shook his head. "No, you're right. It's none of my fucking business."
"Would you marry me, even if I could?" Bailey asked. "Would you want that? Would you be prepared to make a monogamous commitment to me?"
"Why are you suddenly interested in monogamy? Does it look good on your resume?"
"Yes, it does." Bailey looked at him. "You didn't answer me."
Ben let out a breath through clenched teeth. "No," he answered, voice clipped. "I wouldn't want to marry you."
"I didn't think so."
"And I assume you'd still prefer I not talk to anyone about this."
"Ben..."
"No, this time it's not OK. I'm being dropped unceremoniously for someone who's going to look good in magazines and newspaper articles, someone who probably doesn't get you half as out of your mind as I just did, and I'll be damned if I just curl up and keep it to myself. I won't let it get out -- I have that much sense -- but you're asking too fucking much if you don't want me to talk to anyone about this."
"All right." Bailey whispered. "I trust you."
"It's a pity I can't say the same." Ben turned around and walked out of the den. "I'll send you a wedding gift. Let me know where she registers you."
~ fin ~