Tangled - Part 8

*** REVELATIONS.

Lee came out of the kitchen with a couple of mugs of coffee. The ridiculous jester's hat which I had inadvertently left on the kitchen counter was perched saucily on his head.
Setting the mugs down on the coffee table, he remarked. "I don't know how you like it, so it's just black and I couldn't find any sugar." He sat down on the couch, took the hat off and held it up in his hand. It jangled merrily.

“You kept this?” He asked, his eyebrows raised.
"Yeah!" I replied with a laugh. “I couldn't resist it, it's so absurdly silly.”
“Yeah!” He grinned. “I know, but it's the only thing I had in the apartment that remotely resembled a costume.”
“I'm not even going to ask how you happen to have something like that lying around your place.” I said. He grinned and tossed it on the table with a jangle.
“I'll tell you about it sometime.” He replied. “But right now we need to clear a couple of other things up.”

He reached up and pulled me down next to him. We sat and stared at one another in silence, drinking each-other in. In this light and close to, I could see that his green eyes had a sprinkling of gold flecks, like someone had thrown gold glitter into them. I reached out and took his hand.

"You know that when you get angry, your eyes flash like green fire? It's kind of scary but exciting at the same time. I'm extremely familiar with it." I said with a smile.
He laughed, a deep throated rumble and his dimple flashed. It sent a thrill up my spine.
"Yeah," he replied. "I guess you are!"

I looked down at our entwined hands.
"Why . . um . . ?" I hesitated and glanced up at him. He squeezed my hand.
"What is it? You can ask me anything.” He said softly. “Anything!"
"Why did you . . why did you hate me so much before?" I asked.

He laughed again and said, "Oh Davey, I have never felt like that about you, I never could."
I studied his face, it was open and candid. "Then why were you so . . ?" I left the question hanging.

"Okay!" He turned to face me, pulling one long leg up onto the couch. "Let me just make one thing perfectly clear. I have never hated you at any time. When I first saw you in that club, I was completely taken by you. I hated that you made me feel so helpless, yes, and my immediate reaction was to ignore you. I tried to but I couldn't. Every time I turned around, there you were, always in my face and I just couldn't get you out of my head." He stopped and laughed. "So I decided to push you away. I thought that if I made you hate me enough, you'd keep out of my way. That was the reason for my . . nastiness, outside the club, on the sidewalk and in Pen Island. I am truly sorry for those incidents but at the time I was so miserable because I really thought you were a . . !" He stopped.

"Rent-boy, a hustler?" I filled in. “I can't understand why, though.”
"Yeah!" He smiled. "Sorry! I guess I just assumed it. I mean, every time I went into Pen Island, there you were with Danny and I have a very real dislike of hustlers and there seems to be quite a number of them that hang out there. But, although I was disgusted with what I thought you were, it only made me want you more. Imagine my surprise when I found out that you were the photographer that I have admired for some time. I was in a quandary. I needed you for the contract, but I wanted to have as little to do with you as possible because of my feelings for you. Then, of course, I just assumed that you were with Danny because the two of you were always together and I knew that I couldn't have you if you belonged with him. It wouldn't be fair and I'm not a 'home-wrecker', so to speak!"

"Danny and I are just friends and partners, that's all." I said.

He nodded. "Yes, I know that now. Then that night at the bus-stop, when you told me that you loved me? Well, at first I was overjoyed. I couldn't believe my luck, and I nearly told you how I felt. But then I thought about how I would feel if I were in Danny's shoes. In fact, many years ago I was in that position and I was hurt terribly. I was appalled at how you could say all those things to me while you were still with him and I couldn't handle that. I nearly gave in to you when you kissed me. That's why I had to get away from you.

After that, I went out of my way to avoid you, but I kept bumping into you. That night in the rain, again I wanted to talk to you, but I just couldn't. In the supermarket, your pain was tearing me apart and I couldn't bring myself to tell you how I felt. I wanted you so much, but I kept thinking of Danny and the effect it would have on him. I thought I could distance myself from you, but I couldn't. I went to the Mardi Gras last night, hoping that you would be there. You were and I watched you from a distance during the whole evening. And then that cart blew up and the thought of you being hurt was unbearable. That's why I did what I did. I had to protect you.”

“I thought that maybe the reason you did it was because you did care for me just a little, but I couldn't understand why you wouldn't just tell me. By the way, that was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. It was also one of the happiest moments of my life because you held me for so long and you kissed me. I mean, it was the first time that you really kissed me and not for some perverse reason.” I said. “But I'm really upset that you got hurt.”

“It was nothing.” He replied, dismissing it. Then he grinned at me. “I felt it, you know!”
“Felt what?” I asked, puzzled.
“Your hard-on!” He laughed. “When I was pressed up against you at the Mardi Gras.”

“Oh!” I flushed. “It's just that I was so close to you and I could smell you and my face was against you and oh God, the feel of your chest hair on my cheek and you were holding me, kissing my neck and you were pressed up against me and then you kissed me and I was feeling things I'd never . . !”
“It's okay, it’s okay!” He said to stop my babbling. “I actually enjoyed it and was getting turned on myself, although I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. I lost my head for a moment. If I hadn’t been hurting from that fireball that hit me, who knows what might of happened.”

He finished with a broad wink.
“Oh God!” I whispered. “I came so close to doing something really stupid too.”

We stared at each-other for a moment and then he laughed.
“Anyway.” He continued. “After what happened in the pharmacy, I knew that I had to leave town. The thought of causing you more pain was unthinkable so that was why I decided to go away. I was hoping that by the time I returned, you would have gone back to Danny and at least tried to forget about me.”

“That would never happen.” I whispered. “How can you possibly think that I could ever forget you? A big part of me died when you said you were leaving.”
He smiled. I reached out and touched his face. He took my hand in his and kissed my fingertips.

“I couldn't leave without seeing you once more and that's why I was there tonight. I just had to see you again, if only for a moment. But of course, you were with Danny and I nearly left but the need to see you, even from a distance, was too great. Then when I saw you leaving, I couldn't bear the thought of you walking out so I made up my mind then and there to tell you how I felt regardless of the consequences. I tried to stop you but you wouldn't listen. You can't imagine how elated I was when Danny told me that there was nothing between the two of you. That's why I had to come here. I couldn't wait any longer to tell you how I felt." He replied.

I lifted his hand and kissed it. I clung to it, not wanting to let it go.
"You do know that you've been branded as a gay-hater at Pen Island."
He smiled and nodded his head.

"I know, and I keep that rumor going on purpose. It keeps the man-hunters at bay. I'm just so tired of being hit upon." He said.
He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers. "Is there anything else?"
"Yes." I said. "What exactly happened between you and Danny tonight. I'd really like to know."

He smiled. "Okay!”
Then he told me what had happened between them. Danny, much later gave me his version of the incident.

Lee had watched David leave without even a backward glance. He had tried to stop him but David had ignored him and had picked up his pace. By the time David reached the door, he was almost running. Lee sighed and studied his beer can on the bar.
"What the hell is going on with you and David? He's my friend and I'm not going to let you hurt him anymore! I'll see you dead first!" Lee jumped slightly at the voice which seemed to come from just behind his ear. He turned and found himself staring into a pair of angry, violet eyes. Lee quickly gathered his wits and turned on the stool to face Danny.

“I’m sorry.” He said. “But I never meant to hurt anyone.”
“Yeah, I guess you didn’t.” Danny said, calming down a little. He studied Lee’s face and he could see why David had fallen so heavily for the man. Lee was incredibly good looking up close.
“He loves you, you know.” Danny whispered. “More than anything in the world, he loves you and you’re slowly destroying him.”

Lee sighed and closed his eyes at the thought of David’s pain.
“I’m so, so sorry.” He said. “But I never meant to hurt either of you.”
Danny smiled, a slow lazy, knowing smile.

“Hurt me?” He said. “I’m not hurting. The only one you’re hurting is David. I’m just pissed off because you’re doing it. He thinks you hate him.”
“I’m sorry.” Lee said again softly and turned away.
Danny didn’t move. He watched Lee’s face carefully and then the truth suddenly dawned on him.
“You love him too, don’t you?” he said softly. “I can see it in your eyes. You love him and I don't think you can keep away from him, can you?"

Lee looked into Danny’s violet eyes again.
“You’re right.” He said softly. “I do love him, more than anything and I just can’t keep away anymore. I’ve tried you know, God knows, I’ve tried.”
“Well then.” Danny said with a smile. “What the hell are you waiting for? Why are you sitting here doing nothing about it?” Danny put his hand on Lee’s arm gently. “Go to him and tell him. He's been waiting for you, he's still waiting for you!"
“But I thought . . ? Lee started and then changed tack. “But what about you and him?”
“What about it?” Danny said with a smile.
“Aren’t you and David together?”

Danny laughed, a gurgling, musical laugh and gave Lee a small punch on the shoulder.
“You absolute idiot.” He said. “So that’s what’s holding you back?”
“Well, yeah!” Lee replied. “I never meant to come between you two.”
“Lee!” Danny said patiently and clearly. “There is nothing between David and me but air! We’re just very close friends that happen to work together.”
Lee stared at Danny for a beat and then his whole face lit up.

“You mean that I can tell him how I feel? I can be with him?”
“Of course.” Danny replied. “Anytime you want. As I said, he’s there, waiting for you.”
Lee jumped off the bar stool and gripped Danny’s arm.
“Take me to him, please.” Lee said excitedly. “Take me now! I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

Danny and Lee hurried down the street to David’s building. Lee could barely contain himself as they climbed the stairs up to David’s apartment. Finally, they stood outside David’s door.
“Wait!” Lee said, uncertainly. “What if he doesn’t love me anymore? What if he doesn’t . . want me now? I’ve treated him so badly. You know that I’ve tried to make him hate me.” He paused. “God, I love him so much and I want him more than anything in the world. If he turns me away, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“Lee,” Danny said patiently. “That man is pining for you. He loves you. I know this because he told me. You’ve seen what a wreck he is. You’re all he ever thinks about.”
Lee took a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay.” He said. “Knock!”

Danny knocked loudly on David’s door and stepped back. After a moment, he heard the chain being pulled back. The door flew open, and David stood there, naked apart from a small pair of under-shorts.

Lee sat back with a smile when he had finished. "That's it!" He said. "Anything else?"
“Yeah.” I said. “What did he whisper to you?”
He laughed.
“It was nothing, really.” He said.
“Maybe, but I still want to know.”

He smiled at me for a moment and then nodded.
“Okay.” He said. “Danny will probably tell you anyway.”
He leaned closer to me and grinned.
“He wanted to know if I thought you were incredibly sexy!” He said softly. “You heard my answer.”

I laughed. “So typical of Danny.” I said. “He has a one track mind.”
“I must admit that when you answered the door in just a pair of tiny shorts, it threw me for a second. And the spider? I didn’t expect it.” He smiled. “That’s why I was so distracted.”
“I awoke from a horrible dream and I was a little disorientated and I didn’t think to put anything on.” I said remembering the pain and terror I had felt when Lee had burned away.

“No,” He smiled. “I enjoyed it. You have a great body.”
“Just remind me to thank Danny for bringing you to me.” I whispered.
I fondled his hand as we sat in silence for a moment, and looked into each-other's eyes.

Then he leaned forward and pulled me against him and held me close. He stretched out on the couch and settled me in the crook of his arm, my head on his chest. I could hear the strong, steady beat of his heart and the pure, male scent of him washed over me. It was intoxicating.
"I just want you near, to hold you close, okay?" He whispered. "I never want to let you go."
"Just you try and push me away!" I said.

He chuckled, and stroked my face and hair, his hand light and gentle. I slipped my hand under his shirt front and ran my fingers through the hair on his chest across to his nipple. I felt it stiffen under my fingers.
“Hmm!” He murmured. “So nice . . !”
"I love you so much, it hurts." I whispered.

I snuggled into his chest, drawing the full-blown male scent of him into my lungs.
"I love you too, more than I even know myself." He said softly.

We lapsed into silence, content to lie there together on the couch, happy to be in each-other's arms.
In love and totally at peace with the world, we both fell asleep.

To be continued...