“Yeah.” After spending the night in bed with me, he’d told me he wanted to take me to dinner. And then he’d run six blocks in order to keep our first date.
Well, I wouldn’t make a big deal of it, but I was selfish enough to glad that no other man had gotten his cock into Wills. I liked to think that it was I who brought out the animal in my lover, but I was the realist of all the boys, and I wasn’t going to start lying to myself at this point. Any man who knew what he was doing with his cock could have turned Wills on to his inner gay. And now that he knew what a cock up his ass felt like…What could I give him that another man couldn’t?
“Hey, we’re here.” Wills was completely unaware of where my thoughts had gone.
Why had my thoughts gone in this direction?
And then I realized—tomorrow was my birthday. Yeah, that had to be it. In less than six hours, I would be two years closer to the big 3-0, which was like sounding a death knell for a rent boy.
At least I wouldn’t have to worry about that anymore. I was no longer a rent boy.
Granger was a very competent driver, and in spite of the holiday traffic, she’d gotten us to the hotel in good time.
She opened the passenger door. “I’ll be parked in the underground garage, sir.”
“I’ll send some refreshments to you.”
“Thank you, sir. That’s very kind. However, I’ve brought my own.”
“Sorry.” Wills flushed as if he’d been rebuked.
“Not a problem, sir.” She glanced at me, then leaned forward and whispered something in his ear, and he nodded and relaxed. “Would you care to leave your overcoats here in the car?”
What the fuck was that about? Should I be jealous?
“Theo?”
“Huh? Oh, sure. No one hangs around the coatroom, anyway. We can go right on in.”
“Okay. I’ll call when we’re ready to leave, Granger.”
“Very good, sir. Enjoy yourselves.”
“Thanks.”
The doorman jumped forward and held the door for us. “Good evening, gentlemen. May I be the first at the Madison Arms to wish you a happy New Year?”
“Thank you. Happy New Year to you too.”
We entered the hotel. The air was warm, redolent of holiday scents and men’s aftershave and women’s perfume, and filled with the muted sounds of conversation of the people milling around, waiting for their parties to arrive.
“The Dolley Madison Room is this way.” We strolled through an indoor courtyard where Christmas trees and poinsettias were scattered around the periphery and a pianist sat at a grand piano and played holiday music, past the atrium with its benches and fountains, and down the corridor that led to the largest of the ballrooms.
Just outside the doorway was a podium, and I handed my invitation to the man who stood there, checking the names against the clipboard he carried.
“Ah. An alumnus.” He made a notation on the page. “Have a very good evening, gentlemen.” He turned his professional smile to the couple who were approaching, and Wills and I walked into the ballroom.
For this occasion, the draperies hanging from the windows were silver and blue.
A twink dressed in a pure white loincloth and a blue top hat, his sash saying 2003, represented the New Year, while the man at his side wore a tunic that stopped just above his knees and carried a scythe. He was supposed to represent the old year, but he was probably in his early twenties at most, and the tunic was sheer. Anyone interested would be able to see he was in excellent shape and very well hung.
A live band was playing, and couples, smooth and elegant, were moving across the dance floor.
Fifty tables, each seating ten, were set with platters of cheese and crackers, Steuben crystal presentoirs filled with caviar, bowls piled high with fruits that were in and out of season.
“I love pineapple sprinkled with coconut,” Wills murmured. “Too bad I have an allergic reaction to pineapple.”
“Oh?”
“My throat gets all tight.” He saw my expression. “It’s not a big deal, babe.”
“Yes, it is! I want you around for a very long time.” No wonder why he’d removed the pineapple from his pizza. I’d make sure I never brought pineapple into the house again.
Waiters wove in and out of the tables, making sure champagne flutes remained filled, as well as the platters and bowls, and whisking away used plates and silverware.
“Let’s say hello to Charlemagne, babe.” Now that I had Wills, I felt I could afford to be gracious to the man I’d had a one night stand with all those years ago. “Then we can find our table and see who we’ve been put with.”
“And then we can dance?”
“Sure, babe.”
As we made our way around the perimeter of the dance floor, one of the escorts bumped into us.
“Sorry.” It was Jay. He blinked, then stared at Wills. “You’re new. I don’t remember seeing you at any of the balls.”
“We were at the Halloween party.”
“Damn. I was a little wasted that night.”
“A little?” I snorted.