Chapter 3
A/N: Any reviews would be really appreciated, especially if you want to know just WHY Caleb is watching Leon… -DL
Leon sat at the little table in one corner of Caleb’s living room, eating Chinese take-out and talking with his new neighbor. They were sharing stories about past boyfriends; Caleb was telling him about the first boy that he’d ever gone out with, when he was all of seventeen. It hadn’t been easy for him to accept his feelings. He came from a strict Russian Orthodox Christian family, and the way he felt was a sin. But he hadn’t been able to help himself, not where Kyle was concerned. The other boy was handsome, funny, lively, intelligent and an out homosexual who didn’t care in the least what other people thought about him and his preferences. He’d been irresistible to Caleb, especially when Kyle had started flirting relentlessly with him because he had something he called ‘gaydar’, that told him that Caleb played for his team no matter what he said to deny it.
“He kissed me behind the bleachers after basketball practice one day,” Caleb said, shaking his head. “And that was that. Especially since he gave me a blow job afterward,” he added with a wry grin.
Leon snorted. “He WAS really forward, wasn’t he?” he said in admiration.
“Yeah. I’d never felt anything that good before in my life. He made me come back for more, over and over again. I tried to hide our relationship, but it was inevitable that we finally got caught. It was a good thing that it was a few weeks to graduation, because my father kicked me out of the house when he found out. I stayed with Kyle and his family until graduation, then went to college. We drifted apart after that, because we were going to separate colleges and the long-distance relationship just didn’t work out for us. But I’ve never lost his number, and we’re still friends. He lives back East with his partner, a guy he met in college. They’re thinking of getting married in New York, and he said he’d invite me to the wedding.”
“I’m sorry that your family rejected you, Caleb,” Leon said soberly, looking at him across the table. “That’s terrible.”
Caleb sighed and shrugged. “It happens. Far too often for those of us who are gay, sadly. I sometimes think our parents would be happier if we robbed banks and were straight, which is sort of pathetic. The goods news is that I’ve reconnected with my siblings over the years, though my father still won’t acknowledge my existence.”
“That’s good. That you talk to your siblings. I don’t know what I’d do without the support of my family,” Leon replied with a slight shiver. “I’ll admit that I worried that they’d reject me when I came out, but most of them knew already and just shrugged. Hell, my two sisters had a running bet going over whether I was gay or not, and when I’d tell mom and dad. The older one won,” he added with a crooked grin.
Caleb chuckled. “That obvious, huh?”
Leon waved a hand at himself. “Yes,” he said ruefully.
Caleb’s dark eyes ran over him, and his breath faltered at the expression in them as they returned to his face. “I’ve got to say, it might be obvious but it looks really good on you,” he said.
“Oh…well…” Leon began, feeling breathless. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Caleb replied lazily. Then he seemed to think of something, and visibly shook off the flirtatious mood. “You said that you were going to tell me about your first boyfriend, too,” he said as he ate some more of the beef and broccoli off of his plate.
Leon felt disappointment lance through him. He’d thought for a moment…but for whatever reason, Caleb pulled back whenever he started to show any interest in Leon. “Err…my first boyfriend was in college,” he said as he took a mouthful of mushu pork to distract himself, “Because having a boyfriend in my high school would have meant not only social annihilation but physical annihilation as well. There were some pretty nasty bullies in my school. But my first day at college, I literally bumped into this cute guy named Dean. He asked me out right then and there, and I said yes even though I was really, really nervous. Dean showed me the ropes…literally as well as figuratively…of being a gay man. Unfortunately, though, he had a wandering dick and couldn’t keep it in his pants. After the third time he cheated on me, I dumped his ass. He was really surprised…I suppose because a lot of young gay men have multiple casual partners all the time, and think nothing of it. But I’ve always been different. I want monogamy, I can’t help myself. And I won’t settle for anything else than that.”
Caleb gave him an approving glance. “I agree,” he replied simply. “I’ve never been into casual, no-strings-attached sex either. I mean, I’ve done it a few times, but I always regretted it afterward. It’s so unfulfilling.”
“Yes, it is,” Leon replied. He was sighing to himself mentally. Caleb and he shared so many of the same likes and agreed on so many things…with just enough differences thrown in to keep it interesting. This could be so perfect…if only Caleb didn’t draw back every time he started to flirt with Leon! This was so frustrating!
They finished dinner, and afterward Caleb produced a rather scrumptious dessert that he’d bought at a bakery earlier. It was a strawberry and whipped cream cake that just melted in Leon’s mouth. He tried to concentrate on it and not on Caleb, because every time he looked at the man he wanted to smear the lovely cake all over his nude body and then lick it back off again. Food was excellent foreplay, especially wonderful desserts like this cake. If only…
“This has been a great evening,” Caleb remarked. “But I’ve got to get up early tomorrow. I know it’s Sunday and I should get to sleep in, but my boss wants me to come in and do some extra work. We have a big deal coming up soon, so I have to work like a dog until it closes.”
“I understand,” Leon told him, although he felt a lance of regret go through him. He was would have loved to have spent more time with Caleb, but he understood the demands of work only too well. “I’ll just head home, then. Thanks for dinner, Caleb. I really enjoyed it.”
“I did, too,” Caleb replied as he rose to his feet to escort Leon to his front door. “We’ve definitely got to do it again sometime soon.”
“I’d like that,” Leon replied honestly, as Caleb opened the door for him. “I’ll cook for us again.”
“That sounds great. I’ll see you around, Leon, and we’ll make plans for our next dinner,” Caleb held out his hand, and Leon took it. He felt a jolt of electricity run through him at this touch, and he saw for a brief moment on Caleb’s face that he felt it too. But then he pulled his hand back and smiled wryly. “Goodnight, Leon,” he said. “Sleep well.”
“You too,” he replied as Caleb shut the door, though from the way his body was now throbbing he very much doubted that he’d be getting much sleep anytime soon…
Behind the closed door, Caleb stood with his mouth tight and his eyes shuttered. Then he walked into his bedroom, where a small stack of recording and monitoring equipment was set up. He sat down in the chair in front of it, and activated the bug he’d planted in Leon’s apartment earlier today. He put on the headphones and listened intently. He heard the door open, and then footsteps. “Well, Felina,” he heard Leon’s voice say.” I just had then BEST evening that I’ve had for a very long time. I ate dinner with a really hot guy, and we talked, and we both enjoyed ourselves.” he heard a long sigh. “But every time he started to flirt with me, he stopped in his tracks. I don’t know why, either. Is it something about me, do you think? Is there something wrong with me?” he said mournfully.
Caleb’s mouth tightened. All he wanted to do was get up, go over to Leon’s apartment, knock on the door, and take the other man into his arms when Leon answered. He wanted to hold Leon, and reassure him that he was utterly sexy and attractive - then he wanted to take Leon into his bedroom and have sex with him all night long. But what he wanted didn’t matter. He had a job to do, and he had to retain his objectivity where Leon Ferris was concerned. That was just going to be very, very difficult. And getting harder all the time…
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