Surprises
Althernate Universe "Escorts"
Buck climbed the stairs slowly, feeling fatigue dragging at him with every step he took. He wondered how the hell he was going to make it through to Monday and his day off. It was only 1:30 p.m. on Friday. He still had a whole weekend of tricking ahead of him.
He stepped into the den, intending just to take a quick look and see if Chris was about, but instead he sat down in the big, comfortable armchair and leaned his head back. He really should climb the rest of the stairs to his third floor suite and find Chris. But first he'd just close his eyes for a couple of minutes. Regain his strength.
He gradually became aware of a hand stroking gently down his cheek, and he opened his eyes slowly. Chris was sitting on the arm of the chair, smiling down at him. He jerked fully awake and straightened up.
"What time is it?" he asked.
"Three," Chris smiled. "You've been out for a while."
"Christ, I slept for over an hour," Buck said, dragging a hand through his hair.
"Guess you're tired," Chris said softly, still mapping his face with stroking fingers.
Buck shrugged. "I need to get ready for tonight. What's my schedule like for the rest of the weekend?"
Chris splayed a hand across his chest and pushed him back into the chair when he started to get up.
"I'm sorry, love. You're booked out the whole weekend."
Buck sighed, weariness washing through him all over again. But he managed to summon up a small smile because he didn't want Chris to worry about him. "I'd better take a shower. Try to wake up a little. Who've I got?"
Chris shook his head. "A real bastard. He's got you all weekend. He'll have you fucking morning, noon and night. You'll never get a minute's peace."
Buck looked up, startled. It wasn't like Chris to let somebody like that book with the agency. Especially not with him. "Who the hell is it?" he asked, frowning.
Chris laughed. "It's me you idiot," he said fondly, then smirked. "I'm taking you away for a dirty weekend."
Buck's face split into a huge grin, equal parts relief and anticipation flooding through him. "Really?" he asked. "What's the occasion?"
Chris shrugged. "I don't know. It's the first warm weekend of the year? You've been working too hard and you need a break? I want you all to myself for a couple of days? Take your pick."
Buck reached up and tumbled Chris down onto his lap, pulling him into a long, passionate kiss. He pulled back slightly and looked into his partner's eyes, still amazed at the level of devotion he always found there. More than 15 years together and still Chris looked at him as though he were the most precious thing in life. "That's fantastic, Chris," he murmured. "When do we leave? I should pack a few things."
"I wanna go right now. Get out of the city as soon as we can. And I've already packed for you."
"Yeah?" Buck smiled, then a thought crossed his mind. "I've kept you waiting. You wanted to leave as soon as I got back but I fell asleep. Are we gonna hit traffic?"
Chris hugged him tight, nuzzling his face into Buck's neck. "You needed to sleep. That was the most important thing. If we leave right now, we should still miss most of the traffic."
Buck grinned. "What are we waiting for, then? Let's split."
They climbed to their feet and went up to their suite. Sure enough there were two packed bags on the bed, and a garment bag beside each one.
"We going someplace fancy?" Buck asked, hoping he didn't sound ungrateful. He preferred simple things, got uncomfortable with too much fuss and bother, didn't know a whole hell of a lot of wealthy people he cared to spend his down time with.
Chris smiled at him, knowing his tastes and preferences so well. "Not fancy. But I've booked us into a nice restaurant tonight. I want this to be special."
Buck gathered him up into a hug. "Just having you there will make it special enough," he whispered, and pressed his lips to his lover's soft mouth. Chris opened to the kiss and relaxed in his arms, but he straightened up and pulled back when Buck rubbed his growing erection against his lover's groin. Buck groaned at the loss.
"Let's wait until we get there. If I get you into bed now I might not let you up for the whole weekend."
Buck reluctantly let his lover go. "I can't see how that would be a bad thing," he muttered, but he picked up his bag and his suit and followed Chris out of the room.
They said goodbye to Vin and JD, who came to the street to see them off.
"Drive safe now," JD said, helping them load their bags into the BMW.
Buck gave him a more or less chaste hug. "You kids take care of yourselves, you hear?" He wagged his finger at them. "Now, no late nights, no booze or drugs, and no wild parties."
"Right ma," Vin drawled, while JD laughed and flipped him off.
"Have fun, boys," Vin said, as Chris and Buck climbed into the car, Chris settling behind the wheel. "Chris, give him a few hours break from fucking, won't you?" he laughed.
Chris ignored him. "I've got my cell if you need me. Life and death emergencies only," he said, turning the key and smiling to himself when the engine purred into life. They waved as the car pulled away and after 30 minutes of cursing through dense traffic, they drove onto the highway and the comparatively open road.
They drove for two hours, Buck alternatively chatting happily and dozing off. Chris glanced over the first time silence fell, stupidly panicked until he saw that Buck was asleep, relaxed into the seat, his head nodding gently towards his chest. He looked younger in sleep, but Chris supposed that everybody did. Lines of worry and fatigue smoothed out; the weight of memory and pain and loss lifting for a few blessed hours; his body eased of the ache of constant demands, of continually surrendering himself to the desires and needs of others; his soul, battered in the past by hostility and indifference, now treasured, protected with everything Chris had. He reached out with one hand, letting it come to rest on Buck's thigh, needing the reassurance of touch. Buck moaned a little in his sleep, as he often did if not held close and tight, but he settled down under the caress of Chris' hand.
They pulled into the inn Chris had booked for them and he shook Buck lightly. His lover stirred and woke, confused at first, then smiling when he saw Chris bent over him. "We here?" Buck asked, a little bleary-eyed.
"We're here."
They climbed out of the car and grabbed up their bags and Buck stopped for a moment to look around at the lush gardens surrounding the inn, the stream winding its way down a hill in the distance, the fields that stretched for miles in every direction.
"It's beautiful, Chris," he breathed and turned a smiling face towards his lover.
Chris' breath caught in his throat, because nothing was as beautiful to him as the private smile Buck reserved especially for him, filled with love and longing, encompassing the knowledge of their years together. He held out his hand. "C'mon. Let's get checked in."
Buck slipped a hand into his as they climbed a couple of steps to the entranceway. He tried to pull away when they reached the door, but Chris held tight. Buck frowned a little at him, but Chris squeezed tighter and pulled him through the door.
The receptionist's eyebrows lifted the tiniest amount when they walked up to the desk hand-in-hand, but she pulled herself together quickly and her professional face slid back into place. Chris refused to drop Buck's hand all through the check-in process. He knew Buck wasn't really unhappy with the display of affection, and he would never have done anything to intentionally make the man uncomfortable in public. He let go only when he had to reach into his jacket pocket to retrieve a credit card from his wallet and smiled to himself when Buck immediately began to flirt with the receptionist, an extremely attractive young woman. She flirted right back for all she was worth so that by the time he had filled out all the forms and signed the credit card slip he wondered whether either of them actually remembered that he was standing there.
He nudged Buck to get his attention and dangled the key to their room in front of his face.
"Ready, darling?" he asked sweetly, emphasising the endearment, and saw the flare of shock in Buck's eyes, before knowing amusement chased it away.
"Yes, sweetheart," Buck replied, with equal emphasis, and Chris grinned up at him.
"Breakfast is at eight," the receptionist said, a little frostily Chris thought.
"Or you could have it in bed," she continued, speaking directly to Buck, with a whole lot more warmth in her voice.
Buck winked at her and smiled, "Oh I intend to darlin'," he said, then slid his arm around Chris' waist.
Chris pulled back a little, because having Buck so close when he was in a playful mood always wakened up his cock and he was not going to walk across the lobby with an erection if he could avoid it. He glanced at the receptionist, Trudy according to her nametag, expecting a frown. But she just smiled at him and inclined her head. "Have a good night, gentlemen. Enjoy your stay," she said and Chris found himself blushing slightly at all the uncharitable thoughts he had had towards her while Buck had been turning on the charm.
Their room was beautiful. Tasteful but comfortable, charming without being hokey, not overly impressed with itself like some of the city hotels they had stayed in or worked out of. Buck looked immediately at home as he threw himself onto the wide bed then rolled onto his side and propped himself on his elbow. He patted the space next to him and smiled, the wonderful, private, soul-baring smile for which Chris would do just about anything. Chris didn't need a further invitation. With a little more decorum he crossed the room and started to climb up onto the bed, although the effect was spoiled when Buck grabbed him and jerked him down. He collapsed with a huff of laughter, and let Buck wrap him in a bear hug.
"So, Trudy took your fancy, did she?" he teased.
Buck grinned, not the slightest bit abashed at flirting so outrageously in front of his lover. "That was just a warm-up for the real thing."
"You gonna whisper those sweet nothings to me now?" Chris murmured, and shuddered when Buck blew gently into his ear and proceeded to do just that. Sure the man had lines that were cornier than a store full of Hallmark cards, and sure he'd had plenty of practice delivering them, but Chris couldn't help melting like a virgin as the soft southern accent poured love and devotion into his ear.
He nuzzled his face into his lover's neck. "That load of horse shit doesn't actually work does it?" he growled, rubbing away a rising wetness in his eyes, hoping Buck wouldn't notice the sudden damp patch.
He felt Buck's chest shake with silent laughter. "It's got me laid a time or two," he whispered. He reached with both hands and raised Chris' head, smiling like an angel as he gently brushed at Chris' wet lashes with his thumbs.
"Is it gonna work tonight?" he asked.
Chris sniffed. "Might get you a pity-fuck," he said.
"I'll take it any way I can get it," Buck smiled.
They undressed slowly, Chris sure that Buck's eyes had never left his face, although that hardly seemed possible. They slid up against each other, trying to meld every part of their bodies together. Buck's skin was hot and fragrant, his body so responsive to touch, to each look, to every nuance. Chris wanted everything from him, all at once. He wanted to bury himself inside his lover's body and watch his eyes widen in passion and need, to hear him gasp with pleasure, feel him tighten around Chris' aching cock and drag orgasm from him. He wanted to throw his head back and scream as Buck filled him, pushing up into him as though he'd never stop, taking him thoroughly, mercilessly, then splash his own seed into the warm hands that cradled and fondled him. He wanted to feel his rigid cock bump up against the back of Buck's throat, or suck his lover's shaft so deeply into his own mouth that he was surrounded by Buck's taste and smell, and just the knowledge of how completely the man possessed him was often enough to make him spill helplessly as he swallowed everything Buck pumped down his throat.
Before he knew it he was moaning and his body was jerking and Buck had scarcely touched him before he climaxed from nothing more stimulating than Buck's solid, loving presence, his unique smell, the look of adoration in his eyes. Chris would have felt like a fool if Buck hadn't tensed and cupped Chris' hand around his spurting cock while he too climaxed hard and fast, with hardly more than a brush of Chris' body against him.
Chris clawed his way closer to his lover and heard Buck chuckle. He quirked an eyebrow in question.
"No wonder we hardly ever work together," Buck laughed. "We wouldn't put on much of a show."
Chris grinned at him. "Hey, sometimes we last longer than two minutes," he said.
He rolled onto his back and yawned. Buck cuddled up next to him. "We gonna have a little nap?" he asked.
Chris gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Nope. We're gonna go out and eat. Go grab a shower and put on your suit. I'll unpack us."
"Sure you don't wanna join me?" Buck flirted.
Chris patted him on the ass. "I'll save a little for later," he said. "Maybe we can last for three minutes next time."
Buck smiled and rolled off the bed and Chris watched his spectacular ass as it disappeared into the bathroom. He stretched and yawned again, resisting the urge to snuggle under the covers and close his eyes, and got out of bed himself.
By the time Buck emerged from the bathroom, rosy, damp, temptation personified, Chris had unpacked their bags and laid out their suits. He managed to get past his lover with only a brief peck on the lips, afraid that if he stopped for anything more he'd end up on his knees, or tumbling Buck back onto the bed, neither of them bad options, but he had booked a table for them at a decent restaurant and he wanted to take his lover out for dinner.
When he finished his own shower he stepped back into the bedroom, pausing in the doorway to watch as Buck pulled on his watch and glanced over at him. The man was breathtaking. Chris admitted to himself that he felt that way even when Buck was dressed in his rattiest sweatpants and oldest t-shirt, but in his suit he had a real old-fashioned sophistication and style that Chris found utterly irresistible. Buck smiled, a little tentatively. Even after all these years he was sometimes unsure of himself. "Okay?" he asked.
"More than okay. Beautiful," Chris breathed, and smiled to see a blush spread across his lover's face.
Buck helped him to dress, and their evening was almost abandoned before it began when Buck dropped gracefully to his knees to help him slide into his pants. Chris' cock had already responded when his lover's warm hands drifted over his ass as Buck pulled up his boxer shorts. Having the man's face so close to his erection did nothing to ease the ache. He quickly pulled up his zipper and buckled his belt and Buck smiled up at him and turned his cheek to press it gently against Chris' rigid, cloth-covered shaft. Chris groaned, summoned up willpower he didn't know he possessed, and raised Buck to his feet. It only took them about fifteen minutes to finish after that, stopping to trade kisses as they went.
When they were both ready they hopped into the car, waving goodbye to Trudy who had done nothing to disguise her appreciation of the way Buck looked. Chris shook his head. "Good thing I'm here to keep you out of trouble," he said.
Buck leaned over and kissed him. "I'm counting on you to get me into trouble," he smiled.
They drove the short distance to the nearest town, Buck looking out at the passing scenery, feeling deeply content, always happy to be with Chris but especially glad in such lovely surroundings, a whole weekend of togetherness ahead of them. It was unusual outside of their home for his lover to be so relaxed, so openly affectionate. When they parked, Chris once again reached out to slip his hand into Buck's, and they walked the short distance to the restaurant hand-in-hand, blind to any raised eyebrows, deaf to any muttered comments.
Once inside the restaurant they were shown to a small, secluded table in back, where a bottle of champagne was chilling in a bucket, and candles shimmered softly on the snow-white linen tablecloth. Another surprise. Chris' romantic side usually expressed itself in the privacy of their bedroom, not in public displays. Buck wondered briefly what had brought all this on, then gave himself over to being pampered and spoiled.
Dinner was wonderful. Excellent food, good wine, easy chatter about their friends, the way the family was growing, how well JD fit in with the rest of the men, how he had brought fun and laughter to the household. Chris teased him about his growing feelings for Vin and JD and his increasing protectiveness towards them. The kids, Buck called them, despite the fact that both were street-wise, tough little fuckers who knew almost as much about the harsh side of life as Buck did himself. And Chris continued to show affection all through the meal, stroking the back of Buck's hand, tangling their legs together under the table, reaching to wipe at the corner of his mouth.
When the plates were cleared away, Chris reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box that he pushed across the table to Buck.
"What's this?" Buck asked.
"Open it and see," Chris said, smiling.
Buck opened the box and found a heavy gold ring lying on a bed of red satin. He looked up, pleased and startled. "What's this for?" he asked.
Chris took the ring out of the box and held it close to the flame from one of the candles, tipping it into the light. The ring was engraved with one simple word: Forever. Chris slipped the ring onto Buck's finger.
"It's to let you know how much I love you," Chris said. Buck shook his head in wonder. The man was full of surprises tonight. He rarely articulated his feelings, although Buck never felt himself any less loved for that.
He swallowed hard against a lump in his throat. "But you tell me all the time," he said because he wanted Chris to know it too. "Every time you touch me, every time you look at me, every time I go to sleep or wake up wrapped in your arms."
"I want everybody else to see it too," Chris murmured. "I want them all to know you're mine, forever."
Buck smiled. "Don't you think they already know?" he asked softly.
Chris shrugged and leaned in. Buck leaned forward too and their lips met in a slow, deep kiss, tongues sliding in and out of each other's mouths. Buck pulled back a little.
"It's beautiful, Chris. I love it," he breathed. "You wanna skip dessert?"
Chris smiled, nodded, and before Buck knew it they were back on the street, strolling towards the car, this time with Chris' arm wrapped tightly around his waist. Chris slowed his pace as they approached the parking lot. "You wanna take a walk?" he asked. "I think we both drank a little too much to drive right away."
Buck nodded and smiled. "Sure. It's a lovely night," he said, enjoying Chris' relaxed mood, his rare willingness to share affection so publicly.
They strolled along a path that ran beside the stream, Chris' arm still loose around Buck's waist. The night air was starting to cool and they drew closer together as they came to a bridge and began to cross it, stopping in the middle by mutual but unspoken consent, leaning over the rail, their heads almost touching. Chris threaded his fingers through Buck's and held onto his hand while he spoke softly about their past, their lives together, their plans for the future. Buck couldn't help but wonder all over again what was prompting this unusual side of his lover. His mind ran quickly over all their anniversaries, searching for a clue.
It wasn't one of Chris' days; his wedding anniversary, Adam's birth date, the fire. Those were days heavy with mourning and regret, weighed down with misery. On those dates all Buck could hope to do was to shelter Chris from the well-intentioned but painful empathy of their friends and offer the only thing he had to give; himself, his body, for whatever use Chris wanted to make of it. In the beginning, more often than not, he'd sought the total oblivion that only came with too much whiskey and brutal, punishing sex that left Buck bleeding and shaken, but that pushed Chris into anaesthetized sleep and seemed to leach some of the grief out of him. More recently they had turned to tender, gentle lovemaking that eased the suffering of memory and left only the dull ache of sorrow. No, this was not one of those dates.
Buck thought of their own anniversaries, the first time they met, their first fumbling towards sex. They continued to celebrate those dates, half laughing at the silliness of it, but marking every passing year with joy and love and passion. He smiled softly at the memories as his mind drifted over those early days and it was only gradually that he became aware that Chris had fallen silent.
He glanced over at his lover. Chris appeared lost in thought for a moment, then he raised his head and asked, "Are you happy, Buck?" and Buck knew that something strange was at work here because that was not the kind of question Chris Larabee asked anybody, even the man who had loved him heart and soul for fifteen years.
Buck turned and pulled Chris up close to him, sliding his arms around the man's waist. "Of course I'm happy," he murmured. "I've got you, the rest of the guys. I don't want for anything, you make sure of that," he smiled. He considered for a moment, watching Chris' face intently and trying to read what was at the root of this oddly wistful mood. Maybe he was misunderstanding the question.
"I know this isn't the life you saw for yourself," Buck said quietly. "I know sometimes it's hard for you. But I've told you before, you don't have to keep doing it. I can make enough money for both of us..."
Chris stopped him with a finger laid across his lips. Expecting an angry outburst, Buck was caught off guard when Chris said, "God, do you have any idea how much I love you?"
And something about his tone of voice, or maybe the look in his eyes, clicked with Buck and he remembered with startling clarity that this was an anniversary of sorts. One they never celebrated, one they rarely even spoke of anymore but which they sometimes obliquely acknowledged in ways like this. A time many years ago when they were kids, teenagers. A time when Buck had whored not out of choice but because he was forced to it, and Chris had surrendered all he had in the world to take Buck out of that life.
He hugged Chris harder and dropped his head to nuzzle against his lover's neck. "I love you too," he whispered, hoping Chris wouldn't feel the sudden wet patch where foolish tears leaked out of the corners of his eyes.
Chris stroked a hand through his hair and rubbed small, comforting circles into his back.
"Shhh," he soothed. "Trudy will have my head if I take you back to the hotel in tears."
Buck smiled and lifted his head, scrubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. "We sure know how to have a good time together," he joked.
Chris smiled. "Let's go back to the hotel. We'll try to think of something to do that won't have either of us bawling like a baby."
They drove back, quiet conversation and occasional touches accompanying the soft hum of the radio. When they reached their hotel room there was another bottle of champagne on ice.
Buck laughed in delight. "Mr. Larabee, are you trying to get me drunk so you can seduce me?"
Chris smiled at him. "You only ever need one sip before you're ready to put out. You're the cheapest damn date I've ever had."
"Hey!" Buck protested. "Just for that I'm gonna play hard to get."
"Suit yourself," Chris shrugged, then very deliberately peeled off his jacket and loosened his tie, never taking his eyes off Buck's face.
Buck licked his lips. "Oh fuck it. C'mere," he said, pulling Chris down on top of him as he tumbled backwards onto the bed.
Chris straddled him, his ass rubbing up against Buck's solid erection.
"Slut," he grinned down.
"Ain't never denied it, darlin'," Buck said, laughing.
Chris shivered. "Say it again," he ordered softly.
Buck propped himself up on his elbows. "Darlin'," he murmured, the word a seduction in itself, as it always had been. Chris launched himself at his lover, knocking him back down to the bed with the force of his kiss.
They started out slow and easy, face-to-face, looking deeply into each other's eyes. But things got wilder as the night progressed and the champagne disappeared and soon both were covered in a fine sheen of sweat and more than a few sticky patches where champagne and semen had been spilled and licked clean.
Finally, exhausted, sated, deeply satisfied, they rolled onto their sides, facing each other, arms and legs tangled, bellies all but stuck together. They traded lazy champagne kisses and shuffled even closer.
"So, what do you want to do for the rest of the weekend?" Chris asked.
"Pretty much this," Buck smiled. "You?"
Chris chuckled. "Same. Good food, a couple of bottles of decent wine." He stroked a hand down his lover's cheek. "Making love to you for hours," he whispered.
Buck yawned massively.
"And catching up on sleep," Chris said sternly. "You've worked too hard recently, Buck. I want you to think about giving up some of your clients."
"Aww, Chris. I couldn't do that," Buck said. "They're all mostly regulars. I couldn't cut any of them off."
Chris shook his head. "Well at least will you stop making dates with them directly? Dorothy books you out a couple of times a night then finds out that you've promised a date to one or your regulars. It's giving me a headache 'cos I'm the one has to make sure everybody gets onto your schedule. Will you at least get your clients to call Dorothy if they want you?"
"Yes, boss," Buck murmured, trying to sound contrite.
"You're wearing yourself out with this. You end up going out four or five times a night and you're exhausted. Let me handle your schedule. Let me look after you. It's what I'm here for."
"Yes, love," Buck said, a whole lot more sincere.
Chris kissed him soundly. "Good. And you're happy to carry on as we are for a while?"
"Yeah, Chris," Buck said, serious now. "I don't want JD going back to the streets, and Vin and all the rest of the guys, what would they do? I like the home we're making together. As long as you're there, that's all that matters to me."
Chris smiled. "That's settled, then. Now, get some sleep. I'm gonna work you hard tomorrow."
Buck laughed. "Promises." He cuddled closer to his lover, breathing in the fragrance of their mixed colognes, the warm, musky smell of their sweat and the heavy scent of sex.
"Hey," he mumbled.
"Mmm," Chris murmured against his chest.
"You gonna ask me the same question every year?"
"Probably," a drowsy response.
"And can we come back here each year?"
Chris kissed him softly. "Anything you want, love."
"Good," Buck said. "That Trudy really is a looker..."
He laughed when quick as a flash Chris rolled him onto his back and pinned his arms above his head.
"I see I'm gonna have to remind you all over again who owns your sorry ass," Chris growled.
Buck humped up against him, feeling his partner's erection heavy and hard pressing into his groin.
"Yeah," he breathed happily, lifting his face towards Chris' lush mouth. "Remind me."
The End