In the Silks (15 page)

“Tell me more about yourself, Henry.”

“What would you like to know?”

“Anything, tell me about your family.”

Henry straightened his spine at that. Not that he didn’t want to share with Ryan, but he didn’t want to talk about his father. It made him feel guilty; it made reserved Henry want to get back on the field. He could be vague, he supposed, but that left a bad taste in his mouth, like he was lying or at the very least being misleading. The lesser of two evils, he supposed.

“Well, you know I grew up here. My parents still live in the house that I grew up in. I have two sisters and one brother.”

“How old are they?”

“Let’s see. Annie is thirty; she has a son, Louis, who is the best kid in the world. Then there is my sister Julie; she’s twenty seven, and my brother, Pat, is thirty one. He’s married to Tara, who is Jackie’s cousin,” Henry said that last part apathetically.

“Wow, your parents were busy.”

Henry laughed, “Yeah, I guess they were. What about you?”

“Well, you know I’m from Connecticut. My parents are still there. I have one sister, Rena; she’s four years older than me. She lives in Connecticut too. She’s married, has three kids. Cooper is six, and Colin and Callie are four.

“What about law school? I thought that had been your plan after college?”

Henry shifted uncomfortably, holding his fist in front of his mouth as he cleared his throat. “Well, I did go one semester and I was miserable. When it really started to sink in what I was planning to do day in and day out for the next fifty years, I just couldn’t do it. One of my professors was a retired probation officer and we got to talking and he suggested I apply. He even offered me a recommendation letter. I did and here I am, never looked back.”

They talked a bit more while they ate. Henry wanted so badly to talk about the night before. He was still trying to process it. But he didn’t think bringing it up while they were eating would be good form. Although he wondered if talking about it would bother Ryan all that much? Somehow he thought not. He dismissed the idea. What the hell would he say anyway?

Oh, can we talk about last night? You know when we had sex. Yeah that! It’s kind of been eating away at my brain all day. Thanks!

Henry decided to just focus on the meal Ryan had so thoughtfully arranged and not on his total naiveté and immaturity at the moment. For the most part, Henry enjoyed everything. There were a few things he probably wouldn’t eat again, and Ryan was so right about the labneh. They were drinking some wine and still eating, though almost done when Ryan's cell rang. He went to go get it, and Henry just sat back with his wine and pretended to be mulling over the remaining food on the dishes, while he casually eavesdropped.

He heard Ryan say, “Bro, what’s up? Yeah, how are things going? Damn really? That sounds amazing. Shit, I miss you guys and being on the road.”

Henry tried not listen, but how could he help it not to. There were brief pauses while Ryan listened intently. He had walked back over and sat down with Henry, taking a sip of his wine. Henry couldn't really hear the person on the other end of the line; he could hear sound but no actual words.

Ryan put up the
one
minute
signal to Henry, and Henry nodded and finished off his wine while he waited. After a minute had passed and it didn't sound like the conversation was ending anytime soon, Henry decided to hit the head and began to get up. Ryan grabbed his calf as he straightened and gave Henry a questioning look. Henry nodded toward the bathroom, and Ryan released him. After going to the bathroom and trying to take his time about it so that Ryan could finish his conversation, Henry opened the door, thinking that Ryan would be finished. Not quite. Ryan turned his head at the sound of the door opening, and Henry mouthed that he was going to get going. He didn’t want to go, but he wasn’t sure what else to do. Ryan shook his head furiously. He apologized to Henry saying, “I'm sorry.” Then to the phone he said, “What? No, I wasn’t talking to you, but I am being an ass because I have company, and I am blowing him off right now. But hey, it’s been good talking to you. Let’s talk soon. I'm planning to go home to Connecticut for a few days. Then maybe we can all plan for some of you to come down on the break. All right, later.” Ryan hit the end button and tossed the phone onto the sofa and leaped to his feet to go to Henry, grabbing his hands he dragged him back over to the living room.

“I’m so sorry about that,” he said. “Please don’t leave.”

“You didn’t have to hang up. I can’t stay tonight anyway. Well, not that I assumed I was staying I just-.”

Ryan cut him off, “Well I can’t lie, I’m disappointed that you can’t stay, but don’t go yet, please.”

Henry smiled and nodded.

“Are you still hungry?”

“No thanks, it was delicious though; I could use some ice water.”

Ryan went and got two glasses of ice water for them. Truth was, Henry could stay if he wanted to, but he was already letting himself fall too hard. He needed to try and keep himself in check as much as possible. He also hadn’t sorted out all of his different emotions yet. They sat up on the sofa instead of the floor and drank their water, and Ryan relayed some of the conversation he had on the phone. The nameless friend on the phone had told him about some drama that happened on the road. Henry was chomping at the bit to ask about Ryan going home to Connecticut but he would rather Ryan volunteer the information. He wasn’t sure why, he just did.

They didn’t bother cleaning up from dinner before they were making out on the sofa like a couple of horny teenagers. Ryan lay back with Henry hovering over him, his leg hitched up over Henry’s hip; his fingers gripping the hair at the nape of Henry’s neck, Henry using one arm to anchor himself, the other to stroke Ryan’s side. Ryan released the grip of one hand on Henry’s hair to drag it down his back and into his pants, palming his cheek the best he could with the restriction of the clothes. Henry pushed himself against Ryan harder, the pressure was intense and a bit uncomfortable. Ryan squirmed a little, trying to get acclimated and broke the kiss to latch onto Henry’s neck. Henry slid his hand under Ryan’s shirt, dragging his fingernails up Ryan’s ribcage. Ryan pushed up some, just enough to release his hold on Henry and pull the shirt up and over his head.

It wasn’t long before the rest of their clothes were gone. Then Ryan was running off to the bedroom to get supplies. Henry sat back on the sofa, naked, erect and with a wide smile on his face. When Ryan came back he climbed onto Henry’s lap, tossing the condom and bottle on the sofa beside them. They started kissing and caressing again. Taking their time, Ryan’s bare chest rubbed against the coarse hair of Henry’s. Fingers pulling through hair, tongues clashing, swallowed moans and words only shared between lovers. Before long, Ryan’s face was buried in the sofa cushions, and his ass was in the air.  Henry dripped sweat down onto his back with every drive of his hips. Ryan grunted into the plush fabric as Henry became rigid, his thrusts becoming shallow; Ryan had come several minutes before by Henry’s hand.

When Henry was getting ready to leave a few hours later, Ryan was still lying on the sofa. One leg bent at the knee, one hanging on the floor and a joint in his mouth. Henry had just leaned down and kissed him and backed away, still staring.

“Take a picture, it will last longer,” Ryan said with a chuckle.

Henry groaned, “I would love to.”

“Do it!” Ryan challenged.

Henry cocked and eyebrow at him. “You would let me wouldn’t you?”

Ryan shrugged his shoulders, “Why not? You wouldn’t be planning to share it with anyone would you?”

“Fuck, no!” Henry said sounding scandalized.

Ryan laughed and took a hit off the joint.

“I would love too, but I would get nothing else accomplished. I’d just stare at it. Plus, if anyone ever saw that, how would I ever explain that away?”

“You worry too much. Doesn’t your phone have a lock?”

Henry didn’t answer, just rolled his eyes and walked over to the door. He looked back over to Ryan once more; sighed, grabbed his helmet and keys, and left.

~~~~~

Ryan was sitting on the kitchen counter eating some of the leftovers a half an hour later when his phone chimed, letting him know that he had a new text message. Ryan wiped his hands off with a dish towel and hopped off the counter to get the phone.

Henry:
  Can’t decide which night was better, tonight or last.

Ryan smiled, he could understand the feeling.

Ryan:
Same here…hopefully there will be many more to throw into the competition???

Henry:
I would say that’s a safe bet.

Ryan:
good!! ;-)

Henry:
Night Ryan xoxo

Ryan:
Night Henry xoxoxo

Chapter 14

R
YAN TEXTED early the next day to say that he was going home to Connecticut for a few days. Henry was a little caught off guard and disappointed. Ryan had said something about going, but he hadn’t realized it would be this soon.

Ryan: hey u, I’m going back to ct. For a few days

Henry: ok just call me when you get back

Ryan: I can’t talk to you until I cum back??? Lol

Henry: I’m going to assume that you misspelled that word on purpose

Ryan: I have to go home with a g-rated tongue ring when I go home sooooo, I’ll have to express my dirty thoughts through text messages until I CUM back

Henry: I see lol

Ryan: you didn’t answer my question

Henry:?

Henry: oh, yeah we can talk while you’re gone. I just thought family time and all…

Ryan: so thoughtful

Ryan: call you later?

Henry: sounds good, have a safe trip!

Ryan: im always safe ;-)

Henry: you can’t even help yourself can you?

Ryan: where’s the fun in that!?

Henry: byeeee

Ryan: xo

That night, true to his word, Ryan called Henry. They only got to talk for a few minutes because Ryan’s sister and family had just shown up for dinner.

The following evening, Henry was having a drink with Pat at a bar near his house. His brother had called and practically begged Henry to go out. When Henry asked about Tara, Pat scoffed and told him that “she was doing her own thing, apparently.” Henry tried to get more out of him but Pat wasn’t interested in sharing any more than that. Henry didn’t want to push him, hoping that his brother would return the favor in kind when it came to Henry’s personal life but he didn’t have much confidence in that happening, somehow. Ryan sent a text while they were working on their third round. Henry panicked because he was with Pat; even though his brother couldn’t see his message, the idea of communicating with Ryan with Pat sitting right there made his blood pressure rise. It was as if he had two lives, and they were about to collide.

Ryan: What’s up?

Henry: not much out with my brother

Ryan: having fun?

Henry: I guess, just having a drink how about you?

Ryan: still in ct. coming back tomorrow can I c u

Henry: of course text me when you get home

Ryan: :-) hey can I ask u something, how come u never text me?

Henry: I’m sorry idk how about I text u when I go home tonight?

Ryan: I’ll b waiting…xo

Henry: soon xoxo

Wow.
He was getting courageous. Henry thought as he sent that last message.

Thankfully, Pat was watching the game and scarfing down hot wings. He hadn’t seemed to notice Henry trying to text under the table. At least he hoped not. Pat was nosy as hell, and if he even had a feeling that Henry might be holding back, he would be relentless. So far tonight, he had been lucky. Pat hadn’t brought up the Ryan question, or any others for that matter. He prayed that it stayed that way.

Ryan: r u still out?

Henry: no im home

Ryan: I thought u were going to text me

Henry: haven’t been here long

Ryan: I c, I have a ??

Henry: shoot

Ryan: hehe

Henry: seriously? Lmao

Ryan: don’t lmao, I like that ass too much

Henry: good to know

Henry:?

Ryan: I have some friends coming from nyc for a few days would u come out with us this weekend

Henry: sure

Ryan: cool so how cum u didn’t message me

Henry: it’s not on purpose. Really did just get here

Ryan: sooooo, makes me feel stalkery (is that a word??)

Henry: lol, I don’t think so. Don’t feel that way. I guess I never want to bother you

Ryan:  :-) that’s lame

Henry: I’m lame

Ryan:
Ur crazy…anyway it would be nice to hear from you once in awhile

Henry:
I will but when you get sick of me don’t say I didn’t warn u

Ryan:
I have been warned…

They texted for a while, talking about nothing in particular, and Henry promised to get in touch the next day.

~~~~~

The following morning Henry was waiting in line at Dunkin Donuts when he decided to message Ryan.

Henry:
good morning

It took an hour before he got a reply; he felt dejected and kept checking the phone while he ordered, left drinking his coffee, and finished his commute to work.

He was just getting settled at his desk when his message alert went off.

He sat his coffee down to grab the phone. He did, however, have coffee in his mouth and when he opened the message, said coffee ended up going down the wrong pipe, causing him to choke loudly and try to cover it with his forearm. A few coworkers looked at him, and he waved them off but stopped quickly when he realized he was waving the hand holding the phone and the message that caused him to choke.

It was a picture message. The picture was of Ryan, clearly lying back in an enclosed tub/shower. He was smiling at the camera, and it was very obvious that he had cum on his chin and down his chest.

Henry tucked the phone between his legs and under his desk to look, but it wasn’t good enough for him so he got up and went to the bathroom with the phone to examine the photo.

He was apparently taking too long to respond because Ryan texted again.

Ryan:
good morning ;-)

Henry:
wow, that’s wow…

Ryan:
u like

Henry:
I like

Henry couldn’t help but to reflect in that moment on how open with his sexuality Ryan was. Henry was envious and thrilled that he got to be on the receiving end and experience it. It also made him afraid because he wasn’t like that and he wondered if Ryan would tire of his very reserved ways.

Ryan:
I was thinking about u and the other night on my sofa, and the night before that. Oh and the night of my party. Even that night back in college.

Henry:
please I’m begging u, im at work

Ryan:
r u trying to tell me u r hard? Yeah probably not good when u work with teenagers

Henry:
Definitely Not! Didn’t we have this convo?? lol

Ryan:
okay okay, I’ll let u get back to work, ttyl

Henry:
yes later :-)

The day was long and torturous after that. The phone was burning a hole in his pocket. He wanted to take it out and look at the picture every chance he got, but he didn’t dare. Funny he hadn’t been bold enough to take a picture when Ryan told him that he could but now that there was one on his phone he was thrilled; nervous, but thrilled. As soon as he was home that night and the door shut behind him, he had the phone out, and he was pulling up the image. He finally put the phone on the charger and went to make himself something to eat. Well actually, just heat up a microwaveable meal. After he ate, Henry ran down to throw a load of laundry in and then took a shower and ironed his clothes for the following day. After finishing the laundry, he went to do the few dishes that he had before heading off to bed. It was still kind of early, but he wanted to be in bed with that picture of Ryan. He was washing the last few things in the sink when the phone rang. It was Ryan.

“Hey.”

“Hey back.”

“So how’s it going there?”

“Okay I guess, family … you know.”

“Oh yes, yes I do.”

“What are you doing?”

“Dishes, fun right!? Don’t be jealous.”

“Ha ha, okay I will try not to be.”

“What are you doing?”

“Lying in bed.”

Henry straightened his spine. Ryan lying in bed was almost as good an image as the one in his phone. He had to clear his throat before speaking again.

“So early?” Henry asked even though he’d intended to be doing the same thing in just a few minutes.

“Yeah. I’m coming home tomorrow, early.”

“Gotcha.”

Henry finished the dishes and shook off his hands, propping the phone on his shoulder to use the dish towel.

“Sooooo, are you done with those dishes yet?”

Henry laughed, “Yep just finished.”

“So go to bed, Henry.”

“Excuse me?” Henry had to laugh again.

“You heard me.”

“What if I’m not tired yet? I thought you called to talk to me?”

“You cannot be this naive? I do want to talk to you … once you get in bed. So go!”

Silence.

“Hello?”

“I’m going.”

“Henry, I need help falling asleep. Can you help me?”

Henry’s body was suddenly on high alert. He knew where Ryan was going with this, and he wanted it so badly. He had never done this before but he was going to. This was just too good to be true. It was easier to be bold over the phone.

“Oh? What kind of help do you need?”

“I’m sure you have some ideas.”

“I think you need to help me out here,” so embarrassing, so much for being audacious.

“Come on, it will be fun, are telling me you have never had phone sex before?”

“I guess since you’re not here to see me and how obscenely embarrassed I am right now; no, I haven’t.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t dated much. You know just a few girls, and they were sort of old fashioned.”

Henry thought about that for a beat. He did tend to choose girls that were more reserved. He would have to examine that revelation further sometime soon,
but definitely not now.

“Well, you are kind of old fashioned, Henry. It’s not a bad thing. It’s new to me, to be honest, but I like it. It makes sense that you would attract girls like that.”

“I don’t think I’m
that
old fashioned.” Henry said with a note of inflection in his voice. He knew he sounded a bit wounded and not totally committed to his declaration.

“You’re shy.”

“Well…”

“And your quiet, subdued, but you know what I think, Henry?”

“What’s that?”

“I think that there is a much more assertive, aggressive man hiding beneath the surface.”

“I don't know about that.”

“I do; I can sense it.  Are you in your bed yet?”

“No.” Henry had been leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Go now. Put the phone down when you get in there, get undressed then climb into bed.”

“Pushy a bit, huh?”

“Yes, take notes.”

“Notes? Is there going to be a test?”

“As a matter of fact, there is, soon.”

“Oh, okay.” Henry laughed and headed off in the direction of his room. When he got there, he told Ryan that he was going to get undressed and put the phone on speaker. While Henry was doing that, Ryan’s voice came through on the bed.

“You know Henry if you had an iPhone we could be on FaceTime right now. That would be fun!”

Henry didn't respond. He knew damn well he wouldn’t be doing this on a frigging video chat. He wasn’t that adventurous.

“You naked yet?”

Henry laughed, “I’m getting there.”

“If I was there, you would be naked already; what are you taking off?”

Henry's breath hitched. “My pants.”

“What do you have on underneath?”

“Underwear.”

“Boxers or briefs?”

“Briefs.”

“What color?”

“Black.”

“Leave them on.”

Henry did. Then he climbed into bed propping the phone on the empty pillow beside his head. “Okay, I’m in bed.”

“Good. You still have the briefs on?”

“Yes, what do you have on?”

Ryan’s laugh came through the speaker, “Nothing but a smile.”

Henry moaned.

“I wish I were there, do you know what I would do if I were?”

“No, tell me.”

“I would climb on top of you.”

Henry bit his lip as he listened.

“I love being on top of you. I would kiss you and grind against you.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh yeah. Rub your dick through your briefs; pretend that’s my hand.”