Shawn Lane - Car Wash 1 - Car Wash (5 page)

Kevin stood next to Gabby among the group of car wash employees just after closing. He twisted his hands while he waited for their boss to speak.

Mr. Lewis stood at the top of the group, near the vacuums, sort of positioned so he could seem to be looking down at them. That’s the way it appeared to Kevin anyway. He let his imagination go a bit and imagined the man wearing a diamond tiara. The image was so absurd, Kevin couldn’t stop a laugh from escaping.

Gabby glanced at him quickly, her eyes wide and curious, which only made him laugh more.
“Hush,” she said.
He bit the inside of his cheek when he noticed Mr. Lewis looking pointedly in his direction.
“Gabby, can you join me up here? I’ll need you to tell them in Spanish what I’m saying,” Mr. Lewis said.
Gabby nodded and headed over to stand next to the boss.
“I’ve owned this car wash for about ten years now and I’ve had some ups and downs,” Mr. Lewis said. His chest was all puffed up like he was giving his acceptance speech in an election or something. “So, anyway, I’ve decided to retire.” He paused for dramatic effect.
Kevin frowned. What did that mean?
“I received an offer to buy the car wash and it’s one I just couldn’t refuse.” Mr. Lewis chortled. “Obviously, some details have to be ironed out before the sale can go through, but it’s already in the works. Until then things will remain as they are, but once the new owner takes over, well, I’m not sure what his intentions are. All right, that’s it. I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll let everyone know as it gets closer.”
Gabby repeated everything he’d said to those who didn’t speak English. Everyone stood there stunned. Kevin was pretty stunned himself.
“Good night, folks, and have a pleasant evening,” Mr. Lewis said. His gaze stopped on Kevin, lingering overlong as far as Kevin was concerned, but then he turned and walked toward where he always parked his car.
Gabby walked back to Kevin. “Wow, I can’t believe it.”
“Yeah. How long have you been here, Gabby?”
“Seven years.” She looked worried. “I hope whoever the new owner is won’t tear it down or anything.”
“Me, too.”
She sighed. “You want a ride home, Kevin?”
“I don’t want you to have to go out of your way. I know you have to pick up your kids. The bus is cool.”
“All right. See you tomorrow.” She waved and walked away.
Kevin realized with a little disappointment he hadn’t heard from Michael during the day. Last night during the brief call, Michael had told him he expected to get away a bit earlier and would probably call Kevin at work. It never happened. He was beginning to feel like maybe he was getting the brush-off after all.
It was already well after six o’clock and getting pretty dark, so he figured he’d better hurry home. Before he could make his way out to the street to head for the bus, Mr. Lewis’s car pulled up next to him. The window lowered.
“Flaherty, get in.”
“Um, that’s okay, Mr. Lewis, I don’t mind taking the bus.”
“I want to talk about my offer.” The old man licked his lips.
“You mean to sell the place?”
His boss grinned. “No, Flaherty. The one we spoke about the other day.”
Oh, God
. His heart plummeted. He could tell by the heat in his face he was blushing, too.
Mr. Lewis laughed. “Are you shy? Actually, I think I might have an even better offer for you.”
“What?” Was that squeak of a voice really his?
“Get in.”
Kevin’s phone sprung to life in his pocket. Casting a wary glance at Mr. Lewis, he backed up a step and answered, “Hhello?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Michael.” A giddy sense of relief washed through him.
“Kevin, what the hell is going on? You sound seriously freaked.”
“I’m just standing here, chatting with
Mr. Lewis
,” Kevin said, his heart pounding hard.
“Fucking prick. I’m two blocks from the car wash. I was coming to pick you up.”
“Good. Hold on.” Kevin pulled the phone away to talk to his boss. “My ride’s just about here, Mr. Lewis. Thanks anyway.”
Mr. Lewis made a sort of growling noise and then the car window slid up.
Kevin tried to smile, then went back to the phone. He swallowed. “Thanks.”
“Is he still there?”
“Yeah, but I think he’s getting ready to drive away.”
Mr. Lewis revved the engine for a few seconds, as though in defiance, but then he pulled away and headed for the driveway leaving the car wash.
“Okay, he’s gone.”
“All right, stand by a streetlight or something. I should be there in just a few minutes. Bye.”
And just like that Michael disconnected again. Kevin decided he really needed to talk about Michael’s abruptness on the phone, too. Obviously the man wanted to be the boss of the world or something, but Kevin was used to being his own boss and it was starting to rankle.
Still he found himself standing near a streetlight while he waited. A few minutes later, he watched Michael’s Maserati approach. It was kind of hard to miss that car.
Kevin got in and had barely fastened his seat belt before Michael pulled away.
“I’m guessing you’ll want to stop at your apartment for some of your things,” Michael said.
“Excuse me?”
“I just figured you’d be staying over.”
“Oh, you just figured that, did you?” Kevin tapped his fingers against the dashboard, trying to remain cool.
“What’s up? You don’t look so good. Had a bad day? I mean other than Lewis.”
He sighed. “Yeah. I didn’t hear from you all day even though you said you’d call.”
“I got busy.”
“Apparently. This may come as a surprise to you, Michael, but I’m sort of high maintenance.”
Michael smiled. “I know.”
“I also like to be the center of the universe or at least for whomever I’m dating. That doesn’t seem to be the case with you.” Kevin tapped his fingers. “I hate to be an afterthought.”
“You are no afterthought.” Michael’s hand cupped his knee, sending a jolt of lust spiraling through him.
Kevin grimaced. “Whatever. And then Mr. Lewis announced today he was selling the car wash.”
“Oh?” His fingers caressed Kevin’s thigh.
“Nobody knows if the new guy will keep it running or keep us or anything.” He bit his lip. “I hate to be out of a job again.”
“I want to talk to you about that anyway, Kevin.” He squeezed his thigh and then let go. “Let’s wait until I’m not driving to talk fully, but basically I’d rather you weren’t working there anyway.”
Kevin opened his mouth to reply, but found no sound coming out. He clenched his jaw and looked out the window.
“Kevin?”
“Let’s wait to talk like you said.”
When Michael pulled in front of Kevin’s apartment without even turning off the engine, Kevin got out and got even more pissed.
“You know what? I think I’m too tired for this,” he said, leaning into the car.
“Too tired for what?”
“This.” Kevin waved at Michael. “I don’t do this, Michael.”
“Do what?” Michael frowned in confusion.
“Come running with someone parked at the curb waiting for me. Nor will I answer to honks and I don’t appreciate being strong-armed. You want to have a conversation with me? Park your fucking car and come up to my apartment. Otherwise, good night.” He straightened from the car and headed up the stairs, not bothering to see what Michael’s reaction was. He was fairly sure Michael would follow him given the way the man had been touching him in the car. Or at least he
hoped
so.
When he got into his apartment, Kevin kicked off his shoes, then headed straight for the bathroom and extracted a foil wrapper and bottle of lube from under the sink and brought it out the dining room, leaving it on the table. He knew they needed to talk, but right now all he could think of, suddenly, was having Michael fuck him. It
had
been a few days after all.
A very short time later, there was a loud rap on his apartment door.
“Open the damn door.”
For just the slightest second, Kevin hesitated. He wanted to open the door and wanted to jump Michael, but he knew he’d probably irritated the man, too. If he hesitated too long, he’d probably anger him more.
He opened the door just a crack and was only mildly surprised when Michael pushed it open hard.
“What the fuck?” Michael growled, slamming the door shut with the palm of his hand.
Kevin threw himself at the other man, pushing Michael against the door and searing their lips together. His fingers grasped the tail of Michael’s pale blue tie, tugging him even closer. Their teeth clacked together, their mouths mashed roughly.
Michael’s fingers threaded through Kevin’s hair, tugging hard on the ends. He broke their bruising kiss long enough to ask, “Where’s your bedroom?”
“Forget that. On the table,” Kevin said. Without waiting for a response, he took the few steps over to the table and sat on it, his leg dangling off. He unfastened his jeans and pushed them down his hips and thighs.
Michael’s gaze took in the condom wrapper and lube. He yanked Kevin’s pants off. “Is this table sturdy enough?”
“Yes. Who cares? Just fuck me.”
Michael reached up to remove his tie.
“No,” Kevin said quickly. “Leave your clothes on. Just take out the necessary equipment.” He grinned.
Michael’s eyebrow shot up. “This is an expensive suit.”
“You can afford the cleaning bill.”
The man grimaced and for a moment Kevin thought he wasn’t going to do it, but then, Michael unzipped his black dress pants and pulled out his erect cock and balls. “Happy?”
“Not until that’s inside me. Hurry.”
Michael tore open the foil wrapper and rolled the rubber over his dick. “Hand me the lube.”
Kevin scooped up the bottle and handed it over. He scooted toward the edge until his ass barely rested on the table. He lay flat on his back, spread his legs wide, and raised his ass for the ease of his lover.
Michael slipped an oiled finger into Kevin, and Kevin closed his eyes, clenching around it. Another joined the first, spreading, probing.
“Ah, God, please.”
“Please what, baby?”
Kevin bit his lip. His mind drifted off to a time when at fifteen he’d attacked twenty-one year old Michael, kissing him, pleading with him, begging him. And Michael pushing him away. He’d vowed then he would never beg anyone again, let alone Michael Bennett.
“Kevin?”
“I—”
“Come on, baby, tell me what you want,” Michael urged.
“Michael, please, fuck me.”
With a low, deep moan, his lover pushed into him. He stopped, for just a second, at the slight resistance from Kevin’s body. Kevin grabbed the edge of the table, lifting himself up, trying to urge Michael deeper. A whimper tore from his lips.
“Shhh,” Michael said, soothingly. He thrust in deeper, all the way to the hilt. He stilled again, this time his arms linking under Kevin’s legs, drawing him closer, pulling their bodies flush so they melded as one.
It was almost too much, too intense. His lover stroked that particular spot over and over. Kevin heard a sort of keening cry and knew it came from him.
“That’s it, baby, give it to me. Everything.” Michael’s thrusts sped up, pushing impossibly deeper. “God, you are so fucking tight.”
Kevin reached for his cock, stroking up and down the length, his balls drew up, and release tingled deep within him. Michael angled up just slightly, hitting his prostate once more. It was enough to send him over the edge. He came, screaming his lover’s name.
Michael pumped a few more times before tensing and roaring his own release. After a moment, he withdrew and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on Kevin’s lips.
He felt like he was made of gelatin. “I don’t think I can move.”
“I’ll be right back.” Michael disappeared and Kevin had no idea where he went. A minute or so later he returned with a wet, warm cloth to wipe Kevin clean. Then he helped him sit up and handed him his jeans. Kevin jumped down from the table and pulled on the pants.
“Are you hungry?” Michael asked, pulling him into his arms. He rested his chin on the top of Kevin’s head.
“Yeah.”
“All right. Let’s make something to eat and then we’ll have that talk.”
Kevin swallowed, feeling unexpectedly nervous. He nodded, but didn’t move out of Michael’s arms yet.
“You okay, babe?”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s make dinner.” Kevin pulled away and gave him a smile.

Michael watched Kevin dig into his kitchen cabinets looking for pots and pans to use for cooking. He’d told Michael he didn’t really need his help.

“Hey, do you mind if I make a quick call?”
Kevin shrugged.
He decided that was all the answer he would get. Kevin

still seemed pretty agitated and touchy. He glanced toward the balcony and went outside. He wanted to check on his car anyway. This wasn’t a bad neighborhood, but a car like his might draw too much attention. He punched the speed dial for his brother.

“It’s about time you called me back,” Danny said by way of greeting.
“Yeah, sorry. Things have been crazy. Client’s wife is trying to claim he abused her to get extra money out of the settlement.” He paused and leaned over the rail. “And other things have been occupying me, too.”
“Other things? Are you still seeing Kevin Flaherty?”
“Uh-huh. I’m with him now. Well, he’s inside making dinner.”
“Making dinner?” Danny’s voice sounded incredulous. “Are you setting up house or something?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“What are you a parrot?” Michael didn’t see anyone around his car. He sighed. “I like him.”
“You like him like him?” Danny asked, his voice distinctly amused.
He gritted his teeth. “Yes.”
“Wow, who knew? I never thought, after the way things ended, you and Kevin would ever end up together.”
“Well, we haven’t
ended up
together yet,” Michael admitted. “I’m sort of still working on that.”
“You mean you haven’t slept with him?”
Michael snorted. “Of course I have. I meant we’re not living together yet.”
There was a long pause on the other end and he almost thought they’d been disconnected.
“So,” Danny finally said, “you’re actually considering that?”
“I told you, I like him.”
“Yeah, but you
really
like him. After what happened with you and Felix I never thought you’d get serious again.”
“Believe me Kevin and Felix have nothing in common other than both being gay.”
“You’re moving pretty fast though.”
He shrugged. “It’s not like we were strangers. I always liked Kevin.”
“And he sure as hell liked you. So, then, what’s the problem? How come you haven’t brought him to the folks to re-introduce him to the fold and all that?”
Michael glanced toward the apartment. “He’s sort of prickly.”
Danny laughed. “He always was.”
He smiled. “Yeah, but I think it’s gotten worse. He’s something of a drama queen. Not all the time. Just sort of comes and goes. Right now it’s definitely the vibes he’s giving out. In fact, I’m probably pissing him off right now being on the phone too long.”
“All right. I’ll let you go, but call me tomorrow and let me know if I need to buy you two a house warming gift.”
“Bye, Danny,” Michael said pointedly and hit the End Call button.