I took longer than I had to working it in. Whatever Joe claimed, I knew the heady novelty of playing top for once would preclude a long engagement. But if Sean were as primed as I intended him to be, brevity wouldn't matter.
I reached deeper, two fingers, then three, searching out his secret joy spot. The dark smooth passage clamped tight as I hit the walnut-sized swelling. Sean's moan sounded as if it were yanked from his throat. Gently, I massaged the hidden gland, awed by the power of this masculine mystery.
'Careful,’ Sean said, even as his body curved to intensify the pressure I was exerting. 'Don't make me come.'
I reckoned he was primed enough then. I slid my fingers free with a tiny squelching noise. Both men quivered at the sound. I dropped a kiss on to Joe's shoulder and returned to my seat.
By that time, Sean required little coaxing to accept his burden. Joe nudged him once with the head of his cock, released a soft, wondering sigh, and pressed sleekly inside.
They kissed again when he hilted, open-mouthed and greedy. I felt that old sense of invading their privacy, though I knew they wanted me there. My discomfort was not strong enough to make me leave, however. I loved watching the rhythm of their thrusts. It was subtly different from a man and a woman's - because they were equals in strength, because different places wanted rubbing, and because they were hard and hard rather than hard and soft.
After a certain point, Sean lost control of his reactions. His eyes slid shut, his hands opened and closed on Joe's back, and his head lolled against the freezer door. He looked utterly debauched, flushed from head to toe and ravished with pleasure.
'Deep,’ he said. The word came out slow as treacle. 'Fuck me a-all the way in.'
Joe shifted his feet, adjusted Sean's fit, and shafted him deeper. Even through his trousers, I saw his buttocks hollow with every stroke.
'How much longer?' he asked, his breath huffing between the words.
'Little longer,’ Sean said in that same dreamy voice. 'Ah, Joey, that's good. You're so long. You're killing me.'
Joe laughed. 'Please die soon.' Though his face was red with effort, his eyes shone with affection.
'I'll come the minute you do,’ Sean promised. His head dropped back, exposing his throat. 'I'm floating ... right on the edge.'
Joe took him at his word and increased the pace. He mouthed Sean's strong white neck and clutched his buttocks until at last they both cried out, a harsh, primitive sound, victory and surrender mixed as one.
A shadow of their pleasure jolted through my sex -sweet but melancholy. What they shared between them, I could never know.
I looked at the array of copper pots on the exposed brick wall, at the bundle of thyme that hung from the beam above my head. When I looked back, Sean had both feet on the floor and was stroking Joe's head the way a man might stroke a fierce, beloved dog. Joe bent his neck to accept the caress, still mastered despite his recent adventure.
'Better now?' Sean asked, his palm smoothing Joe's glossy blue-black hair. 'Not so shaky?'
'Yes.' Joe clasped Sean's naked waist, leaning into him. 'Much better.'
Sean looked past his shoulder to wink at me. 'You better go see to your sweetie, then. She'll think you forgot all about her.'
Joe's head turned. Concern creased his sweaty brow.
'Later,’ I said, reassuring him with a smile. I didn't want to take away from their moment, their memory.
Joe's furrows deepened. 'Are you sure?'
'You know what the cooks say, Joe. Hunger is the best sauce.'
Normally, I let Keith rule the roost on Fridays, but I knew I'd chew my nails if I stayed home. I decided to put in a half-day at Mostly Romance. Our new manager seemed disappointed to see me - until I handed him the company credit card and ordered him to Strawbridge & Clothier to buy holiday decorations for the shop.
With both hands, Keith held out the shiny American Express card, goggling as though it really were gold.
Then he dashed off before I could change my mind - or send him to Woolworth's instead.
Once he'd left, I parked myself behind our second cash register and prepared to schmooze customers. A few of my old faithfuls popped in to chat and before I knew it, an hour had passed without my dwelling on Joe more than a few hundred times.
Around ten, the man himself blew in on a gust of panic. He headed straight for me. 'Kate,' he said in a confiding, breathless tone. 'Do you know where I left my lucky eye-patch?'
I handed my customer her books and hoped she wasn't listening too closely. 'I wasn't aware you had an unlucky eye-patch.'
He jittered with impatience. "The one I brought home the day I got the part is the lucky one.'
Of course it was. I thought for a moment. 'You checked the gym?'
'I turned it upside down.' 'What about the laundry room?' He squinted in confusion. 'Remember last Tuesday?' I prompted. His expression cleared. 'Oh, yeah. That was fun. Thanks, Kate. I'll run home and check.'