Červenà

Chapter
Eight


I SAW Sasha as often as I could away from the club during that first week. Nothing happened between us other than a few kisses. I refused to allow them to become something more while my head was often elsewhere. I didn’t want to be halfhearted in what I gave him, but until everything with the club was dealt with, I couldn’t mentally put it aside.

Sasha had taken me to a little Polish restaurant he’d been to with Tomáš that day they went shopping when Sasha had first arrived. The food was tasty and cheap, and the couple who owned it, who’d moved from Kraków five years earlier, couldn’t do enough for us. Sasha spoke to them in their own language and they gave us free drinks to go with our meal. I enjoyed seeing Sasha taking the lead, even in something as simple as ordering food in a restaurant.

Karel signed the contract of sale I’d had drawn up without further argument. His expression indicated he very much regretted what had happened, but he said nothing except to ask, more than once, when the money would arrive in his bank account. He seemed desperate, and I imagined he was still gambling and trying fruitlessly to win back what he’d lost. Whatever he did no longer interested me. He could have quite easily destroyed Červenà, and I had little sympathy for him.

I had “The Full Monty” advertisement removed from the website, and despite a few quiet nights in the club, and some complaints when the dancers refused to remove their jocks and fended off groping hands, things continued to go well. Fran called to let me know he and Andĕl appreciated the offer of their old jobs, but they liked their new place and wanted to stay. So I hired two new dancers who debuted on Saturday night, and both immediately proved popular.

Milos was one of the whores Karel had taken on. I’d spoken to the remaining two with the intention of firing them, but Milos had begged for some other kind of employment if it was available. He’d been working from a filthy room in a derelict building before Karel hired him. I was skeptical at first, but he was beautiful, with hair the color of straw and bright blue eyes. At nineteen, he was the eldest of the three prostitutes, and his lithe body was made for dancing, but he was too used to exposing all of it. Much to my amusement, he’d pulled out his large uncut dick in my office in his efforts to sell his assets in some other capacity. He’d been delighted to try out as a dancer and move into one of the vacant studios. He immediately proved as popular as Sasha, although in the beginning the other dancers had to keep an eye on him and remind him not to haul out his junk on the podium. It was a close thing on a couple of occasions.

The third of the prostitutes, an eighteen-year-old, hadn’t wanted to dance but had gratefully accepted the money I offered him, as Rosta had. I didn’t know what became of him, but I’d done the best I could for him by offering him an alternative job.

Kris quickly proved himself as bar manager, and Sasha worked hard to learn all the cocktail recipes, and master the art of mixing them with the flair of Tom Cruise in the movie, Cocktail. Once or twice in the early stages, he made Kris gasp and splutter when he’d doubled up on the shots in a couple of the recipes, and the bar staff joked that if anyone wanted to drown their sorrows they’d better ask Sasha to serve them. Sasha quickly perfected the mixing and became almost as popular a bartender as he’d been a dancer.

The balance of the bank account I kept for the condos became seriously depleted, but with money rolling in every night at Červenà, I wasn’t too concerned. It would quickly grow again.

Finally, on Sunday, I was able to give more of my attention to Sasha. He’d been quiet during the few hours we’d spent together that week following the lunch in the Polish restaurant, and I worried I’d withdrawn from him too much, or that he’d changed his mind. My previous relationship failures were at the forefront of my mind when I invited him to have lunch with me at the Italian restaurant where we’d gone for our first date. I became convinced if I spoke to him about it, he’d admit it was no longer what he wanted.

“It’s snowing again,” I stated needlessly. As we sat at the same table we’d occupied before, the large flakes outside the window just feet in front of us were impossible to miss.

“Yes.” Sasha gave me a brief smile and speared a stuffed olive with his fork. We’d barely spoken as we waited for our antipasti to arrive.

“Sasha….” I placed my hand on his arm, and he returned his fork to his plate. He met my eyes and waited. “I’m sorry I’ve been distant this week.”

“It’s all right. You’ve had a lot to do, to get things back to normal with the club. You told me you needed to put it first.”

“But I feel as if I’ve pushed you away. This is so new. Our first date here was wonderful, but it was a long time ago. I really enjoyed the meal in the restaurant you took me to, but I didn’t give you my full attention, even then. If things have changed for you, I’ll understand.” I hated how defeatist I sounded, but I couldn’t help it. I withdrew my hand and rested it on the table beside my plate.

“Joel, nothing has changed.” He turned sideways on his chair to face me and his knees bumped my thigh. “I hoped things would get better after you put things right with your business.”

“It wasn’t fair of me to keep you waiting and not tell you what was in my head. I want you, Sasha. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. I’ll have more time for us to spend together from now on.”

Sasha’s eyes lit up as he smiled at me and he spoke in little more than a whisper. “I want you too.”

I glanced around us, noting only two tables close to us were occupied. Four young women surrounded one, and two guys held hands across the other. I twisted in my seat, lifted my hand to cup Sasha’s cheek, and guided him into a kiss. I caressed his parted lips with mine and slipped my tongue into his mouth, just enough to taste the red wine he’d sipped moments earlier. He whimpered softly as we kissed, and I slid my hand from his cheek to the back of his head, gently massaging his scalp through his silky hair. My cock swelled and pushed against the fly of my suit pants. I drew away reluctantly and turned my attention back to my meal. I longed to touch him, and the memory of that one brief episode in the club’s kitchen taunted me, keeping me hard as I plowed through two courses of food and a little too much wine.

“Would you like to order dessert?” The waiter had cleared our plates from the table and returned to take another order. “Or coffee?”

“No, thank you. Bring the bill, please.” I pulled out my wallet in readiness to pay for the meal. “We can have coffee at the club,” I added when Sasha appeared surprised. “Or at my place perhaps?”

He smiled and glanced up at me coyly through lowered lashes. “I haven’t seen your place yet.”

“Damn it, you look sexy when you do that,” I muttered. I’d been half-erect throughout lunch and hadn’t been able to get the thought of touching him out of my mind. I looked down, casting my eyes over the gray and white striped shirt he wore, to the waistband of his smart black pants. The bulge of his arousal made my erection swell a little more. I yearned to undress him and explore him, but more than that, I wanted to hold him in my arms, cuddle him and kiss him, let him know how much I’d grown to care for him, despite the length of time we’d been apart.

When the waiter returned, I handed over some cash, including a generous tip, then led Sasha from the restaurant. Neither of us spoke, but it was apparent he was as eager as I was to be alone. We took a taxi to the condos and traveled up to the top floor in the elevator, Sasha’s hand gripped tightly in mine. I fumbled with my keys, almost dropping them as I struggled to unlock the door. I could think of nothing but pulling him into my arms. I ached to feel his body against mine, our lips pressing together, his hands clutching at me.

“Sasha.” I groaned his name as I finally closed the door behind us and slid my arms around him. Covering his mouth with mine, I thrust my tongue in when he parted his lips in response. I held him close but he pulled against my hold and shrugged out of his jacket, allowing it to fall to the floor. Our lips clung as we struggled to remove my overcoat and suit jacket. With fewer layers hampering us, I held him close again and slowed things down. My cock throbbed in my pants, but I ignored it, concentrating instead on the warmth in Sasha’s eyes and the way he folded his arms around my neck, holding on tight. I planted a gentle kiss on the tip of his nose before returning to his lips for a more leisurely caress. Sasha followed my lead, responding gently to my nibbling at his mouth, the teasing flicks of my tongue, and my hands stroking his back. I’d been in so much of a rush at first, desperate to sate my excitement, but now I was able to savor every kiss and touch.

Eventually we drew apart, gazing into each other’s eyes as we fumbled with one another’s shirt buttons. Sasha’s hands shook, as did mine, and we laughed together as we finally shed the garments and tossed them aside. At last I slid my palms over Sasha’s smooth skin as I enfolded him in my arms again. I brought my mouth to his for another, deeper kiss, then pressed my lips to his neck beneath his ear, seeking the spot that made him shiver. Sucking gently, I allowed my teeth to scrape his skin until he moaned and squirmed against me. He moved his hips, and his erection bumped mine through our pants. I stroked down his back to his buttocks and squeezed firmly, encouraging him to grind against me.

Sasha slipped one hand between us and explored my chest, scratching his nails through my chest hair. I groaned as he reached one of my nipples and pinched it into hardness. Kissing my way down his neck to his shoulder, I chuckled when I noticed I’d left a bruise on his pale skin.

“What’s funny?”

“I marked you. Sorry.” I took my hands off his ass and worked them between us.

“I don’t mind.” He continued to caress my chest and pluck at my nipples.

I flipped open the button at the top of his fly. “May I?” I’d touched him before, that one time, but after what had happened to him in my absence, I hesitated to take the next step.

“God, yes.” The huskiness of his voice encouraged me, and I unzipped him, before pushing his pants down over his hips. Cupping his erection through his briefs, I rubbed my thumb over the head. The damp fabric clung to him, and he moaned as I touched him. Abandoning my chest, he lowered his hands to my belt buckle. He brushed my restrained erection repeatedly as he unzipped my fly, and my cock leaked into my underwear. After sliding his hand into my boxer briefs, he curled his fingers around my shaft, making me moan and shiver. It was the first time Sasha had touched me, and I knew I’d come shamefully fast. I hooked my thumbs into his underwear and pulled them down to midthigh. His erection, rigid and slightly curved, slapped against his belly and smeared precome into his narrow treasure trail. I slipped one hand between his legs, cupped his balls, and gave them a gentle tug. He gasped, and rather than push into my touch, he stepped away and dropped to his knees.

“Sasha….” I placed a hand on his head and made him look up. “You need to know… you have nothing to worry about. I haven’t been with anyone in a long time, and I’ve been tested twice since then.”

Sasha reddened. “I didn’t think. I just… I….”

“Don’t worry.” I stroked his cheek.

“You don’t have to worry about me either. I’ve never done this.”

“I know.” I withdrew my hand, wondering if I’d spoiled the mood, but the conversation had been necessary. He needed to know I’d make sure he was safe.

My thoughts returned to my arousal as Sasha tugged down my boxer briefs and nuzzled my groin, letting my cock slide along the side of his face. Relieved to feel the door behind my shoulders, I allowed my weight to rest on it and shuffled my feet as far apart as the pants bunched around my knees would allow. Sasha blew gently on my balls, a warm brush of air, before he followed it with a swipe of his tongue. My knees trembled, and I laid a hand on his shoulder to support myself. He lifted his head and placed a kiss on the leaking tip of my cock, then rested his palms on my thighs.

“I don’t really know what I’m doing.” His tone was apologetic.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to.” He peeked up through his lashes and smiled. “I’m just warning you, I probably won’t be very good.”

“Sasha, anything you do will be good. You’ve no idea how much you turn me on. But don’t do things to please me if it’s not what you want.”

“I’m not.” He grasped my cock in one hand and guided it between his lips. I expected him to be tentative in his explorations, but he sucked half of my length into his mouth and promptly gagged. He released me, flushing, and muttered what I’d guessed previously was a Russian curse.

“Take your time.” I combed my fingers through his hair and massaged the back of his neck.

“Uh huh.” He didn’t take me in his mouth again immediately, but instead licked and nibbled his way up and down my shaft while he stroked the base in a firm grip and caressed my balls in his other hand. When he reached my partly exposed head, he swirled his tongue around the tip, teasing my foreskin back until it uncovered the crown. Flattening his tongue, he applied pressure to the thick vein in the underside of my cock, then returned to the tip and licked at my slit until it gave up another bead of precome for him to taste.

“Fuck!” I clenched my fist around a handful of his hair and had to force myself to relax my grip when he winced. I returned my hand to his shoulder and held on as he carefully took the head of my cock into his mouth again, sucked firmly, and let it slip free. Again he licked and teased, then took more of me in—two inches, then three. He hollowed his cheeks as he sucked and continued to work me with both hands. I’d had a number of experienced lovers in my time, but it didn’t seem to matter if Sasha was tentative or clumsy, as he learned what made me squirm and groan. I was falling for him, and having the one who’d become so important to me in such a short space of time want to please me like this, made it all the more exciting.

My balls drew up and my cock swelled, much too soon. I didn’t want it to be over, but it had been a long time for me and there was no way I could hold on. The sensations of his hands and mouth were too much.

“Sasha.” I squeezed his shoulder. “Stop, baby. I’m gonna come.”

He didn’t stop, and when I looked down at his red lips stretched around me and his hand pumping the lower half of my shaft, I came in long pulses. My cock jerked on his tongue, and he gulped around me, allowing only one small droplet of my fluid to escape from the corner of his mouth. He released me and wiped his chin with one finger, then sat back on his heels. His erection jutted from between his thighs and a bead of precome rolled from his slit, making my mouth water.

“Get up.” I reached for his hand, not sure I had the strength to pull him up. He rose and pressed close, his erection pushing against my stomach.

“Was it okay?”

“It was more than okay. I can usually last longer than that.” Still breathless, I kissed his cheek. “But now it’s my turn. Will you come to bed with me?”

“You want to fuck me?”

“I do, but not yet.” The way I felt, shaky and weak, I doubted I’d be able to get it up again for a while. But even if I hadn’t just come, I didn’t intend for us to have penetrative sex yet. I wasn’t even sure I had condoms. It had been so long that if there were any left in my bathroom, they were probably out of date. Even though neither of us had anything to worry about, I wouldn’t do it without them.

“Okay.” He took a step away from me and toed off his shoes so he could remove the trousers and underwear that hampered his movements. I did the same, and we both took off our socks last. Then I stood naked with him for the first time. His gaze drifted down my body and back up to my face. I doubted he’d be as impressed by what he saw as I was when I looked at him. Every inch of him was beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to lavish my attention on him. I took his hand and led him into the bedroom.

I didn’t bother to close the drapes. The building was one of the tallest in the city and there were no others close enough for the occupants to see into the penthouse, unless they had powerful binoculars. I sat on the edge of the bed and drew Sasha onto my lap. He straddled me and his erection bumped against my stomach while his balls rested lightly on my softened cock. I’d been wrong about not being able to get it up again for a while. My dick stirred and slowly filled as Sasha brought our lips together in another heated kiss. He gyrated on my thighs, rubbing himself against my belly in an effort to gain some friction. I tucked my hands under his ass, squeezed the firm globes, and stroked the tips of my fingers along his crack. He broke the kiss and tucked his face into my neck with a groan.

“Is this okay?” I lowered myself back onto the bed, bringing him with me so that most of his weight rested on my torso.

“Yes.” He shuffled with me into the middle of the bed, his legs still spread wide and his knees resting either side of my hips. I groped for the lube I kept in the top drawer of the bedside cabinet. I couldn’t quite reach, and I was forced to roll Sasha off me so I could get to it. When I turned back to him, he had stretched out on his side.

“Lie on your back.”

He turned over and lay with one knee drawn up, thighs slightly parted. His cock rested on his stomach, rigid and leaking, his foreskin fully rolled back. I moved over him and nudged his leg with my knee, encouraging him to spread himself open. He closed his eyes and rested an arm across his face. His chest heaved as he breathed, and he curled his free hand into a fist on the bed. Following his eager attempts to please me, now he seemed unsure and embarrassed, although his erection hadn’t softened. I touched his raised knee, then trailed my fingers lightly along his thigh to his hip.

“I won’t hurt you,” I murmured.

“I know.”

It felt good that he trusted me, despite my having disappeared for two months, leaving him at the mercy of Karel’s decisions. I stroked from his hip bone to his groin, then along the inside of his thigh to his knee. His flesh quivered beneath my touch, and he sank his teeth into his lower lip.

“You’re beautiful. I’ve wanted to touch you since that first night you showed up at the club and I asked you to get on the dance floor. You’re so hot when you dance.”

Sasha released his lip from between his teeth and removed his arm from across his eyes. “But you didn’t want me to dance anymore.”

“I didn’t want anyone else to look at you or try to touch you.” I met his eyes and smiled. “If you ever wanted to dance just for me, I wouldn’t complain.”

“I’ll remember that.” His lips curved up at the corners and he relaxed, allowing his bent knee to fall outward until it rested on the mattress and exposed the area behind his balls that had been hidden in shadow. My cock throbbed as I thought of him giving me a private dance, right here in my apartment. Ignoring it, I returned to the task in hand—pleasuring Sasha.

I began by exploring his body with gentle touches, but despite his squirming under my hands and the little moans and whimpers that burst from his lips, I didn’t touch his cock or his balls until he finally spoke.

“Please, Joel.”

“Tell me what you want.”

“Touch me. My dick… my balls… inside….” He groaned deeply as I brushed my fingers over his sac. The soft wrinkled skin became taut as his balls pulled up against his body. A small puddle of precome formed close to his navel and a sticky string trailed from the tip of his cock.

“You’re close.” Cupping his balls, I tugged firmly and his breath hitched. “Breathe. Slow and deep.”

He struggled to comply, and after a few breaths, his orgasm receded a little. He was still close, but I probably had a few more minutes. I reached for the lube, uncapped it, and squeezed some onto my fingers. Sasha watched, eyes half-closed and lips parted as he continued to take long, steady breaths.

I reached down and traced the ridge of his perineum back to his tight puckered hole, then circled it slowly. “Has anyone done this to you before?”

“No. I’ve done it myself a few times.”

I continued my slow circling, then ran my index finger back and forth over his anus, applying gentle pressure. He twitched under my touch, and his cock jerked against his belly. He made no move to touch it, even though I hadn’t asked him not to. When I pressed harder against him, my finger slid into his tight heat, up to the first knuckle. Sasha moaned and arched his back. I withdrew a little, then pushed in deeper, sliding past the ring of muscle. Completely relaxed, he didn’t show any sign of discomfort, but he was so tight. My dick leaked as I thought of filling him with it and feeling his body gripping me.

I added more lube and gradually worked a second finger into his body. He groaned and drew his brows together in a frown as his breathing quickened. I paused and let him grow accustomed to the invasion before I moved again. Eventually he relaxed, and I pressed deeper, searching for the small bump of his prostate. When I found it, he arched his body up again and cried out. “Joel! So close. Fuck. I need to….” He reached for his cock, but I pushed his hand away.

“Let me.” Bending over him, I wrapped my free hand around his shaft and guided the tip into my mouth. The bitter taste of precome exploded on my tongue, and I licked at his slit, urging more to ooze from it. When I took him deeper into my throat, I began to thrust with my fingers, carefully but firmly, bumping his prostate with each upward curl. He stretched his arms above his head and clutched at the decorative metal headboard, the small muscles in his arms bulging. His mouth opened as he panted for breath, and he closed his eyes, long lashes fluttering. I moved my hands and mouth in time with each other, and Sasha pulled his knees up again, feet flat on the mattress to give him leverage as he bucked his hips. I quickened my pace to encourage him, but it was already over. Thick spurts of fluid filled my mouth and I swallowed, then continued to suck out the last drops until he lowered his hands to my head and pushed at me.

“Please… stop. Oh fuck!”

I released him and withdrew my fingers, and he lowered his hands and his legs back onto the bed. His slender frame appeared boneless, limbs splayed out, chest heaving. Sweat glistened on his forehead and upper lip, and the flush of color gradually receded from his face and chest. I wiped the lube off my hand and lay down at his side. When I draped my arm across his waist, he turned toward me and nestled against my chest.

“So good.”

“I love touching you.” I kissed the top of his head and held him closer.

“Me too. But next time, I want you to fuck me.”