When The Right One Comes Along - Ch. 5 (Spark & Stone Side Story, Patreon Exclusive)

Ch.1 

Ch. 2 

Ch. 3 

Ch. 4 

Chapter Five – Pas De Deux

That was a bit unusual. Jess was surprisingly obedient as Michael told him what the wet t-shirt contest entailed. He was asking perfunctory questions, and he didn’t even make one joke with sexual innuendo, although they were alone in Michael’s office.

The situation was unnerving, to say the least.

“And that is pretty much all,” Michael concluded. “There will be a bit of rehearsal, as I always need some great looking pictures for the posters. Otherwise, you’re free to go.”

He said the last words in a soft voice. What was wrong with him? After all, he had been the one to insist - in his own head - that whatever was going on between them could not qualify as a relationship. They had hooked up a few times, but that had been all.

And it was all in the past now. Michael could not help feeling regretful. But what could he do? After all, he couldn’t propose Jess to become boyfriend and boyfriend. The guy had offered it, and Michael had scoffed at it. End of story.

It wasn’t like him to be lustful. He wanted to think that he had a healthy appetite, just like the next guy. Yet, with Jess in the same room, he felt like he needed to set the air conditioning unit on January-cool, or something like that. 

It took him a couple of seconds to realize that Jess wasn’t moving. Michael shook his head to get rid of his mangled thoughts. “Is it anything else you’d like to add?”

Jess pursed his lips. “Is there a possibility not to be on the posters?”

Michael frowned. “Again with that. You’re sexy as hell. How can’t I capitalize on that?”

“If I were your boyfriend, would you be okay with people staring at me like that?”

Talking about shrewd. The thought had crossed his mind, tiny little flakes of jealousy when hearing people commenting about Jess’s shapely ass, or his moves. How would he move in bed? He’s bendy, that’s for sure.

Michael sighed. “I don’t like talking about hypothetical things. But, it’s the twenty-first century and being jealous of my boyfriend showing the goods since that’s his job would be the sign of a rotten mentality, don’t you think?”

Jess cast his eyes down and continued to stare at the floor stubbornly for long seconds until Michael couldn’t bear the silence anymore.

“Look, Jess, unless you give me a good reason not to put you out there and invite the world to see how amazingly sexy and what a great dancer you are, you will follow my lead on it. It’s my business, and I don’t like joking about it.”

“How about this reason?” 

Michael didn’t have time to protest or do anything for that matter, as Jess reached for him over the desk and kissed him. Despite his determination to be a decent human being and stop giving in to temptation, he sighed into the kiss and let it happen.

It felt too good. Of course, that was no reason to allow it, but Michael had felt a little strained lately. He needed this. Jess was willingly offering it, so who was he to say no, after all?

Jess let him go, but only a little. “I’ll do anything so that you don’t put me on the front line.”

“Then it’s simple,” Michael replied, trying to ignore how handsome Jess looked from up close. “Tell me what you’re running from. It can’t be that bad.”

The expression on Jess’s face turned sour. 

“Oh, so it’s that bad. Should I really worry? I’m not joking this time,” Michael said.

Jess let him go and began pacing the room. “It’s complicated.”

“Try me.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because it would ruin any chance I might have with you,” Jess said and began marching toward the door.

Michael rolled his eyes but moved quickly and caught him right before Jess managed to run away. “I’m sorry, but you need to be specific. What chance are you talking about?”

“You know, to be with you,” Jess said with a shrug, his back turned at Michael.

He pretended not to be bothered by being caught between Michael and the door like that. There was a small tremble Michael could sense, but he suspected that was just a well-played act on Jess’s part. “Why would you want to be with me?”

“Is that a trick question?”

“It’s not supposed to be. Just answer, Jess,” Michael said. “We barely know each other. Yes, we hooked up a few times, but that was all.”

“And if I want to know you better?”

“I’m not sure how that would help us. We’re too different.”

“We both like chocolate ice cream,” Jess pointed out, and there was not an ounce of humor in his voice.

Michael laughed it off, of course. “That’s hardly a reason to have a relationship with someone. Plus, I’m not crazy to share things I like. It’s better if my partner completes me, not struggles to get to sleep on the same side of the bed as me.”

Jess half-turned his head. “Really?” He was glaring. “I remember you were crowding me when we slept together.”

“Of course. You were on my side.”

Jess smiled, showing off his dimples again. From where he stood, Michael could only see one and had a crazy idea, fast like a flash of lightning, how it would feel to stick out his tongue and poke Jess’s cheek with it. Would he laugh? Or get pissed? The bets were on the first.

“We both like dancing.”

“You’re a professional. I’m not.”

“I’d like to dance with you sometime.”

Michael knew, deep down inside, that chatting like this held its fair share of dangers. He had been determined for days not to give in to temptation again, and Jess had even made it easy for him, by not pestering him or offering any sexual favors, not even as a joke.

“I tend to believe I’d disappoint you.”

“I would lead,” Jess said promptly. “It might feel good for a change, Mr. Boss Man.”

The last words came out in an exaggerated Jamaican accent, and, for some reason, that pleasantly tickled Michael’s ear. “Do you think I’m scared of someone leading me?”

Jess just nodded.

“That’s ridiculous. I’m not a control freak.”

The look in those pretty green eyes was enough for an answer.

Michael rolled his eyes. “I’m not.”

“Really? Is that why you pick your boyfriends only after some stupid app vetted them?”

A small pause followed.

Jess laughed. “Here’s another thing I like about you. You consider your flaws. You don’t do a good job at seeing them, but if someone points them out, you’re willing to take a closer look.”

“Are you trying to butter me up for something?”

“Sure thing I am,” Jess chirped. “For a date, to be precise.”

“A date?” Michael was intrigued. “Now where has that come from?”

With a smirk, Jess tapped his temple. 

“And why should we go on a date? We already had sex.”

“And? You’re the one who wants a relationship. If that’s the case, I want that, too.”

Michael pretended to ponder. “Is this a new way of yours to try to screw with me?”

Jess winked at him. He was a charming bastard, and he knew it. “Actually, yes. And no. I kind of like you, boss.”

“Kind of?”

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I’ve been wrong before,” Jess said in a cryptic tone. “So, it’s on me? What would you like to eat?”

“I can only do lunch for dates,” Michael said. “Since dinners always catch me here. And I would like a big juicy hamburger.”

Jess’s eyebrows shot up in amusement. “What would your friend, the fitness trainer, say about this?”

“What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him. Or me,” Michael said dryly.

“Hmm, I smell blackmail material,” Jess said with a smirk.

“Oh, yeah? And what would you like to extort from me?”

Jess snickered and turned to face Michael. Having a conversation with someone with their back at you was usually awkward. Well, not so much when Jess was involved.

“I can live with you giving me one chance to prove a classy act would still bring customers here.”

Michael considered. Was greasy, heart failure inducing food worth such a trade? Maybe not. But a date with Jess was. “On a slow night, I will let you,” he promised.

“Yay,” Jess said, his enthusiasm half a joke.

“Don’t let it go to your head,” Michael warned. “So, lunch tomorrow?”

“Actually, I’d like to whisk you away right now.”

“It’s late.”

“We’re not going to get hamburgers today. Some other time. And I’ll make sure to find an alternative that would agree with both my waistline and your friend’s principles, too.”

“Aren’t you a spoilsport? And don’t you have cheat days?”

“I want to use that for a surprise,” Jess promised. “Do you still have work to do?”

“A little.”

“I can wait.”

“Jess, if you’re in my office, I won’t be able to focus on what needs to get done.”

“I’ll wait outside.”

“I don’t feel that good about that, either.”

“Then what do you propose?”

Michael leaned in and kissed Jess one time, with tongue and a bit more desperation than he was willing to admit. “Wait in the dancers’ room. I promise I will come to collect you as soon as I finish here.”

Jess laughed. “Collect. It has a nice ring to it. Like you own me or something.”

“Your mind just keeps going places, it’s amazing, really.”

“Like yours doesn’t. See you later, Michael.”

Michael nodded. Jess kissed him shortly on the lips and sauntered off. For a while, Michael just stared down the hallway at his retreating back. Well, it wasn’t the back he was staring at, but another part of Jess’s gorgeous anatomy, looking good and tight in skinny jeans.

***

“Wow, what is this place?” Michael asked, as Jess pushed away a curtain and they walked over a polished floor that made a nice cadence of their steps.

“A friend lets me train here whenever I want.”

Michael took in the floor to ceiling mirrors and the barre. “Have you ever thought about pursuing a ballet career? For real? Twenty years of ballet training seem wasted on a nightclub act. Wait, what was your last job before coming to work for me?”

Jess said nothing and just went to a corner where he seemed to fiddle with something. Michael laughed as the rock’n’roll happy beat filled the austere silence. “I thought you would make me sweat with some famous pas de deux.”

“We’ll get there,” Jess promised. “But I need to asses you first.”

Michael shrugged and took Jess’s hand. They needed little to get into the rhythm. Michael had expected at least a bit of awkwardness since this was new, in the sense that they had never danced together before, and there was the tacit understanding from before that he shouldn’t try to lead.

They spun and turned, and almost clashed, only to stop inches from each other, eye to eye. Michael smiled, and Jess returned that with a smile of his own. And then he surprised him by taking him by the waist and making a rotating motion that made their crotches touch.

“Hey, I thought you would progress into something more acrobatic,” Michael protested. 

He didn’t mind it. The dance was turning sensual, and Jess used both his body and his hands to make Michael all hot under the collar. Jess was the one leading now, and Michael didn’t mind it. He liked the way Jess’s hands rested on his hips, fingers splayed down on the top of his buttocks, without daring to go further.

It felt as if they were getting closer and closer to each other. Michael enjoyed Jess’s hot breath on his cheek and half-closed his eyes. Their hips were doing a dance of their own, and Michael loved the teasing quality of whatever it was that they were doing, despite not having done anything sexual for the last few days.

Just as Jess suddenly grabbed the back of his head and leaned in, the music stopped. They were caught in mid-action, just as their lips were parting. 

They both started laughing.

“You’re quite a great dancer,” Jess said. “Now are you ready for the pas de deux you were so afraid of?”

Michael licked his lips, willing them to stop twitching into another broad smile. “You definitely want to humiliate me, it seems. I dance because I enjoy it, but I’ve never taken professional lessons.”

“For being self-taught, you’re impressive,” Jess commented. “I mean it.”

Michael waited as Jess changed the music. He sighed, but hell, he was up for a challenge. 

“Look in the mirror and take after me,” Jess said.

It wasn’t high on his list of priorities to try to compete on the same level as Jess, but he wouldn’t back down now. Jess began the first move, tapping the polished floor, and then turned toward Michael. “Do it now.”

Michael imitated Jess’s steps to the best of his abilities.

“Look at me in the mirror and then do it again,” Jess said.

Michael nodded. Maybe it was a little truth in what Jess had said earlier. He didn’t let others lead his life, no matter which area of it was concerned. 

The second time, he got a little more sense of the rhythm. Jess smiled at him. “Let’s go together now. Don’t forget to look in the mirror.”

Michael watched their reflections moving. It wasn’t perfect choreography, but they were getting there. Apparently, that was not all. Jess took him through several other moves, and then played the same tune from the beginning.

Michael stared, somewhat in disbelief at how well they were coordinating now. At some point, he even forgot to focus on nailing his moves right. It felt natural, like a flow, and he began smiling.

This time, when the music stopped, Jess pulled him close and kissed him. Then he hiked himself up into Michael’s arms, laughing. 

There was no moment of hesitation in how Michael planted his hands to support Jess’s perfect buttocks while the guy was busy wrapping his long legs around him. “I’ve never had anyone like you,” he whispered. “There are millions of men on the planet. Why me?”

He tried to say it as a joke, but the tone of his voice, reduced to a whisper, told a different story. 

Jess smiled and raked his fingers through Michael’s hair. “Are you trying to sell yourself short? Why the insecurity?”

“It’s not insecurity. It’s a valid surprise on my part. You seem like the kind to have an equally hot boyfriend.”

“You’re hot,” Jess replied and blinked, as if he wanted to chase something away, something getting into his eyes all of a sudden.

“Not your level of hot,” Michael replied.

“Being sexy is not everything. What are you looking for in a boyfriend, Michael?”

Jess got down from his arms and was now staring curiously at him.

“Do you want me to enumerate all the qualities I would like to see in my partner right now?” Michael asked.

Jess nodded. “I would very much like to know, yes.”

“Well,” Michael said thoughtfully, “first of all, I want him to be someone I could get along with.”

Jess sighed. “All we’ve done so far was fight and fuck.”

Michael chuckled. “Well, that’s true. Well, maybe not completely.”

“What else?” Jess continued.

“I want him to be an honest person, not to hide or disappear with his phone into the bathroom for half an hour in the middle of dinner.”

“Is that what happened with your ex? Did he cheat on you?”

Michael nodded. 

“Oh, I see,” Jess said. “Stupid of him.”

“Thanks,” Michael replied.

“What else?” Jess continued his interview.

“I appreciate neatness. Also, for my partner to have his own passions and hobbies so that we could exchange fresh ideas every day.”

“Dancing is my passion,” Jess said. “There aren’t many other things I care about. I think it’s all-consuming, in a way.”

“I like dancing, too. Also, running my nightclub. I’m among the lucky few to do what he likes for a living,” Michael said. 

Jess nodded. “I’m not crazy about making my bed right after I get out of it. I might forget about it, on occasion, until I get back.”

Michael began laughing. “Are you measuring yourself against my list of must-haves?”

“I would like to be your boyfriend. It’s only natural that I must learn where I stand and what chances I have.”

With a sigh, Michael took Jess by the back of his head and squeezed his nape gently. “Are you a natural worrier, or is it because of whatever mess you’re in right now that you subject yourself to anxiety-inducing situations?”

“Wow, you’re a therapist, too?” Jess asked, with the hint of a smile on his beautiful lips. “What else is on your list, boss?”

“Maybe I want my boyfriend to call me Michael and not ‘boss’,” Michael pointed out and laughed softly again. 

“That’s doable,” Jess said brightly.

“Come on,” Michael urged Jess to move, “since we’re still on a date, I would like to take you somewhere I like to go sometimes.”

“Sure.”

Michael let his hand drop and let it linger as it went down on Jess’s arm. Jess caught it as just he tried to move and linked their fingers together.

“Is this okay?” Jess asked as he pointed as their hands.

Michael nodded. 

“Good. At least there’s something I’m doing right,” Jess said.

It was meant as a joke, but Michael didn’t feel like laughing. There was a certain nostalgia hidden behind Jess’s words, and he wanted to know more about it. Jess didn’t appear keen on sharing whatever was on his mind, and Michael didn’t want to press him into anything.

So, instead, he brought the other hand to cup Jess’s face and kissed him, not enough to turn it into something erotic, but in a way, he hoped was assuring and calming.

“Even your kisses are kind,” Jess said as Michael let him go.

“Is kindness a big turn-on for you or something?” Michael asked.

“Lately, it is. The biggest turn-on ever,” Jess said.

He was smiling now, and Michael could not help thinking how nice Jess looked like that, not the sexy man he was on stage when doing striptease, not the intense dancer he was when practicing his moves. Just a handsome man, with probably too many secrets to hide, but willing to forget about them at least when they were together.

***

“It’s a nice view of the city up here,” Jess commented.

He shivered and put his hands around himself. Michael embraced him from behind, with the sole purpose of lending him some of his body heat. Jess leaned back into his arms. 

“I know it’s lame,” Michael joked. “But when you think about it, seeing everything being so small from up here, most problems may appear less important.”

“You’re maybe right,” Jess agreed. “It’s nice to take a break from it all.”

“Is this what you’re doing by coming to dance at my club?” Michael questioned. “Are you taking a break from your problems?”

“It’s not exactly something I want to talk about.”

Michael squeezed Jess into his arms. “I wish I could help you.”

“It’s the kind of thing that you either help yourself out of, or it doesn’t count. But being here, in your arms, definitely helps.”

“And how is it working? Are you making progress in whatever you need to help yourself out of?”

“It’s working,” Jess replied. “We’ve been on this date for hours and haven’t fucked.”

Michael laughed. “So it’s some abstinence that you need to practice? I must say, Jess, though. I am thinking of it. Of course, only if you want it.”

Jess turned and cuddled into his arms with a sigh. “It’s okay. I want it, too.”

Michael caressed the curly hair and let his hand travel lower, on Jess’s back. He didn’t go lower. “You sound tired. How about you swing by and get a good night’s sleep? I promise to keep on my side of the bed.”

“I like your side of the bed better,” Jess said.

“It’s all right. You can have it.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. What? Do you think I can’t give up such a small thing?”

“I don’t know. You’re pretty thorough when it comes to checklists, chocolate ice cream --”

“Hey, if I say I can sleep just as well on the other side of the bed, I can.”

“All right,” Jess cuddled even more and rubbed his head against Michael’s neck.

“Let’s get you in bed then,” Michael said and took him back to the car.

***

It felt so damn good, Michael thought, as he could feel his cock rubbing against something firm and shapely. He was usually okay with lingering in bed for a little while until his eyes could open on their own accord, but morning wood was usually more imperative than that.

Not right now. Now his hard cock was happily pressing itself against something that felt damn good. Had he rolled the blanket and pushed it between his legs during the night? He made an effort to open his eyes, only to realize that his entire face was buried into a mass of curls. 

It took him little to realize that he was practically wrapped around Jess. “Shit,” he murmured and tried to move away slowly.

Jess turned to face him right at that moment. “Hey, that’s not a nice way to say ‘morning,” he said with a broad grin.

“Nor is humping you like a dog in heat,” Michael said. “Sorry about that.”

“Nothing to be sorry about,” Jess replied and placed his hand firmly on top of Michael’s cock that was as hard as before. 

Without another word, he slid down on Michael’s body and went for the kill.

“Hey,” Michael protested right away.

“What?” Jess’s eyes shot up. 

“You don’t have to blow me. It will go away.”

“I don’t want it to go away,” Jess replied. 

“Well, you’re not its owner,” Michael explained.

“You sure? I can see it respond to me quite well,” Jess said with a smirk and caught Michael’s cock into his hand.

“That may be true,” Michael said wryly. “Since it doesn’t respond to me. Are we seriously having a conversation about my cock first thing in the morning?”

“Your hard cock,” Jess pointed out and shook the thing in his hand a little.

“Wait.” Michael placed one hand over his cock. “You get this, only if you allow me to reciprocate.”

Jess glared a little, but Michael remained unmoved. “All right,” he mumbled and moved away.

Michael pushed himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. He reached for Jess and palmed his cock through his shorts. He had wanted to do that since that first night they slept together. Jess said nothing and just kept his mouth in a grim line.

“Am I too rough?” Michael asked.

The cock he was playing with was getting hard quickly. That should have been a good enough answer, but he needed to hear it, from Jess’s lips, that it was okay to continue.

“No. You’re too kind,” Jess replied.

Michael raised his eyes to look at him, but Jess was quick to climb into his lap and push him into the mattress. They were kissing wildly, both rested now after a good night’s sleep and in much need of each other by the looks of things.

Michael wanted more. He wanted to know for sure what Jess was thinking. But that wouldn’t happen, not with a hot tongue in his mouth and a hand pulling at his cock hard. He did the same, making Jess gasp and moan a few times. 

They rolled on the bed, unsure for a while who should be on top. Eventually, Michael took the reins and then slid down on Jess’s body until he reached the object of his curiosity. Jess was hard, and his cock was weeping helplessly. Michael licked the head and pushed it all into his mouth.

The sounds Jess was making were erotic, deep, harsh at times, but turning soft, keening, a bit demanding and desperate. Michael worked on his cock, moving up and down, stopping only to lavish the sensitive area under the head with his tongue and lips. 

Jess was grabbing at the sheets with both hands, his fingers tense, curled so much the knuckles were turning white. There was a certain pain there, in those fingers, in how they grabbed at the fabric as if their owner didn’t want to let go of something.

Michael increased his rhythm. Jess’s breathing became rapid, falling in small grunts. Finally, one last moan, long and low, let Michael know his efforts didn’t go to waste. Jess’s cum filled his mouth, and he felt satisfied, even more than if he had been on the receiving end.

He let Jess down gently, licking the head and kissing it until he brought himself up and kissed the other on the lips.

Jess’s eyes were glassy as he was staring at the ceiling, his lips slightly parted.

“Are you okay?” Michael asked, feeling a tad concerned now.

“It was amazing,” Jess whispered. “I want to --”

“Stay in bed a little longer. I’ll make breakfast. You look like someone who’s been running for a while.”

“How do you know?” Jess asked, but he didn’t move his eyes to look at Michael.

“You’re so tense.” Michael caressed Jess’s shoulders and let his hands linger a little on the sinewy biceps. “Relax. At least, here, you can leave your problems aside. I can’t control what’s happening outside my door, but here, I’m the one in charge,” he joked. “And I’m ordering you to relax now.”

“Okay,” Jess agreed.

Michael stood up and searched for his pants. As he walked out, he stole one last look at Jess. He was still lying there, but his face was relaxing its features, and there was a hint of a smile.

Michael smiled, too, as he headed for the kitchen. 

TBC

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