Best Gay Erotica 2014 (24 page)

“Nice to meet you, too, Hank,” Burke replied as he bent to undo Sparky's leash, letting the two dogs go off and play. “Actually, Burke is my last name, but it's what all my friends call me. My first name is Stanley, which I've never liked, so Burke works for me.”

“Yeah, I understand. My real first name is Henry, which I don't care for, so Hank is fine by me.”

Burke was all but knocked back by the smile Hank flashed at him. It had been over two years since his breakup with his former partner, and his hormones seemed to be in overdrive today. Since he was about to turn thirty-one in a few days, he figured it was time to get his shit together and move on, and leave the past behind.

The two men sat on the nearby bench and watched the two dogs play.

“This was the only apartment complex I could find that had a dog park,” Burke said casually.

“Yeah, it's a nice complex. It's clean and they really keep it up,” Hank said, chuckling at the two dogs playing tag. “You just move in?” Hank asked, turning his buttery-soft eyes toward Burke. “I haven't seen you around before.”

“Yes,” Burke's eyes locked onto Hank's. “Movers left a little while ago. I've got a lot to get done before next Monday when I start work.”

“Welcome to the neighborhood,” Hank said, as they watched Daisy and Sparky play tug-of-war with a stick. “By the way,” he added, “I'm having a few friends over this Saturday night, if you wanna come by. If you're not busy that is.”

“Um, sure,” Burke stammered, slightly surprised by the invitation from someone he had just met.

“Hey, if you have other plans that's okay,” Hank turned, sensing Burke's hesitation.

“No, it isn't that at all,” Burke said looking at his shoe as he traced around a rock stuck in the ground. “It's…well Saturday is my birthday and I was kinda planning on staying in. You know, kicking back, relaxing.”

Hank's mouth fell open. “What! Your birthday is Saturday?”

“Yeah,” Burke grimaced slightly, not liking to attract attention to himself.

“Well I'll be fucked running with a jelly doughnut,” Hank looked stunned, shaking his head.

“What is it?”

“Friday is
my
birthday,” Hank laughed. “I'm turning the big three-oh!”

“Really?” Burke asked. “I'm going to be thirty-one.”

“How cool is that?” Hank said excitedly. “We need to really throw a party, then. Feel free to invite some of your friends to come along!”

“Um, I just moved here, and I really don't know anyone.”

“Well, you do now!” Hank said, bumping Burke's shoulder with his own.

“What was that thing you said about a jelly doughnut?” Burke asked, looking a bit confused.

“It's just an old sayin',” Hank chuckled. “I had an uncle that had a ton of 'em, and I guess I picked some of 'em up.” Hank looked at the puzzled look on Burke's face and grinned. “Where you from, anyway?”

“Maryland. Gaithersburg to be exact,” Burked replied. “What about you?”

“I'm from right here in Atlanta. Born and raised,” Hank answered. “My family settled in the north Georgia Mountains in the early eighteen-hundreds. My grandfather moved to the city when he got back from World War Two; we've been here ever since.”

Burke couldn't help but steal glances at Hank's big hand resting on his thigh—a thigh threatening to burst the seams of the worn jeans the man was wearing. The bulge in the crotch of those jeans made Burke's throat go dry. He longed to run his hand along Hanks furry forearm.

“What apartment you in?” Hank asked, jerking Burke back from his fantasy.

“Fourteen-thirteen.”

“Cool. You're in the building across the pool from me! Is that the second floor?” Hank asked.

“Yes. It overlooks the pool,” Burke smiled. “Sparky likes the balcony.”

“Double cool,” Hank grinned broadly. “I think our apartments face each other!”

“Really?” Burke wasn't so sure that was such a good thing. The last thing Burke needed was to be walking around with a perpetual hard-on knowing this hunky man was so close by.

“When we get back, go out on your balcony and I'll do the same,” Hank seemed excited by the prospect.

“Um, sure,” Burke answered as he hoped that the apartments weren't right across from each other. “I guess I need to get back and get started unpacking.”

“Understand,” Hank nodded. “Moving's a bitch.”

“Um, yes, it is,” Burke said, standing up and calling to Sparky.

“I need to go, too,” Hank followed suit. “Come on, Daisy. That laundry isn't going to do itself. Don't forget to go out on your balcony when you get back to your apartment.”

“I won't,” Burke assured Hank.

When he returned to his disheveled apartment, keeping his word, Burke went out onto the balcony with Sparky right on his heels. As luck would have it, Hank walked out onto his balcony about the same time, Daisy following close behind. Sure enough, Hank's apartment was right across the pool from Burke's. There couldn't have been more than a hundred and fifty feet between them.

Sparky barked a greeting to his newfound friend, and Daisy answered back. Hank waved.

“See?” Hank called out. “I figured you were right across from me.”

“Great,” Burke answered.
Just what I need
, he thought, as he groaned inwardly. “I'll catch you later,” he said, his voice slightly echoing across the empty pool area.

Sighing heavily, Burke went back inside and started to unpack
and set up his new apartment. Sparky watched as Burke went about unpacking, tackling the kitchen first. Burke had a passion for cooking, so not only was the kitchen important to him, it was also the most difficult to unpack and set up. Before he knew it, it was dusk outside and he had to turn on some lights.

Burke's stomach rumbled and Sparky's head cocked sideways. “Guess it is time to find something to eat,” Burke said. Sparky agreed, jumping up spinning in circles.

Sparky had just finished chowing down when there was a knock at the door.

Opening it Burke saw Hank and Daisy, Hank with a pizza box and a twelve-pack of Heineken.

“Hey, I couldn't help but notice you hadn't stopped all day and figured you were about due for a break,” Hank announced. “Thought you could use something to eat 'bout now, too.”

“Um, wow…thanks.” Burke was once again blown away by Hank's smile, framed by the closely trimmed beard. It was then he also noticed that he was slightly taller than Hank, putting him at about five-foot-eleven or so, compared to Burke's six-foot even.

The smell of the pizza made Burke's stomach rumble again. Standing aside, he let Hank and Daisy into the apartment. Hank set the pizza down on the kitchen counter, and held the beer out to Burke.

“I brought a bottle opener just in case you haven't found yours yet,” Hank smiled broadly again.

“I've got one right here,” Burke replied as he opened a drawer pulling out an opener.

“Wow, you work fast,” Hank said. “It took me a week to find everything after I moved.”

“I tackled the kitchen first, since it takes the most time,” Burke said, as he opened two beers, handing one to Hank. He
turned, putting the rest of the beer in the empty refrigerator, then opened a cabinet and took out a couple of plates.

The two men, followed by two dogs, walked into the living area of the apartment. There were several boxes stacked against one wall and a single chair and ottoman.

“Um, have a seat,” Burke invited Hank to take the one chair. “I'll take the ottoman.”

“Is this all the furniture you have?” Hank looked shocked as he sat in the chair.

“I did bring my mattress,” Burke answered around a mouth full of pizza. “That chair was the only thing that wasn't junk, so it was the only thing I moved with me. I figured I'd pick up a few things when I got here. Cut down on the moving costs,” Burked explained.

“What makes this chair so special?” Hank asked. “It is comfortable, I'll give you that.”

“It is a Swedish-designed chair,” Burke said. “They cost a pretty penny, but I think they're worth it.”

“Well it looks like you're gonna need more than just a few things then,” Hank chuckled before taking a long swig of his beer.

“True,” Burke agreed. “I need to get a desk first thing. I work from home, for the most part. I will have to make an appearance at the office twice a week, though.”

“What do you do?” Hank asked as Daisy sniffed at his hand hoping for a scrap.

“I do Internet security programming.”

“Wow, that sounds intense.” Hank looked impressed.

Burke shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn't that big a deal. “What do you do?”

“I'm a construction foreman,” Hank replied. “Nothing as high tech as you.”

Burke laughed. “I have a hard time with a screwdriver. Mechanical I'm not.”

“Hey, don't worry; I can barely turn my computer on!” Hank said, joining in Burke's laughter. “If you need any help in putting anything together let me know, and when I need help with my computer, I'll know who to call.”

“Deal,” Burke smiled, knowing full well that he would need help if he had to put anything together in the near future. “Do you know of any furniture stores close by?”

“Yeah, there is this cool place not far from here, over on Sidney Marcus. They deal with all kinds of discontinued lines of furniture from all sorts of manufacturers. You can really get some good deals there.”

“That sounds promising,” Burke said.

“I've got some free time tomorrow. If you want, I can run you over there…show you where it is.”

“I don't want to inconvenience you,” Burke hesitated.

“No problem,” Hank grinned. “That's what friends are for.”

“Thanks for the pizza,” Burke said appreciatively. “And the beer,” he added holding up the near empty bottle before stifling a yawn.

“Think of it as a housewarming present,” Hank answered casually. “I'll get outta here so you can get some rest.”

“I am pretty beat,” Burke agreed.

“Eleven work for you tomorrow?” Hank asked as he approached the door.

“That will be fine,” Burke said as he opened the door. He stole a long look at Hank's very fine ass as he bent over to put the leash on Daisy. If he hadn't known better, he would have sworn that Hank took a little extra time hooking the leash to the dog harness, giving him plenty of time to admire the tight glutes.

“You got it then,” Hank said, and smiled, holding out his hand.

Burke took the extended hand, relishing the warm strength.

Hank said good night and left Burke and Sparky alone in the near empty apartment.

“Well there, Sparky, I'd say that Hank is about as straight as they come,” Burke sighed. “Just as well, I guess. He probably won't be so friendly when he finds out I'm a fag.”

Sparky looked at Burke blankly, until Burke picked up the leash.

“One more quick walk and then it's bedtime for us, boy,” Burke said to Sparky, yawning again.

The next day, Hank was good to his word, showing up right at eleven. He took Burke to the store he had mentioned, and Burke was able to get a complete office suite. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything that he cared for, otherwise. The good thing was that the office furniture that he got would be delivered the next day.

Later that day, Burke passed by a boutique-type furniture store on his way to a grocery store. He liked what he saw in the window, so he stopped in and was immediately glad that he had. Burke had always been partial to the sleek Danish modern design, and this store fit his style perfectly.

He spent much more than he had planned to, but he could afford it, and it was part of his moving-on phase. After two years as a recluse, it was time to start living again. Susan, his only real friend, kept reminding him that he was still part of the human race, even if he tried to not believe it.

“Wait 'til I tell her about this,” Burke smirked. “She'll flip,” he said to himself as he drove back to his new apartment. For the first time in a long while—in almost a decade—Burke felt comfortable in his own skin.

The next evening, when Hank came over to help put the bookcases together, was almost Burke's undoing. Hank showed up, toolbox in hand, wearing a pair of cutoff jean shorts and a tank top. His muscular legs and arms fully exposed, the hair on his chest jutting from the top and sides of his tank top, kept Burke off balance the entire time. It didn't help matters that Burke had not been sexual with anyone but his hand since his breakup.

It was then that Burke decided that he needed to come out to Hank. The next day was Hank's birthday bash, and he wanted to give Hank the opportunity to uninvite him.