Cheek to
Cheek
By Chris Owen
From Chapter One
He sat at the bar, facing forward so he could
see in the mirror. He wasn't cruising, didn't want to pick anyone
up, but he did want to check the room out behind him, see what
kind of men frequented the place. He nursed his whiskey and
sat quietly, watching men dancing on the small dance floor,
watching other men sitting at tables having quiet conversations.
Mallory hadn't been with a man in almost eight years. He hadn't
been able to see anything but Trish since the moment he'd met
her. The last few months had been awkward and uncomfortable,
his fantasies returning more and more to men rather than women.
He didn't see any point in resisting his urges, but at the same
time he wasn't about to go to a club he didn't like just to
pick up someone with the right parts.
He knew that Cleo's was in the neighborhood when he'd picked
out his new place, and he knew it was supposed to be a nice
place. He was pleased with what he'd found, somehow glad that
if he'd wandered in off the street not knowing it was a gay
bar he might not have guessed, other than the dancing. The place
had that indefinable thing called 'atmosphere' and seemed suited
to people who wanted to have a quiet drink and to talk about
stock options. The bartender wore a tie, the wood paneling was
dark and rich, the brass rails shone. It felt comfortable.
He finished his drink and was going to raise his hand to draw
the bartender's attention when someone slipped onto the barstool
beside him. Mallory looked over out of reflex and saw a beautiful
man smiling right at him. No one else, just him. He looked into
the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen, liquid and warm, dark
brown, rimmed with long sooty eyelashes, and swallowed hard.
"Hello," the man said in a quiet, smooth voice.
Mal swallowed again, hoping he was subtle about it. "Hi,"
he finally offered, leaning back to take a better look and disguising
the move to make it look like Mal was giving him space. The
stranger had skin the color of milky coffee, full lips, and
broad shoulders. His hair was short and tidy, he was wearing
a dark gray sweater that looked soft, and he was utterly gorgeous.
"I'm Will." Will's smile was warm and friendly and
he was looking Mal over just as carefully as Mal had checked
him out.
"Mallory." Part of Mal wondered what this man was
doing, talking to him. He figured he was older than Will by
at least a dozen years, and the bar was full of pretty men.
"Can I buy you a drink, Mallory? Or maybe ask you to dance?"
Mallory opened his mouth to accept the drink and found himself
agreeing to a dance. "That would be nice," he said
as he stood up.
Will's smile grew and he looked at Mal through lowered eyelashes
as he took Mal's hand. They reached the dance floor just as
the music changed to something cool and slow from the upbeat
tune that had been playing. Will glanced at him. "Change
of pace okay?" he asked.
Mallory nodded. "Just fine," he assured Will as they
moved a little deeper onto the floor. When Will put one hand
on Mal's hip and held the opposite hand at shoulder height,
Mallory felt a thrill go down his spine and settle in his groin.
Will could dance, could really dance. The others on the floor
were swaying in a lazy circles, arms around waists and shoulders,
but Will could actually do a proper waltz, and could lead as
well. Mallory threw a silent thank-you to Trish for insisting
he master being led as well as leading, and followed along as
they wove their way back and forth across the floor.
Will was warm. His sweater was as soft as it had looked, and
he danced like he was born to it, with a natural-feeling sense
of grace and movement. He smelled good. Mallory found himself
smiling as they danced, growing warmer in a way that had very
little to do with the exercise of dancing.
Will smiled back and pulled Mallory a little closer, his big
hand spanning the small of Mal's back. They were almost touching
by the time the song ended, standing eye to eye.
Mallory knew the other patrons were watching them, but was unsure
whether it was because he and Will were dancing properly or
because they were the only bi-racial couple on the floor. He
didn't particularly care. Will danced too well to let minor
things like being watched get in the way of Mal's enjoyment.
The song ended and melted into the next, which was another waltz,
and they kept going, still not talking. Halfway through the
second song they were pressed together, both of them hard and
apparently willing to show it, at least to each other. The rest
of the bar didn't need to see.
As the last notes of the song died away, Will kissed him. It
was slow and soft, his tongue barely tracing Mal's lower lip.
"Mallory?" he asked, his voice low.
Mal nodded and whispered against his cheek. "I live a block
and a half away."
"Sounds good." Mal could feel Will smile, face changing
shape, and he smiled in return as he took a step back. |
