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— I love this wine; it's so refreshing — says Tadeus. Alexander smiles, picks up his fork, and feeds him a bite of pasta. — Why do you always order meat?
— Because you always order seafood. Now try this wine. It's a 1995 Merlot.
— It's a little smooth. Maybe it has cherry or sweet plums?
— A couple of months ago, you wouldn't have said the same thing.
— I'm trying to quit drinking, but I can't help it on occasions like this — says Tadeus — Three months.
— They call it the honeymoon phase because you can't know everything about a person in such a short time. You're hesitant to reveal yourself.
— What's the secret of the day?
— I smoke occasionally. Only cigars, for the past ten years, ever since a friend of my father's gave me a box for my birthday — says Alexander — The old man used to say that a real man only smokes cigars and drinks his whiskey on the rocks. No cheap cigarettes or cocktails. 'That's a dessert,' he used to say.
— You sound proud of advice from a man who died of cancer.
— Occasionally, I said — says Alexander trying not to laugh — In fact, I can't even remember the last time I smoked.
— I met my father last year, and I'm in regular contact with him. Well… actually, I work for him. Sometimes I handle his business affairs — says Tadeus, after giving a couple of sips to his wine and a short silence — I speak several languages, and he found that very useful.
Alexander looks at him a little hesitantly and lets him continue. — Actually, he's a close friend of Gustaph's, which is why you saw me at the Halloween party last year, and at Necker. I was talking to some people to help his company expand into foreign markets. Gustaph is part of that effort. That's why it bothers me that you think… there's something more. I think you assume I'm in some kind of romantic entanglement every time I travel with the senator.
Alexander lets out a slight sigh, realizing that Tadeus is waiting for a comment from him after several seconds of silence. — I had assumed your father had died.
— As far as I knew, he was dead, until recently — Alexander notices Tadeus' hands clenching into fists. — It's a somewhat complicated relationship. Sometimes I feel like my hands are tied when it comes to work.
— Why don't you quit?
— Yeah, I've thought about that — Tadeus says. He no longer has to go over the suicide plan in his head. Now they just flash before his eyes like images. In fact, he wishes he'd pulled the trigger that time — but I need to spend more time by his side. I guess it's my way of keeping the family closer together.
— Does he know about us? Have you told him about me? — Alexander asks, placing his hand on one of the fists that's beginning to relax.
— He was the one who encouraged me to reach out to you. He refers to you as 'the drunk' sometimes.
Alexander can't help but laugh a little when he hears this, and of course, Tadeus notices his flushed face, so he kisses his hand many times with the intention of keeping alive that smile that attracts him so much.
— I'm sure you're the only one who calls me that — Alexander replies.
When they finish dinner, Alexander and Tadeus go in through the back door in the kitchen. After washing the dishes and putting away the liquor bottles, they both go up to the master bedroom, where they release the tension that has built up over the past few weeks.
Alexander pours almond oil infused with vanilla essence onto Tadeus' back. He massages his feet, calves, and thighs firmly to help him relax. — I don't understand how you can be so perfect — says Tadeus as he feels relief in his heels.
— Do you feel better? — asks Alexander as he positions himself over Tadeus' thighs. He continues running his hands over Tadeus' lower back up to his shoulders with light strokes and kneading. He waits a couple of minutes before sliding his hands to the sides of Tadeus' hips, between the mattress and his skin, feeling the hardness of his cock with both hands.
— I thought you just wanted to give me a massage — Tadeus says.
— I can stop — says, his chest resting on Tadeus' back.
— Don't.
With his hands, he positions his cock and enters him slowly. — You know how much I love touching you — Alexander whispers in his ear.
This man intertwines his fingers with his lover's, presses his palms against the back of his lover's hands, and slowly pushes his hips forward with firm pressure, making him sigh. A few minutes later, Alexander decides to kneel on the bed, cupping his lover's hips in his hands to pull him closer, while thrusting into him urgently until he hears his boyfriend's intense moans and rapid gasps muffled by the pillow.
Still unsatisfied, he asks him to turn around so he can look him in the eyes as he penetrates him. The sweat on his forehead slides down to his chin, where it falls onto Tadeus' oiled chest.
— Ahh… damn, it feels too good — Alexander says between gasps before ejaculating.
He lies back on his lover's chest, who strokes his scalp with his fingertips. — Your head is hot — Tadeus says — Do you want me to get you some water?
— No, let's just stay like this a little longer — Alexander whispers. — You got me thinking about what you said of your father. Did he always know about your tastes?
— Maybe, I really don't know. We never had a conversation.
— 'At least you're not effeminate.' That's what my father once said to me.