Chapter 16
16
PINOCCHIO
T hat night, we don’t talk about it. We clean up with our shirts, determined to rid the workroom of any evidence of our tryst. After bathing separately, we have dinner, and Papa joins us. Lampwick and I eat as Papa pets Arpeggio and regales us with tales of his youth. It’s a perfectly relaxing evening, a delightful normalcy I’ve gotten accustomed to.
Later, like most nights, I read another chapter out loud about whales as Lampwick relaxes in my room. His floor bed is two feet away, but it might as well be an ocean. After a chapter, I want to say, “Forget this book, let’s talk about what that meant,” but then he’s saying goodnight. He curls over, like it’s a regular night, like my whole world wasn’t irreparably changed two hours ago. It stings, but the exhaustion of the day brings me to slumber within minutes.
The next morning, Lampwick has the first shift. I walk in to give him breakfast, but he’s already helping a whole family of customers interested in purchasing marionettes. He thanks me before grabbing the bread and quickly dashes off to be a great salesman.
And so we don’t talk about it.
My heart sinks so low that I can’t even enjoy my morning off. I can’t eat and can’t relax until I corner Lampwick and have a serious conversation. The feel of his hardness next to mine will forever be rooted in my brain. I know we had a good time, his lips felt so passionate, so right.
But if he’s done with me, I won’t be letting him go, not without a fight.
That evening, I stride to the rear of the store for change of shift. With Lampwick running the shop solo, this should be my chance to chat with him, so I gingerly walk in. After two quiet steps, I lean on the doorframe to take a moment to simply observe him. He sands one of the cuckoo clocks by the front of the store and the setting sun streams against his face. The light forms a golden orange halo around his poofy hair. He bites his lip in concentration, and I recall the way his mouth felt on mine. He’s perfect in every way . I’ve had a taste of him, and I’m not going to let him leave my life so easily. I need him to admit that he still wants this.
“I think you’ve sanded it enough.”
My words startle him, but after a moment, he beams at me. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Your hands must be sore.” I saunter over to him. “You’ve been working so hard, amico .”
His smile falters and he goes back to paying attention to the clock in his hands. “Someone has to tend to the shop.”
“There are hardly any customers tonight.”
He’s still not looking at me, and it makes my heart ache.
“Yes, well, that’s the perfect time to get caught up in work.”
His apathetic tone breaks something in me. I snatch the sandpaper out of his hands and step back.
“Hey! Sticks, what’s your problem?”
“What’s your problem?!” I yelp, staring at the floor. “We…we kiss and…do more, and now you’ll barely talk to me?!”
I’m nearly vibrating by the time I look up. His jaw has dropped, and I’ve stunned him silent. “I thought you cared about me,” I say quietly. “And now you’re acting like it never happened? Do you regret it?”
“Pinocchio, it’s not —”
We freeze at the sound of the door ringing and immediately bolt apart. The last person I thought to enter saunters in. “Papa!” I exclaim.
“Enough is too much,” he says, hobbling in on his cane. The color of his skin and his breathing are back to normal, and for that I am truly grateful. In his left hand he’s balancing a large blanket with Arpeggio on top.
“Papa, what are you doing here?”
“I’m forcing you two to take a break.”
“But I’m working,” Lampwick says just as I say, “No.”
“Oh, yes. I’m not going to sit there gathering dust all day while I treat Lampwick like a slave donkey.” He hobbles to the counter and drops the blanket, and Arpeggio skitters away.
“ Signore —” Lampwick says, but Papa puts up his hand.
“Don’t you Signore me. I’ve had you working double shifts solo nonstop since I got sick, and it ends now.”
“But you’re not strong enough to work!” I say, rushing to his side.
“No, but I’m strong enough to do my carvings.” He sits at the desk and grabs a nearby plank of wood. “As your father, I order you to take a break. I’m closing up shop so I can do some woodworking and keep my hands busy.”
“But, Papa —”
“No buts either!” He points at me with a chastising finger. “Now go have fun.”
“I have things to take care of here,” Lampwick says.
“You can do it all tomorrow. I’ve closed the shop so I can work in a calm, stress-free environment.” He pushes the blanket to Lampwick’s chest. “Now I’m ordering you to go out and enjoy the sunset somewhere.”
Lampwick’s eyes dart between me and Papa. He doesn’t take two steps before Papa clears his throat and bounces his eyebrows at me. I think I know what he’s trying to tell me, and he’s not being very subtle.
“Hey, Lampwick.”
“Yeah?” My friend turns around, halfway out the back door.
“Wherever you’re going…can I come too?” I glance at Papa beaming at me.
My friend merely chuckles. “That would be great. The creek?”
I’m so relieved that he wants to spend time with me, my heart nearly flips in my chest. “ Andiamo .” I point to Papa. “Don’t exert yourself, okay?”
“Relax. If I stress myself out, Arpeggio will tell you.”
The cat meows, and we all share a laugh.
Twenty minutes later, the autumn sun has almost completely set, casting an azure haze on the hills. We stroll past the abandoned shack and make it to the creek. So much has changed between us since the last time we were here. Like always when Lampwick is with me, it feels like we’re in our own little world. The crickets sing, a calm soundtrack in contrast to the confusion in my heart.
What does Lampwick want?
I clear my throat as we walk through a patch of dandelions. “Look, Lampwick, about what I said earlier. Honestly, you don’t have to—”
My words are cut off when my breath is taken out from me. He’s pushed me against a nearby tree, and his mouth is on mine. Every part of me lights up, a wildfire blazes in my soul that I never saw coming. He tastes sweeter than any baked good .
Twenty-four hours ago we kissed— it may as well have been an eternity—and his mouth is no less passionate now. His hands roam my body while my arms splay upward. I’m frozen as his tongue invades my wanting mouth. We kiss and kiss, and I moan in surprise and satisfaction.
“Mm…Lampo…” I mutter around his mouth.
He pulls off and stares at me in distress. His mouth is shiny, and his green eyes darken in the dusky twilight. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to stay away from you?”
He kisses me and brings his hands to my scalp. I moan at the feel of him lightly tugging on my hair. His body grinds on mine, and soon, we’re rapidly hardening cock on rapidly hardening cock. He feels unbelievable.
After a lifetime, Lampwick pulls off. “Do you even know—” he kisses me hard, then pulls back again—“how damn tempting you are?” He seems legitimately distressed, and I’m overwhelmed by the emotional whiplash of the day.
“Wha…what?” I ask breathlessly. His mouth is on mine again. His hands fly down my back, then up to my scalp. My own palms find his ass, pulling him in— so firm . I’ve never been turned on by another person before, but Lampwick, as always, is the exception.
“Do you not understand?” he murmurs against my mouth. It’s like we can’t breathe without our lips locked. “Not understand how much effort and willpower it takes me—” he kisses me, then leans back — “to control myself when I see you at home?”
“But…but last night?”
“We were in your house, Sticks!” he says with exasperation. His words take a moment to register. After a beat, we both laugh at the ridiculousness of this situation, and I rub up his back. “I don’t want your papa or the cat to see or hear us.”
I bite my lip and look up. All that worrying for nothing, and I want to kick myself. “Well, I guess I never thought about that,” I murmur.
“Don’t think about anything,” he purrs as he kisses my cheek. He holds me by my waist and continues to pin me to the tree as his mouth trails down. The next sensation renders me nearly blind with delight.
He’s sucking on my neck, and it feels like explosives are going off in my trousers.
“ Dio mio , Lampwick.” I bite my lip hard in an effort to not shout. We may be alone, but his mouth might make scream so hard the whole town can hear me. “Lampwick,” I rasp, as he trails a kiss to my collarbone.
“Don’t think—” he unbuttons my shirt in one swift motion and kisses downward—“about anything except how good I can make you feel.” He growls and it’s every type of sexy.
When my vision comes back, I look down to see him not moving. He’s on his knees, and his eyes gleam with a hungry, desperate look I’ve never witnessed. “Can I make you…feel good, Pinocchio?”
Fear courses through me. We’re on the edge of another sexual experience. As attracted as I am to my best friend, am I ready? He mouths at my crotch, kissing the tented fabric, and my knees grow weak.
Dilemma over, I need this . “Yes,” I rasp as my eyelids flutter closed.
He swiftly and deftly opens my pants and pulls the fabric down. I shimmy so my trousers and undergarments are down to my ankles, and the cold autumn air touches my groin. My bare butt on the wood isn’t the most comfortable, but I can’t think properly right now.
I want to tell Lampwick that perhaps we need more privacy, but my brain shuts down at the next maneuver.
“Ah!” I hiss.
His mouth . His wet, perfect mouth is around my hard cock.
“Oh…oh… oh !” My voice is sputtering as I rasp incomprehensible sounds. Everything I know, everything I am is in my best friend’s mouth. He takes me in and swallows me. I half-expected discomfort, like teeth down there, but Lampwick feels just right. He’s soft and wet and wanting, oh so wanting.
I’ve read about fellatio in books that I’ve snuck into my room. But I’ve never desired it, never wanted anyone near me in a sexual way. But right now, I could die in this perfect bliss. Shivers run down my spine as he sucks me, making my pulse hammer in my throat.
“Fuhhh…” I rasp. I clench my hands above me behind my head, and I gaze upward. I feel like a firecracker, ready to take flight into the heavens. For the second time in twenty-four hours, Lampwick has me nearly blind with pleasure. He sucks and sucks, and my hips buck on their own.
I don’t even recognize myself in my mind’s eye, but whoever I am now, I’m gloriously complete.
“Lampwick,” I say in a strained tone. This can’t go on, and I think he knows it. He grips my butt and pulls me into his mouth faster. He sucks, and I thrust, and that delicious sensation begins to ignite in my core. “Lampwick…Lampo… dio mio …”
I grit my teeth and thrust harder. The gagging noises below almost scare me, but I can’t stop this animalistic motion. I look down one last time and make eye contact with my best friend. He’s so full of me, and his beautiful eyes are both wrecked and filled with desire.
That’s all it takes.
“Agh!” I shout and gaze upward. My soul catches fire and bursts. It’s like my very spirit is being pulled out of me as I unload into his mouth. Shot after shot is unleashed, and he takes it all.
When I come down from that heavenly state, I can’t help but laugh, a mirthful joy bubbling from my chest. I’m unable to open my eyes, I’m so drained of energy. When Lampwick steps away from me, cool air takes his place on my crotch, and I immediately miss him.
Before I can remember how to talk, he quietly says, “Come, lie down.”
My vision is still blurred as I pull up my trousers and lie down on the blanket Papa gave us. I sigh in satisfaction, and after a beat, Lampwick lies next to me. I feel a familiar sensation, and at long last open my eyes.
Lampwick is pleasuring himself. Of course, he’s stroking off because I orgasmed and he didn’t. But he’s not asking me to do anything, opting instead to gaze at me with those wide green eyes. He’s such a gentleman.
And right now, this gentleman deserves something special.
I scoot down on the blanket and, without saying anything, lean over his crotch. He stops stroking his erection, and I put my hand over his. We stroke together and I gaze at it. He’s so big, so beautiful, and he’s leaking with pleasure and need . I’m in awe of this beautiful man.
“Sticks…Sticks, I’m gonna…” he rasps.
“Yes,” I hiss, a hungry tone I don’t even recognize. I clamp my mouth over his cock, being sure to mind my teeth. He’s warm and salty, and I get to taste the purest essence of my best friend. We both stroke together as I suckle on the head. I don’t trust myself to go all the way down without choking, and I quietly hope I’m doing a good job.
Any self-consciousness goes away when my best friend goes rigid. “ Fuck !” he says urgently, quietly, like a whisper. He thrusts up two more times, and then shoots into my wanting mouth. I try to swallow as much as I can, delighting in his seed much more than I thought I would.
But how could I not want this? It’s Lampwick, my Lampwick, the boy I care for as so much more than a friend.
And it all feels delicious, so right. My first sexual experiences have been with the only person I’ve ever wanted this way. As our breathing slows down, I quietly chant my gratitude to the universe. I’m right where I was always meant to be, in Lampwick’s arms.