Chapter 6 #2
Anton took off his backwards ballcap and scrubbed a hand through his unruly hair. “There’s this guy…”
Jude grinned. “Anton’s got a crush?”
There was a hint of a smile on Anton’s face as he shoved his cap back on. “Shut up.”
Jude chuckled.
“Rich bitch just looking for some rough trade, that’s all it is. We’re too different for it to be a real thing,” Anton muttered. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Tomorrow or the next day, he’ll forget I exist.”
“Who knows? Opposites attract.”
Anton shrugged, shaking his head.
“You and he already…?”
Anton nodded. “Met him in a club a few weekends back. His dick is…” Anton pinched his fingers together in a chef’s kiss symbol. “It hit all the right places. I haven’t come that hard in a long, long time.”
“I didn’t need a full debriefing,” Jude grumbled.
“You said you didn’t want to see it. Nothing was said about hearing,” Anton said, grinning. “If I can’t talk about this shit with you, who can I?”
Jude eyed him. “I suppose.”
They rode along in silence for a few minutes, the click-clack of the subway car soothing to some degree.
Anton elbowed him gently. “This is our stop.”
Jude looked at the sign. “77th Street? Where the fuck are we going?”
“Upper East Side,” Anton replied.
Jude shook his head.
Anton gave him a pointed look. “I said he was rich. I meant rich.”
Jude’s eyes widened. “Is it too late to back out?”
Anton dragged him to his feet and pushed toward the subway doors. “Yep. It’s too fucking late.”
They got out near the corner of Lexington and 77th and were soon walking along clean, tree-lined streets filled with older high-end apartment buildings mixed in with some fancy high-rises.
At the bottom of all those buildings were upscale boutiques, restaurants, and posh offices.
As they approached Park Avenue, Jude was sure they were out of their depth.
He glanced down at the shorts he’d probably picked up at Old Navy and his Yankees tee.
It was too hot to dress much differently, but still.
He could’ve worn something a little nicer had he known they were headed into that neighborhood.
“I wish you’d told me where we were going. I’m not dressed for this.”
“Not like the clothes are staying on long,” Anton replied.
“Still, I gotta walk in the door. We’re gonna end up stopped by some uppity doorman saying we don’t belong.”
“It’s fine,” Anton said, leading them down the street. He waved a hand over himself. “I didn’t dress up.”
Jude shook his head, wondering what Anton had gotten them into. But then, Anton had said they were a different crowd. More like a different universe. When Anton led him toward the front of a building, the doorman did in fact give them the once over along with a glare.
“Can I help you gentlemen?”
“We’re invited to a party in 25-B,” Anton said.
The doorman eyed them both again before spun around and walked away.
“I said we didn’t look the part,” Jude muttered under his breath.
“Stop,” Anton said. “I’m nervous enough without you adding to.”
The doorman stopped at a podium inside the doors and returned with a tablet in his hands. “Name?”
“Anton Belanov.”
The doorman scanned the tablet before looking at Jude. “You?”
“And guest,” Anton answered for him.
The doorman eyeballed Anton a second before he walked backwards and opened the door for them. “Have a pleasant evening, gentlemen.”
Anton urged Jude through. As soon as they were past, he said, “See?”
Jude lifted his gaze to the massive crystal chandelier in the entryway. “Dorothy, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”
Anton chuckled and urged him toward the elevator bank. After a quick trip up, they were soon standing in front of door 25-B. Anton took a deep breath before he lifted a hand to knock. Jude tensed when the knob turned.
What the fuck am I doing here?
An older guy with stylish white hair, wearing a black Mardi gras mask and a purple velvet robe, opened it. He was giving off serious Hefner vibes, and Jude had to look away to hide his grin.
He was also as tall as Anton. If it wasn’t his best friend, Jude might’ve been interested to see the two giants going at it.
“Anton,” the man said, a wide smile spreading across his face. He pulled the mask down and Jude could see he wasn’t quite as old as he’d first assumed. Maybe late forties, early fifties. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
Anton turned to the side. “Jason, this is my good friend Jude.”
“Any friend of Anton’s is welcome here,” Jason said, offering his hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Jude.”
Jude shook it. “Nice to meet you.”
What looked like a waiter appeared beside Jason and handed him a tablet. He passed it to Anton. “You know the drill.”
“Yeah,” Anton said before swirling his finger over the surface.
He passed it back to Jason, who pressed a few buttons and handed it to Jude.
“I hope you don’t mind signing an NDA,” Jason said.
An NDA? His gaze whipped to Anton’s.
Jude took the tablet and read. Not just scanned but read the motherfucker. He wasn’t signing away his life to anyone.
“Standard boiler plate, I assure you. We just want to assure that what happens at the party stays at the party—which protects you both, too,” Jason said.
After another quick glance to Anton, he continued to read over the statement. When he was fairly confident there was nothing untoward, he signed it. Jason’s sigh sounded relieved when Jude finally put fingertip to screen. Jude handed it back and forced a smile.
The server and the tablet quickly disappeared.
“Come in, come in,” Jason said, backing away to let them through. As they passed, he handed a white mask similar to his to Anton. “Which one for your friend?”
“Do we gotta wear these?” Jude asked.
“It helps keep a sense of mystery, don’t you think?” Jason asked. “Maybe the handsome stranger isn’t a stranger at all…”
“Ahhh,” Jude murmured.
“Just put it on,” Anton whispered under his breath as he handed his to Jude and grabbed another for himself.
Jude pulled it on, trailing behind Jason and Anton once he was done.
Once they exited the hallway, he scanned the interior.
The apartment was massive. It had to have cost millions.
Real estate in Manhattan was some of the most expensive in the country.
Add in a Park Avenue address and that added even more dollar signs.
He captured Anton’s gaze, wishing he’d asked a lot more questions before agreeing to come. They were totally out of their element.
The living area was two stories high with a massive wall of floor-to-ceiling windows showing off an amazing view of the city.
Outside a set of French doors at the end of the room was a huge balcony that could fit twenty or more with ease.
They passed a gourmet kitchen with a massive island bigger than his whole kitchen that was loaded with fancy finger food and bottles of wine and champagne.
There were already about two dozen men congregating in the living room and dining space, most of them in small groups of three or four and in varying levels of dress. They all glanced Anton and Jude’s way when they entered. A few of them with interest.
“Can I get you boys a drink?” Jason asked. “I’ve got wine, beer, and soda.”
“A beer would be great,” Jude said.
“Two,” Anton added, holding up two fingers.
“Coming right up,” Jason said, walking to the other side of the island. He reached into a sink that was apparently acting as a cooler and came up with two icy cans.
Someone stopped Jason before he could return with their drinks. Anton spun to face him and pointed to the mask. “White masks are bottoms. Black tops. Checked are switches.”
“So mysterious,” Jude muttered.
“Can you not?”
Jude clenched his jaw. He ran off at the mouth when he was uncomfortable. It was just who he was… but that wasn’t helping Anton. He bit his lower lip and told himself to be cool. He leaned closer to Anton. “Is Jason the guy?”
After hesitating a second, Anton nodded. “Yeah.”
“Not someone I would’ve seen for you.”
Anton chuckled. “Me either. And don’t you say a word about the age gap. I don’t want to hear it.”
Jude tucked that one away for later. “This his place?”
Anton nodded again.
Jude glanced around again, noting the luxurious furnishings and the fixtures. The well-tailored, expensive-looking clothing of those who were still somewhat dressed. The hundreds, if not thousands, in food displayed on the island.
“I know, I know, you don’t think we belong here,” Anton said. He turned to Jude. “I’ve told myself that, too. But after we met, he’s been insistent we see each other again. I ran out of excuses why I couldn’t.”
“You ran out of excuses? You’re allowed to say no if you didn’t want to come.”
“I didn’t want to say no,” Anton murmured.
Jude eyed Anton, not accustomed to seeing that side of him.
“It’s just sex… but I stupidly hope it might be more than that.
” He turned to survey the other men there, most of which were closer to Jason’s age from their appearance.
“I’m a fucking fool because we both know it won’t happen, but I can’t seem to stop his gravitation pull.
I figure I’ll ride this train until it stops. ”
Or crashes.
Jude kept that thought to himself.
“Do what feels right,” Jude whispered. “And listen to your gut.”
“I don’t think I would’ve had the nerve to knock on the door if you weren’t with me,” Anton said seconds before Jason finally returned. “Thanks.”
“Sorry about that.” Jason handed over the cans. “I hope these will do?”
“Perfect. That’s our usual brand,” Jude said.