Ti Amo

Chapter 3

They exited the movie theater, Caesar holding Joseph's hand. He was holding it like a little boy holding his father's hand. Joseph's green-blue eyes swept the street looking for a taxi. This was Caesar's country, so why wasn't he the one hailing the cab?

One pulled up to the curb. Joseph held the door open for his friend and he ushered him in. He slid in next to the blonde and closed the door.

He asked the driver in Italian, in a casual tone, if he spoke English. The man stared at him blankly.

It wasn't one of the ones after them. Because they had spoken perfect English.

He turned to Caesar. "Tell him to make sure we aren't followed. Tell him he will get the biggest tip of his life."

Caesar told the driver in rapid Italian. The car pulled out purposefully, the driver on a mission.

He deposited them safely at the hotel. Joseph pulled a thick packet of lira out of his wallet and handed it to the driver.

The brunette and the blonde entered a side door of the hotel, one for deliveries, bypassing the front desk. As Joseph stood in front of his room, he fumbled with the key and dropped it.

"You don't usually have butterfingers," remarked Caesar.

"I know." He retrieved the key, glad that Caesar had not tried to reach for the key as well. Because if their hands had touched, he would have taken him right there in the hall.

They went into the room and Joseph closed the door behind them. He exhaled, at last feeling safe. No one knew where he was staying.

"I need to wash my face." He went in the bathroom, turned on the tap, and got a washcloth. He ran it under ice-cold water and held it against his face and his neck, pushing away the fevered thoughts.

Joseph looked in the mirror. The husband, the father in him seemed to chastise him.

"Fuck you," he said to the mirror. Feeling lighter, he returned to the room but stopped.

Caesar was sitting on the bed, his head hanging a bit, kicking his feet and looking like a lost little boy.

The lust and desire faded from Joseph's body. He slowly walked over to the bed and sat next to his friend.

"Look at me."

Caesar didn't move, just stared at his feet.

"Look at me." The brunette reached out and gently took Caesar's chin in his fingers, making him look into his eyes.

"It's me. You can tell me."

Caesar spoke. "I ... I wanted to see you. I ran away."

"From where, darling?" He used the same tone he would for Holly.

"From where I lived. They wouldn't let me go out."

"You were a prisoner?'

"No, I had everything I wanted. Except you."

Joseph's eyes widened. A maelstrom of feelings stirred in him. He couldn't say anything else at the moment. Joseph felt that whatever was going on right now, he wouldn't be able to wrap his mind around it. Yet he could wrap his arms around Caesar.

"Caesar. Will you let me - "

He couldn't finish because the blonde was on him like a panther, lean and strong and hungry. He was barely able to take a breath before Caesar's mouth covered his. As soon as the Italian kissed him, Joseph slipped in his tongue. Their tongues wrestled for dominance.

"Mmm.."

"Ahhnn.."

Caesar withdrew his tongue, a thin line of saliva on the tip. He slipped his hand under Joseph's shirt, raking his belly.

"Jojo ... you've gotten soft. Where are those abs that were covered in sweat and oil every hour of every day?"

"They're there ... you just have to look harder." It felt good to re-engage their familiar banter.

Joseph grabbed Caesar's hand under his shirt and pushed it down so it dimpled his belly. Anywhere the blonde's fingers splayed on his skin burned, kindling the already dangerous flame out of control.

"Mmmm .. " Joseph pressed his tongue in deeper, feeling the recesses of his mouth. He unwound Caesar's scarf and tugged at his short blue jacket. "God damn it Caesar. Why do you have to have so many pieces of clothing?"

Caesar was busy unbuttoning Joseph's crisp dress shirt.

"I'm not a caveman like you, who wears the bare minimum. Where's that black top you had that barely covered your torso. I miss it."

Soon the two men were shirtless. Caesar rubbed his pecs over Joseph's. Joseph moaned as he felt Caesar move up and down enthusiastically. Caesar slid his pecs down to Joseph's abs, so he could press his mouth to Joseph's left pec, his tongue swirling around the part that made Joseph cry out.

"Say my name, Jojo ... I want to hear you."

Joseph's eyes were closed, his head tilted back as he lay on his back on the bed, Caesar's lips working his chest.

"C - ssssseasar." It came out as a hiss through his teeth.