“Honey, Miles has invited us out on his yacht for the afternoon and dinner, and he said to bring Lawr along.”
I groaned inwardly. Miles was one of Kent’s set, a wealthy queen who looked at Kent as a best friend. I sort of thought of Miles Quiler as a worst friend, at least to me. He’d come on to me hard just before Kent and I married, and every time I turned him down since, he became more sarcastic and cutting toward me.
Kent was in denial about it, but then again Miles had taken him under his wing so to speak and had been best friends and confidant before I knew Kent.
“A yacht? Sounds hot.” Lawr said and I avoided looking at each of them as I failed to repress the scowl on my face. But I could hear them moving together and kissing behind me. We had just finished lunch on the terrace and were all three wearing very little. As this was only the second day since Lawr arrived, the casual and near constant smooching between them was a bit fast, but I wasn’t complaining.
We added shorts, ts and deck shoes, and piled into the jeep, with Kent driving this time. Lawr sat up front with him, and I settled gloomily in back.
Lawr’s hand didn’t hesitate to swing over and rest on Kent’s thigh as he drove. It didn’t take long to reach the marina and just a minute to walk out the dock to Mile’s large seventy-foot motor yacht. It was just short of a superyacht, but its sweeping cabin works had that spaceship look all contemporary water yachts had these days.
Miles saw us coming, waving at us from the aft deck. Forty some and pretending to be thirty, Miles had a defined physique, chiseled features that escaped being handsome by a millimeter, sharp dark blue eyes under plucked brows, and a thatch of dark hair lightly salted with silver, thin lips plumped by pink lipstick. His face was artificially tanned, and he wore a wide brimmed white hat to protect his delicate complexion from the sun. Yes, as you might suppose, Miles loved to do drag, and the tiny sparkly pink thong he wore just added to the over all effect of a glitzy, slightly over the top queen.
“Oh come aboard, darlings, Kent you sweety come here and give your Daddy-kins a big kiss.”
Kent went willingly and the two clung to each other for a good ten seconds, which is plenty long when watching your husband being mauled by someone you really don’t like.
Miles draped a handout toward me and said, “Dev, darling how are you?” I didn’t touch the hand, much less bend to kiss the thing, which was his intention.
Not waiting for an answer or a move on my part, he turned to Lawr and just gawked. “Oh… hi delicious, please DO come aboard.”
Lawr smiled, “Don’t mind if I do, thanks.”
“And I am sure I don’t mind if you do, either.” Miles oiled out, swaying toward Lawr’s big frame. “Kent, darling please introduce me to your gorgeous new lover.”
Kent laughed, while I stamped on a wave of annoyance. “Lawr, this is Miles Quilter, an old friend.”
“Not that old, Kent.” Miles came back all but batting his eyes at Lawr, who chuckled.
Kent forged on, “Miles, this is Lawr Ridgeway, Dev’s roommate from college. Miles has been hired as assistant manager at the Maritime Restaurant.”
“Oh well, Tod and I will have to go dining there soon.” Miles said. Then he looked around at me, “So intelligent of Dev to bring such an impressive guest, and another top. Kent, you must be drooling. I know I am.” Miles gave Lawr another sultry look and then gestured away toward he cabins. “Excuse me while I go and find Tod. My new boyfriend is the captain.”
“Congratulations, Miles. That’s news, Kent offered.
“Oh yes, isn’t it? I had to let Captain Clarence go. He was a sweet man but a complete and utter lush. Well come aboard and relax in the salon while our Captain gets us underway.” Miles glanced at me. “Cat got your tongue, Dev?” Then he was gone, swishily moving off into the cabin works.
Kent whispered to me. “Dev, you didn’t even say hi.”
This was one of those moments when any answer would only dig me deeper, so I just smiled and said, “I love you, baby.”
Kent rolled his eyes and said to Lawr, “You see what I have to contend with.”
Lawr just shrugged slightly and offered a slight grin. Smart man.
Kent showed us inside through a lower deck reception area that led up stairs to a corridor with state rooms on either side. From here we climbed past a dining and living area that was nothing short of sumptuous, if decorated in entirely too much pink and white for my taste. There was a young hot bartender cleaning glasses while another hunky lad dashed through the room and out the other side.
After taking our drink orders, the bartender told us to take another flight of steps up to the salon,. Which was a long deck with large glass ports that backed the main pilot station. To the aft end of that level, was a hot tub surrounded by a curving white and pink cushioned sunbathing bench.
The captain, or what I presumed to be such, was a man named Tod Mitchell, I had met before around the marina, a man in his thirties, attractive, who was listening to his boss and boyfriend. “Yes, Miles we’ll just do a leisurely run down to the sound, anchor off Cape Cod. We could run into Province town if you like.”
“Oh yes let's do that, darling.”
I didn’t hear the rest because I moved back toward the hot tub and the bench around it. Lawr joined me, while Kent spoke with our host and the captain.
The bartender soon appeared with our drinks, some iced tea for the three of us, non of us ready to start getting buzzed.
Miles eventually brought his man, Tod back to meet us. The man’s eyes were everywhere, first on Kent’s ass as he and Miles led the man. But then his eyes sort of glazed over as he took in the sight of hunky Lawr and then me.
“Ah great to meet you gentlemen. Welcome aboard the Flamingo. “We’ll be debarking shortly and heading southwest to Cape Cod to anchor off the beach and later to motor around the Provincetown for dinner.”
When the captain retreated, Kent offered, “Your new man is very handsome and seems very capable.”
“Oh, believe me, Kent, darling, he is and in more than one way. Soooo, Lawr is it, tell me were you and Dev lovers in college?”
Lawr grinned, “Just roomies.”
Miles clutched his chest suddenly, “Oh please GAWD don’t tell me your one of those straight roomies that break a room mate’s heart. You’ll break mine, if you do.”
“Well…” Lawr flushed, and I was pretty sure he just didn’t want to say anything to encourage Miles.
Kent tried to intervene, “Miles means well, Lawr, you have nothing to fear. Miles has a heart of gold.”
Lawr fastened on Kent, melting of course, “Well, of course. Yes, I was straight but, wavering you might say. Never actually acted on anything but ..”
I cringed. Sure, enough Mile’s head whipped around, like a hound on the scent. “You wanted Dev?”
Kent didn’t help. “From what Dev told me, he had a crush on Lawr…”
“Unrequited, probably, right? You have too much good taste.” Miles said, getting up and moving past me to sit close to Lawr. Kent already sat close on Lawr’s other side.
Lawr gave me a helpless look and I offered a shrug.
“Sooo, how long have you known you were gay?”
Lawr shrugged, “It's been gradual, some girlfriends in between. I am really grateful to Kent and Dev for letting me stay with them.”
Kent made the mistake of reaching around Lawr to pull him in and kissing his jaw. “Its our pleasure, were happy to have you.’
I could see the bitches' antennae extending over this little show, big time.
“Oh, that is so like you, Kent. Offering your home free to an artist, and now his college crush. You have a very generous heart, Kent, dear, never say otherwise.”
“Well, I like Lawr, too, he is like family.” Kent said, reassuring Lawr. They turned heads to each other and exchanged an affectionate smooch. The only thing was the way Kent’s left hand ended up resting on and now rubbing Lawr’s muscular thigh.
“After only what, a day, or two?” Miles asked, pointedly, his dark blue eyes taking in Kent’s hand on Lawr’s thigh.
“Absolutely.” Kent said, completely oblivious to the opening he was giving his vicious friend.
“Oh well, and what ever happened to the crush you had on Lawr, Dev? But I suppose your monogamous marriage prevents you from ever pursuing your college crush, though I am sure it was your connection that caused the invitation for Lawr to say with you two. I hope your not too frustrated.” Miles voice was so thick with the syrup of sympathy.
Kent looked clueless as he said, “Oh don’t be silly, Miles. It was Dev’s idea to invite Lawr and I am just happy I let myself be persuaded.”
“My how plans can backfire, eh, Dev?” Miles said so smoothly to me it took me a split moment to catch the barb, but I did see Lawr’s brief frown as his eyes flicked to me and back to Miles.
I decided I better speak, or Miles would make something out of silence, so I said, “Have I told you before how lovely your boat is, Miles? Ah, and it appears we are casting off.” I got up and went forward as if interested in what the boat was doing, but in reality, I was happy to get away from that bitch.
Captain Tod seemed to know what he was doing, giving soft orders over his mic to the two young crew who cast off leeward lines and then windward as we started to inch our way out of the slip.
As we idled majestically onto a course out of the harbor, I heard the Captain utter “fuck”
Standing beside the pilot bench, as I was, I looked over to see him ogling my bulge.
“Eyes ahead, Captain,” I said with a chuckle, and he flushed.
Sorry but you and your friend and your husband are all hot as fuck.”
“You're not so bad yourself, Captain.” I said with a chuckle.
“l do ok,” he said after yet another shade of red on his fair skin. “Thanks.”
The Captain and I spent the next several minutes as we worked our way clear of the harbor, talking about his previous work as a sea captain. He asked me about my sea experience. “Just as a passenger on other people’s yachts.” I said. “I once served as a crew for an older couple for a month right after I graduated college, so I know knots, how to tie a cleat and can steer a clear course and find my way around a sea chart. That’s about it.”
“That’s more than many.” Tod told me. I had sat down at his side at his invitation and didn’t complain as his hand wandered up my thigh now and again. It gave him pleasure, and with Kent playing up to Lawr back there and Miles eating that up, a little appreciation from someone went a long way. I felt nothing for Tod, but he seemed nice, and I wondered how he could stand the bitch.
“So…” Miles’s voice broke in a little later, stopping our discussion of sailing as opposed to power boats. I hadn’t sailed much but I wanted to learn.
“So, how does it feel to lose your husband to your college roomy? If I ever saw love, I see it now.”
Tod had snatched his hand off my thigh, but I caught his frown.
I got up and turned around to face the snake, asking gently, “Are you saying Kent doesn’t have a big enough heart to love me too?” I gave Miles an outrageously saucy wink to back it up.
Mile’s brows lifted. “There's the man I remember. Cool, calculating, devastating.” He reached out with his boyfriend right there and groped my bulge. “You should leave your husband to his new love and join Tod and I in bed.” Miles reached over to caress his boyfriends' neck from behind.
“You wouldn’t complain would you, darling?”
Captain Tod kept his head averted facing forward, while I felt sorry for him for being treated like a useful prop. He managed an inaudible grunt that could have meant anything.
As usual when Miles was around to propositioned me, I wished Kent were near enough to hear it. I glanced back to see that Kent and Lawr had removed shirts and shorts and were both sitting in the hot tub close beside each other, looking every bit like lovers.
“I wonder if your bartender has any thing to nibble on. I am hungry.” I walked away from Miles and with a glance back at my husband and his “interest”, stepped below down the nearest companionway.
Miles, unfortunately, followed. ” Aren’t you the least bit jealous, Dev, darling? You brought Lawr here to what?"
Christ help me I could almost hear the snake thinking. Then he went on, "Oooh, I have it! Was it to make a three-way relationship? With Kent? You know Kent only goes for one man at a time and is quite incapable or a manage for any length of time. Your marriage to him is in BIG trouble, Mr. Calculator.” He said, cackling with ill hidden glee.
“I have no idea what Kent might do. You have me at a disadvantage there,” I said turning to face him. I kept my tone as conversational with Miles as if we were talking about the weather. “You’ve known him a long time.”
Miles hoisted himself onto a barstool beside me, “Sam get Dev here anything he likes.”
I held out my iced tea. “One more of these please.”
“Yes Sir.” The bar tender got my drink and Miles dismissed him, “Sam take a break, would you darling. Go change into nothing so our guests can enjoy your personal scenery.”
“Yes Sir.” The bartender said without any expression at all. Yet I had he strong impression he could have cared less for his boss.
Once he was gone Miles oozed sympathetic charm. “I know you know Kent won’t allow a three-way relationship, which, I believe, from what I see here, you are trying to pull off. But I don’t imagine you know why.”
“He has said a few things.”
“Oh, and has he mentioned two men, Harry Trent and Ben Hanson?”
Somehow, I managed to keep my expression clear of any change as I heard Ben’s name.
“I have met Ben. Very nice man.”
“A slut, but that’s neither here nor there. He is rich enough to get away with it. Harry Trent was a bartender and sometime erotic dancer at the Pendleton Bar in Province Town. Kent met him there and dated him, bringing him back here on Harry’s nights off. Harry was a stunner, knock dead gorgeous. They were lovers, hot and tight. And then Ben met them on the beach and charmed both of them into his bed.
For a year the three of them were inseparable, but Kent became more and more upset because Ben would bring other hot men around, he kept a staff of hot men at his house, to crew his yacht and to feed to his two lovers.
Kent wanted a simple monogamous relationship with Harry, but Harry, at Ben’s encouragement, kept straying, and Kent kept finding both his partners in bed with others. Then Harry met a guy named Stew or Stooge, whatever, and fell head over heels for him, moving clear across the US to La. with him.
Kent stayed with Ben, but his heart was broken. I know, I was there. He was a mess. He loved Ben, but sort of like someone who loves their cocaine habit. Not long after that, he met you, and what does he do, he ghosts Ben Hanson. I mean it was cruel. Ben might be a no-good slut, but he loves. He loves.”
Miles wiped his own eyes theatrically, but maybe he meant it. “Next thing I know, Kent tells me he wants to marry you. Crazy kids!” Miles huffed.
I digested all this and then nodded. “I didn’t know all that. I guess Kent’s history with his two x’s was something he wants kept secret.”
Miles eyes narrowed. “Oooh, blackmail. You tell him I told you anything, I will deny it.”
“And he’ll believe you over me, unhunh.” I said dryly, and Miles looked momentarily furious.
“Maybe not all the way, but the way Kent has been hurt…. Yeah, enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“I gave you information you didn’t have. You owe me now.”
“Thankyou.” I said, quietly.
“I can see to it, Kent remembers who his spouse is, and stays loyal… for a price.”
Ah there it was. “And what would that be?”
Miles leaned toward me and ran a pink nail polished hand up my thigh to my bulge, rubbing it slowly back and forth. “Let me do you whenever Kent isn’t around, and I’ll keep him loyal.”
“And how would you do that?” I asked, frankly curious.
“I am his best friend, his mentor in all thing's relationship-wise. He depends on me. I’ll make sure he doesn’t trust this Lawr beefcake, tasty as he is.”
“And if I don’t agree?”
“Goodbye Dev and Kent, hello Lawr and Kent. You see I know Kent. He will NEVER have a three-way relationship, not ever again.”
“Well…”
“You don’t need to answer right now, darling.” Miles said, still massaging my cock through my shorts and the thong wore under it. My cock, having a mind of its own, was swelling under the assault, too, which just encouraged him, of course.
“Maybe I don’t need to, but I will.” I said, getting up with my iced tea. “You’ve made a hell of a lot of assumptions, Miles. Maybe you hit a mark, maybe not. It doesn’t matter. I may have partly created an opportunity for Lawr and my man. But here is the difference. I don’t pretend to control anyone. Kent’s decisions are his own, as are Lawr’s. If they fall in love and leave me, so be it. In fact, if that happens, I hope you find some satisfaction, but I doubt you will. You’ll be just as empty as you are right now.” I toasted him with my iced tea glass and turned away going to the companionway to go spend time with my men.
I didn’t see the white-hot fury on Mile’s face, but I felt it, like a cold knife in the back.
We reached the beach of Cape Cod quickly enough. I spent my time on the upper deck enjoying the scenery and eventually Lawr and Kent joined me. Both of them were down to thongs and we settled on the foredeck sun benches, left to ourselves by snake tongue Miles. He didn’t like being up where the wind could blow off his hat.
It was decided to go on around and into Provincetown for the evening. We enjoyed dinner at a fine restaurant with Tod joining us, though largely ignored by Miles who spent the entire dinner making catty remarks about how little attention Kent got from me. Remarks like, “With Dev always painting at least you have time to show Lawr around”, Or “Oooh, you’re a massage therapist, Lawr? I bet Kent is enjoying that. You have massaged him, haven’t you?”
The irony was the more Miles made such remarks the less Kent seemed to pay attention.
The boat ride back to Nantucket turned out to be Kent getting a private massage in the master stateroom by Lawr without me watching. Miles was adamant that they have privacy from Kent’s nosey husband. They all laughed, even Kent, which I have to admit, hurt me a little. I begged off and stayed up on the foredeck watching the sea and buoy lights and lights of ships and boats going by. It was a magical sight to sea and would have been perfect with Kent and Lawr at my side, but I just hoped Miles and his smirking self-satisfied little soul was happy. I doubted it.
As for me, I decided I would be just fine.
