Over-the-Counter Encounter
4. Beginning
Matt's apartment opened unto a courtyard, shared by his garden apartment neighbors. It was an upscale place befitting his upscale salary. It was clear to Dean from the moment he stepped across the threshold that Matt was not in need of support like other boyfriends and lovers. However, the passion had begun. It began outside the Cave and accelerated on the drive to the apartment. By the time they entered the place, there was little noting of furnishings and knickknacks. The lights were on for a moment - two at the most, then the place was plunged into darkness.
Heated kissing and groping lit the room. Shirts were peeled and trousers dropped. There was indeed a back crawl on the bed and no time to dislodge shoes and socks before the first earnest probing began. Dean worshipped at Matt's temple with its phallic shrine erect to the core. There was no thought but of the first day, when the world was green and Adam had not seen Eve yet, and had to be content with the pleasure of his own body. Indeed, as the kissing became more intense and the touching most reciprocal, the world came apart and reassembled within a short span of time.
Inside Dean, Matt knew the true ecstasy of the Saints who fooled the world into thinking ecstasy was the soul's leakage instead of its orgasmic release. When the bodies finished pressing hard and warm together to suit human needs, a quiet calm settled on the bed. But it was a brief ebb as a wave soon returned and the charge of the tide broke again on the palisades.
Holding and hugging became home. Touching and feeling became wisdom. All that lovers seek and rarely find showed up like unexpected rain. Dean held onto Matt as if to let go would be a crime of nature. Matt stroked Dean's hair as brother would brother. Breathing was music. There was nothing quite comparable in either of these lives.
"Soft, sweet music," said Matt.
"Are you going to put some on?" asked Dean. "We don't need any."
"No," said Matt. "We don't need to. I was just thinking that you are my soft sweet music. Your skin is so velvety smooth - and your heart beat. I could feel your heart beating on my chest."
"I wasn't too loud," said Dean. "I mean, I don't usually pant like that."
"It was a symphonic climax, love. It was above its moment. I will remember it always. And your eyes, like dark souls wrapping me in a package in ribbons and bows."
Suddenly, Matt jumped up.
"What's the matter?" asked Dean.
"I almost forgot," said Matt. "I got you a Christmas present."
"How the fuck could you get me a present?"
Matt went away into the dark and returned with a flat box - a tie box.
"Sorry, I didn't get it wrapped, although the guy who sold it to me said I could get gift wrap."
"You fucker," said Dean opening the box and laughing at the ugly, purple tie.
"But you picked it out," said Matt.
"You said it was for a special friend."
"And it is."
"But I was jealous of that special friend," said Dean. "I figured this shit tie would be what he deserved."
"And so he does."
They both stood naked in the wintry night. Matt came behind Dean and knotted the tie around Dean's neck with great tenderness. Dean turned and embraced him. The passion grew again.
"Holy shit," said Matt very animated.
"What?"
"It's snowing! Snowing!"
Matt ran to the window. In all their passion neither noticed that there was a whopping good snow fall in progress, at least three inches already.
"That's right," said Dean. "You've never seen snow. Like who's never seen snow?"
Matt had the window open. A cold chill kissed their balls.
"It's wonderful," Matt said. "How did you know this is what I wanted for Christmas, you cheeky boy?"
Matt kissed him and quickly dressed.
"What are you doing?" asked Dean.
"I'm going out in it. Come on, let's go."
"No way," said Dean shivering. "I've seen the stuff since I was a baby. I'm not getting a cold making fucking snow angels in the middle of the night with a crazy Texan!!"
Matt had his coat on. He looked Dean square in the face and smiled.
"Well, I'm going," he said. "I want to touch it."
He opened the door and pranced out into the courtyard.
"Close the door, it's cold," said Dean.
Matt closed the door, while Dean sought the blankets. He could hear Matt’s laughter through the closed door. It made Dean smile.
"Dean, come to the window."
Dean shook his head and laughed, then went to the window.
"It's sticking to the cars," said Matt. "Wow. It's magic. It's like soft, sweet music. Can you believe this?"
"Shhh! You'll wake your neighbors."
A snowball came whizzing through the open window hitting Dean in the stomach.
"Stop it, you bitch," he said. "That was a bit low."
Matt laughed and started making another snowball.
"If you pitch another one, I'll get your ass when you get back in here."
"I'm counting on it, sweetheart!" said Dean.
Another snowball whizzed by hitting the wall. Then, there was music. Matt began dancing around outside singing "Dixie."
"I wish I were
in the land of Cotton,
Old times there are soon forgotten,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixieland."
"O, my God, the man's mad," said Dean.
Dean shut the window and tossed the blankets back on the bed. He could hear Dean still singing –
"In Dixieland when I was born!"
Dean clenched his fists and smiled. A tear rolled down his eyes. He went to the door and slowly opened it. His naked silhouette was etched on a background snow. He touched the purple tie and smiled.
"God," he said quietly. "God, let this one be a keeper."
He lifted the tie to his nose and inhaled the gift.
"Please, please, let this one be a keeper!"
"Look away! Look away! Look away. . ."