Charley's Song
by Darcy
They stood in a circle after the match, having each other on about missed tackles and taking the piss out of the blokes who had shown well, when two girls - well, women actually - approached them. Ian, Jeff's best mate on the team, called out and jogged over to greet them, then brought the girls closer to introduce them to his mates.
"All right you ockers, watch the p's and q's now. Here's my cousin Charlotte and her mate Jen," he said, an arm around each of the girls.
"Which one's which?" Jeff smiled shyly. "Neither one looks like you---thank God for small favors, yeah?"
"I might have known you'd start taking the piss out straight away, ya cheeky bastard," growled Ian. "Charley, flip him off so he knows it's you."
The tall blue-eyed blond lifted her hand in a friendly wave, ignoring her cousin's rude suggestion. "Hi guys. I'm Ian's rellie...lucky me, right? This is my friend Jenny Garnett." She gave them a blinding smile...definitely an American smile. "Great match today," Charlotte said. "Everyone did so well. Especially you." She smiled and looked straight at Jeff. "You should get the game ball, or whatever they give to the MVP here in Australia."
"Seppos! Bloody hell, they're Americans," shouted the forward, and Ian laughed. "Forgot to mention it, mates, but yeah, they are. Here on holiday from the States."
The rest of the team clustered around the girls, and Jeff came closer too, smiling down at Charlotte. "Nice to meet you…uh, Charley? Did Ian call you by a bloke's name, or am I deaf? Or daft, maybe."
"He did. Everyone calls me Charley instead of Charlotte, except my mother. She won't. Says it's not refined, but like I told her, neither am I." She chuckled, and Jeff's smile grew even wider.
"Name's Jeff Mitchell." He introduced himself and took her hand when Charlotte offered it. He shook it, then squeezed a little, thinking, ‘What a friendly sheila she is. Nice, easy to be around.’ For the first time in a long time, a woman piqued his interest. It surprised him; he thought he was long past any attraction to females.
While she talked with the other footy players, he looked her over. He didn't want to appear rude, but it was hard not to stare. She was very pretty, striking really. Sort of tall, about up to his nose, he reckoned, and her figure was great. Not skinny, lush, with rounded hips, a small waist, and great tits. Most people who knew him would reckon he’d like straight, spare women, but Jeff always thought sheilas with those voluptuous sexy bodies were beautiful. If you're in the mood for a woman, go for a real woman, was his philosophy. If you want straight and spare, take a man. But to Jeff, Charley's most appealing feature was her eyes. Straight away, he'd looked into them and caught his breath. They were a gorgeous, clear blue with a dark ring around the outer edge of the iris, fringed with the most remarkable thick long eyelashes he'd ever seen. He watched her laugh and joke with his teammates and thought how much he'd like to spend some time with her, get to know her. She really seemed nice, as did her friend. He smiled a hello at Jenny and got another friendly wave in return. That did it. He sauntered over to Ian, who was down on one knee, re-tying his shoe.
"Hey mate," began Jeff, "What do you reckon the two of us take your cousin and her friend out tonight? Maybe to dinner first, and then on a pub crawl, show them what a Sydney night on the town is like."
Ian, well aware of Jeff's homosexuality, looked up at him with one eye closed, the other squinting into the sun. "What's on with you then? Why would you want to take a sheila out anywhere?"
"Mate, I'm just being friendly. Wouldn't you rather have me showin' your cousin the sights than one of those other blokes? Michael, or Justin, for instance? What kind of a time do you think she'd have if she was out with a nasty rooter like one of them, her always fending off their hands, and them eyeing her up like a pair of bulls at the gate to the cow’s paddock?"
Ian finished tying his shoe and rose. "Fuck's sake, mate. Don't give me mentals like that. It's none of my business who Charley likes, but bloody hell. Michael? He's nothing but a fuck-hound." Ian gave a mock shiver.
"See what I mean? Not a pretty piccie, is it?" Jeff grinned crookedly. "I might be a poof, but I like women just fine. Some of my best mates are sheilas. What's the matter with the four of us having a bit of a good time?"
Ian clapped him on the shoulder. "Nothing’s the matter, we'd have a great time. But all I can do is offer, it's up to Charley and Jen if they want to come out tonight." He nodded toward the girls and said, "Let's ask them now, before one of those other bastards gets his licks in first." He looked over at his cousin and saw that, while surrounded by admirers, her eyes were on Jeff. "So that's the way of it," he thought to himself, "She's already got her eye on him. Well, best she finds out straight away then," and he crooked his finger to beckon her over to where he and Jeff stood.
"Charley," he said, when she got close enough to hear him, "Jeff's had an idea. How about you and Jen hitting the town with us tonight? We could have some tucker and then stop in at the Gaslight, or maybe the Coogee Bay Hotel. They've always got a band there; we'll see who's playing, maybe do a bit of dancing and lift a few, if we've a mind to." He elbowed Jeff and laughed. "Like we wouldn't have a mind to have a piss-up, mate."
Jeff shrugged and dropped his eyes, then looked back at Charley and smiled, his expression both shy and eager.
Charley's face lit up, her eyes sparkling like blue diamonds. "Sounds like a great idea! I'd love it." She looked straight at Jeff, and while her eyes were on him, his breath seemed to catch in his chest. "Let me check with Jen first, though," she warned. "I might have to bribe her to go out with you, Ian." She winked broadly to show she was kidding, then walked, hips swaying sweetly, over to her friend and spoke into her ear.
It didn't escape Ian's notice that Jeff watched her the whole time, his eyes going over her figure and lingering just a little too long on her bum.
"Now what's this then?" Ian wondered, confused. He'd known Jeff for two years, for as long as they'd been teammates on the footy squad, and Jeff had been upfront from the word go. He was gay, unashamedly and unapologetically gay. He'd gone a few rounds with women, he'd told Ian, and while he'd found them pleasurable, he had not been impressed enough to make him change his mind about preferring men. He liked women, had many women friends, but when it came to sex, he said he'd rather fly with the ganders than the geese.
At first his disclosure had astonished Ian, mainly because Jeff did not come across as gay. He was not effeminate, not by any means. He didn’t make an attempt to hit on any of his footy teammates, and took their good-natured ribbing with equanimity, always giving as good as he got. He had been with the team on their annual holiday to Manila and had gone with his mates to a brothel for a night of carousing. Ian had seen him himself, drinking Red Horse beer with a pretty dark-eyed whore in his lap and a big grin on his face. Ian had never asked him if he done anything there besides drink; it was none of his business. But he had wondered, because Jeff had seemed more than content to have an all but naked woman parked in his lap, leaning over to whisper and lick at his ear. And now here Jeff was, looking at Charley like he'd never heard the word gay.
"Are you havin’ a perve at me cousin's arse, mate?" Ian scowled, his hands on his hips. "I can't fuckin' believe it."
"Back off, mate, I'm just lookin'," Jeff shrugged. "She's got a ripper of a figure, don't you think?"
"She’s me cousin, mate...I didn’t notice." Ian shook his head. "You are weirding me out, Mitchell. I thought you didn't fancy the sheilas."
Jeff shrugged. "Beauty is beauty, isn’t it then? Like I said, I'm just looking." He broke into a grin as Charley glanced over and gave him a thumbs up. "Looks like Jenny's been convinced," he told Ian. "Wonder what your cousin had to promise her to get her to go?" He ducked as Ian mock-punched at him.
"Fuck off, you poof," said Ian good-naturedly. "So who's driving tonight? You'd better if you can bring your dad's car; it's bigger than my Subaru."
"No worries, I'll drive," Jeff agreed. He’d already noted Charley’s height, she’d uncomfortable folded up into the backseat of Ian’s car. He glanced down at his watch. It was just before 3:00. "I'll collect you all at six, how does that sound?"
Ian nodded. "Works for me."
"Cool. See you then. Hoo roo." And Jeff jogged off the field, waving at the girls on his way to the locker room.
* * *
He burst through the front door with his usual announcement of "I'm rooted!" and threw himself into the nearby chair to catch his breath. His body dripped sweat; it ran into his eyes from his hair, pooled in the hollow of his throat, slid in a steady stream down the cleft of his spine. His Dad came out from the kitchen with a beer in his hand and gave him the fish eye.
"You're sweating all over the upholstery, Jeff," Harry pointed out. "Every time you come in from a run all sweaty and smelly, you throw yourself into that chair and drip all over the upholstery. It drives me mental."
Jeff looked up at his Dad and blinked as stinging sweat ran into his eye, then heaved himself up out of the chair. "Sorry, mate," he apologized. "Didn't think about it. I'm off to have a shower."
"What do you want for your tea this arvo?" called Harry, lifting his beer for another swig. "I can't make up me mind what to cook."
"Nothing. I'm going out for dinner tonight." Jeff strode to the bathroom, chucking his sweaty clothes on the way.
"Oh? Got a hot date?" asked Harry, dogging his son's steps. "What's the bloke's name? Have I met him?"
"It's not a bloke," answered Jeff. "I'm taking a sheila out tonight." He waited for Harry's reaction, an expectant grin on his face.
"A girl? No foolin'? Crikey, what's all this then?" Harry's face split in a joyful grin; Jeff knew he was already counting grandchildren.
"Easy, mate. It's just a casual thing, dinner and some fun with Ian and his rellies from America. There's no big romance blooming."
"But a girl, Jeff! How nice to hear that. Maybe you'll find out you like girls more than you thought, you never know."
"I like girls plenty, Dad…..I always have. I just don't want to root 'em," Jeff laughed. A sudden mental picture of Charley's swaying hips came into his mind. "Uh, usually I don't."
Harry wasn't about to be put off. He saw the hesitation on Jeff's face, the faraway look in his eyes. "Usually not?" he prompted, his head wagging encouragingly. "But maybe this time?"
Jeff put his hands up in a halting gesture. "Don't get your knickers in a twist, Dad. Might be that this time I would like to, but it'll never happen. Ian will tell his cousin about me, and that will be the end of that. Sheilas don't like to go to bed with poofters; they're afraid of diseases. Can't say I blame them."
Harry felt his hopes dash. "Ah. Well, it was fun while it lasted, I reckon." He shrugged. "Not that I want to change you, Jeff…but it would be a wonderful thing to have grandchildren someday."
"I know, Dad. And who knows? Maybe I'll get one for you someday. Maybe I'll be called on to donate sperm, since I'm not only God's gift, but the most talented plumber in Sydney as well. What woman could resist that combo when planning her future child? She'd be taking care of all her pipes at the same time." He struck a preening pose in the doorway. Since he was naked, it made quite a picture.
"Oh piss off, you poof," laughed Harry. "And pick up your bloody clothes, you've got them strewn from one end of the house to the other."
"Later," promised Jeff, stepping back and closing the door to the bathroom.
Once in the shower (his Dad had left the fuckin' taps dripping again….what was it with him and washers, anyway?) Jeff stood motionless under the pulsating water and let its soothing heat ease the stiffness in his neck and back. He rotated his shoulders, shivered with the pleasure the hot water gave him. He closed his eyes and unbidden, a vision of Charlotte's denim clad bum, swinging charmingly as she walked away, came into his mind. He shook his head and tried to think of something else, pictured the centerfold from his new gay skin rag, but even that couldn't push thoughts of Charley out of his head. His cock rose and began to stiffen.
Jeff groaned and tried to think of something else. He recalled the day's game, but that made him think of Charley again. He saw her eyes, sparkling and teasing, thought of her arse and tits and succumbed. His hand moved down to grasp his raging bolt; he squeezed himself and began to stroke. He tipped his head back out of the spray of water and closed his eyes, concentrating on the job at hand. Charley's face swam before him, those gorgeous eyes half closed in a dreaming, languid expression that sent him off. In his mind, she ran her hands down over her naked breasts, then hefted them in her hands, offering them to him. He imagined bending his head to lick at a nipple, his hands stealing round to cup her buttocks and squeeze them, grinding her hips into his groin. With a grunt, he exploded into his own hand, milking himself until his shudders stopped. He stayed still a moment to let the hot water rain down over his body and rinse him clean. Temporarily drained, he leant against the tile and thought ruefully that at least now he wouldn't be so edgy with Charley, so hungry to touch her.
He shook his head, marveling at himself. To think that a sheila was making him this hot was incredible; he hadn't been attracted to a woman since…..well, since ever. In every encounter he'd had with a woman, the lady had been the aggressor. True, he'd been a willing participant in each case, but it had only been after the woman had made the initial contact, only after the kissing and caressing that he'd become interested enough to climb on and fuck her. He'd always taken care to be a considerate lover, and he’d enjoyed all a female body had to offer him. Gay or not, he took pride in the way he could bring his partner to a thundering orgasm; he wanted her to go away happy. She always had, hinting at wanting more, wanting to see him again. He'd only gone back for seconds once, and even though he'd enjoyed their session, he'd gone on his way without a repeat, his eye taken by a dark haired dockworker with biceps like a wrestler's.
But this was different. This time, he was thinking that he'd love to just grab Charley and kiss her, let his hands roam free over her lush body, see her naked and writhing with need. This time he wanted to trail his fingers through long hair and over soft curves, smell perfume and...well, woman…and he wasn't used to the idea. It was both disturbing and exciting.
"A woman, mate," he whispered to himself. "Bloody oath, a woman is driving you mental. A woman, with great tits and an arse like a goddess. Wonders never cease."
* * *
Ian lurked in the upstairs hallway, waiting for Charlotte to come out of the room she shared with Jen. She'd already run out twice, first to ask him what he thought they should wear, (he didn't give a fuck) and then to ask him if he thought Jeff would like her hair up or down. After giving her a bored look, Ian had replied thoughtlessly that all men liked girls with their hair down. He was about to go on and tell her it didn't matter in Jeff's case because Charley didn't have the proper plumbing for him, but she bounced back into the room and slammed the door in his face. Ian shrugged and sat down on the top step.
Sooner or later, Charley was going to come out for good and then he was going to make her listen. He did not want his cousin to fall for a poofter and then mope around with a broken heart for the remainder of her stay in Oz. He was going to nip this in the bud right now, explain that Jeff was just being nice because he was nice, and that she should definitely not read anything into his invitation for the evening.
He checked his watch; another ten minutes had gone by, and he began tapping his fingers on his knee impatiently. Sheilas! They could fuck about longer than anyone with dill-brained bullshit like makeup and hair and clothes. It gave him the irrits to wait so long, even though, he had to admit, he liked to see them when they were all done up nice. At last he heard the door open behind him, and Charley and Jen came out of the room, giggling and silly over something or other but looking gorgeous. He scowled darkly, irritation and admiration fighting for prominence on his face, and they stopped dead at the sight of him.
"What's up with you?" laughed Charley, her hands on her hips. "Are you so worried we wouldn't be ready on time you had to wait outside the door like some faithful dog?"
Ian snorted. "Don't be daft! I was just…..well, I want to talk to you. Alone...uh, just for a sec," he finished lamely, thinking he was not handling this well. Damn if Jen wasn't looking at him, a mixture of confusion and annoyance in her face at being excluded. "It's about Jeff," he began, trying to explain why he was leaving Jen out of the loop, and then all but bit his tongue when he heard Jeff say from the bottom of the stairs, "What about me, mate?"
"Fuck!" Ian muttered under his breath and jammed his hands into his pockets. He turned and gave Jeff a forced smile. "How ya going, mate? I was just…I thought I'd warn Charley not to try to keep up with you tonight. She can handle her beer, but nobody can knock back the pints like us punters, right?"
He looked over at the frowning girls. "Ah, ya see, Charley, our Aussie beer's stronger than yours, so keep your wits about you and don't let Jeff talk you into more than you can handle."
His explanation was so embarrassingly lame that they all fell uncomfortably silent. Ian almost writhed, he was that mortified.
Jeff looked at him strangely, rare anger sparking his eyes. "Shit Ian! What makes you think I'd do something like that?" he said softly.
Disgusted with himself, Ian shook his head. "Nothin' mate. Forget I said it, I was just trying to take the piss out of Charley. Bad joke. Sorry."
Jeff gave him a cool look and then glanced up at Charley and Jen. "How ya goin', ladies?" he said, smiling into Charley's eyes. "Ready to have a good time?"
Charley started down the stairs, slid sideways past an immobile Ian, and came to a stop on the step above Jeff. "I’m ready," she said softly, her gaze fastened on his face. She slipped her hand into his. "Hello, Jeff."
"G'day, Charley," Jeff said, and his heart began to pound at the touch of her fingers. He had never felt such a strong attraction to a woman in his life. He wanted to stop looking into her eyes, but he couldn't tear his away, and to himself he groaned silently, "Bloody hell, mate. You're done for."
Watching from the top of the stairs, Ian shook his head. "I'll be fucked," he swore under his breath. "Too late now."
Beside him, Jen nodded. "Wow," she whispered. "That sure was fast." She glanced at Ian and snorted at his sour expression, then took his arm and tucked hers through it. "Let's go, pal. This is going to be interesting, don't you think?"
Ian patted her hand and started down the stairs. "Interesting? More than you think, Jenny me girl. Way more than you think."
Charley's Song: Part 2
They were having a marvelous time in a cozy steakhouse near Circular
Quay...nothing flash, just good food and a great view of the harbor and bridge.
The conversation flowed easily enough, considering the bad start at Ian's house.
The girls kept things light and had not seemed to notice the tension between Ian
and Jeff in the car during the drive into the city. Jeff was pissed; he hadn’t
bought Ian's flimsy cover story about too much beer. No doubt about it, Ian had
been about to tell Charley that Jeff was gay.
And there was nothing wrong with that, Jeff reckoned…after all, he was gay. Truth was truth, inescapable. He really didn't want to escape it; it was just the clumsiness of the whole scene that bothered Jeff. It could have been fucking embarrassing for them all, so maybe he was grateful to Ian for the awkward save he'd managed. Because after looking at Charley standing at the top of the stairs and seeing how happy she was to be with him, Jeff wanted a chance to let her get to know him before she learned the truth. And he wanted to tell her himself, he didn't want her to hear it from her cousin. Before Ian laid the story out for her, Jeff wanted Charley to know that he liked her, and that his interest was more than platonic.
Maybe he was wrong about most girls fighting shy of gay men. He knew some women saw them as a challenge to their skill at seduction and had no problem about going out with them; he'd run into more than one girl like that in his time. So maybe Charley, even though she’d realize he'd been having sex with men all his adult life, would still take a chance with him. God, he hoped so, but Jeff balked at leaving such an important thing to chance. He wanted to do whatever he could make her want him so badly she'd be ready to overlook it. Maybe make her believe she was the one woman in the world who could "cure" him of his homosexuality. She already liked him, he could see that plain enough; he wasn't blind. He just wanted to make sure, wanted to hook her up tight before she learned he was a poofter and was turned off by it.
Not that Jeff was planning to change his religion for good; no way. He would always be gay, or at least bisexual, leaning strongly towards gay. He liked doing it with men, had always preferred them to women, but Charley…well, Charley was something special. The hunger he felt for her was unusual for him, but it was there, demanding he do something to satisfy it. He figured his attraction to her was no different from any other he'd had. He was still more likely to be this wild over a man. And when he was, just as now, he'd set out on a deliberate plan to attract, being funny and sweet, using every advantage he had to try and charm the object of his fixation. Sometimes it had worked out, more times it hadn't. His failure rate had made him diffident about even trying lately.
But this time, this situation, he told himself confidently, was ideal. He and Charley...she even had a bloke's name-could it be more perfect...would have a sweet time while she was here for the next month. At the end of it, she'd fly back to the States, twelve thousand miles from him...much too far away to maintain a relationship. This would be nothing more than a nice holiday romance, short, sweet, and over before anybody got hurt. There'd be no break-up scene, no tears, nothing dragged out for weeks of discomfort. Charley would go back to the States; he'd go back to shagging men. No wuckin' furries.
He glanced over and caught her eyes. They smiled at each other, and Jeff felt a rush of warmth.
Abso-fuckin-lutely perfect.
* * *
It was a warm balmy night and after dinner, Jeff suggested a walk along the Quay. There were crowds of people out and about, all pretty much doing what Jeff, Charley, Ian and Jen were doing: taking in the sights and enjoying the evening. Jeff and Charley deliberately lagged behind the others, holding hands and smiling at each other often. They stopped to gaze out over the water and Jeff moved in behind Charley, his arms enclosing her while he leaned on the railing, his chin tucked into her shoulder. He bent his head close and whispered, "Having a good time?" When she nodded and leaned back against him, he kissed her ear and rubbed his cheek against her hair. It smelled like fresh air and flowers, and was soft and silky against his face. He got a sudden urge to bury his hands in it, wrap it around his fists and draw her lips to his, and to his embarrassment, his groin reacted immediately.
"Jeezus, mate! Get a grip!" he reprimanded himself silently, then shifted back a little so that he was no longer touching her. He looked out over the water, willing himself to calm down. The four of them stood for awhile, chatting about Sydney, admiring the view of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House on Bennelong Point, all lit up and glowing against the dark water and the night sky. When it got closer to ten o’clock, Ian suggested they go and catch the show and a few beers at the Bourbon. They left the car safely parked and went by taxi to the Cross.
Hunters and Collectors were playing the hotel; they were one of Jeff's favorite bands, but he guessed neither of the girls had ever heard of them. They weren't big in the States, but the Hunnas were the quintessential Aussie band, in Jeff's opinion. Their music, with its heavy driving beat and workingman rhythms, were Oz to the core. The band was already on the stage when the four of them pushed their way through the throngs of drinking, dancing, laughing Aussies. It was standing room only, but that was all right; most times Jeff stood through the shows he went to anyway, or danced his way through them.
"Want a beer?" Jeff asked Charley, grinning slyly, one eyebrow raised. He wanted to see if she had taken Ian's warning to heart.
"Sure," she replied. "I'll take one. Or two, or maybe even three. Who cares what Ian thinks?"
"Not me, love...that's dead cert. Be right back, don't go away." Jeff squeezed her hand and then pushed through the crowd. Ian followed and grabbed his arm as they reached the bar. Jeff turned and looked over his shoulder.
"Mate, I just want to say sorry," began Ian. "It was a bad scene at the house, but I'll cop it sweet. I am defo going to tell Charley you're a poof. She's got it bad for you, and I don't want to see her get hurt."
Jeff looked at him coolly. "Don't bother. I'll tell her myself. Privately, not in front of the whole fuckin' world, mate...if you get my drift."
Ian flushed with shame, but he didn't give it up. "Yeah, but when?" he insisted. "You're not stupid, Jeff. You can see what's going on with her."
"Yeah, I see it and I'm glad about it. Listen, Ian. I like her too, just the way she likes me," replied Jeff, a half smile blooming on his face at Ian's astonished expression. "I'm still going to tell her what's what, but I want her to know me first. For fuck's sake, I'm not going to hurt your cousin," he promised, when Ian began to protest. "I just...really like her, and I want to see her and spend time with her while she's here." He warned softly, "Let it go, Ian. This has nothing to do with you, really. It's up to Charley and me."
Ian lowered his voice and said quietly, "I'm telling you, mate; I'll take it personally if you fuck with her head. Blood's thicker than water, and I won't stand for Charley getting her heart broken by an Aussie poofter."
Jeff’s lips pulled into a scowl. "Fuck off, Ian," he growled. "I'm no bloody heartbreaker. Just leave it." He turned to give his order to the bartender.
Ian glared at the back of his head, then shrugged. Fair enough, if that's the way Jeff wanted to play it. One spot of trouble though, one little sign of tears, and Ian was going to be on him like flies on shit, mates or not. He shouldered his way to the bar and ordered a pair of VBs for Jen and himself, watching with narrowed eyes as Jeff made his way back to Charley.
* * *
"Here you go, Charley," said Jeff, handing her the bottle. "Hope out of the bottle works for you."
"Out of the bottle's fine," said Charley, taking it from his hand. "Cheers, Jeff." She touched her beer to his.
"Cheers, love."
Swigging from his beer, Jeff looked towards the stage. Mark Seymour of Hunters and Collectors was introducing their next number, 'Head Above Water'. "This is a good one," Jeff said. "Dance?"
"Sure," agreed Charley after a final gulp of VB. "Let's go."
They put their stubbies down on a ledge above their heads. Jeff took her hand and pulled her along behind him as he made his way to the front of the stage and the roped off dance area in front of it. Instead of letting her stand off from him and move independently to the beat, he led her in a bastardized version of a jitterbug so he'd have an excuse to keep his hands on her. She laughed up at him as he swung and turned her, so graceful and beautiful she never missed a step, no matter how many times they spun. When the next number began he kept her out on the floor, and finally, after that one finished, the band introduced the song he'd been waiting for.
"Throw your arms around me, Charley," Jeff whispered in her ear. "Hold me tight."
She did as he asked, wound her arms around his body, one hand resting on the back of his neck, her fingers stealing into the curls of hair at his nape. Jeff tucked her head under his chin and moved slowly to the music, his hands stroking over her back. He felt her shiver and his lips brushed her ear as he whispered, "Cold?"
"You know I'm not."
"I know, yeah." He touched his lips to the top of her head. "God, Charley. I…." Jeff stopped, not sure of what to say.
"What is it, Jeff?"
He rubbed his nose along her cheek, nuzzling her ear. "I'm crazy for you, love," he whispered "Just bloody arse over tin cups, but you know it, don't you?"
Charley nodded. "I know it, yes. Because I feel the same way."
She raised her face to be kissed. Jeff obliged her, brushing his lips softly over hers, and sighed when her fingers tightened in his hair.
"Let's get rid of Ian and Jen, Charley," he said rapidly. "Let's drop them off at home and go back out, just the two of us. We’ll do whatever you like; go to a late movie, take a drive, walk the Quay again. We can go somewhere and have coffee and talk. I want to get to know you, love. I want to learn all about you."
She raised her eyes to his. "Can we go to your house?"
Jeff grinned and nodded; this was even better than he'd hoped. "Yeah, ripper. That'd be great, just what I'd like. I was afraid you'd think I was some kind of bastard sex maniac if I asked you to come home so soon."
Her eyebrows flew up and she said softly, "Do you think I'm a bastard sex maniac?"
"No, no. I think you're a sweet, interesting, lovely woman, and much braver than I am," laughed Jeff. "Besides, you'll be safe as houses. I live with my dad, and he'll be at home."
She kissed his cheek. "That's fine. 'Cause I'm really not a bastard sex maniac, you know."
Jeff grinned and nipped her ear. "No worries, love. I am."
* * *
Giggling hysterically, Jeff and Charley drove away from Ian's house, leaving him standing with Jen under the streetlight, staring after them open-mouthed with surprise.
"Christ, he looks blown out!" laughed Jeff, peering into the rear-view mirror to see a furious Ian gesture wildly. "There he goes! He's practically stamping his foot. Oh fuck me, he's pissed! He'll have a go at me next pitch, dead cert."
Charley turned back to face Jeff. "Good for him. Serves him right, always trying to big-brother me." She had a tiny frown of concern on her face. "Will he really try to hurt you?"
"Fair dinkum, he will," chuckled Jeff. "He always does. But don't worry, love; it's just the game. I'll hurt him back, the little bastard." He reached across the seat and stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers, a caress she thought amazingly gentle for such a big man. "What are you doin' so far away from me, love? Come over here and sit close so I can hold you."
Charley slid across the seat and under Jeff's left arm. He gave her a quick hug and like a cat, she rubbed her cheek against his shirt over his chest, dragging her face across the soft fabric. She didn't know she'd scraped his nipple until Jeff practically leapt off the seat and caught his breath sharply, and then she realized just what she was rubbing and did it again deliberately. She smiled as his hand tightened on her shoulder.
"You're a devil, aren't you, girl?" Jeff growled into her hair. "Like to tease?"
"Sometimes. If the spirit moves me." She smiled. "It's certainly moving me tonight."
His hand slid down over the swell of her breast, fingers brushing against skin that instantly rose in gooseflesh.
"Oh yeah?" he said, stroking now, his thumb sliding lightly over the tip of her breast. "I like teasing, too. Can't wait to get you home, love...where I can concentrate on you instead of driving."
"Jeff, I…" Charley hesitated.
"What, love?"
"Well, I hope you won't be disappointed if…well, if we don't. I'm not one to leap into bed after just meeting someone."
Jeff was disappointed, but not too badly. Actually it was kind of nice to know she wasn't a tart.
"No, no love. I told you, I just want to get to know you better. I'll take what you're willing to give and no more." He cocked his head and glanced quickly into her eyes. "Fair enough?"
"Fair enough," she whispered, wishing that she was the kind of girl who went to bed on the first date. She was surely feeling ready to; there was a swelling tingle between her legs, and her bra felt tight over her breasts. Under cover of leaning on his chest again, she lowered her eyes to the bulge in Jeff's jeans.
"God!" she mouthed silently as she took in the obvious size of Jeff's package. He was semi-erect even now, and with no more stimulation than a simple brush of her fingers across his nipple. Sudden flashes of them together in bed, her mouth against his chest, her tongue tracing a path down his belly, made her breath come faster. She was relieved when Jeff murmured, "Here we are, love," and pulled the car up to a frame house with a narrow porch across the front. Jeff jumped out of the car; Charley slid over the seat to exit out the driver's door. The house looked small but friendly, and she felt immediately comfortable about going in and meeting Jeff's dad. She followed him to the front door and into the living room...the lounge room, as Ian called it.
"Want a beer?" asked Jeff, tossing his keys on a table on his way to the kitchen. He flicked on the light. "Maybe something else, a fizzy, or some brandy?"
"A Coke would be good. Do you have one?"
"Is the Pope Catholic? Should have both, diet and regular. Which one for you?"
"Diet, please." She followed him into the kitchen, old fashioned and very neat, and waited while he dug in the fridge.
"Where do you want to sit, Charley? In the lounge or outside on the swing? It's nice there in the evening if you like being outdoors."
"That'd be the place, then," answered Charley, so Jeff ushered her out the door and down the steps to the back garden. The light from the kitchen diffused softly through the curtains covering the window and threw just enough illumination to see by. They sat on the swing and, unconsciously, Jeff started it moving with his foot.
"Oh, you were right. This is great," sighed Charley, leaning her head on the back of the swing to let the gentle sway lull her into a dreamy lethargy. "Where's the Southern Cross, Jeff?" She suddenly opened her eyes and searched the sky. "Can we see it from here?"
"Not really, there's too much light pollution from the city."
"Oh, that's too bad. I've been here two days and I haven't seen it yet."
He stretched his arm across the back of the swing and ran his hand into her hair, his fingertips stroking lazily. "I promise to take you out into the bush so you can see the Southern Cross. We'll do it soon, tomorrow or the next day."
"Mmmm, that’ll be great," she sighed, stretching like a cat and pushing her head into his hand, begging him silently to keep on with his stroking. The swing jerked under her and she opened her eyes. He’d moved closer, Jeff's face hovered just above hers, his pupils black and huge in the dim light. He looked into her eyes for a moment, then down at her mouth. Charley took a quick breath, her lips parting slightly, and Jeff dropped his mouth over hers.
His lips were soft and very gentle, moving tenderly on hers. His tongue slid across the seam of her mouth and she opened to him, letting him in to explore. He made a sound deep in his chest, a soft grunt of satisfaction that went straight to her belly and started a slow burning fire. Charley clutched her Coke with one hand and held Jeff's waist with the other. She wanted to put it down to have both hands free to touch him, but she didn't want to stop kissing him. He moved his mouth to her cheek and over to her ear, licked the outside of it and sucked the lobe into his mouth. Charley's breath hitched violently in her chest. She stayed frozen in place, the Coke held in her motionless hand as Jeff's mouth traveled down her neck to the swell of her breast. He pushed the fabric of her knit top aside to expose the black lace of her bra.
"Fuck, that's sexy. Look at that…." he said softly and fastened his lips over the lace and sucked lightly. Charley shivered violently, her eyelids fluttering as she sighed in pleasure. Jeff raised his head to look at her and smiled when he saw the Coke can hanging motionless and perfectly level in her hand.
"Do you want me to get rid of this for you, love?" He grinned and plucked the can out of her hand.
"Yes……" breathed Charley.
"And what about this, shall I get rid of this as well?" He tugged at the hem of her top.
"Yes, please."
Jeff pulled the top over her head and tore his own shirt off. With strength that surprised her, he lifted her over his lap, her knees on either side of his hips.
"Sit on me, Charley. Kiss me…." Jeff murmured. His voice was low and smoky, his hands moved languorously up and down her sides. Charley lowered her head and took his top lip into her mouth, sucked it gently before moving on to his lower. Jeff drove his tongue between her lips and she licked it, moaning low in her throat. He found the fastener of her bra and released it, let her breasts swing free. His hands went to them and squeezed gently, his thumbs sliding over and over the tips. She threw her head back and he fastened his mouth over one nipple, his tongue flicking until it rose up pebble hard. He switched to the other one, gave it the same attention while his hands crept down over her ass and cupped and squeezed her buttocks.
"Fuck, but you have a sweet arse," he told her, raising his mouth again for another kiss. "I've been perving it since we met."
"So do you. Don't think I didn't notice it."
"Oh yeah? What else do you like about me?" asked Jeff, his breath coming hard.
"Everything. Your legs. These shoulders, so broad and sleek." She ran her hands over them. "Your face, your hair…."
They said it together, "I love your eyes….." and laughed.
Grasping her hips, Jeff pulled her down onto his denim-covered cock while he drove upward and humped at her. His lips found her breast again and he nursed hard.
"Don't stop," begged Charley, loving the sensations he evoked. Her sex throbbed, felt wide open and swollen; she could feel the dampness in the crotch of her jeans.
Jeff's breath slammed in his chest, he wanted her so badly he felt light-headed and his balls were starting to ache. "Charley, love….. Are you sure you're the sort who doesn't do it on the first date? Christ, couldn't you make an exception, just this once? I want you so much…."
"Mmmmm," moaned Charley, clearly wanting to be convinced.
Jeff set about convincing, with action and words. He licked at her neck and down between her breasts. He kept up a steady litany, telling her she was lovely, so pretty and so damn sexy. "C'mon, love, let me in. Let me love you. I want to make love to you."
His whiskey and smoke voice was driving her mad, and Charley threw all caution to the winds. "Yes, oh yes," she sighed.
Jeff rose up and swung her into his arms, lifted her as easily as if she had been a child, and carried her to the steps where he set her gently on her feet. They ran into the house, Jeff pulling Charley along to his bedroom. She had a quick look at it...sports posters on the walls, a TV and CD player and lots of clutter...before he flicked off the overhead light and drew her to the bed. His hands were at the button and zipper of her jeans, fumbling, tugging, until he had them open. He fell to his knees to pull them down and lowered her to the bed, pushing her down, spreading her legs wide. He bent his head and licked her, one long, deep, penetrating swipe of the tongue to taste, and then searched out her clit. Moaning, Charley bucked up off the bed and ran her hands into his hair. Jeff went on instinct and licked in a rhythmic stroke that had her whimpering and tossing her head from side to side. Entranced by her scent, he cupped her buttocks and brought her hips closer to his mouth, licking, tasting, nipping, sucking. Charley stiffened, her legs going rigid as she came hard into his mouth, her hands clutching his hair, her voice a low steady moan. As she panted to get her breath back, they both became aware of a quiet knocking on the bedroom door.
"Jeff? Are you in there?"
"Fuck, it's my dad," said Jeff, his head still between Charley's thighs, his face glistening wet from her honey.
"What? Oh shit!" Charley squirmed up the bed, frantically searching for something to cover herself with.
Jeff rose from his knees, cursing, and dragged his arm across his wet face. "What bloody fucking timing! You decent love?" He glanced over his shoulder as he stomped to the door. Charley cowered under his doona, not even her eyes were visible. In spite of his anger, Jeff grinned. "Don't worry love; he's seen worse," he told her.
"That's no comfort to me!" she hissed, thinking she could never get the mood back now. What a thing to happen; before she'd even met Mr. Mitchell. God, how embarrassing!
Jeff jerked the door open and caught Harry in mid-knock. "What's up, Dad?" he snapped, plainly pissed.
"Your mate Ian's on the phone, Jeff. He's very wrought up, said something about you kidnapping his cousin. Said if you don't come and talk to him he'll come over here to kick your arse."
"Kick my arse? No bloody fear, the wanker!" Jeff snorted in derision. "Tell him to fuck off, Dad. Kidnapping, Christ! That’s pretty bloody dramatic, don't you think?"
Harry crossed his arms and looked at his son. "I don't know what to think. What's going on then?"
Jeff shrugged. "Nothing's going on. Charley and I wanted a bit of time to ourselves. We dumped Ian and Jenny. Ian's het up over nothing." He stepped back and started to close the door.
Harry stopped it with his foot. "Wait just a minute, son. What do I tell your mate?"
"Tell him to piss off. I'll bring Charley home when we're ready to come back."
"Charley eh? Where is this bloke Charley?" Harry tried his best to peer around the door.
"Charley's not a bloke, Dad. Now piss off and leave us alone."
"Charley's a girl? She's in your bed?" said Harry incredulously, his face breaking into a wide smile.
"Piss off, mate!" Jeff hissed, and closed the door. He went over to the bed and tugged at the doona, looking for Charley. "Come on, love. It's all over now," he laughed, pulling the cover from her reddened face.
"Oh God, Jeff! I'm so embarrassed. Your father…"
"Love, no worries. Really. He doesn't care."
Charley wrung her hands. "But I do! God, what will he think of me?"
Jeff could see which way the wind was blowing and tacked. "He'll love you, believe me. You have no idea."
"Jeff, ummm…I'm really sorry, but do you think we could kind of put this off for a while? Maybe you'd better take me home before Ian really does show up here."
"Aw, come on, Charley. You're not gonna let Ian toss a spanner in the works and ruin a perfect night, are ya?"
She sat up and began looking for her clothes. "I think it's already ruined. Let's just call it a night, can we please?"
The mood was clearly broken. Defeated, Jeff nodded, then glanced ruefully down at his bolt, still standing at half-mast, still confined in its denim prison. Looked like it was going to be another wank in the bloody shower for him tonight.
Charley's Song: Part 3
They drove back to Ian's in silence. Jeff hadn't even turned on the radio,
thinking she might want to talk, but Charley was clearly uncomfortable with the
way the evening had ended and he still struggled with a raging hard-on and a
burgeoning case of blue balls. He thought fleetingly of his promise to Ian that
he'd tell Charley about himself, but decided to wait. Tonight was defo not the
night: she'd had enough to contend with, and so they drove on through the Sydney
streets, both thinking their own thoughts, content with silence.
He glanced down at the top of her head. She'd slid over the seat to him when he'd tucked her into the car, and he took that as a good sign. He'd been so afraid she would turn against him, he almost didn't know how to go on, but it seemed okay. Christ, he hoped so. He liked her so much, liked everything about her. He really didn't hold her refusal to go on with their pasho session against her; he could see why she felt like she did. Bugger it all, between Ian and his Dad, they'd fucked things up royally. Poor Charley, she'd been so embarrassed when his Dad had come knocking. He slid his fingers into her hair and caressed her head. She sighed and murmured.
"You okay, love?" Jeff whispered.
"Sure, I’m fine. Just sorry about how things turned out." She looked up at him as she dropped one hand to his crotch. "I'm sorry to have left you with this," she whispered, stoking him lightly through his jeans. Charley had been staring down at his 'condition' for a while now, and was feeling guilty as hell. After all, Jeff had given her a mind-boggling orgasm and she had left him dangling with an erection that had been practically begging her to touch it since they'd got in the car. And sweet Jeff was a perfect gentleman. He'd made no complaint, done nothing to try to convince her to relieve him.
But now, in reaction to her touch, Jeff spread his legs slightly and lifted his hips, pressing his groin closer into her palm.
"God, love! You're killing me here," he moaned, his fingers tightening in her hair. "I'm so hot for you...if you keep that up you'll have me comin' in my pants like a kid. I don't want to come in my pants, Charley," he growled, the insinuation plain, his voice low, going though her like a hot knife through butter.
All those years of playing girls' softball and basketball, learning about fair play and good sportsmanship and honor among teammates, rose up to reproach her. Charley slithered around and put both hands on him, pulling his zip down, easing the button out of the hole.
"Can you find a place to park, Jeff? Some place a little more private than this?" She leaned down and blew on the head of his cock as it sprang free from his jockeys, and then kissed it lightly.
"Christ!" He jerked at the feel of her lips and got instantly harder. "Hold on a tic, love. Let me pull in here." He eased the car into the parking lot of a shuttered tire shop and drove around to the back, where the darkness closed over them comfortingly. Jeff slammed the gearshift into park and turned the ignition to off just as Charley sat up and kissed him hard, her tongue twisting and dancing over his lips and into his mouth as he opened to her. She kissed her way down his neck and over his chest, sucking and biting at his nipples through his shirt. Jeff leaned back against the seat and moaned, giving it up to her, letting her have her way with him.
She pulled at his shirt, her eyes smiling into Jeff’s as she lifted it up and licked at his navel. The suspense was driving him mental until she finally took him into her mouth. The moist warmth invited and Jeff drove upward with his hips, filling her mouth with his cock and Charley, clearly not the expert he was used to, gagged and pulled back.
"Easy, babe….." She soothed his frustrated moan, then took him into her mouth once more, licking at the head of his cock and flicking her tongue into the weeping slit to taste the drops of liquid there. Tightening her lips, she slid down his shaft until he was buried in her throat. Charley hummed and held him there for just a moment, then slid back up, sucking hard, flattening her tongue to press the underside. With gentle fingers, she stroked over his balls, her caress feather light.
"Oh, God! Charley!" moaned Jeff, lost in the sensation. He wasn't going to last very long at this rate. "Don't stop, please don't stop," he begged as she pulled her mouth off him. Wildly, he thought this was the best blow job he'd ever had in his life. No mouth had ever felt this good on him, not male, not female. Her heat, the wet slick softness, the firm steady sucking, God! It was making him wild.
Again she licked at him and then dove, her lips tight around him, her teeth grazing him enough to add to the sensation. Up and down, sucking hard, her tongue swirling around the head of his cock on every stroke, it wasn't long until a panting Jeff warned urgently, "Gonna come, love." Charley didn't lift her head, but he pulled himself from her mouth and stroked himself once to finish, his hand clamped tightly over the head, his seed oozing through his fingers and down into the hair nested at the base of his cock. Soft grunts of pleasure vibrated from deep in his chest.
Charley watched him, his pleasure obvious as he arched his neck, his eyes rolling back in his head. His face was a mask of pure ecstasy. After a long moment he opened his eyes and looked at her, then raised his hand and stroked her face, the tips of his work-roughened fingers gentle.
"Love, love…" He shook his head. "That was…something. The best, the most...well, it was something." Jeff gave up trying to tell her how good it had been and settled for smiling at her, his eyes warm and soft.
Charley leaned in and kissed him. "I'm glad. I didn't get a chance to tell you before, but mine was too. I hope next time we'll be together when it happens for us."
He drew her close, kissed her forehead. "God, yes. I want to be in you, Charley. Closer than anyone else."
"And you will be, Jeff. Soon." She sighed and leaned against him. "You're so sweet, Jeff. The nicest man…."
Jeff pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and began to tidy himself. As he finished and tucked his deflating cock back into his jeans he said, " 'Sweet. Nice.' Usually when a bloke hears words like that, it's right before, 'But I think we ought to cool things off for awhile.' " He chuckled softly.
She kissed his cheek. "I am not going to say that to you, and you know it."
Jeff squeezed her. "I'm glad, love. If I thought you were ready to give me the gate already, I'd be wrought up, that's for sure and certain."
But even as he said it, he couldn't help thinking about what he hadn't told her. This far along in the evening, with so much between them, and he still hadn't been honest with her. Maybe Charley didn't want to give him the boot now, but what about later? What about when she learned he was gay? He knew what she was going to think, knew she was going to worry about the men he'd been with before her. Then it was going to get complicated. And he hadn’t even used a franger, for fuck’s sake!
Jeff shifted uncomfortably on the seat. Ah, he'd fucked up by not telling her first, before they'd had sex. He ran a hand over his chin nervously. Now, he should tell her now, before another minute went by. To put it off any longer was no different than a lie.
"Charley….." he began uncertainly and then stopped.
"Mmmmm?" She nestled close to him, tucking herself under his arm.
"You like me, really? It's not just...well, you like me more than a friend, right?"
"You know I do, Jeff. I haven't hidden it, not one bit. Not since I saw you this afternoon. Besides, I don't give my friends blow jobs." She giggled.
He kissed her hair. "This arvo seems like a long time ago, doesn't it, love? I feel like I known you for yonks, not just since then."
"Me too." She laid her head on his chest again, her hand resting lightly on his thigh.
Jeff took a deep breath. "Well, love, I'm about to drop a clanger here, but you have to know. I just want you to remember that I'm crazy for you, and that's not going to change, no matter what."
Tension, sudden and immediate, charged the air between them. Charley raised her head and pulled back to look at his face, her brow puckered into a worried frown.
"Oh my God. Do you have a girlfriend? Oh, Jeff, I wish you'd told me before..."
He laid a finger over her lips. "Not a girlfriend, love. There's no one now, but…uh, a bloke like me would be more likely to have a boyfriend, if you get my drift."
It took a few tics, but understanding dawned in her eyes, followed immediately by shock, dismay, and finally, horror.
Jeff's face fell. "Charley," he began, hoping to tell her how much he liked her, how much he wanted her.
"Don't!" she said, almost choking on the word. "Don't say anything else. Just…don't." She slid across the seat as far away from him as she could get, and for a moment, Jeff thought she was going to jump out of the car.
He sagged against the seat. Bad. Oh, it was going bad for sure. Bad, because of the sex. If only they'd just had dinner and gone out for larks, and not come back home. If only he'd waited and not pushed her, she wouldn't be so upset now. He could have eased her into things, got her used to the idea, and now it was too late. "You've done for it now, ya fuckin' nong," he berated himself.
When she finally spoke her voice sounded strange, not like her at all. Just cold and angry and hard. "Will you please take me home, Jeff?"
He had to try. "Charley…love, don't freeze me. Give me a listen, let me explain," Jeff began.
"I don't think I care to hear what you have to say." She refused to look at him, just sat staring straight ahead through the windscreen. He reached for her hand and she jerked it away, as if from a leper. Jeff bowed his head. That hurt him more than anything she could have said. Did she think he was dirty now? Too unclean to even touch her hand? He sat silently, his hands clenching into fists of frustration and pain.
Charley said quietly, her voice small and tight. "If you don't take me home now, I swear I'm going to get out and start walking."
Jeff sighed. "No, don't do that. I'll take you." He started the car and pulled slowly out of the tire shop. She never said a word, never glanced his way once during the ten minutes it took him to get her to Ian's, and she all but leapt from the car as soon as it stopped. He watched her run up to the house and blinked back quick tears as she slammed the door.
* * *
He rang her next day, but Ian's mum said they were all out and promised to give Charley the message. He waited, forcing himself to be patient, fielding Harry's questions with vague evasions, but Charley didn't ring back. He tried again on Sunday and Mrs. Brannigan gave him another cock and bull story about the lot of them being down in Sydney at the shops. Once more she assured Jeff she'd pass the message along, but there was pity in her voice, pity and a little touch of irritation at being the one left to put him off. He got her message clearly enough.
Leave off, don't bother ringing again. She hates you.
* * *
Harry came in from his shift and found a moping Jeff in the back yard on the swing, a half-smoked joint between his fingers.
"What's all this then?" He dropped into a squat and looked into his son's eyes. The pain he saw tore at his heart. Something bad had happened between him and the sheila with the bloke's name. Harry knew all the signs of Jeff's broken hearts, and this time was no different, though it was over a woman and not a man.
"I thought things were going so well with the young lady," he began hesitantly. "I mean, to have her in your bed on the first date, that's quite an accomplishment, son…you did better than most blokes do."
Jeff offered the joint to Harry, who declined. He took another drag and then shrugged. "It wasn't a bloody contest, was it then?" He softened his sharp tone when he saw his father's startled expression. "Anyway, I'd be a sight better off if I hadn't had her in my bed at all. For fuck's sake, I know what sheilas think about rooting poofs, and I went ahead instead of coming clean first. When I told her about me, it disgusted her. I disgust her." He took another hit off the joint. "You won't be seeing her here again," he said, blowing smoke through his nostrils in a steady stream.
"So she didn't take the news well," said Harry sadly. "I'm sorry." He patted Jeff gently on the knee. "But don't worry, son. There's plenty of other fish in the sea." He said it…he always said it…but this time, even Harry didn't believe it.
Jeff rolled his eyes impatiently. "Don't start, Dad! You know as well as I do there's no other sheila going to take my eye like that. She's one of a kind, is Charley. We were getting on great together. And I fucked it up."
Harry rose and put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Don't be too hard on yourself, lad. Everyone makes a bollocks of things once in a while."
Jeff wanted to throw off his hand and bellow, "For fuck's sake!" but instead he took a deep breath and tried not to bark at his father. After all, Harry meant well. He closed his eyes, and with exaggerated patience said, "Dad, I know." He wished Harry would go away and leave him to brood, but his father didn't take the hint.
He looked at Jeff with kind sad eyes, and offered the only solace he knew. "What do you want for your tea? I could make sausages and chips; that's your favorite."
Jeff shrugged, he had no interested in food. "Whatever you want Dad. I've got a match later, so I won't be eating. Not good for my game to play on a full stomach."
A touch of sarcasm crept into Harry’s tone. "I should think it wouldn't be good for your game to play half stoned, but that's not stopping you there, is it then?" He hated to see his son smoking marijuana.
"I'm not stoned, Dad."
"Well, as near as bloody dammit, lad."
Jeff shot him a look. "Ease off, mate. I know what I'm doing, don't I?"
"Ya reckon?" Harry shrugged, obviously doubtful. "I'll take your word for it, then."
Abruptly, Jeff stood up. "Yeah, I reckon," he said firmly, making it clear he'd had enough. His Dad was ruining a perfectly good high for him with his pity and his questions and his comments, and to Jeff's way of thinking, there was no point in going on with any of it.
"Just gonna get my gear ready then. It's almost time to go. Hoo roo, Dad." He escaped into the house, leaving Harry on the grass beside the swing.
Harry stood and looked up at the sky. "He drives me screaming up the wall, sometimes….." he muttered to the clouds, and then turned to follow Jeff into the house.
* * *
Jeff scanned the bleachers once more, squinting into the golden afternoon sunshine. Still no Charley. Jenny was there, sitting with Ian's Mum in the section where the Salmon's barrackers always sat, but Charley was nowhere in sight. He sauntered over to Ian, did his best to appear casual and unconcerned.
"Where's Charley?" He nodded toward the bleachers. "I thought she'd be here; she said she liked footy."
Ian turned, a look of pure loathing twisting his face. "She likes the footy fine, mate. It's some of the players she can't abide."
Jeff cringed. "Christ Ian, don't start! I fucked it up, okay? All I want is a chance to apologize and make it right. I like Char…"
He didn't get a chance to finish. Ian grabbed him by the shirt and yanked hard, pulling Jeff close to hiss in his face.
"You stay the fuck away from Charley, mate. She's done nothing but cry for the last two days because of you, ya bloody goddamn poonce."
Fury boiled up in Jeff, and he slapped Ian's hands away snarling, "Get ya fuckin' hands off me, ya bastard."
Incensed, Ian threw a punch at Jeff's mid-section. Jeff blocked it and set up for a punch of his own. He pulled back when the coach saw them and yelled in their direction, "Mitchell! Brannigan! Save it for the game!"
"Fuckin' arsehole!" spat Jeff, his hands clenched into tight fists.
"Buggerin' faggot!" hissed Ian, his jaw jutting pugnaciously.
Enraged, Jeff clipped him in the eye with a quick right hook.
"OW!" bellowed Ian, clapping his hand to his face. "Goddammit, Jeff!"
The coach was there to pull them apart. "That's done it, you wankers. Yer both outta the game!"
* * *
Mrs. Brannigan pulled into the drive and parked the Holden. She had not stopped haranguing Ian since they'd left the footy match, going on and on about him and Jeff fighting. "And you two mates for how long now? What's the matter with you both, then?"
"Aw, Mum. Leave off, will you? It was just a blue, it happens sometimes. We'll fix it up next time we play."
"I should hope so," huffed Mrs. Brannigan. She marched into the house and set about making her son a fresh ice pack. "Here," she said, handing it to him as he came in the door with Jenny. "Put this on your eye. It's purple already, you're going to have a beaut of a shiner."
Ian took the towel-wrapped ice and held it gingerly to his face. "Ouch!" he hissed. "Who would have thought a faggot like Jeff would pack such a punch?"
"Stop calling him that!"
Ian, Jenny and Mrs. Brannigan turned to the doorway. Charley stood there, a scowl on her face. "What have you done, Ian? Started a fight with your buddy over me?"
Ian had the grace to look ashamed. "Not over you, Charley. Not really."
She raised a hand, palm out. "Talk to the hand, cause the ears ain't listening. You think I don't know how guys operate? Fuckin' macho assholes, all of you."
"Charley!" exclaimed a shocked Mrs. Brannigan. "Such language, darling! Surely your mum wouldn't like it."
"No, she wouldn't. But right now, I don't care." She pointed at her cousin. "Ian, I need to talk to you. Privately," demanded Charley, in a voice that made it clear she wouldn't take no for an answer. She walked outside and Ian pressed the ice to his eye and followed her, meekly compliant and more than a little nervous.
"I want you to take me to Jeff's house," Charley said when they were out of earshot. "I need to talk to him."
Ian dropped the cold pack and looked at her with both eyes. "Take you to Jeff's! That bloody poofter's? Whaffor?"
"I want to apologize to him for being such a fool," said Charley.
Ian threw his hands up helplessly. "Are you fuckin' going daft then, love? Isn't he the one who should be making the amends to you?"
"I've no doubt he will, as soon as he gets the chance," said his cousin, shrugging. "But I'm going to say I'm sorry, too. I reacted like an idiot, Ian. I treated him like he was dirty, like he was scum, and I shouldn't have. Just what did Jeff do to me that was so wrong? He took me out, showed me a great time, treated me like a princess all evening."
"That's when you were with us. What happened after?"
"None of your business," Charley spat. She put her hands on her hips and glared menacingly. "I want to see him. Are you taking me to Jeff's or not?"
Ian sighed. What choice did he have? "Bugger it!" he yelled. "Yes!"
Charley's faced softened and she leaned over to kiss his bruised eye. "Thank you. And thanks for fighting for me, Mr. Macho…even if it was a stupid idea."
* * *
Charley ran up the two steps to the porch and knocked on the door. Ian waited in his car to make sure Jeff was at home, and when he answered, Ian started the engine. Charley turned to wave her thanks, and then went inside, a surprised but very happy Jeff following her.
"Charley! I... Well, I'm pleased you're here. I've really wanted to talk to you."
A half-smile playing over her lips, she looked at him, standing there in his plaid flannel shirt, footy shorts and boots. 'Such a goofy-looking outfit,' she thought. 'Such a sweet, handsome guy.' She looked into his eyes and felt her heart thump harder. God, how she loved those amazing eyes; warm now, and looking at her with hopeful, tender longing.
"Jeff," she began, "I've come to say I'm sorry. I was nasty to you the other night. Nasty and mean, and that's not like me. It's just that it shocked me, what you said…" She shrugged. "That was a first for me. I just couldn't believe it after….well, I couldn't believe it."
He understood; he was nodding at her.
"Love, I'm sorry. Christ knows, I never wanted to hurt you or scare you or anything. God, Charley! What I told you the other night...about being crazy for you...it's the truth."
She cocked her head, blank confusion crossing her face. "But how? How can you be, Jeff? You said you're gay. How can you be crazy about me if you're gay?"
"Ah love, I don't know," Jeff shook his head and shrugged. "I've had the hots for a sheila or two before now, it’s just never been this strong. Maybe I'm more a bisexual than a homosexual, but I won't lie to you. I've always preferred blokes to girls. Except this time. This time I want a woman. I want…" He stopped, said simply, "Charley, it's just you. I want you."
Charley crossed her arms protectively over her breasts. "Jeez. Do you know how hard this is for me? I was crazy for you, too. Every thing was so perfect, you were perfect, until you said that about boyfriends. You floored me; I had no idea…" Her voice trailed away.
Jeff raised his hands, palms up, in a gesture of defeat. "Charley, I know. I should have told you before we… I meant to tell you first, before we did anything, but uh…well, things moved along pretty fast and before I knew it, we were in bed." He took a step towards her and she glanced up at him, bewildered tears in her eyes.
"Ah, love! Don't cry. Charley, don't." He gathered her into his arms, held her tenderly. She sobbed pitifully, and he kissed the top of her head.
"Stop it now," soothed Jeff. "Nothing to cry about, love! Listen, we'll do whatever you want. We can be mates, or you can just tell me to piss off. Whatever you say, that's what we'll do. Just don't hate me, please love. I couldn't stand it if you did."
Charley tightened her arms about him. "I could never hate you, Jeff," she whispered. "Never, that's the problem."
A ray of hope, however feeble, lightened his heart. Jeff's lips traveled down to her ear as he settled into Charley's embrace.
"Why's that a problem, love? It's a good thing as far as I can see," he probed gently.
She wondered why it had to be this way. If only he was straight. He was sweet, he was gorgeous, she was crazy about him, she wanted him. Jeff's hands stroked over her back, his touch gentle. Exciting. Charley shivered deliciously.
"It's not good because I like you, and I'm not your
type," she murmured against his flannel shirt.
He said, "No, no, that's where you're wrong, love. You are my type." He took her
chin between his thumb and forefinger and raised her face so he could look into
her eyes. "Haven't you heard a thing I've said to you? I like you so much,
Charley. Everything about you….the way you look, how nice you are. I even like
the way you talk," he teased, grinning when she frowned at him. "I like you and
I loved having sex with you, it was mind-blowing, just the bloody best….." He
stopped, suddenly thinking it was better not to go there just now. But he had
more to say, and she was still looking up at him intently, so he went on.
"Charley, we can have a great time while you're here. There's so much about Oz I'd like to show you…remember what you said about wanting to see the Southern Cross? We can take a ride out to the bush tonight and I'll show it to you. And next weekend, we could go to the beach. You'd love that, our beaches are the best on the planet. We could take another weekend and run down to Melbourne to the Victoria Arts Festival, that's going on all month and it's a world-class event, you shouldn't miss it while you’re here. I have to work days, but at night, we could do whatever takes our fancy. You know, see films and go to pubs and footy games, or just watch the telly at home. Ah, I could show you a great time while you're here, love," he repeated, his eyes warm and entreating, "All you have to do is say the word, and we're off."
"Oh, it sounds wonderful," Charley sighed. "And I want to, I want to be with you." She looked up at him suddenly, a tinge of suspicion in her tone. "If you're sure….I mean, I don't want you to do anything you don't want to, or do it because you feel sorry for me. If that's what this is, just you feeling guilty about what happened, I'd rather we didn't start."
"Love, don't you listen?" he whispered, looking into her eyes before he dropped his gaze to her mouth. His lips lowered, hovered just bare centimeters above hers before he finally kissed her. His mouth was hard and insistent, sucking at hers, feeding off her. He dropped his hands to her hips and pulled her into his groin so that she could feel his erection, long and hard, against her soft belly.
"There, Charley. Do you feel it? Does that feel like guilt to you? Do you think I crack a fat when I'm with you because I feel sorry for you?"
"Oh God, I….it feels good. So good, Jeff."
She wound her arms around his back and stroked over the width of it, unconsciously digging her fingers in, mutely conveying her urgency to him. He ground against her and kissed her again, his tongue sliding over the seam of her lips, probing, seeking. She opened to him and licked at his tongue with hers. Deep in his chest, Jeff made a sound that was part growl, part sigh, and kissed her harder. Charley tilted her head back to let him reach her throat and sighed as he took the hint and laid soft, moist kisses along her jawbone and down to where the pulse beat wildly in her neck.
"Love, love," Jeff murmured. "I want you. Come to bed with me, Charley. Let me love you."
Charley shivered; his voice, so deep and resonant, reverberated in her core and made her weak. "Yes. Yes, love me," she whispered, then gasped as he bent and lifted her into his arms. He strode rapidly to the bedroom, set her gently on her feet, then locked the door.
He grinned. "No surprises this time, love. He's not even here."
She smiled shyly at this reminder of Harry's untimely interruption. Jeff moved to her and began unbuttoning the white cotton shirt she wore, pausing often to kiss her mouth and nuzzle into her neck. Charley tugged the flannel shirt out of his shorts, stroking her nails lightly over the exposed flesh, smiling to herself when he hissed a sharp intake of breath. With every kiss, her breathing became more labored until she was panting. Jeff pushed her back on the bed and removed her jeans, kissed down her legs as he uncovered them. He pulled her sandals from her feet and kissed her insteps, then worked his way back up her legs until he'd reached her sex. He sucked at her through lace panties and slipped a finger under the elastic to stroke along her slit, before tugging the panties down and over her legs and feet. He tossed them over his shoulder and rose to strip off. And then he lay next to her on the bed and gathered her into his arms.
"God, you're beautiful," he murmured, kissing her gently." So beautiful..."
"You too." She fastened her lips over his chin and kissed him there, relishing the sandpaper feel of his stubble under her lips. She kissed his nose and forehead, then slid her fingers into his hair and pulled him down to push her tongue into his mouth, licking along his teeth. Jeff climbed half over her and forced a leg between her thighs. She could feel his cock, hard and hot, pressing against her as he rocked against her body. She slid one hand down to grasp his shaft, caressing it, pulling on it, rubbing her fingertips over the head.
"Easy love, or we won't get to the good part," Jeff warned, and kissed her throat, then down over her shoulder. He closed his hand over her breast and squeezed gently, guided her nipple to his mouth. He licked at it, sucked it firmly into his mouth, nursing hard. Charley moaned and writhed against him. He switched to the other breast, sucking that nipple into a slick hard bud, dark as a raspberry. He left her breasts and kissed his way down her body until he reached the thatch of curls between her legs. Jeff slid off the end of the bed and pulled Charley to the edge. Kneeling between them, he pulled her legs over his shoulders and lowered his head, licking along her slit, driving his tongue into the folds of her sex. Above him, Charley gasped and undulated against his mouth.
"Oh, God. Jeff, don't stop. Don't stop, baby."
The taste of a woman. It was different from his usual treat and in Charley’s case, it was delicious. He sucked her clit between his teeth and nibbled while running his tongue over and over it. Her eyes closed tight, Charley moaned even louder and unconsciously tossed her head from side to side. Her hands found his hair and slid into it as she thrashed and whimpered. Every sound she made seemed to drive Jeff to even higher peaks of arousal. He stayed with her until she came down from her orgasm and then he was up and pushing her back up the bed. Jeff knelt between her spread thighs and leaned to get a condom from the bedside table. He rolled it on and stroked the fit to his liking before guiding himself into her. Charley raised her hips to meet him and wrapped her legs around his waist as he sank into her. He paused for a moment, breathing hard, his eyes closed and an expression of pure lust on his features.
Then he opened his eyes and began to move, slowly at first, giving her long smooth strokes with his entire length. He wanted to make it last, take it slow, but he couldn’t stop himself. It was so good, so wet and hot and tight. Jeff fucked into her faster, harder, little grunts of pleasure escaping from deep in his chest.
"Look at me, love. Let me see your eyes…." he whispered, staring down at her passion-glazed face. Charley lifted her lashes and gazed up at him, and he saw that she was close.
"Charley, Charley. I need you. Come with me." Jeff dropped his mouth over hers, drove his tongue between her panting lips. He felt her going, felt her sex milk him, contracting in spasms as she came. The now-familiar soft whimpers erupted from her throat. He let himself go, surging into her hard and holding it, teetering on the edge, then drove in with another hard stroke as he hurtled into the abyss. "Charley!" he cried, burying his face into the crook of her neck as his body shuddered and hitched.
"I'm with you, I'm here," she murmured, shivering as another spasm wracked her. She tightened her arms around him, held him until he quieted, and when he tried to roll off her, she said clearly, "No. Stay."
"Love, I'm too heavy for you." Jeff protested.
"No you aren't. Stay. Stay in me."
He gathered her into his arms and kissed her, then lay quietly, his body still joined to hers. But after a while his softening cock slipped from her and he teased, grinning, "I'm gone, love," before he rolled off her and pulled her against his side. Charley waited until he took care of the condom then settled contentedly on his chest, his skin smooth under her cheek, while his hand stroked over her arm, soothing, caressing.
"Jeff?"
"Hmmm?" he said drowsily.
"You're a marvelous lover."
He chuckled quietly. "Ta love. You too." He squeezed her affectionately. "Comfy?"
"Mmm, yes. I could go to sleep." She giggled. "You wore me out."
He smothered a yawn. "Me too. Let's go for a little kip then, eh love? When we wake up, we'll go out for some tucker and then take that ride out to the bush to see the Cross. Yeah?"
"Yeah." Charley stretched her neck and rubbed her face on his cheek. Jeff turned his head and captured her mouth for a quick kiss.
"Go to sleep," he whispered.
"Going," she whispered back, and turned over to tuck her bum into his groin.
Jeff enclosed her in his arms and placed a hand over her breast. His thumb brushed over the nipple, back and forth, back and forth, until she covered his hand and pressed it to stop him. He rumbled into her neck, "I'm just going to hold on to this fellow, all right by you, love? I've gotten attached."
"Hold tight, then." She smiled and settled into her nap.
* * *
Two hours later Jeff stirred, groggy, disoriented, wondering what had awakened him. He still held Charley's breast, her naked arse was nestled sweetly against his groin. With such lovely stimuli his cock came quickly awake too, and he pressed it into Charley's smooth buttocks, his hand dipping to the damp curls between her legs.
"Are you up, love?"
"I am now," said Charley, her grin evident in her tone.
"Well then, since you're up…fancy a quickie before we get out of bed?"
"Uh huh," she agreed, turning to face him.
What a woman... Jeff thought, glad she was in his bed. He bent to kiss her and then they heard it, the soft knocking, the urgent low-voiced inquiry: "Jeff, are you in there? Young Ian's on the phone…"