Prolog
My name is Malcolm Hargrove. My vocation is that of a writer. Portions of my work at times are a bit of an erotic nature. While I cannot explain the reasoning for many of those that choose to share their experiences, the phenomenon continues. Sometimes their motives don't become apparent until much later.
I met Harvey at retreat for single men sponsored by an affiliate of the Lions International. My characters in a continuing series of mystery works had been asked to watch over a client's son while he was attending such a retreat. I had never attended one so I needed some firsthand information for the story.
Harvey was my cabin mate for the weekend. When we retired to our cabin late the first evening our conversation, as we prepared for sleep, included relating our means of livelihood. When he discovered who he was talking to he grinned and asked if I would assist him in a plot he was developing. His elaboration was to presumably offer a semblance of background to assist in my understanding the depth of his inquiry. It seemed he needed some imaginative and unique advice from a story teller of note.
His description of recent events took much of the following evenings and several hours again when we met a week later at Sally's Breakfast Buffet in Amarillo, Texas. (A stop to be considered on the path of my characters.) His story began...
Chapter 1
I had always thought of myself as being very straight. That is until Wally.
I had known Wally forever; not a close acquaintance but I saw him at stores and at the Lions club meetings and a few of the community activities. I knew him well enough to say hello and engage in casual conversation. I knew that he was single and approximately 45. He was from somewhere up north. (This is Texas.) Other than that he had never made much of an impression on me. That is until that winter a couple of years back.
It was a cold and blustery 38 degrees and the wind seemed to cut through you. With the Texas humidity no amount of clothes seemed to keep out the cold. I was attending the monthly meeting of the Lions and Wally was a little late coming in. He was rocking along on crutches and had his left leg in a brace.
As he came closer I moved in his direction to offer to get him a cocktail when his left crutch hit a wet spot on the tile floor and slid out from under him. I was close enough to drop my drink and grab him before he fell. I had him in a bear hug. He is a good size guy and bit on the plump side as am I.
Somehow I managed to get him to a chair and sat him down. It was at that moment that I had looked into his eyes and felt an electric current run through my whole body. My heart was racing and my mouth went dry. We were still in an embrace and we held each other for what seemed to be minutes but in reality it was only a few seconds.
Wally smiled as I pulled away and he thanked me for saving him. I asked him what he would like to drink and he said he could really use a dry vodka martini. I got him his martini and his crutch and avoided him for the much of the remainder of the evening.
I called this a meeting but in reality it was just a social gathering with a cash bar and some simple snacks. I caught myself watching Wally ever so often. I noticed that he did not get up on his crutches and was allowing others to wait on him. I began to be concerned that he might be hurt and that he might need help getting home. Finally as things began to wind down I went over to where he was sitting and when Charles left him alone I asked Wally if he was hurt.
His reply was somewhat curious, "I could be and I think I just might need a Good Samaritan to help me home."
I hesitated but when my heart began to race I opened my mouth and out came, "I would very much like to be your Good Samaritan this evening."
Charles and a couple of others helped me get Wally into my car and we started out of the parking lot.
I stopped short and with a sheepish grin I muttered, "I guess I will need you to direct me. I have no clue where you live."
Wally laughed, "Turn right and in a couple of miles turn left onto Park Street. I live in a condo on the corner of Park and 7th Street."
The rest of the trip was silent. I pulled up in front of his condo. It was then that I realized that he was going to need me to help him to his apartment.
I turned to him and he smiled, "You might find it easier to pull into the parking garage. My parking space is closer to the elevator and I would most appreciate it if you would assist me to my apartment."
Well, I parked in his parking spot and helped him out of the car. I retrieved his crutches and handed them to him. He thanked me and tried to move toward the elevator.
After only a couple of steps he turned to me and asked, "Would you be so kind as to give me a shoulder to lean on. I seem to be having trouble with my coordination."
I still don't understand my reaction. It was as if I was yearning for him to ask me to help. So I jumped at the opportunity to be close to him. Together we made our way to the elevator, he with an arm around my shoulder and me with an arm around his waist.
Once in the elevator he pressed the button for the fourth floor. The doors closed and he laid his crutches against the wall and turned to me. He placed his right hand on the back of my head and pulled me against him with his left. I made no resistance. Wally is 5'11" and I am barely 5'8".
He held me hard and pressed his lips against mine. I had never kissed a man and I guess I was so surprised that I opened my mouth and let him put his tongue against my tongue.
I realized what I was doing and jerked my head back and exclaimed, "No!"
Wally continued to hold me tight against his body. I could feel his erection pressing against my stomach. But I made no attempt to pull away.
Wally looked disappointed and stuttered, "I-I-I am so sorry. I thought that you were attracted to me. I know that I am very attracted to you."
I replied, "I can tell you are aroused, but I'm straight. I like women. I have to admit that I am having some strange reactions when you are close to me. I don't think that I want to pursue those feelings though. "
The elevator doors opened and Wally released me. He gathered his crutches and put his arm around my shoulder and I put my arm around his waist. The racing heart and the electricity continued. Together we moved to his apartment door. There we stepped apart and he retrieved his keys from his coat pocket.
Wally turned to me and said, "Would you allow me to apologize and reward you for your assistance with a martini?"
I felt bad that I had led him to believe that I wanted more than I had. So I could not refuse.
"Of course, a martini would help to rid me of the chill from this rotten weather."
Chapter 2
Inside the living room was warm and wooden. The paneling was a rich walnut and off to one side was a spectacular wet bar. The top was dark brown cultured marble and the mirror behind the bar was framed in gold leaf. The bar stools were brass and black leather with high backs. In the rest of the room the furniture was covered in gray leather highlighted with lamp tables of glass and bright brass. The lamps were replicas of ship lanterns and gave off just enough warm glows to make the room feel comfortable and relaxing. The wall had prints of several artists of renown.
Music came from out of nowhere. It filled the room with its soft strings and muted brass.
I remarked, "Beethoven, I believe. Is it the London Symphony?"
Wally hobbled to the bar and turned his head to respond, "You are well versed in classical music. Yes, it is the London Symphony and Beethoven. Do you know what the selection is?"
I had to admit to my limited knowledge of music and replied "Sorry, I am not well educated in music. I only know a little and Beethoven is one that I can sometimes recognize. I just made a wild guess about the orchestra."
Wally proceeded to prepare the martinis. A rather large batch it seemed. He called me over to the bar and handed me a vodka martini with 2 olives. Just the way I liked it. I thought to myself that he must have been observing my drink selections at the gathering. We discussed his furniture and his prints and by then my glass was empty. Wally poured me another and speared a couple of olives. He held them up to my lips; offering them to me to take from the toothpick in his hand. I obliged.
We discussed our background. Wally was from the small town of Brock in Northern Ohio. He had moved to Texas four years before and had found work as an office manager with Smith Reynolds, a large accounting firm. Wally poured me another and again offered me the olives on a tooth pick in his hand. We had been sitting on the barstools but as he offered me the olives this time he slid off and moved rather easily to me. As I took the olives with my lips and open teeth he touched my inner-thigh with his other hand.
He looked me in the eyes and smiled. "You may not want to admit it but you want to find out what it would be like to make love with another man. I can see how you react when we are close and touch. I can feel your heart racing and see you lick your lips like your mouth has gone dry. If you look at my crotch you will see very well how you are affecting me. I want you and I believe you will find that given a chance you will want what I have to offer."