You can ask or you get nothing…at least not more than you’ve already gotten.
“I’d like to show you this.” He waved a finger toward the clay covered wheel and stool.
“I’m watching.”
Leonidas pursed his lips, but went to the stool and sat. He set a plate on the shelf, then grabbed a ball of clay and dropped it into the center, using his dry palms to rough the shape into a flat topped triangle.
“Do you want to come try it?” he asked, reaching toward the water bucket and wetting his hands. He started to pump the pedal with his right foot, and the wheel began to turn, slowly at first, and he used his palms to shape the clay, drawing it up into a taller form.
“That’s not what you asked before.”
Leonidas fought the urge to roll his eyes and lifted his foot off the pedal. It slowed until it stilled, and he looked at Andy out of the corner of his eye.
“I’m asking now.” Leonidas reached down near his leg and grabbed the bottle of wine, taking a drink before extending it toward Andy. “It’ll help loosen you up.”
“Being loose around you isn’t the issue.” Andy grabbed the bottle and took swig. “I forget myself around you.”
“Then you better hope I’ll remember you.”
Andy took a step closer, took another drink from the bottle, then returned it to the spot on the floor near Leonidas’s feet.
“What do I do?” Andy asked, stretching his arms out in invitation.
“As you’re told.” He smirked. “Which I feel like might be a change of pace for you.”
“We can play that game.” Andy’s voice felt like sandpaper against Leonidas’s ears.
He stood up, and Andy slipped onto the stool. Grabbing another stool from the corner, Leonidas kicked it toward Andy. He sat down and pressed close, dragging his already dirty and wet fingertips down Andy’s arms.
“I think we’ll have to shower again later,” he whispered.
“I’ll survive.”
“Alright.” Leonidas stretched his leg around to the pedal and started it up again. “Get your hands wet.”
Andy dipped his fingers into the water and held them on either side of the clay. Leonidas flattened his hands on top of Andy’s and pushed both of their palms into the clay.
“We start slow.” He dragged their hands to the top, then back down. “We want to build it up.”
“Alright,” Andy rasped.
“You’ve got to press it hard or it’ll get away from you.”
Andy’s breath caught in his throat, but the muscles of his hands flexed and he pressed harder against the clay. Leonidas guided his hands until they got close the shape he’d hoped for, then he reached into the water again and slid Andy’s hands to the top.
“Use your thumb first.”
Andy pressed the top of the mold with his thumb and it immediately folded over and began to lean.
“You have to mean it, Andrew.” Leonidas used the heels of his hands to push Andy’s palms against the clay, righting it. “Now use this part and your thumb together.”
Leonidas rearranged their hands and the clay shifted lower toward the wheel in the start of a bowl.
“Like this?” Andy asked.
“Does it feel like it’s right?” He encouraged Andy to use his thumb, the heel of his other hand, to shape the clay further.
Andy was so focused, and it made Leonidas hard.
