***
JIMMY
Iwanted to kiss him.Those lips on the skittish man have been calling me since we started the trek.And when he said ‘show me the gay way of life,’ I almost climbed him.With no one around for miles, a lot could be done.But the saner side of my mind prevailed, warning me of my past rapid tumbles for men who showed even the slightest interest in me.Throughout our descent from the mountaintop, I kept reminding myself that he was a client, even though the devil inside kept poking me.No.Not your client.
I am still brooding about what Aditya meant by the ‘gay way of life.’Did he mean a simple, ‘show me where to find a mesh shirt on the Mall Road,’ or more in line with the lucid images cavorting in my dreams for the past two weeks since ambushing him at the park?
Aditya's brooding cuteness has been testing me.He bites his lower lip and scrunches his eyebrows when he is concentrating or fidgets by adjusting his glasses when he is nervous.I restrained myself by chanting the sacred mantras to the Goddess.By the time we stood inside the temple sanctum, I had made up my mind.If things worked out with him, I would donate a day's meals to the community kitchen.
And more if we had a future.I'm a bit immature in letting my heart run ahead by planning a future, but I want a boyfriend after watching the couples in my friend circle.Aditya is a rare butterfly in my world.Though I am young and still working to make something of my life, he causes a flutter, kindling a yearning for permanence in my mind.Tham ja e dil...My tiny brain asks me to show restraint, remembering Daljit.ButDil kya kare jab kiso ko...The heart is so fickle, panting with its tongue out at the first sight of a decent man.
“Sir, your chai and breakfast.”The server boy places the tea and the 'chadhanchi' — black chickpea curry with hot bread buns and butter on the table.
“How do you drink this?”Aditya enquires, picking the jaggery pieces.
“How can you live in Almora for more than two months and not taste our tea?”I tease him.
“I did not have a charming tour guide to join me for breakfast.”He snarks back.
Ah, the smile again.What am I going to do?Stop flirting and eat your food, the brain admonishes.“You drink the tea and eat the jaggery.The tea is bland without sugar.Like this.”
Aditya mimics my actions, “Mmh, tastes nice.”
“This will taste better.”I cut the bun, spread a dollop of butter, dip the piece in the gravy, and offer it to him.He leans forward and takes a bite.Before I withdraw my hand, he licks the dripping butter off my fingers and moans.The Satan in my pants is wide awake.
“Mmh, perfect.”He gives words to his delight.
“Ahem.”I clear my throat.“You sure are hungry after a two-hour hike.”
“Hmm, this curry is delicious with the perfect level of spice for me.”He sips his tea and adds in an even, unaffected tone.“I love to taste things that sizzle the tongue, make my eyes water, and send a buzz from head to toe.”
The tea in my mouth spurts out, followed by a hacking cough at the images my mind conjures.Aditya rushes to rub my back and offers me water after I settle.
“Are you okay?”He studies me, all worried.“Was the tea too hot for you?”
I wave for him to sit down.Not ready to open my mouth.Afraid of all the inappropriate, kinky things I want to say.
The next half-hour passes, relishing our food while talking about the trek.We promise to do a few more in these parts before we head back to drop Aditya at his home.On the turn to the pathway leading to his house, I test the waters.
“Do you want to meet a few friends?We are a small group of LGBTQ people.Two are foreigners; the rest are Indians.We meet once every two weeks in one of our houses.The next gathering is in a week.”
“What do you do at these meets?”A subtle fear laces Aditya’s curiosity.
“Umm, we gather and catch up on our lives.Offer support and advice if someone is facing an issue.Entry is by invitation only.No strangers are allowed.”After grabbing his attention, I lay the bait.“We can't do anything in public, so the group is our little safe space for some PDA.No one will stop you if you want to kiss someone.”
Aditya stops in his tracks and surveys our surroundings.He clenches and unclenches his fist.Uncertain and searching.For what?He bites his lower lip before lunging at me.He grabs my t-shirt, rises on his haunches in a snap, making up the few inches in height, and kisses my lips.Caught by surprise, I am stupefied.My lack of reaction makes him step back.
“I...I am sorry.I should not have come on to you.”He turns, rushing to open his door.
I grab his shoulders and spin him around, cupping his face.“Do you think I would have allowed you to even touch me if I did not want the kiss?”
“S-Still.I am thirty-seven.Old enough to be your father.”Aditya drops his head and whispers, “Or yourchacha.”
“So what?I am twenty-two and have lived alone for enough years to make my own decisions.We are both adults.Those numbers are not obstacles as long as we want the same thing.”I trace the roundness of his soft cheeks before moving on to the freshly shaven cupid's bow.“You are only fifteen years older.How can you be my father?Who gets married before eighteen nowadays?”
I push the door with my shoulders and lead Aditya inside, shoving the door shut with my foot.The silent yearning in his eyes has broken my restraint.I push him against the door and press my lips to his.He moans and opens, allowing my tongue to explore his mouth.I lean into him, squashing him against the door, as his fingers tighten their grip on my head.Our tongues frolic in lust-filled loops.I pull his leg up, aligning our groins, and press him harder against the door.He goes feral.Nips and tugs enter the scene where our mouths are devouring each other.My hand moves to his groin, rubbing his bulge.
Aditya's grip on my arms tightens as he lets out a loud moan, breaking the kiss.Ragged breaths escape his mouth.He squeezes his eyes shut.“Y-you are my first.”He stutters, opening his eyes wide in fear.“Jimmy, I have never been with a man.”
