Title: If I’d Never Met You
Author/pseudonym: Tinnean
Fandom: In and Out
Pairing: Howard Brackett/Peter Malloy
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: They belong to Paramount and Paul
Rudnick. I just take them out for a brisk canter and then rub them down and put
them nicely away.
Status: new/complete
Date: 7/01
Series/Sequel: All right, listen up: this is becoming
ridiculous, so I am hereby naming this series. Henceforth, it shall be known as
the… Out of the Closet series. Yeah, that’s the ticket! And this is
part…um…6! Yeah, 6! I knew that!
Summary: Peter is invited to the Bracketts’ for
dinner.
Warnings: m/m, spoilers for the movie
Notes: As always, this is for Silk and Gail.
If I’d Never Met You
Part 1/1
It would go down in the annals of Greenleaf High as one of
the most eventful graduations on record. The entire town of Greenleaf, Indiana,
for at least the length of the ceremony, had come out of the closet and
announced its gaydom.
Taking a prominent part in the festivities was Cameron
Drake, Hollywood’s most recent golden boy. And the entire thing had been
captured on film by Peter Malloy, reporter for Inside Entertainment.
But now, the diplomas had been handed out, tassels had been
repositioned, and the class was officially part of posterity. The graduates were
drifting into their usual cliques, for one last blast before their parents
rounded them up and proudly displayed them to all their relatives. They would
have a final, carefree summer together, and then they would separate, going on
to college, or work, or the military.
They would vow eternal friendship, or devotion, and for
some that might even be true. But most would move on, as Cameron Drake had, and
only return to their hometown for the usual cause of family reunions: funerals
or…weddings.
****
“Cameron! Cameron Drake!”
I watched in amusement as Peter Malloy hailed the young
actor. As usual, Bud Conway, his cameraman, was right there, the camcorder at
his eye like some alien life form that had attached itself to his face. I stood
to the side and watched my lover work.
“Peter! Good to see you again! I’m surprised to see
you’re still here, though!”
Peter was flattered that Cam remembered him, but I could
have told him that appearances to the contrary, the boy could use his mind, when
he chose to. It was important to his career to remember those who had
interviewed him.
“I’m still here because this story means a great deal
to me, Cameron. I care!”
“This is true,” I couldn’t help interjecting.
“He’s been here a whole week!”
Cam grinned. “Really?”
“As opposed to those other reporters who were only here
for a few days!” Peter’s tone was injured, but he spoiled the effect by
smiling lasciviously at me.
“Ummm. Well, it’s really nice to see you again, Mr.
Brackett.” The actor extended his hand to shake mine.
“I’m glad to see you too, Cameron.”
“If I could interrupt this old home week? I do have a job
to do!” Peter taped his mike restlessly against his palm.
“Sure, Peter. What would you like to know?”
And immediately, he was in his professional mode. The
questions, for once, weren’t the innocuous pap prime time viewers seemed to
thrive on. “Why did you show up here in Greenleaf, Cameron? Were you trying to
make amends for the disarray you cast your former English teacher’s life into?
And how do you feel about Mr. Brackett losing his job as a result of your Oscar
night statement?”
Cam rambled and mumbled, and I had to listen in awe to his
answers. “And finally I said to Sonya, we have to do something. We can’t
just think about our careers and our hair!”
I cocked an eyebrow at Peter, and he leaned close enough to
whisper, “Editing, the marvel of the modern age!”
I choked on the laughter he surprised out of me.
“Cameron, thanks so much for your thoughtful comments.”
Peter’s tongue was firmly in his cheek. “One last question before I let you
go? What next?”
Cam’s eyes grew vague. “Next? Well, I’ve been getting
a lot of offers, but they’re all for gay guys, you know? I don’t want to
typecast myself. My agent is carefully fielding all the scripts that are coming
in. Until I hear from her, I’ll be taking a short vacation, here in
Greenleaf.”
“And there you have it, folks. A major star who’s not
too big to return to his roots!” Peter made a slicing motion, and Bud lowered
his camera, grinning in relief.
“We done for the day, boss? Then I’m heading to the
tavern for a tall, cool one! And maybe a beer, as well!”
“Sure thing, Bud. Good job!” Peter tossed him a salute.
The cameraman grinned and stowed his equipment in the back
of the rental car, then sauntered away with a jaunty whistle.
Peter turned back to the actor. “Thanks a lot, Cameron. I
really do appreciate the interview. It’s all about ratings, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. Uh, Mr. Brackett, before you leave, I just
want to thank you.”
“Why, Cameron? Aside from not breaking your nose for
getting me into such a jam?”
“Yeah, there was that, wasn’t there? Well, I just want
to thank you for not marrying Miss Montgomery. Emily.” He was actually
blushing.
Peter paused, holding open the passenger door for me to get
into his car. “Cameron, where is Sonya?” The actor and the supermodel had
been an item for quite some time by Hollywood standards. Almost four months!
“Oh, I saw her a little while ago outside the auditorium.
She broke up with me.” He shrugged. “She didn’t like when I told her she
looked like a swizzle stick and she should eat something. It isn’t healthy to
be that thin, you know?” He suddenly looked uncomfortable. “That’s off the
record, Peter!”
Peter nodded, what had to be a smirk curling his lips.
Relief filled the actor’s face, and he nodded in turn.
“Now Miss Montgomery, Emily, she’s perfect. She was even more perfect
before she lost that weight, but…” He sighed. “Gotta go, Mr. Brackett.
I’m taking Miss Montgomery, Emily, to lunch!” With a happy wave,
Cameron Drake hurried off down the sidewalk.
Peter was watching me carefully. “Are you all right with
that, Howard?”
“It has a certain…symmetry to it. They quoted Romeo and
Juliet to each other when she was a student teacher, you know. I rather thought
she was fonder of him than she ever let on. Ah, well, such is life. At least
she’ll have something to take her mind off all the times I made her watch
Funny Lady.”
“It was a sequel, Howard. She was under contract!”
“You heard me tell her that at the church!”
Peter grinned, and I caught my breath. “Yes,” he
admitted. “But it’s still true!” His eyes grew sultry. “Want a lift,
sailor?”
I couldn’t take my eyes off his lips. I took a step
toward him, and then…
“Howard, sweetheart, I’m making pot roast for dinner.
I’ll expect you at five sharp!”
“Hi, Mom. All right.”
“Oh, and bring your buddy. There’s always plenty!”
I opened my mouth to tell her that wouldn’t be a good
idea, but Peter jumped in before I could say a word. “Thank you very much,
Mrs. Brackett. I’d love to join you!”
“Wonderful! Bye, boys!”
“Bye, um, Mom. Dad.”
Dad just waved. “Don’t be late, or she’ll send me out
after you!” They drove off in the family station wagon, and I turned on Peter.
“Oh, that was really smart! You have no idea what my
mother is like! The woman is diabolical! If she finds out that you’re more
than just my buddy…”
He had the gall to look hurt. “Are you ashamed of me,
Howard?”
We were toe to toe, and I leaned into his personal space.
“Peter, let me put it to you this way: do the musical notes dum dum dadum ring
a bell?”
“Wedding bells?” His eyes grew wide.
“Ah, the light dawns! She’s been cheated out of one wedding already. Do me a favor, Peter. Don’t give her any ideas!”
”Howard, I’ve never seen you like this!”
I growled at him and got into the car. “Drop me off at my
house, would you? I need to change.”
“Oh no! You’re perfect just the way you are, babe!”
****
I was becoming more and more frantic, trying to find
clothes that would be casual enough for dinner with my folks, but not too
casual. I didn’t want Peter to think I was a slob.
“Howard.” He was right behind me and I jumped. He
turned me to face him, and tipped up my chin. “Take off your jacket.” He
helped me slide out of it. “I really like the color of this shirt. Light
sky-blue? It goes so well with this suit. Now, take off your tie. Mrs. Lester is
right: you do have perfect taste!”
My hands went to the knot at my throat, and I tugged it
loose. I would have hung it up, but Peter took it from my fingers and tossed it
over his shoulder. “Hey!”
He twined his fingers in mine and pushed me back against
the wall, covering my body with his. I groaned as I felt him thrust his arousal
lazily against my groin, and I spread my legs, making a space for him.
“I want you, Howard.”
I started to protest.
“Don’t say no! We’ve got plenty of time. Make love
with me!” He teased my lips opened and licked at my tongue, inviting it to
come out and play in his mouth. Hesitantly, I let my tongue glide forward,
tasting the peppermint he had been sucking on. “Come on, Howard. Fuck my
mouth! You know you want to!”
My hands were imprisoned by his, so I couldn’t move his
head the way I wanted it. I angled my mouth instead, and began a duel with his
tongue, the rhythm matching the one his lower body had established.
The feelings became too strong, and I tore my mouth free.
“Pete..Peter! I’m going to come!”
“Not yet, babe!” He undid my trousers in record time
and they slid, unlamented, to the floor. My cock sprang free, slick with
precome. Peter released my hands and dropped to his knees. He blew softly, and I
shuddered, feeling my balls tighten.
And then the wet heat of his mouth was surrounding me, and
my hips bucked, my orgasm hitting me like a runaway train. No one, before Peter,
had ever made me feel so good.
He swallowed one last time and let my flaccid cock slip out
of his mouth. I sank down onto the floor beside him, dazed. A drop of my come
clung to the corner of his mouth, and I leaned forward and licked it off.
Peter groaned. “You pick the damnedest times to get
uninhibited!” He parted his lips, inviting me to taste myself on him. But it
was our combined taste that was driving me wild.
When he ordered me to roll over, I didn’t even stop to
question him. He positioned me on my knees and pressed gently on my shoulders. I
got comfortable and waited for his next move.
Cool lubricant was rubbed over and around my hole, a finger
dipping in deeper and deeper with each passing stroke. “No olive oil?” I
teased, and then gasped as he eased two fingers into my passage.
“It’s better with the lube, babe. And I’m going to
make sure I always have some on me!” He withdrew his fingers, and then the
broad head of his cock began pressing for admittance. The muscle relaxed, and he
slid in so deeply that he sparked my prostate immediately. “And every time you
look at me, you’ll know that in my pocket, I’m carrying this tube and a
bunch of condoms.”
“A bunch? All the time?” I didn’t know where I found
the ability to string together a coherent sentence. He had pulled almost all the
way out, and then shoved back in, his balls slapping against mine.
He reached around and took my cock in his hand. Each time
he hit my hot spot, I wanted to beg for more. He jerked me in time to his
thrusts. “Oh, yeah, babe. And no matter where we are, you’re going to look
at me and know what I’ve got for you. And when we drive home from your
folks’ tonight, you’re going to show me where the lover’s lane is.”
“I am?” Unbelievably, I was on the verge of coming
again.
“Oh…yes! And…I’m going to…strip off
your…pants…and fuck you …raw!” And with a shout, he began to come,
pounding into me so hard that I lost my balance and collapsed under him.
I could feel his cock quivering in my ass, and I ground
myself shamelessly back against him. He rolled to his side, one hand on my
abdomen keeping him firmly seated within me, the other working my arousal, and
with two more jerks I was filling his hands with my hot semen.
And we fell asleep, there on the floor.
****
Something warm and damp was tickling my neck. And then
teeth sank into the flesh just below my collar and lips began suckling the
indentations. I moaned and arched into it, loving the way that spot seemed to be
directly connected to my cock.
Drowsily, I opened my eyes to find Peter leaning over me.
“Hey!” I said softly.
“Hey, yourself!” he smiled. “Come on. We’ve got to
get a shower and then hit the road. We don’t want to be late, do we?”
”Let’s see. What are my options here? Dinner with my folks. Or you in my
bed? Not a hard choice, babe.”
He groaned. “Come on, Howard, you’re not making this
easy for me. I want your Mom and Dad to like me!”
“Would you say I’m making this… hard… for
you?”
“You’re evil, you know that, babe?”
“So?” I shrugged, making sure the motion brought me
into close contact with my lover.
I found myself flat on my back with Peter looming over me.
He leaned down and licked the whole side of my neck, and I shuddered.
“So…I’m going to take a shower. It wouldn’t do to arrive at your
parents’ with your scent all over me. Much as I would love it, under ordinary
circumstances!”
“Spoilsport!” I followed him into the bathroom and,
strictly for the sake of efficiency, we showered together.
He went back into the bedroom, absently toweling himself
dry. “My trousers are a little wrinkled!” he called.
“There’s a travel iron in the closet. Use it!” The
mirror was all fogged up, and I rubbed it to clear a spot. Something was on my
neck, and I ran my fingers over it, only then realizing it was a deep vermilion
love bite. “Peter Malloy! Look what you’ve done to me!”
I stormed into the bedroom to confront him. He tilted my
head to the side to get a better view. “Looks good on you, babe. And no
one’s going to see it!”
“But…but…but… I’ll know it’s there!”
He kissed me. “That’s the point! Let’s get going. We
don’t want to be late.”
****
The scents wafting out from the house were mouth-watering.
I led Peter into the dining room. He took my Mom’s hands and drew her close to
him, placing a kiss on her cheek. She smiled and patted his cheek. “Everything
is going to get cold! Let’s eat. Peter, you sit next to Howard.”
I gave her a look, but she pretended not to see it. Dad
carved thick slices of pot roast, and Mom passed the mashed potatoes and the
spring peas. Peter took a polite helping of each, but declined the gravy. Always
being before the unforgiving eye of the TV camera, he had to watch his weight at
all times.
Mom watched Peter from under her lashes, and I held my
breath. He took a bite, and his jaws froze in mid-chew. And then he moaned. And
took another bite. And reached for the gravy and more of everything.
Mom sat back with a satisfied smile on her face.
“Walter’s not having dinner with us, Mom?”
“No, dear. He has a date!” She looked as surprised to
be saying that as I was to be hearing it.
“The boy has hidden depths. I’ve always thought
so!” Dad said around a mouthful of potatoes.
Mom just gave him a look and turned back to Peter. “More
pot roast, Mr. Malloy?”
“Peter, please! And no, as much as I would love to, if I
take another bite, I’ll explode!”
If I had ever said anything like that at the table, Mom
would have nailed me with one of those frowns, and there would have been no
dessert for me. Speaking of which...
"What's for dessert, Mom?"
“Blueberry pie a la mode, with real whipped cream. None
of that stuff in a can!” She beamed at Peter.
He sighed. “Now I’m glad I didn’t have any more
dinner! Mrs. Brackett, would you run away and marry me?”
I prodded him in the side, trying to remind him of my
warning. Mentioning marriage around my mother at this point in time was like
waving a red flag in front of a bull!
She surprised me, though. She blushed, and fussed with her
apron and cast a coy smile at my Dad. What was going on?
Dad cleared his throat. “I’m afraid you’re too late,
young man. Bernice has agreed to marry me.”
“Dad, is there something you and Mom never told us all
these years?”
He cuffed me gently, then got up to walk to Mom’s end of
the table.
She looked up at him, the love that had seen them through
all the good times and bad shining in her eyes. He folded her hand in his and
raised it to his mouth.
“We’ve been married for forty-two years. When I got out
of the army, I had enough money to put a down payment on this farm. We got
married in front of the minister, but we couldn’t afford a big wedding. This
time, we can. We’ve got all the decorations left over from your wedding,
Howard. Sorry,” he murmured as I flinched. “Your mother deserves something
special. Tonight, before you boys arrived, I asked her to spend the next
forty-two years with me.”
Below the tablecloth, Peter’s hand gripped mine.
“And I said yes!”
~End~
