Page 49

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Luca

“And the winner is … Luca Mazzi!”

The referee raised my arm, the audience applauded, and all I could think about was Juri.

I didn’t even care about the bruises and the busted lip I had gotten.

All I wanted was to shower and get to him as quickly as possible, even though I knew he wouldn’t have time for me at the moment.

But I wanted to see him—even if only from a distance.

“You were amazing!” With a nod of approval, Dario removed my mouthguard and helped me take off the gloves. “You were like a different person compared to last time.”

I could only give a weak smile. “Yeah, I suppose I was just in good shape today.”

“It seems like you’ve finally sorted out your shit.”

I pressed the sweat towel to my face and greedily drank some water. “Yeah, I also finally submitted my project,” I replied, not without pride.

“And what about this Juri guy?”

Dario burst into laughter when he saw my confused expression.

“Ha! Did you think I didn’t notice? The way you were looking at him during training when he was photographing us was so obvious.”

“Well, it took me a while to figure it out.”

“His photos are online. There’s even one of you in there.”

“Shouldn't you have asked for my permission first?” I joked.

“I’m doing it now. Is it okay?”

I rolled my eyes but laughed. “Of course.”

“You want to get out of here. I can tell.”

“Yeah, do I have any other obligations here?”

“Nope. Get out of here!”

With a broad grin, I said goodbye to Dario and stepped into the shower in the locker room. The small competition was held at Dario’s studio, which was great because I had my own locker there and could leave my sweaty gear behind. I would have hated to lug everything with me to Exil.

I got dressed and fixed my hair, then dabbed on some cologne. Once I was ready, I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my coat, and rushed out onto the street, wrapping a scarf around my neck.

It was already half past nine. Nightrain must have already started playing. I hadn’t expected to win the competition, but losing just to get there earlier was out of the question.

I took the bus through the city to Escher-Wyss-Station and hurried to the club. Serge and Dennis, the bouncer, were standing at the entrance, chatting and smoking.

“You were supposed to have the day off,” Serge said in his typical greeting. “And yet here you are with such a beaten-up face.”

“I can do whatever I want on my day off,” I replied with a wink—Serge knew I did martial arts.

They both laughed, and Dennis gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. “The band’s already playing. You’re late.”

“Oh … I’m not actually here for the band.”

As I passed them and reached the ticket counter, I glanced over my shoulder. Serge waved me through. “It’s okay,” he said to Rosi. “Give him a stamp and let him in.”

I snatched a few earplugs from a box and made my way into the club.

Loud rock music hit me. Heavy guitar riffs, a deep bass, and drumming that sounded like a thunderstorm.

Then I heard Noé’s voice. The guy could sing, that was for sure.

Plus, he had absolute control over the audience and put on an impressive show.

When I spotted a black mop of hair at the edge of the stage, my eyes fixated on Juri, photographing the band with a camera.

He appeared so focused as he took the photos.

He changed positions a few times, then slipped away.

Over the heads of the crowd, I saw him approach Alex, who was sitting at the end of the bar, also holding a camera.

They examined the photos they had taken together on the small screen.

The way Alex was talking to Juri, it seemed like he was giving him some tips.

Just seeing Juri made my heart swell. His smile and the sparkle in his eyes were unique.

I was so happy he had found something he liked, something he was good at, and also gave him the opportunity to leave behind the gay escort business.

As he had told me, Alex was willing to pay him a very good internship salary, so Juri hardly had to dip into his savings.

And then he had also fallen in love with me. With me!

“Hey! You’re here too?”

I turned my head, and there was Clé. He held a half-full cup of beer in his hand and grinned at me. The last time I had seen him was at the Gothic Party. Last year.

Damn, that was a long time ago.

He had been at my place on New Year’s Eve, but I was already at work then. However, since I had found out that he had supplied Juri with drugs, I wanted to give him a piece of my mind. But now he stood there, beaming at me from ear to ear.

Of course, Juri must have told him a thing or two.

“Hey,” I said cautiously. “Nice to see you again. How are you?”

“Oh … I’m great. And you?”

I didn’t know the guy well, but I was almost certain that, since he was Juri’s friend, he was probably friendly to me. Still, suspicion rose within me. With a nod, I quelled it. “All good,” I replied stiffly.

Clé arched his eyebrows. “Are you sure? You look like you just got into a fight with someone,” he said, gesturing to his own lip.

“Oh, that … yeah …” My fingers went to my mouth, but I managed to resist touching the split. “I had a competition. Kickboxing. I won.”

“Congratulations. That probably also explains your ninja move at the Gothic Party when you threw Juri down the stairs.”

“I’m not proud of that—if that’s what you mean.”

His smile held a sense of reconciliation, prompting a smile of my own.

I let my gaze wander back over the crowd, searching for Juri. He was still standing with Alex at the end of the bar.

Should I go to him?

Well, he’s working, actually.

It was almost eerie how he affected me. Everything about him drew me in like a magnet and tested my self-control. But I didn’t want to distract him from his work. It was important to him and meant a lot to him. Still, I wished I could just hold him in my arms.

I tried to enjoy the concert, but it was difficult. As good as the band was, as charged as the atmosphere, seeing Juri up there taking photos threw me off balance.

It was crazy how things had turned out between us. And if it weren’t for Clé … I turned my gaze to him and studied him from the side. This time he wasn’t wearing a dog collar. But he was also dressed all in black. He had styled his brown hair with gel and didn’t appear bad at all.

He’s into women , I reminded myself and was almost embarrassed. At first, I had actually thought Juri and him were a couple. Now I laughed at myself about it. I still kind of resented him for supplying Juri with drugs on New Year’s Eve, but another feeling outweighed it now.

At some point, Clé looked at me, puzzled. “What’s up?”

“Thanks,” I said. “Thanks for convincing Juri to meet up with me.”

“It’s nothing.”

“But it is. Without you, none of this would have happened.”

“Well, you probably wouldn’t have thrown him down the stairs like a ninja either.” He deflected the accusation with a mischievous smile.

“No, but … I mean it. I’m really grateful to you. Through him, I realized what an idiot I was.”

“Don’t let it get to your head. It was about time he hung out with people his own age. Always those old geezers.”

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “Did you guys talk about it openly?”

“It was at least no secret how he earned his money. Plus, I patched him up a few times after one of those perverts beat him up. You showed up at just the right time. I couldn’t have guessed that you two would click so well right away. But I’m glad. He needs someone like you.”

“Someone like me?”

“An idiot who falls in love with him. And one he’s fallen in love with.”

I chuckled.

“At least now I know where he’s been hanging out all this time. And if he shows up with bruises again, I’ll come over and take you down—no matter how good you are at boxing.”

I nodded in response to those last words. His stature alone told me he wouldn’t stand a chance against me, but it was sweet. Plus, I was prepared to accept any punishment if I ever hurt Juri again.

As the band left the stage to thunderous applause, I had lost sight of Juri. I had texted him that I would be waiting with Clé at the bar, but he just didn’t show up. Instead, his other two friends, Sandro and Kevin, appeared.

Maybe he’s backstage?

But I saw Alex next to the stage, packing up his equipment. If he wasn’t backstage, then Juri probably wasn’t either.

I took out my phone and opened my messages with Juri.

We had been texting regularly for two weeks now.

And I still looked forward to seeing his profile picture every time.

It was another one where you could hardly see anything, but it was one of both of us.

In white fonts, it said: “permanently closed for orders”

“Where are you?” I texted him.

“I’m waiting for you.”

“Where?” I immediately replied. “I don’t see you.”

“Downstairs ;)”

What downstairs? Does he mean … in the back room?

“Knock five times.”

Fuck …

“I need to leave,” I declared tersely, rising abruptly before leaving Clé and the others at the bar and descending down the stairs. This time, there was much more going on here than last time. The concert was still in full swing then. Now there was even a line outside the men’s restroom.

I squeezed past the people and approached the back room, with a sign that read PRIVATE .

My heart was already racing wildly. Could it be that Juri was already waiting for me here?

Knock five times, he had written. I did so, hesitantly but hard enough, and the door opened.

I recognized the host who had let me in last time to record.

“He’s already waiting,” the man said, pulling aside the thick curtain and leading the way.

Dark synthesizer sounds filled the room, and the air exuded with lustful noises and the scent of sex. Not only was my pulse racing, but my arousal surged as I passed by the alcoves. Without looking up, the host turned around and gestured politely to one of the alcoves before disappearing again.

My breath caught as I turned the corner and found Juri on a couch. Where I would have preferred to sling him over my shoulder and take him home before, his mere sight now completely froze me in place.

Sitting on the sofa with his legs spread and his fly open, one hand shoved into his pants, he massaged his penis.

With the other, he stroked his naked stomach and played with the stud in his nipple.

His intense, predatory gaze assessed me.

I still couldn’t believe that this guy had chosen me. That he loved me!

“Fuck …” I muttered. “What did I do to deserve this?”

Agitated, I tousled my hand through my hair, eliciting a wicked grin from him.

“Come here,” he whispered. He never took his eyes off me for a second.

My mind had checked out, as my body moved on its own toward the couch. When dim light reached my face, Juri abruptly withdrew his hand out of his pants and jumped up.

“Holy …! What happened to you?” He hurried around the table to me but dared not touch my split lip or the bruise. Pain showed on his face, and I sighed because he interrupted his hot show for this.

“Don’t worry. I took care of the guy and won the competition.”

It was hard for him to be happy, which amused me.

“Shit, man! I don’t even want to know what you looked like when you lost.”

I tenderly touched his cheek and kissed him. When I applied a little too much pressure, agony shot through my split lip, and I flinched.

“I don’t know if I should be okay with this,” he said sadly, fiddling with my jacket.

He was so damn sweet! I couldn’t keep my hands off him and brushed a strand of his hair back. “How was your day today?”

“Good. I retrieved my final belongings and returned the key to Romero. Starting Monday, I’ll officially be living in Puls 5 until I find a more permanent place.”

“You know that can take years in Zurich, right? Housing shortage and all.”

Juri laughed. “I told Alex and Noé the same thing, but they insisted.”

“Your old room at my place is still available,” I said with a wink.

“You mean at Hector’s place,” Juri remarked and chuckled. “Thanks, but living there long-term would be too weird for me.”

The smile faded from his face, and he became serious. “And … uh … While we're on the topic, have you heard anything from Hector?”

“Yeah. He was still at the apartment today and sent this message: ‘Come over. We’ll take care of those bastards.’”

Juri smiled with relief, but I could practically feel his pulse racing, and panic setting in. I rested both hands around his head and gave him a light peck on the lips.

“If Hector says so, everything will surely be fine. Don’t worry. I’ve got your back. Those assholes deserve nothing less.”

Juri swallowed hard. “You’re right.”

I hugged him and held him close. “Did the photos turn out alright?” I asked, to distract him from Hector.

“Yeah, it was fun,” he murmured against my shoulder.

I breathed in his sweet scent and enjoyed the warmth he gave me. But he pulled away from me again, locking his gaze on me. I smiled at the love I felt for him. Gently, he slid his hand into the nape of my neck and kissed me. My knees went weak as I pressed closer to him, feeling his hardness.

“Oh man, you’ve been turning me on this whole time,” I whispered against his lips.

In an instant, he placed both hands around my head and pushed me away from him. “We’re going to rewind and do it all over again. After all, we’re here to satisfy your voyeuristic side.”

“My … What?” I laughed.

“Stay right here,” he ordered and returned to the couch.

My whole body screamed for him. I wanted him back in my arms. As he sat back down, he slipped a hand into his pants. and winked mischievously at me. A wave of heat rushed over me. Our eyes merged, and the moment was so perfect.

I’d give anything to make it last forever.

The End