Page 43 of This Time Around
“Hello,” he said, sounding shy.
“Guys, this is my boyfriend, Milo.” I started introducing the guys from right to left. “Milo, this is Oliver, or Pastor Ollie to his congregation. He’s my NA sponsor. I thought it was past time you two met.”
I glanced over at Milo, whose eyes had widened. Surprise? Lust? What was up with that weird look on his face? He swallowed hard then extended his hand to Ollie. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Ollie shook his hand while scrutinizing Milo’s face through narrowed eyes. “Man, I feel like I know you from somewhere.”
“I don’t think so,” Milo said in a squeaky voice, running his finger nervously under the collar of his shirt. Was it Ollie’s stark white clergy collar against the black shirt that made Milo feel uncomfortable? Did he think Ollie would judge us? Something was going on here, and I would get to the bottom of it before the night was over.
Itried to hide my shock, but I knew I’d failed miserably when I felt Andy staring at me. “I doubt we run in the same circles, Father.”Oh, but we did. He was the birthday boy I gave a lap dance to while I tried to make Andy jealous. He sure as hell wasn’t wearing a collar when he popped wood against my ass. I had to be wrong; it couldn’t be the same guy. I recognized those big brown eyes as the ones that looked at me with unbridled lust.Holy shit.I must’ve broken at least a hundred commandments.
“I’m not a priest,” the man said softly. “I’m a pastor, but please call me Oliver or Ollie.”
“Um, that’s kind of hard to do with the collar on.” I realized that I was running my finger beneath my own collar.
“Does it make you uncomfortable?” He raised a brow. “I can take it off.” Was he flirting with me? Surely not. Andy had staked his claim when he introduced me as his boyfriend. Then Pastor Ollie turned his soulful brown eyes on my guy, and I knew exactly where his interest was.
Hold up. Andy had specifically said that his Wednesday night rendezvous were strictly NA meetings and dinner afterward. This was the same group who brought apastorto a drag show for his birthday. What was this world coming to, and was Andy truthful when he said there was never anything intimate between them?
“Uh, no. I’m just surprised.”
“About what?” he asked sincerely.
What could I say without giving myself away? I couldn’t ask if his congregation knew he liked cock, because how would I know that? I couldn’t demand to know his real relationship with Andy because my boyfriend seemed clueless about the pastor’s affection for him. “I honestly can’t say, I just am,” I managed to tell him. Eager to change the subject, I blurted the first thing that came to mind. “I got my blue ball. I’m ready to play.”
“Just one blue ball?” Andy asked. “How does that even happen?”
“I guess I only emptied one chamber last night,” I said with a shrug. Then I remembered we weren’t alone. “Oh, um… I’m sorry, Father Ollie, Pastor Ollie. Fuck me! This is awkward.”
Father-Pastor-Fuck-Me Ollie smiled broadly before he gave into hearty laughter. “I can see the collar is making you nervous, so I’ll take it off.”
“No,” I said in a hurry. “Let’s just start all over again.” I stuck my hand toward the clergyman and offered a friendly smile. “I’m Milo Miracle. Andy has told me a lot about you, and I’m grateful to meet you.” I wholeheartedly subscribed to the keep your friends close and your enemies closer theory. Make no mistake, I’d choke Father-Pastor-Fuck-Me Ollie with his own collar if he wasn’t careful. I just got Andy back, and I wasn’t giving him up again.
“Likewise,” Ollie said cheerfully. “Andy has told mea lotabout you too.”
Something about his tone struck me funny, so I glanced toward Andy when I dropped his sponsor’s hand. I’d hoped his smile would put me at ease, but he looked like he’d swallowed something that was a week past its expiration date.
“I’m just going to go change,” Ollie said, seeing the tension rising between Andy and me.
“Seriously, Ollie,” Andy said, wrapping his arm around the other man’s bicep to prevent him from leaving. “It’s not necessary.”
Ollie looked from Andy to me before he offered a friendly smile to Andy. “Yes, I believe it is. Besides, I don’t normally wear my collar when we go out. I just came from the hospital visiting members from my church. No worries, Andrew. I’ll be right back.”Andrew?Why did it sound more like a caress when Ollie said his name?
Okay, I felt like a big gaping asshole. Especially when he walked away and Andy turned disappointed eyes on me. This time, it was my bicep he gripped when he hauled me a few steps away from his group of friends.
“What’s going on with you, Milo?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course, you do,” Andy replied. “You’re acting weird around Ollie. I know damn well it’s not his collar since you serve the local clergyman every morning when they stop in for coffee and pastries. What is it about Ollie that has you so worked up? Are you attracted to him?”
“What? Me? Not that it matters since he only has eyes foryou?”
Andy shook his head in confusion. “You sound upset that Ollie isn’t in to you.” Oh, he was in to me the night I was dressed as Peach, but I wasn’t about to blurt that one out.
“I’m upset because I think there’s more betweenyouand Ollie, not wishing that was the case formeand Ollie,” I clarified.
“Oh,” Andy said.