Special Needs (18 page)

“I will.” He grinned back. “Belts could be in filing cabinets.”

“And a lot of porn in the files.” Liam finished trying on the last garment and put on his own top, so Ryan did the same.

“Oh! Oh! And video cameras and stuff. So they can make pretend blackmail scenes.” He was on a roll!

“That’s hot. You should have cameras to rent at the hotel. People could make their own fetish porn movies.”

“Or even work with a freelancer they could hire, and I’d get a cut.” Ryan wheeled out into the corridor, when Liam opened the door and left the t-shirts he didn't want with the fitting room attendant. He didn’t have enough money to furnish and equip a new room yet, but maybe he could at least start planning?

“May I be that freelancer? Please, may I?” Liam ran after him with a silly grin. “Maybe they would ask me to join the fun.”

“Your libido doesn’t ever decline, does it? But no. You have no knowledge of cameras. If you’re extra nice, you could be the freelancer’s lighting assistant.” Ryan winked at him and made his way to the tills. He slowed down when he heard a male voice from the direction he was wheeling to. The last thing he wanted was to bump into someone.

“Excuse me, do you have a minute?” It took Ryan a few seconds to realize that the words were directed at him. He recognized the rounded vowels of a British accent.

Ryan looked up at the stranger, stunned by the attention. “Yeah... maybe... unless you’re trying to sell me something,” he said with furrowed eyebrows. The man was as regular as they come. Around thirty, tall, with a bit of bulk in the shoulders and a non-threatening smile.

“Just myself, actually.” He stroked some stray hair out of his forehead. “I... saw you at the club a few days ago.”

Ryan’s mouth fell open. He only visited one club recently. “Oh.
That
club. Was that when I was already very drunk?” A tingle of excitement rose in his chest. Was the guy hitting on him?

“Yeah.” The man stroked the back of his head, pushing the other palm into the pocket of his ordinary blue jeans. And his t-shirt was also as regular as they came, dark blue, without a print. “I am kinda shy, so I didn’t try to talk to you then, but here you are and I am thinking... ‘maybe he would like to grab a coffee’?” He shot Ryan a hopeful look.

Ryan was so dumbstruck, that it took him a moment to answer. “Wow! Yes, sure, cool.” He smiled up at him. Was he actually getting a date? Just like that? In the middle of a department store?

The guy took a deep breath and smiled. “Great. I’m Stuart.” He reached his hand out towards Ryan.

“I’m Ryan.” He shook his hand, discreetly looking for Liam somewhere in the background. He wanted to show off what he was doing.
He
was getting a date. “Do you wanna give me your number?”

“Oh, you’re busy?” Stuart looked like a disappointed kid.

“He’s not,” said Liam from behind Ryan’s back.

“I’m not?” Ryan was becoming nervous all of a sudden. “I suppose I’m not.”

“I’m Liam, his friend.” Liam shook Stuart’s hand. “You two could grab some coffee while I have some time to myself.”

Stuart cleared his throat. “Sure... um, if you don’t mind, Ryan?”

Ryan was starting to suspect Stuart might be the only person on the planet shier than him.

“No, it’s fine, if Liam doesn't mind queuing on his own.” Ryan passed his caretaker the ‘Boy Toy’ t-shirt. It was all happening so fast, like this was some kind of movie. He took a closer look at Stuart. He wasn’t striking, but he could be considered handsome, with a wide jaw, attentive eyes and a bit of a stubble.

“Where will I find you?” Liam gave Ryan a reassuring smile.

“Coffee Paradise?” He searched for an answer on Stuart’s face, and the man nodded. “It’s on the first floor. You’ll easily find it. And if you get lost, just call my cell.”

“I won’t. Have fun, you two.” Liam winked at Ryan before going towards the cash register with a sensuous sway to his hips.

Ryan took a deep breath and started wheeling towards the exit, past all the rails of clothes. His face was burning up. “So Stuart... You don’t look like the S&M kinda guy.”

“Um, yeah, I’m not that adventurous.” Stuart smiled, stuffing his hands deep into his pockets. “I’m a shy guy. Takes some time before I loosen up around someone.”

“So, why did you go to that kind of party?” Ryan kept looking back at the floor from time to time, so he wouldn’t bump into something.

“Do you want me to push the chair?” Stuart asked, his fingers gently grazing over Ryan’s arm.

“Nah, it’s fine. I like to control it. That’s why I didn’t get one of those electrical wheelchairs. I rather push the wheels myself.” He smiled up at his... date. He couldn’t believe his luck.

“All right. Um, as for the party, I just moved here and I guess I thought I might meet someone interesting. That would be you by the way. Love the tattoos.” Stuart seemed genuinely interested. It felt nice to be so appreciated.

“You don’t seem like you’re into tats yourself.” Ryan could already see the cafe downstairs through the glass railing over the patio of the mall. It was right by the elevator Ryan was wheeling to.

“Liking them on someone else is very different from wanting to have them on you.” Stuart exhaled, keeping up with Ryan's pace. The naughty boy in Ryan stole a glance at his date's crotch, but sadly, the jeans didn't fit him well enough to reveal much about their content.

“So you’re into alternative guys? Where are you from, anyway. Your accent... I can’t really pinpoint it.” Ryan lied. Of course he could pinpoint it, but it wasn’t a good idea to let the guy know he liked his accent.

“I’m originally from Kent, in the UK, but I’ve lived in the US for some time now.”

“Oh wow! I never knew anyone from England. What brought you here? Work?” Ryan wheeled into the elevator, which miraculously opened up right before they reached it. Ha, this so was his lucky day.

“Pretty much. I work in IT.” Stuart followed him and pushed the button. “What do you do?”

“I’m a hotel owner,” Ryan said, not without pride, looking up at his date. Maybe he really was attractive enough to be chatted up just like that! Liam kept flattering him, so maybe the straight guy had a good eye after all? ‘Straight eye for the queer guy’?

“Oh really?” Stuart’s eyes glowed. “That’s fantastic. Somewhere by the seafront?”

“Yep, it’s by Posen Beach.” They left the elevator and moved through the patio towards the cafe, past a group of people gathered around a standing banner depicting a missing woman. Ryan sighed in sympathy, but soon turned his attention back to Stuart. “It’s a really cool hotel.”

“Why, are you inviting me already?” Stuart winked at Ryan and touched his arm once more, this time letting his fingers linger.

“Whoa there! Wait till the second date, huh?” Ryan brushed his cheek against the warm fingers. It felt a bit forward, but he was comfortable with it. The guy seemed nice and harmless.

“You were the one to advertize your place.” Stuart wiggled his eyebrows as they walked into the travel-themed cafe. It was decorated with framed prints of old maps, with a stack of olden-days luggage in the corner. The smell of coffee itself was enough to make Ryan hyper aware of Stuart's closeness and he felt a blush creep up his neck.

His date grinned, so he must have noticed. “Why don’t you pick us a place and I fetch the drinks?”

“Uhm... okay. I want some kind of ice coffee,” Ryan said and wheeled away towards a private table close to the window, overseen by a fake elephant head high on the wall. At least Ryan hoped it was fake. “Cause I’m cold hearted.”

“We’ll see about that,” Stuart called after him as he made his way to the counter. Ryan fidgeted in the chair, watching him place the order, but he couldn’t stop himself from texting Liam.

‘He’s really nice! <3’

‘Cool, let me know when you want me back.’

‘I’ll text you. Just don’t miss me too much ;*’ As soon as he finished typing, he saw Stuart approaching with a tray. He was slim, with messy brown hair and a pale face. The longer Ryan looked at him, the more handsome the guy seemed. The accent was a bonus.

“I got us some cupcakes.” He put the tray on the table and took a seat across from Ryan. “If you don’t want them, I can eat both.”

“Oh really?” Ryan raised his eyebrows. “Not gonna happen. You know, my caretaker, Liam, he’s a cook, and he makes me all sorts of stuff. It’s great.”

Stuart’s eyes shot up to him. “He works for you?”

It was only now that Ryan realized that Liam introduced himself as his ‘friend’. His smile instantly got so wide he was afraid he was looking silly. “Yes, he helps me to go shopping, with stuff at home, and cooks, and all sorts of things. But yeah, I suppose we’ve become friends since he started.” He grabbed the cupcake and dove his tongue into the creamy icing.
Yum, lemon.

Stuart hid behind his coffee, his eyes fixed on Ryan’s mouth. “That’s nice. You must be a great boss then.”

“I hope I am. He’s not planning to quit anytime soon. But I’m not useless.” He needed to specify that, so the guy wouldn’t think he’s some unfuckable loser. “I do loads on my own. It’s just some things are quicker and easier with him.”

“Is he a bit of a secretary as well?” Stuart studied him for a moment.

“What do you mean?” He bit into the sponge cake.

“That would explain why you employ someone to help you. I mean... you must need a secretary for your work, right?”

“Oh, I have two more staff. A receptionist and cleaner, but I suppose they both do other stuff too.” They went on to discussing hotels and Stuart, who has traveled a lot, had some funny stories to share. He even visited one of the Japanese love hotels that inspired Ryan to open The Lust Pit.

“So how’s business doing with the current economy?” Stuart asked and ate the last piece of his cupcake.

The place was busy with people and it felt good to be a part of society. Just sitting around in a cafe, on a date with a cute guy, like a real person.

“Alright. I’m still thinking how to improve it all the tim--” His mouth was left hanging open when Stuart tipped over his cup when he reached for a napkin and within half a second, Ryan's pants were drenched in coffee.

Stuart frantically put his cup upright and fished out a pack of tissues, getting to his feet. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Ryan!”

“Fuck,” Ryan hissed, and moved away from the table, but it was too late for it to do any good. The wet fabric felt like lecherous, phantom hands feeling him up. He should have known this had to happen. He couldn’t just have a normal date. Before he knew what was happening, Stuart’s hands were on his thighs, trying to dry the wet jeans with handkerchiefs, gently tapping them over Ryan’s crotch.

“I’m such a klutz... so sorry, Ryan!”

“No, no! It’s fine, I’ll do it.” Embarrassed, he got some napkins and also tried soaking up the coffee. He tried to avoid the discrete stares people gave them. A usual day in the life of Ryan Richards. But Stuart didn’t take his hands off, he just removed them to get more tissues.

“Shit, it’s all because I’m so nervous. Does it hurt?”

“Nah, I don’t really feel it you know,” Ryan tried to laugh it off. “I wouldn’t know if it’s hot or cold.”

“Ah, right.” It took Stuart a long moment to take his hand off Ryan’s crotch, and he dropped back into his chair. “God, this is so embarrassing.”

“Tell me about it.” Ryan sighed and leaned over to whisper. “But admit it, you freaking felt me up.”

With Stuart’s face becoming redder by the second, he had an answer before the man actually spoke. “Um... it’s not... I mean...”

“Yeah?” Ryan smiled with satisfaction. “You wanna fetch me another coffee?”

“Yes.” And just like that, off he went.

As soon as he was out of sight, Ryan grabbed his phone and started frantically typing. ‘Liam... I fucking spilled my coffee. It looks like I pissed myself! SHIT! Buy a blanket! I’ll pay you back :( ;( The shame.......;(‘

It took maybe half a minute for Liam to reply: ‘I’m on it’

Ryan took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. He almost managed by the time Stuart came back. “So what do you do in IT?” he asked when a new coffee was in his hand. He was desperate for a change of topic. The last thing he wanted was for Stuart to look at his wet crotch again.

“Well, I’m in charge of a network, but I do other stuff too. It’s quite boring if you aren’t into it.” Stuart gave a nervous laugh.

“You never answered if you’re into alternative guys.” Ryan tried to get on with the conversation, pretending he wasn’t soaked to his underpants.

“Sorry.” Stuart covered his face for a moment before peeking from between his fingers. “I’m too nervous around you. I do love alternative guys.”

“Nervous around
me
?” Ryan couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “I look scarier than I am.”

“No, it’s just that I act silly around guys I like, but I’m trying hard.” Stuart bit his lip and took a sip of his coffee right after.

“It’s alright. I don’t date all the time either. It’s always a bit awkward when you’ve just met someone.”

“I know, but when I saw you here, I just had to ask you out.” Stuart grinned, his cheeks pinkening again.