CRYSTALLINE - 5. Carol Leaned into the Kiss

A few nights later when Carol and Patrick were taking their regular after dinner walk in the garden, she asked “Tell me about you and Dante growing up. You must have lots of stories to tell about being twins. Did you play tricks on your parents or your friends?”

“We did for a while but they soon sussed us out and would always say or do something that meant they thought we were trying to fool them. Even when we weren’t playing tricks they thought we were, so it was not fun anymore and we stopped. Our teachers used to keep us in different classes until they realised it was better to have us together so they could work out the difference between us”

“Do you have any other brothers or sisters?”

“No, I guess they thought we were double trouble and that was all they could cope with”

“When I asked about your parents on your first night here, you and Dante went very quiet. Are they divorced, is that a problem for you?”

“No they’re not divorced, but not together”

“That’s not unusual these days, don’t you talk to them?”

Patrick sat silent for a few moments, then Carol said “It’s ok if you don’t want to talk about them. Obviously something happened that has hurt you, so I want pry anymore”

“No, it’s all right. I like you very much Carol and don’t want to start off having secrets”

“You don’t have to”

“No, I want to. Now that we’ve discussed it this much, you’ll be wondering what I am hiding and that’s not the away to start a relationship”

“That’s nice of you to say so, but only if you’re ready”

“I’m ready. Fill up our glasses and I’ll tell you about Mum and Dad”

***

“The lovebirds left dinner early tonight” observed Dante

“Yes their garden walks have become a regular thing” Thomas commented.

“I like to see young love blossom” added Cook “And what better place than in our beautiful gardens. Mrs P must miss the garden she created”

“It’s in a lot better shape now than when I first arrived” said Dante

“You can blame Lachlan and I for that” confessed Thomas “We’re not really cut out for that sort of work”

“You’re forgiven my love”

“Ah, I’m surrounded by lovers here, it’s just beautiful” said Cook

“Yes, about that Cook. It looks like Carol is fixed up now, so we need to start working on finding you a new man”

“Oh, I’m too old to train a new dog”

“Nonsense, I’m sure there’s still a good number of miles left on your clock yet”

“You’ve never thought of jumping the fence, have you?” asked Dante

“No, unlike you I know which side my bread’s buttered on”

“Have you ever been with a woman, even years ago?”

“No, not years ago” she replied with a crack in her voice.

“Does that mean more recently, it might have happened?”

“Why all this interest in my sex life boys, is yours not interesting enough”

“Cook, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush in all the years I’ve known you”

“Probably because you’ve never asked me about my sex life before”

“You didn’t blush when...” Dante’s statement trailed off.

“Silence, that’s more than enough from you boyo”

“Hey, what have we stumbled into here?” asked Thomas

“Ok, with your permission Cook, I’ll tell Thomas”

“When you are alone, maybe. I don’t want to hear you talking about me”

“So there is something to tell?” asked Thomas “I can wait, but for now let’s return to you and the mystery woman”

“What mystery woman?”

“There was mention of jumping the fence that you did not strongly deny”

“Ok, ok. It only happened once, we were both drunk and it never happened again and will not. Does that satisfy your queer little brains?”

“Yeah, that’s enough”

“And never raise the issue again unless you want to live on a diet a fast food delivery”

“Ouch! Point taken”

***

“Jonathan, you may be used to dining separately from the staff, but it seems a bit snobbish to me not to dine with them sometimes” said Lachlan

“I didn’t know you felt that way”

“From what I can hear from the kitchen they do seem to enjoy themselves at meal time”

“You mean I don’t entertain you enough”

“It’s not that, but I’m not used to living in an upstairs, downstairs environment. It just doesn’t come naturally to me”

“But you didn’t mix with the members at the Regency Club”

“That was work, this is our home and I’m not sure what you said is entirely true. We certainly mixed a lot”

“In a private room maybe and what great times they were”

“Do you miss those times?”

“Yes and no. Yes, because it was exciting to be with you, now and then”

“And the no bit?”

“No, because now I have you all the time, as I always wanted”

“That sweet, you know you have changed a lot since those days. While I always loved you Jonathan and I felt you loved me sometimes, there were times when our relationship seemed sort of...professional. You know what I mean?”

“Yes, I may have been guilty of giving that impression. If so I’m sorry for that, but we’re past that now”

“Yes we are and thank you for allowing me into your life on a permanent basis”

“No thanks needed, your presence in my life is more than enough” concluded Jonathan.

Just then they heard a loud peal of laughter from the kitchen.

“Shall we go and see what that’s all about” asked Lachlan

“We wouldn’t be intruding on their privacy, would we? Even the staff are entitled to their own time”

“I doubt they would see it that way”

“Ok, lead on”

As Jonathan and Lachlan appeared at the kitchen door, Cook said “Sorry Mr P. is there something I can get for you. I thought you had finished your meal and I let Carol go for the evening”

“The only thing I need is a chair. We thought we would join you for a drink. You do seem to be having so much fun out here”

“Are we too noisy Sir?” asked Dante

“Not at all, I like to hear people enjoying themselves and the house filled with laughter”

“Please join us” said Thomas “I’ll get some glasses”

“What are you drinking” Jonathan asked

“This Margaret River Riesling”

“It’s a nice drop, but I think I have something better. I’ll be back shortly” Jonathan said as he left the room.

“Where’s he going?” asked Dante.

“To the cellar I suspect” replied Lachlan “So what was all the laughter about?”

“Thomas was telling us about a party the former Mrs Price held here with the daring antics of a waiter, a string quartet without bows and a Liberace lookalike, not to mention candles. Thomas was even part of the show.”

“Just a small part really” admitted Thomas

“Maybe, but it must have been a scream to see you introduce the musicians without bows and then have them delivered by a naked man with the bows hanging from nipple hooks”

“Was that Justin” asked Lachlan

“Yes and he was about to tell us what happened when Liberace arrived. Go on Thomas”

“At dusk the ensemble finished playing and was applauded as they left the room. Then I entered and made another announcement, a special treat for the ladies, the son of Liberace”

“But everyone knows he was gay”

“A bit of poetic licence perhaps; anyway the door burst open and in strode the pianist dressed in a gold lame sleeveless jumpsuit. He strode to the piano, sat down and began to play. He was wearing some very large gold and diamond rings we borrowed from Price’s. Jonathan owned the jewellery business in those days. The guard at the door never took his eye off the jewellery during the whole performance. As he played his biceps flexed and did not go unnoticed by, the now slightly tipsy women.

When he completed his first piece he paused for the applause. While this was happening Justin came into the room dressed in a full-length toga. He strode to the piano and indicated to the crowd gathered around the piano to separate. He eased his butt onto the piano lid and sat there for the commencement of the next musical piece. During the performance he stood up on the piano and removed the top half of his toga. The bottom half was held up by a gold braided cord. Justin loosened the cord a little so that one side hung off his right hip and he lowered the other side down to his thigh so that his oblique muscles were revealed. He posed there during the piano performance. At the end of that piece he jumped off the piano and left the room.

By then I was waiting for him in the green room and had everything ready for him. I had large rubber band and stretched it over is shaft and down behind his balls. I think you know why. He told me it was not tight enough, so I stretched the band, gave it a twist and wrapped it around again”

Dante then interrupted “Oh here comes the best part”

“Thank you for that Dante. I gave him a few strokes to get it up”

Lachlan laughed and the rest joined in. Jonathan then returned and asked “Did I miss the joke?”

“Thomas is telling us about the party with the string quartet and a Liberace lookalike. Were you there?”

“No, I was banned from the house that day. Was told it was a ladies party only”

“Sounds like you missed lots of bare flesh and daring do”

“Then you should continue Thomas and tell me what I missed”

“It was planned that while Justin and I were busy in the green room the pianist would take his applause and then chat with the guests until he saw me return. That was his cue to look towards the window and say, ‘It is now getting darker do you think I could have some more light please ladies?’ I had a very large candelabra and walked slowly across the room and placed it on the piano. Then as I went to retrieve a small tray from a side table, Justin entered the room wearing only the gold braided cord around his waist. The women gasped as Justin jumped onto the piano and posed for his erection to be appreciated”

“I had some idea these women were objectifying Justin, but didn’t know it went to this extent. He kept his jockstrap on for the party I organised for Virginia’s fiftieth. Go on Thomas, try and shock me” said Jonathan

“Ok, Justin then removed the braided cord and tied a loose knot around the base of his cock and balls. He passed one end of the cord to Mrs. Price and the other end to her friend standing on the other side of the piano. He indicated that they should pull the ends of the cord. They did as requested but very gently. Then he said ‘Tighter ladies’ So they pulled until Justin raised his hand for them to stop. As he looked around the room jaws were dropping, and the room was silent and breathless with anticipation. I approached with a tray of candle lighting tapers and an oil lamp with an open flame. Justin then walked to the narrow end of the Grand piano and I took one of the tapers and inserted it into his penis, leaving about three inches protruding”

“Ouch, cried Lachlan”

“Indeed” replied Thomas, then continued “I then passed the oil lamp to one of the ladies and whispered in her ear. She lifted up the oil lamp and lit the candle taper. Justin smiled at her, then turned, walked towards the candelabra and lit all but one of the candles. He left the centre, taller candle unlit. He then walked back to the other end of the piano, removed the taper, threw it on my tray and leaned forward until his hands were touching the top of the piano and flipped his feet up and into a hand stand position. He turned to face me and I again placed a candle taper in his penis and invited another guest to light it. Then standing on his hands Justin walked towards the candelabra and lit the remaining candle. The piano player said ‘Thank you ladies’ and hit the keys with his diamond encrusted fingers for the remainder of his recital”

Cook finally spoke and said “Bugger! Craig’s people took over my kitchen, so I asked for the day off and was happy when they agreed. Now I find I missed all this”

“I suppose the moral is, be careful what you ask for” concluded Dante.

Jonathan had sat silently during Thomas' recollections, but now offered the group a bottle of his special purchase wine. As he was pouring he asked “Is your brother still here Dante?”

“Yes Sir, he and Carol are taking their nightly, after dinner walk in the garden”

“Oh really, he’s a fast mover, only been here a few days and already swept one woman off her feet. Be careful Cook, you could be next. They do share all the same genes”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about Mr P”

Jonathan tapped the side of his nose and winked at Cook.

“So what do you think of the wine?"

“Very impressive” Thomas replied.

“And you Dante?”

“It’s pretty good, but I’m no expert”

“And Cook, you must have a more refined palate”

“I am quite enjoying it. I can’t describe its qualities, but I do know a quality wine when I taste it”

“Excellent Cook, I thought you might enjoy it again”

“What do you mean again Mr P?”

“I might not know everything that happens around here, but I do how many of my favourite wines are in stock and how many are missing”

Cook looked shocked and embarrassed.

“It’s ok Cook, the night Jon and I went out for dinner because you were in no state to cook I did check the kitchen when we came back and could see someone had enjoyed a few bottles of this wine” said Lachlan

“Sorry Mr P, can I pay you for them?”

“Not at all, pleased to see them being enjoyed, but in future go easy on my favourite. There are plenty of other wines in the cellar to be enjoyed”

“Thank you, and now I must say good night to you all. It was a pleasure to chat with everyone” said Cook

“Same here” replied Jonathan “Lachlan and I will do it more often, now I have been reminded of how aloof I can sometimes appear. It’s not who I want to be”

***

Under the moonlight, Patrick downed another glass of wine, took a deep breath, looked at Carol and opened his mouth but no sound came out.

“Are you ok?” she asked

“Me..um..yeah”

“I don’t think you’re ready to talk about this yet, are you?”

“Perhaps not”

“Then leave it for now, I can wait. I just want us to be together”

Patrick leaned towards Carol, took her head in his hands and kissed her...lightly at first...then more passionately as Carol leaned into the kiss.

*****