Yesterday...I was musing about marriage...with a hypothetical about real truth in a marriage...Today I offer my final insertion on the topic in the form of some weekend reading from the pages of my yet to be published book....the unedited version....that is...He was my first experience in a relationship and the man that took my virginity. The love I had for him was deeply rooted and real. We lasted four years. Three and half of those years were blissful and I seemed to thrive and hang on his every word not to mention other things. He was everything I read about, heard about and dreamt about. Ron was well off financially, handsome, debonair and a man with a slow hand when it came to bedroom business. He had a house in Inglewood, a cabin in the mountains of San Bernardino, a corvette, BMW and a Volkswagen beetle of all things. I was young then plus a transient lover who visited every three months and stayed for two weeks at a time. For me it could not get any better. Ron always had a surprise or two up his sleeve every time I arrived. I really loved our long drives along the coast especially Malibu. He was not much on going out to dinner but he sure could cook and would fix me wonderful meals. He never allowed the live-in housekeeper to fix dinner for me only breakfast and lunch. She was an elderly Hispanic lady named Rita, quiet and unassuming and if it wasn’t for her uniform you would never know she was in the house. She seemed to do everything without being seen.
The two-storey column beautifully landscaped house in Inglewood had all the amenities one could imagine. A tennis court, a gym room, an L-shaped pool and an air condition pool house with a round marble and cherry wood bar that seated twelve. I had my own set of keys for the house to come and go as I please. He was a very secure man, a knowing man and the confidence and take charge attitude he possessed really excited me beyond measure. Ron did not like me flirting. By the nature of how I am flirting is a natural when cute guys come on to me. It’s not intentional however sometimes I would do it if we’re out in a bar. This would drive his patience thin and believe me all the anxiety that accumulated surely paid off as his take charge you belong to me rough attitude would kick in and the sex would be off the chain those time when we got home or on the way home. Ron never pressured into moving to Los Angeles with him although he made the offer but at the time I was not comfortable with who I was and truly insecure about leaving the nest in the islands. I was in love and it was sickening to my friends that I talked about him so much and would travel all the time to be with him. Ron taught me many lessons about being in a gay relationship. My day would soon arrive when the truth killed my spirit and tore my heart in pieces.
Coming off the tail end of business social in London, Ron surprised me and we spent two glorious days doing the tourist rounds, taking the Hoover across the channel and later that night we made an appearance at the theatre to see Man of LaMancha. It was great in fact just being with him was great. We flew back to New York together where we parted to go our separate ways, Ron to Los Angeles and me back to Nassau. I called work while waiting in transit in the transit lounge only to find out that the next day, Friday and the following Monday was a holiday. So I made up my mind right there and then that I would go to Los Angeles and surprise Ron for the weekend. I made use of the American Express and booked myself on the red eye.
When I arrived the next morning I took a taxi directly to the house without using the livery service where Ron had an account. To my recollection Ron leaves for work by 6 am so I knew I would have the house to myself besides the housekeeper. I already made up in my mind that I would cook dinner, and we would have a candle light dinner by the French sliding doors that overlooked the pool. On my list as well was to buy some flowers so I could use the petals like the movie “Coming to America” and leave a trail straight up the stairway to the bedroom. It was to be a special surprise and night when he got home from work or from whatever it is he does for I truly didn’t know. In all the time I knew him, he never elaborated about his work. All I really knew was that he lived a comfortable lifestyle with a never ending stream of perks.
As I entered the house I could tell there was a different aura about the place. There were fresh flowers everywhere and somehow the house seemed bright and inviting with the main foyer drapes drawn and the intercom system pumping out instrumentals from the great composer Beethoven instead of the usual quietness and dreariness that usually greeted me. I rested my overnight bag down at the bottom of cherry wood stairwell and called out for Rita. She did not answer so I proceeded to the kitchen to get me a drink of water only to find a middle age woman dressed impeccably in a Chanel ensemble with her hair in a French bun sitting down going through the mail. For a minute our eyes connected and both of us just looked at each other not knowing what to think. After the initial element of surprise died away intrigue got the better of both of us. She looked up and politely asked who I was, how I got in and what purpose I had in the house before she decides to call the police.
I sized up this rich looking heffa questioning me in my man’s house. If anyone was to be asking the questions it should be me and so I turned it around and asked who she was after letting her see I had keys to the house. When she stood up I noticed miss thing was wearing some Gucci stilettos to compliment her outfit. She walked over closer to where I was and told me that she’s Mrs. Eloise Griffin, wife of Ron Griffin. Now you could imagine the décor of my face and the thoughts that were jumbled up in my head. She obviously saw that something was wrong and I looked confused and startled for a bit so she invited me to sit down.
“Are you presently married to Ron,” I asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
Eloise went on to informed me that they’ve been happily married for twenty-five years and have two sons, one twenty-three and one eighteen. One could tell I was not digesting this well. I was sitting there hearing her telling me about their marriage but not concentrating on really anything she said sitting there. My mind was screaming what the hell was going on here. He had a son almost as old as me. Ron neglected to tell me about this small but obviously on his part not so important point. Eloise looked at me and asked again rather agitated this time who was I and what was I doing there. I had just sat there in my own world with the blood pumping through my body in a rush and one could see a flush vein running down the center of my forehead.
I collected my thoughts and quite calmly told her that I was her husband’s lover and companion for the last three and half years and that I was given permission to stay here anytime I so chose. I never knew he was married and had kids. I ended by letting her know that I was in love with him. Her demeanor changed rather quickly and her facial contours changed when she let out a sharp scream that brought Rita rushing into the kitchen to see what was going on. Rita’s mouth fell wide open and both her hands were holding her shaking head when she realized that both of us were in the same place at the same time. Rita started speaking Spanish rather rapidly making the sign of the cross. Eloise got up and started pacing the floor up and down for a minute as if to collect her thoughts.
She picked up the Lalique crystal vase and threw it with such force it shattered upon contact on the red bricks of the fireplace; fortunately it was not in my direction.
It took a minute for the Diva to realize she was not alone in her distress and like the great Norma Desmond, Eloise regained her composure, looked in my direction and apologized for the outburst and as if all was well picked up the telephone receiver resting on the a set of cherry wood nesting tables adorned with photos of famous black leaders and called her husband. I was amazed at the loving tone she shared with him with spurts of laughter occasionally as she invited him home for lunch by the pool. She told him she had a surprise for him and other tidbits of household information then ended the conversation letting him know that she loved him very much.
She then turned to Rita speaking fluent Spanish giving directions of what to fix for lunch before dismissing her to her duties. Miss Eloise surely took over and it was my time as she came over took my and leaded me over to the love seat where she told me she would like to start over and then she properly introduced herself with a tone as if we were friends meeting for the first. She deserved an Academy Award for best actress in a drama series.
Eloise return to normalcy actually eased my uncertainty and fears. I told her about my serious and committed affair with her husband and reiterated that I too was in love with him. It was then that I found out that she never actually came to this house in the city as this house was only used by her husband while he worked in the city. She was here today to surprise him as she could not go to London with him. It was good that I neglected to tell her I spent a wonderful time in London with her Ron. She went on to say that she never had any reason to worry about any infidelities by her husband as he always treated her and their two boys well in addition to providing for them. As a matter of fact, she never once suspected that he would ever deceive their marriage. Yes, she was upset and knew in the back of her mind that this was a possibility, him cheating that is but with a man. A woman she could compete with but a man she couldn’t even begin to fathom this scenario.
Apparently, Ron comes from old money, lots of it handed down through generations. His predecessors struck it rich in the early 1900’s and invested their monies in the stock market which eventually tripled their investments and Ron was now following the family tradition in investing in companies plus owning three oil consulting companies in three different parts of the world. Hence his trip to London was not just for me as I thought. Isn’t life beautiful when the trim and the wife let civility rule the day? I felt sorry for her really but at the same time I admired her character. Eloise quite charmingly charmed me so much so that when she dismissed me I didn’t even realize it. She told me I could use the guest room to collect my thoughts and freshen up as lunch will be served at 12 pm. Here I thought, this was my domain but obviously she was directly letting me know as far as she was concern this house belongs to her husband which in turn obviously belongs to her and it is her that dishes out instructions in her house.
I retreated not to the room which Ron and I shared but to the guest quarters located just south of the pool area off from the main house. Life’s surely is a bitch. This so called relationship was ear marked with movie rights all over it. Not only had my heart been torn apart, I learnt a valuable lesson all that glitters is not gold. I unpacked, took a shower and relaxed naked on the bed thinking so much that I didn’t realized I drifted off to sleep, too much excitement for the morning. The phone rang and it was Rita on the line telling me lunch would be served in fifteen minutes.
By the time I walked around the pool nearest to the deck where lunch was served, Ron and Eloise were already seated with Ron’s back to me. Eloise saw me coming and took the opportunity to invite Ron to turn around and see his surprise and from the look on Ron’s face he was definitely caught off guard for a split second. This was a first for me seeing Ron not exuding that manly confidence that excited me so.
He pushed his chair back, got up and without a beat pulled my chair out, smiled while attempting to hug me but I shrugged away and said welcome. Even in his darkest hour he was still sweet old Ron. Eloise dressed immaculately in a white lounge pants suit accessorized with a string of what looked like Mikimoto pearls and white sling backs just smiled taking it all in. Ron is a man not to be outdone by anybody, he gets what he wants when he wants it and will not be denied. Needless to say the electricity in the immediate was hot and tense at least from my estimation.
His wife calmly relays the events of the morning to him before Rita served the garden salad staring intently into Ron’s eyes for any reactions. Ron listened looking at me intermittently, still smiling which I must say nerved me to no end. At the end of Eloise recital, she pushed her chair backed and crossed her legs left to right and asked Ron if there’s a need for me to stay until the end of lunch because as far as she’s concerned she’s willing to forgive this indiscretion but he must send me packing. She then looks at me and tells me that she doesn’t mean any disrespect but I did come into her marriage all the same and I could now quietly go away as she has no plans of leaving her husband at least not under these circumstances. I was welling up inside and besides I’ve been a good island boy, quiet and not being vengeful but I was not going to sit down and take shit from her. At this point I had had enough of her antics and now it was time for me to be a star. As I began to speak have my say to both of them, Ron raised his hand, turned so that he could faced both of us and laid his cards on the table in a baritone Barry White would be proud of.
Without raising his voice in a demeanor of a man that knows his status in life and his desires Ron looked at Eloise and said to her he wished not to discuss this matter, now or later as this situation is what it is and he has no intentions what-so-ever in leaving me. Then he looked at me and said he was sorry for deceiving me, but he loves me and he loves Eloise. The choice now is up to me whether or not I wish to continue our relationship, although I must know he has no intentions on leaving his wife and boys. He got up before the entrée was served, told Eloise she should return to their house in Pasadena and bided both of us good-bye as he had a meeting to go to. He took a few strides then turned around and said that he hopes that he meets me here when he returns and as far as he was concerned nothing has changed. Now that man is a man’s man with plenty balls. He left both of us in a stupor. I was in a moment of complete amazement.
Eloise stood up gazed at me with contempt it seemed but then again with her one never knows what her mind thinks as her face can be so void of emotion. She told me quite blankly that our paths will never cross again and this would be her last time at this house. Eloise went on to let me know that if I had any obscured schemes on how to get rid of her, I should think again because the retaliated fury she will unleashed would hit me blindsided. She then quite casually asked for my telephone number in case there should ever be a need to get in contact with me shook my hands and said it was a pleasure meeting me and left. I had lunch all to myself.
While eating lunch it struck me cold in the face that black people do not carry on this way. I was ready for the beat down, hands flaying all about, cutting words and expletives eating at your very soul but instead I was introduced to the life of where pedigree certainly had it place among the rich and famous and where money and power mixed with the supposed expression of love dictated tolerance. An uncanny feeling came over me as if I was part of script so commonly experienced and my feelings were mine and mine alone that had no bearing or appreciation to those that matter. My relayed reaction of fury was coming to the forefront of my awareness and that was not good. Young and deliriously stupid got grown up pretty fast.
After lunch when Rita was clearing the table I asked her to bring me a few beers. She did and that was the last time I saw her that day. I lazed around the pool drinking for a bit then I stripped down all my clothes leaving only my bikini briefs on while I soaked up the sun after doing a few laps in the pool.
I fell asleep underneath the huge white umbrella and was awakened out of my slumber by an unknown touch wiping my eyebrows. When I opened my eyes, Ron stood leaning over me with the most entreating and warmest of smiles. It was so easy to get caught up in his aura and arms. He planted a kiss on my forehead and took my hand and helped me up where he kissed me. I do not know if it was the beers or it was the insatiable feeling of being arouse by this man as he took me in his arms and started caressing my body with his strong hands and playing teasing my nipples with his tongue. Subconsciously my mind was telling me to make him stop as there was some unfinished business I had to take care of but the body has a mind of its own especially when it needs what it needs. He eased my briefs off as I stood there completely naked while he was fully clothed. He stopped me from taking off his clothes. He was completely dressed in a pint strip light weight wool suit with one of those power ties and Stacey Adams shoes. He continued to devour my body and his mouth rested on my left nipple as he bit into it drawing a sigh from me and his right hand squeezed by right nipple. He moved his left hand down the center of my back until he got to my ass and drew me closer to him in a swift movement and inserted his finger. The sensation of all these feelings he was arousing in me had my phallus rock hard and a wanton desire took over me. I could feel his dick pulsating through the wool and my attempts at massaging it through the pants was stopped. Ron told me to relax and enjoy he will do all the touching. I had to have him right there at this moment on chaise lounge. Like I said it was my desire, nothing to do with him. Ron stopped what he was doing, my mind was not a mind it was oblivious mush and he took me in the heat of the day to the French sliding doors and leaned me up against them with my back towards him while he unbuttoned his trouser sipper and let his cock massage the crack of my ass. He kissed all over my neck and back while his hands continually ran up and down rather strongly tugging and massaging my nipples and stroking my dick. He began to breathe heavily and with his right hand use his fingers to prep my ass while sliding them one, two or three at a time in opening me up. Ron could take it no longer when with one thrust he entered me fiercely as I ended up on my toes with that sudden intrusion. I tried to push him off with my hands but he took both of them and pinned them over my head while he used his stroke mastering of satisfying my wanton desire. I was sweating from the tension and heat of the day and I could the wool as it rub against my body. He kept pumping faster and faster and I used my hands to satisfy the thirst of my phallus. We came at the same time and as he withdrew he turned me around and kissed me passionately and with determination whispering he loved me. He sipped his pants and led me to the master bath where we took a shower together. That night we went to dinner and we never discussed what happened that day. I was in love. Since then I tried bringing up the topic but Ron would counter with one question wanting to know if I was happy being with him. Of course I was happy but that did not mean I was fine with the situation.
Time has a way of rectifying situations and six months later I could not take the imposed boundaries of our relationship any more especially after meeting his oldest son in New York at his graduation party. Eloise avoided me like the plague not before telling me that my making an appearance at the party was quite inappropriate. That night in our hotel room at the Ritz Carlton I told Ron that it was over and the reason why I felt the way I did. He made no fuss and he did not even bother to ask why. All he said was to come to bed, he held me and said he loved me and that whatever I had to do--do it.
I left for home the next day.
