Detecting the Writer's Motive

CHAPTER 1

Paul spent Christmas Eve with John and Marlena and John's family. He should've been relieved that Will was not there. Instead, he was disappointed and he ended up thinking of him all night which led to thinking about him for the next three days where he spent time with his mother and grandfather in San Francisco.

So many questions filled his head. What were Will and Sonny doing? Was Sonny shielding him from the chaos at the Kiriakis Mansion? Did Sonny ever think of him and wish he'd made a different choice?

Now he was on a plane back to Salem. Of course, it was a packed flight with holiday travelers. He used to love flying with the team which was good since baseball was a busy sport with several games a week. He learned a long time ago there was nothing to fear about flying. But that was then. Now there was something to be afraid of… passengers.

Thankfully, he had the aisle seat which gave him some breathing room. It also meant that the two elderly women to his left had to get past him to go to the bathroom. He really didn't need confirmation about where they were going. They felt the need to tell him anyway.

"Young man, please excuse us. Tina and I need to go to the ladies room."

"Margie, it isn't a ladies' room. It's a small closet for everyone to use."

Who knew that women traveling in pairs to bathrooms continued in their golden years? He must have thought that out loud.

"Honey, the only thing golden about being old is the jewelry from my late husband, God rest his soul." Her friend laughed. "Margie, I know damn well that nipple piercing did not come from Ernie."

Nipple piercing? He did not want that image on his mind. So he wondered what Ernie was like living with such a feisty woman who wore clothes designed for people half her age in mind. Quite a contrast to her white hair.

"I still can't believe Bert suggested you get one too after you told him about mine." More laughter. Then he laughed too. Bert and Ernie.

The woman named Tina leaned over her friend in amusement. "Do you like nipple piercings too?"

Paul choked out, "Never really thought about it." So of course he started to think about it as he stood up and the ladies shuffled out into the aisle. Sonny would never do such wild thing, but would Will? It'd been a long time since he'd seen Will naked and the thought had him squirming in his seat to adjust himself. He really needed to get laid and decided that when he got home, he was heading to a club.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Will sat on the steps of the foyer of the Kiriakis mansion. He hadn't meant to be listening to a private conversation, but Victor saying his name in disgust caught is attention.

"Will Horton is nothing but trouble just like his mom," barked Victor. "He probably begged Sonny to give him a place to stay. Did you know they are sleeping in separate rooms? Why, he is just using Sonny."

Brady chimed in. "Paul did say that Will wasn't that interested in him."

"Sonny should have listened to me and stayed with Paul," grumbled Victor.

"I agree Sonny is being stupid, but I think my brother dodged a bullet."

Victor grunted. "You just want to be free to stick it to Sonny without worrying about what Paul thinks."

Will wasn't sure why Sonny and Brady would be feuding over the company. Admittedly, he didn't know anything about the family business. Well, he wasn't going to figure it out now. He needed a break from the place.

Despite it being early evening, Sonny still wasn't home from his office. So he ran back upstairs to his room to shower, change his clothes and do a search for a gay bar in the area. After writing a note for Sonny, he made one last look in the mirror. He looked pretty damn good in his tight burgundy jeans and black shirt that looked painted on. It was time to party and meet people. Gay men to be more specific.

Club Brad & Chad. It was a strange name. And it was a little more than obvious who their clientele were. Will supposed it was better than, Gay Men Here! The owners, Brad & Chad, were the second owners of the club. It was a straight bar up until six months ago. He read a newspaper article on the internet and decided to try it out.

The club was two levels and even had a roof dining area for the warm months. It was nothing like the bar he worked at in Memphis. At least two of them could fit on each level of this place. The first floor was a bar & grill with TVs stationed strategically around the walls and pool tables at one end. Will guessed not much had changed on this floor other than new furniture and paint. He soon discovered there was an addition on the back for private parties when he went wandering looking for bathrooms.

Not wanting to sit and drink alone, he went upstairs to the second floor where he expected to find dancing and he was right. The full dance floor was in the middle of the room with a bar and cage on one wall and tables along the other three walls. He'd never seen a cage like that before, but he didn't need to ask about it. There were two hot men grinding and groping each other inside. Will decided he came to the right place.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

When Paul entered the new Club Brad & Chad, he felt at home as soon as he saw a basketball game on behind the bar. He sat on one of the empty stools and waited for the bartender to finish with another customer. As he waited, he took time to scope out the place. His eyes focused on a group of men at the pool tables. They looked to be right out of college. He thought they were a little young for him until he remembered that Will was still young.

He was caught staring at the only blond guy of the bunch. Blondie smiled and gave him a dorky wave. Paul chuckled and then turned to the bartender who was asking him what he wanted to order.

The bartender was a man that looked to be a couple of inches taller than him and he guessed he was in his mid to late thirties. He was tan even though it was December, had wavy, brown shoulder length hair and was definitely the flirty type who spent time gabbing with all the customers at the bar. No one was left out… even the painfully shy one at the end in clothes his mother probably bought for him. He looked so out of place among the jocks that filled up the barstools closest to him.

"Paul Narita?" the bartender asked. A few heads turned to look at him.

"That's me. Are you a San Francisco fan here in Illinois?"

"Hell no! I'm a Cubs fan. But you were a big topic of conversation in sports bars when you came out. Your bravery is admired."

"I agree!" a bear of a man shouted a little too loudly. "I'd buy you a drink if you weren't so damn rich." The men around him chuckled.

"Don't be a dick, Carl," Paul was surprised to hear the bartender say. Maybe Carl wasn't just a customer but a long-time friend. To him he said, "First drink is on the house. My name is Jeff." He stuck out a hand for a shake.

Returning it, Paul answered. "Thank you, Jeff. Nice to meet you."

"So, what can I get you?"

Out of nowhere, a man with jet black hair like his sat on the stool next to him. "Can I suggest Jeff's Thursday night special?"

Paul's eyebrows rose in surprise. "What is it?"

"He won't tell us. But it's sure to get you buzzed."

"In other words, on the way to get me in your pants." Paul said knowingly. Not that he minded. His intention was to get laid and the man was gorgeous.

The man chuckled mischievously. "One step at a time," he said with a wink. "My name is Peter and I'd be happy to show you the dance floor. You do dance, I hope?"

He didn't but two drink specials loosened him up enough to give it a try. When they reached the second floor, Paul took a few moments to scan the room. His eyes adjusted to the low lighting and were drawn to the cage. He'd seen a few of them in San Francisco. He was shocked to see Will grinding with a hot guy in the cage. His second thought was searing jealousy.

"You know those guys?" Peter asked from behind him, peering over his shoulder.

"Yeah, I know the blond one."

"Ex-boyfriend?"

"Not exactly."

"So a fuck buddy. I'm cool with that."

Paul didn't feel like arguing with someone he probably would never see again.

He watched and waited for Will to leave the cage and then excused himself telling Pete he needed to get another drink. "Thanks for the dance."

"You bet, Tiger. Come find me when you're ready."

"Tiger?"

"You dance like you're stalking your prey," he answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I hope that's a good thing." He never claimed to be a good dancer.

"Are you kidding? It's hot!" Pete slithered up as close to him as humanly possible, grabbed his ass and gave him a short kiss. "There's more where that came from if you want it," he purred.

Well, damn. He was hard. And he needed to find Will who was now out of sight.