Free Twisted Love and Money by Thomas Kennedy Page A

teasing
Ann-Marie. Ann-Marie was having difficulty in suppressing the
giggles and Dorothy looked a bit agitated.
    Jeremy found
Dorothy’s hand and held on. She smiled at him and then turned her
eyes back to the film. Dorothy was holding his left hand and Jeremy
found his right hand gripping tightly at the seat rest as he
wrestled with his emotions.
    His Partner
David, the man he loved, was coming to Dublin. They had been apart
for nearly two weeks and like any couple they would want to touch
and hold each other at the earliest opportunity. But now he was
with Dorothy.
    Jeremy
desperately wanted to have an affair with a woman. He had only ever
been with David. God, he wanted to try a woman. Dorothy had not
attempted intercourse with him the night in her flat. Her gentle
fingers had brought him to an orgasm and he had been too tense to
try to move or to approach her.
    Dorothy had
laughed when Jeremy had said that he was unsure how to reciprocate.
He admitted that he had never touched a woman. First silence, then
her body relaxed and he knew she believed him.
    “Not tonight,”
she had whispered, “when I know you better, I promise. I will show
you.”
    “Let me try,”
he had asked, “I know the general geography. I’m just not
experienced.”
    “Forget it
Jeremy,” she had replied, “A man should be shown. That way he won’t
be clumsy. Be patient, I’ll show you, but not tonight, go to
sleep.” And that was final.
     
    What would he
say to David? How would David react? It was hard not to be a
catholic in Ireland. Gay was a sin to a catholic. If his mother
found out he would die of embarrassment. His mother would never
understand. She had never forgiven him for giving up his studies to
be a priest. If she found out he was gay, homosexual or queer as
she’d say, and that he was living with a man in London she would
most likely disown him entirely.
     
    Dorothy’s hand
was warm and he squeezed it. She looked at him, smiled and then
returned her attention to the film.
     
    Dorothy could
save him, he thought, save his soul from perdition, and make it
right for him with his mother. But he knew that once he saw David
his heart would soften. He could not hurt David. They had too much
together. Somehow he had to string David along. He did not really
believe in his heart of hearts that Gay was a sin, a mortal sin.
But in his head he was still a Catholic. Maybe it was just being in
Ireland. In their circle in London no one took much notice. But the
people in London, they were strangers.
     
    Jeremy also
longed for an heir. In discussion David had suggested that they
adopt, but Jeremy could not agree. He believed a man and woman
should have children.
     
    Also, in
Ireland it was different. It was small; no one could keep a secret
for long. Ireland was like going home to family. He had never come
out in Ireland. He wanted to behave differently in Ireland. He
wanted to be respected, not looked down on as a queer. He knew
times had changed in Ireland and he could come out, but in time his
mother would hear of it. He wanted to keep his secret from his
family, from his mother. He could not do that to her, he had hurt
her enough already.
     
     
    Seamus gently
laid his hand on Ann-Marie’s. She snuggled up to him and smiled.
Then she curled her fingers around his and when she was cosy she
turned back to the film.

    “Sweet?” he
whispered, offering chocolates. Dorothy and Jeremy smiled and
declined. Ann-Marie took the box, letting go his hand to unwrap a
chocolate. This she popped into his mouth. Seamus’s dark eyes
clearly showed his pleasure, even in the dark. He took her hand
again.
    Home by one
o’clock, her father had agreed. Ann-Marie began to wonder how she
could lose her sister and Jeremy after the show. She was warming to
Seamus with every whisper, every movement. He was gorgeous, and
even if she decided not to see him again, she would try to have one
decent, no indecent kiss. Ann-Marie smiled and looked at Seamus.