Chrysalis Part 2: Chapter 3-- In Bed Alone with Others
This story is about a young man's quest to fix a major birth defect--he was born without a penis. On his quest he meets his soul mate and many other soon to be friends.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and events are the product of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any real person is coincidental.
The story depicts procedures and practices common for gender reassignment; however, this story does not claim to be a medical treatise, and information is primarily for the purpose of the story and not medical advice. This story is written for adults with adult themes. If you are underage or live in a location where references to gay relationships or transgender people is forbidden, please log out of the story or move.
This work is copyrighted by Boethiuscell@gmail.com © 2023
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Chapter 3--In Bed Alone with Others
Andy had a small Fiat so the three inside were crowded. Andy talked mostly about his girlfriend, who was a nurse and could not attend because of work. Juan inserted comments, when able, about college and his career in computers. As the pulled up to the deli, Chris asked if they would like to come up. He had not shown anyone the apartment, yet; it was a work in progress. Andy parked in a spot for the deli.
Chris popped into the deli. "Hey Stella, Stan. Just wanted to say I'm back."
"Where's Tom?" Stan asked.
"At the party, Andy drove me home, and this is Juan, he lives a few blocks from here. I'm going to show them the apartment."
"That's fine," replied Stella.
"Have fun," added Stan. Chris thought he heard Benjie snicker in the back of the deli.
Chris, proud at having his own key to his own apartment, unlocked the door and let Andy and Juan in.
"This place is huge," exclaimed Andy
"Queen size bed," noted Juan
"Would you like some wine" Chris asked.
"How'd you buy wine, you're not 21?" Andy asked but not really surprised.
""I told the wine clerk, who was very cute, that it was for the family for Easter. My mother likes white and my dad likes red. So, three bottles of each, large family, and two of prosecco."
"Did you flirt with him?" Andy's eyes narrowed.
"Maybe a little," Chris tilted his head and put a finger to his lips.
"I knew I liked you." Andy plunked himself on the sofa laughing at Chris's subterfuge
"You need to open it because I promise the clerk that I would not, I did not promise not to drink any." Andy went to the refrigerator and popped a prosecco.
"Glasses in the cabinet on the left." Chris yelled.
"Where is your computer," Juan asked as he looked around the room.
"Don't have one yet."
"We'll go shopping, and I'll help you buy a good one, and a printer with scanner."
"That is a date," Chris affirmed, realizing what he said too late.
Andy returned and handed each a glass. "To new friends," he toasted.
"To new friend," Juan and Chris replied.
"What do your parents think of you being in New York and modeling?"
Chris stiffened, which cause Juan to stiffen. "My parents have not seen or spoken to me in three years." Chris tried to say with a casual tone.
"I'm sorry," Juan said and put a hand on Chris's knee.
"When I told my parents that I was going to have reassignment surgery, my dad kicked me out. With just the clothes I was wearing, which was not much. The last I saw of my house was my sister throwing my things out my bedroom window."
"Was your sister angry too." Andy's voice held controlled anger.
"No, she was helping. It was December, and I was outside with no shoes or coat, nothing but jeans and a T-shirt. She thrown out anything, including my billfold with my new driver's license, and 200 dollars she had saved. She was my savior."
"What did you do?' Juan was seriously concerned.
"I lived on the street. Two older men took me in and made me part of the family. They taught me how to survive. And if I was hassled, Dion, a Vietnam Vet with PTSD, protected me."
"How'd you meet Tom."
"Only about a week ago, I picked him up in front of Macy's downtown Chicago. He took me to a diner and then to the poshest hotel. I met Tom's cousin and his wife. They enjoyed my company and ignored my background. It was nice to be treated as somebody."
Juan had slide closer to Chris so that their hips were touching. "I think you are somebody, somebody very special." Chris blushed not sure what he wanted from Juan.
"We went to a party, met Stu, Tom's agent. The next day I did a photo shoot; he hired me. Now I'm in New York."
"Do you have copies of the photos?" Andy asked
"Yeah on the dining room table." Chris waved. Curious, Andy went to retrieve the album.
"Holy fuck, these are good." Andy exclaimed.
"Let me see," Juan pulled the portfolio away from Andy. Juan squirmed attempting to make his jeans more comfortable.
After looking at the album and being impressed, Andy stood. "Sorry Chris, but I need to run. Thanks for the drink." Andy rose and headed toward the door. "I'll give you're a ride home if you want Juan."
Juan looked at I, uncertain. "Can I stay the night, even if we don't do anything?" he pleaded.
"You are very attractive Juan, but I don't know you that well." Chris explained. Andy waited at the door.
"Please."
Baffled Chris asked, "Why?'
"Chris , I have an older brother. He's gay and always teasing me that I'll be a virgin until I'm fifty. I figure if I spend the night, he may leave me alone."
Andy came back toward the sofa laughing. "Juan, my dear boy. Before we are done, he will be begging you for advice." Andy cocked his head at Chris, "Game to punk an asshole."
Chris smiled and grabbed Juan. "We are all in."
Andy asked Juan if he had a cellphone that could send picture. Juan nodded. "Send a message that you will be spending the night with Chris, then take a selfie of you and Chris. Send it." Juan took two: one he and Chris facing front and a second with Chris nibbling on his ear.
"Sent" he said.
Juan's phone toned a return message. "Hot dude, but ur not fucking."
Andy gave a small chuckle. "Now take a picture of you and me. Then after he responds, send it with the tag `and Andy.'"
"Dude, ur shitting me."
"Phase two, you and Chris stripe, if you don't mind Chris." Chris was already pulling off his shirt. Andy had taken off his. "Now I'll crawl into bed under the covers with an obvious erection. Juan you lay above the covers with Chris snuggled in, ass up."
Once everyone was in place, "Now Juan take your best wide-angle selfie and send. Tag it, `Sleep well.'"
Sent. Chris, Juan and Andy crawled out of the bed. "That should keep him quit for a while. Just don't go into details; it will drive him wild."
"These pics may be shared." Juan said with sudden concern.
"My girlfriend will find it funny when I tell her tonight. No prob for me." Andy reassured Juan.
"I'm a model, I expect I will be asked to do worse. And I know no one here that will care."
"Tom?" asked Andy.
"That is not my problem." Chris casually replied.
"Ready Juan to go home? I'm running late." Andy was standing at the door waiting.
"No, Juan is staying here tonight,' Chris answered.
"You don't mind?" Juan was surprised.
Chris caressed Juan's cheek, "I would be honored if you shared my bed, Juan"
Andy waved his keys and left.
"Now what?" Asked Juan nervously.
"More wine?" was Chris's only reply.
Juan left Chris just before 8:00 AM, wiser and stiffer.
Chris was already in the deli having coffee and a bagel when Tom arrived. Tom threw himself into the seat opposite Chris in the booth and shove his cellphone in Chris's face. "Can you explain this?" Tom demanded.
"That is Andy, Juan, and I in my bed." Chris's tone was even and factual. "That is Andy under the covers, Juan full Monty facing you, and I'm sure you recognize my butt."
"This is unacceptable behavior." Tom almost yelled.
"And you, Toby and Donny are not." Chris smiled placidly. "Are you saying it is ok for you but not me. You are not my parent, and I am over 18. You have no say. Understood." Again, Chris's voice was firm but not hostile.
"But this picture," He shove the cellphone again in Chris's face.
"I'm positive that Donny took pictures last night to share with Max."
Tom shoved his phone back in his pocket fuming. "You're impossible."
"No, I am reasonable. I do not live with you, I do not sleep with you, I do not report to you about my personal life. We are colleagues that work together. And what I do outside of work is none of your business."
Tom had no response, his fury slowly lowered but did not subside. "I hope you enjoyed yourself."
"More than the three of you if you're this cranky." Chris smiled.
"Did you fuck both of them?"
"Tom, that is a rude question. I will not ask what you, Donny and Toby did. I expect the same courtesy." Chris reached over and tapped Tom's hand. "We are professionals, and you will never ask about my sex life because it is none of your damned business." Chris gave a thin smile. "Understand?" Chris pulled up his menu to select breakfast, hiding his smile at Tom's frustration.
Tom did not understand how the intimacy that happened just a few days had turned so cold. Chris is not mean or angry at me, so it could not be anything I did. I want the Chicago Chris back.
Chris saw Tom struggling for control. "Tom, I realized when I got to New York, Friday, that you had a life here before me. I am not part of that life, which is OK. I have my own apartment with a key. I am making friends on my own. You are still my friend, but we are not lovers. You have a boyfriend and other interests that I do not have. I am very happy to be working with you, but after work we can have an occasional drink or a meal. But I must have my life."
"I don't have a boyfriend," Tom shot back.
"You need to discuss that with Toby."
"Toby and I aren't." Tom waved his hands around like he was besieged by gnats.
"He's living with you?"
Tom paused at that realization. "Why did you move out? That hurt me."
"Tom get real. I cannot not be sleeping in a recliner every night. I love having my own place. Do you understand how important that is to me after living on the streets." Tom nodded. "Friends?"
"Friends," Tom verbally agreed but inside he was not sure. "You were a hit at the party last night. You charmed the pants off everyone." Tom gave Chris a crocked smile, "Especially, Andy and Juan." Chris just smiled back giving no clue.
"I saw Helga's schedule for the week." Chris shrugged, "Intense. I leave everything in your capable hands."
"Right, you still need me." Tom gave a broad smile.
"Of course, never said I didn't."
Tom waved Stella over, "I'll have a cheese omelet with coffee."
"You got it," she said. As she turned to leave, she gave Chris a quick wink.
"I...we have a very busy week." Tom was cheerful as he pulled out Helga's schedule and went through the names and places that were to be Chris's future.
After a strenuous day, Chris left Tom at the bottom of the stairs to his apartment with a friendly hug and a we'll do this again tomorrow. Chris almost invited Tom up when he saw the puppy dog face at the bottom of the stairs about to whine. But Chris was determined to build his own life and right now that did not include Tom in the way Tom obviously wanted--another fuck buddy.
Chris kicked off his shoes by the door, went to the refrigerator and poured a glass of ginger ale. Finding some Rachmaninov on his Kindle, he stretched out on the sofa. He studied his apartment for what it needed when he saw the picture still wrapped and forgotten last night. I have a present he gleefully thought. Chris quickly shredded the brown bag wrapping. "Wow" he said out loud. "This is absolutely amazing." The painting was approximately 24 by 30 in a black metal frame of foliage; Chris suspected that Slim made the frame too.
The multimedia painting was divided into three unequal sections. The right was a trapezoid of browns with smudges of green. The left, bottom two thirds was drizzled paint in shades of green, white and gray with bits of smoky blue glass against a black base. If Chris squinted, the glass was almost a disarticulated skeleton. Above the glass section was a cerulean blue with heavy impasto swirls and ridges that almost looked like waves. Chris turned the painting on each edge trying to decide which was up. In each vantage, Chris saw something different. Chris looked at the back. It had a wire across with the word UP stenciled on the back of the painting. The blue is the top Chris grinned with relief. For the next hour, Chris tried various places to hang the painting. Still uncertain, he set it on the floor below the front window. Benjie will find the perfect place.
After a TV dinner and a hot shower, Chris threw on a robe he took from Cedrick's hotel, with permission, and curled up on the sofa to read the newest I. Guzman novel. Just as he got to the part where the guys do the "does he or does he not" dance, a rap sounded at his door. Chris rose and peeked through the door viewer. It was Tom. Chris opened the door slightly, not removing the chain lock.
"What do you need?" Chris was annoyed not only that it was Tom but that it interrupted his reading.
"Can I come in?" The question boarded between a whine and a demand.
"No, I am reading and not dressed."
"I've seen you naked," This was a challenge.
"You did but not now." Chris replied evenly. He was getting piqued at Tom's insistence.
Tom put the flat of his hand on the door ready to push the door open. "I just want to find out how you are doing?" Sincerity dripped like venom from the words.
"The place is not ready for visitors." Chris positioned a leg against the door.
"You have visitors last night."
"Those visitors came to see me. You are here only to snoop and pry. Until you come because you want to see me, you are not invited in." Chris slammed the door shut almost catching Tom's fingers. Tom stood outside the door for a few minutes deciding if he should pound on the door; then he turned and left. Chris returned to the sofa feeling guilty for how he treated Tom, but Tom needed to know that he was independent and wanted Tom as a friend and not a protector. Chris may have appeared weak in Chicago when Tom met him, but it was more that he was unsure then. Now, Chris was sure and will be making his own decisions. Chris was just staring at his Kindle, unable to read, when another knock on the door sounded.
If that is Tom again, I might need some mace, he thought. Through the peephole he saw Benjie. Chris undid the chain and let Benjie in.
"Are you OK?" Benjie asked, "We saw Tom come up and then leave madder than a hornet."
"Well, I sort of," Chris grinned, "I refused to let him in."
"No shit." Benjie grinned back. "He is really pissed at you. He hit the brick wall outside the building."
"He'll get over it." Chris invited to Benjie to sit. "I got this great housewarming gift yesterday. Can you help me decide where to hang it?" Chris pointed to the painting.
Benjie walked over and picked it up, carefully studying the painting and then turning to study the walls. "It is a very cool piece, but let's wait until there is sunlight. The light in the room needs to honor the painting." Benjie replace the painting on the floor. "Got to split. Need to get home and study for AP History class tomorrow." Benjie walked to the door, and Chris locked it after he left. Chris settled back into his sofa: he liked having friends.
Chris's attention was caught by his phone doing a tarantella on the dining room table. He had not checked messages since he got home. One from his sister, two from Helga, and three from Ariel.
Sister: Hey, saw the pictures. nice. showed mom. She cried-:) Doin ok. Be in ny in may for class trip see u then :)
Helga: Thank you for the pictures of your apartment. We here are all so relieved that you found yourself such a nice place. Particularly when Tom is being an ass. Love Helga
Ariel: Loved the pics, showed to Ceddy. Busy will contact later.
Helga: Your passport should be there next week. It will be delivered here and then I will Fed Ex it to your apartment address. Tom said you are making friends. He is miffed.
Ariel: Tom said you were a charmer at the party. Played show tunes, who knew. Went home with a couple of guys. Good for you. Do not let Tom stop you from what you want to do. Love Ariel
Ariel: I will be in New York last week of May for a new show at my gallery. Will send an invite. Tom too if he stops being an ass.
Chris returned a long text to his sister about the party and his anticipation of seeing her. He sent Helga confirmation about the passport and that he and Tom were establishing boundaries. And finally, Ariel about how he refused to let Tom into the apartment, the conversation with Toby, a LOL added, and how excited he is to see her with or without Tom.
Feeling warm and cozy not just from the housecoat, Chris turned out all the lights and slipped into his queen-size bed alone.