Because Tyler didn't know exactly what the intention was, he sought out Eric, who was still at the table with Miranda and his mother.
"I hear you guys have plans tonight," Miranda said with a laugh.
"That's what I came to inquire about," said Tyler, who took a seat.
"Who says I know anything?" asked Eric innocently.
After a second of silence, all four of them burst into laughter.
"Okay, okay. Just stick with me. First we go to the official, boring, party."
He tapped his phone. "I get a message when everything is ready and then the real party can start."
Eric took him in thoughtfully. "I don't suppose you have anything clothes with you that are tight and slutty?"
Tyler looked at him with his mouth open.
My mom is sitting at the table, so no I don't have any clothes with me that are tight and slutty!" he snapped at him in shame.
Miranda and Marion struggled to contain their laughter.
"Is he right?" asked Eric looking casually at Marion, ignoring Tyler's angry looks. "I assume you packed his bag?"
"That's right," Marion nodded. I buy all his clothes for him, Eric, but he never once asked me for tight and slutty.
"Well," sighed the Frenchman disappointed. "Then we'll have to come up with something ourselves."
Miranda, who knew her cousin too well, pulled him closer by tugging his shirt. "Why all this trouble?"
He leaned in conspiratorially towards her.
"I would give my right hand to see them kiss," he said longingly.
Miranda grinned. "I've seen them kiss. Phew!", she waved herself.
Eric moaned tormented.
"I know someone who can get clothes, wait here."
She got up and walked to a full table where she talked to a woman with a huge bunch of curls. Moments later, she beckoned Eric and Tyler over.
"Mamma Cassiopeia, this is Eric and Tyler."
"The clothes are for the boy?" she said in a vocal accent.
"Yes, ma'am," Tyler said politely.
"Let me feel for a moment," she said, unabashedly letting her hand slide over his body.
Deep red blushes rose to his jaws and all present at the table laughed at him sympathetically.
"That's how she takes your measurements," said one man.
"She's very good," a young woman told him.
After Mamma Cassiopeia finished her 'measuring', she nodded to Miranda.
"I've got something for him."
"Cassandra, Leo. Walk with them," she commanded.
Two of the younger people at her table stood up.
"Thank you," Tyler said, looking at her kindly.
With a crooked head, she picked him up from head to toe and rapidly said something that Tyler didn't understand.
Leo nodded to her. "Sim avo." (Yes, grandmother.)
"Follow me," Cassandra said.
Elated, Eric rubbed his hands. "Tight and slutty, here we come!" he sang dancing behind Cassandra, slapping Tyler on his shoulders.
Twenty minutes later, he was stomping through Mamma Cassiopeia's room.
"No, no, no!" he cried desperately as Tyler emerged from the bedroom in yet another outfit.
"What do you mean, no, no, no!" Tyler shouted at him angrily. "You've seen me in everything but a dress, and that you can forget about!"
"It seems my vision is not your style," sighed Eric, who dropped himself in a chair.
Leo and Cassandra sat in a couch and had followed the disastrous session with humor.
"Are you ready for Mamma Cassiopeia's suggestion?" asked Leo.
"Pff," Eric said in a very French way, surrendering.
"Mamma Cassiopeia said that tight and slutty wouldn't suit you", laughed Leo, who walked around the room to select Tyler's outfit. "Come, I'll help you."
Eric heard with some jealousy how Leo helped Tyler out of his clothes.
"I'm glad to get rid of that polyester crap," Tyler said loudly.
Eric rubbed his shirt. "Works fine for me," he shouted back loudly.
"Maybe that's because you're a slut and I'm not," Tyler said cheekily.
"Pooh, you dare!" said Eric. "Let's face it, Tyler. We're both bottems. The concept of slutty will not be unfamiliar to you."
Eric rubbed his hands and turned around. "Oh, I'm so looking forward to tonight!"
Leo got down on one knee and tied the laces of Tyler's sneakers.
"There won't be an eye that misses you tonight," he said sincerely.
"Obrigado," Tyler said shyly under the intensity of Leo's gaze and words.
The faded, black washed dark blue jeans with broken white leather belt, khaki shirt with V-neck and long sleeves seemed very ordinary to him. He felt he looked normal and was happy with mamma Cassiopeia's choice.
Two people inhaled sharply as he stepped out of the bedroom into the living room.
"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed Eric. "You don't do slutty, you're go for hot and sexy!" He waved himself cool air.
Tyler looked with raised eyebrows from Eric to Cassandra, who almost drooled. "You're daft," he said incredulously peering down at his outfit. "Are you kidding me or what?"
Eric stepped closer and put two hands on his shoulders. "No, my boy. We're not kidding you."
Tyler didn't see how the khaki shirt complimented his slightly tanned skin. How the lines of the shirt made his shoulders, arms and chest stand out at its most advantageous. The jeans hung low enough on his narrow hips to show a tantalizing piece of skin. His buttocks were pushed up slightly by the fabric and were for each one who would behold them an example of perfection.
'No, Tyler himself wouldn't see this,' Eric thought. 'But Jared? Oh la la!'
In Eric's room, the man quickly changed.
"I want to show you off before we go, so you can see we didn't lie to you."
Tyler laughed when he emerged from the bedroom. "Is this your version of tight and slutty?"
A perfectly fitting dress pants with matching shirt in dark blue gloss fabric, shaded around his slender body. He carried it with grace.
"This is the tight. The slutty comes later", he said with a bold wink.
"Come, I want to do your hair."
In the bathroom, Tyler let himself be fussed with.
"Have you ever tried anything with Jared before?" he asked curiously.
"Oh, yes, often enough," was Eric's direct and open answer. "But he didn't respond to anything."
He looked at Tyler in the mirror. "As far as I can tell, you're the first and only man he's interested in."
"He's the first and only man I'm interested in," Tyler said with a sad smile.
Eric briefly hugged him. "I think this came out of nowhere for both of you, necetpas?"
"I am Fortune's Fool," Tyler said wryly.
"That story didn't end so well," Eric said frowning.
"Unlike my rosy situation?" said Tyler bitterly.
Eric sighed and kept quiet. After a final spray cloud, he put down the brush and the comb. "You're done!"
Satisfied, Tyler inspected his hip cowlick.
In the Lounge where, as expected, Jake, Miranda and Marion were having a pre-dinner drink, Eric let himself be admired extensively before calling in Tyler. Three mouth's fell open.
"Do I look good?" he asked, nervously.
Three heads nodded.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" he asked uncomfortably.
His mother got up and gave him a big hug. "You look great, Tyler."
"Very handsome," Miranda acknowledged.
Jake saw that his wife was struggling and gave her a hug before he got up.
"Say, Eric," Jake said standing near him in a soft tone. "That second party... Erm... Are there going to be strippers?"
Eric grinned. "Yes."
"Which kind?" the man gently inquired.
"The wrong kind," Eric said with glistening eyes.
Jake grinned boyishly. "I hope I can come?"
"Of course," Eric patted his uncle on the shoulder.
"Do you have to ask Miranda for permission?" he said, teasingly.
Jake looked over his shoulder at his wife.
"Can I go to the fun party?" he asked on his knees.
Miranda looked him in the eye.
"Booze?"
He nodded.
"Strippers?"
He grinned.
"You know our deal?"
He blushed.
"You have my permission," Miranda said, playfully slapping him on his buttocks.
"Have fun, guys" Miranda and Marion said cheerfully.
The three men were walking down the hallway.
Eric looked at Jake asking. "Deal?"
Jake blinked his eyes. "Erm... yeah." He hesitated. "Ask me again later, after I had a few beers."
They stopped in front of BJ's door and Tyler knocked. The bodyguard opened and got an eye full of Tyler. He sighed deeply.
"I thought this was my night off, but I'm going to have to knock them off like flies," he said, shaking his head.
His own muscular body was dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. He looked impressive. "Who's going to dare come near me when you're standing next to me?" Tyler said, laughing.
"I have no doubt that they will try anyway," BJ said sourly.
"Where do we go?" Tyler asked Jake.
Jake pulled an invitation out of his back pocket.
The small room on the fourth floor was well stocked and music sounded from the speakers. On the left wall was a table with refreshments, soft drinks and juices. It hadn't been nine o'clock and although the attendees seemed to be enjoying themselves, it certainly wasn't a swinging party.
The guest of honor had not yet arrived and Tyler and his small group were standing at a table.
Sipping his juice, Tyler felt his courage slipping away.
Eric bumped into him. "What's going on?"
"I have no idea how to seduce him, Eric," he said unhappily. "He is always the one who decides when and how."
"Like a dominant top should," Eric nodded. "But he can't determine that until you make yourself available, Tyler."
He laughed casually. "So we're going to make you available."
Tyler took a step towards the dance floor.
Eric stopped him. "Oh no. Not now," he shook his head.
"Later." He winked mischievously.
Tyler regularly scanned the room. He noticed right away when Jared was coming. There was an excited wave moving through the room that resonated in his body. Hidden behind BJ, he saw Jared come in.
Jared looked outrageously attractive in his black short-sleeved shirt and form-fitting black pants. Flanked by Nathan and Tarek, they were greeted with applause and cheers. Tyler took a sip of his juice. He saw Jared scour the room and find him. He raised his juice and Jared nodded his head.
His heart sang. That brief interaction made it clear to him where he would spend his night. Eric bumped into him and grinned.
"And so I'm a slut!" admitted Tyler. "Shut up and dance with me," he said, smiling broadly.
Tyler enjoyed the music, but watched his movements. Jared did his rounds around the room and talked to everyone. He danced a few times. His polite movements were in line with his sense of responsibility. The duty behind his actions was clearly visible to Tyler. He longed for the moment when Jared could let himself go. When he could give Jared the discharge his whole being was screaming for.
"He's so tense," Tyler told Eric.
"Tense?" said Eric, who watched Jared talk to one of his cousins, surprised. "I see no difference from how he always is."
Eric looked next to him. "Why?"
Tyler shrugged. "No, nothing. Never mind."
A few weeks ago, the realization that he read Jared better than the people who knew him all his life would have brought him quiet joy. Now it just made him sad. Jared would spend his life behind a self-imposed mask.
'Who would fulfill his unspoken wishes? Who would cherish the fire that could flare up so explosively in this man? Would Fleur be enough for him?'
His heart squeezed together painfully as he pushed these unwanted thoughts aside.