A thirteen year old Robbie was in his treehouse kissing Taylor. He had never kissed anyone before and he was loving it. Taylor's lips felt soft and silky against his own. 

It had started as a dare. They were talking about kissing when Taylor suggested that they give it a try.

"Ew," Robbie had said. "That's gross."

"Chicken." Taylor laughed. So Robbie took the plunge and planted his lips right on Taylor's.  Immediately he felt a burst of undescribable feelings.  It was the most amazing thing he ever did. The more he kissed, the more he wanted to. 

Taylor broke the kiss. "You taste like potato chips."

"Duh, that's what I ate earlier," Robbie responded. "Kiss me again."

Taylor kissed him and he closed his eyes, savoring the strange new sensations going through his entire body. He held Taylor close and pressed his lips harder, tasting the sweetness.  When their tongues met he moaned, wanting more.

Suddenly the treehouse door burst open, putting a halt to the pleasant mood. Robbie looked up and saw his grandfather glaring at the two boys with their arms around each other.

Taylor pulled away. He grabbed his coat and ran past Grandfather, running down the steps and out of sight. Robbie froze as he faced the tall stern man. He knew he was in trouble. This man didn't play.

"What were you doing?". Grandfather demanded, green eyes blazing with anger.

Robbie stuttered. "We. . .we were just. . . playing."

"Boys do NOT kiss other boys," Grandfather said. "It's not normal or natural. Do you understand?"

Robbie ducked his head. "Yes, sir."

"I would hate to disown you for those actions.". Grandfather said. "I'm counting on you to take over my company when I'm gone. I'm hoping for heirs to carry on the Kay name. I will not tolerate despicable behavior."

"Yes, sir."

"Don't let me down, Robert," Grandfather looked stern. "Remember who you are."

After his grandfather left, Robbie sat there for a moment thinking. He really liked kissing his friend Taylor. It was so amazing. But it wasn't normal.

Ten years later.

Harry was looking out of the window of his club, watching yet another closet case sitting in his car. They were all alike. During the day the closet cases would play the part of the straight married man. Wifey was probably a high school sweetie. He would have the perfect job with benefits and drive a nice reliable car. They had two young children, usually one on the way.

But when nighttime came these men would cruise to the gay section of town and park themselves in front of a bar like his. There they would sit while getting the courage to go in. Sometimes they would pick up a guy and go to a motel. In the end they always went back to their Normal Lives and pretend that side of them didn't exist.

He knew too many guys like that. More than he liked. He swore that he would avoid guys like that.

Robbie sat in his car across the street of The Boys Room, a gay nightclub on the North side. He watched the guys as they entered and exited the establishment. He had been going there several nights now, but never inside. He would just sit in his car and watch the crowd hanging around while the music played from inside. They looked like they were having so much fun. He wished he could join in but somehow could not find the nerve.

His phone rang loudly, attracting the attention of a couple of guys passing by. Robbie saw it was his fiancee Emma.

"Robbie," Emma said. "I thought you were going to call me when you got out of work."

"Sorry, I got kinda busy," Robbie got distracted by a guy walking by wearing leather chaps. With nothing underneath. "Damn!"

"Robbie!"

"What? Oh." Just like that he had forgotten about his lady. Emma was now droning on about their wedding plans. He heard it all before. How large the guest list should be, the bridesmaids dresses, and so on. It wasn't that he didn't want to marry Emma, it was just that he didn't feel like he was a part of the process. All he did was propose. The only thing he had to do was show up in his tux and wait until she was Mrs. Emma Kay.

A couple of guys were making out in the alley beside the building. Robbie stopped listening to his fiancee and watched in amazement as the guys kissed each other with a lot of passion.

"Robbie!"

"What?"

"Are you even listening to me?"

Robbie tried to focus on her. "I'm sorry, baby, I just got a lot on my plate right now."

"Tough day at work?" She sounded sympathetic. "You shouldn't push yourself so hard. You'll stress yourself out."

"The old man is really riding me." Robbie said. "He doesn't let up."

"Why don't you come home and I'll have some dinner for you," Emma said. "I can give you a massage later on."

Robbie watched the guys in the alley as they continued kissing. "That sounds great, it really does, but I can't right now."

"Where are you?"

Robbie tried to think quick. "Uhh I'm just doing some work right now."

"Where?"

"Babe, I'll call you later gotta go." He hung up quickly. He hated lying to Emma, he really did. She had been nothing but good to him. But she wouldn't understand. He couldn't understand it either. Here he was with a special lady at home and yet he would rather be sitting outside a gay nightclub watching guys making out. And the worse of it was that he wasn't sure why he was drawn to this.

"Hey," Harry nudged one of the bartenders and pointed at Robbie's car. "You know that guy?"

The bartender looked in that direction. "Yeah. We call him Mr. Down Low. I don't know his name but I have seen him at those fancy parties I used to work at."

"I knew it." For some reason Harry felt a little disappointed. What a waste, he thought. That guy was so cute.

Harry watched Mr. Down Low as he sat in his car chewing his knuckle. From the way he looked at the other guys going in and out of club, clearly he wanted to join in the fun but didn't have the courage to get out of the car. Harry shook his head. He was not about to get involved. No thank you. He had enough of closet cases to last him for several lifetimes.

But that guy was so cute, what was one more?

Robbie checked his phone. He had several emails from business associates, his friends from the country club and from Grandfather. He didn't feel like responding. It didn't feel right bringing his business world into this forbidden time he was spending here. Besides, his grandfather would kill him if he saw him outside a gay bar.

Suddenly he heard a light tapping sound causing him to jump and drop his phone.

Robbie looked up and froze at what he saw. A guy with long wavy brown hair down to his shoulders. He had the greenest eyes ever. Oh man!

Harry froze when he saw Robbie up close. Short chestnut hair, full pink lips, and the wickedest green eyes he ever saw.

They stared at each other for a moment. Robbie didn't know why this guy was at his car and didn't care, but he wasn't mad at anybody. "Uh, hi." he managed to say.

Harry completely forgot the reason he was out here knocking on the window of a stranger's car. "Can I buy you a drink?" He asked.

Robbie didn't even think. "Sure." He was already out of the car before he finished that word. What was he doing? He was gladly following a stranger into a nightclub.

While following, Robbie took a good look at the guy. He was tall and slender with wavy brown hair that hung to his shoulders. He wore a flowered silk shirt and tight black skinny jeans. Extremely tight as Robbie noted.

As they went through the crowd the guy took Robbie's hand. This made Robbie smile. He was already liking this. The energy, the music, everything. It was as if he belonged here. The people were literally jumping on the dance floor as the music blared.

"What's your name?" the guy asked in his ear, making Robbie shiver a little.  The voice was deep and husky. 

"It's Robbie."

"Harry. You wanna go somewhere?"

Robbie nodded. It was too loud to carry on a conversation where they were. Harry led him upstairs to one of his private rooms. Inside the room had dark walls with large sofas and a glass table. What really caught Robbie's eye was the large window that overlooked the entire club. "This is nice," he said as he sat down. "Are we even allowed up here?"

"Sure if you're the owner," Harry sat next to him, a little close. Robbie took a gulp of his drink.

"I can't believe you own all this," Robbie said, taking another swig. "That is so cool." He turned and was face to face with Harry, surprising him. "Oh."

Harry took Robbie's drink out of his hand and set it on the table. Then without warning he leaned in and kissed Robbie on the lips.

Robbie could feel his heart jump the moment they made contact. Harry's lips were so soft, the way they slid against his own.  He surprised himself and Harry by grabbing him and kissing him back. Robbie's heart was now pounding against his chest, his throat tightened.  All he wanted was to keep kissing Harry.

This was his first kiss with another guy since Taylor.

But it wasn't right.

"Wait." Robbie pulled away.

"What?" Harry said, pushing his hair back. "This is what you came here for, right?"

Robbie's jaw dropped. "What? No! I mean. . .Good Lord, I just came here to talk and. . .stuff."

"Really?" Harry looked skeptical. "Yeah, just like all the other guys here. They love to talk and stuff."

"Come on, I'm not even. . ." Robbie stopped himself when he saw Harry's eyes turn cold and steely.

"Not even what?" Harry challenged. "Say it, closet case."

Robbie turned and left the room. Stupid, stupid, he told himself. What was he thinking coming here with some guy he didn't even know. And why did he kiss him? Why? What if that guy was a mugger or a murderer or worse, a blackmailer?

Robbie squeezed through the noisy crowd and out to the safety of his car. Inside he took several deep breaths. Get it together, man.

He quickly started his car and drove home to his Emma. He was going to have dinner with her and forget this ever happened.

It was a good kiss though, he thought.