Josh sat bent over his draft table.  The pencil he was using glided over the paper as his brow furrowed in concentration. As he finally made the last marks needed, he smiled down at the completed sketch. Looking up he sighed  as he noticed the darkness outside his office window. Another night alone. No one to go home too. No one waiting for his call.  Someday it would be nice to just be able to call someone and have them hang on his every word. Someone to think he was important. That he was special. Someone that was there just to talk to him. Josh pushed back his chair looking out the window one last time. That somebody for him was out there. All he wanted was someone to go home too. Someone to hold him in bed at night as he slept. His friends all told him that the person for him was out there. He just needed to keep looking. Grabbing his jacket, he left his office locking the door behind him. It took him all of ten minutes to walk the short distance from his office to his apartment building. He sighed as he stepped onto the elevator with the couple down the hall. Those two were always all over each, and tonight was no exception. The minute the door closed they were kissing as if he wasn't even there.  He averted his gaze but the mirrored elevator walls made it impossible not to watch them as they kissed and groped only inches from him. The second the elevator doors opened he walked off the elevator and down the hall to his apartment. He didn't take a second glance back as he heard the laughter and giggles of the couple as they made their own to their apartment. Opening the door, he stepped inside and switched on a light. He looked around the large living room, and saw how lonely it looked. It was sparsely furnished, and had none of those little touches that made a place homey. He figured that since most of his time was spent at the office, why bother? Walking to the fridge, he reached up and tugged open his tie. He opened it and looked at its contents trying to figure out what to eat for dinner. Not much looked appetizing. He would need to go to the store. Grabbing the bottle of wine from the top shelf, he reached into the cabinet for a glass. Once poured, he took a sip as he walked over to the patio doors and stepped outside. Staring at the building across the way, he looked into the lighted windows wondering if behind one of them lay the one he was looking for. He was tired of looking. Going out to clubs and places with his friends just to find that perfect someone for him. His friends pointing out this one or that one. No one was right. They were either too short, too tall, too cocky, or one of the many other things that he could find wrong. His friend Chris finally gave up on him, and said if all he wanted was a fantasy then he should call one of the phone sex lines because the person he was looking for wasn't out there. When Chris had first suggested the idea, he had laughed it off. Chris always came up with the craziest ideas. Him call a phone sex line. However, since Chris had said it a few weeks back, the idea had gotten stuck in his head. Maybe it wasn't such a silly idea, you know? Talking to a nameless voice on the other end of the line. Having them be the one for just one night. No imperfections to worry about getting in the way. Just two people meeting over a phone line and talking… well more than talking. Josh laughed as he leaned against the rail for one last second before going back into the apartment. He shut off the light in the living room, and went into the bedroom. Leaving the light off, he took another sip of wine before starting to undress. It was already past ten, and he had an early meeting. Another long day at work all by himself. Coming home to an empty house another night to sleep alone. Slipping under the covers, he closed his eyes as the coolness of the covers went over him. He lay there trying to sleep, but sleep would not come. He opened his eyes looking over at the empty bed next to him reaching out and gliding his fingers over the space. Looking at the nightstand, he stared at the phone. How hard could it be to pick up the phone and dial some numbers and then talk to someone. Maybe the whole thing that was stopping him was that they wouldn’t just be talking. They would be getting…freaky, and over the phone no less. His hand came back to lay on his stomach as he continued to stare at the phone. He reached out, and touched the handset. Almost picked it up, but didn’t. Closing his eyes, he hoped to fall asleep, but ten minutes later his eyes opened again. Letting out a deep breath, he reached out for the phone once again, but once again stopped himself. Why couldn’t he do it? He was lonely. It had been forever since he had been with someone, but of course he wasn’t really going to be with the person he called. It was all over the phone. No touching. Not unless you counted him touching himself. His hand trailed from his stomach to his now budding erection. Even the thought of calling the number he had looked for the other day was exciting him. Biting his lip, he grabbed the phone and held it one hand as he dialed with the other. He waited three rings before the other end was picked up. "Hello?" Josh nearly crumbled right then at the low rumble that crossed the line, invading his ear in rich bass tones, sending blood rushing straight to his groin. The voice was like velvet, so plush and smooth it caused his hand to shake. He nearly gave up, reconsidering the insane idea Chris had planted in his mind. For Chrissakes, he wasn’t ugly. He wasn’t a freak. He debated while the lonely feeling mingled with the unbearable horny tingle spreading over his body and removed the phone from his ear, clicking it down. “Jesus,” he hissed, throwing his body over so he could lay on his stomach. Josh scrunched his eyes shut, trying to shut out that voice -- that amazing voice. Liquid sex came to mind. It made him laugh because it was so ridiculous and soon he rolled onto his back and let his hand dip down past his stomach to stroke himself lightly. Wondering if he wouldn’t be just as happy having at it with his own hand -- letting that simple ring of “hello” be enough company to guide him through the emptiness. The phone taunted him, though, and soon he let go of his cock and picked the phone up again, all the while chiding himself endlessly -- and vowing to kick Chris’ ass as far as possible in the morning. Josh dialed with a shaky finger, trying to convince his heart to slow down, to relax. “Hello?” It was a different voice, and Josh crashed. Now what the fuck am I supposed to do, he wondered, chewing on his lip in disappointment. He had no clue. This new voice was *not* what he craved. Gathering bravery from inside, he inhaled weakly and let it out. “Hi. Uh, you’re gonna think this is totally messed up, but I just called and uh ... my cat stepped on the phone and disconnected me.” “Umm hmm, sure,” the new voice said with a laugh. “Lemme guess, first time calling?” Josh laughed nervously, because the guy had nailed him. “Yeah, but listen. This person picked up before. With this voice and ... um .. I’m not sure how this all works but ...” “Oh Lord,” the voice said. “You musta talked to Lance. Boy’s got bass on him that curls toes. He’s the only one here that gets that kind of response.” Josh gasped as the voice got a name. Lance. Even the name sounded sexy. “You got a credit card? Or how you wanna pay?” Josh snuggled down under the covers, hoping the shield would help disperse the fear he felt -- the stupidity and madness of dialing phone sex so he wouldn’t feel alone. “Sure, credit card is fine.” “Kay, honey, lemme have the number and expiration and we’ll round up Lance for ya.” Josh pushed his hand out from under the safety of his shelter and grabbed his wallet from the nightstand. Plucking the gold card from its place, he jumbled over the numbers, spewing them quickly without pausing for breath. Fearful if he paused he’d hang up and lose that delicious voice forever. Soon, he was on hold to the sounds of men grunting -- and panting. He swallowed thickly while he waited, fingering his erection to keep it hard, allowing his mind to swirl with what this Lance must look like. Blonde he hoped, with amazing eyes and a hard body. “Hello?” That voice. Assaulting his senses again. “Uh, hi.” Josh was uncomfortable and he squirmed down further into his bed, hoping the powerful feeling would wash away soon. “What’s your name?” Lance asked. “Do I have to say?” Josh asked worriedly. “No, not at all,” Lance replied with a small laugh. “No pressures here. Just a real good time okay?” And his voice *was* liquid sex, Josh decided, just pure unadulterated sex. His long fingers wrapped around his erection vigorously, forcefully, and he let a little moan out into the phone. Blush crawled over his ears as he realized he’d done so vocally. “That’s it, are you touching yourself?” Josh blinked in the darkness that shrouded his view. Blackness that covered his sight so all he could focus on was that voice. He mumbled ‘umm hmm’ because his throat was constricted with desire. And his hand swept over the swollen head of his cock, letting familiar touches blend with unfamiliar sounds to create a coil of raw heat in his belly. “So, whadda you into? Getting your dick sucked? Or giving? You like the feel of a hot mouth over your cock? Or you like sucking?” Josh never had anyone speak crudely in his ear. Not any previous partner had dared to. They all assumed him straight laced. But Lance’s words were like fire, dancing over his senses dangerously. His lip quivered as he threw his head back into the pillow. Just hearing  words like ‘cock’ and ‘dick’ were making his hand work more feverishly -- straining for quick release. Not sure how much more of that voice he could take. “You’re so quiet,” Lance cooed. “If I was there, I’d be licking right down your stomach.” He paused, listening for sounds to let him know he was heading in the right direction. Josh gasped a little, dreaming of a mysterious tongue hot on his cool skin, waltzing down his flesh. Nipping and lapping its way down. He groaned. “Like that? Yeah, I’m real good with my mouth. Ooh, mind if I touch myself?” And Josh didn’t mind -- only he couldn’t speak as he rubbed himself harder, moving his hips to an internal rhythm. “I bet you’d like my cock,” Lance said, dropping his voice an octave lower. “It’s big. It would be able to fuck you real good.” Josh felt his stomach knot at the thought -- at the mere idea of being taken. It had been so long -- so fucking long. He let his other hand drop to fondle his balls, squeezing them in the palm of his hand, letting one finger traipse down further. Because he figured if he was going to do this, he may as well go for gold. Incoherent sounds dribbled from Josh’s mouth as Lance whispered on, and he slid on finger inside of him, imagining -- dreaming of another body doing it. Trying to erase loneliness while satisfying himself. “Oh, I’m the master of fucking,” Lance hummed. “I love to go real slow. Slide my cock in real slow and just move my hips a little. Just a little. If I was there, you’d get so hard. And I’d have to use my hand to make you come. All over the place. Just fuck and stroke. Fuck and stroke.” Josh winced as he wiggled his finger inside of him, using his other hand to pump himself rapidly, with strokes of nearly brutal strength. Just wanting to hear Lance’s voice as he came. Needing that connection desperately. He whimpered as his finger curled against the spot that could make his eyes roll and his body rock. “Are you coming for me?” Lance murmured. “That’s it. Come for me. I wanna hear you come.” Josh felt the rush hitting and went with it as Lance’s voice curled in his ear, as his eyes snapped shut to focus on the resonant voice shuddering through him, letting the orgasm flood past him with more power than he’d had alone in forever. “Mmm hmm,” Lance whispered. “I bet that felt all sorts of fucking good.” Josh let out a long breath, listening to his heart slam against his ribs, letting his blood burn out, removing his hands to wipe them on tissues. Wishing to God and all that was good to have someone next to him soon. Because as nice as Lance’s voice was, Lance wasn’t real. And he needed real. “Thanks,” Josh mumbled into the line. “Hey, anytime ... um. Whatever your name is.” “JC,” Josh said quickly, deciding that maybe he would want to call Lance again -- or need to. Unwilling to give his real name, just initials. “JC,” Lance said, with a smile to his tone. “It was very nice to share that with you. JC.” “Yeah, thanks.” Josh hung up, wanting nothing more than to drift off into a sleep where he could ignore what he’d done, and forget his emptiness. Just until morning. More Than Words Menu Part Two