Smoking Jackets

[Roller]

Sorry this has taken a while to get together and thanks to Black for all the helpful discussions of possible plot and character developments.
The change of title is partly because its just sounds better, but also because it isn't just the silk smoking jacket but the 70s leather jacket and possibly other items from that vintage clothing shop which influence guys into becoming smokers.

I hope you enjoy

Chapter 3

Lunch was pretty abstemious since the food at the party, along with everything else, was to be strictly 70s. So as they ate seared tuna steaks with rocket salad they speculated on sausage rolls, quiche Lorraine, then they got silly – please, please would there be one of those hedgehogs made of cheese and pineapple on cocktail sticks.
“All that fat, wickedness.”
“You can talk, what about your Black Forest Gateaux?”
“My Gateaux will be a work of art.” Keith said with mock dignity.

Of course, later, as he piped cream onto the kirsch soaked sponge Keith's confident prediction was justified. They'd had a great day, full of the preparations. Keith doing his thing in the kitchen, Ben mostly getting in the mood by working through his collection of CDs and talk constantly on the phone to one mate or another. Feeling it was time to get to work on their outfits, Keith wiped his hands on his apron and bundled it into the washing basket. Then he closed the lid on the enormous piece of Tupperware that was his pride and joy, not to be opened until the unveiling of the great masterpiece, and turned his attention to Ben, lounging on the leather sofa at the other end of their open plan kitchen-dining-living space. He was deep in conversation on the phone and, as usual, it looked like he'd stopped in the middle of something - changing presumably because he was dressed only in his boxers and the fringed leather jacket on. Quietly he admired unobserved for the moment. God Ben was so gorgeous, tanned, not big muscles but defined. Best he had this almost feline quality of movement, so relaxed in his body, yet animated as he laughed at something the other person had said. Then with the same unconscious animal grace Keith watched him flip open the silver cigarette case, take one and light up. What the... Instinctively he went over with a half formed idea that he should stop Ben, but as he got closer to the jacket his concern that Ben was smoking seemed to fade. After all what was it Ben had said, 'the odd cigarette doesn't matter... We might as well smoke them...' He couldn't think why his first thought had been that Ben shouldn't be smoking. Why not when he obviously enjoys it so much. Well they both did, in fact the rich smell was quite tempting. And Ben did look kind of sexy when he smoked. It didn't seem the least bit odd to Keith now he. In fact he was kind of pleased Ben was having a cigarette. Something after all they'd both enjoyed earlier. His only concern was a fond one that, typically impulsive, Ben had nothing to use as an ashtray. He looked round, picked up the little Poole nut dish from the dining table and went over to the sofa.

“Hi babe.” Ben said as an aside, lifting an arm so Keith could settle in next to him. “What... oh yeah, just Keith. Been doing his usual magic in the kitchen. It's Brian.” he explained, tapping ash into the dish. Oh Brian, that made sense. He was one of the few guys in their circle who smoked, and was completely unapologetic about it. So much so that he was forever excusing himself for lighting a cigarette while he was on the phone to you. Keith could see now how it would amuse Ben to smoke while talking to Brian. So he relaxed, enjoying the contrast of Ben's bare chest, the heavy, musky leather jacket. Till, unsettled by the length of ash growing on the end of Ben's momentarily neglected cigarette, he took it, only just catching the ash in time then, well, what the hell... He eased back against Ben as the smoke relaxed him and admired the way the sunlight picked out his exhale. As he smoked again then caught Ben's look, warm, amused and something else puzzled? No, if Ben smoked why shouldn't he... then he got it, it wasn't puzzled it was pleading. Half teasing he took another drag then, in the next lull in the phone conversation, put the cigarette to Ben's lips. Yeah, he hadn't expected that. Smiling with the warmth and the kind of intimacy of it, they shared the rest of the cigarette that way. And though it wasn't quite the fireworks it had been after breakfast it was still good. Without the crude, lust driven rush for well, the rush, he could savour smoking more. He realised he actually liked the taste, and the way it soothed his nerves while filling him with a warm tingling pleasure. Definitely seductive. Keith was a little bit sorry when it was over. Of course they could do it again sometime...

“Oh no. No. Not now.” Keith said just managing to break off the kiss with Ben who'd finally got off the phone from Brian.
“Oh come on, I want you. You think smoking could be some kind of aphrodisiac? I'm so horny.”
“You're always horny.”
“And you aren't.” Ben countered, stroking the bulge in Keith's jeans.
“Oh please, We have to get ready.”
“Well, we wouldn't want to be late.” Ben said. He went on teasing a little longer, just to let Keith know he could never resist him but then left off. They'd both been excited by the fantasy of getting to fuck David Bowie. He could wait. Just.

They were late anyway, what with spiking his hair, the make up and the nail varnish it took ages, but it was worth it. Keith's skinny body looked good as the young Bowie. Ben couldn't keep his hands off Keith's body. He wouldn't say how much the striped one leg, off one shoulder body stocking had cost but who cares. The transformation was astounding. His own rock god outfit, the loons, body hugging satin shirt, medallion, great boots and of course THE jacket wasn't as flash but he could feel, and see in Keith's eyes, that it oozed sexuality. Waiting for the taxi (to transport the precious gateaux) they sang along as the stereo blasted out 'Oh you pretty things, don't you know you're driving your mamas and papas insane. Let me make it plain. Gotta make way for homo superior.'

The benefit of arriving late was things were already going. And there was a cheese and pineapple hedgehog. And red light bulbs. Mock fishing nets with coloured glass floats. And fantastic costumes. Almost an authentic period number of clones and some scarily correct leather wear. No serious competition for Keith, except maybe Marc Bolan or one of the Freddie Mercury's. Anyway most eyes were on a glorious tanned boy in gold disco pants and roller skates. Ben and Keith both got plenty of attention.
Dan, who had organised the party with his partner Ian, had been strict, all 70's - even the drinks. So there was a great deal of Babycham, Liebfraumilch and G&T's that'd knock your head off. It was baking hot, especially on the dance floor. Ben had stripped off his shirt but wouldn't give up the jacket. Keith wasn't complaining he loved it, especially with bare flesh underneath. Their hands were all over each other till, when Keith was pressed up against him on the dance floor, bare leg wrapped round his Ben noticed a bulge that wasn't in the obvious place. With a little difficulty he led Keith off the floor.
“What?”
“Look, I think there's something in the inside pocket.”
It was definitely more of a thrill than a surprise when Ben took out pack of Benson & Hedges, and it was all gold, no warnings. Another period piece.
“Hang on there's something else.” Ben said, handing the cigarettes to Keith while he reached deep into the pocket and produced a chunky chrome Zippo lighter. In spite of the loud music and disco lights there was a kind of stillness between them as the two men shared the same thought.
“Come on.”
They headed out into the garden. Of course they didn't know it but with the jacket's influence most of the smokers, social smokers and once in a blue moon smokers had 'decided' to indulge and there were quite a few people out there. Brian waved them over.
“You'd think with all this 'authenticity' they wouldn't drive you into the outer darkness for a cigarette.” As usual he instantly in full flood, “After all in the decade taste forgot everyone smoked like chimneys.”
“Absolutely. You're looking deliciously sleazy by the way.” Brain was in a 70s porn suit – beige polyester with enormous lapels, even bigger flares, brown satin shirt and gold medallion – the effect had been considerably gayed up by matching nail varnish and drop earrings.
“No moustache then.”
“Oh please, it'd be ghastly. The day I grow facial hair you can call them to take me away.” Brain proclaimed, putting out his cigarette and making to take another.
“Here, have one of these.”
Keith was kind of startled by the way Ben held out the B&H pack, a few cigarettes sticking out in a vee. He'd been wondering how they'd get away with it – being known never to smoke – but he could see Ben was getting it just right. The best form of defence is attack.
“What's this? If you're trying to get me to smoke some kind of herbal bastard abortion of a cigarette just because its in a pretty box...”
“Perish the thought. No, these are absolutely genuine. Well, they're real cigarettes anyway. Actually they're probably from Bangkok or Kyrgyzstan or something, the little old man at the costume shop was practically giving them away, but we'd been going on about how we had to be absolutely and totally 70s and he said these were the essential accessory.”
“Oh well, if your dear little man vouches for them.” Brian teased, but took a cigarette anyway.
Ben quickly passed the pack on for Keith to take one and helped himself. For Keith it was happening in a whirl. He put it down to being drunk. How else could he account for it. A few days ago he'd have sworn he would rather appear in a turquoise shell suit than be seen smoking, but as soon as they'd found the cigarettes in Ben's jacket they'd both known there was no question they'd have a smoke as soon as. So Keith was enjoying the slick way Ben had set it up. Plus it felt slightly conspiratorial and curiously teen-aged. A bit of mildly naughty fun you would have at a party. The urge to smoke felt so natural Keith was virtually unaware of it. Consciously all he noticed was the way these cigarettes felt different, slightly thinner than the vintage ones and tighter packed and, being longer the balance was different too, the over all effect was maybe more elegant. And curiously exciting.
“Here, allow me.” The time Brian had spent suspiciously examining the cigarette had allowed Ben to get out the Zippo. Its flame was quite large and bright making the twilight seem darker as he passed it from Brian to Keith before lighting his own cigarette. Keith's initial feeling was a slight disappointment. There wasn't the easy flood of smoke he'd got used to. The taste was less intense too. With the second drag, sucking harder and longer he found he produced a decent exhale. The smoke seemed lighter, cooler but he felt the effect now. It was like a cold lager compared to the crusty old port of those unfiltered cigarettes from the silver case. Enjoyable though in its own way.
“Well fancy,” said Brian, “I never dreamed I'd see you two boys smoking. How decadent of you.”
“Deeply.” said Ben, taking a drag, his cheeks hollowing slightly Keith admiring the way he looked right smoking – went with the bad boy image of that jacket.
“Hello boys,” another friend of theirs Simon, had come over, his hand on Ben's shoulder, “How naughty of you, smoking. Can I join you?”
“Of course.”
Ben supplied him with a cigarette and light and he sat down and launched in to tell how Marc Bolan was embarrassing himself over the golden shorted boy.

Dan came out just as they'd all lit up another round of cigarettes.
“God, what are you all doing out here, its getting deserted in there.”
“Smoking obviously,” said Brian, “Though if this was really the 70s we wouldn't be freezing our touches off out here.”
“Oh come on, you know what Ian's like about that.”
Brian just rolled his eyes, they all knew it was Dan who wore the trousers, so to speak.


Next morning, as he chopped strawberries for a fruit salad to go with their muesli, Keith still couldn't quite believe how, after he'd got Dan and Ian to smoke, Brian had gone on to overturn the smoking ban, at least for the duration of the party. How all the little bowls that had served crisps, nuts and twiglets had been pressed into service as ashtrays and the rooms had acquired a fug which reminded him of his early days of going to gay pubs. How he'd welcomed it when the ban came in, but there was definitely some (possibly nostalgic) erotic charge to smoky rooms. No, Ben was right there had to be something aphrodisiac about smoking. There'd been something really hot about dancing with Ben, feeling him up close behind, his hands running up, the one with the cigarette bringing it to his mouth. Something very flirty about smoking. Nearly everyone it seemed got into it sooner or later. Well, it was just a bit of fun. Sexy fun. And how did he get to breathe it in when Ben blew smoke at his lips, following it up with a kiss. No it wasn't aphrodisiac, smoking was just sexy. And just forbidden enough to carry an edge. Like when he found Simon saying to golden-shorts-boy, 'Come on, everyone tries it sometime. Its just one cigarette'. That was way sexier than it should have been. Maybe because he knew how seductive smoking was. It wasn't going to be just one cigarette...

Jesus, Keith thought to himself, get a grip. No don't get a grip, you've got enough morning wood already. He knew the problem. After their very late night they hadn't had sex, yet, this morning. On account of being too shagged (and Keith had been thoroughly and imaginatively shagged – by Ben). Time to get the coffee on - the noise of the grinder being Ben's cue to get his arse out of bed. As he was about to do it Keith heard the door buzzer. Grabbing the entry phone he saw it was Tom. Shit, was it that late? He buzzed him in, opened their door a crack and went in to wake Ben. The room smelt of sex and, faintly, of cigarettes. Picking the smoking jacket up from the floor Keith recalled them sharing the last of the unfiltered cigarettes post-orgasmically. Pity there were no more left, he could do with one now, wake him up a bit. Hey, stop wool-gathering. Ben was kind of heaped on the bed. Keith shook his shoulder.
“Hey, come on, get up, Tom's here.”
“Wha...”
“Tom. You know. Tom. My little brother. He's here. So get yourself up and showered.”
“Oh, shit, right.” Ben rubbed a hand over his face, “Er, what time is it?”
“Half eleven.”
“Shit, right.”
“Breakfast's nearly ready. Just get a shower.”
“Oh, uh, yeah, right.”
Once he saw Ben was up and stumbling toward the wet room Keith picked up the ashtray from the bed side and just had time to dump the contents in the bin before Tom came in.
“Nice jacket bro.” Tom said with a big grin as he picked it up from the back of the sofa, and slipped it on, holding out his arms so the fringes hung down.
“Er, yeah, its Ben's.” Of course, he'd left the door open. “He's um, just getting up, its...”
“Heavy night last night?”
“Yeah. Party. Look, I was just making some coffee, if you want some.”
“Yeah, coffee would be great. And you just, you know, chill.” Tom, said, giving his brother a quick hug. He knew Keith couldn't both cook and talk, so he perched on one of the stools at the counter pretty content. He liked Keith's flat, the space. Not like all the clutter at home. He couldn't wait to move out. Far too many china figurines. Which was what the visit was about. Tom was about to start uni and Keith and Ben were going to go with him, check out the student halls and flats. The folks wanted him to stay at home, so much cheaper, but Keith had got out. Well, he knew why now, so he could be gay. Good on him. He wanted a bit of freedom too. Keith understood, well, in a general way, and since him and Ben had been students there they were going to show him round.
What Keith didn't know was one of the reasons Tom wanted to be out of their parents' eye was that he'd started smoking. He didn't imagine Keith would be all that thrilled so he'd kept it from him. Actually he'd kind of started smoking a couple of years back. At a party, naturally. Unlike the rest of the family Tom had never been that anti-smoking. He could see people enjoyed it, was naturally curious. He found it liked it so he went on with it. Just the odd cigarette or a joint at a party to start with. Or when he was out drinking with his mates. Soon he was smoking most weekends and started buying them. A few of his mates smoked and pretty soon he was smoking most days. Well, he didn't have a problem with that. It was pretty cool to hang out and smoke with them. Lately, with the pressure of exams, he'd taken to smoking more. It helped. Before he'd usually make a pack of 20 last a week, during the exams themselves he got through three a week at least. Now he'd easily smoke ten cigarettes on a night out. And know it next day. Needed one on the way to school. He knew he was getting hooked, but god, he loved those smokes in the morning. But it was a bugger sneaking. A few of his mates smoked and so he knew how strong that give away smell was, even though you couldn't smell it yourself. So, although he'd had a couple on the way to the train this morning he'd resisted the temptation to have another on the walk from the station. But now, sat in Keith's kitchen, wearing Ben's leather jacket, Tom could feel he really wanted a smoke. Especially with that coffee that was smelling so good. He realised he wasn't going to get through the day easily without smoking. Maybe it was time to bite the bullet.

“Hey Tommo, I'm loving the kind of emo thing you've got going on there.”
“It is not emo!”
“Yeah, yeah. Who cares, as long as you show off your pants. Spider-man I think?”
“Er, yeah.” Though Ben and Tom were always familiar like that Keith couldn't help being a bit embarrassed, not realising that was exactly why Ben did it. “I have to say you're looking terribly Noel Coward.”
“You like it, its Keith's. A smoking jacket. Real silk, feel it.”
“Hey, break it up you two.” Keith said, putting down coffee for all of them. As they sat there, sipping coffee, Keith's hand on Ben's thigh in a kind of proprietorial way, all three were thinking of smoking. Ben thinking it might be fun to see Tom's reaction. Keith regretting it wasn't on. Tom steeling himself for the big announcement, he was getting kind of edgy now, was wishing he could get it over with but nervous how Keith would take it. Hesitating he said, “So, big night last night.”
“Yeah, fancy dress at Dan and Ian's. 70's theme.”
“Hence the jacket?”
“Exactly.” said Ben, “Here, I've got some photos on my iPhone.”
Keith was picking at some fruit salad as the other two huddled together scrolling through the pics. Tom seemed to think it was a hoot, the trouble people went to, and had been teasing a bit but mostly appreciative. Then, in an almost shocked voice he said, “Keith, you naughty boy.”
“What?” he asked, hoping Ben hadn't caught the way his hard-on showed through those leggings.
“Is that you smoking?”
“Well, you know, it was a party.”
“Hey, no its totally cool. Just never thought I'd see it. Wish I'd been there. You smoking.”
“Why shouldn't I?”
“Oh absolutely. I totally agree.”
“You do?”
“Sure. Look, you might as well know, don't tell the folks but, I've been kind of getting into smoking myself, and well...” he brought a pack of Marlboro lights from the pocket of his jeans, “I would quite like one now. I'll go out on the balcony if you like.”
Dimly Keith was aware he should say something, but seeing that pack of cigarettes had a kind of magical effect. Maybe this could go another way.
“Don't be daft,” Ben stepped in, “It's chucking it down out there.” Well, it wasn't that bad but a summer shower had just started up. “Go on Keith, get Tom something for an ashtray.”
Slightly dazed Keith brought over the one he'd only just emptied. There was quite a bit of ash still clinging to it. A fact which didn't escape Tom's notice.
“Hello, so I'm not the first visitor you've let smoker here then?”
“Oh no, that was me and Keith.”
Keith was shocked. Ben coming out with it like that. It was quite enough coming to terms with Tom smoking. He guessed Tom must be well 'into it' to come out with it like that. It was kind of unsettling to realise he could understand, it made sense, the undercurrent of tension that suggested his brother really wanted a smoke. He recognised it because he felt something like it. And he could feel Ben was opening the way for them to smoke. He felt torn, he shouldn't but he wanted to.
“No way.” said Tom, clearly warming to the situation, “And so if I was to offer you a cigarette...” To Keith's relief he was talking to Ben.
“Well, it'd only be polite to accept, wouldn't it.”
Odd how well Ben taking a cigarette from the proffered packet fitted in to the half flirting way they had with each other.
“Here, let me.” Ben said, producing the vintage silver lighter from one of the pockets of the smoking jacket to light Tom's cigarette before lighting his own. Seeing the two of them light up, getting the scent of tobacco smoke, Keith's temptation to smoke grew sharply.
“Why don't you join us Keith?” Ben asked, meeting Keith's pleading look with a calm, reassuring glint.
“Yeah, why not?” said Tom, offering the pack with a decidedly mischievous look. After the slightest hesitation he said, “Yeah, why not.” trying, not to convincingly, to make out it was no big deal. Problem was it was with keen anticipation he accepted a light from Ben. Having accepted a couple of Marlboro lights at the party the night before instinctively he inhaled pretty deeply. The pleasure and release of tension as he exhaled was so intense he shared a look with Ben and was instantly back into the shared pleasure of smoking together. He felt uncomfortable just for a moment when he came back to him that Tom was there too.
“Well bugger me.”
Keith just shrugged.
“Hey, I'm not complaining. No way am I complaining. Just surprised, you know, you guys smoking but... this is so cool.”
And, unable to contain himself, Tom took another drag and like ninepins Ben and Keith followed.

When they went out later Ben bought a couple of packs of Marlboro lights, one to replace Tom's pack which they'd nearly finished with him. One so they wouldn't just work down the new pack so quickly. Of course, to Ben, this made perfect sense and he had no idea the fact he was wearing the leather jacket had anything to do with it. Keith though was feeling a little disturbed at how easy it was to just kind of keep on smoking. Especially around Tom. Keith wasn't surprised to find out he'd been smoking for a couple of years. You could see he was truly into it, knew how to really enjoy smoking. It was the same at the party. It had been seductive then and even in the sober light of day he hadn't been able to resist being drawn into the pleasure Ben (who had reclaimed his jacket) and Tom so obviously shared smoking together. And, partly because of it, they'd had a really good day. Except that Tom was obviously disappointed at the student accommodation. To raise his spirits they'd taken him out for dinner, then seen a film. Keith found it kind of telling how keen they'd all been to light up as soon as they got outside the cinema after. Was he the only one who found the little panel on Ben's pack of cigarettes which said, 'Smoking is highly addictive, don't start.' a little ominous? He could feel how his desire for a cigarette was getting stronger. How when they lit up one cigarette after another sat outside the bar with all the smokers and he'd inhaled that first drag there was now something more than just the nice rush, there was a warm feeling in his body, like it was getting something it wanted. If only that didn't feel so good. If only there wasn't an undercurrent of something very sexy about it, something of the forbidden, or of the feeling that cigarettes had a growing power over him. Not that there was time to brood on it, but when Tom was gone he felt he should talk to Ben about it. When the time came, and they'd put Tom on the last train he was going to say something. But then Ben put an arm over his shoulder and said, “Tom's great but I'm so glad he's gone.”
“Yeah.” and desire rose up in him, pushing everything else out of his mind. “Lets get back to bed.”
“Too right.”
As they moved off Keith saw Ben get out his cigarettes and in spite of himself wanted one.
“Bugger.”
“What?”
“Only two left.”
“So?”
“Come on, you know smoking gets you so hot. Lets get some more.”
“OK.” Keith said, after a moment.
“And how about we go for something full fat this time.”
So, with a red and white pack of Marlboro in Ben's pocket and smoking the last of the lights they headed back for home.

[pipedemon]

Just a note to say that your efforts on here are greatly appreciated. Always enjoy your plots and attention to detail. Hope there will be lots more to cum!