Chapter 21

A child’s tear rends the heavens.

– Yiddish Proverb

Keith stared out the window, waiting for first sight of the car, knowing he’d hear it long before it showed up, but he sat there, glues to the window waiting, wondering if this time would be different. One ear was glued to the sounds coming from outside, the other waiting for the phone to ring, another cancellation call, and he sighed as he waited.

The clock on the wall ticked away as he waited, his eyes filling slowly with tears as the big hand started to sweep past the 12 and it became official, once again his dad was late, if he was coming at all.

He sat there, wondering what it was that he had done so wrong, done so terrible that his mother and father hated him so much. There was so many questions in his young heart, as he waited and watched, praying the phone wouldn’t ring, telling himself it was no big deal if it did, and yet a part of him still hoped, still wished even though he was just 13 years old.

Okay, a month into being 13, but maybe that would make a difference. He could hear the voices downstairs, his mother and ‘Mack’ talking, the big brawny man giving his orders, his mother accepting them. Funny, he never remembered his real dad ever being so bossy, it usually was his mother who gave all the orders, but not with Mack, no way, he ruled and for a brief instant, Keith could feel his heart going cold, his mind rebelling as even up here Mack intruded on his thoughts.

Damn, he wished he could be over at Tommy’s house instead of here, waiting for a dad who hardly even phoned, never mind showed up to take him anywhere. Mind you maybe this would be different, least he had thought It would be as he overheard his mom telling Mack that his dad had taken a place in some rich client’s property and they had a pool and everything.

Gee, he wished he could have a house with a pool, but he doubted that would ever happen unless he got a super job. Funny thing was, he hadn’t a clue yet as to what he even wanted to be, well that wasn’t true, he just wanted to be loved, which is why he wished he could be with Tommy right now.

The loud high pitched voice of his mother calling him woke him up and he blinked his eyes, as there in the driveway was his dad, damn he hadn’t heard the car or seen it as his mind had wandered to being with Tommy.

As he rushed down the stairs, he could hear Mack telling his mom that if the kid wasn’t ready he shouldn’t go, well fuck that shit, he was going and he ran faster, yelling his good bye’s before anyone could grab him and stop him. He burst out of the door to see his father jump a little, the dark sun glasses looking cool on him but the smile that crossed his dad’s face was all he wanted and he leapt up into his dad’s arms.

“Whoa there tiger, you sure are excited today”

“Yeah, I thought you weren’t going to make it, let’s go”

“Okay”

Chris headed off to the car, his son already opening the front door and he caught a glimpse of his ex-wife in the doorway. He could see the angry lines etched on her face, and he could easily imagine the bitter words and thoughts that were crossing that woman’s mind even now, years after their divorce. The shadowy figure in the background made him ill at ease and he hastened his step to get in and drive off.

It had been a tough month for him, even with Seth’s solid and indomitable spirit, he had quailed at the process as he struggled to find a common meeting ground with his ex wife and in being able to see Keith.

She had thrown up a great many roadblocks, many of them would normally have stopped him dead, but he had this strange urge to plough ahead, and somehow it had worked. He had a new visitation agreement worked out and without having to go to court either, which surprised him and he was sure that Seth had something to do with it, even though the man denied it when pressed.

He was out of the driveway and heading towards Seth’s home as he turned briefly to look at his son. He saw the hair curl around his one eye, the rebellious lock that had been so inspiring earlier now seemed to make his son look surly and unhappy.

“Sorry I couldn’t be there for your birthday Keith”

“Yeah, mom said you had to work”

“What? Oh work, yeah right”

Damn her he thought, his hands clenching the steering wheel tight, his knuckles turning white as he bit back an angry retort. How could he battle her? If he did he would only lose, divorce court proved that, and besides, who really won those battles, it sure as hell wasn’t the kids who were always caught in the middle.

“She was right wasn’t she? You were working?”

“Huh? Oh yeah, of course, why would you ask? Don’t you believe your mother?”

“Not all the time”

There it was, out in the open and how did he deal with this? He was only gone what, 10 minutes and facing a crisis already. If he answered honestly, he could endanger his chance of ever seeing Keith, if he lied and was found out, he would endanger his entire future relationship with Keith, and if he ignored it, what did that get him but more rejection?

“Well, uh Keith that’s not a very nice thing to say”

“Yeah, I suppose, its okay though, I don’t believe you all the time either”

‘Shit this was going to be one damn interesting weekend’ he thought as he weighed his thoughts, trying to figure out a way to answer his son’s unspoken defiance. How do you answer a 13 year old that question, that adults lie daily to make their lives easier or to hurt other’s and then tell them to be honest with you? Fuck, parenting was not an easy chore, and he had no idea how to handle this situation as the car sped closer to the one place where he had become happy.

Deciding on ignoring the implied words, he started to talk about school and other safe subjects. Least he thought it was safe, but how was he to know?

“So, how’s school coming along? You bring your homework with you?”

“Yeah, I did, why did I have to bring it with me?”

“Well, you need to do well in school Keith, and we just can’t have nothing but fun, besides I thought you liked school”

“School sucks, so you going to help me with it like a real daddy?”

“You are pretty angry at me aren’t you son?”

“I guess, you mad at me?”

“I should be I suppose but no, no Keith I am just too happy that we can at least spend this weekend together.”

“Really?”

“Really!”

Keith sat in the car, silence enveloping them both as he thought about it all. He had used his best material and still the car wasn’t being turned around and he wasn’t getting yelled at. Well, maybe Tommy was right, maybe his dad really did want to spend time with him.

“So, what are we going to do this weekend?”

“I don’t know, what would you like to do?”

“Well, we are going to go to some movies? Its what most weekend dad’s do”

“Weekend dads? Where did you get that from?”

“School, its what kids call dads who leave home, they only see them on weekends, so weekend dads.”

“I never heard that before, well I suppose we could go to a movie if you wanted to, its your time son”

“Yeah? So what’s this new place of yours like? Mom says its some hoity toity house of a rich old guy”

“Well I don’t know if its all that, it is very nice and Seth, you’ll meet him shortly, isn’t old, he’s only a few years older than me, but you will like the place, you get your own room”

“Really? No couch?”

“No couch”

“Cool”

Chris caught a quick glimpse of Keith, saw the small smile cross his face and at least he had scored a point on that one. He could see the drive coming up to head up to the front gates and he knew his moment of truth was about to come.

As the car got closer, his heart started to beat faster and even his nerves seemed to calm down a little, as he came closer to home.

“Home” what a wonderful word that could be, specially when the place was filled with love and compassion. Strange, even Billy seemed to have been warming up to him a little, which was a big load off his mind. Taylor had even seemed to welcome him, but it was Billy’s acceptance that worried him the most. Not because Taylor had less influence with Seth, but because Billy was the one at home, and to be honest he was more like the house manager.

As he negotiated the driveway, his mind went back to just a month ago, to when he first had slept at the house, with his man, with his partner. They had made passionate love that night, all night long it had seemed and the harsh sounds of knuckles rapping on the solid bedroom door had been intrusive and hard to accept.

Seth had felt that way too as he barked out permission to the offender to enter his chambers. Chris had rolled over, his head lifted up off the pillow to see who it was that had waken them at the ungodly hour of 6:30am, didn’t they know they had been up all night?

His eyes had bulged open as two fresh faced young men entered the room, each of them carrying a tray loaded with fruit and he could smell the aroma of kona coffee as the two boys approached the bed.

They stood by the end of the bed, freshly washed, clean t-shirts on, and a pair of fresh blue jeans adorned their young frames. God, he had thought, what perfect looking specimens of young manhood as Seth sat up in bed to gaze at the two boys.

He was stunned to hear Billy offering them breakfast, a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes as he said that seeing as how they had worked so hard during the night to decide on things, he and Mike had decided to bring them a real breakfast.

Mike had almost lost it then, but he recovered nicely and headed off to take his tray over to Seth. Another damn surprise it seemed as Billy had brought his tray over to Chris.

“Uh, not sure what you like, so don’t worry if you leave anything, but there is coffee, fresh orange juice, some pineapple, and of course bacon and eggs with toast. I uh, put the butter to the side, wasn’t sure, and oh, the jam, gave you some peach, strawberry and raspberry, not sure which you like”

“Well, uh, thanks you Billy, I like them all by the way, man this looks fantastic, right Seth?”

He had been desperate for help and all he got was a big smile and no words from the big man. Damn it, he thought as he punched the automatic code into the gate entry pad, Seth really had left him on his own, but there was no mistaking the wide grin of pride and well hell, anything that made Seth that happy was well worth the few minutes of embarrassment.

“Uh, you really didn’t have to do this, I uh, well I can cook a little, I, well uh, ”

“Its okay Chris, Billy is the cook aren’t you son?”

“Yep, until Mike here gets his hands out of his pockets and learns how”

“MY pockets? Hey, it wasn’t my hands in the pockets earlier”

Seth spit his juice out as he heard Mike’s comment and saw Billy’s face fall to the floor it seemed. Mike had scored one over on Billy and it was priceless. He was lucky; he hadn’t taken a mouthful of anything yet so he couldn’t have spit anything out.

Billy recovered quickly though, least so Chris thought as Billy countered with a  “Gee, I thought you had a worm in your pocket, just wanted to get it out” which got a rather provocative stare from Mike. It was really amazing, to be sitting there watching those two make eyes at each other as they were only counting seconds till they could be alone.

“Take it outside guys” was all Seth could manage as he munched down on his toast, smeared with honey.

“Thanks Guys” was all he had been able to manage as the two headed out of the doorway. He was about to turn to Seth and comment on how happy it was when Billy stopped, and he noticed, Mike just seemed to stop automatically, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. How the hell did he know Billy was going to stop?

“Oh Dad” the young blonde asked.

“Yes?”

“Should I order you a new bed or bring up the oil can later?”

With that he turned and ran past Mike who quickly followed the boy out the bedroom, the door open and Seth’s mouth hanging down to his chest, toast inside, honey dripping on his lips.

He smiled as he wheeled the car up to the main house. It was amazing, the way Seth had simply been had. Billy certainly was an amazing young man, the way he could think so fast on his feet, deliver a killer line without batting an eye, looking so serious, so sincere when deep down you knew he was howling with laughter.

Keith waited in silence, he had too many confusing thoughts going on and there was no one he could talk to. No big brother, no sister even just Tommy and that really wasn’t much help, considering Tommy was his age and all. He really wished things could be different, hell he still dreamed that one day he would figure out what he had done wrong and then his mom and dad would get together again, but each passing day made that seem unlikely.

There were times when he thought that maybe he would be better off somewhere else, especially now that ‘Mack’ was around. God, the guy was built like a tank, and he had no neck, yet could he ever bark out orders.

He watched his dad driving and wondered just really what was he thinking, was Mom making him spend this time with him? Was she maybe trying to pawn him off? Bet that Mack wanted him out of the way, least he was sure he did cause he overhead him talking about some boarding school. Well, he’d run away before he would let himself be shipped off to some geek school.

The approach to the main gate was a well-treed lot, which made Keith feel a bit uneasy about. He loved the outdoors, and wished they had lots of land and trees but instead there was only one huge tree in the whole block. Man, this place was cool and he wished Tommy was with him; they could have fun playing out here among all the tall trees.

He let out a soft whistle as they drove past the huge gate, and then he looked at his father, the way he seemed different than the last time they had met. He didn’t have those weird lines over his forehead and while he was still uptight, he hadn’t lost it this time around. Keith had to admit, his dad looked better, not as wimpy either. Wonder if moving here was the reason?

The sight of the huge house loomed up suddenly and astounded Keith. My God he thought, this is a damn palace compared to his house and while his own home had two stories, this one seemed to be more like a huge apartment building. God the stonework, the huge wooden doors and then he watched this older kid come out of the door and wave.

Shit, who was that? Bet his dad got himself a babysitter and was just dumping him while he went back to ‘work’

Chris could feel his son tense up and he wondered now what. Damn, he should never have had kids, but that wasn’t fair, no it really wasn’t and he scolded himself for even daring to have such a gruesome thought pass through his mind. IT was just that he felt so helpless, so unsure of what to do, of how to make it right for Keith and there were times he had lain awake at night, tears rolling down his cheeks, as he struggled with not being able to hold Keith, to comfort him, to even be the one to place a quarter under his pillow after losing a tooth.

No, having Keith was the only damn thing he had done right in his entire life, and somehow he would reach through all the crap and be able to have some kind of relationship with the boy. He really was a good kid, not doing well in school but that was really ever since the divorce.

There had to be hope, he was sure of that as he saw Billy walk out of the house, a smile on his face and a friendly wave as he parked the car. There stood living proof that things could work out if you just kept trying. Damn, Seth was one lucky stiff, he had not just one but from all accounts four such wonderful reminders of a job well done.

Yeah, he knew there was a history, what family really didn’t have one and there was no doubt that they had been dealt a low blow with the passing of Seth’s wife, but somehow they had survived even that. If you looked close you could see the regrets, hell if you listened to Seth you would think all this was a bloody miracle but he knew it was due to Seth simply becoming more like his old self.

Kids had a way of bouncing back, he only hoped that Keith would do it sooner rather than later. He didn’t want to miss his first date, his first crush and all the other stuff that made for memories in a man’s old age.

They parked and stepped out, to greet the day and start their new relationship, only trouble was, Keith looked like he could spit fire right now. Chris could feel the anger, and he hadn’t a clue as to what had set off this latest bout of anger.

“Hi Billy”

“Hey Chris”

“Billy, this is my son Keith, Keith this is Billy, he’s the son of my landlord Seth”

“Hi Keith”

“Hi, so you live here?”

‘No son, I live over there, but well, Seth and I are friends so I do spend a great deal of time up here, too much hey Billy?”

“Haha, no not at all Chris, so you two want to come out by the pool and have some brunch or you got plans?”

“Pool? You really got a pool?”

“Yep, a big one too and a hot tub as well, you like to swim?”

“Sure do, wow can I go swimming dad?”

Keith’s anger was gone; instead, the beauty of the whole property was slowly overwhelming him. Tall grand trees blew gently in the soft warm breeze and he could feel a sort of warmth that wasn’t just from the sun. Hell even the tall guy wasn’t bad, he had a nice smile too that seemed to make him feel somewhat nice.

“Well, uh I suppose, are you sure its okay Billy?”

“Yeah, we got some stuff out on the patio if you guys are hungry, Mike is learning how to make sandwiches, hehe”

Chris could just see that too, Mike all serious as he mixed up food or listened to Billy explaining the so-called intricacies of sandwich making. Man, those two were certainly a pair.

“Sandwiches? Cool, can we dad?”

Keith was looking up at him with saucer eyes. He looked like a 13 year old kid now, no longer one consumed by doubts and anger. He just wanted to have fun, and here was Billy, taking time to make his son feel welcomed. Damn, if he didn’t get out of this mess he’d be blubbering like a fool.

“Sure, why not, I am hungry”

“Great, well I’ll go see if Mike remembered to put mayo on the bread or maybe he spread honey on it instead”

“Oh I am sure he got it right, he usually does doesn’t he Billy?”

“Hehe, oh he gets a lot of things right, that’s mikey, well see you out back Keith, if your dad says its okay, maybe we can go toss the football around later.”

“Really? WOW, hey thanks, uh but, I don’t want to uh, mess up your plans”

“No problem Keith, Mike and I would love to have you join us, if you want to”

“Yeah sure, dad?”

“Sure, whatever you want Keith, its your time”

“Oh cool, great lets go eat, I am starved”

“Well, just head around that way and you’ll find my dad out by the pool”

“Okay, thanks”

With that Keith took off, his bad swinging over his shoulder as he was already rounding the corner, when he stopped and looked back at his dad and Billy standing by the car. Strange, Billy really was somewhat neat; wish he could be a big brother, so he thought as he stared at him. The sound of voices unfroze him and he sailed away behind the house to search out the pool and the food.

“Thanks Billy”

“For what?”

“For that, I… I really appreciate it, I don’t want to ”

“Hey, look its no big deal, he seems like a nice enough kid, and besides, you make dad happy, so catch you around back”

Before he could answer, Billy had raced back inside. His backside visible as Chris stood there, tears rolling down his cheeks. That was the closest Billy had come to giving him a compliment. It wasn’t that Billy had been aloof; he was being wary which really was rather nice. Funny, the kids wind up becoming the parents at times, specially as the parents get older, yet here was Billy, just sixteen and he was the force to be reckoned with, least if you believe half of what Seth had said.

Lunch was certainly different for him. He watched his son suddenly become a part of the family, the awkward silences that grew between him and Keith were quickly filled by either Mike or Billy and the two of them were like a couple of well oiled machines the way they picked up the slack.

He was totally in awe as he watched touchy situations glossed over by glib answers or completely new subjects. School was one he wished he could handle, and when the topic came up, he could see the sparks of anger growing, yet somehow at the end, he found Keith laughing.

Chris couldn’t believe it when Billy got up to clear up the dishes and he realized that it was already after 1pm. The time had simply vanished and in a very pleasant way. In that time he had learned that his son had trouble with math, hated English but thought socials was neat. He also found out that Billy would be helping Keith with Math and Mike with English and it appeared as if Keith had asked. He knew better, and he marvelled at just how smooth those two could be. No wonder Seth had suddenly blossomed, and the thought made him squirm a little.

Here he had been under the impression that it was his charm and good looks that had finally won Seth over, when all the time it had been the quiet behind the scenes manipulations of those two sixteen year old kids. Shit, they really were something.

Chris looked over at Seth and smiled. He saw the eyes roll upwards as Keith grabbed his plate and followed the two older boys into the house.

“He’s a nice boy Chris”

“He is, isn’t he?”

“You sound amazed.”

“To be honest Seth, I am, his mother had said how much trouble he was, how he would argue for hours to do his chores, yet no one asked him and he’s clearing up, must be something about this place”

“Yes, maybe that’s it, it does have a way to kind of surprise you”

“Yeah, Seth, Billy is fantastic, I really, thank you”

“Me? For what?”

“Everything, shit, I am gonna lose it today, I know it”

“well save that for after dinner”

“After dinner? What’s after dinner?”

“Oh didn’t Billy talk to you about it?”

“No…. what was he supposed to talk to me about?”

“Oh, well he and Mike want to take Keith to a movie in town after dinner, if its okay”

“Okay? Hell Yes, hey, whose idea was it? Seth… look I appreciate your help but I don’t want to intrude on those two, they…”

“Calm down, wasn’t my idea, Billy asked me while you were off picking up Keith”

“What? Billy did?”

“Yeah, but I think Mike put him up to it, mind you, you never know with those two, do you?”

Before he could answer him, his son came racing out of the house and skidded up to him.

“Dad, Billy and Mike just asked if I wanted to go with them to a movie tonight, can I, please?”

“Well, uh, sure Keith, if the boys are sure…”

“Oh wow, thanks dad” and with that he headed back to the kitchen, all smiles when he stopped just inside the two sliding doors.

“Dad… thanks for having me this weekend, its gonna be the bestest ever!” and then was gone, a small shriek of glee as he could be heard telling someone in the kitchen that he could go.

It really was an amazing feeling, to just sit out on this patio, the sun beaming down glistening off the blue water in the huge pool, the trees gently fading away as far as the eye could see, and next to him a man who had given him a second chance at life. Damn, this was what fairy tales were built on, maybe this was one, but if so he hoped it had one of those happy endings.

“Sounds good, doesn’t it?”

“Huh, what?”

“The laughter, where you at Chris?”

“Yes it does sound good, where am I? I don’t know, in heaven maybe?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Has to be Seth, I mean I can’t ever remember in the last few years when I have seen Keith smile like that let alone be off somewhere laughing, it has to be heaven, thank you”

“Me? No, but I know who to thank, I only wish she was here to enjoy all this with us”

Once more he was brought close to tears but was forced to hold them back as the sound of thumping feet indicated a running child.

“Hey Dad, is it okay if I go play catch with the guys now?”

“Huh? Well okay Keith, but you don’t want to push it”

“I am not, they really want me to come, honest”

“Okay, well go ahead”

“Great… uh, dad?”

“Yes?”

“You don’t mind me being with the guys do you?”

“Huh? Oh no, I think its great, this is your time”

“Thanks, oh Mr Bradford …”

“Call me Seth son”

“Okay, Seth, sir, uh Billy told me to tell you that you should go take your nap now, while we are all off down playing catch”

Seth spit out his coffee as the words came out. He was choking a little and a deep colour of red appeared on his face. Chris could barely contain his own laughter at the site and he looked at his son, seeing the sudden concern on his young face.

“Did I say something wrong? Gee, I am sorry Sir, Honest, it is what…”

“No, no no Keith, sorry the coffee just went down the wrong way, so my son said I should go take my nap?”

“Yes sir, he uh said you needed some quiet time before you uh, I don’t know if I got it right, but, uh something about older guys needing more time in the sack?”

“Keith!”

“What dad? Am I saying something wrong?”

“No son, uh, you go play catch with the guys, uh you tell Billy that I’ll make sure the old guy here goes up for his nap”

“Okay, thanks… uh Mr. Brad…sorry Seth, just how old are you?”

Seth started spluttering once more as Chris shooed his son away to go play with the guys. Damn it was hilarious to watch, and that kid, damn Billy was good and he looked at Seth, and saw the wink and nod. Well, so much for having to wait till Sunday night for some man meat.

“I will skin that kid of mine, I swear it”

“Yeah, listen to you, you loving every damn second of it”

“hehe, yeah I am Chris, is it that obvious?”

“Oh yeah, it is, and you know what, you really don’t look all that old to me”

“Bastard, I am going to get you for that one”

“Sure you can handle it gramps?”

Seth simply stood up, coffee stain on his nice polo shirt and for the first time in ages, he really didn’t give a damn. He just looked down at it, and then up at Chris. He smiled as he lifted up the green shirt, and exposed his finely tuned adult chest to Chris. The wiry hairs glistening in the sunshine as he took off the soaked shirt.

With a strange gleam in his eyes, he tossed the shirt off to one side and then started to race away, yelling back at a startled Chris “Beat you upstairs slowpoke”

Damn, and off he went taking the stairs two at a time it seemed to the still stunned Chris. His son was only a few hundred yards or so away and there went the man of his dreams to the bedroom, and he looked first down towards the field where the boys where and then towards the stairs where Seth was obviously waiting.

Shit, he thought, this is insane as he too now ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time as well and he burst into the bedroom, to find Seth laying on the bed, his long body stretched out, his pants off and only a pair of ‘kiss me babe’ boxer shorts on.

“Took you long enough, youngster”

“Seth, are you sure?”

“Sure? Listen here mother hen, I may not have been the best parent in this house, but I did learn a couple of things”

“Come on now, Seth you are too a good parent”

“Really? I don’t know, but I do know that when you have a house empty of kids, even if for ten minutes, seize the chance, because it doesn’t happen often, so come on… get them damn clothes off and come let me show you just who is the grandpa here, haha”

Chris didn’t know what to say, besides the throbbing between his legs was getting too much for him and so he simply tossed his shirt off, threw the pants off to one side and slid his own pair of boxer shorts off and leapt towards the waiting arms of Seth.

The noise of the bed protesting its abuse was too much and Seth started laughing aloud, his laughter loud and solid, like a rolling clap of thunder but it felt so good to hear. Chris couldn’t help but join in and together they rolled around the bed, hugging each other and laughing as the bed protested every roll, every bounce as the two senior members of the house found relief in each other’s arms.

Chris found himself on top for a moment, and he had Seth pinned to the groaning bed as he stared down into the warm eyes that seemed to be so full of life. It had amazed him at how scared he used to be of him.

“I think I am hooked Seth Edward Bradford”

“Damn straight you are Christopher Walker Jenkins”

“Good, didn’t want to think I was dreaming alone”

“No, its apparent that this is a family affair”

“Yeah, thank you Seth, thank you for it all”

With that he reached down and gently kissed the full lips, feeling the sudden rise in temperature, feeling the sudden rise in testosterone as the room seemed to be suddenly alive with it all.

Seth was about to reply but the press of Chris’ lips stopped any words from being spoken, instead he could feel his body readying itself instead to answer the gorgeous hunk that lay on top.

= = = = = =

Jeremy could feel the wind howling, a cold breeze was sending shivers through his whole body and he started to cry out, calling for Taylor but there was no answer, instead the wind seemed to grew colder and stronger. He could barely hold his own as he struggled with it and then he felt a sudden pressure on his shoulder, a terrible hold was gripping him as he cried out for Taylor, getting no answer.

The pressure on his shoulder was becoming painful, and still he couldn’t move, his legs were trembling from fear and an icy tentacle was piercing his heart as he tried to break free of the vice grip on his shoulder.

Finally the pain was too much and he could open his eyes and there was a bright light and he could feel the sweat pouring off his body as he struggled to figure out where he was when he heard Taylor’s voice.

Glancing to the right he saw Taylor sitting up in the bed, his hand gripping his shoulder and a dark fear across his face. He could also see tears rolling down his cheek and he wondered what had happened to make his man cry.

“Taylor, what…”

“Jeremy what is it? Fuck, you freaking me out.”

“What, huh?”

“You were calling me something fierce, the way you were shaking in bed, it took me ages to wake you up… you okay?”

“Yeah, sleeping, shit, I was having a bad dream… damn”

“What?”

“Nothing, just I thought they were over with, sorry ”

“Want to talk about it?”

“No, not really, nothing to talk about, I used to get these dreams is all, I never really remember them when I wake up, except that I feel cold”

“You cold now?”

“A little, I suppose, sorry, its okay Tay, honest”

“Okay, well come here, cuddle up and I’ll keep you warm”

“Hehe, that ain’t what you want, I know you”

“Yes it is what I want, now move that bony butt over here and cuddle up, or no breakfast in bed later”

“God, what time is it?”

“Bout 8am SATURDAY… hehe our day to be alone”

“Cool, okay well you win Mr. Macho”

Jeremy shifted over and felt the warm flesh of Taylor as he curled up in his strong arms. Damn it did feel good and the cold was quickly replaced a warm glow deep in his stomach.

Taylor felt Jeremy snuggle in closer and he knew that for now Jeremy would sleep easier, and judging by the way he had been trembling, he needed time to rest. Damn, he wished at times that Jeremy would just let loose, tell him everything, it wasn’t like he was going to leave him because of shit that happened before they met. Least he knew that, guess he needed to find a way for Jeremy to know it too and then he remembered those pages that Mike had shown him.

The more he thought of it, the more he thought that it would be one hell of a way to show to Jeremy that he was his, one sure fire way to prove that he trusted in Jeremy totally. He knew Mike had kind of looked at those few pages weird, specially the warnings that it carried but even he admitted, that it was kind of a turn on.

He waited till Jeremy was sleeping and then managed to pull out of his night table his copy of the pages. They had done the rope thing and it was cool but that wasn’t what he wanted, not for this. Carefully he flipped through the pages until he finished with the rope stuff and came to the other.

As he read the pages, the idea of it all seemed to take hold and he knew that before the weekend was over, he would have to see if Jeremy would try it. There was some things he’d need to get at the drugstore first, but they did have to do some grocery shopping, so he could maybe volunteer and get the stuff and not let Jer in on it, least not until much later.

The thought made him hard but he could feel Jeremy’s chest rising softly and evenly and he knew that he was finally resting comfortably. Well they did have all day and so he tucked away the pages, and wrapped his arm tighter around the now still Jeremy. Yep, later and he knew just how to start it off, god this was going to be a good Saturday for them.

= = = = = = = =

When Keith came and told him that his dad sure did choke on stuff a lot, Billy was sure that Mike would lose it completely. He had that look and if Keith hadn’t been there, then poor Mike would have been stretched out on the damn grass now.

Shit, how the hell was he so lucky to have someone as special as Mike in his life? Well, he’d have to find a way to show him, but unfortunately that wouldn’t be until much later, he was committed right now to giving his dad some time, again thanks to Mike and his damn romantic soul.

Billy just wasn’t sure yet, least that’s how he put it when Mike asked him what they were going to do about this weekend, and that’s when Mike just stared at him, using the puppy dog routine on him, that always worked.

“Fine, Mike, what are we going to do?” he had finally answered, a bit of testiness in his voice, because he knew that it would mean less time inside of Mikey than he was willing to give up.

“Well, it would be nice if we maybe we took the kid to a movie or something after dinner”

“Yeah? Why for Christ’s sake? That means less time for us.”

“Yep, but would give some time for the old guys to play a bit”

“They have had all week”

“So have we”

“Damn, okay okay, but why?”

“Hey, get a grip, I mean you want your dad to be happy don’t you?”

“Duh, so?”

“Well let me put it this way, how would you feel if I had to say, be with my younger sister here for a weekend, and you and I couldn’t do it at all… no kissing, no hugs, no nothing?”

“Shit, I’d explode”

“uh huh, so now do you see?”

“Shit, but come on Mike, I mean they are old, it isn’t like they need to do it all the time”

“Right, and those loud thumps and wild groans at night are from, oh the television?”

“Well I don’t always hear that, least not when you are shooting that tasty milk”

“Well that’s cause us men make noise, you women whimper, hehe”

“Bastard, I am gonna I swear one day I am just going to cut you off”

“Uh huh, and that’ll be what, when I am buried?”

“Yeah, okay hollow threat, really think they do it that much?”

“Oh yeah, can’t you tell every morning? I mean shit man, remember last week, Chris had that wild grin on his face and Dad came out with his shirt collar opened.”

“Yeah, oh right, the big honking hickie… hehe, yeah and at their age too, hehe man I forgot all about that, I should remind him of it one day”

“Oh sure, and then run like hell”

“True, okay you win, we take the kid out to a movie, anything else yenta?”

“Yenta?”

“Yeah, its jewish for busy body…hehe”

“Pig”

“Only for you”

“HEY THE BALL”
“WAKE UP BILLY… THE BALL!”

Billy shook himself and saw the football laying at his feet and he looked back out to see Keith running in and Mike just grinning like a baboon.

“You okay Billy?” the small voice asked, concern suddenly written all over it.  Damn, the kid was cute, and polite too, not like what he imagined a 13 year old would be. Give him a few years and he would really be hot too, the type all the damn girls would drool over, in short another Mikey, just what he needed around.

“Yep, was daydreaming”

“I do that a lot, what you dream about?”

“Oh this and that, nothing really important”

“Hey come on Billy, tell us what you were day dreaming about? We want to know, don’t we Keith?”

“Hehe, yeah we do, you thinking of a girl?”

Mike fell to the grass, his hands clasped to his stomach as laughter peeled from his throat. He couldn’t help himself, the expression on Billy’s face was just too much and he couldn’t hold it back any longer. Billy and a girl, oh man that was rich, wait till he told Taylor about that one

“What’s with him?”

“Oh he’s just being stupid, must of eaten his own cooking”

“But his sandwiches were good.”

“Yeah, but we don’t tell him that, so you think about girls a lot?”

“Me? No, not really, uh should I be?”

“No, doesn’t really matter, so what do you think about?”

“Lots of stuff, I guess, how come he’s rolling on the grass still laughing? Man everyone here sure laughs a whole bunch.”

“Cause he’s a dumb jock boy, come on let’s go tickle him”

“Well, uh, but what if he gets mad?”

“He won’t, I’ll tell him it was my idea anyway, besides, he’ll know that …come on”

The two ran and before Mike could wipe the tears of laughter out of his face, he found Billy’s hard body pressed up against him, and then Keith landed on top of him too. The air just seemed to leave him for a second and then he found two pairs of hands grabbing at his sides.

Billy managed to swipe a feel between his legs, and Mike hadn’t expected it, he jumped hard at the touch of Billy’s hands between his legs, while poor Keith was on top of his stomach grabbing at his sides. His face was split into a wide grin and his mouth shouted out angry epitaphs even though he was having the time of his life just being sixteen.

Finally, Mike was able to roll out of their grasp and he started to fight back now. He had poor Billy in a headlock while his legs were wrapped around Keith, holding him at bay even though the kid was strong. Billy still tried to tickle him but it was hard with his head buried in Mike’s arms, smelling that special scent as Mike got heated up.

They rolled around on the soft grass for ages, one minute Mike had Billy laughing, another second and he had Keith in stitches, his fingers digging into the soft boy flesh and while he found it nice, the only reaction it gave him was to laugh. On the other hand, each time he touched Billy he could feel huge bolts of electricity pass through him and he would never be able to hold on long, the thought of Billy naked would always intrude and break his hold.

Billy was no different, he would tickle Keith and each time they managed to touch, it was simply two young men playing, yet when his hands touched Mike’s body, it was like being shot out of a cannon. Damn, he wanted to just grab him and slam his dick up his butt, but he was sure Keith would freak. Too bad, too cause it would be fun to do.

They had no idea how long they rolled around on the grass, laughing and just being kids. Finally though even Keith was exhausted as he lay panting, his head resting on Mike’s stomach, Billy was almost asleep with his head resting on Mike’s shoulder.

God it felt good, he thought, his head feeling Mike’s breathing, the way his stomach growled a little made small tiny gurgling sounds, almost like a small river. He had never felt this happy before, least not that he could remember and he glanced over to see Billy.

Shit, if he didn’t know better he’d swear that Billy had a thing for Mike, but then again, he could say for Mike. Oh well, who cared, all he knew was that sitting here, was like being in heaven, least what he thought it would be like. Maybe he could come again, but he doubted it, he didn’t really expect to have lasted this long here never mind maybe going to the movies tonight.

He could feel his heart racing still, as he thought about being out with two hot jocks. Man, the guys at school would really be envious, I mean here he was, a nobody and now he could lay claim to having spent most of an afternoon with two full blooded high school jocks.

“you having fun Keith?” Mike asked and was rewarded by seeing a small blond head turn and just grin at him. Yep, the kid was having fun, and so was he. Billy needed this too, he had been too serious, too wrapped up in school again and in doing well at track, but so far, knock on wood, he had surprised everyone. Well, almost everyone, cause deep down he knew Billy could do it.

Seeing Keith’s head turned toward the house, obviously lost in some daydream fantasy, he reached out with one hand and gently wiped the lock of hair from Billy’s face, and ran the back of his hand down his cheeks, feeling his groin stirring with the hot touch of flesh on flesh.

Billy suddenly jumped up, the touch of Mike’s hand against his cheek too much for him to handle. His penis was pushing hard against his jeans and he knew he couldn’t hide it, but he really didn’t care, it was Mike’s fault anyway. A bit of anger was inside of him, not at Mike, but at his dad for ruining his day, but as he jumped up, he realized that he had fun, something he hadn’t really done in a long time.

Maybe that was the whole idea? Maybe Mike wasn’t such a dumb jock after all, mind you he would never admit it to Mike, but he secretly admired him for the way his mind worked. He had a sort of natural instinct about things, that no book learning could teach, and he just seemed to know when to talk, when to smile, when to hold him and now obviously when to push him.

“Hey thought we came here to throw the football?” he yelled, and suddenly everyone was up on their feet and Mike held the football in his hand, his fingers stretching as he gripped the laces and stared at Billy. Something in his voice told him that Billy was starting to come around and he smiled at that. He knew he would, just give him a chance to play big brother and he’d be fine.

“Yeah, well lets see if you can catch blondie”

“Who me? Or the little blond barn burner here?”

“hehe, both of you, you know how to catch a football Keith?”

“Well, sort of, I mean I can”

“Cool, well you catch it with your hands, not your body, okay?”

“Huh? How do you know?”

“Hey, don’t you know about our star here?”

“Star?”

“Yeah, he’s the starting wide receiver for our school team”

“I thought he was on the track team, that you both were?”

“We are, its our off season sport… you run?”

“No, not really fast enough”

“Hey that’s my line”

“Huh?”

“hehe, he means Keith that is what he kept saying till he finally came out for track and now he’s the anchor on our relay team”

“Cool man, you win any races yet?”

“Win any? Hey, Keith my man you looking at the comeback kid, yeah he’s 4-0 in racing so far”

“WOW, that is so neat, wait till I tell Tommy about this”

“Tommy? Who’s he?”

“My bestest bud, we hang out together a lot, so you really win four races so far?”

“Haha, yes I have, but so has Mike there, he’s a hurdler, likes to run over things, don’t you mikey?”

“Funny, I’ll run over you…”

“Not now, we here for you to show us how to catch a football, right Keith?”

“Oh yes, please, man this is fun”

“Cool, okay well you run a straight and out, and we’ll see how you do”

“Aw come on Mike, give him a break, least speak in damn English”

“hehe, you are funny Billy”

“Thanks Keith, don’t think Mike things so though”

“Oh yes he does, I think he does”

Billy looked over at Keith, and saw him sort of wink or was it the sun glinting in his eye? There was a lot more to this 13 year old than he imagined. He smiled back, wondering if there were any hidden meanings going on, or was he just being paranoid. Silently he prayed that he was just paranoid and he waited for Mike to finish explaining the routes to Keith so he could run a few.

= = = = = = = =

Seth couldn’t believe it, here it was no more than 3 o’clock in the afternoon and he had just finished a gruelling session of wild sex, and instead of wanting to sleep or pass out, he wanted more damn sex. What the hell was happening to him he mused as his hand stroked Chris’ soft blond hair and felt him breathing evenly, sleeping the sleep of the content.

The laughter had ended for a little and that in itself meant that their time for today was rapidly coming to a close, least until after dinner and like he had been told many a time, seize the chance while you can, the boys may not both be out at the same time for a long time.

Damn, she always knew how to make him smile, even when she was angry. She never let him go to sleep mad, or herself, and he could feel her in the room now, scolding him for musing instead of acting and he gently started to prod the soft fleshy part of Chris’s shoulder, as if to say, come on sleepy head wake up.

Chris could feel the gentle press of warm flesh on his shoulder and he knew it was Seth, wanting him, gently urging him to wake up. Damn, the guy was older than he, how could he be so insatiable? Was it the damn orange juice he drank every morning? Well he smiled to himself, and decided that from now on he would mimic Seth’s eating routine, because whatever the guy was doing, it sure did feel good. Especially at 2 or 4 in the morning, and now here at what, 2 in the afternoon?

Chris lifted his face up and stared into the dark eyes, and he knew the guy was ready for more lovemaking. He just smiled as he slowly raised himself up, to lean his head on the headboard of the creaking bed, and to stare out the huge bay window.

“They’ll be up soon”

“Yep, figure about another half hour to hour”

“Well, time does goes fast”

“Yeah, well if you sleep it away it can seem that way”

Chris turned his head to see the huge grin etched across Seth’s face and the way his eyes just seemed to grin with desire and merriment. Is this what he would be like as he got older? Shit, he sure hoped so and damn it, he was going to be around to find out.

He felt movement to the side and before he could turn his head back towards Seth’s figure, he felt a strong pair of arms gently reach around him. He felt the hot body come closer to his own warm body and he looked up into a pair of eyes that said so much, with so little effort and he could feel his heart ache as he struggled to answer the man’s desires.

Somehow, he just turned over, to let himself stretch out on the bed, sliding his body down, resting on his full stomach. He waited, his breath slowly leaving him as he felt Seth run his strong hands down his back, feeling his spine, running two fingers down and then up it making his legs twitch in desire and ache for more.

Somehow, he just closed his eyes, letting his heart guide him as he ran his hand down the long lanky body, feeling every muscle move from his touch, every nerve twitch to his presence. Damn, the man could turn him on in an instant, no one had been able to reach so deep inside of him before and he rather enjoyed the sensation.

His whole body quivered as he contemplated the man laying there, the strong shoulders, the deep cleft in one cheek, and the fine blond hairs that were all over and yet never in the way of their lovemaking. His eyes misted a little as he felt the small of Chris’ back and the ache grew from deep within his body.

It wasn’t just the raising of his dick, it was much more than that and he was slowly coming to realize that he was embarking on making a very different and new life for not just him, but his two boys as well.

A slight fear managed to peek inside, but was guickly shunned by his heart and soul. No, there could be no turning back and he knew that whatever lay ahead, his two boys would stand with him, side by side and what more could any man ever ask?

Seth found himself kissing the back muscles, his lips pressed up lightly against the warm flesh, tasting it anew, and his tongue continued to struggle to break free, to have its own taste of the meal spread out before him and his heart rejoiced as it too eagerly anticipated his choice of pleasure for the remaining minutes of the afternoon.

A brief mental note was made to give Billy and Mike a hug later for their wonderful gift of this afternoon but for now his mind started to concentrate on the pleasurable task ahead. Slowly his lips continued to press, ever so slowly his hands now moved down the body, making it quake with desire as he moved ever so slowly, as if they had all day to do whatever they wanted.

Chris couldn’t believe how erotic it felt, to be on the bed, stretched out with the sunlight filling the big room, glistening off the various artefacts inside that was Seth and him. God, what a feeling, even the thought of Keith walking in didn’t dare intrude on his mood.

For the moment his head rested easily on his arms but his whole body was slowly being woken up and he knew that the poor bed would once more be the victim of a wild beating. He could feel it inside of him as Seth’s lips continued to kiss him, his hands now gently prodding his thighs as the tall older man slowly moved down his back, carefully touching him in every imaginable spot, gently reminding him of his love and also of his passion.

The strong hands seemed to grow in strength now as they passed down his long legs, covered in a darker dirtier blond hair, and yet he could feel each hair tingle as the hands passed over them. Each tiny hair sending its own joy upwards into his groin and into his heart. The slow regular beat of his heart outdated as it raced forward in eager anticipation.

Tiny beads of sweat were slowly dropping from his forehead and onto his arms, and he could feel his head sticking to the hair on his arms as Seth was now kissing the small of his back, only inches from his buttocks and the quivering mounds of flesh.

The kisses became harder as his face grew lower along the outstretched body. The taste of Chris was overpowering to him, and he could feel his mind finally leaving him, it no longer could control his thoughts or his feelings as his racing heart now took charge of everything. Seth was a slave to his own emotions and for a brief second he felt rebellious, but then a soft soothing voice still echoed deep within him and he abandoned the wild urge to rebel.

His mouth now opened and his tongue was given reign to have its way with the flesh beneath him. IT wasted no time in forcing his head down even more, to gently nibble at the soft mounds of flesh and to bite them even and then feel them shift and shake to each new sensation.

Strange he thought, as his tongue continued to lick at the soft flesh mounds, here he was a well known lawyer, god if his straight laced clients ever knew, and the sudden element of danger seemed to increase his desire for the man beneath him. The idea of it all, the supposed naughtiness of it made him groan as he reached out with his hands and like the jaws of life, he opened the two cheeks wide, and allowed his eyes to feast on the quivering pink hole that still had remnants of their earlier love making.

Slowly he moved his chin along the cleft, feeling his afternoon whiskers scratching the soft pink cheeks, feeling the body squirm as his hands held them wide open, unwilling to let them move as his chin went up and down the soft warm flesh.

Seth could feel his own groin, it was like a raging forest fire and he could feel the heat welling up from under him too, knowing that Chris was just as hot, just as excited as he was. The touch of the warm flesh on his chin was too much and he lowered his face a little, his eyes opened as he breathed in deeply.

Chris’ scent filled his nostril, the special aroma of the man, sweat mingled with dried cum and other smells only made his head dizzy with delight as it savoured the moment in time. His tongue licked around his lips, moistening them with its desire and then slowl he let his tongue play out.

The tip of the raspy weapon gently teasing the small tuft of blond hair that rested up at the base of his hips and rectum. The soft hairs now matted by the wetness of his own tongue, the flesh quivering as he slowly, ever so slowly, started to move his tongue down the long opened valley.

Both cheeks were shaking now; the whole body trembled to his touch and Chris’ hands no longer rested easily under his face. Instead, they were flung outwards, one fist filled with a massive crumbled ball of sheets while the other merely opened and closed as if in a spasm. His mouth was opened, his teeth wrapped around some sheets, biting down as Seth’s tongue slowly continued its journey between his cheeks.

Seth could feel every crevice, every break in the fine blonde flesh of Chris’s valley. The heat was growing as his mouth slowly journeyed downwards, slowly travelling along a generally untravelled route. Every muscle was tensing in the body and yet the two mounds of flesh could do nothing but quake and shake to the relentless travels of Seth’s tongue.

His face continued to push the cheeks wide and his hands kept the flesh from closing and denying him his quest. He would not be denied this time, as he felt his fingers digging harder into the soft jelly like cheeks as his mouth came closer to the quivering pink entrance.

The tiny muscle was mass of shaky tissue, every nerve end was trembling with anticipation as his tongue came closer, the wetness slowly starting to reach its outer regions, then softly would start the inward spiral towards the centre of the hole.

There was no doubt that he was close, the fruitless clenching of the buttocks signalled his impending approach, and still he slowly moved down, never once taking his eyes off the strange scenery of his man.

His own heart ached with desire, and he could hear his bed protesting one more assault on its ancient springs and he knew that Chris was barely holding himself together, even after their earlier session of passion.

Seth reached the point of entry, the touch of his tongue tip against the quivering pink hole sent a large bolt of pure electricity through his whole body and he stayed still, feeling every part of his body shake and shudder to that wild bolt of power. He could feel it reach deep within, touch his soul and he could feel the sudden urge to have more.

It was as if a floodgate had been opened for him. Seth could feel the entire length of his tongue suddenly push outwards, forcing open the stunned sphincter muscles and the unready man. He could feel his tongue pushing past surprised muscles and begin to wildly taste the soft velvet lining of Chris and his own body started its own wild uncontrolled dance of release.

Chris had been taken totally by surprise. The sudden pressure made him cry out long and loudly as the hard tongue pressed quickly inside, forcing all resistance aside as it tore into the soft flesh, sending torrents of pleasure through his whole body. He pounded the bed, his hands clenching sheets, tearing at the bed, his legs wreaking havoc on the mattress, his teeth biting hard into the mattress as Seth’s tongue continued deep inside of him.

His whole rectum was on fire from the assault. His groin was burning with desire and with the wave after wave of pleasure that came crashing through it. The touch of the hot tongue tip up against his nether regions was too much for him, his heart was long since in overdrive and he could feel the blood draining from his brain, from his legs, his arms, as the tongue flicked once, then a second time up against his prostrate.

Chris shrieked his joy as his body arched upwards for a brief second, as if to take all of Seth inside, but was stopped by the law of physics. It reluctantly settled for what it had and his body once more crashed to the softness of the bed, the springs giving to his weight and Seth’s own weight.

The loud crash failed to even register as Chris’ body shook, no longer flat, but off to one side. His penis was jerking hard and wildly as the tongue continued to flick out and in, deep penetrating licks as the cheeks clenched hard, locking the face deep within it.

Seth had cried out, muffled by the quivering flesh, his legs striking something hard as he burrowed in even more than before. His tongue licking, each flick sending back wonderful feelings to an already overloaded brain. His heart ached with the pain of it all, and yet still he fought to push in further, to send his tongue in deeper, to bury his lips within the tight small pink hole.

Seth could feel the heat rising up from his body, sweat formed raging torrents of water along his muscled body, the tight muscles uncoiled making the sweat flow faster and faster and he could feel his blood rushing to his groin.

The explosion was unlike anything he had ever experienced and yet it felt like this was only the beginning for him and he dug in one last time, one last long hard lick as he blew the last of his oxygen inside of his lover. His own penis gave one final jerk, his milk spilt all over already soiled sheets but now making no mistake as to their origins.

Chris couldn’t believe how loved he felt. The sudden force of his explosion had made him blank out briefly, no more than maybe one or two seconds and he felt so spent, so loved. For a few moments he was sure that he was floating, that somehow he had been raised and placed on top of the most milky white cloud in the heavens, and now it was over, his brief taste with perfection finished for the moment, and he slowly returned to earth.

Seth opened his eyes, and he felt every muscle protesting in agony as he lay there, his legs wrapped under him like a teenager, his body resting upright and he looked around, sweat still pouring from his forehead, still clouding his eyes.

He heard Seth laughing and he didn’t understand at first. Everything felt different to him, as he lay there, his chest still heaving but he could hear the laughter rolling in the room and he struggled to clear his eyes, to focus on what and where the hearty laughter was coming from and finally he was able to see his man, sitting upright, the mattress resting up against his spine.

Funny, it didn’t feel like they were laying down and then it dawned on him, he was resting on the floor, the mattress was askew as the frame on one corner had finally surrendered to the absolute power of their love and given up its lease on life. The bed had collapsed.

= = = = = = = =

Taylor had cleared away the dinner dishes and he had suggested that Jeremy maybe get the bathroom ready, and they could have a nice warm bath together. There had been no objections to that idea and as he put away the last dish, the phone rang.

He hated intrusions of any kind on this day, plus he was damn excited about trying out his new idea. Well, okay it wasn’t his idea but it was something they hadn’t done before and more than that, maybe it would help Jeremy and stop the nightmares. He felt so powerless, so helpless and frustrated.

Here he was, Mr. Joe College, and he couldn’t help the one person that mattered to him the most, well damn it, unlike other times, this time he wouldn’t cut and run or bury his head in a useless argument. This time he would fight for what was important.

No windmills for him anymore unless it was considered a windmill to try to best for the sake of the man you truly loved and cared for. If it was, then so be it.

Yelling to Jeremy that he had the phone, he picked up the shrill ringing receiver and barked his hello. He listened angry at the beginning as he recognized his brother’s voice, but as the words tumbled out of a still laughing Billy, a wide smile formed across his face.

“Damn it, serious?
I mean really? NO SHIT BILLY?
Fuck, the old guy still has it, oh man that is priceless, so hey, what they doing for a bed tonight?
You kidding? Oh I have to see that, for sure Billy, okay yeah, I’ll call you tomorrow… thanks but I gotta go, kiss mike for me”

Oh man, he couldn’t believe it. Oh shit he had to tell Jeremy and he ran into the bedroom and then peered into the bathroom. He saw the pale cheeks of Jeremy as he was bent over the tub, sprinkling some peach scented soap buds into the swirling water. Steam slowly starting to rise form the tub.

“Hey you ain’t gonna believe this man”

“What? Who was that on the phone?”

“Billy, oh man this is an absolute riot Jer”

“Yeah? Well come on, spill it”

“The old man busted his bed”

“What? What do you mean the old man busted his bed?”

“Just what I said, he doesn’t have all the details, but he said he had taken Chris’ son out to play catch and when they came back, Dad asked Mike if he could go up and help Chris with some repair stuff.”

“Go on”

“Oh this is so funny, hey that smells good, don’t I get a kiss?”

“Fuck that, tell me what happened?”

“Kiss first”

Jeremy leaned over and kissed Taylor, feeling all loved and warm. The day had gone well for him and despite the recurrence of his dreams, least it hadn’t intruded this time on his day with Taylor. This time he had beaten it back, and he knew that was really due to the soft tenderness of his lover earlier.

“Okay you got your bribe, now talk or I’ll drain this tub”

“Don’t you dare, hey, come on let’s get in, and I can tell you all about it while I scrub your back”

“Okay, let me put this down, it better be worth this.”

“It is, hang on a second, I gotta go put one thing away and make sure I turned off the oven and taps, you know how that sinks leaks.”

“I’ll go with you and you can tell me about the old man busting the bed”

“No, no, go on and climb in, I won’t be but a minute”

“Okay, geez, you really are pushy tonight”

“I know, you love it too, hehe”

“Go, I want to hear all this”

Jeremy watched Taylor run out of the bathroom and he turned to put his foot in the hot steamy water, feeling it for heat and then slowly swirling his foot around, building up the bubbles. Turn the oven off his ass, he thought, no way it was on, they hadn’t used the oven today so smart boy was up to something, and the idea only made him smile even more as he slowly lowered himself into the hot water.

“Hot enough?”

“Mmmm, yep, kill the lights Tay and get in here”

“Oh yes sir, my aren’t we the assertive bitch tonight, hehe”

“Fuck you, now give, what happened?”

Taylor climbed in slowly, not one who really enjoyed really hot water, but the idea of sitting in hot water with Jeremy seemed to take that dislike away. He loved his time in the tub with him, to just sit with his man between his legs, resting on his chest, or the other way around too. God it felt so good, the heat taking away the tensions, the warm water making them feel all cozy and the scent of peaches, lilacs, or whatever always made him feel like he was on some far off tropical island, all alone, just him and Jeremy.

Taylor picked up a washcloth and slowly soaked it in the hot water, then slowly he started to rub the back of Jeremy, letting the hot water do its job.

“Oh man, it’s a riot, seems that when Mike went up and got into dad’s room, there was Chris, all worried and desperately trying to undo some bolt or other from one of the side legs.

Mike and Billy had taken Chris’ son out to play catch, so dad and Chris could have some time alone, well it looks like they got carried away, and I guess while in the middle of doing something or other, billy said dad wouldn’t tell him and Chris only groaned when Mike asked him, but anyway, whatever it was, one side of the damn bed collapsed and they didn’t even know it till they had finished and had figured out that they better get dressed.”

“Holy shit, you serious?”

“Yeah, that’s what Billy said, he said they were heading off to take Keith,yeah Keith, guess that’s the kids name, out to a movie and that Dad suggested they stop for a burger or something”

“So, what’s so unusual about that?”

“Nothing, but see, the guys are taking the kid to a movie so the old guys could kind of party ya know?”

“Okay, still don’t get it”

“Well, seems as if now they heading off to go buy a bed, instead of being on one”

“Oh shit, hehe, poor Seth and Chris”

“Oh, hey it gets better, Mike said he’d be willing to let dad borrow their bed, but Billy couldn’t cum on any other bed”

“What?”

“Yeah, said that Chris dropped his wrench or something when Mike said that”

“Oh god, Mike said that? Shit, I would of thought Billy would be the one to come up with that one”

“hehe, its what I told Billy, he wasn’t impressed”

“Damn your family is nuts man”

“Oh there is more”

“More? How? No way, what else?”

“Well guess Mike was feeling sorry for them, so before they got out the door he took dad aside while Chris was giving Keith instructions on behaving, and told dad he could use the spare room, the bed needed messing anyway”

“Oh man”

“yeah then he took off and he caught the last part of what Chris was saying to Keith and as he got into the truck he looked at Keith and said to him, yeah Keith don’t do anything bad, like break a bed or something”

“haha, oh man, no way?”

“Yep, Billy said he split a gut laughing as Keith took it seriously and told his dad not to worry, he wouldn’t break any beds, but wasn’t sure why he was being warned, wanted to know if his dad had broke any when he went to movies”

“Shit, damn I would have loved to have been there”

“Tell me, oh man, that place is getting crazier by the day”

“Sounds like it, miss being there?”

“Miss it? Yeah I guess at times like this I do, but you know what, the rest of the time I really don’t, I know it sounds wacky, but I feel like, well like my happiness isn’t going to be found there, its here with you, or wherever you are”

Taylor reached out and kissed the cheek of Jeremy, feeling the tears running down his face and he gently wiped it away. Then he simply leaned back, letting Jeremy’s head and upper body sink back with him, resting on his own chest.

“You are happy aren’t you Tay?”

“Yeah, I am, funny, never really thought about it much, but yeah, I am happy, you?”

“I am now”

“Good, now relax, let’s just relax, I got something for us to try after”

“To try? Just what are you up to my blonde schemer? And no way do I want to try and break our bed, I like it too much”

“Hehe, no we’ll leave that for the other’s, shit can you believe my father? He broke a bed in the throes of wild sex, at his age too”

“Well, if he’s anything like you in bed, then I can see how he could break the bed, I mean it is rather old”

“What the bed or dad?”

“He’ll kill you for that one”

“Yep, but no one telling him”

“True, well, unless you don’t tell me what this secret new thing is you want us to try is”

“hehe, yeah right, but maybe I should tell you”

“Cool, so what, you got us a trapeze so you can fly into me, dick first?”

“Hmm, now that is an idea, wish it was mine, but no”

“So?”

“well, okay but don’t you freak till you hear me out?”

“Oh oh, already I don’t like the sound of this”

“So, sit back and let me tell you then”

“Now I know I am not gonna like it, where the hell did you come up with it from?”

“you remember those pages Mike gave us, the one’s that had all about the ropes and stuff?”

“uh, yeah”

“well there is another section, near the end about shaving.”

“Shaving what?”

“you know, down there”

“HEY, NO WAY TAY, UH UH”

“Settle down, I don’t mean I’ll shave you, but you shave me, now listen first, okay?”

“Shit, okay, I guess, but this is weird man”

“Not really, see the idea is that you have sex right after you get shaved, supposed to really enhance your sensitivety, and all that.”

“Yeah sure, how? I mean shit, what if you get cut, no way man, that is too scary”

“Why? Look, its really easy, I mean just think of it, you take some soap, warm water, clean the whole area, then you gently soap up the hairs, you know, well just that is gotta get you hard, right?”

“Well, yeah okay I can see that, but what, you use a trac II razor or what?”

“haha, no you use a real razor, one of those straight blade ones, least that’s what the papers described.”

“Oh right, you want shaky here to take a long bladed razor and shave around your dick? You got a death wish or want to be made into a women in one easy slice?”

“Shut up Jeremy, you don’t shake, I have seen your hands, and they are steadier than mine”

“Oh that’s a real endorsement”

“Come on Jeremy, think about it, it’ll be fun”

“Oh you call that fun? And what the fuck do I do if I do cut it?”

“Kiss and make it better?”

“Oh right, I can just see me calling your dad from the ER now, uh, gee Mr. Bradford, I was only shaving your son when the razor slipped, and well he’s now Teresa instead of Taylor. Yeah no way man”

“Look we’ll take it real slow, you won’t slip or cut me, honest Jeremy”

“Look Taylor, I love you but no way man,”

“Why not?”

“You are crazy, no wonder your father broke his bed, shit man, now you want me to shave your groin?”

“Yeah”

“Uh uh, I can’t man, its too scary”

“I trust you Jer, don’t you see that, I am not worried about it”

“I know Taylor, and that is so damn unbelievable to me, your trust, so open, so real, but it isn’t that I am afraid you don’t trust me, its me I don’t trust”

“Huh?”

“Look Taylor, please, take my word for it, its me, okay? You don’t want me to do this, there is too much you don’t know about me”

“Then tell me”

“I can’t”

“Why not? You think I am making this up? Damn it I love you”

“I know, don’t you see that Taylor? I just know that if you know it all, you won’t want to stay here, let alone have me around your dick with a razor blade.”

“Fuck, come on, come with me”

“Taylor, no, I am not doing it”

“COME ON”

Taylor stood up, his hand extended towards the teary eyed Jeremy. He didn’t want to get up, he wanted to just stay and he knew that the dreams had indeed ruined his day with Taylor. His heart ached, as if it was being torn into tiny pieces as slowly he stood up, the first time since he had met Taylor that being naked in front of him, didn’t give him a full erection.

He took him out of the bathroom towards the bedroom and there on the night table sat a pitcher and bowl and shaving soap. Everything he needed was there, including towels.

“Taylor, please, I can’t”

“Listen to me Jeremy, I don’t care if you shave me or not, you can do it with the soap, without the soap, don’t do it, I don’t care if you do it and leave a thousand cuts all over me, it doesn’t matter to me, because all I want is you, there is no one, there is nothing that you can say, nothing that you could do, that is going to make me leave you, nothing, do you hear me?”

Taylor was breathing hard, his chest ached as he stared at Jeremy, feeling that unless he could convince him, now, this very moment, that he could lose what he wanted the most in the world, someone to cherish and love like no other living being. He had no idea what Jeremy’s past held, but he knew that nothing, not one single thing, could make him love him less or want him less.

“If you don’t care if I shave you or not, why are you making such a big deal of it?”

“I don’t care if you do, but don’t you see, I want you to believe me Jeremy”

“Believe you? what am I supposed to believe?”

“That I am not leaving, not now, not tomorrow, and that is without any qualifications, no subject to’s or depending on stuff, I am here, and only if you tell me to get out of your life, will I, that is all I want you to believe”

“So, the shaving?”

“I figured if I could get you to hold my dick, with a razor and shave the hair off, maybe you would see and feel that I really do mean It when I say I love you, that I really mean it when I tell you that whatever your past is, doesn’t matter to me, and it won’t make me leave you, that’s the reason for it, that’s all”

“Okay”

“Okay what?”

“Okay I’ll do it”

“Fine, let’s do it then”

Taylor could see the tears in Jeremy’s face and his heart was beating like a banshee. He reached out, kissed Jeremy and lay on the bed, spreading his legs wide so that Jeremy could have easy access to his groin and all his pubic hairs. His cock had suddenly gotten hard again with the sudden rush of adrenalin that was pouring into his body.

Jeremy stared down at Taylor, the razor in his hand. He could feel the palms of his hands sweating as he kept looking from the razor and then back to Taylor laying on the bed. Oh God, how could he, he thought and yet how couldn’t he.

Taylor was right, if he could shave him, if he could actually do it, then he would maybe know that Taylor wasn’t going to cut and run. Maybe if he really did shave him and not cut him, maybe then he would know that he too wouldn’t cut and run on Taylor. Damn, he was fucked either way though, if he cut him Taylor would leave, if not, he knew he would leave, how could he stay with him knowing he had hurt him? No, he couldn’t do it and yet in the back of his mind, the chance it offered seemed worth the risk.

The light in the room gleamed off the shiny stainless steel blade and he could see Jeremy looming up, his eyes clouded by his tears and worse, by his fears and doubts. Well, he loved him and he had to trust in something, might as well be the person who he had chosen to spend his life with. His heart felt like it was lodged in his throat as Jeremy brought the razor down, not even bothering to use the soap.

Maybe he had forgotten, or maybe not, maybe he was testing his words, testing him to see if his pretty speech was for real, well it was, so he didn’t flinch, didn’t budge or say a word. He just laid there, pure and absolute trust in his lover burning from his deep blue eyes.

Taylor’s eyes watched as the shiny blade came down, closer and closer it came but not in a steady downward motion. Jeremy’s hand was unsteady, and the blade jerked its way down towards the hard cock, close now that Taylor licked his lips, gritted his teeth waiting for that first swipe of the blade on his skin.

The razor stopped at the tip of some wild blonde hair sticking up near his cock. He could feel himself holding his breath, waiting and then slowly his eyes traveled up his body, up the thick hard throbbing penis and then up the shaking chest that loomed before him.

He could see the chin now, it was trembling from pure fear and then he found Jeremy’s eyes and he looked deeply into them. He saw the doubts, the fears, all of it was holding his lover in a state of pure panic and dejection.

“I can’t Taylor, oh God I want to believe you, oh god I do”

“Then do it”

“No, I can’t hurt you, I can’t take that chance”

“Then tell me what it is that makes you feel so, so much pain”

Jeremy looked at Taylor, the blue eyes finally able to penetrate his, finally able to break through the pain and reach inside. He felt himself tremble, felt his arm move and place the razor on his lover’s belly, the blade angled down as if a silent hand was now guiding him.

Taylor held his breath as he saw the hand move, his eyes were locked with Jeremy’s and yet he could see the razor, see the hand and he felt the cold steel against his skin, tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead as the blade slowly scraped down his hair, his tiny blonde pubic hairs surrendering to the sharp blade.

The hand hadn’t moved far, just a quarter of an inch at best and then it stopped. He could hear Jeremy breathing, his own heart suddenly start to beat again as the blade slowly was lifted up, slowly the shaking hand moved it away from the throbbing cock and over to the night table.

They looked into each other’s eyes, his blue embers burning bright even in the harsh full light of the bedroom. He could feel Jeremy’s heart quaking as the blade was dropped onto the table and his eyes peered at him. His chest was heaving with the exertion and tension of the moment, and then suddenly Jeremy just jumped into the bed, to find Taylor’s open arms.

He buried his head deep into the soft flesh, feeling his body shake as he cried out and felt the arms close around him, holding him tight and close. Jeremy could feel the heart beating, but it wasn’t his, and it wasn’t Taylor’s either, it was strange, like someone else was there and he glanced up and yet there was nothing to see but their room. He felt a hand, touch his cheek and then he just started crying like a baby, letting the soft sounds of Taylor’s voice reach inside of him.

His whole body was shaking with emotion. He could feel the soft feminine hand against his cheek, wiping his tears of pain away, Taylor’s two masculine hands holding onto his quivering torso and the soft gentle words of love that seemed to be flowing deep within his body.

With a hesitant voice, he started to talk, softly and unsure he spoke into his lover’s ear, letting go of his panic, letting his fears no longer keep him prisoner and he head the intake of breath as his words found Taylor’s soul, communicated their doubts, their fears, and instead of the tight embrace being swept aside, he could feel nothing but a warmth coming back to him, nothing but pure love enveloped him, giving him strength.

The soft hand wiped the last tear away and still he was being held, still his own crackly voice spoke inot the ear of his lover, and still the embrace held him, still it grew tighter, refusing to break no matter what the words said or meant and the heaviness around his heart was easing as it unburdened itself.