Eric

I awoke well rested, and looking forward to the new day. I had slept through the night, which rarely happened any more. I was totally relaxed, and laid on the bed for a few minutes enjoying the silence of the early morning.

I got up and did the necessary things to make myself comfortable, put on my shorts and shoes, and padded across the hallway to Eric's room. I tapped on the door, and opened it carefully. He was lying there snoring softly. I wanted to let him sleep, but he had said he wanted to get up so I walked to the bedside, turned on the small lamp on the night-stand, and shook his shoulder gently. "Eric," I said just above a whisper. "Eric. Wake up, Son."

He rolled onto his back, and opened his eyes. As he focused on my face, he started to frown, and then the fog cleared as he remembered he had said he wanted to get up early. "G'mornin' Dad."

"Good morning, Son," I said as he screwed his little fists into his eyes. "Are you sure you want to get up?"

"No," he said honestly, "but I'll try it 'cause I want to be a part of everything you do."

I smiled at him, and said, " Well then, get up and wash the sleep out of your eyes, and put something on. I'll be in the basement when you're ready."

"OK. I'll just be a minute," he said as he got out of the bed, and followed his rigid boyhood to the bathroom.

I left him to his private morning rituals, and went to the basement. I did my stretching, and started the treadmill. Adjusting the speed to a normal walk, I had just gotten on it, when Eric came in and climbed on behind me. He had watched me jog the morning before, so I was not really surprised that he did it correctly. "You should do some stretches first," I said, "to prevent stiffening up later."

He stepped to the sides of the moving belt, and dismounted. I did the same, and showed him how to stretch out his tendons and muscles. "You should do this before and after every workout," I said. "It will help reduce any soreness you may get."

I put him to walking some more while I sat down and did some work on the butterfly machine. He watched me while he walked, and said, "How long do I have to do this?"

I smiled and said, "It's not a chore. If you think that's enough, stop and do something else.

"Like what?" he asked as he stopped the treadmill.

I got up and said, "You could start building up your arms with some curls>" I showed him how to do the exercise properly, and handed him a couple of five pound weights to work with.

"These are too light," he said. "I can lift a lot more than this."

"I'm sure you can," I said, "but using a weight you can handle easily let's you do more reps - er, repetitions - and it's the reps that build the muscles. You can increase the weight when you can do a hundred reps with each arm, but for now just start with three sets of ten reps each."

"What do you mean -sets?" he asked.

"Do ten lifts with each arm, and rest a bit," I said. "That's one set."

I watched as he started flinging the weights up and down. "Slow down, Son," I said. "Take your time and make sure you do each lift properly. This isn't a race. We want to spend the time exercising, not doing it in as short a time as possible."

I worked on my abs, which I felt had suffered from the large caloric intake on Christmas, and showed Eric various exercises he could do without making him too stiff and sore. I taught him the proper way to do pushups and squats. We both finished up with a jog on the treadmill. I put Eric in front of me so he could hang onto the handle while I used the side rails for balance. We ran a moderate half mile that left us breathing deeply.. I showed him how to cool down, and we went up to my shower, which was big enough for four people to bathe in at the same time.

We soaped each other's back, then rinsed the sweat off our own bodies. Eric wanted to wash my privates, but I told him that would get us both all sweaty again. He giggled and said, "Yeah, maybe, but it would be fun too."

I said, "That kind of fun will lead us down a slippery slope, and we aren't ready to take that plunge yet."

We got out of the shower, dried off, and Eric ran to his room to get dressed for the day. I took a little extra care with shaving, and then put on a pair of slacks and a turtle necked shirt, black socks, and a pair of loafers. By the time I got down to the kitchen, Eric had my coffee waiting. I kissed his forehead, and thanked him. "How about sausage and pancakes this morning," I said.

"Yeah, cool."

I put some link sausage on the grill and they cooked while I mixed the batter. In less than fifteen minutes we were feasting on a good breakfast. He had set the places on the island with orange juice at each place, my cup freshly filled with the last of the coffee from the carafe, and milk for himself. I enjoyed the closeness, and could no longer imagine a life without this wonderful boy.

"Do you want to watch the market with me this morning?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said. "Maybe for a while."

We sat in the same seats we had used the day before. I turned on the computer, and brought up the markets. It seemed to be a rather listless day, and I noticed Eric beginning to flag after a short time. I said, "Do you want to go take a nap? You really aren't used to being up this early."

He smiled at me a little guiltily and said, "Maybe for a little while."

I hugged him as he got up, and said, "Pleasant dreams."

He hugged me back, and went up to his room. I stuck it out for another hour, but finally gave up, and went into the kitchen. I used the bones from the rib roast, and some other leftovers from the freezer to start a pot of hearty beef soup. I put it on the back of the range, and let it simmer. I put a pork loin in an enameled roasting pan, and after rubbing it with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary, poured some red wine into the pan. I peeled some small potatoes, opened a bag of baby carrots, and threw in some roughly chopped onions and garlic. I put the cover on it, and put it in a slow oven to braise.

I went back into the computer room, and checked the IM for people I knew who were online. I chatted with a couple of them for a while, listening to them brag about their Christmases. I smiled to myself when I realized none of them had gotten anything that could compare with the gift that had been given me.

I checked the local newspaper for anything interesting, and was about to shut the machine down when a small headline attracted my attention. Teen Found Dead in Snowbank. I clicked on the link to the story, and read that an unidentified teenager had been found by a store owner while shoveling the walk in front of his business. The police estimated him to be about fifteen, but said he had no identification, and they had no clues as to where he was from. The article went on to say that no facilities were available for runaways, and that he had evidently frozen to death in the big storm on Christmas Eve. Yeah, I thought. No room for him at the Inn.

I got a printout of the story, and determined to write a letter to the paper with a view to pointing the finger at incompetent social services, callous taxpayers, and self righteous "Christians.". I was angry for the first time in years, and thought about how close Eric had come to a similar fate. Then I cried for this unknown young man whose life Society had wasted.

A little after noon I went up to wake Eric, but found him in the library reading a book. "What are you reading?" I asked.

He held the book up so I could see the title on the spine. The Book of Virtues I read. "Do you like the stories?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said. "They're all about how to be a good person. Have you read it?"

"A long time ago," I said. "I got a lot out of it. It helped me deal with the nasty bastard I used to be."

"No way," he said. "You were never nasty."

"Well, thank you kind sir," I said smiling at him. "I'm glad you think so, but the fact is that I used to be the same kind of queer you hated while you were on the streets. After I read that book, I didn't like myself very much, and I changed some of the things that made me that way. I still have to keep a tight rein on my thoughts, but it gets easier every day."

"Is that why you went to prison?"

"It certainly had a lot to do with it, " I said. "It took a long time for me to realize it was my fault, and not the fault of the boy I had sex with."

"Did he rat you off?"

"Yes, and I hated him for it back then," I answered. "I spent three years devising plans to get even. Then I realized I was only wasting my time instead of using it constructively. When I got out, I had to attend a therapy group, and that was one of the books they suggested I read. It made me think of all the damage I had done to others, and I decided to try to do better."

"You sure did a good job of that," he said. "You're the best guy I ever knew."

"Thank you for saying that," I said. "We can talk about it later if you want to, but it's getting on toward one o'clock. John will be here soon, and you'll want something to eat before he gets here. Go comb your hair, and make yourself presentable. You want to make a good impression, don't you?"

He put a bookmark in the page, and stood up. "I don't care what you were before. I sure love you the way you are now."

"I love you too. Now go."

I went back down to the kitchen,, and heated a can of chili. I put some lunchmeat on a plate, and poured a glass of milk. Eric ran in as I was dishing up the chili. I noticed he had changed into slacks and a dress shirt. "You look very nice," I said as he filled his mouth with chili.

He smiled at me, and continued his assault on the chili and sandwiches. When he finished, he loaded the dishes into the dishwasher, and came to me and hugged me around the waist. "You can stop changing now," he said. "You're perfect just the way you are."

The intercom beeped, and Tom told me John was on his way up. I thanked him and sent Eric to greet him at the door while I stood off to the side where I could watch his face.

When Eric heard John's knock, he swung the door wide and nailed the man with his brightest smile. He stuck his hand out, and said, "Good afternoon, Mister Bishop. My name is Eric Larson, and Bob wants to adopt me."

I had known John for a little less than a year, but had never seen him at a loss for words before. He stuttered, "Er, um, ah." He finally took Eric's outstretched hand and said, "How do you do Mister Larson." Eric gently guided him into the house, and closed the door. John stood in the foyer staring at him with his mouth agape.

I walked up to him barely subduing a laugh, and said, "I see you've met Eric. Quite extraordinary, isn't he?"

Although still somewhat taken aback, John regained his bearing as Eric headed for the kitchen, and said, "He's amazing. Where did you find him?"

"Actually he found me. I believe he is Santa's gift to me because I've been such a good boy all these years." We both chuckled over that statement.

As we retired to the family room, I gave John the short version of Eric's plight and how he came to be my permanent guest.

We sat at the coffee table while Eric busied himself in the kitchen. He came in a few minutes later carefully balancing a plate of Oreo cookies, three cups and saucers, a sugar bowl, a creamer, and a carafe of coffee on a tray He put it down and asked, "Is there anything else I can get you, sir?'

John shook his head more in wonder than denial and said, "Not for me. Thank you."

After we had sipped the coffee and dispensed with small talk, the tray was pushed aside, and John opened his attache case. He pulled out a manila folder, and put it in front of me. "This is the result of that project you had me look into last February," he said.

It was my turn to lose it. I sat with my chin on my chest looking at the vellum document in front of me. Emblazoned across the top was the unmistakable single word "PARDON". I glanced at the State Seal, and the scrawled signature and said, "I don't believe it! You did it!"

"Well, I had a small part in it," said John, "but you did most of it. That shelter you funded had a lot to do with it. That gave him a good reason to consider it, and the two hundred thousand in his offshore account did the rest.

"Your record has been purged," he continued. "I had a friend run an NCIC [National Criminal Information Center] background check on you, and it came back blank. There are undoubtedly some hard copies of your transgressions laying around in old files somewhere, but the computers are clean."

"How is the shelter coming?" I asked. "I just saw a story in the local paper that said a youngster died in the storm. He was found in a snowbank."

Eric asked, "Was it a street kid?"

"They think so," I told him. "He didn't have any ID, and there is no missing persons report fitting his description."

"Was there a picture with the story?"

"Yes, but not a very good one," I said. "It's on my desk if you want to look at it."

Eric jumped up and ran out of the room. He came shuffling back a few minutes later weeping quietly. "It's Jeremy," he sobbed. "That's one of the guys I told you about who helped me."

John asked him gently, "Do you know his last name?"

"He said it was Shaw, but nobody ever gives his real last name. I'm not even sure his real name was Jeremy," Eric sobbed. "All I know is, he was a good guy. He was another one the pastor at the Angel of Mercy mission wouldn't let stay."

"WHAT?" John burst out. "Why couldn't he stay?"

"Pastor Bucholtz said there was no room in God's house for faggots," said Eric. "That's why I couldn't stay there either."

John was appalled. "How many were told that?"

"There were five of us. We kind of looked out for each other until I lost track of Jeremy and Josh." Eric was still crying, but he was holding up better than I would have under the circumstances.

John dialed his cell phone, and spoke into it. "I want to talk to Dan. This is John Bishop." He waited a minute or two, and then said, "He damned well better find the time to talk to me right now. I have some information on that dead teen" Less than a minute later he said, "Dan? I think I have some information for you. I have it on good authority that the boy that was found in the snow this morning went by the name Jeremy Shaw. He had some buddies that weren't found. Do you know if they're in your lockup?"

A couple of minutes went by, then, "Yeah." ---. "I see. Who's the PD? --- Uh-huh. ----Uh-huh.--- No.--- Well, I may take a hand in it. ----- OK, Dan. I'll talk to you soon." He laughed and then broke the connection. He turned to Eric and said, "Your other friends are being held at Juvenile Hall at the moment. They are being charged with Breaking and Entering. I'll see what I can do for them tomorrow. I have to talk to the Public Defender first. We lawyers have strict rules about stepping on each other's toes." He made a wry face.

"Can't you just get them out and bring them up here?" asked Eric. Things are so simple to solve when you're thirteen.

"There are a lot of reasons why that's not a good idea," John said to him. "For one thing, it would put you and Bob at risk. Then too, I know what Bob's rules are, and I doubt these boys could measure up. I'll see what I can do tomorrow. Till then, there isn't much we can do except pray I can convince the DA not to press charges."

"If it will help, I'll cover any damages they caused," I said.

"That might be the thing that springs them," said John, "Well, let's table that for the time being.

"To answer your question about the shelter," he continued, "the contractor is into cleanup, and the decorators are in full swing. We have the necessary permits and licenses. It should be ready for occupancy by the first."

"That's only a few days away," I said. "Is the staff lined up?"

John ticked the positions off on his fingers; "We have a pediatrician, three of the four counselors, a cook, and a housekeeper," he said. "I'm sold on Janet Hayes as the director, but I know how you feel about women in authority, so I've also got William Petty on the list."

I knew they were both highly qualified. "Why do you like Janet better than Bill?" I asked.

"Both have impeccable credentials," he said, "but I read both their doctoral theses, and Janet's covers the ground in the field we need. It's a masterful paper on the needs of homosexual youth. Besides that, she has seven years experience working for the Colorado State Hospital in just that niche." He paused, then said, "And I'm pretty sure she's gay."

"Is she available now," I asked, "or will we have to wait while she plays head games with us?"

"She wants the job. The salary offer is acceptable, but the thing she loves most is the idea of functioning without the State looking over her shoulder."

"Sign her up," I said. "Have her ready to take over on the first. Hire the others, and have them move in. I want to get the shelter open so there are no more 'Jeremy Shaw's' slipping through the cracks.

"The first is next Monday," I said. "I want to have a small ribbon cutting ceremony, and I want to be the one to cut the ribbon to open 'The Jeremy Shaw Memorial Shelter.' Invite the press. I'd like for them to hear what I have to say." I gave him an evil smile. He had his mouth open again. "Well, I paid four million dollars to build the place. Shouldn't I have the say as to what it will be called?"

Eric suddenly wrapped his arms around my neck and murmured, "You're the greatest, Dad."

John looked thoughtful. "Be careful how you word that speech," he said to me. "I feel the same way you do, but I don't think it's a good idea to tread on too many important toes before we even begin."

"Fuck them, their important toes, and the horse they rode in on!" I said angrily. "They've had a hundred years to fix the problem, and have done nothing constructive."

"If I'm following your logical train of thought," John said, "you will want me to petition the court to assign Eric's delinquent friends to the new shelter."

"Why, that's a wonderful idea, John," I said sweetly. "If the staff is ready, they could move in tomorrow after court., don't you think?

"I'd also like to cover the boy's funeral expenses." I said. "It makes me angry that the State will just throw him in a hole and cover him up to hide their mistakes."

John pulled out his cell phone, and started dialing. Within a half hour he had notified all the staff members except one of the counselors, and was assured that the shelter would be staffed sufficiently to accept the three boys when they were released. "Done, and done," he said. "The funeral home will take care of the nitty gritty, and Jeremy will be 'at rest' by tomorrow morning in viewing room 'B'.

"Now, what's this about an adoption?"

"I think Eric said it quite succinctly," I said. "What we need to discuss is a plan of action."

"Well, now that your record is no longer an issue, I don't see any reason why it can't be done," said John. "It might be a good idea to file the petition in another county, though. You are quite well known in this one, and there are pit bulls around who might try to derail your petition. Marie Perkins comes to mind." He had mentioned the assistant DA who had prosecuted my conviction. "She can't legally quote chapter and verse, but she can mention the pardon, and throw suspicion around."

"Where would you suggest," I asked. "I'm a legal resident here, and I really don't like the idea of moving." I laughed. "It's pretty hard to move a place this big."

"How about Lincoln County," he said, ignoring my attempt at humor. "It's not that far away, and all you would have to do is buy a vacation cottage - a beach front cabin on the coast, maybe. After the adoption is final, you can sell it, or rent it out. Consider it an investment."

"Sounds like a plan," I said. "If I rented it out during the summer, I could also make it available to friends and employees. I'm sure Tom and Carl would enjoy a week or two on the beach, although I don't know what we'd do around here without them."

"Well, we'll call that a 'yes'. You can get hold of your realtor in the morning, and let me know as soon as you've completed the purchase." He continued, "Meanwhile, I'll get the paperwork started. Anything else?"

"Yes," I said. "Eric needs his basic records, and I thought you might be able to talk to his father about them. He will need his school records, birth certificate, Social Security Card, and anything else you think he might need in the future."

John thought a moment. "I think it's a good idea to talk to his father anyway. We might be able to make a shortcut in the adoption process if we can get him on our side."

"Good luck," snorted Eric. "He threw me out of his house. He said I must be the milkman's kid because none of his family was queer."

"That's even better," said John. "I'll bet he has a favorite tavern where he drinks."

Eric nodded.

John said, "I wonder how he would like it if it became common knowledge there that his son is gay." He put on an evil smile. "This is all ammunition for our side. We might even get lucky, and get him to sign a 'Termination of Parental Rights' affidavit."

"He stole my bank account too," Eric said. "I had over a thousand dollars in it that my mother gave me before she died."

"Oh Eric," John said, "I'm going to love doing this for you. I don't suppose you know the account number."

"No. The passbook was in the family strongbox," he said. "Does that make a difference?"

"It would make it easier," said John, "but I'll see what my investigator can find. For now, just write down your father's name and address. Put down your mother's name too. I'll take it from there."

Eric took the proffered paper and pen, and wrote the names and his old address on it. John took it and put it in his attache case. "Anything else while I'm here?"

Eric and I looked at each other, and I said, "I guess that's all. You're welcome to stay for dinner if you want to."

"Thanks, but no," he said. "Billy will be waiting for me, and he'll be cooking tonight. I can't miss that - much as I'd like to." He laughed at his own joke, and we all stood up. He extended his hand to Eric, and said, "I'm very happy to have met such an extraordinary young man. I hope to see you again soon." He turned to me and said, "It's always a pleasure, Bob. I'll keep you posted on everything, and I'll call you tomorrow about those three in Juvie."

"I appreciate it, John. I'll be waiting for your call."

Eric and I saw him to the door, and said our farewells. He smiled and waved as he got into his Mercedes, and drove off down the hill.

Eric pushed his head up into my armpit, and put his arm around my waist. I led him back into the family room, and sat him next to me on the sofa in front of the fire, which he had rebuilt earlier. He grabbed me with both arms and sobbed, "He didn't deserve to die," he moaned. "Why did God make him die? He wasn't really bad."

My eyes were full of tears too, but not so much because of Jeremy's misfortune. My love for Eric made me hurt because he was hurting, and I had no answers for him. Platitudes would not assuage his grief, so I cradled him in my arms, and rocked him until he fell asleep from emotional exhaustion. I loved him the more because even in the flush of his new-found largess, he had not forgotten the realities plaguing those he had shared the hard times with.

I gently woke him after an hour, and said, "Supper time, Little One." He opened his eyes, and his eyes filled up again. I said quietly, "Maybe Jeremy died so that your other friends could live a better life. There are people in town who are really pissed off that a young boy died because there was no place for him on Christmas Eve."

I heard the phone ringing, but let the machine answer it. What I had in my arms was much more important than anything else. I said to Eric, "It's time for dinner."

He answered, "I'm not really hungry."

"OK," .I said, "but you'll have let me go turn off the oven or we'll be smoked out." He released me, and I went to the kitchen. I turned off the oven, and took the roast out to cool. Eric came in a few minutes later, and said, "I guess I should eat something. You went to all the trouble of fixing it."

"Don't worry about that," I said. "I'd throw it out and start over if it would make you happy again. I felt the way you do when my mother died. I was in prison, and they wouldn't even let me go to the funeral. They just told me she was dead, and sent me back to my cell."

The phone rang again, and I picked it up. "Llewellyn here." I said.

John's excited voice said, "I got him! I got the son of a bitch. He's going to be defrocked and sent to burn in the Sahara if I have my way."

"John?" I said. "What are you talking about?"

"I called the head honcho at the Angel of Mercy Synod, and read him his beads, from 'a' for asshole to 'z' for zero - including, but not limited to 'f' for faggot and 'q' for queer. I told him his fucking pastor here was responsible for Jeremy's death. I told him the donation you made last year would not be renewed, and that I was going to try to bring charges that would take away their tax exempt status."

John," I said, "are you drunk?

"You bet your bippy. And I'm mad too."

"Is Billy there?

"Yep, and he's mad too," he said.

I had never known John to be this upset over anything before. "Let me talk to Billy," I said.

Billy came on the line, and said meekly, "hello?"

"This is Bob Llewellyn, Billy. I want you to find your dad's keys, and hide them. He's apt to go looking for that pastor, and do him real harm. That will only get John in trouble, and won't do anything for Jeremy or anyone else."

"OK, Mr Llewellyn. I'll do it. I've never seem him so spaced out. He really scares me."

"There's no need for you to be scared, Billy. John couldn't hurt you, but he might kill the son of a bitch who turned Jeremy out into that storm."

"Thanks for telling me what to do."

"Just hold him tight," I said. "He needs your love now more than ever. I'm always here if you need me. Just call."

"I will. Thanks again." He hung up.

I put the dinner on the island, and Eric picked at it, but did get some of it down. I ate sparingly too, and there was a lot left over. I put everything away, and carried Eric upstairs. I put him to bed, and laid next to him until he fell asleep. He slept fitfully, so I stayed with him all through the night. He woke as dawn broke gray and cloudy. "Dad?" he said. He looked at me mournfully and asked, "Why, Dad?"

I looked at him sadly, and said, "I don't know, Son. Some things have no explanation. I wish I could give you a reason, but I can't."

He snuggled himself into my arms, and asked, "Do you suppose he suffered?"

"I don't know that either," I said, "but I've heard that it's an easy way to go. I read that you get warm and go to sleep before you actually die of the cold, but I don't know. I guess nobody knows."

"I hope he's happier now," he said. "He always said that all he wanted was to be safe and warm ."

"I'm sure he has his wish. He's probably looking down on us, and wondering why we're so sad when he's so happy."

"I hope so," he said, and closed his eyes again.

New Experiences

Enrico was now alone in the room he had shared with Samuele. Therefore for some months he had no more sex. Samuele was happy with his new life as a married man and told Enrico that he had enjoyed having sex with him, but that he clearly preferred a woman.

Possibly, also to compensate a little for his separation from Samuele, Enrico started to mix with his study mates more than before. One of them invited him to attend a group of "historical studies". Enrico found it interesting. Soon he noticed that in that group were circulating new
ideas. Especially a young doctor, whose name was Carlo Poma, fascinated him. Not only and not so much physically, but for his personality and character. Carlo Poma was clearly oriented towards women, therefore Enrico, after a first moment of expectation, set aside his hope. But the
fascination of the young physician's personality was so strong that he tried, all the same, to become at least his friend.

Carlo defined himself as a patriot. But to him the concept of fatherland was deeply different than, for instance, that of Enrico's father and of the majority of people. To Carlo the fatherland, the "land of the fathers", was not Venetian land, and even less the Austro-Hungarian Empire. To Carlo the Fatherland (with a capital "F") was Europe. A single culture, the Greek-roman one, a common racial stock, an unic religion, the christianism, united Europe in a sole entity whose peoples were so mixed up to constitute, at his eyes, an homogeneous and indistinguishable whole, especially if compared with cultures such as the Arab-Asiatic or the Russian-Slavic.

But in this whole, artfully divided in nations, according to Carlo, one nation didn't still have the dignity of existing as a homogeneous entity - the Italian nation.

"From the Alps to the Jonian Sea, we speak one only language, Italian, we have one only religion, Catholicism, one only cultural tradition. Dante is not only a Florentine, a Tuscan, he is the poet of us all, and he is Italian. The same for Michelangelo, Cellini, Leonardo, Raffaello, Pier Capponi, Masaniello... they all are Italian, and yet it doesn't still exist as a recognized entity having the same dignity of the other states, that we can call Italy! Italy has been divided, enslaved, humiliated..."

Enrico listened carefully to these speeches - in the group were circulating in great secrecy the writings of one Giuseppe Mazzini, who championed the republican ideal; they talked about the writings of one Gioberti, who wished an united Italy under the rule of the Pope; they whispered about one Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was recruiting volunteers ready to give their life for an united Italy...

These were dangerous, subversive speeches, and yet very fascinating and Enrico felt more and more involved in them, as he felt they were right and sound.

Enrico was twenty one years old when he met his third man, a theatrical actor.

This was a twenty nine year old youth, his name was Otello Atzeni. With his troupe they were playing ShakespeareÕs tragedies and Otello was splendid in Hamlet's role. Enrico went to see it with his university mates. After the play one of them, who was really rich and full of money, invited the entire troupe to dinner. Enrico found himself sitting near Otello Atzeni.

The actor was a likeable and handsome companion, so that Enrico felt attracted to him. Otello was sitting between Enrico and another university student, but this last was engaged in a conversation with the actress sitting at his right, so that Enrico and Otello talked all the
time together.

When Enrico told him he would have liked to see the other tragedies played by the troupe, Otello said, "I will send you a carnet of complimentary tickets, so that you can come and see us any time you like."

"That's very kind of you, and I am really grateful. What can I do to repay your courtesy?"

"Two things - advertise our plays and, when you come to see us, after the performance come to greet me in my dressing room..."

"More than willingly." Enrico said gladly.

The following day he received at home the carnet with a card jot down by Otello, saying, "I hope to see you soon at the theater. Your company yesterday night during the dinner has been extremely pleasing. See you soon, Atzeni O."

Thus, once a week, Enrico started to go to theatre and after the performance he gave his name to go to Otello's dressing room.

The actor, though always surrounded by his admirers, found the way to talk with him, and one evening told him, "My friend, you see how I am besieged!"

"Aren't you pleased? It is the evidence of your fame."

"Yes, certainly it is... but I would like having more time to spend with you. Why don't you wait for me? I'll change my clothes, and then we can go to have a drink together..."

"With real pleasure. Where can I wait for you?"

"In front of the theatre there is a cafe open till late. Wait for me inside there. I will try not to be late."

In the eyes of the young man Enrico noticed a special light and asked himself if by chance also the actor was a lover of his own sex. And he wished so - he liked the actor very much. He went to wait for him at the cafe and ordered a hot chocolate.

Otello came and sat, smiling, at his table, "Here I am at last, all for you! I hope you don't have to go back too soon..."

"I have the key, I don't have a fixed time to go back home."

"Very good, but here they will close in a short while. Why don't you drop in to my place? I have a room at Damiani's Hotel, a small room but all for myself. And so I can show you the newspapers cuttings talking about me..."

"Willingly, if this doesn't bother you."

"On the contrary! Are you coming, then?"

They went to the hotel and up to Otello's room. There reigned an agreeable disorder, the one you can expect to find in an artist's room. Otello tried to tidy up summarily and freed two chairs and a part of the small desk.

"Have a seat, please. Here is the album of the cuttings talking about me..." he said and, opening in front of him the album, instead of sitting on the other chair, he stood at the back of Enrico, to point out the various articles and to comment on them. Enrico could feel his proximity and became aroused.

While Otello, leaning above him, was explaining, Enrico raised a little his head and their faces brushed slightly. Their eyes met.

"Do you know that you have wonderful eyes?" Otello said to him and passed his hand through EnricoÕs hair.

Enrico raised some more his head and whispered, "And you... you have sensual and sweet lips..."

"Do you think?" Otello asked in a breath and his lips went down to meet Enrico's lips.

They kissed. Enrico stood up turning; they embraced, hugged kissing again, and felt that the other too was aroused.

"Oh, Enrico! Come..." Otello said driving him towards his bed. They undressed each other with feverish hands, climbed on the bed and enlaced to each other, full of desire. Otello knew where to touch him to stir up his pleasure, and Enrico was more and more aroused - he loved those long preliminaries.

"Enrico..." moaned the young man lying on his back and pulling Enrico upon him.

"Yes?"

Otello spread his legs raising them at the sides of the other, "Take me, and push it all inside me, please!"

Enrico looked at him in surprise, but Otello had his eyes shut and was pulling him to himself. So Enrico directed with the hand his member, pushed, started to sink in him, smooth like a hand entering in its glove, and felt strong warmth enveloping him.

He emitted a low moan, "Ooooh, Otello... I like it!"

"Yes, push, harder!"

"Yes, oh yes!" Enrico cried out, feeling prey of an intense pleasure and, when he was fully immersed, he placed his knees and elbows on the mattress and started to heatedly piston inside the young man.

"Yes so, yes so..." Otello spurred him tossing under him.

When finally Enrico lay motionless on him, panting, emptied, Otello caressed him for a long while.

"Now it's you turn to take me." Enrico said thinking that his companion could desire to take him.

"No, I only like being fucked. You are a real young bull, Enrico. I'm glad I offered myself to you."

"And I to have taken you! Did you know that it is my first time?"

"To make love or to have sex with a man?"

"Neither of them, it's the first time I am on top."

"I would say you liked it, luckily. Will you come again to visit me?"

"For sure, and with a real pleasure." Enrico answered and Otello kissed him.

They became lovers. The met two or three times per week. No more in the late evening but in day time, when Enrico ended his lessons. They dated one time for the other. Enrico loved the merry welcome of the other - they talked about theater, about this and that, they made love, they talked again.

Enrico grew fond of Otello, or rather, little by little he fell in love. Thus, a day, he told him so.

"It's now seven months we have known each other... and I, Otello, have become aware I am in love with you..."

"Thank you." the actor answered with a short smile.

"But... do you love me?" Enrico asked, slightly strained.

"Yes, yes, I love you. I adore this beautiful member of yours that you push inside me with such vigor. You make me feel I am all yours, when you take me."

Enrico was happy.

Otello seemed... hungry for him. When he went upstairs in his room, he embraced him impetuously and said to him, with urgency, "At last here you are! Come, let me feel your good pole, take me, make me yours!" and undressed him, filled with irrepressible lust, took him to the bed, made Enrico lie down on him and offered himself spurring him, "Your are a real male, Enrico... Oooh, yes... harder, stronger.... Oh, Enrico, what a bull you are! Fuck me, make me die!"

"Did you miss me, Otello?"

"Yes... your good pole, Enrico... Harder!"

"Did you think of me, in these days?"

"Yes, and each time I throbbed with excitement waiting to meet you, to give myself to you! Oh, yes, Enrico, soooo... make me feel all of it!" the man moaned tossing under him.

Enrico felt on fire, he put his heart into it, got into him with enthusiasm, and when finally he abandoned himself on top of him, exhausted, sated, Otello hugged him almost violently and whispered, "You like banging me, don't you?"

"I love you, Otello." the youth answered, panting. But then, much to his regret, he had to leave.

The actor cleaned him, then himself and gave him the date for the following meeting, "I'm sorry you have to leave... I would be ready to start again, even now."

"But unhappily you have to rehearse your play and I have to go to study..." said Enrico, glad for the inexhaustible desire that the actor showed him.

Inexhaustible desire, for real.

Several months later, one morning Enrico went to the university just to be informed that, for a sudden illness of his anatomy teacher, the lesson was not held. His friends invited him to a political meeting, but Enrico on the contrary thought he could do a surprise to his Otello and be for a longer time with him, therefore he excused himself and went, in a fast pace, to his man's hotel. He went up to his room and knocked at the door. He had to knock several times, but finally Otello came, wrapped in his gown of damask, his eyes drowsy.

"Otello! Did I wake you up?"

"Yes, but... why are you here?"

"There is no lesson, this morning, so I thought..." the young man said entering the room of his man.

"But it is not your turn, this morning..." the man said hesitantly,looking the watch he had on the table.

"My turn? What do you mean?" Enrico asked slightly puzzled. Then, noticing he was looking at his watch, he asked, "Are you waiting for somebody?"

"Our wardrobe designer... for some fitting..."

"Will that take you a long time? When does he come?"

"In fifteen minutes..."

"Well... I can wait in the other room; I have all the morning free."

"No... The fitting will take me much time, I'm afraid. I'm sorry, but I was waiting for you tomorrow afternoon..."

"What did you mean, before, when you said it was not my turn?"

"Nothing... I'm just a little drowsy, I talked haphazardly."

The wardrobe designer, Enrico thought. A twenty eight years old man; he caught a glimpse of him several times... He was going for the fittings there, in his room... Weird! Why not in the dressing room in the theater? Enrico felt a pang of jealousy - a handsome young man, there...

"But you... what fittings are you talking about? And why here, in your room?" Enrico hesitantly asked.
"I was waiting for you tomorrow..." the man repeated, ill at ease.

"You and that young man, then..." Enrico said looking him in his eyes, anxiously.

"Enrico, try to understand..."

"Understand? What do I have to understand, that you make him bang you too? And who else? How many more?"

"But what? Do you believe that it could be enough for me doing it with you just two or three times each week? I like you very much, yes, but... of course I have others, as long as my body is young and desirable... Beauty and youth elapse even too fast, don't you know? I have to profit, as long as I'm still pleasing. How many more? The most I have the best it is, Enrico. The wardrobe designer, one of the waiters of this hotel, the son of my impresario... and at evening, after our performance, some of my admirers, not less than two each day, Enrico."

"And you said you loved me!" the young man accused him, bitterly.

"And I love you, but you are not always here for me."

"But what does it mean to you, then, to love?"

"I like how you mount me, how you bang me! You are a young bull."

"Yes, and you... you are a cow in heat!" retorted with rage and scorn Enrico, feeling on the brim of tears.

Otello smiled, "Yes, why not, a cow in heat surrounded by bulls in heat. Nunzio, the waiter, is married, he has two sons. He says he likes best banging me than his wife. I like being banged and you know how to bang, you are skilled. But it's not only you who exist. You have a very good
cock and you use it in the right way, but yours is not the only one, luckily."

"And you said you loved me..." Enrico repeated feeling emptied.

"Come on, Enrico! You really couldn't believe you only existed, could you? I like you, I really like you a lot or else I would not have continued having sex with you for almost two years..."

"You rather like my member!"

"Yes, sure, I like it. I like sucking it, I like the feeling of it sinking inside me, and how it hammers into me. What more? Didn't I always give you pleasure?"

"You told me you were mine!"

"And I am yours... while you bang me. I'm yours!"

"You are ready to be banged by the first passerby who wants to amuse himself inside you!"

"Why, didn't you amuse yourself inside me?"

"But I loved you. I was in love with you..." Enrico sadly said, shaking his head.

In that moment someone knocked at the door.

"I must be going, then!" the youth said.

"Will I see you tomorrow afternoon?"

"I don't think so."

They knocked again.

"Go and open the door." Enrico said.

The wardrobe designer entered.

When he saw Enrico, he stopped, disconcerted, but then opened in a wide smile, "You didn't tell me it was a threesome, today, Otello! Mmmhh, no bad at all, the boy, I should say! He too takes it up his ass?"

"No... He is going away..." the actor said, somewhat embarrassed.

"Yes, I take it also up my ass, but not by you. You should content yourself to mount him, I regret." Enrico dryly answered.

The wardrobe designer took his arm looking at him with a smile and with his other hand groped Enrico's crotch, "You seem well endowed. I like both ways, why don't you mount me while I mount Otello? It would be amusing." he proposed with a lusty look.

Enrico wriggled away, "No, look for somebody else for your threesomes." he said and went out of the room, going hurriedly home.

On the way back, he met Samuele.

"Enrico! What a pleasure meeting you! It is almost ten days we don't see each other. But... what face you have! What happened?"

"Oh, Samuele... Nothing, it is nothing."

"Come on! You have such a look... as if you were about crying."

"That's so..."

"Some problems? Besides being cousins, we are friends, aren't we? If you would tell me..."

"Do you have time? Take me somewhere... where we can talk in tranquility..."

Samuele took him in a cafe and asked for a reserved room. Here Enrico told him the burning delusion he received from Otello.

Samuele listened to him then said, "My poor Enrico. I can understand you. But what could you expect from an actor? With theatre people one goes just to amuse himself, one should never fall in love."

"It seems that I always fall in love with the wrong people..."

"You are still young, come on! And then, for people loving his own gender, everything is more difficult. But you are a dear boy, and sooner or later you will find somebody able to give you true love. I too loved you, in a way. It's not worth feeling so bad, for that actor."

"I fooled myself..."

"That's right."

"Because... I need love."

"And who doesn't need it, my friend?"

"You, at least, found it."

"Do you believe so? No. I found a woman, a good wife, a worthy mother for my children the day we will have some, a nice companion. But love... There was more love between you and me, believe me. Between me and my wife there is affection, and this is better than nothing. She doesn't cheat on me, I don't cheat on her. But love... I believe that one human being in a hundred has the privilege to know real love and to keep it for all his life. And possibly even less than one in a hundred..."

"Therefore, how can I expect to be that one in a hundred?" Enrico commented with a bitter accent.

"And finding the other one in a hundred, this is the problem. For a true, deep love, you have to be in two and so the probabilities became one in ten thousand..."

"Samuele the mathematician..." Enrico smiled.

"Oh, good, at least mathematics had the power to make you smile! Come on, Enrico try not to be too much upset. Life goes on, doesn't it? Just think that the actor... didn't deserve you. And this is true."

"Thank you Samuele, it made me feel good talking with you. The biggest problem for us who love our same sex possibly is to have somebody with whom we can talk about what we feel, face, and experience. Talking is a healing thing..."

"You know that you always can talk with me, don't you?"

"Yes, and I am grateful. And I am also grateful because you don't repudiate what was between us for some years."

"Repudiate it? How could I? I too wanted it, I too enjoyed it? It would be not honest nor towards you and neither towards myself. Come on, Enrico, never lose your beautiful smile. Learn from this event not to fool yourself, but continue in your search for love with faith..."

"Also if I have a possibility of one in ten thousand?"

"Also, sure!"

That dialog made Enrico feel good, and even more than the words, the affection that Samuele showed him.

He immersed himself in his studies and in attending the political group and his friendship with Carlo Poma grew stronger.

Uncle Phil's Ranch

by: Derrick

Hi, my name is Derrick. I am eighteen and beginning my freshman year at a Texas university, the same one my father attended. I want to tell you the story of this past summer where I had my "awakening" and learned about love.

My life really took a turn the summer after my fourteenth birthday. My parents decided to take a three- week European vacation and planned on dragging me along to see all the museums and cathedrals. That definitely was not my idea of a fun summer. I thought I was old enough to stay on my own for that short of a time.

They thought differently. We finally agreed that I could spend the time with dad's much older brother, Uncle Phil, at his ranch in Texas. It was my opinion that "cow country" was only a little better than Europe. I finally agreed when it became clear I wasn't going to get to stay by myself.

I hated my first week in the raw country. I mean, like I came from a very small city in Indiana, but Uncle Phil's ranch was in the middle of fucking nowhere. No one my age around for miles.

Things soon changed as I realized my Uncle was a lot more fun than my "strictly business" dad. He taught me how to fish, hunt rabbits at night from the truck and best of all he taught me how to drive the truck, letting me take it all over the ranch. He even gave me one of his horses and bought me a saddle that would always be mine. At the end of my short three weeks, I didn't want to go home and my Uncle helped me talk my parents into letting me remain the whole summer. I had a blast.

When I did arrive home in time for school, my parents thought I had matured. My friends were impressed with my Texas tan, my boots and Stetson. In fact I had put on a few pounds while down there. Uncle Phil and Aunt Martha had retired early from the banking and oil business and
didn't do much of any work anymore. They had built quarters behind the garage and hired an old Mexican couple as cook and handy man. Boy could Maria cook. I had never even heard of BBQ goat before, but I loved it. I loved everything she cooked and it made her happy to see me devouring everything I could get my hands on.The next summer my parents let me return to the ranch. And the next, and the next.

I began to grow into a very handsome young man, but I had never given any thought to my sexuality.

When I first hit puberty, I had played around with a fewof my friends but nothing more than jacking each other off. Gradually, we all started to take interest in girls. Maybe, I should say the girls were taking an interest in me. My body had developed quite a few muscles from all my summers of hard work at the ranch. I had my chores just like I was his son and had started to
like working with the hired hands hauling hay and mending fences. Even had to help with some of the animal birthing including sticking my arm up a mare to check the colt. Gross!

I never dated any girl for really a long period of time because others were always chasing me. Another reason was, I didn't seem to be crazy about making it with girls as most of my friends were. I mean, it was okay to fuck, it felt good and all that, but I was just not as consumed about it as they were.

In fact, I spent more time thinking about my summers at the ranch than I did about chicks. Eating pussy was really gross to me although I did like for them to give me head. This one particular girl really enjoyed sucking my cock more than fucking. She always creamed in her
panties at the same time my cum flooded her mouth. She usually wanted to kiss right afterwards but I couldn't - It was just too gross with the remains of my cum in her mouth. But she did teach me another trick.

When it would take me a long time to shoot off, she would slowly insert her finger in my asshole. The first time it hurt like hell but it made me blow my nuts immediately. It got to where I needed her finger in there to get off. It wasn't long before I was ramming my own finger up my ass when I jacked-off.

I never considered putting anything else up there though. Strangely, I never thought about girls or boys when I beat my meat - just how good it felt for my hand to be jacking it.

By the time of graduation, I guess I was one of the best looking guys in school. I knew I was but I tried to keep things in perspective and not let it go to my head. I'm six foot tall, 175 pounds (all solid muscle), with black hair and bright green eyes (some people accuse me of
wearing high color contacts).

For graduation, my parents had given me a new Jeep. It took a lot of persuasion on my part since they didn't think it was safe. They finally gave in when I pointed out that people in Texas drive trucks more than cars. Besides, the Jeep would be great for back roading around
the ranch.

I cram-packed all my belongings into it and headed for Texas for another summer at the ranch before I started college about a 100 miles away from Uncle Phil's. I looked like a red Gypsy wagon going down the road.

When I arrived at Uncle's, I was disappointed to learn that Maria's husband had taken very sick and they had returned to Mexico. They had hired another Mexican family to replace them but they came with a son the same age as I.

Uncle Phil explained they had not finished adding a room to the quarters for the boy, so if I wouldn't mind, we would have to share the same room in the house for a couple of weeks. I didn't mind since the room was furnished with bunk beds. The only problem would be me finding the privacy for jacking-off.

When I first met the son, Alex, I was a little surprised. He looked more like 14 instead of 18. Maybe 5'4,"125#'s with really black hair and big dark brown eyes. His heavy eyebrows almost met in the middle. His nose was small and upturned. His face reminded me of some angelic altar boy. There was a sadness in his eyes even though he readily smiled. He could speak enough English to get by but sometimes you had to rephrase things or repeat them several times for him to understand.

We got along okay but he was extremely shy and introverted.. It was more like having a younger brother than a friend my own age. I really didn't mind too much, because as an only child, I had always wanted a younger brother to look after.

We didn't have very much in common but at least he was someone my age to hang with. He was so shy he wouldn't even strip to his briefs for bed until the lights were out. When they were, it was zip and he was up the ladder and under the covers before my eyes could adjust.

I realized my body probably made him a little self-conscience about his smaller statue. I had caught him on more than one occasion, sneaking looks at my crotch when I would be in my snug BVD's. I tried to reassure him that I really did like him by putting my arm around his shoulders whenever the opportunity presented itself. That seemed to relax him some but he was still too shy to undress in front of me. It became my goal to make him feel comfortable enough to do it.

The third week I was there, I suggested that we should go fishing and camping for the weekend at the lake that was about a mile and half away thru the woods. Uncle Phil and his parents agreed. His mom made sure we had plenty of food packed in case we didn't catch any fish.

We loaded down the Jeep with camping gear and headed out. The lake was small and private as it was totally on my uncle's land. I had this favorite spot with a great clearing near the shore. I had skinny dipped there many times.

Alex was suitably impressed with the site. In an hour we had the tent and our campsite set up. A little later we settled in for some serious fishing from the shore. After about an hour of no fish, we became bored. I suggested we go for a swim and he agreed.

I stood up, dropped my shorts and briefs. He had already jumped in the lake still wearing his cut-offs. We swam, splashed, played and dunked each other, just as boys are supposed to do. When we were finally decided to get out, my dick was pretty shriveled and my balls were pulled
tight.

"Okay, Alex, time to get out those wet shorts.... we can hang them over there to dry."

"No, I'm okay," he replied.

He still wasn't going to do it.

I lunged at him and had him in my powerful grip before he knew what was happening. My free hand was hastily removing his cut-offs as he pleaded, "No, pleeeaze, don't." I wouldn't take no for an answer and proceeded to pull them to the ground.

With my foot I managed to remove them completely from his ankles. I let him go, he stood there in front of me in briefs that were at least a size too big (they had trouble staying on his hips) with both hands covering his crotch. I thought, what the hell, I can't stop now. He read my mind and tried to run. He didn't make it 10 feet. Off came the shorts. He was screaming "No, No, No," as I pulled his hands away from his crotch.

When I looked down at his groin, I was shocked. His dick was extremely small... so small that it was almost hidden by his thick pubes. I didn't see any balls either. Heck, Alex was smaller than I was when I was 14. I looked into his eyes and saw the tears starting to form. I felt really bad that I had embarrassed him so. If I had known then what I learned later, I would never have done such a thing.

Alex had a triple cross to bear. First, he had been circumcised when he was 6 for medical reasons, which made him very different from other Mexican boys. Second, as he got older he was shorter and skinnier than other boys his age. Third, his cock and balls were really small. He was considered a freak by some boys and had been teased by others that he would never satisfy a
woman with his "boy dick." He was still a virgin.

I felt so bad for what I had done that I reached out and hugged his nakedness to mine. He responded by throwing his arms around me tightly. I wanted to hold and protect him from further harm. We stood in our embrace for long moments. He shifted slightly and I felt his cock
starting to grow hard against my leg. I felt my groin start to stir.

I was surprised by my growing erection as well as his. I couldn't let go of him no matter what happened. I picked him up and moved to where our blankets had been spread on the ground. I forced him down until we were laying side by side in our embrace.

Slowly, he slid his hand down my back and around to the front. He pulled his head back, gazing directly into my eyes as his small hand slipped between out hot bodies. His fingers found their goal and wrapped around my hard meat. I couldn't hurt him more by moving his hand or not
touching him, so I quickly reached and took his extremely hard four-incher in my hand. His eyes closed as he started to suck his lower lip. We both gently started to massage each other's manhood. It felt wonderful.

Slowly, Alex started to slide down my body causing my hand to lose contact with his dick. He curled up beside me with his head laying on my stomach. He was still slow stoking my cock and slowly lowered it to his face. Gracefully he moved his face forward and without hesitation sucked the head into his eager mouth. He sucked lightly. Shifting slightly, he moved further down
taking as much of my throbbing cock as he could, deeper until it hit the back of his mouth. He was so lightly sucking, I had never felt anything like it before.

There was something different in his manner. Worship and love is the only way to describe what his hot sucking mouth was doing to me. I placed my hand on his shoulder and whispered for him to stop as I was about to cum. He nodded slightly as he increased the wet suction. I could
wait no longer and forcibly erupted massive shots of cum into him as he gagged and gagged. His body was trying to throw up but he wouldn't come off my dick. Some of my cum that he was trying to swallow was ejected through this nose as he convulsed. I felt his hot cum drops spraying my legs as he wildly jerked himself.

I lay, with Alex still clinging to my side, in magnificent ecstasy, realizing that I had never felt so
complete in my life. I wanted to return the feeling and rolled him to his back. Without ceremony, I went straight for his softening cock, sucking it totally into my mouth in one motion. I heard his gasp as I greedily worked his dick with my mouth.

I had no experience sucking cock but found his four inches easy to take completely in my hot mouth. I just held it there and sucked like I was trying to get a thick milkshake thru a straw. I wanted him to feel as good as I did. He started to buck and push against my face. My nose was buried deep in his pubes as I had no problem keeping his whole length in me. I wanted his cum.

I could taste the remnants of his spent load and wanted more. Surprisingly, I got my wish very quickly and he humped another volume of his sperm. Most of it went straight into my throat but I managed to back off and captured the last squirts on my tongue. As I let him slip from my mouth, I moved up and hugged his heaving body to mine.

After we had rested for some time, we took another swim to clean our bodies. This time he made no attempt to cover his nakedness. His eyes had gained a sparkle and he smiled continuously. We then devoured some the food his mom had made.

Alex just sat there looking at me with those big brown eyes. I could feel the love and admiration that radiated from him. I thought to myself, if this continues when we get back, someone is going to suspect something.

We spent the afternoon fishing, catching nothing big enough to keep, and exploring the surrounding area. That evening, even though it was still quite warm, we built a nice fire. We sat naked, like we had been all day, roasting wieners and toasting marshmallows. I had brought along a portable radio and was playing some of the country music I had become to like so much.

Some of my friends back in Indiana thought I had become a real nerd about the music. Alex seemed to like it a lot. He had moved closer to me to enjoy the moment to the fullest. As the fire started to die-down, we had laid-back to enjoy the stars on this clear June night. My arm was under Alex's neck as he rested his head against my shoulder. Amazingly enough, neither of us had an erection. We just lay there enjoying the beauty of the world around us.

As we enjoyed the beauty of nature, Alex divulged all his darkest secrets about his size, genitals and all the teasing he had been subjected to. I asked him if he was gay. He shrugged he didn't know but would really like to be like me in every way. Then no one would ever tease him and his dick would be big enough for fucking. I tried to assure him he was big enough for that, but he wasn't buying it. He asked me if I liked guys. I tried to be honest, telling him I had never really considered it but that I had really liked what we had done earlier. He said he did also.

As the fire started to flicker its life away, the bugs of the night began to become bothersome. We decided to retire to the tent for protection.

When we setup camp earlier, we had put our bedrolls on opposite sides with a path between. Alex surveyed the situation and looked at me with pleading eyes, not saying a word. He didn't need to, I understood. I moved my roll closer to the center. He smiled as he quickly moved his next to mine.

Since it was still warm, we lay on top of our rolls. The stars were bright enough to give a faint glow through the tent. I was sure Alex's cock had started to harden but couldn't be sure because of his really big bush. Now, I was a little envious of him, he must have three times the crotch hair as myself, although he was hairless elsewhere except under his arms where he matched me hair for hair. My cock was definitely rock- hard as I thought of having sex with him.

Alex rolled to his side and placed his hand on my chest. I didn't object as my heart started to beat faster. I am sure he felt it pounding and moved his face to one of my nipples. He was using his tongue and mouth to lick and suck at the same time. He slid his body atop me with such ease and grace. The heat of his body was blending into my being. I took his head in my hands, urging him upward. For the first time in my life, I really wanted to kiss someone long and hard. I had kissed a lot of girls but never had the passion been this great.

He moved quickly, smashing his lips against mine with force. He began to suck my tongue with abandon as it entered his hot wet cavity. I retreated and sucked his into mine. Our salvia mixed into a wonderful nectar. We kissed long and hard for what seemed like forever. His hot meat pressed against my hard stomach as my throbbing tool glided between his thighs.

I knew if we didn't stop that I was going to cum and I wanted it to last much longer. I rolled us to our sides and broke the passionate kissing, but giving him a few more pecks on the lips to let him know everything was still alright. My hand began to explore his trim torso as his did mine. We ended at each other's cock with loving squeezes.

It felt that his was a little larger than earlier. He must be as turned on as I am. Alex shifted into a 69 and began his slow sucking, pulling as much of my meat into his mouth as he could and still suck. His hard member was poking at my lips. As I readily accepted him fully into mouth, a no-brainer hit me - I knew how to make this guy's day the most pleasurable he had ever known.
His hard little cock wasn't that much bigger than my finger and I knew where I wanted him to put it.

I broke our 69 and went for the suntan oil in my bag. I filled my hand and reached for my cock. Alex pleaded,
"No, Pleeeaze, No, you too big for me butt."

He was looking at my eyes, pleading with his, and didn't notice my hand slipping down to lube my asshole. I put more oil in my hand and started to lube his hard throbbing little cock. He was shocked, not sure what was going to happen next. I swiveled around, putting my legs on each side of him and helped him to his knees. I pulled my legs up and raised my hole to his cock.

"Fuck me in the ass, Alex - I want to be your first," I commanded. He hesitated from surprise.

I pushed against him harder, "Fuck me, I want your beautiful cock all the way in me while I jack-off. I want you to fuck your hot cum deep inside me. We can be one."

That did it, he fully rammed his tool in my tight ass in one sure swift stoke. I felt his pubes grind into my ass cheeks. God, it felt so good, nothing like a finger. Instincts took over and he started to roughly fuck in and out. He was pounding my ass with all his strength.

Every time he rammed me, it was like an electric shock when he poked my prostate. I knew he wasn't going to last long and began to frantically jack my engorged rod. I wanted to blow my wad close to his. It didn't take me long, I didn't hold back and blasted my heavy load.

His every thrust forced even more out my piss hole. My ass muscles tightened as I came causing him to ram me wildly. He made a final thrust and held as he emptied his nuts inside me. I could actually feel his love squirts. My own load had covered my chest and face - some even went over my head. I had never climaxed so hard in all my life.

With lingering further to savor the moment, Alex withdrew with a pop and collapsed on top me.

Finding my cum, he started to greedily lick. He licked all over me, searching for more to take.

When he could find no more, he moved his face close to mine. He stopped, waiting for approval. I didn't disappoint him. I placed my hands behind his head and pulled until our lips met. This time I wanted to taste my cum in his hot mouth. This was not gross - it was Right.

We finally broke our lingering kiss, rolled to our sides and fell asleep holding our love in our arms.

Later in the night, I was awakened by his soft mouth on my again hard cock. It felt wonderful, as I reached down to urge him to take more. To my surprise, my hand found his dick instead of the back of his head. Instantly, I knew the head of cock was in his ass.

"Easy pleeeaze, you so big" he whispered.

"Are you sure you want this?" I questioned, not wanting to hurt him.

"Yes, I want you all in me like I in you."

I reached down to feel his ass cheeks and found he had oiled both of us quite well for the assault.

I grasped his hip and started to move in deeper. He gasped and I stopped.

"Deeper, all it," he muttered thru clinched teeth.

I went back to making short gentle jabs, slowly sinking into him inch by inch. I couldn't believe how the inside of his ass was so hot and velvety. This was way better than any pussy I'd had. Soon, I felt his ass cheeks against my groin. "That's all of it," I whispered.

"Fuck me good, I yours" he breathed. I began to slow short stoke his hot tight chute, gradually until I was fully shafting him. He began to push back to meet my thrusts.

"Hard," he cried out in passion. I started to fuck him with hard ramming stokes. In less than a minute, I grabbed his hips and slammed my full length deep inside him - straining to get deeper and erupted my load into his bowels.

He moaned loudly as he pushed back trying to get me deeper.

I reached around him to jack him while my hard cock was still in his ass, but found a sticky mess as he had already blown his load. I started to withdraw but he gabbed me and begged me to wait. As my cock softened, he slowly slid off. He turned to face me and wrapped his arm over me.

"Derikk'," he said.

"Yes," I replied.

"I love you, I really love you."

"I love you too, Alex," I whispered back without hesitation. I knew it was true and I didn't care if I was queer for it. What had happened between us this day wasn't just sex, it was our expressions of total love.

You can imagine what the remainder of the summer was like. I am glad college is so close to Uncle Phil's. I plan on going back every weekend to be with the most wonderful person in the world, Alex, My Lover. I can't imagine getting off without his beautiful cock either up my ass or in my mouth. He feels the same.

My First Mate

Christmas is always a special time for family and friends, but that Christmas things were really humming in my life. First, I had just finished my last football season of high school by running in the winning touchdown in the district playoff game. I had scored before as quarterback, but never anything like that. Second, I had said goodbye to high school after my final exams were
over on December 22nd. I had taken the option of early graduation, and I was out of there. Most of my friends had finished at the end of their junior year, but I had come back to play football. That was all over, though, and I would never have to answer another fucking 7:15 bell for first period. I had already decided to work a year or a year-and-a-half before going to college, and I was looking forward to the adult responsibility, not to mention the cash, a job would bring. I was going to start looking right after the holidays.

Third, and best of all, the whole family would be home for Christmas for the first time in six years. That included my dad's step-brother, Rick, whom we hadn't seen since he had left for Key West when he was twenty-two, six years before. When he left, I was only twelve, and a very awkward twelve, at that. I couldn't wait to see him and hear all about his adventures running a charter sailboat in the Caribbean, and I couldn't wait to see his reaction to me. When Rick left home, I was maybe 5' 4" and weighed maybe 85 pounds. By the time I was eighteen, though, as I had been since December 7th, I was an even six feet and weighed right at 175. All the weight training and exercise I had put in playing sports in middle school and high school had done wonders for my body, and, with a body-fat percentage just under 5%, I was a lean, mean machine. Puberty had been rough, but it had left me with a cock that was a full six inches from root to tip--soft. And that wasn't even counting the foreskin that covered the head of my tool and dripped over about a quarter inch. When I got hard, I measured in at eight solid inches of length and almost six inches of circumference. My dirty blond hair, which, unfortunately (I thought) confined itself to my head, pubes, underarms, and face, looked good, especially in the summer when it tended to lighten considerably in the sun. The blond look, set against the tan
that I seemed to be able to get in a couple of hours of exposure to the sun, made more than one head turn when I walked down the mall or through some other public place. A lot of people thought I was handsome, too, but even I am embarrassed to go into the glories of my good looks. Yeah, right. Seriously, the handsomest senior guy in school was traditionally chosen as Homecoming King, and I had been chosen for that "honor" that year (What it really meant was that I had to stick around till the fucking end of the dance, instead of splitting halfway through the way everyone but the geeks had done.).

I was very pleased with myself (Is that the definition of conceit?) except for one thing. Girls. Oh, sure, I had fucked my share of 'em; every jock has to do that. But I never really cared for them as more than friends. When I did bag a chick, as we so delicately put it, I often found
myself thinking of images of guys I had downloaded from the Internet as I plugged them or ate their pussies. This one friend of mine, a boy whose name actually was Guy, and I had sucked and fucked each other a few times that fall, and, frankly, that was ten times better than coming into some cunt. I thought I was probably gay, and that kind of scared me.

Anyway, those thoughts were a thousand miles from my mind when I woke up on the morning of December 23rd. That was the day Rick was coming home, and I was genuinely excited. My two older sisters, their husbands, and their kids were already there. I had been allowed to move into the apartment over our garage the summer before, so their being in the house didn't really bother me. I woke up around eleven that morning--hard, as usual--made some coffee in the little kitchen in my place, and took a long, slow leak. It was in the 70's, as it often is in northern Florida in December, so I stayed in my briefs to watch a little TV, drink my coffee, and smoke my first cigarette of the day.

Nothing much was on TV, so I switched on my computer and went to the Badpuppy Web site. A guy on IRC had given me a user name and password, so I was able to get to all the "good" stuff on Badpuppy. It was amazing to me how huge that site was, and every time I logged on I found new pictures and videos and shit I hadn't seen before. It wasn't long before I had a raging hard-on, so I jerked off into the wastebasket (lined with a plastic bag) I kept next to my computer for that purpose, and trash, too, of course. I had a second cup of coffee, smoked another Marlboro, and decided to take a shower.

Just as I was getting out of the shower, the phone rang. It was my dad.
"Rick's plane is delayed in Atlanta," he said. "Can you pick him up at 5:30?" "Yes, sir," I said.
"Good. Your mom and I would like to get him, but we've got to be at the Adams' for their cocktail party. They're important clients, and we absolutely can't miss that."
"Yes, sir, I know," I said. In the South we say "sir" and "m'am" to our parents until they die. I was certainly no different from any other well-brought-up guy I knew. My parents were both CPA's, and they depended on people like the Adamses, who had like ten motels on the beach, to keep bread on the table.
"Will you explain the situation to Rick, Kevin? I know he's expecting us to be there to meet him."
"Yes, sir. I'll make sure he knows what the deal is. I just hope we recognize one another."
"Well, Christ, son, it's not like the Panama City airport is O'Hare."
"True. I'll find him, Dad, even if I have to hold up one of those tacky signs."
My dad laughed. He knew I would never do such an uncool thing in my life.
"Your sisters and Grammy are going with us to the party. The grandbabies are going to be with a sitter. Y'all can stop by the party, too, if you feel like it. On second thought, just bring him home. He won't be dressed."
Grammy was my grandmother, of course, my dad's mom and Rick's former step-mother. His real mother had been dead for years. Grammy was about seventy-five, then, and she had just returned from a seventeen-day cruise of the Mediterranean. She had buried both my grandfather and Rick's dad, and there was still plenty of energy and spunk in her. She lived in
Tallahassee, which is where my dad had grown up, and she, too, occupied one of the bedrooms for the holidays. Counting Rick and the two grandkids, there would be eleven of us at home for Christmas.
I got dressed and went to the mall to get a haircut. The place was packed, and I had to wait thirty minutes at Regis. I looked around some after my haircut, but the crowd was too heavy to spend much time there. I went across the street to Office Max and played around with the computers and shit for about an hour. Then I went next door to Books-a-Million and wasted more time there. When I finally thought to check my watch, it was 3:30.
I decided to try out my new fake ID at the Albertson's liquor store. I wanted to have a little something on hand, in case Rick wanted a drink. He would be sleeping in my place--in my bed with me, in fact--and I wanted to be a gracious host. I saw two guys from school in there, and we
just grinned at each other as we passed in the aisle. I bought a quart each of bourbon, scotch, gin, vodka, and rum, not knowing what Rick liked, and a case of beer. I ran my copy of my parents' American Express card through the machine, and the clerk, a black girl of maybe twenty-one, didn't even look at me. That place was just as hopping as the mall had been.

Back home I put my purchases away. I made some more coffee and sat down in front of the computer. I went back to the Badpuppy site and got some more pictures of hot guys, but, even though I got hard, I refrained from jerking off.
The airport was like twenty minutes from our house, so I left at around 4:45 to go get Rick. I was glad I had decided to go then because the traffic was heavier than I had thought it would be. I got there with fifteen minutes to spare, and, for once, his plane came in when they said it would.
I recognized him immediately, and I boned up in my jeans. I'm sure nobody noticed, what with all the activity of welcoming travellers. Nobody but Rick, that is. We shook hands when he came out into the terminal, and I grabbed his bag.
"Let's go get your luggage," I said.
"That's it," he said. "One carry-on."
"Cool," I said.
"You got a cucumber in your pocket, dude," he asked.
I'm sure I turned as red as the pack of Marlboros in my shirt pocket when he said that. I ignored the comment, and he laughed heartily. Once we were in the car, he said, "Man, I'm dying for a smoke. Can I have one of yours?"
I instinctively grabbed the box of Marlboro Reds from my shirt pocket and tossed it to him. He lit up, and I did, too.
"Goddamn, you're a fucking _stud_," Rick said.
I'm sure I turned bright red again. Here was one of the most gorgeous men I had ever laid eyes on telling me _I'm_ a stud. If I was a stud, he was two studs. He was twenty-eight, but he looked more like twenty-one or twenty-two.
"What the hell did you do, play football or something?"
"Yes, sir," I said. I knew that was wrong as the words were coming out of my mouth, but he was older and I was conditioned.
"What did you say?"
"I said 'yes, sir,' but I meant 'yeah, asshole.'"
"Well, thank God," he said. "I'm looking for a party-buddy. Not some guy who's gonna call me fucking 'sir.'"
"Shit, man. You know what the rules are here. I call everybody older than me 'sir.'"
"I'm just rubbin' your cock a little, Kevin. Yeah, I know the rules, and I'll be calling guys 'sir,' too, in about a half hour."
We both laughed, but I really wondered about the "rubbing your cock a little" comment. Shit, there I was, rock hard with my step-uncle in the car next to me, and he's talking about rubbing my cock. I was completely taken with this guy, and I wanted to pull over and do nasty things to his body.
"Can we stop at a store so I can buy some smokes," he asked. "I'm completely out, and I know you're not gonna want me smokin' all of yours."
I pulled into a convenience store. We went in together, and he bought a carton of Marlboro Reds, box. Well, at least we had that in common. Same brand of cigarettes.
When we pulled into the alley that runs down the side of our property, Rick said he didn't remember the place all that well. "Wow," he said. "This is nice doings."
"Thanks, man," I said, trying my best to sound and act cool. "The house is full, so you're gonna be sleeping with me in my apartment," I said.
"Cool."
We walked up the outdoor staircase that led to my apartment. He was in front of me, and I got a real good look at his luscious ass. Damn, it was fine. Real hard, and his jeans kinda seeped into his crack. Mine did that on me, but I had never before realized how sexy it looked. At
least, to me it did.
I unlocked the door and held it open. Rick went inside first.
"Well, shit, man. This is first class," he said.
"Thanks. I like it."
I showed him around. The tiny kitchen, the living room where my computer, TV, and stereo were, the bedroom, and the bathroom. That's all there was, but it was home to me. My mom had helped me pick out shit like curtains and the bedspread and stuff, and I had inherited some furniture that was already in the place. When we were younger, we had had a maid who lived up there, but the place had been empty for several years before I moved in.
"What is this," he asked, pointing to a picture on the wall.
"What does it look like?"
"It looks like Jane. Your grandmother. My ex-step-mother."
"Well, that's who it is," I said.
"Who drew it," he asked. It was obvious he was impressed with thepicture.
"I drew it," I said. "It was for an art class in school."
"Goddamn, man. That's a perfect likeness. You did that freehand?"
"Yeah."
"You got some real talent, there, Kevin."
After Rick had "stowed his gear," as he had put it, we went out into the living room.
"Would you like something to drink," I asked.
"Hell, yeah. Whacha got?"
I started with coffee and coke, and then progressed through the array of liquors I had bought that afternoon.
"Rum and coke sounds great to me," he said. I got up and fixed that for him. I made myself a real light bourbon and coke, too.
"Where are George and Debbie," he asked, referring to my parents. "And Jane? I thought she would be here, too."
I explained about the cocktail party, and he said he understood.
"Are you hungry," I asked.
"Not really," he said. "I had a late lunch in Atlanta. Are you?"
"I can wait," I said. Then I remembered I had some cheese and crackers, so I got those for us.
"So tell me about yourself. You got a girlfriend," he asked.
"Naw. Not really."
"You play the field, huh? Cool. Besides, you don't really need a girl when you've got Rosy Palm around."
"What?"
"Rosy Palm," he said again, and started doing the jerk-off motion with his hand.
I must have blushed, which, back then, was something I did often when any reference to me and sex came up.
"Come on, man, we all do it," he said. "Goddamn, you're cute. Do
you know that?"
I'm sure I blushed even deeper with that statement. He ruffled my newly-cut hair and laughed.
We both lit cigarettes and just kind of sat there. In a second, he stood up and took off his shirt. My eyes probably popped out of my head when he did that. His chest was as smooth as mine, but he had really well developed pecs and a ripple of hard muscle in his abs. What really got me, though, were the tattoo that encircled his left bicep and the gold rings that hung from each nipple. My cock, which had never really gone down fully since the airport, sprang back to life in three heartbeats.
"I'm not used to wearing much clothes," he said. Then, when he noticed me staring, "You like?"
"Y-Yeah," I stuttered.
"What do you like?"
"Well, er, the tattoo, and the rings. Did that hurt to have your nipples pierced?"
"Yeah, for like ten seconds. The tat hurt worse, but even that wasn't bad."
"I really want some just like that. I've seen them on guys in pictures, and they look so cool."
"Thanks. I like them."
"What do they do for you," I asked. "The rings, I mean."
"They're for sex, man. I can come just by playing with 'em. Or having some guy play with them."
I have no idea of what I must have looked like at that moment, but it prompted Rick to say,
"You know I'm gay, don't you?"
Ton of bricks.
"No, er..."
"Yeah, man. I've been out in Key West for years."
"Do my parents know?"
"Uh, probably. I never really thought about it. Jane knows. Do they know about you?"
"What do you mean," I stumbled through.
"You're gay, too, aren't you?"
What I had feared about myself was obviously perfectly evident to this man. His asking that somehow made it okay to be gay, though, and Ifelt like a huge load had been lifted from my shoulders.
"How did you know," I asked. All of a sudden I got really worried that my dark secret was, in fact, known to everyone.
"Come on, man. Straight guys don't bone up the way you did just by looking at a guy in the airport. You're still not comfortable with it, are you?"
My reaction embarrassed me. I started to cry.
Rick leaned over and put his hand on my shoulder. "Let it out, buddy. It's a relief, isn't it?"
I cried and laughed, and laughed and cried, all at the same time.
"Am I the first person you've told," he asked. I nodded through my sobs.
"It wasn't until I got away from Tallahassee that I could accept it, either, man. You will, in time."
"I'm just so fucked up, man. I don't know what the fuck I am. Jesus, this is hard."
"I know it is. But you've got someone in me who understands, if that helps."
I gradually settled down after that outburst, but I felt a whole lot better. My cock was as hard as it had ever been in my life, I think, and precum was soaking my briefs.
"Have you been with a guy," he asked.
I told him about the stuff I'd done with Guy. I spilled my guts out to him. I told him about my fantasies and about my interest in gay stuff on the Internet. I told him about my unfulfilling trysts with girls.
I told him everything.
When I had spewed out the entire contents of my psyche, he asked, "Do you find me attractive? Cause I think you're about the hottest guy
I've seen in years."
"I find you very attractive, man. But I think my dick already told you that."
He laughed. "Yeah, it did," he said.
Right then he got up and made us each another drink. My second one was a good bit stronger than the first had been. When he handed it to me, he leaned forward and kissed me squarely on the lips. It felt wonderful, and, in an instant, I opened my mouth for his tongue. He set his drink
down and sat next to me on the sofa. He kissed me long and hard and wet, and, God, I loved it.
When we finally broke the kiss, he said, "Nobody's got to know until you're ready to tell them, okay?"
"Okay," I said, and tears welled up in my eyes again, only this time they were tears of relief and joy.
"I'm gonna be here for a week, and I'm ready to do anything you want, okay?"
"Okay," I managed to say.
I was quivvering with nervousness and excitement. Oh, God, I wanted to do everything with him. Everything.
Just then I heard my dad's car pull into the garage under us. "They're home," I said. "We ought to go down and see them."
"You go freshen up, okay. You don't want them to see you with your face looking like that."
"Okay," I whimpered. I knew he was right, so I stood up to go to the bathroom to wash my face.
"Come here," he said. I walked over to him, not knowing what to expect. "This bone's gotta go, too, man," he said, rubbing my crotch.
"You need to get rid of that in the bathroom. Okay?"
"Yeah. I hear you."
"Now go get cleaned up. And, oh, change your underwear and jeans. The wet spot shows."
I couldn't believe what had just happened, but I did as he said. I was, like, on automatic as I went into the bathroom, jerked off, washed my face, put drops in my very red eyes, and took off my jeans and briefs. I started to wrap a towel around myself but figured "what the hell" and just
walked out without pants on. By then my cock was almost soft again, although not fully.
"Hey, Kevin. How'd you escape the knife, man?"
"What are you talking about," I asked. That's how na^Ëve I was.
"Your cock, dude. How'd you manage to get through uncut?"
"Not circumcised, you mean?" I had always thought that my foreskin was a liability, an embarrassment. There were times when I hated it, in fact. Being different in the pee-pee department isn't easy for a kid.
"Yeah, man. Jesus, in Key West, looking like you do, with a gigantic uncut cock, you'd be a god. Tan your butt a little bit, and you'd have every guy on the island at your command."
I didn't know how to respond to that comment. I hurried and got fresh underwear and some fresh jeans.
"Let's go downstairs to see 'em," I said. "Oh, and no smoking in the house. Mom's rule."
"Gotcha," he said, and we went downstairs to see the rest of the family.

My dad was just hanging up the phone when we walked into the kitchen
"I was just calling you guys," he said. "Hey, Rick. How the hell are you, man?"
My dad extended his hand with a major grin on his face. Rick took it, and they shook warmly. Then Rick said, "Shit, I want a hug" and threw his arms around my dad. Dad responded with genuine affection.
We went into the den where the rest of the family was waiting, and there was much hugging and kissing all around. Rick hadn't even met my two brothers-in-law, and he oooh-ed and ahhh-ed over the two grandchildren.
My dad made drinks for everyone who wanted one. When he had served all of us, giving me a plain coke, I snuck back into the kitchen, poured some of it out, and put a healthy slug of bourbon in it. Rick knew what I was up to, and he grinned at me when I returned to the den.
In a few minutes, my sisters each put their kid to bed. My mom had set out some food, so Rick and I attacked it. The others had eaten at the party, but we still hadn't had anything to eat.

That night was one of the best times I have ever had with my family. Everybody was in a great mood, and Rick and the others told one funny story after another. He talked about his charter business and about the pirates he had to watch out for in the Caribbean. I had always assumed Pirates of the Caribbean was just a ride at Disney World, but, apparently, they were real.
At some point Rick mentioned that his partner had decided to sell out to him and move on. He had functioned as first mate, Rick said, and he would have to be replaced. He looked directly at me when he said that.
That "partner" was probably a lover, and that explained Rick's sudden desire to be with us that Christmas--he had nowhere else to go.
During the evening, I had to explain about finishing high school and about my plans to find a job for a while. Again, Rick looked at me differently, and I wondered if he saw me as potential first mate material.
The party went on till around eleven, when Grammy said she had to retire. That kind of broke things up, and everybody else said they were real tired and that we had a big couple of days ahead of us.
Rick and I left by the back door. The first thing he did was light
a cigarette. I hadn't even brought mine, so he gave me one. We smoked as
we walked toward the garage.
"Did you get enough to eat," he asked.
"Not really," I said. "Did you?"
"Fuck, no. Cheese balls and chips don't do it for me."
"Let's go get a pizza," I said, and he readily agreed.

We didn't talk much on the ride to Pizza Hut, except for Ricksaying how great everyone looked and how much he had enjoyed the evening.
"You guys are about the closest thing to a family I'll ever have," he said.
I thought about that for a second and realized he was right. Both of his parents were dead, he didn't have any siblings, and marriage, at least traditional marriage, was out of the question. He was right. We _were_ his only family, and he wasn't related by blood to anyone.
After we ordered and the waitress brought us a pitcher of beer (my fake ID worked just fine, thank you very much), Rick said,
"Did you hear what I said tonight about needing a new first mate?"
"I sure did. Where will you find one?"
"That's a good question. My charter service is exclusively gay, so whoever he turns out to be will have to be gay. We rarely wear clothes on board, and the sex is pretty free and open."
"Damn, you guys all have sex together?"
"Yeah. Some guys are with their partners and don't participate with others, but a lot of gay men are willing to suck or fuck anybody, even if they're committed."
I was a little nervous that somebody might have overheard what he had just said, but I decided to pay my surroundings no mind. We were seated in the smoking section, and the other two or three tables in the place were all in non-smoking.
"That must be kinda fun," I said.
"It's a fucking ball, man, if you'll pardon the pun."
I laughed, and he did, too.
"So what does a first mate have to know," I asked.
"Well, you need a license from the Coast Guard, but you can get that in two weeks by attending a school they run."
"Do you think I could do it," I asked, hoping against hope I hadread his reaction to my plans correctly earlier in the evening.
"Oh, hell, yeah. It's not rocket science. Besides, I can really run the boat by myself. Having a mate is really window dressing my insurance carrier requires. You think you might be interested?"
"Well, fuck, yeah, I'm interested. What guy my age wouldn't be?Plus, I've done some sailing around here. I know the basics, I think."
"All _right_, partner. Put it there."
We shook hands and both grinned from ear to ear.
"You can leave with me when I go back New Year's Day. Is that okay with you?"
"Sure."
"Oh. Do you have a passport? You'll need to get one, if you don't."
"No problem. I've got one." I had been to Europe with a school group the previous summer, so my papers were in order.
"How's your Spanish?"
"Spanish?"
"Yeah. Do you speak any Spanish?"
"A little. I had three years of it in high school. I can get by, I think."
"Good. By this time next year, you'll be rattling it off like a native." Again he grinned.
I was so excited about all of this that I barely tasted the pizza I ate. He told me about all the places we'd be going on a regular basis, and I couldn't wait to get started.
It was after one o'clock when we left the Pizza Hut. On the way home, Rick said,
"Will you take me shopping tomorrow? I don't have gifts for anybody. I didn't even think of it until I saw all those packages under the tree tonight. Christmas hasn't meant much to me for the last few years."
"Sure, man. I'll even help you wrap 'em." God, I would have done anything for him. Christmas shopping, even on Christmas Eve, would be a piece of cake.

When we got home, Rick asked if he could have a nightcap, so I fixed a drink for each of us. Even though I had had quite a bit more to drink that night than I was used to, I didn't feel the least bit high.
"I'm gonna get comfortable," Rick said. He stood up and shucked his shoes, shirt, and jeans, and he wasn't wearing underwear. There he stood, naked before me. His body was deeply tanned all over, even his cock, and that particular feature interested me the most. It was about
three inches long in its flaccid state, but I knew that most guys get a lot bigger proportionally than I did when they get hard.
I decided to get naked, too. I wasn't at all shy about being naked in lockerrooms or public showers, so it wasn't a big deal.
"My God, but you're a hunk," he said when I was fully undressed.
"Come here. Let me see that thing up close."
I wasn't sure what he was talking about, but my confusion disappeared when he took my penis into his hand.
"This fucker is gorgeous, man. Are you aware of that?"
"Well, thanks. I guess. Nobody has ever told me that before."
"Well, get used to it, dude. You're gonna have guys worshipping it in a few weeks."
Rick was playing with my foreskin, pushing is back and exposing the head. As horny as I was, the least glance at my dick would have pumped it up, and what he was doing to it made me rock hard in no time.
"Nice," he said. "Most uncut guys don't have really big cock heads, but you're different. The head of your cock is a as big as an uncut guy, any day." I looked down and saw that his cock was as hard as mine.
"You like top or bottom?"
"Pardon me."
"Oh, sorry. You're not really into the gay scene, are you? You ever have sex with a man besides your friend?"
"No. Just what I told you about with Guy."
"He fucked you up your ass, right?" "Yeah, a couple of times." "Did you like it?" "I liked that best of all that we did, man," I said.
"Would you like me to fuck you," he asked.
"I think I would," I said. God, Rick, I thought, I'd let you do anything to me.
"Turn around and bend over. Let me get a good look at that bubblebutt on you."
I did as Rick asked, resting my hands on the coffee table in front of the sofa. He started caressing my cheeks, and, all of a sudden, I wanted all of him inside me. He spread my cheeks apart and very gently started touching my asshole. Whooa! What a feeling.
"Nice tight hole, it looks like," he said.
I didn't respond. In a second, I felt his hot, wet tongue licking my hole. I almost came. I took a few deep breaths and the urge to orgasm passed. He continued licking me and running his tongue up inside me. I thought I was in heaven.
"You got any lube? Any KY or Vaseline or anything like that?"
I had a tube of KY in the drawer of my nightstand that I used to jerk off with sometimes, so I went and got it. I also had the presence of mind to get a couple of towels.
"Are you sure you want this," Rick asked.
"Man, I'm so fucking ready, if you don't do it, I'm taking back your Christmas present."
That really made him laugh.
"Okay, you know what's gonna happen, right?"
"Yeah."
"I'm gonna lube up your hole, as deep as I can get it. Then I'll lie on my back and you can ease down on me. That way, you'll be in control. Is that okay?"
That was how Guy and I had done it. Rick applied the lube to my ass, and it felt so good, I couldn't wait. Then he asked me to put some lube on his cock. I was a little hesitant about touching him. He noticed and grabbed my hand.
"Slick it down, man," he said, and my hesitancy disappeared.
Rick suggested we get into bed. Duh. I don't know where my head was (yes, I do), but I thought that was a great idea.
We pulled back all the covers. Rick spread a towel on the bed and positioned himself on his back. I straddled him and slowly eased myself down.
"Take your time, now. It might hurt a little at first, but I guarantee you it won't hurt for long."
He rubbed the head of his cock on my hole for a few seconds. Then he inserted a couple of fingers into me. My cock was dripping precum, literally, onto his chest. Slowly, deliberately, I eased down onto him. I felt the head of his six-incher go inside me. Then I felt it start to
penetrate the ring of muscle. I knew to bear down like I was taking a shit (all those stories I'd read, plus a little experience, you know), and, to my surprise, his cock slide into me.
"Damn, Kevin. You're a fucking natural at this. Or a natural fucker. Or something like that." We both laughed.
"Ride it, man. Move up and down."
I knew that much, of course, and I did as he said. Slowly at first, and then with increased speed. I went up too high a few times, and his cock came out of me.
"I think you're ready for me to be on top," he said.
I got off his cock and onto my back on the bed. He got in front of me and raised my legs up onto his shoulders. He entered me again, and this time the sensation was better.
"I'm on your sweet spot, I think. Can you tell?"
All of a sudden, the inside of my body exploded in pleasure. "Yeah," I gasped. He laughed. "Now let me give you the fucking you deserve," he said.
Wow, what a time I had. I came in the hardest orgasm of my young life, but Rick kept right on fucking. I stayed hard, and, eventually, we both came at the same time. I remember thinking for a second that I was going to pass out. I didn't, though. Instead, I spasmed and shot load
after load onto my chest for the second time. Rick put my legs down and lay on top of me. He kissed me deeply, and I wanted that moment to last forever.
It couldn't, of course. Rick started getting soft inside me, and, in a few seconds, his dick slipped out. He used one towel to clean us both up. He told me to stay put, and he got our drinks and cigarettes.
"I can't wait to do it again," I said.
"Did you really like it as much as you seemed to?"
"Man, it was the best experience of my life. Thank you." I gave him a little kiss on the lips.
"You're a hot fuck, dude," he said. "And that's quite a compliment coming from this boy."
"Can we do it again," I asked impatiently.
"Tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. But right now,
I'm bushed. And we've got Christmas shopping to do in the morning." I knew he was right, of course.
"What time do you want to get up," I asked.
"Nine?"
"Cool," I said, and I set my clock for nine o'clock the next morning. Actually, later that morning, since it was almost three o'clock. I got up to turn off lights and to brush my teeth. When I got back in bed, Rick was already asleep. He was asleep on his side, with his butt
facing me. I spooned up against his body and enjoyed the warmth of him. In ten minutes or less, I was hard and asleep.