"Yeah, that's Mr. Aldridge. He's the New York investor for Dave. He's the one that's handling Tim and Johnny's money, too," Jason said.

"How do you know that?" Jake asked.

"Arlen told me."

That left Pete momentarily speechless. Since "the kiss" Jason had accepted Arlen's apology, but had seemed to have kept his distance from him. He glanced at Jason wondering when they had started being friendly toward each other.

Jason was looking elsewhere. Jake poked Pete's arm and asked him if he knew the man walking down the aisle with the stately woman in the blue dress. Pete looked in the direction Jake pointed and whispered, "Oh yeah, that's Jason's dad." He turned to say, "Jason your dad is here." But Jason had already left his chair to catch his dad and Liz before they found a seat.

Jake watched. "Damn, Jason does look just like that man."

They watched as Jason and his dad hugged and then as the woman hugged him, too. Jason led them back and introduced them to Jake. He was again complimented on his book. They both gave Pete a loving hug. Jake moved to the other side of Pete so Jason could sit with them and Pete.

Arlen settled in next to his parents. He'd looked the crowd over and saw Pete and Jason sitting with Jake. Then he glimpsed a man sitting with the Paolini family on the front row, next to an old man. The rest of the world just went away as he stared at him. There was something about him he found exciting. He couldn't have told you what it was, but he knew he wanted to meet him. He hoped that he might be gay. There was a good chance of it, he thought, being he wasn't with a woman.

He leaned over to his dad and whispered, "I recognize all the family except for the two on the end. Who is the old man and the younger one sitting next to him?"

Carl looked and waited to see a face before answering. "That's the Paolini patriarch, Joe and Johnny's grandfather. The young man next to him must be his companion."

"Companion? Isn't the old man too old for that?"

Carl laughed at his son. "His nurse, Son, the person who takes care of him."

Arlen mentally sighed with relief. "Oh."

"Good looking fellow, isn't he?" Carl asked.

Arlen blushed. "I guess so," he answered. He looked around the crowd, but his eyes kept coming back to the same fellow. Throughout the ceremony Arlen continued to watch him. As he watch the man he mentally dressed him in whites and realized he was the same man that was taking care of Pete while his arm was in that ridiculous cast. He wondered why he hadn't noticed back then how attractive he was.

Later at the reception, Papa Joe, the Paolini patriarch, was comfortably ensconced at one end of the main table with Jim, his nurse/companion beside him. He observed his young companion. Jim had caught sight of Jake and his new lover and was watching them interact with each other. He was unaware that a single tear had escaped his eyes and coursed down his cheek unnoticed except by the old man.

"Which one is he?" Papa Joe asked.

Jim's relationship with the elderly man had reached such a plateau of trust that Jim answered without hesitation. "He's the big guy in the brown suit next to Mr. Gate's personal guard, the big blonde guy."

"He's a good looking man. Why did you let him get away?"

"You know what I did to him. Besides, I couldn't give him what he wanted and needed."

"And what was that, Jim?" the old man asked.

In the months since Jake had gotten out of the hospital, Jim had stopped playing mind games with himself. He had done a lot of soul-searching and had learned to be completely truthful with himself and with those around him. Sometimes, it still wasn't easy to admit the truth to himself. He looked down at his fisted hands and then into the old man's rheumy eyes. He forced himself to say, "Love."

The elderly man strangled and cleared his throat noisily. He looked at Jim in consternation. "I think that's so much bullshit. You're the most caring companion I've ever had."

"Yeah, I am very caring for my patients. But I don't have it otherwise."

"You need to see a shrink," Papa Joe said in disgust. "There's something wrong in your head."

Jim shrugged and continued to watch Jake. He deeply regretted what he had done to him and was thankful that Jake hadn't carried through his threat to castrate him. He was happy that Jake had found what he needed. 'God knows the man he found is everything one could want or need,' he thought to himself.

Papa Joe watched Jim for a few moments and then got up, unnoticed, wandered over to his son's side to congratulate his grandson, leaving Jim, who was lost in his own thoughts, sitting by himself.

Arlen spent a few minutes with his buddies, Pete and Jason, but they were involved in crowd watching. He was really only interested in watching one man, so he wandered over to the side of the yard where he could see the fellow with the Paolini patriarch. When the old man joined the family, leaving his companion by himself, Arlen moved to where he was in the fellow's line of sight. When the fellow looked up, Arlen smiled at him and nodded. The fellow did the same. Arlen walked over and asked, "May I?" as he sat down beside him.

"Sure, no one else is sitting here now."

"My name is Arlen," he said as he offered his hand.

"I remember you. You're a friend of Pete's. I'm Jim."

Arlen nodded. "Yeah, I know."

The fellow took his hand. Arlen had thought he'd feel something special. He experienced nothing more than a warm, firm handshake. "It's nice to meet you, Jim. You and I seem to be on the fringes of "the family"." He used his fingers to indicate quotes.

Jim tilted his head and looked at him and then looked around. Even Jake and Charley were in the midst of the family talking and acting like it was their rightful place. He turned back and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you are right. Even my ex is right in there with his new lover."

"I would never have thought you're gay."

Jim raised an eyebrow. "That disturbs you?"

"On the contrary. I was hoping you would be," Arlen laughed.

Jim smiled as he reassessed Arlen.

"Which one is your ex?" Arlen asked.

"The big good looking guy with that tall handsome blonde. The one that looks like a cop."

"You don't mean Jake and Charley, do you?"

"You know them, huh?"

"Yeah, I know them. They lived with Pete and Jason until a couple of weeks ago when they moved into their own house."

"Pete and Jason, huh? And they never told you about me?"

Arlen looked at him a moment. "Oh, you're that Jim. Yeah, they told me."

"Yeah, I'm the stupid ex RN that drugged and raped his lover because he thought he'd like it, and ended up nearly killing him." He paused and studied Arlen to see how he reacted. Arlen just sat there looking thoughtful. Jim decided that he'd push him away rather than be rejected. "So why don't your just go back to you friends."

Arlen ignored the brush off and said, "You know, while everyone was saying, "Oh poor Jake," I was wondering how you were taking it. I think you were rather lucky. The backlash wasn't as bad as it could have been. How have you fared other than losing your license?"

"Why would you care? Of what interest is it to you, college boy?"

"Hostility doesn't become you, Jim. You were a nice guy there for a few minutes. I liked that guy."

Jim grimaced and turned away. "You don't know that guy or what he's capable of."

"So you're not going to give me a chance to know you."

"Why would you want to?" Jim glared at him and then turned to watch the crowd.

"Jim, Jake himself says your kink just got a little out of hand. Yeah, it was stupid playing with drugs. You didn't know what Jake's physical reaction would be. You've paid for it, so give yourself a break."

Jim turned back and studied Arlen who smiled at him. "You're not just some smart-assed college kid, are you?"

"Yeah, I am." Arlen grinned.

"I like you. How old are you?"

"I'm nineteen. My birthday is in December."

"Why would you be interested in me when you have all those young college studs available?"

"Well, for one thing, they're all smart-ass college kids and don't know anymore than I do."

"I'm eight years older than you."

"Good point. Look at my dad and mom. That's them sitting with Dave and Joe. Dad's sixteen years older than Mom and they have been together twenty-three years."

Jim watched the couple that Arlen had pointed out. It was obvious that the woman adored her husband. He turned back to Arlen. "Are you going to be as handsome as your dad when you get to his age?"

Arlen gave him a sassy grin. "Probably better looking. I've got my mom's genes, too."

Jim looked back at her. "She is a beautiful woman."

"Is that another round about compliment, Jim?"

Jim's countenance became grave as studied Arlen. "Fuck, you're probably the best looking dude at this shindig," he said.

Arlen blushed.

"You're cute, too, when you get embarrassed," Jim added.

Arlen folded his arms, scooted down a bit in his chair and stared straight ahead. Jim followed suit. Their shoulders and knees were touching and neither man moved away. Thus they sat and people watched, comfortable enough together to not have to fill the silence between them with words. Arlen's heart was doing flips, while Jim's beat steadily, happily. He was having a hard time believing this handsome young man had moved in on him.

Pete nudged Jason and pointed with his chin. Jason turned to look. "Oh m'god, leave it to Arlen."

"Can you believe they're just sitting there like an old married couple? Jim's sure not the same man that came to take care of me a few months ago."

"I know. I just wonder if he can let Arlen in. Jake could never get past his blockades." Jason said.

"Well, if anyone can get through to him it would be Arlen. He only has to wag his tail and look at him with his big puppy dog eyes."

"It's disgusting." Jason grinned belying the words. "They look like they've been together for years sitting there with those self satisfied smiles smeared on their faces."

Papa Joe walked over to the table where Jim and Arlen still sat. "You two, go home. My son can help me get to bed tonight."

"Are you sure, Papa?" Jim asked.

"Would I waste words? Besides, he was the one to suggest it."

Jim grinned, shook his head at the ol' curmudgeon, rose from the chair and offered a hand to Arlen. "Care to join me?"

Arlen grinned. "Damned right. Just let me say good night to Mom and Dad."

Jake watched Jim get up from the table and hug Papa Joe and offer his hand to Arlen. As they disappeared into the house he said a silent little prayer that Jim would be able to give the young man what he hadn't been able to give him. Maybe this time Jim would find the love that he had shied away from in the past. What Jake didn't know was that Jim was no longer the arrogant egoist. He'd fairly well destroyed himself and didn't have much self confidence left. He now could be a vulnerable lover.

Jim had assumed that eventually he'd get to a point where he'd go out again looking for someone. He hadn't felt just plain horny since the incident with Jake, but he did feel the need to be loved. This neediness disturbed him greatly. As a young man he'd always gone for older men. Being a big kid, men seemed to enjoy abusing him and belittling him. It was almost like he sought out the one's that would wound him emotionally, because three times he'd fallen for a guy only to be hurt by the guy walking away just when he thought he'd found a permanent relationship.

After the third time, he made the decision that he was not going to be hurt like that again. He started building muscle to complement his big frame. Soon, no one messed with Jim. Jim messed with them. He became like the men that had hurt him, a calloused controlling user. He took what he needed and gave little of himself in return, letting no one get close enough emotionally to hurt him again.

And then he met Jake. Funny thing was that Jake was younger than Jim. Jake nearly got through his defenses. Jake's loving, trusting, and in Jim's mind, almost needy nature reminded him very much of himself back in his early twenties.

Although, he could never let Jake see it, he'd come to love him. Jake had eventually walked out of his life leaving him to hurt again. He'd tried to blamed Jake for the hurt, but he knew that he'd caused it all himself this time.

And then Jim had pulled that stupid trick with the pills and really fucked up his own life. He'd nearly lost Jake as even a friend. Not only that, he'd lost the trust of every one around him, except for Papa Joe.

Jim, no longer the arrogant ass, had little self confidence left when Arlen introduced himself. He couldn't believe that he was taking Arlen home? Could he do this? Between Papa's verbal harassment trying to bolster his ego and Arlen's apparent desire to stay close to him, he figured he just might succeed this time. He was almost reluctant to let Arlen out of his sight when they left the Paolini's, fearful that he might change his mind and disappear. But he had his Harley and Arlen had his red Mustang. Arlen must have read his mind or felt like-minded. "Do you want to ride with me? I'll bring you back for your bike tomorrow," he asked.

Jim didn't hesitate. "Sure," he responded. He gave Arlen directions as they wended their way across the city. Arlen's football jacket was laying over the seat back. "University Football Star, are you?"

"Yeah, I'm on the team."

"What position do you play?"

"Wide receiver."

"I read somewhere that this year's team is one of the best in years."

'We're not bad."

"No, contending for one of the championship bowls is not bad." Jim said softly, almost to himself.

"Did you play?" Arlen asked.

"Yeah, but a knee injury my Junior year in high school put an end to it."

"That's a bummer."

"At the time I thought it was the end of the world. It's no big deal now."

When Arlen parked next to the house he was impressed with how Jim's place seemed so isolated and private from the rest of the neighbors. He imagined Jim tied to the bed with that castrator rubber around his scrotum, screaming his head off and no one hearing him. He shuddered. Jim looked at him in concern. "What's going on, Arlen?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"Okay." Jim paused. "Let's get one thing clear from the start. Unless you're just wanting a one night fuck......." Jim thought a moment. He hadn't considered that he might be just another notch on this pretty college boy's belt. "Is that what you want?" he asked.

Arlen, the arrogant football jock, felt naked, vulnerable. He looked at Jim's harsh glare, and wanted to quail, but remembering Jim's earlier openness he had to stay. "No, if it works out between us, I want a whole lot more."

It restored a good bit of Jim's self confidence to hear that. "Well, then, rule number one. We are up front and honest with each other from the get go."

Arlen nodded.

"So will you answer my question?"

Arlen nodded. He was hesitant as he said, "It feels so isolated here. I know there are houses on the other side of those trees, but it's just so private."

"Does that make you nervous?"

"No. No, it doesn't."

"Then why did you shudder?"

Arlen shuddered again. "I-- I had a vision of you tied up with that thing around your nuts, yelling for help and no one hearing you."

"Hmm. That is enough to make you shudder, for sure."

They both stared out the windshield in silence. Jim momentarily got lost in his own memories. Because Arlen didn't have any idea of what to say next, he started feeling uneasy. He didn't understand what the silence meant. "You asked me. I told you."

Jim looked at him, putting his thoughts aside, reached over and gave an affectionate squeeze to the back of Arlen's neck and then opened his door. "Let's go inside."

Once inside the house, Arlen lost the rest of his college jock attitude and became shy. Something about that shyness again bolstered Jim's confidence. He removed his suit jacket and pulled off his tie. Arlen watched with his hands stuffed into his pockets. Jim stopped and looked at him. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"No. I'm just not sure of what to do."

"Get comfortable then. Would you like something to drink?"

"I'm fine." He started taking his jacket off. Jim stepped up and loosened his tie for him. Arlen froze with the jacket hanging half off his arms.

"Relax. I'm just helping you."

Arlen let the jacket slip off his arms and fall to the floor.

"Are you afraid of my past reputation, Arlen?"

"Ye...No. I mean.... I don't believe you'd force me to do something I didn't......"

"I promise you, Arlen, I'll never do anything to intentionally hurt you. We'll never do anything sexually that you don't want to do. I will not dominate you. I'm through with that game. We will be equals, Arlen. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Arlen studied Jim, wondering if he really did understand anything that Jim was saying, and then it dawned on him. "You're going to let me fuck you?" The idea of it shook him. He hadn't really thought beyond just getting Jim's arms around him and kissing.

"Put bluntly. Yes, and I'm going to fuck you, too. Have you ever been fucked, Arlen?"

"No."

"What experience do you have?" Jim asked.

"I kissed Pete."

Jim chuckled. "How about with a girl?"

"I had a few dates in high school. I kissed them good-night, but not like I kissed with Pete." Why was he feeling like he was fourteen years old?

"I'll bet that Jason would throw a fit if he ever found out."

"Shit. He saw me do it," he laughed. The sound that came out was more like a nervous bark than a laugh. "He was one pissed off little fucker."

"I'll bet he tried to kick you in the balls."

"Nope, he packed up and disappeared for two days. It took offering a reward to find him and then a lot of talking to convince him that I was not competition."

"So that was what it was all about. SOP for him." Jim proceeded to tell him about Jason running the first day he was on the job taking care of Pete. His quiet baritone voice mesmerized Arlen. He didn't notice that Jim had completely unbuttoned his shirt and was sliding it down his arms, until Jim ducked his head and touched his tongue to his nipple. Arlen whimpered when he realized he was bare chested and his hands were caught in the shirt sleeves. Jim straightened up and looked him in the eyes. He felt a tenderness toward this handsome young man that he'd never felt before. He had a strong urge to just throw him down on the floor and ravish him and at the same time he was wanting to protect the innocence he saw in his eyes. He backed away from him.

Arlen looked surprised, hurt. "Why did you stop?" he asked.

Jim looked at him several moments before answering. "I want to do things differently with you, Arlen. I've fucked up every relationship I've had. I don't want to fuck up again. Let's sit down and get to know each other a little before just jumping into bed. We need to know if we even like each other before we blur everything with sex."

He pulled Arlen's shirt up and over his shoulders, then buttoned the two bottom buttons. Arlen didn't know what to feel. Should he be hurt? Was he being rejected? Maybe this was a good thing Jim was doing. He simply didn't know.

Jim took his hand and led him to the sofa. He sat down and pulled Arlen down beside him and wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close. Jim started talking, telling him about his past relationships, even how he'd fucked up so badly with Jake. When he wound down he asked Arlen to tell him about himself.

"There's not much to tell. I grew up in New York City. I was very protected by my parents. I went to an elite school. I've always loved playing Football. I've never told anyone that I'm gay, but after tonight I'm sure my dad has figured it out. I know he'll be very accepting, but Mom may have a bit of a problem. I really don't know."

"You know there may be some strong repercussions. Dave and Joe know nearly all the facts about what I did to Jake. They'll surely relay all that to your parents."

"I'm nearly twenty, Jim. I'm old enough to know what I want."

"That's true, but your parents are still your support base. And they will be for sometime to come."

"So do you think I'm too young for you?"

"God, Arlen, what a question to have to answer."

"I'll just go if you want me to." Arlen stood and started to pull away, but Jim held on to him and pulled him back down.

"I don't want you to go. Talk to me. Tell me why you have chosen me of all people."

"I guess I haven't really thought about it. I saw you at the wedding and you were all I could look at. At the reception I just had to meet you. I guess it was just a physical attraction at first. But I find I like you for yourself. Just the fact that you didn't take me right to bed says that you are kind and considerate. That I like. I find it really turns me on that you want to know me better. I still want to go to bed with you."

"Damn, I guess I was half hoping that the things I told you would turn you off."

"Why don't you like me?"

"What's not to like? I see this big handsome hunky football star that's hot as all get out. And then I find you to be innocent and a little naive. The contrast is such a turn on. You offer me your cherry, and in doing so, you get past all my defenses."

"So you do like me?"

"Yes, Arlen I like you very much. But I want you to think about what you want beyond a toss in bed. Are you willing to fight all the flack that's going to be thrown at you? Even your buddies, Pete and Jason, are going to give you a difficult time. I would imagine that your parents are going to insist that you not see me again."

Arlen thought about what would be happening. He grimaced and said, "Jim, I don't care what my friends have to say about you and me. And I believe I can convince my parents to not judge you until they know you. Yes, I am willing to fight for you."

Jim blinked back the sudden tears and smiled. The emotion was more than he was wanting to deal with, so he spread Arlen's shirt open and went back to licking Arlen's nipples. When Arlen groaned, he looked up and said, "I meant what I said. If I do anything you don't like just say stop and I will."

"God, if it feels that good, I'll never say it." He was struggling with the buttons on the shirt cuffs. When he got the damned things undone he let the shirt fall on top of the jacket. His hands, of their own volution, caressed Jim's back. His fingers ran through the short hair on his head. He grabbed him by his arms and pulled him up to meet his lips. "Kiss me, Jim. Kiss me."

Jim hesitated a moment. Kissing was too intimate. Kissing was opening the gates to all the emotions that had hurt in the past. And then he remembered how he'd fucked up with Jake. He was not going to make this all about sex with Arlen. He wanted more. He needed more, He needed and wanted the intimacy, the love. He removed his hands from Arlen's muscular bubble butt. One hand went to the small of his back, forcing Arlen's pelvis against his own as he straightened up, grinding his hard cock against Arlen's. The other hand cupped the back of his head, pulling him to his lips. His tongue darted out demanding entrance.

Arlen relaxed into the kiss and let Jim's tongue explore and then his own tongue copied what he'd learned. The kiss had Jim feeling like a horny teenager about to blow his wad in his pants. He broke it and pulled back to look into Arlen's eyes. They were both breathing hard. What he saw there was hot eager desire and something more. Something that made Jim feel vulnerable. Yes, he needed, wanted, desired with all his heart what he saw in Arlen's eyes. It scared him. He dropped his head onto Arlen's shoulder, fighting the warring emotions inside his head. He knew that if he was going to win this battle, he was going to have to surrender completely. He wanted to win. "I think it's time for you to fuck me, Arlen. Claim me," he whispered.

Arlen was a big football player, but compared to Jim he was slender and smaller. "Yes, I want to claim you, Jim. I want to fuck the cum right out of you. Make you mine." Arlen chuckled. He'd read that on Nifty and was getting a kick out of saying it. He told Jim about it and he chuckled, too.

Jim was ready to surrender. Arlen's hands were all over his torso. Jim's hands caressed Arlen's back. Down his hands went to the muscular globes of his butt, stopping to massage and knead. And then down further they went and grasped Arlen's legs. Jim needed to be loved, he felt that, despite his fears of being hurt again, he was going to have to trust Arlen. Jim lifted him. Arlen wrapped both arms around Jim's neck, and locked his legs around his hips. "Whoa, I thought I was going to----"

"Shut up and hang on. You are going to, in just a minute." Jim said, and headed for the bedroom. Their lips sought each other again. Jim backed up to the bed and sat down with Arlen straddling his lap. Arlen pushed him onto his back and lay on top of him. His tongue sought to duel with Jim's. Jim finally broke the lip lock and whispered in Arlen's ear, "Do it, Arlen. Claim me now."

"Are you sure, Jim?" Arlen asked, moving his knees between Jim's legs. He was so hard he feared it might break off if it was bent the wrong way.

"I'm sure." Jim said, raising his legs and resting them on Arlen's shoulders. Arlen studied the big muscular man lying so submissively before him, then reached to run his fingers over Jim's pecs. Jim drew in a sharp breath when Arlen circled his nubby nipples with his forefingers. Seeing the reaction he got, Arlen leaned down and scraped his tongue over one. Jim grabbed his head and held his mouth on it. "Oh yeah, use your teeth. Ahhh." Arlen ground the nub between his teeth fearful of doing it too hard. Jim's reaction made him impossibly harder. "Do the other one." Jim prompted.

Arlen moved to the other one. The feel of his hardness rubbing against Jim's distracted him. He couldn't help but hump against it. Their leakage made it slippery as Jim moved in concert with him. Arlen was really getting into it when Jim pushed him up. "I want you inside me. Fuck me, Arlen."

In the predawn darkness, Arlen awoke to more new sensations he'd never before in his life experienced. This time it wasn't sexual. The pillow he was hugging was warm and furry, and it was hugging him back. The heartbeat against his ear was so comforting. As his awareness expanded, he felt a leg laying over his own. His hardon throbbed. He could feel another one throbbing against his belly. It was then that his memory kicked in and he remembered last night. Jim. He contracted his rectum and felt a slight ache. 'I'm not a virgin anymore, in any way,' he thought. He recalled how well fucked he had been. He was still amazed that it hadn't really hurt. He moved his hips, rubbing against the hard phallus, feeling the hugeness that had been inside of him, and sighed contentedly and remembered how hot and moist it was to be inside Jim. His cock jumped at the memory. He moved his head slightly and felt a nipple against his lips and nibbled at it.

"Keep that up and you're going to get fucked again." Jim mumbled.

Arlen froze for a moment as he considered the consequences, and then stuck his tongue out and raked it over the tender nub. Jim bucked against him. "I'd like that, or we could flip to see who gets it first." Arlen murmured, and took the nipple into his mouth and worked it over. Jim groaned and pushed his chest up. "Turn over," he commanded. Arlen twisted around forgetting about the coin and ground his smooth butt against Jim's hairy crotch, feeling the hugeness that was about to invade him again. Jim's voice was a bit froggy as he muttered, "Eager fucker aren't you?"

"I'm not giving my butt to you to fuck, Jim. I want you to make love to me again like you did last night."

Jim stopped, his cock lay against Arlen's butt crack. "We were making love last night, huh?" Arlen couldn't see the smile on Jim's face.

He twisted in Jim's loose arms. "Were you just playing with me last night? Were you only fucking me? I gave up my cherry to just a fuck?" He started pushing away from Jim to get out of the bed. Jim tightened his hold on him. Arlen struggled to get his arms loose. "Let go of me, you ass hole."

"Would you stop struggling and listen to me?"

"I'm not sure I want to hear what you have to say," Arlen said, continuing his attempt to get free of Jim's embrace. "And if you don't let go of me I'm going to pee on both of us."

Jim let go of him. "Why didn't you say you had to piss. Hell, I do, too."

But before Jim could get off the bed Arlen had grabbed up his clothes, gone into the bathroom and locked the door. Jim walked over to the locked door and laid his head against it. "I'm sorry, Arlen. I've just got a sick sense of humor."

There was no response from the other side of the door.

"Arlen, please."

The door was suddenly opened and Jim nearly fell into the bathroom. Arlen's natural response was to grab him before he fell and discovered himself again wrapped in Jim's strong arms.

"Let go of me. Damn, you're like a fucking octopus."

"I'll let go if you'll promise to sit down and listen to me."

"Alright. Alright, I promise."

"Will you let me take a leak first? Promise you won't run away?"

"Go piss, Jim. I won't go anywhere."

Jim took time to brush his teeth before he went back into the bedroom. Arlen wasn't there. His shoulders sagged as he dropped onto the bed. He sat there a few minutes, occasionally sighing. 'God, I'm such a fuckup. Why'd I have to open my big mouth. Things were going so good. Arlen is so beautiful, so sweet. Yes, I was loving him last night, so why did I make light of it this morning? I'm such a stupid shithead.'

He reached for his jeans and lifted a foot to stick it into them when he heard a noise behind him and turned. There stood Arlen with two mugs of steaming coffee. He was naked again. Jim's eyes watered as he stood up. He dropped his jeans back onto the chair and grinned at Arlen. Arlen handed him a mug. Jim took it, staring into his face. "I don't understand you," he said.

"Jim, actions speak louder than words. Words can lie. A body can't. You are afraid of letting me get close to you. Yet that's what you want most. I reacted badly when you froze, forgive me."

"I guess we're both insecure in our own ways."

Arlen set his mug on the bedside cabinet and then took Jim's and set it next to his. He then stepped up to Jim and put his arms around his neck. "We were about to do something wonderful a few minutes ago. Do you want to continue?"

"Fuck yeah." Jim picked Arlen up.

"Damn, you are so strong." Arlen gasped, as Jim gently laid him on the bed.

Jim just smiled as he crawled into position between his legs. "Now let me give your beautiful butt some of the loving it's craving," he said.