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Keith lay on his back, with his hands behind his head. It was late morning, and he and Jak had left the bed only long enough to take a shower and enjoy breakfast, delivered by room service, before returning to the enormous bed. "May I ask you a question? It's about the hotel room." "Sure." Jak rolled onto his side, propped himself up on an elbow, and tenderly ran a hand over Keith's smooth chest. He paused to tweak a nipple, and grinned at Keith's indrawn breath. The night before, he had discovered unexpected depths to Keith's personality. 'He's so mild-mannered,' Jak grinned, to himself, 'but, get him naked, and he becomes a wild man. He's more Soren, than Soren,' he mused. "Did you rent this room . . . for a whole month . . . to impress me?" Keith asked, turning his head to look at the man who lay at his side. "It's beautiful, but I'd have been just as happy at a motel. You're what's important; not where we spend our nights together." Jak grinned, glancing around the spacious room. "It is nice. But, no, I didn't rent it to impress you. I vowed that . . . this time when I came home, and we were together, I wanted the two of us to be someplace really special, and entirely different from my friend's apartment. It was considerate of him to let me use the place, but . . ." Jak's crooked grin lit his face, causing his deep blue eyes to sparkle. "That place was an embarrassment, and you were very understanding." He ran a hand over Keith's flat belly, and toyed with the blond man's pubes, grinning when Keith raised his head to watch. "I wanted this time to be different," Jak continued. "Years from now, when we're talking about the first time we were together . . . it's going to be great to remember us being here, in this wonderful room, instead of a motel, or someone's trashy apartment. Maybe next time, we'll go someplace a little less . . . flashy. Who knows, though? Maybe not. I'm not ready to think about getting my own place, especially since I won't be there much of the time. "Right now, Levi . . . that's my boss . . . wants me down in Florida on a pretty regular schedule. I don't know if that will continue, or if I'll be spending more of my time up here. I go and do whatever I'm told." Jak grinned. "Did I tell you I'm under an exclusive contract?" Keith's eyes widened. "Sounds special. What's it mean?" "More money, for one. I'm guessing that he'll also want me to do interviews and stuff. I've already done one . . . with a German magazine. You and Dad are the only two people who know about this exclusive thing. Since everyone's not under the same sort of contract, Levi doesn't want anyone's prickly feelings to be hurt. I'm just telling you all this, so if I mention interviews or traveling and stuff, you'll already know why. I haven't been around long enough to know if the other guys are asked to do the same sort of things." Jak paused. "Um . . . I hope so. I don't want everyone looking at me as if I'm different. "If I have to do any sort of traveling, though, I'm going to see if you can be with me. That way, we can see places together. I mean, I've got to have some free time. I'd like to spend it with you. "Years from now?" Keith dreamily murmured. "Next time? Traveling together? You have everything planned out, don't you?" "Ummmm hmmmm," Jak responded, leaning close to nuzzle the crook of Keith's neck. "Y'know . . . you were pretty awesome last night," he said, in a low voice. "You are definitely a Class-A stud." * * * Steve stood on the front porch of his home, with his hands in his pockets, ignoring the bitter cold, and watched his daughter . . . newly turned eighteen, with nose still in the air . . . make a point of ignoring him as she got into her mother's car and slammed the door, with an air of finality. 'The poor girl's going to lead a very lonely life,' he thought to himself. 'Sooner or later, people are going to get wise to her. She's a leech, and will suck a person dry, then discard them and search for someone new to support her in the manner to which she would like to become accustomed. She's angry with me because I've refused to give in to her demands.' He shook his head. 'The poor girl. 'Getting what she wants might be a little easier if she had great looks or a fine intellect to fall back on, but . . . sadly . . . neither of those are something she can lay claim to. She's left with nothing but a loud, grating voice, and many ideas about how to spend someone else's money.' Rachel, Steve's wife, waved as they pulled away. He returned the wave, and, despite the circumstances, grinned with affection. 'Rachel and I may no longer be in love,' Steve thought, 'but at least we're still friends.' He heaved a sigh, as he entered the toasty temperatures of the house. 'I wish she wasn't so under Aubrey's spell, and could see what's happening.' He paused, struck by a thought. 'Try as I might, though, I am not disturbed by the prospect of Aubrey no longer being in my life.' He shook his head. 'In fact, it's a relief.' He immediately felt guilty, chiding himself for thinking such a thing. 'Fathers aren't supposed to think something like that about one of their children, but, if I'm being honest with myself . . . that's how I feel. She's been a thorn in my side for eighteen years. I've done my best, and treated her just as I did Jak and Rex . . . but, that wasn't good enough. She demanded special treatment, and that was something I wouldn't give.' Steve paused a moment, looking into his office, and toyed with the idea of watching one of his son's vids, but almost immediately rejected the idea. With Rachel and Aubrey gone, plus Rex spending a lot of time at school, in an effort to avoid his sister, watching Jak have sex made him feel more lonely than ever. 'I miss our man-to-man talks. I miss his enthusiasm, his laughter . . . his hugs. Damn,' he sighed, as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall of his office. 'I knew it was going to be difficult for me not having him around, but . . . now that he's found Keith . . .' He shook his head. "I'm lonely," he shouted, his words echoing in the abandoned rooms. 'Rex is right. I need to find someone my own age to hang out with. That's why I joined the gym. But . . . so far . . . nothing.' He grinned. 'Watching the guys in the showers is a real treat, though, and . . . who knows . . . I might meet someone, if I hang around in the showers long enough.' He grinned at the thought. 'Watching's not enough, though. I want someone to visit with and laugh with, someone to . . . hold, and, to hold me . . . someone like Jak. He was never afraid of physical contact. In fact, I think he needs it as much as I do. Rex is the same, only . . . geez, I can't let myself get sucked into having sex with my fourteen year-old son.' Steve looked into his daughter's empty bedroom and shook his head. 'If she could have ripped out the carpet and taken it with her, she would have.' He glanced at the door and smiled. 'Well, at least the doorknob's still here!' Steve walked to the center of the room and surveyed the empty space. 'I'm losing everything,' he thought. 'First Jak, then Rachel. This room is like me . . . empty.' He shook his head, and thrust his hands into the pockets of his slacks. 'This is stupid. I can't just walk from room to room feeling sorry for myself. Jak is building his life, as are Aubrey and Rachel. I need to get busy and do the same thing. Right now, though, I need to work off some of my anxiety. I've already been to the gym.' He surveyed the room, and had an idea. An hour later, he was busily painting the walls, grumbling about why he had ever allowed a room to be painted bright pink, when he heard the front door slam. "Helllloooo," Rex, his youngest son, called. "If someone's home, I'll strip and run around the house naked, so you can see my mega-sexy body. If no one's home, why bother?" Steve shook his head and grinned. 'He must have realized his mother's not here, or he wouldn't be talking about running around naked. That woman's almost as prudish as Aubrey.' "I'm back here," he called. "If you want to strip off, be my guest. It's only us guys, for the foreseeable future." He bent over to load his brush with more paint. "Whoa," Rex whistled, as he stood in the doorway to the bedroom and looked at his father. "What a sight!" He dropped his book bag to the floor, then slipped out of his coat, as he spoke. "Here I am, just moseying down the hall, minding my own business, when, wham, I see the sexiest man in the whole frippin' world, dressed in a pair of skimpy running shorts, bent over, showing me his butt's tan line, framed by the straps of his jock. The only thing that would be better than seeing him like this would be for him to be nekkid." "Hi, Rex! So I'm the sexiest man in the whole world, am I?" Steve laughed, as he straightened, then turned, intending to give his son a hug. Instead, Rex wrapped him in a tight embrace and kissed him. After a moment's hesitation, Steve relaxed and melted into his son's display of affection, welcoming the eager tongue and exploring hands. 'When did he grow to be so tall?' Steve wondered. 'I still think of him as a little boy, but no little boy I've ever known can kiss like this. Of course, I've never kissed any little boys, so what do I know?' "Whew!" he exhaled, as they separated. "That was exactly what I needed. I've been thinking how much I miss being touched and held." "Thanks for letting me, Dad," Rex smiled, absently adjusting the swell in the crotch of his pants, as he stepped back to survey the room. "Since you're getting rid of the disgusting pink paint, I guess she's finally gone," he said, glancing at his father for confirmation. "Now, we can have some peace and quiet, and I won't have to hang out at friends' houses until someone tosses me out into the cold. One of the guys' mom even asked if I intended to start paying rent!" He raised his brows. "Mom's gone, too?" "Yeah, your mother's helping Aubrey get setup in an apartment. No one's told me what the young lady plans on doing about finishing high school. The other news is that your mother told me she was considering accepting a teaching job in Detroit, just to be closer to Aubrey." "What does that mean . . . in the long term?" Rex asked, suddenly serious. Steve shrugged. "Hell if I know. Rachel's going to have to get some sort of job . . . to pay her bills and support Aubrey. Your mother's got a level head on her shoulders. She knows I was serious when I told both her and your sister that my support ended the moment either of 'em left the house. I was sort'a hard-nosed about the whole thing, but . . ." he shrugged. "So . . . today's the day. They've left, so my support has ended." He held his arms out to his sides and raised his voice. "I'm rich!" Rex shook his head. "Aubrey'll bleed Mom dry, then toss her out, the moment she finds someone else gullible enough to give her what she wants. Can't Mom see that no matter how much she does or how much she gives, it'll never be enough?" Steve took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. "Who knows? It seems perfectly clear to me. I can't speak for your mother, though." "What about you and Mom?" Another shrug. "We're good friends. We've never argued, or anything. I still care for her a great deal, just as I believe she does me. We've just . . . grown apart." Steve rested an arm across his son's shoulders. "Do you understand how that can happen?" "Yeah, I guess," Rex answered, as he held his father close, with an arm around the waist. "I sort'a wish Mom hadn't left, but, if what you two feel for one another has changed . . ." Rex's voice trailed off. "Does all this mean you n'I can sleep together on a regular basis?" He grinned. When he saw his father's expression, he continued. "Dad, like I've said before. I'm not looking for sex, though that'd be cool. I'm looking for the same thing you are. Our lives have been all upset; first by Jak going down to Florida, then with Aubrey's little displays of drama, and you n'Mom. When you hug me, it's like . . ." he shrugged, looking sheepish. "I don't know how to say it. It's like I'm not gonna be left all alone, or something. I feel all warm and . . . safe, I guess. I feel loved. It's a good feeling." He bowed his head. "I'm thinking that you need to know that someone loves you, too. "Y'know, I talked with a friend of mine from school, whose parents got a divorce, years ago. He told me that no matter how hard he tries, or how often his father has explained how things are to him, that he feels abandoned and unloved. He's got a great father, and he knows it. Still, that's how he feels. "The two of 'em are afraid to touch one another. I know my friend feels bad, and has started hanging out with . . . um . . . with sort'a trashy girls, just 'cause they'll hug him. He's gonna end up getting one of 'em pregnant. Then, he'll have to quit school and try to find a job to support a trashy girl and a child. All because he and his father are afraid to touch each other. "I'm not saying this kind'a thing will happen t'me, especially since I'm not excited by girls, trashy or not. What I am saying is how much I love you, and being held by you, and knowing that you love me back, and aren't afraid to show it." Steve cleared his throat, moved by Rex's words. "We make a good team, don't we . . . the two of us?" Rex answered in an uncharacteristically emotional voice. "The best, Dad. The best." * * * The night had been long . . . and exhausting, but Boyd wouldn't miss his early morning run with Levi's dog, Hector, for anything. The fact that he and Cody had spent the night together, breaking the rule about becoming involved with another model, weighed on him. 'Still,' he thought, 'it was worth it. I was able to get Cody to open up . . . plus,' he grinned . . . 'we had a good time.' Dave, in the role of chauffeur, a part he played every morning, stopped the car in the curving brick driveway of the sprawling house, and the four men tumbled out. Kip and Mark headed toward the studio to prepare for their day's shoot, while Dave cornered Cody and began showing him some sort of new gizmo he'd added to the car. 'He seems like a different guy, today,' Boyd told himself, as he watched Cody and Dave talk and laugh. 'As long as he makes some sort of effort, I think the guys will give him a chance. I sure hope so.' Boyd grinned. 'I saw a different side of him last night. He let me see the real person he's always tried to hide. 'I never realized how much everyone's treatment hurt him. To be fair, though, we guys didn't create the Cody we've worked with. That person was created years before. But, we didn't do anything to help him, either. "There's nothing any of us, you included, can do to change the past," he told Cody, in the middle of the night, as they'd sat side-by-side at the head of the large hotel room bed, holding hands, and talking. "The only thing any of us, you included, can do, is to start behaving differently today." Cody leaned his head on Boyd's shoulder and tightened his fingers, but remained silent. 'Is this f'real?' he wanted to ask. 'No one's ever loved me. Why should Boyd? What does he see that no one else has? My parents must have know, right away, that I'd be a loser, when they abandoned me to a life of growing up with a series of foster parents and their real sons and daughters. Yet, here's Boyd, saying something different. Why?' Cody kissed Boyd and stretched out at his side, afraid to touch the man with whom he'd had sex, for fear of rejection. 'The guys at work touch me because they're being paid to. No one's ever wanted to hold me, of their own free will. Why would Boyd want to now?' His breath caught in his throat when Boyd kissed him on the cheek, turned over onto his stomach, and rested an arm over Cody's chest, sighing, "This is soooo nice," just before he fell asleep. "Hey, Boyd!" Levi called a greeting from the porch, where he was having a cup of coffee and reading the morning paper. Hector, Levi's dog, bounded across the lawn and began sniffing at Boyd's crotch. "You've definitely got a strange dog," Boyd laughed, nodding a greeting, as his boss approached. "How're you doing?" Levi asked, as he offered Boyd a seat and a glass of juice, then ordered his dog to sit. Hector, like everyone who dealt with Levi, obeyed. "Um, doin' okay," Boyd answered, after studying his employer's face. "It's a strange thing," he smiled, accepting the juice, "Whenever I'm around you, I feel as if you know my thoughts before I do. How do you do that?" He hesitated, and lowered his voice. "You know, don't you?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued. "It was my fault, not his. He didn't have anything . . ." "Whoa!" Levi laughed. "There's no need to accept blame for something, when no one has blamed you for anything." "But . . . the rules? I broke them." Levi grinned, crookedly. "I'm glad you did. Boyd . . . Cody needs a friend . . . someone who'll stand by him and give him the courage to let his barriers down. I'm thinking that maybe you're the person to help him out. He's never said anything, but I believe he's been terribly hurt, in some way, while growing up. He's never recovered, and spends all of his energy trying to convince people he's a good man. The trouble is, he hasn't the skills to actually be a good man, and set the man who is hiding inside of him, free. You see what he has the potential of becoming, don't you?" Boyd bowed his head, the sun highlighting his black hair. "Yeah, I'm not sure, though, if I'm really seeing reality or am only seeing things 'cause I want to. He's pretty messed up inside. I realize that. I just wish he'd give me a chance to be his friend. Having a friend would be a good start. Once he's not wondering why, all the time, we could move beyond being just friends." Boyd stared across the courtyard's expanse of grass, then grinned. "I'd like that. "For a while, last night, he let his barriers down, just a little. Mister Witter, he . . ." "Levi, Boyd, not Mister Witter," Levi said, by way of a gentle correction. "For a while, last night, he seemed to be a different guy from the one he lets everyone see; yet, I don't think he ever really believed I wasn't ordered to pay attention to him, or that I had an ulterior motive. It's going to take him a long time to believe what people say when they tell him he's a good man. "Um . . . How'd you find out?" Levi grinned. "I didn't. I knew you met him yesterday, after his and my visit; but, that's all. I discerned the rest from your behavior. I'm pretty observant." "I'll say! How do you manage to watch everything we do?" Levi laughed. "I don't. A good bit of what I do is supposition. I've grown to know you men, and, most of the time, you all act in character. You're not the first man to break the rules, you know. However, you are the first to do so with intentions other than merely getting your rocks off." Levi studied the slender, dark haired man. "Have you ever stopped to wonder why I ask you men to avoid forming bonds with one another?" Boyd thought a moment. "No. It's a rule. I figured you had your reasons. Besides, it's not my place to question the rules. You made 'em; I'm sure there's a reason." Levi nodded, folding the newspaper and setting it aside. "The first group of guys I brought on board were a disaster. I didn't realize how badly things could get out of hand." He shook his head. "Those guys caused so much drama, it was amazing! They did their best to cause grief for the other men they were working with, all to protect their claim on one of the others. Petty stuff, which made life miserable for everyone. I never asked them back, and before I brought anyone else onboard, I tried to set up some rules. "So . . ." Levi added, in conclusion. "If you and Cody form some sort of relationship, I trust you'll be mature and do your jobs without a lot of side issues distracting everyone from what they're here to do." "Yessir. I understand." Boyd grinned. "It's a little early to be talking about relationships though. First he has to believe he's worth knowing. That may take some time. "He's afraid . . . of almost everything. He's afraid he's not good enough, not good looking enough, not sexy enough. He overcompensates, and, in the process of trying to convince everyone else how wonderful he is, ends up alienating everyone, which only makes him worry about everything even more. He desperately wants to be liked, but doesn't have a clue about knowing how. "I listened, a lot, last night, and tried to convince him that he is a good person. I encouraged him to lighten up and stop trying to prove how wonderful he is. He seemed to listen, but," Boyd shrugged, "who knows? If he is able to change, it's not going to happen overnight. I'm hoping the other guys will give him some slack and try to understand what he's going through." "Did Cody behave himself?" Boyd smiled. "I'll say! It was awesome. I was sort'a wishing we'd been filmed. It would have been a massively-hot vid. Then, I realized neither Cody or I would have prob'ly acted the way we did if you, or Dave, or Pete, were hanging around. So," he smiled. "I ended up being glad we were alone. We fooled around . . . a few times; but we had lots of time t'talk. Neither of us got too much sleep though." He lowered his voice. "I'm glad neither of us are scheduled for a couple days. I'm worn out, and he is, too; though he's going to do his best to pretend he isn't. Me . . ." Boyd laughed, "When Hector and I get back from our run, I'm going to search out an empty bed and take a nap. "So . . . you don't mind? F'real?" Boyd asked. "Does that mean he and I can continue to see one another?" he grinned, asking in a playful voice. "No, I don't mind. You probably shouldn't let on, though, about us having spoken. Continue behaving like you're sneaking around. Maybe that'll even make things a little more . . . spicy. Y'think?" Boyd laughed, and shook Levi's hand. "Thanks! I'd better take Hector for our run. Cody's been talking to Dave, so he'll be along any minute, and I don't want him to see us talking." "Am I that unapproachable?" Levi asked. "Um, no . . . just intimidating." Boyd laughed at his boss' expression. "I don't want Cody to think I'm in trouble, or, worse yet, that I'm reporting to you. Yesterday, he was convinced you'd sent me to talk to him. If he sees us talking, he might start to question everything I say. I don't want that. Thank you for understanding, Levi. I appreciate it. Cody's cool." He smiled. "Sort'a surprised me just how cool." "Yeah?" Levi smiled. "Yeah. I loved it!" Boyd grinned, laughing, as he waved over his shoulder and turned away. He jogged toward the studio wing of the house, followed by the large dog, carrying a Frisbee in its mouth. Boyd waved to Cody, as he and the dog ran down the street, until they rounded the curve, and disappeared. Dave watched Cody's reaction to Boyd's wave. "Nice guy, huh?" he asked. "Sort'a makes a person wanna hug him. You two getting along okay?" Cody tore his eyes away from where Boyd had turned the corner, and did his best to smile. Dave had never spoken with him, like he was doing this morning. "Yeah," he laughed, "a hug is a good way to start things off." He smiled, then reached out to shake Dave's hand. "Thanks for showing me those upgrades to the car," he added. "They look sweet." He gestured toward the gate. "I'd better check in and let Mister Witter know I haven't skipped out on him." He waved as he jogged through the gate. "Y'on today?" Kip, one of the other models shouted, as Cody entered the home's courtyard. "Naw, not t'day," Cody responded, doing his best to smile. "I thought I'd join Boyd. He said something about hanging out, down on the beach. The last I saw him, he was chasing Hector down the street. What about you guys?" Mark studied Cody for a moment. 'Something's different,' he thought. 'He's never seemed so relaxed.' "I get t'spank him today," Kip teased, as he quickly jumped away from Mark's reach. "Not on your life, buddy. My lily-white ass just recovered from the last spanking you gave me." Cody laughed, as the two men waved and jogged toward the studio wing of the house. Cody returned their casual wave, then turned, and looked toward the main house. "Well . . . if I'm gonna do it, I'd better do it," he said aloud, as he straightened his shoulders. 'On the other hand, maybe I should wait,' he thought, as he neared the house and heard voices in the kitchen. 'Mister Witter's not alone.' He thought for a moment, then shook his head. 'No, if I postpone it, I might lose what courage I have.' He crossed the porch and knocked on one of the sliding glass doors which opened the kitchen onto the patio. Levi Witter, Dave, and Pete looked up. Mister Witter was, as usual, making breakfast, and laughing at something one of his partners had said. "Hey, Cody," he called, in greeting. His good morning wishes were echoed by the other two men; even Dave, who'd been speaking with Cody only minutes earlier. "Um," Cody began. "Do you have a couple minutes?" he asked. "I don't want to interrupt you guys' breakfast, or anything, but . . ." his voice trailed away. "Sure," Levi smiled, motioning him into the kitchen. "Want a glass of juice?" "Should Pete and I give you guys a minute of privacy?" Dave asked, sliding off the bar stool, prepared to leave. Cody held out a hand. "No . . . I'm glad you guys are here. Please . . . stay, and, um, thanks for the offer of some juice, but Boyd and I had breakfast, back at the hotel. Um . . . that's some of what I need to talk to you about." "Go on," Levi urged. "But, breathe first. You're among friends." Cody nodded, and released a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding. "I, I just wanted to see you this morning before you start work, n'stuff, and before I lost my courage." Levi's brows rose. "I . . . I . . . want to say thank you, Mister Witter, for your talk yesterday. I . . . um . . . I also wanna apologize to all three of you for being such a prick . . . all the time. I," he looked away, then back to the three men. "I'm sorry for how I've behaved. I'll try t'do better. Boyd tried t'talk some sense into me." He cleared his throat, and made a helpless gesture. "All I can say, is . . . I'll try." Levi rounded the corner of the kitchen cabinet island, but stopped when he saw Cody's involuntary flinch, at he approached. "If you don't mind?" Levi asked, holding his arms wide, and wondering what could possibly have caused that flash of panic. Cody shook his head, and tried to still his racing heartbeat. "No . . . I . . . uh." Before he could finish, Levi gave him a tight hug, followed by Dave and Pete. 'Why are they hugging me?' he couldn't help but wonder. 'It's like we're all playing some sort'a game, only I don't know the rules. I've not done anything to justify a hug.' "Thank you," Levi said, resting a hand on Cody's shoulder. "I'm glad you and Boyd had a chance to think about things. And, it's Levi, not Mister Witter. That's my Dad." Cody bowed his head and grinned. "Thanks, but, I didn't arrive at this all on my own. Boyd talked to me, too, and . . . well . . . he helped. I . . ." he hesitated. "Why . . . ? Um . . . why'd you all just hug me?" He made a helpless gesture. "I don't understand." Levi's mouth opened and closed, as if he couldn't think how to answer. "No one's ever hugged you?" he murmured, resting a hand on Cody's shoulder, and noticing the young man's leery expression as he did so. Cody bowed his head. "Um . . . no . . . not really, unless they were paid to, that is. During a video shoot, I'm talking about." "Oh, Cody," Dave murmured. Cody glanced at Dave, wearing a puzzled frown, then turned back to Levi. "Oh, um, there's sort'a something else." He bit his lip, then plunged on. "Yesterday, you talked about rules. Well, I broke one of 'em with Boyd last night. It was my idea, so don't blame him, but, we spent the night t'gether. I know we shouldn't have, but . . . it helped. He . . . he hugged me, and," Cody bowed his head, as if admitting a ghastly sin, "and, um, we laughed. I'm sorry." "Thank you for telling us, Cody," Levi said, flicking a quelling glance in Dave's wide-eyed direction. "Believe me, I understand. Boyd's a great guy, as are you. I'm glad the two of you were able to get together and have a talk." "Well . . ." Cody grinned, crookedly. "We did a little more than talk n'stuff. He's pretty awesome." Cody blushed. "He touched me . . . all without being told to. He kissed me, and," Cody murmured, "he told me I'm a good guy." He looked up at the three men. "It was awesome." * * * Dave, Levi, and Pete watched Cody run across the lawn and enter the studio's locker room. "I had no idea," Dave murmured, stunned by what Cody had said. "None," Pete added, sadly shaking his head. "I'm ashamed," Dave added. "No one's ever hugged him, who wasn't paid to?" he asked, appalled. "And . . . he's sorry, because he and Boyd . . . laughed?" Levi said nothing, as he watched the studio door swing shut. 'I may hate myself, later, but I can't help but wonder if what he says is true, or is he acting? Unlike with Jak, I have no idea what Corey's home life was like while he was growing up. What he said could very well be true, but . . . I have no doubt he could put on just such a performance as we've just witnessed. He has the skill, and has done it before . . . during a vid-shoot, whenever he was with someone he wasn't overly fond of. If he was acting, a few minutes ago, then he might have been acting last night, with Boyd, who mentioned some of the same things . . . without the personal details. Does that mean Cody was too embarrassed, or whatever, to speak of them to Boyd, and if that's the case, why'd he tell the guys and me about them? 'Cody and I have too much history for me to blindly accept everything he says. I pray my skepticism is unfounded, and I will apologize to him, if it turns out I am wrong. There's nothing I can do other than be there for Boyd . . . no . . . for either of them, should they need me. I want to believe Cody. I really do.' He turned to his two partners and gave them both a troubled, tight-lipped grin, as he went back to making breakfast. * * * Cody ran to the studio locker room and quickly changed into one of the brief swimsuits he favored; then, after giving Kip and Mark a wave, which left them both surprised, he ran toward the beach, intent on finding Boyd. 'I've never felt so good!' he wanted to shout. 'What a difference a day can make. Yesterday I was more angry than I've ever been. Today, I've never been so happy.' He leapt, jumping free of the last three steps leading from Levi's house to the beach, then stretched his arms wide and turned in a circle, tilting his head back and laughing. "Got'a find Boyd," he said, aloud, scanning the nearly deserted, early morning beach. 'There! He spotted his friend and Hector playing in the surf. He splashed along the water's edge, running through a flock of shore birds, waving his arms and scattering them, as they took to the air with outraged squawks. His shouts caused Boyd to turn, just in time to be knocked over, as Cody jumped him. Before they could stand, another wave washed over them, pushing them over and leaving them in one another's arms. Hector, thinking this was a new game, rushed over, wanting to play. "What's gotten into you?" Boyd howled, as he struggled to his feet, while fending off a wildly barking dog, and a man who seemed intent on either kissing him or drowning him. Each time he managed to stand, Cody pulled him back into the water. "I'm happy, that's what!" Cody shouted, over the sound of the waves. He grabbed Boyd and kissed him again, then stood, and began running down the beach, through ankle-deep water, with Hector in close pursuit. "Damn," Boyd laughed. 'What's going on? Happy? About what? He wasn't like this on the way over. What happened?' He found the Frisbee, where it had washed up onto the shore, then headed in the direction of the laughing man and barking dog. 'Is he f'real?' he wondered, as Cody turned, chased after the dog, high-stepping through the shallow surf. He leapt, landing with a splash, and failing to catch the wildly barking dog. When he stood Hector was standing chest-deep in the warm water, looking exhausted. He ignored Cody, who was still full of energy, hauled himself up onto the beach, shook, and plopped down in the shadow of a tree. Other than opening an eye, he didn't stir, as Cody sat close-by, and leaned back against the palm. A few moments later Boyd jogged close, dropped to his knees, and after a tender kiss, lay on his back, resting his head on Cody's lap. "The dog's worn out," Cody said, with a smile in his voice, as he toyed with Boyd's hair. "Hmm . . . me, too. In fact, the dog's snoring tells me that taking a nap on the beach is a good thing." Boyd reached up and stroked Cody's face, smiling at his friend's tender grin. "After last night, I'm surprised either one of us has the energy t'do anything. I was seriously thinking about staying in bed, the entire day." He studied the auburn-haired man, intensely aware of Cody's nearby penis, hidden behind the nylon fabric of his swim suit. "Y'know, something?" Boyd asked, already half asleep. "I think one of the sexiest things about you, other than your . . . enthusiasm, is your come-to-bed eyes." "My enthusiasm?" Cody yawned, as he ran a finger over his drowsy friend's parted lips. Boyd murmured something, turned his head so Cody's swimsuit-covered cock was pressed against his cheek, and opened his mouth for his friend's finger. "Hmm," he murmured, in contentment, as weariness overtook him, and he fell asleep. 'What does it mean that Boyd's comfortable enough around me to fall asleep . . . with my finger in his mouth, no less?' Cody grinned, recalling the previous night, and how surprised he was to find Boyd at his hotel room door. 'That was the first time anyone's come to my room,' he thought. He kept asking himself, 'why,' even as Boyd explained how much he thought they both needed one another. 'Why? Why now? Is he feeling sorry for me because of Levi's dressing down? If that's the case, wouldn't he have gotten all those feelings out of his system back at the house, when he cornered me as I left Levi's office? 'He shouldn't be here,' Cody thought, as the man he worked with, and who had been so unexpectedly nice to him, slid the robe he'd been wearing when he'd answered the door, off his shoulders, then stripped out of his own running shorts and T-shirt. Both he and Boyd were taking quick, deep breaths, as if this was their first sexual experience with one another. In reality, they'd had sex, on camera, earlier in the day, and before that, they'd been together at least half a dozen times, since they'd met. When he'd asked Boyd why he was suddenly so attentive, the slender man had smiled. "I'd like for the two of us to become closer," he murmured, tenderly nibbling on the auburn-haired man's earlobe. "Closer?" Cody's voice slid upward, as Boyd fondled his erection. "Hmmm, yeah, both tonight, and afterward." "But . . . the rules n'all," Cody tilted his head back and groaned, holding Boyd close and digging his fingers into the slender man's muscular ass cheeks. "No worries," Boyd murmured, as they parted from a lengthy kiss. "Tonight is just for you and me. We'll deal with tomorrow when it happens. Okay?" he asked, raising his eyebrows, as he held Cody at arm's length. The half-hearted protest was cut short when Boyd touched Cody's lips with a finger. "Shhh. Neither of us want to be alone, and," he murmured, after nibbling on Cody's earlobe, "I'd love t'taste your sperm." Despite himself, Cody chuckled. "You about sucked me dry today, during the filming." "And, I'm back for seconds. What can I say? You've got the best juice I've ever tasted." His eyes twinkled. "I wouldn't mind sampling it three or four times, every day." "F-real? But . . ." "No more questions, handsome. Just enjoy what we're doing." He made a chuckling sound, deep in his throat. "I happen to know everything that turns you on, and I intend to do every one of 'em." "Uuuuu," Cody cooed, as he ran his hands over the firm muscles of Boyd's back and butt. "Ahhhhh," he threw his head back and sighed, as the line of kisses crossed his neck. "You don't know all of them," he groaned, as he held Boyd's hand and shyly led him to the bed. * * * "Ummmm," Boyd groaned, as he turned over, awakened by the feel of sand beneath him, instead of the luxurious bed of his dreams. He looked up and met Cody's amused expression. "Must'a fallen asleep," he mumbled, knuckling his eyes. "Was I out of service for very long?" He propped himself up and looked around. "About ten or fifteen minutes, I guess." Cody smiled, tenderly. "Afraid someone'll see your erection? Looks pretty uncomfortable, bent like it is." "No. The dick's fine. However, I don't want to scare the tourists, when I do this," Boyd answered, as he quickly freed Cody's cock from his swimsuit, and began sucking. The fact that they were on a public beach, and would be clearly visible to any passers by, were it not for the lone palm and a few nearby bushes, added to both men's excitement. "Of course, I'm an exhibitionist!" Boyd had laughed at one of Levi's questions, during what was loosely described as his interview. "The more people watching me, the better it is for me. I also get off on the idea that I might get caught. Back when I was growing up, and I was home alone with either my Dad or brother, I'd accidentally forget to close my bedroom door, and waited for one of 'em to catch me. "Funny thing," Boyd laughed, as he told Levi the story, "Whenever they did catch me, they always stayed for the whole show, sometimes joining in, from where they stood in the hallway. One time, Dad came into my room and closed the door behind him. For a few minutes, he only watched; but, soon, he got closer. I thought he'd touch me, which would have been sweet, but he didn't. Instead, he dropped his shorts and jacked off, standing at the side of the bed. When he shot his juice on me, I exploded." "Ahhh, geez," Cody groaned, as Boyd deep throated his cock. The sound of people talking as they passed, on the promenade above , made things even more exciting. 'They're only a few feet above us. If it wasn't for the tree and some of the bushes around us, we might as well be on the sidewalk,' he thought, as he shaded himself from the sun, with a forearm over his eyes, and surrendered himself to the warmth of Boyd's mouth. Boyd's thoughts, of how much he loved being watched, were interrupted by the dog's low growl. "Easy boy," he said, tearing himself away from Cody's erection, and looked around, wondering what caused the dog to growl. "Fuck him for me," someone said, from close-by. "I'll let you know if anyone heads in this direction." Boyd looked over his shoulder, and felt Cody prop himself up on his elbows. A young man stood nearby, openly groping himself through his running shorts. His sweat-stained T-shirt clung to his body, displaying his firm nipples, and ripples of his abdomen. "C'mon, man," he said, in a low voice, stepping closer. "Lemme see you slide into him and shoot a load. S'okay?" he asked, acknowledging Cody's presence for the first time. "I love watching two guys fuck, especially guys as hot as you two." Boyd glanced from the man, to Cody. "Fuck me, Boyd. Let him hold your dick as you push into me." "Name's Mike," the man said, then inhaled sharply, as he watched Cody arch his back and slip his swimsuit off. The reclining man stretched, toying with his pubes, then rolled backward onto his shoulders, as he spread his ass cheeks. "Aw, geez. This's damned fuckin' hot," Mike groaned. Boyd slipped his own swimsuit down, allowing his erection to spring free. He smiled, turning to the man, tightening his sphincter, causing his cock to bob. Even though Mike was transfixed by the sight, only a couple feet in front of him, he periodically did as he'd promised, and glanced around, ready to warn the two men he was watching, if he saw anyone approaching. Boyd leaned forward and spit onto Cody's upturned hole, then turned. "You, too," he said, nodding toward the hole. After a quick glance around, Mike leaned close and spit onto the pink asshole, then wrapped a hand around the kneeling man's erection, holding it steady as Boyd pushed forward and slipped inside. "Y'mind if I shoot, watchin' you guys?" Mike asked. He scooted closer, and, without waiting for an answer, pushed the waistband of his shorts beneath his scrotum. "Yeah, that's it," he encouraged, as he watched Boyd's bare butt rise and fall. "Pump him hard. Fill him with your spunk." "It's not . . . gonna . . . be . . . long," Boyd grunted, between thrusts. "Lemme shoot my stuff on your dick as you're fuckin' him," Mike said, breathlessly continuing to pump his erection. When Boyd nodded, Mike closed his eyes in concentration. He took two . . . three additional slow strokes, and shot. His wasn't one of those explosive orgasms, sending semen flying everywhere. Instead, he came . . . and came . . . and came, coating Boyd's dick and Cody's hole. The sight, plus the thought that he was using some of Mike's sperm to fuck Cody, pushed Boyd closer to release. He paused for the briefest of moments, as he scraped up some of Mike's thick juice and spread it over Cody's cock. Two strokes later, Boyd groaned loudly and exploded, as Mike, wide-eyed, and still with his cock hanging out of his running shorts, looked on. Boyd knew how much he enjoyed watching someone's cock throb as it filled a guy's hole, and figured Mike would like the same thing. After the first shot, he pulled out, until only the head was inside Cody, and gave Mike a perfect view of his cock as it pulsed. "Aw, fuckin' geez," Mike murmured, tearing his eyes away, as the pulsing stopped, to scan the surroundings. When he looked back, Boyd had grabbed Cody's erection, and, after only a few strokes, brought the auburn-haired man to his own explosive climax. "Damn," Mike exhaled, as his eyes flicked from the trails of white, to the two men. "Thanks for the show, guys. That was fuckin' awesome." He pushed himself up, scanned the surroundings again, and adjusted his cock, as Boyd did the same. Cody, though, was prevented from moving, when the dog, who had silently been watching, sprang to its feet and began lapping up Cody's sperm, seeming very pleased with itself when every last drop was gone. When the dog turned and ran toward the water, Cody glanced at his still slimy hand, and licked it clean, grinning at Mike's reaction, pleased he'd been part of a hot show. "Holy fuck!" Mike said, glancing to Boyd, who seemed equally surprised. "Dogs, too?" Boyd laughed, as Cody struggled to his feet, brushed himself off, and tugged his swimsuit over his softening cock. "That's as far as I'm going with any dog," the sand-covered man groused. He ruffled his fingers through his gritty hair and grinned, putting an arm around Boyd's waist. "Thanks for the extra lube, Mike, both for my hole, and my dick. He licked his lips in appreciation. "Tasted awesome."
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