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"I've never been down here," Keith said, in a voice barely loud enough to be heard, even in the empty locker room. Water, from a faulty shower head, dripped onto the ceramic tile nearby, the splash echoing throughout the space. The room, like any locker room, was a heady a mix of sweat, soap, testosterone, and deodorant, and caused Keith's cock to stir. 'I've always loved frippin' locker rooms,' he told himself. 'They are the only saving grace to any sporting event.' He looked around, as he stripped, stuffing his clothes into a locker and turned to face Jak, with hands on hips. "The place seems abandoned, and, I'm friggin' horny. Since we'll be with your dad and brother, being horny's not a good thing. "By the way . . . ," Keith blocked the exit from the row of lockers, as Jak finished stuffing his own clothes into a locker and pushed the door closed. "Why are we meeting them in a steam room? We're all gonna be naked! If we're planning on visiting, why not be like normal people, and meet 'em in a restaurant?" He lowered his brows. "You haven't set this all up, intending to have sex, have you? With the way I'm feeling, I'll get hard the second I see them, then where will I be? I'm not used to prancing around with a hard-on in front of people." "We're meeting them here, since we've already eaten," Jak responded, in a voice of reason. "Besides," he grinned. "I'd like 'em to see how sexy you are, and, no matter what Dad says, he still has this thing about seeing me, live, with another guy. This way, they can see what a stud you are, and maybe we can all drop a load. I think it'd be hot to watch Dad and Rex jack off, and know that you and I are turning them on. And . . ." he paused, drawing out the single word. "Don't tell me you're not excited by the idea of showing off." "But . . . . " "I know you better than you think," Jak teased, as he slipped past Keith. "You like people to think you're some sort of shy California surfer-boy." Jak barked a laugh. "You are anything but shy." He pulled Keith into an embrace. "I love your aggressiveness, Mister Handsome Boyfriend," he said, as he ground his groin into Keith's, and felt both his and his partner's penis respond. "Damn, but I love it! "All the time, I'm playing at being the take-charge guy. It's an act! You are the take charge guy." He used two fingers to tilt Keith's head up, until their eyes met. "You are much much more than what you seem, my friend." He ran his fingers through his lover's blond hair, and across his mouth, pausing for them to be sucked, before trailing them over Keith's smooth chest. "You are such a turn on," he grinned, as he pulled his lover close, feeling pleased when Keith melted into his embrace. He kissed his lover's neck, then held him at arm's length. "I love the pubes," Jak said, "not to mention your awesome dick and heavy balls." He cupped the scrotum, as if weighing it, as he glanced into Keith's eyes. "These things produce the best tasting sperm I have ever tasted, and . . . so much," he said, in a husky voice, of budding passion. "What if there are other people in the steam room?" Keith asked, when Jak quickly kissed him then turned. 'California surfer-boy, huh?' Keith mused, as his penis thickened, reacting to the view of Jak's butt muscles flexing, as he walked deeper into the locker room. "Then they'll see what a stud you are, too," Jak responded, when Keith caught up, wearing a determined expression, and nothing else, his swaying cock and nuts leading the way. Jak suddenly stopped, turning a bright smile in Keith's direction. "If you're afraid we'll get lost in the steam room crowd, I can throw open the door, with great drama, and introduce you as," he lowered his voice, "Stud Massey. Sounds like some sort'a porn actor's name, or something." He smiled at his own words. "The name's a keeper." "There aren't gonna be ladies in this steam room, are there?" Keith asked, in a worried voice. "I don't think I wanna hang-out with naked women. Ick!" He turned to Jak. "I heard your brother say that. In this case, it seems appropriate. I'd prob'ly be ruined for life . . . never t'be hard again, 'cause I was emotionally scarred." He thought a moment, as Jak chuckled. "Having ladies staring at you n'me would be sure to keep me from getting hard, though . . . guaranteed. Hell, my dick's shriveling at the mere thought of women looking at me." He shook his head. "Ugh." Jak studied the naked man at his side. "Has anyone ever told you, you have a flare for the overly dramatic?" He reached for Keith's crotch, and had his hand quickly brushed away. "Hey! Stop that! I'm trying to act dignified here!" Keith stood straight, squared his shoulders, and cleared his throat, then paused, wearing a frown. "Y'know, acting dignified when you're starkers is sort'a hard to do," he grumbled. "And, yeah, people have accused me of being overly dramatic, a couple dozen times. Personally, I think it's one of my best attributes, right behind my hair with it's natural highlights," he added, as he grabbed his partner. Jak shouted in surprise and twisted away, as, close-by, someone opened the steam room door, flooding the locker room with a billowing cloud. "Whoa!" Keith jumped, looking guilty. "Um . . . oh . . . hi . . . uh, Rex! What'cha looking at?" he grumbled, out of the side of his mouth, as he stepped into the dimly lit steam room, with Jak following close behind. "Told 'ya," he heard Jak mumble, as he passed his brother. "What did you tell him?" Keith asked, as he greeted Jak and Rex's father, Steve, with a nod, then sat on a towel Steve tossed in his direction. "He told me you're a stud," Rex added, wearing a boyish smile, as he walked past. "He was right." "A Class A stud," Steve added, grinning broadly. "Personally, I think you should join Jak down in Florida, making vids for all of us to enjoy." 'Damn, but he's something when he's out of his clothes,' Steve thought, to himself. 'Even that night, back at the apartment, when we met, and he was in his underwear, didn't prepare me for this. He's perfect!' "You should see him in action," Jak laughed, as he tried to claim a portion of Keith's towel for himself. "He's a wild man. What you see before you is nothing more than a disguise." He nudged Keith with his hip, asking him to make room on the towel. "Fuckin' awesome disguise, if you ask me." Rex's comment was barely heard over the steam's hiss. "Get your own towel!" Keith laughed, squirming away from Jak's amorous advances. "I want some of you and your towel. C'mon, handsome, be friendly," he chided, with a smile in his voice, as he sat on the wooden bench, held Keith tightly, and leaned close to nuzzle his neck. "Well . . . that did it! I'm hard," Rex announced, in a matter-of-fact voice, as if resigned to the fact. In the event someone hadn't noticed, he stood and thrust his hips forward, shaking his erection from side to side. "Yeah? Are we supposed to be impressed?" Steve teased. "You're always hard." "So? I'm a teenager. Besides . . . Daaaad . . . you've been trying to hide your erection since Keith walked into the room." He turned to Keith, with a tilt of his head in his father's direction. "Boing! Stud approaching!" he called. "No one bend over!" "We can't let them be the only guys with boners," Jak laughed, as he grabbed for Keith's cock, which had started to thicken. "Hey! I didn't know we were here to show off, or something. What next? You wanna have 'em watch as we have sex?" Keith abruptly stood, his erection curving downward slightly, under its own weight. "I need a towel," he announced. "Your son's stolen mine. Toss me that one, will 'ya?" He pointed to the rolled up towel at Steve's side. "Nope," Steve smiled, smugly, as he rested a possessive hand on top of the folded fabric. "Mine." Jak gestured toward the blond and the thick erection which appeared ready for action. "See," he told his father and brother. "I told you he was awesome when he's hard, and he isn't all the way there, yet." "Sounds t'me like all you guys talk about, whenever I'm not around, is my dick, or something. The reason I'm hard, like this," he said, grabbing his erection and wiggling it from side to side, "is 'cause there's a sexy kid and his awesome father sitting across from me, both of 'em looking massively hot, sitting there all nekkid, with their legs spread and their boners standing up straight. Who wouldn't get hard? "So, since you all have been talking about me . . . here I am. Are you happy?" he asked, half amused, but also wildly turned on. He held his arms out to his sides and slowly rotated in a full circle, his erection sticking straight out from his dense pubes. "There. Did everyone have a good look? Now," he added, in a mischievous voice. "Since all of us are hard, what are we gonna do about it?" "Ask to see his butthole, too." Jak said, in a dry voice. "Ummmm," he smiled, as he licked his lips." "Fuuuuck," Rex groaned. "Hey! This isn't show-n-tell, with me doing all the showing and you doing all the telling. Let's leave off with . . . showing any more . . . until another time, okay? Right now, I have this to deal with," Keith said, pointing to his erection. "I'm drooling, I'm so ready t'go." "Fuck," Rex said, as he quickly reached out and wiped a finger over the head of Keith's cock, swiping up a thread of pre-cum, which he quickly brought to his mouth, before sighing in contentment. "The blond guy's wanger won't go down until he drops a load," Jak pointed out to his father, nodding toward Keith, who remained standing, with his arms folded across his chest. "Mine never goes down," Rex added, smugly. "Smart ass," Steve muttered. "Mine used to be like that, too." He glanced at Keith, who had begun to toy with his own cock. "But, looking at you, Keith, makes me feel like a teenager again. Seriously," he added, "Awesome body." "I like his dick," Rex added. "I'm a fan of his butt," Jak said, giving one of Keith's ass cheeks a sharp slap. Keith jumped. "Watch it! No fooling with the merchandise until you're asked." "Uuuu, merchandise?" Rex snickered. "And here I am, without any money on me," Steve added. "You don't have anything on you," Jak laughed, as he lovingly caressed his partner's firm buttocks. "You guys serious about shooting a load?" Keith asked, as he tentatively ran his fingers down the underside of his penis, pausing at the head, to smear the pre-cum around. "Lemme taste," Rex asked, falling to his knees in front of Keith, who took an involuntary step back. "Your frippin' fingers!" Rex added. "Oh, uh, sure." Keith looked down at the young man kneeling before him. "This'll be better than my finger, though." Steve and Jak watched, wide-eyed, as he dragged the head of his cock over Rex's cheek, pausing at the younger man's mouth. "Open," he ordered, in a firm voice, as he squeezed the length of his erection, milking out a thick droplet of clear liquid. Rex promptly licked the end of the flaring head, then sat back on his heels. "Fuuuuck!" he sighed. "You taste awesome!" "Alright, Rex," Steve warned, nudging his youngest son with his foot. "Mister Rollins . . ." Keith seemed unsure of himself. He made a vague gesture. "Are you cool with . . . this?" He gestured from himself to Jak. Steve barked a laugh. "It's Steve, Keith, and haven't you noticed this?" he asked, gesturing toward his erection. "I don't usually get hard watching things I'm not okay with. As I said earlier, you are one, over-the-top sexy guy. I've gotta ask, though. Are you going to let me taste some of that?" he asked, nodding towards another strand of pre-cum, which was swinging from the tip of the blond man's erection. "Um . . . sure. Um . . . now might be a good time." Steve looked from the young man's mischievous expression to his shiny cock head, and the thick strand of clear pre-cum. He scooted forward, grabbing the base of Keith's erection, and, as Keith firmly grasped the older man's head, slowly licked up the underside of the cock, then over the drooling piss slit. He smiled, as he sat back. "As my youngest son would say, fuuuuck, that was sweet." "So . . ." Rex piped up. "Now that that's settled, what do we do next . . . sit around and look at each other?" "That may be okay for you guys," Keith grinned, "but not for Jak or me, right?" he asked, looking over his shoulder, to his partner. Without saying another word, he climbed onto the bench, straddled Jak's legs, bent at the waist, and mashed his butt cheeks against Jak's face. "You know what t'do," he ordered, in a husky voice. "Your brother and dad wanna see you in action. Let's give 'em a show they won't soon forget." "Aw, fuuuuck," Rex groaned, as he slid forward, resting his feet on the wooden bench between his father's spread legs, and began teasing his father's scrotum with his toes. 'These guys are a perfect match,' Steve thought. 'Both of 'em, almost shy; yet, get 'em naked, and watch out!' he thought, as he watched . . . and listened to the wild slurping sounds, rimmed his partner's butt. 'Both could easily be a swimmer or wrestler, and both of 'em are showoffs. Jak's closely clipped hair on his chest, pubes, and legs contrasted with Keith's smooth, almost boyish body. Yet, there's nothing boyish about either man's cock, or aggressiveness. They're both just like Rex. They know what they want, and aren't afraid to go after it.' Steve sighed. 'Ah, if I could only learn that lesson.' Rex slid off the bench, between his father's spread legs facing the two men. He wrapped a hand around his brother's erection, while, in front of him, Keith's penis bounced from a renewed attack of Jak's tongue. "Finger my hole, Rex," Keith ordered, in a low voice, as he pulled away from Jak's face. "Tell me if Jak's got me ready?" After fondling Keith's cock and balls, Rex felt between Keith's spread legs and found his hole. "Not your whole fuckin' hand," Jak warned, as he watched his younger brother push two fingers into Keith's asshole. Rex responded by searching out his brother's hole and running an appreciative finger around the muscular opening. 'This is way better than any porn vid I've ever seen,' Steve thought, as he slowly began stimulating himself. 'I never dreamt I'd be watching both of my sons doing something like this.' Rex continued to finger Keith's hole, while Jak scooted forward and spread his legs, in a silent invitation for his brother to penetrate him as well. "Y'like?" Keith's question was answered with Rex's silent nod of awe. "Hold your brother's thing steady for me, will 'ya?" Another nod. "Lemme see," Steve murmured, as the generator puffed out another breath of steam into the room. He held up Keith's nuts with one hand, and licked across the head of the younger man's cock, as the head of Jak's thick penis pushed at his partner's butthole. 'Damn!' Steve imagined what it would be like for Jak to be penetrating him, but after watching Keith's sphincter part, then stretch, as Jak slid inside, he decided he wasn't quite ready for something like that . . . yet. 'Hell, I'd be crying in pain, and all we get from Keith is a slight hiss, followed almost immediately by a sigh of pleasure.' Steve jerked his attention away from the show when Rex touched his hand. The look of concern on his youngest son's face, and the slight tilt of the head toward the two men, questioned whether everything was okay. Steve grinned and nodded, squeezing his son's shoulder, in thanks for his concern; then patted the bench next to him, inviting Rex to sit close-by and join him and watch the two naked men. Keith leaned back, bracing himself on the bleacher-type row of seats behind him. He spread his knees wide and held still, as Jak began thrusting slowly. With each upward movement, Keith would grunt, and his erection would bounce in an almost mesmerizing rhythm, a thick strand of pre-cum trailing behind. 'Geez . . . the boy is . . . amazing,' Steve thought, as he watched Keith's hole stretch to accommodate the invader. 'Yet, if anything, his dick is harder than it was when he was penetrated.' Steve momentarily closed his eyes, imagining what it would be like to watch either of his sons be on the receiving end of Keith's thing. 'It's not gonna happen, though. Keith's not gonna fuck anyone other than Jak. He may fool around in front of us, but when it comes to anything else, it's not going to happen.' "Aw, geez," Rex grumbled, "I can't take this." He quickly moved into position, grasped Keith's erection, and sucked it down his throat. Keith groaned loudly, but did nothing to stop the younger man, who was now madly stroking himself as he continued sucking. Across the narrow walkway between the two rows of benches, Jak's father stretched out his legs, resting a foot on either side of his youngest son, and began working his own erection. Rex's back blocked the view of the penetration, but not the look of bliss on the Keith's face. With his eyes closed in concentration, he would chew on his lower lip, then gasp for a breath, lost in the sensations of both brothers working on him. When he groaned, threw his head back, and opened his mouth wide, Steve knew it was only a matter of seconds until his climax. "Aw, fuck!" Jak shouted, perfectly timing his orgasm with his partner's. Steve saw Keith jerk with the force of his oldest son's thrusts; then, only a moment later, heard Rex struggle with Keith's spewing penis. The moment Keith stopped shooting, Rex stood, turned around, and pressed his mouth against his father's, sharing Keith's load. Their tongues played with one another's, trading the warm sperm back and forth. They parted slightly, to take a breath, thin strands of sperm still connecting them. Steve glanced from Jak and Keith, who were sitting nearby, looking on, then at his youngest son, his lips slimy with Keith's juice. He inhaled, deeply, licked his own lips, and shot his load onto his chest and belly. That pushed Rex over the edge, and he loudly groaned, as his orgasm swept over him, and he added his own load to his father's. "Whew!" Keith exclaimed, freeing himself from Jak's cock and grinning, as he brushed damp hair out of his eyes. He turned to Jak, plopping onto the bench at Jak's side. "Don't expect we'll ever do this sort'a thing with my dad. "Thanks, guys," he said, turning to the two men, across the aisle. "This whole thing was awesome." He focused on Rex. "What'cha looking at?" "Um," Rex chuckled. "Jak's juice is escaping from your hole. This is soooo cool." * * * 'What an afternoon!' Keith snuggled closer to Jak and listened to the sleet, as it hit the hotel room window. 'Tomorrow, Jak's leaving and I'll start spending my nights alone. I wonder if that entire scene, down in the steam room, was planned to boost my ego.' He grinned. 'I never would have imagined me performing in front of anyone, much less Jak's father and brother. It was friggin' amazing! 'He hasn't said anything, so I'm wondering how he feels about going back. I'm sure he's anxious to get away from the cold, but I wonder how much he's looking forward to meeting a new group of . . .' Keith hesitated . . . 'coworkers. 'Saying good-bye has always been awful for me,' he thought, as he felt Jak's breath tickle his shoulder. 'When we're together, everything seems so perfect. A month-long visit seems so long; yet, here we are, at the month's end. My feelings for Jak are stronger than I could have ever imagined; yet . . .' Keith grimaced, in the dark, 'so are my insecurities, even after hearing everyone's comments today, down in the steam room. 'What are the guys like who he'll be with this time? Is the fear of making myself even more insecure the reason I haven't watched one of his vids? As it is, the guys I imagine him with are just figments of my imagination. I seriously doubt that they'll be . . . plain, or,' Keith smiled, 'ugly. Really, really, ugly.' His smile faded. 'Jak says they're just average everyday guys, "just like me," he says.' Keith snorted. 'As if he is an average everyday guy.' Finally, he fell asleep, but not until he had leaned close to Jak's ear and silently mouthed the words, "I love you." * * * Jak looked at the man silently sitting across the hotel room table. The remains of their breakfast were scattered. He inhaled deeply, then slowly exhaled. "I think you need a little pep talk." Keith looked up. "Oh?" "I would have hoped that, after all the time we've spent together, you would realize how deeply I care for you, and wouldn't start having all these feelings of insecurity returning to make your life . . . and mine . . . miserable." Keith bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Jak, it's just . . ." Jak reached across the table and took Keith's hand. "Don't be sorry. There's nothing anyone can do about feelings of insecurity, except face the cause. I'm the reason you're feeling bad, aren't I?" Keith did his best to grin. "No, I am. You've done nothing wrong. I've always been bad at saying goodbye . . . not just with you, but everyone. There are so few people in my life who I treasure. Parting from any of them leaves a . . . a . . . hole." He held up a hand. "I know the reasons, and everything, but I still feel bad. I'm not wishing your job, or any of that stuff, didn't exist; I just hate not being with you; not being able to talk about what went on during each of our days; or laughing; or doing any of the things we've started doing." "Go ahead." Keith bowed his head. "I'm also feeling bad 'cause I think I'm not good enough for you, and one of those guys down there . . . maybe someone you've yet to . . . work with . . . will . . . be." "I'll say the same thing to you that I said to your folks. I have sex with different people for a living. I don't have any say in who I'm teamed up with. Most of the guys I like. Some, not so much, but I have never . . . not once . . . spent the night with one of them, nor have I ever had a desire to. They are my coworkers. I do not want to have sex with them, when I'm not working. That's not to say that I don't have a good time when I am working, but, Keith, you are the man I think of. "Now, listen, because this is the important part." He grinned, and Keith nodded. "Whether I'm here, or away, I think about you . . . constantly . . . because I think so much of you. When we're having sex, or when we're in the shower, or eating a meal," he gestured to the table, and the empty plates, "I'm always thinking how this or that about you is so wonderful. I am not comparing you with what's-his-name, down in Florida." He grasped Keith's hand and squeezed. "Believe me, Keith. What I'm saying is true." Keith pushed himself out of the chair and paced across the room. He turned, raking his fingers through his hair. "I do believe you. At the same time, I don't see how it's possible to not compare me with them. Hell, in order to be working there, those guys have got to be . . . perfect . . . perfect complexion, perfect teeth, perfect build, perfect dick, butt, legs, voice . . . You name it, perfect. Just like you . . . perfect." He threw up his hands, and turned his back to Jak. "Nonsense! You've got a wonderful complexion, much better than mine. You've got perfect teeth. You've got a wonderful build . . . just the kind I like. Neither of us have a body created by spending long hours at the gym, or dieting until all you can eat are rice cakes. Your hair! Geez, I would kill to have your hair. And, since we're analyzing every part of you . . . your dick is frickin' outstanding, and believe me, Keith, YOU know how to use it. Those vids make everyone look great, but you have no idea how many times things have to come to a screeching halt because someone's lost his erection, and when they do have an erection, lots'a times, someone's gotta tell 'em . . . and, me included, how to use the fool thing. Then, while someone's being told to do this or that, or do more of this or less of that, the thing goes limp. There is no spontaneity in anything. You have no trouble keeping an erection, and everything is spontaneous. In fact, I'm surprised I'm not walking like a sailor, you rode me so hard and long last night. "Let's see, where were we on the Keith analysis? Oh yeah, your butt. GEEZ! but you've got a great butt. Y'know, I'll let you in on a secret. Your butt does not need any makeup to make it look flawless, because it is!" "Makeup . . . on your butt?" "Well, not on mine, of course," Jak laughed. "Mine's stellar." He reached back and slapped a butt cheek. At the sharp smack, his eyes widened and his lips formed an 'O'. "Geez, I shouldn't have done that so hard!" He looked over his shoulder, then turned to Keith. "Am I scarred for life?" Keith leaned close. "Nope, just for the next minute or so. I could lick it and make it better," he offered. "I only do that sort'a thing for wimps, though." "Yeah? How many wimps' butts have you licked?" Keith thought a moment. "None. I would have liked to lick yours, but since you're all macho, I guess I can't." "I could act wimpy." "Nah, you'll survive the pink hand-print on your cheek. Let's save the tongue-job for something . . . important." "The welfare of my ass isn't important?" "You were bragging about it being stellar and not needing makeup," Keith hinted. Jak made a dismissive gesture. "I was just kidding around, hoping to bring you out of your funk; but listen, Keith. I've never said this . . . to you. Maybe it'll make being separated a little easier, but, whenever you feel alone; whenever you think that no one cares, or that I'll not be back, or that I'm fooling around, down in Florida, remember that I am always . . . always," he repeated, "with you. And, remember that I love you." * * * "Y'know something?" Cody asked, as he lay at Boyd's side, in the middle of the big hotel room bed. "Hmmm?" "For the past few weeks, we've lived as if this is real." He glanced around the room. "We've not spoken of anything back in the real world. We don't know each other's real names, or where we really live, or what our dreams are, or our . . .past . . . or anything. Does that mean everything we've had will . . . evaporate . . . the minute I step on the plane to head back? I don't have any idea when Levi will schedule both of us to be back at the same time. So . . . we don't know anything. Our relationship, such as it is, exists at Levi's whim. It's like we're a couple of actors in a fairy tale, or something; only the, 'they-lived-happily-ever-after' part is missing from the story." "Easy, easy," Boyd cooed. "I agree with everything you say, but . . . geez . . . Cody, I wonder just how much we can stretch the rule about not forming relationships with another model, before someone's going to say something, or they'll make sure that we're never brought back, together." Cody propped himself up on an elbow. "Does anyone know you've been spending your nights here? I told Levi, Dave, and Pete, after that first night, but I haven't mentioned anything since. I felt like I needed to tell 'em, especially since I was apologizing for acting like a prick to all you guys n'all. So . . . tell me, do they know?" "Ummm, yeah." "Who? Levi?" "Yeah, I sort'a came clean, too. I hate sneaking around behind someone's back, so I told him, about spending the night with you, and about our talks n'stuff." Cody flopped onto his back, with a whoosh of expelled breath. "Oh, geez." "Easy. No worries. He told me he understood, and that he thought the two of us were good for one another. I'm not sure what he meant by that, but he wasn't upset, or anything. The only thing he asked, was that I try not to let on to the other guys what we were doing. "He told me about some of the first guys he ever hired, who formed some sort of complicated love triangles, or something. Apparently it was a royal mess. That's where the rule came from. He told me he trusted that neither of us would cause trouble because of our spending the nights together." Cody thought for a moment, glancing toward Boyd. Finally, he spoke. "Do you know what started this whole thing, apart from me being a pain-in-the-ass, I mean?" "No, I didn't know that there was anything. You are much better, you know," Boyd added. "The guys are talking about what a great guy you are. So . . . whatever you're doing, keep doing it. It's working." "Really? They think I'm okay? I've been trying, but . . . well . . . I know people are acting different from normal, but I thought maybe I was imagining it." "You're not. Now, you were going to tell me what caused your's and Levi's talk." "Soren." "Huh? Soren? Why? What's going on with him?" "I had a crush on him. I still do, I guess, even though Levi told me not to. He told me Soren viewed everyone here as coworkers, nothing more, and that he has a guy he loves, back home. He told me he would never have told me anything about Soren's real life, but for my feelings, and the fact he was afraid I'd start behaving something like those love-triangle guys you mentioned. He told me I'd only end up getting hurt, or embarrassing myself and . . . Soren. I know his real name, by the way." "Don't tell me! I don't want to know it!" "Oh, okay." "So . . . did what Levi say about Soren and his boyfriend, and you needing to end your fantasies n'stuff, make sense? Has his talk changed how you feel?" Cody lay on his back, with his hands behind his head. "I don't know. When you and I are together, I don't think of Soren. But, when we're apart . . . I . . . I do. "Levi's right, I'm sure. I should stop thinking about fantasies, but, damn it, Boyd! Levi's prob'ly right. What I think I feel for Soren is probably not real, and what I feel for you is, real I mean. You're a wonderful guy, who has helped me a lot. I've done everything I can to not blow what we have all out of proportion, and create an alternate reality, where you are nothing more than a bit player in my fantasies. I think I've succeeded." Boyd rolled onto his side. "You have fantasies . . . about me?" "Yes, and believe me, that's a tough thing, since the reality is so much better than any fantasy; but, what I'm saying is, I don't want to make assumptions about us, and act if those assumptions are real, even if you don't know what I'm . . . assuming. Am I making any sort of sense? "No one has ever taken me seriously, Boyd! I mean ever! Maybe I didn't give them a chance, or whatever, but that didn't stop you from doing something no one else ever did. You tried. I could love you for that alone. I could love you because you are so kind, so . . . caring. You've paid attention to me. I owe you so much . . . including honesty." He lowered his voice. "That's why I thought it was necessary for me t'tell you about my feelings for Soren, and what Levi talked to me about. Does all this change how you feel about me?" He hesitated. "I guess I should first ask if you do care about me . . . like I do . . . you." "Cody, are you sure you care for me, or do you think you do, because I befriended you, and listened to you?" Cody covered his eyes with his forearm. "Aw, shit. I don't know! Nothing is very simple, is it? Does that mean . . ." "It doesn't mean anything, other than what I said. I do care for you . . . a great deal . . . prob'ly more than anyone I've ever felt anything for. I don't move as fast as you do, though. Things take a little longer for me to . . . assimilate, I guess. "So . . . I guess what all this means, from my point of view, at least, is that I really, really like you . . . a lot, and I'd like to continue what you and I have . . . begun, and see where it goes. I'm not claiming undying love, or planning the rest of our lives together, or anything, though. And, neither should you. "Cody, I don't want to rush into anything, and then have things not work out. Saying goodbye to someone is pretty rough for me. I hate to think of how I'm going to handle it when we're at the airport, getting on to separate planes. So . . . all this means is that when I do end up pledging undying love n'all, I will mean it. I'm thinking that a relationship which begins quickly, may not be as likely to last as one which is developed over time. I'm not talking about years, or anything, but . . . time. Do you understand what I'm saying?" "Um, yeah, I do. I'm one of those rush-into-things sort'a guys. That's what's causing my problems . . . with, Soren. So . . . you do care for me?" "Of course!" "You want to . . . work, on developing a deeper relationship?" "Yes. Now, I have a question for you." "Um, okay." "Considering this conversation, what are you now feeling for Soren?" There was a long pause. "I don't know." * * * Levi and Dave looked up as their ashen-faced lover, Pete, shuffled across the dining room and flopped onto a dining room chair, with a whoosh of expelled breath. He leaned both elbows on the table and covered his eyes. Both his partners rushed to his side. "Bad news?" Dave asked, scooting close and resting a hand on his partner's shoulders. "Ha!" Pete barked a humorless laugh. "M'father died last night." Levi was about to say something, when Pete stopped him, with a jerky motion of his hand. "That's not the bad part. He and I were never especially close. I didn't want him dead, of course, but . . . well . . . he is." "Then, what?" Levi asked, already knowing the answer. Pete's Mother had never made a secret about how much she hated her son's living arrangements, and had made several attempts to get Pete to return home. Each of the attempts had met with stubborn refusals, and each time the animosity the two of them felt for one another grew. "My mother," he began, with a soft snort, "has . . . ordered . . . me home, to take over the family business. What she really wants is for me to serve as a figurehead, and she can run the show from behind the scenes." Pete smiled. "She's got something to learn. If I'm going to give up my life here, so I can head up everything, I will head up everything, and she will be relegated to nothing more than an interested onlooker. It'll boil down to a test of wills, and she thinks her will is stronger than mine." He chuckled. "The woman won't know what hit her. "I already told her if she thinks she's going to run things, then she can start packing. She's made enough enemies over the years, that me coming onboard will be the perfect opportunity to dump the woman. No one's been willing to say anything against her, even my father, for fear of what she'd do. Now . . . ," Pete's laugh was ugly. "I don't care what she'll do. "She will not survive, as part of the business. She's full of bluster, but knows, deep down, what the true story is. Father transferred close to fifty-percent of the company shares to my name, three years ago, and served as my voting proxy. His remaining shares, close to twenty percent, are set to transfer to me, upon his death. Once Mother found out, she went ballistic. She tried to contest things, but," he grinned, "she lost." "Still," Pete's voice broke. "In order to put the woman in her place, I'll have to leave you guys." A tear rolled over his cheek. "I don't know if I can do that. You both are too important to me." Levi pulled out a dining chair and took Pete's hand. "Don't torture yourself, Pete. What the three of us have had has been wonderful, but there's always been the specter of what would happen to your father's company when he died. If you'd really wanted to give up control, you'd have done it years ago, giving your father enough time to plan for an orderly succession." He squeezed Pete's hand. "And . . . admit it . . . you're anxious to knock your mother down a step or two. You've never had the power to do so, before. Now you do, and she knows it. Add to all this, is that you're a natural administrator." "How'll you guys keep the business going . . . this one, I mean?" Pete asked, around a ragged laugh. "When it comes to business, you guys don't know up from down." "Hey," Dave grumbled. "I know that! It's all the financial stuff I don't know." Pete smiled wistfully. "Y'think you'll be able to find someone to help out? Maybe I could help from up North?" "No, we'll muddle through. You're going to need to focus all of your energy on keeping control of the business. Your mother is sure to have friends who will see you as a threat to their positions. If you're dividing your attention, you're not going to be able to do the job you need to do." "Ever the practical one, aren't you?" Pete asked, grinning crookedly. "Who'll you get to take over some of the business things?" Levi stared into the distance. "I have no idea, at the moment. Maybe we can split up all the things you've been taking care of, among a few people. I don't know. It's going to take some consideration. "I'm going to miss you, though, Pete," Levi said, enfolding his lover's hands in both of his, while Dave scooted close and wrapped an arm around his lover's waist. "You've been the glue which has held everything together . . . the business . . . our contacts . . . our relationship. Everyone who meets us seems to think that I run the show. That's not the case. It was my idea. I started it, but it is you who have always run it. "I'm going to miss your firm hand on the reins, but, most of all I'm going to miss you, your laughter, your jokes, your warm voice . . . your advice . . . and all the good times we've had. You've kept me centered, Pete. You've kept me going, when things got rough. We are where we are today because of you, and you alone." Pete gasped a ragged breath, as tears ran down his cheeks and fell onto his shirt. "I love you both, so much. I can't imagine what it's gonna be like without you guys in my life." "You're not gonna get rid of us that easy," Dave said, doing his best to control his own emotions. "That's what telephones and airplanes are for. When we're not up North, looking for a place to stay while we visit, we'll be hounding you with email and text messages, telling you how much you're missed . . ." "And, how much you're loved," Levi said, as a tear escaped his eyes.
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