Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 20:06:09 +0100 (BST) From: Veneration Subject: Empty Vessel part 6 Your feedback is much appreciated and any comments are welcome. Send to veneration2003@yahoo.co.uk EMPTY VESSEL - BY VENERATION PART 6 CHAPTER 23 Roger and Zack have just spent the last hour going through Roger's library and deciding which books the boy is going to borrow. They enjoy their afternoon tea, with Zack's choice sitting in a stack of four on the table. Zack sighs, contentedly. The sun shines onto his bare legs and feet, warming them nicely and highlighting the light dusting of fine silvery hairs that have yet to grow into a coarse adult's pelt. He has the promise of some good books to read; his mug of tea is perfect to quench his thirst; he has just spent a happy hour with Roger. Zack values the ability to relax in the man's company, without having to worry about letting something slip, actions or words, that would lead to accusations of his being a fag. The teen had not realised how seldom he had been completely relaxed previously. Zack sighs again. This leaves one more thing that still makes him nervous, but that he is now ready to face. He looks seriously at Roger. Roger notices that Zack's mood has quietened from his previous happy, somewhat giggly, behaviour. "What is it?" Zack turns pink. "Um, . . . I think I'm ready." "Oh. Well, if you want to go home, that is fine, but you are welcome to stay as long as you want." Zack grins. "No silly, that's not what I mean." "Then what do you mean?" Zack becomes solemn as he thinks for a moment. He gets to his feet and walks over to Roger. Zack looks down at him, then sits astride his legs, facing the man. "I mean I'm ready to go further." Roger carefully keeps a straight face. He has a good idea of what Zack is getting at, but the chance to tease the lad is too good to miss. "Well, if you want to go home, you'll certainly have to go further than that." Zack bursts into loud embarrassed laughter and collapses against Roger's chest. The man holds Zack in his arms as the teen gurgles and slowly recovers. Zack sits up and looks sternly at Roger. "You're being mean, you know what I'm getting at. You just want me to say it." "Say what?" Roger asks. Zack frowns at Roger. "Sex," he whispers, "I'm ready for sex." Zack leans forward and kisses Roger on the lips, soft and gentle as moths' wings. "That's odd," the boy says thoughtfully, as he sits up again. "that's my first time. I've never actually kissed a guy before." "Not even your father kissing you goodnight when you were young?" "I doubt it." Zack is dismissive. "I wouldn't think so, not even when I was a baby." "So how was it, your first kiss with a guy?" Roger asks. A ghost of a grin appears on Zack's face. "I'm not sure, I might have to try it again." Zack leans forward and gently presses his lips against Roger's. Roger opens his mouth and runs his tongue across the boy's lips. Zack's eyes widen in surprise and he opens his own mouth in response. Roger's tongue darts inside and explores the boy's moist warm cave. Zack breaks off the kiss. "Oh, . . . I never thought." He pauses, then grins. "Was I alright, then?" "Yes, you were wonderful," Roger replies. Zack's smile widens. "I don't need some more practice?" Roger pretends to think. "Well, maybe some more practice would be good," he says judiciously. Zack eagerly resumes his kiss, this time his tongue meeting the man's. Roger's cock is rock hard as he gently caresses the teen's head and back. Zack tastes and smells fresh and clean, with an undertone of teen hormones and hint of sharp tang of vanilla. Roger's heart starts to pound. Zack breaks off the kiss and sits up as he catches his breath. He is panting and his face is flushed with passion. "Wow," he says, "I think I might be gay after all." Roger smiles at the angel on his lap, takes his hand and squeezes it. He observes the boy's mood change in an instant, like a shadow passing over his face. It's as if there are two Zack's, he observes. There is the quiet, hesitant boy that the world mostly sees, and the relaxed confident boy that emerges when he feels safe. Roger feels it's his mission to encourage the confident Zack. Zack's brow wrinkles and he looks a little downcast. "Um, . . . Roger? I don't know what to do?' Roger strokes the boy's hand. "What do you want to do?" "Dunno." Zack thinks. "You know, I like to look at the boys changing at the swimming baths. Well, I can't really look at them properly in case they catch me at it and label me a poof. Well, . . . um, I wonder if, . . . ." Zack's voice trails away and he looks away from Roger's eyes. "Would you like to see me naked?" Zack blushes prettily. "Yes, please" he whispers, almost inaudibly. "But I'm not a boy," Roger teases. Zack looks back into Roger's eyes. The teasing reminds him of the man's affection, and that he can be as dirty as he likes, and his confidence returns. "That's OK," Zack grins. "In fact that's even better 'cos I ain't ever seen a naked man before. C'mon, be a sport." Zack grabs the bottom of Roger's T-shirt and pulls it up his chest. Roger bends to let the boy tug it over his head. Zack drops the T on the floor and undoes the drawstring to Roger's shorts. "Stand up," he instructs. Roger gets to his feet and Zack pulls down his shorts. Roger steps out of his shorts and stands in his boxers, which are tented out in front. Zack sniggers. "Rog 'as gotta stiffie." Zack takes hold of the waistband of Roger's boxers, then pauses and looks up at him. "Go ahead," Roger says, "you are free to do whatever you like." Zack sighs. He gently, almost reverently, lifts the boxers clear of Roger's erection and slides them down the man's legs. The youth is mesmerised by the sight of Roger's weapon as it emerges from its black bush and juts proudly upwards. "Oh, yeah, that's what it's all about." Zack takes a deep breath. "OK, you can sit down now." Roger obeys. Zack is in control here. "Um, Roger, would you like to see me naked?" "Absolutely." "Er, I'm nothing like that." Zack looks down at Roger's hard-on. "I'll tell you a little secret," Roger replies. "I prefer boys like you, rather than men my age." "Oh? You mean boys like me turn you on?" Roger grabs his erection and waggles it at the boy. "What do you think?" Zack laughs. "Right then, best get on with it." The boy slowly removes his T-shirt, to reveal a slender chest. He undoes the waist button and zip of his shorts and pulls them off. He stands for a moment in his navy blue briefs, then in one quick movement, pulls them down and steps out of them. Roger feasts his eyes on the naked boy in front of him. Zack's dick has softened from its previous excitement and dangles limply. It is cigar shaped, narrowing to a point at the tip, where the foreskin extends slightly past the dick head. The boy's light brown pubic bush is a small patch that curves around the base of his dick. His balls are full, but drawn up against his body. "Alright, then?" Zack asks as he stands quietly under Roger's gaze. "More than alright," Roger replies, "perfect. You are a beautiful boy" "I'm not very big, down there." Zack gestures vaguely in the direction of his nether regions. "It's not the quantity, it's the quality," Roger reassures the boy. "I wouldn't want your dick to be any bigger, which I assure you it will be as you mature." "Oh?" Zack grins. "You mean want to make the most of it before I become a grownup?" "And get all hairy and masculine, yuk." Roger grimaces at the thought. Zack's smile widens and his limp noodle starts to stir and swell a little. He climbs back on Roger and sits astride him, scooting forward so that their cocks touch. Instantly his dick becomes a hard spike that rests alongside Roger's hard-on. Zach thrusts his pelvis, so that his cock rubs against Roger's, again and again. "Oh, . . . oh, . . no" Zack gasps and shudders. He collapses against Roger as he squirts uncontrollably over the man's cock. "I'm sorry," he whimpers into Roger's shoulder, "I spunked all over you." Roger strokes the boy's shoulders and back. "There's no need to be sorry about having an orgasm, that's what sex is all about." "Yeah, but, I lost control. I couldn't help myself." "That's the glory of the teen boy, he's always ready for action. And ten minutes after he has come, he's ready for more. Not like old codgers like me. Once we shoot our bolts, we have to recover for, for weeks before we are ready again." Zack chuckles. He sits up again, eyes slightly teary, smile slightly wan, but growing. He looks down at their crotches, smeared with boy spunk. "But it is a mess down there," he observes. "A little bit," Roger agrees, "but think how much more of a mess there would be if I spunked up as well." "Oh? How much I wonder?" Zack pauses. "You know, I never actually touched someone else's willy before, let alone a stiffie." "Yes, and your point is?" Roger asks. Zack grins. He tentatively reaches towards Roger's hard-on, then looks up at his face for permission. At Roger's smile he firmly wraps his hand around the man's cock and begins to pump. Roger finds the sensation of someone else's hand on his hard-on, moving in a different style to his own, with the sight of the boy sitting on his legs, intent on his actions, particularly exciting and he quickly reaches his climax. Roger spurts into the air, covering Zack's hand and both their crotches. "Wicked," Zack says as he admires the results of his handiwork. "You have loads of spunk, it's a real mess." Roger brings Zack hand to his mouth and licks it clean. "Oh!" Zack is astonished. "You mean you can eat that stuff?" "Sure. There's nothing like a nice taste of spunk." Zack thinks about it. "I guess I could try it." The teen inspects his hand, but it has been licked entirely clean. Zack looks down at Rogers cock, that has softened after its eruption. "There's plenty of spunk down there," he observes. Zack's eyes sparkle wickedly. "Your willy needs cleaning," he says with a laugh. The boy slides off Roger's legs and onto his knees on the floor, then with a giggle at his naughtiness, he licks and slurps the man's cock clean. Zack takes a swipe with his tongue at a strand of semen in Roger's bush, but grimaces in displeasure at getting a mouthful of hair. Zack finishes cleaning Roger's cock, which is swollen and semi-hard from the stimulation. He gives it a quick kiss on the tip and straightens up from the man's crotch. "I don't really think I like spunk," Zack observes. "It's too slimy and tastes fishy." "It is an acquired taste," Roger agrees. Zack smirks. "You mean it needs practice?" Roger laughs. "Yes." Roger slides off the sofa and onto the floor. He stretches Zack out on the sofa then bends over the boy's family jewels. He licks Zack entirely clean, including teasing out the cum from the boy's sparse pubes. Roger pops Zack's rigid rod in his mouth for a good suck. It quivers and shoots a tiny squirt of nectar, that is thin but sweet, onto the man's tongue. "See," Roger says as he releases the boy's dink, "ready in ten minutes." Zack giggles. He gets off the sofa. "Lie down," he instructs the man. Roger lies on the sofa and Zack clambers on top of him, resting his cheek on the man's chest. Roger gently strokes the boy's back from neck to bum. "So how old are you anyway?" Zack murmurs as he is soothed by the caresses. "42." "So you really are an old codger. I had better wait a coupla weeks before we do this again." "Cheeky imp." Roger swats Zack on the bum. The teen laughs into Roger's chest. They lie quietly, then Zack sighs. "I'd love to stay longer, but I really gotta go home." "Perhaps some other time you could stay overnight," Roger suggests. "I'd like that," Zack replies. . o 0 O 0 o . CHAPTER 24 The door slams. "Hey, Rog." Bill bounds into the livingroom with a broad smile and Sam saunters after him, backpack in hand. Bill patters over to where Roger sits on the sofa and throws his arms around the man's neck. Roger hugs the small boy. Bill's grubby, but not filthy; he has the smell of an active boy, but is not rank. "Stayin' the night, 'kay?" Bill says. "That sounds good to me, little man," Roger replies. Sam drops the pack on the floor. He wanders over to Roger and gently punches him on the shoulder. "How are you doing, Sam?" Roger says. He reaches out and rests a hand on the youth's hip. "Wotcha think ya doin'?" Sam growls and he moves away. Bill frees himself from Roger's embrace and impatiently removes his clothes, dropping them on the floor. Sam frowns at his brother. "Why don'cha pick up yor clothes an' I'll put 'em in the wash," he says brusquely. " 'Kay." Bill obediently gathers his clothes in his arms and follows Sam into the kitchen. Roger's eyes follows the retreating naked boy, with his tight little bum. A few minutes later the boys reappear, but now both are naked. Sam's firm torso and muscled chest is so much more developed than his skinny younger brother's narrow chest, with prominent ribs. His cock, dangling solidly under his bush, is much larger than Bill's little willy. Sam observes the man's obvious interest in his naked body with pleasure and a little pride. "I'm doin' my clothes, too," he explains. "Gonna have a shower," Bill announces. "I know you like being naked, and I love seeing you naked," Roger says to Bill, "but when you've finished your shower, you might want to have a look in the top drawer of the dresser in your bedroom." Bill looks puzzled and heads up the stairs. Sam looks at Roger and raises his eyebrows, but the man just smiles. Sam pulls clean clothes from the backpack and dresses. "I'm gonna play on the 'puter," he says and disappears into the study. It's just a few hectic minutes after the brothers arrive and Roger is left alone as the boys are busy at their various activities. They obviously feel at home, ready to do their own thing rather than 'visit' and this pleases Roger. Bill reappears after his shower, clean, even mostly dry, but with wildly tousled hair. He is dressed in bright red bikini briefs. " 'Ow come ya got boys' undies?" he asks. "Your old ones are looking pretty manky," Roger replies, "so I thought you could do with some new ones." "For me?" Bill's voice squeaks in disbelief. "Yes, of course." Bill clambers onto Roger's lap and gives him a big sloppy kiss on the lips. The boy looks into Roger's eyes and smiles widely. "Show Sam," Bill says, and he climbs off the man and disappears into the study. ********* Roger lies in bed facing the door. Sam appears in the doorway, naked and with dick at half-mast. "Hiya, Rog," he says softly. Sam's semi-wood waggles as makes his way to the bed. Roger lifts up the bedclothes, invitingly, and Sam slips into bed. The teen lies half on top of Roger, with one leg draped over the man's thighs and an arm resting on his chest. Roger wraps an arm around the boy's back, holding him close. Sam gazes into Roger's eyes, smiles fondly and lowers his head for a kiss. Their tongues meet, rub against each other and begin to wrestle, like two small boys struggling for dominance in the playground. Sam's mouth is fresh with the taste of toothpaste and Roger feels the boy's dick stiffen and press hotly against his thigh. His own cock is hard and throbbing under Sam's leg. Roger presses Sam's tongue back and invades the teen's mouth. Sam's eyes crinkle wickedly and he closes his mouth, gently biting down on the man's tongue. "Ouch," Roger complains. Sam chuckles and lays his head down with a sigh, his breath gusting warmly on Roger's chest. Roger runs his hand down Sam's back and rests it on his bum. "You're a right little beast, you know," Roger says. "Yeah, I know" Sam replies contentedly. Roger gives Sam's bum a little slap, then slips his hand between the boy's bum cheeks. He probes for the magic muscle with a finger. "Yer likes me arse, doncha?" "It's very sexy," Roger agrees. "Yer gonna lick me hole?" "Yes, if you like." "Oh, yeah," Sam replies. "It's totally weird, but so hot." The teen rolls onto his back and Roger sits up, pushing back the bedclothes. He looks down at Sam, with his eager face and hard, twitching cock. Roger moves between the boy's legs and, grasping them, he lifts them onto Sam's chest. Sam wraps his arms around his legs. Roger bends down to the exposed rose and probes it with his tongue. The muscle quivers, relaxes and almost seems to suck his tongue inside. "Ooh, . . ah," Sam groans. Roger's tongue retreats from the moist, dark cave and the man slurps along the boy's soft, tender perineum, forcing his face between Sam's thighs. "Ouch," Sam mutters and he releases his legs. Roger lets Sam drop his legs back onto the bed. "Yer almost split me into two, there," Sam complains. He runs a hand through the man's hair, over an ear, and tenderly cups his cheek. "Sorry," Roger replies, then dives back down into the boy's crotch. He sucks one hairless ball into his mouth, then the other, feeling the eggs move within their delicate purse. The musk of teen boy fills his nostrils, making his hard-on throb. "Mmm." Sam hums. Roger licks along the solid shaft and over the head. "Oh, Rog," Sam groans. Roger removes his mouth and inspects teens hard cock, foreskin fully retracted and revealing the engorged, purplish, head, a drop of pre-cum at the slit. He lifts the erection off Sam's belly and sucks it into his mouth. The sensitive cockhead scrapes along the roof of Roger's mouth and presses against the entrance to his throat. His nose is buried in Sam's pubes. "Aah," Sam gasps. Roger begins to suck and the extra pressure is too much for the highly stimulated boy. With a moan, Sam frantically grips the man's shoulders, bucks his hips up in an attempt to force his cock even deeper, and spurts three, four times. With a sigh, Sam collapses and relaxes. Roger swirls the sweet nectar around his mouth and swallows. He looks down at the boy lying limply, eyes glazed over, cock starting to soften. Roger lies besides Sam and folds him into his arms, while the boy recovers. Sam recovers quickly, as teens do, and grins cheekily as he gazes into Roger's eyes. "Man, you sucked me dry there, me eyeballs about popped." He grasps the man's hard-on and squeezes. "But that's OK 'cos yor peter's all ready to pump me full agin. Can't see why ya got such a thing for me arsehole, though. Tonguing it, . . . yeech!" "It's called rimming, and don't knock it until you've tried it," Roger replies. "Yeah? Ya reckon? Well, let's 'ave a gander, then." "Oh?" Roger raises his eyebrows. Is Sam really going to take things further? Roger frees himself from the boy and gets onto his knees, head resting on arms. "Ain't ya going to lie on yer back wit' yer knees up?" "No, I'm getting too old to hold that position for long." Sam laughs. "Yeah, yeah." Roger feels the boy's hands on his buttocks. They stroke his bum for a minute, then take a grip and prise his cheeks apart. A gust of warm breath tickles his dangling balls. "Eugh, how gross. Yer all hairy, an' yer bunghole's all bumpy, it's some weird shit." Sam laughs. "Yeah, shit's the word." Roger feels a finger poke at the muscle that guards his back passage. It prods and probes and the tip inserts itself a little, just enough to stimulate the nerves and make the man wish that Sam would go further. "Hunh, I don't b'lieve I'm doin' this. An' this is sexy?" "Oh, yes," Roger groans. "Yeah, well, I still don't think I can rim ya. Sorry, Rog." "That's OK. But you can fuck me if you like," Roger invites Sam. "Nah," the boy replies, "Don't wanna get shit on me dick." Sam gives a quick raspberry on a bum cheek, a sharp slap on the other cheek, then he drops on the bed to lie besides Roger. "Put yer bum down, ya look a proper ijit with it stuck up in the air." Sam snorts with laughter. Roger smiles ruefully as he complies. "Getting shit on your cock is not that big a problem," he says, "and you can always wash it afterwards. Besides, you have just played with my arsehole with your finger." "Yeah but it didn't go all the way in. Anyways, it's just a finger an' I sticks me hand up me arse ev'ry day when I wipes meself." "But you don't use your bare hand do you?" "No, ya dork, I use bog paper," Sam howls in outrage as he hits Roger on the arm. "It's just that it's not me dick, that's diff'rent." "Did Trevor tell you that he has screwed me?" "Yeah, but he's randy as a rabbit, he'll do anythink. It's jus' that I don' wanna." In truth, Sam isn't interested in fucking Roger as it doesn't feel right for him. Sam has a tough exterior that he holds as an armour against the world. He has always been on his guard, always defensive and always determined to keep control over his fate. To surrender control to Roger is an act of faith and trust that brings a sweet comfort that is beyond anything Sam has experienced. It is his surrendering control to Roger that makes him feel secure and it's only when he's naked in bed with Roger that Sam can allow his vulnerability to show. Sam is still a young teen who, subconsciously, desperately desires an adult to be in charge of him and so provide protection against the world. To fuck Roger would be an act of taking control which would change their special relationship. Sam looks down appraisingly down at Roger's rigid rod as it oozes precum. He smiles with anticipation. "Right, let's be havin' ya," he says and dives down to his target. The boy licks Roger's cockhead clean then plunges down the shaft. He pauses for a moment when the man's cock presses against the entrance to his throat, then with a determined swallow presses further until his nose is buried in Roger's pubes. Roger groans as Sam's warm, tight throat squeezes his cock. Sam withdraws from the impaling weapon and grins triumphantly. "Are yer about ready to spunk up?" "Oh, yes," Roger sighs as his hard-on aches for release. "Well, we don't want to waste it, so ya better do me now." Sam takes the lube from the bedside table and lovingly coats Roger's erection, which twitches and bobs under his attention. The youth reaches behind with his greasy finger and greases his ring. He lies face down on the bed, his bum an inviting, tight mound. "Aren't you going to lie on your back, like before?" Roger asks. "Nah, I'm too young fer that. Besides I wanna have a rest, maybe have a snooze while yer roger me." "Cheeky young devil," Roger laughs. He grabs the back of Sam's head and gives it a shake, while the boy chortles into the pillow. Roger strokes Sam's back, from neck to bum, then grabs a pillow. "Raise your bum, lad," Roger instructs and, when Sam does so, he inserts the pillow under the boy's groin. Roger kneels between Sam's legs, forcing them further apart and making the boy's hole more accessible. Roger carefully aims his cock at Sam's back entrance and presses slowly, steadily, firmly against his arsehole. The muscles of the teen's ring resists, then relaxes and accepts Roger's cock as it slides home. The man lowers himself onto Sam, resting most of his weight on his arms. Sam sighs in satisfaction as the weight of Roger's body presses him into the bed, his back passage is comfortably full and the nerve endings of his arse send pulses of pleasure to his brain. "Are you OK, Sam?" "Oh yeah, wunnerful. Um, Roger, could yer not spunk up right now. I jus' wanna be like this for a while." "Righto." Roger slides an arm under Sam and, holding the boy to his chest, rolls the two of them onto their sides. He slides his other hand down Sam's belly and cups his hard dick and balls. They lie quietly, Roger gently massaging Sam's hard-on and every once in a while giving a small thrust with his hips to drive his cock deep into the teen's arse. Sam moans quietly as his prostate is stimulated. His mind is filled with the physical sensations of pleasure verging on exquisite pain, and the sense of love and belonging that feels completely right to him. "Oh, . . . oh," Sam whimpers and he squirts his little gift into Roger's hand. The boy's arse spasms and the muscles of his ring contract around Roger's cock, squeezing it and tipping him over the edge into orgasm. Roger holds Sam tightly as he spurts powerfully up the lad's bum. "Aah," the man sighs as the pressure in his balls is relieved. Roger kisses Sam on the cheek and holds the boy to his chest, his cock still up Sam's arse as it slowly softens. Sam is at peace and drifts off to sleep. ************** Roger wakes to find a very determined small boy squeezing his way between him and Sam. Sam mutters a complaint and, without waking fully, reluctantly makes way for his little brother. Bill hugs Roger tightly and gives him big smooch on the lips. He draws back and regards the man with an enormous, happy, gap-toothed smile. "Good morning, my little man," Roger greets Bill. "Mornin'. Sam slept with ya agin las' night." "He did, indeed." "Didja stick yer thingy up 'is bum?" Bill asks. "That's for Sam to say," Roger replies. Sam opens a sleepy eye, smirks, murmurs "Did 'e ever!" rolls away and goes back to sleep. "Are yer gonna stick it up me bum?" "No." Bill frowns. "Why not?" "Because you are too small," Roger explains. "My cock is too big for your bottom and it would hurt you too much." "I'se gets older and me bum'll be bigger. Yor gonna stick it up me then." Roger is amused. "Am I now?" "Yus." As far as Bill is concerned, it's been decided and, never a boy to waste his words, there's nothing more to be said. ***************** Roger and the boys finish breakfast, Sam droopy and grumpy at being up but not really awake, and Bill bright eyed and cheerful, clad only in his bright red undies. The early morning air is still slightly chill, but Bill ignores it as he relishes the freedom of being undressed. Sam wipes the last of his breakfast off his lips with the back of his hand, stretches his arms above his head, yawns widely and grins at Roger. "That's better," he says. "We gotta go, I said I'd meet Trev this mornin'." Sam gets to his feet and, as he walks behind Roger, he trails a hand across the man's shoulders. The youth disappears into the kitchen and reappears a few minutes later with a bundle of clothes, washed and dried, in his arms. Sam drops the bundle on the floor and starts to fold and place his own clothes in the backpack. "C'mon, boyo," he instructs his brother, "get dressed. We ain't got all day." Bill sighs and starts to slide the briefs down his legs. "You can keep the underpants," Roger tells the boy, "they're yours now." Bill pauses, his undies halfway down his thighs and his willy jutting out. "Really?" Bills face brightens and he starts to smile, then his face clouds over again. "I cain't. If mum sees them, she'll know I got 'em from somewhere and she'll go spare." "You can put them in with my wash if you like, an' I'll do 'em," Sam suggests. "Then she'll never know." Bill looks at his brother in amazement. "Really? Can I? Honest?" Sam shrugs. "Why not, it's just one more pair of undies, as long as they ain't too disgustin'." Bill goes up to Sam and hugs him. "Yer the bestest bruvver in the whole world." "Geroff," Sam says gruffly and he shakes Bill free. But Sam rests a hand on his young brother's shoulder and can't help a pleased smile appearing. The two boys finish their preparations, say their goodbyes and disappear, leaving Roger alone. His life is peaceful once again, but a little bit emptier. . o 0 O 0 o . CHAPTER 25 The early morning sun washes over Roger and Zack as they sit at the table. Zack is animated as he chatters. His hand gestures are expansive, sometimes coming perilously close to spilling his mug of tea, or dropping fragments of toast on the table. Roger observes and responds as required. The teen's confidence has blossomed as he increasing feels free to be himself and to express his thoughts and feelings. To have people care about you is one thing, as Zack's parents do; to have someone express their affection is another thing, as Roger does; to be able to be open as a gay boy is something else and allows you to grow as a person, as Zack is starting to discover. The two friends' conversation is interrupted by the sound of the front door bell. Roger stands and goes to the intercom. "Hello?" "Hey Rog." "Hi Sam," Roger replies and he releases the front door lock. Zack's face drops. "Is that Sam from school?" "Yes, it is." A look of dismay comes across Zack's face. He looks around wildly as if searching for a mean of escape and starts to get to his feet. "Relax and finish your breakfast," Roger reassures Zack, but the boy continues to look apprehensive. Sam, Trevor and Bill burst into the flat in a noisy rush. They greet the man with a "Hi Roger," "How's it hangin', man," and "Mornin'." "Good morning, boys," Roger replies. Zack shoulders hunches over and he huddles in the chair, as if in the hope that he wont be noticed. "Hey, Zack," Trevor greets him, while Sam nods at him in an offhand way. "Er, hi," Zack mumbles. "Youse here early," Sam comments. "I mean ta say, I thought we was early enough . . ." "Up at the bleedin' crack o' dawn," Trevor grumbles. "So, how come . . ." Sam pauses and narrows his eyes in thought. "Did ja stay the night, then?" Zack flushes a bright red. "Um, yeah," he whispers as he stares down at the ruins of his breakfast. Zack has lost his appetite and has a sense of approaching doom. Trevor grins. "Yer did the deed with Rog last night, din't ya, yer dirty dog?" Zack's face goes white. To be found out in this way, and by two chavs such as Sam and Trevor, is the ultimate disaster and his life is over. "Hey, it's no big deal," Trevor reassures Zack. "Sam 'n me have both messed with Roger." Zack is shocked at what he hears, enough that he is distracted from his own predicament. "Oh! I never would have guessed that you are gay, too." "We ain't." Sam is indignant at the suggestion. "It's just sex, it don't mean nuffink. It's just, just . . . " Sam's voice trails away, as he's not ready to explain that his relationship with Roger satisfies some deep emotional need that he still doesn't fully understand and avoids thinking about. "It's just a bit o' fun, ya know, friends helping each other out," Trevor explains. "I'm just getting me rocks off 'til I gets a girlfriend." "You said 'Gay, too'. Dus that mean yer gay then?" Sam asks. "Erm, . . ." Zack hunches his shoulders and seems to shrink a little. The conversation is getting worse and worse as all his secrets are steadily revealed. Sam appraises the miserable teen before him. He had never had anything particularly against Zack, it was just that their lives at school were totally different and Zack was one of those dorky wimps to be ignored. But now Sam is learning to consider people on their own merits, and Zack's evident friendship with Roger is an argument in his favour. "Hey, it's cool," Sam reassures Zack. "So, are you and Roger boyfriends, then?" Zack looks up at Sam, who has a friendly smile and appears quite unthreatening. The worst has happened and his secret has been discovered, but the world hasn't actually ended just yet. Zack sighs and relaxes, just a little. "No," he replies. "Roger's helping me learn about what it is to be gay. But when I get a boyfriend, I think I want him to be someone my own age." Zack looks apologetically towards Roger. "Sorry, Roger." "That's OK, I understand," Roger says. "I think you'll be better off with someone your own age when the time comes." "Yeah, an' while yer waiting to get a proper boyfriend, you can do stuff with me and Sam sometimes," Trevor suggests. "No, man." Sam is dismissive. "Why'd we want to do sommat dumb like that?" Trevor blushes. He's embarrassed at suggesting something so gay as sex with another boy. It would have been OK if Sam had gone along with it, but he's now left stuck out on a limb. Now that Trevor has been introduced to the pleasures of sex, he has become addicted to the activity. He has also discovered that it matters little to him whether sex is with a guy or a girl, not that Trevor has yet had any experience with girls. He has decided that one of the advantages of sex with boys is that it satisfies his simple animal lusts without all the emotional complications of dealing with girls. Trevor's more awkward discovery is that he fancies Sam something rotten. They had always been best mates, but he does not realise that what he feels for Sam is the love between two friends. This is not something specifically sexual, but is a special relationship that can be felt, in a few rare cases, between friends, to their immense good fortune. If Trevor were ever to be told that he loved Sam, he would deny it vehemently. Yet it is this love that leads Trevor to yearn for sex with his friend, as they share so much of the rest of their lives. Trevor's misfortune is that although Sam equally feels an unrecognised love for Trevor, he has no desire to have sex with his best friend. His relationship with Roger is not specifically for the sex, but fulfils a deep need for a relationship with a man who is in charge of him. However, a side effect of his friendship with Roger is that his sexual needs are satisfied, and he sees no need to have sex with Trevor, or any other boy. Sam expects to have a girlfriend at some stage and anticipates that will lead to sex, but he is no hurry for the complexities of relationships with girls and is content to wait until such time as it should happen. This leaves Trevor in a state of frustration, though he does not realise this. In an unconscious effort to relieve this frustration, his eye wanders and he is ready to have sex with anyone who might be available. If Trevor is not careful, he might become that rather sad creature, a young man who obsessively chases sex with multiple partners whenever possible. In spite of his embarrassment, Trevor can't help casting an appraising eye at Zack, who might be persuaded to play around since he is gay. "Whatever. Anyhow, we don't care if you mess wit' Roger," Trevor says to Zack. "We can share him with ya, can't we Sam?" Sam grunts. He doesn't care if Roger has sex with the other boys, as long as it doesn't affect what's between Roger and him. Roger isn't sure what he thinks about being treated as some sort of sex object, but is not about to turn down the chance to make love to three beautiful boys. Bill has been following the conversation with interest, his presence forgotten by the others. "I'm gonna be Roger's boyfriend when I'se grows up," he announces. Roger is amused and smiles at the boy. "Oh, are you now?" "Yus." "I think you are a little young to know something like that now. You'll find that you'll change in a few years when you reach puberty. And I don't just mean physically." Bill shrugs. As far as he's concerned, it's a done deal. He loses interest in pursuing a conversation that is pointless. "So Roger," Sam says, "ya promised that yer would take us to the Chadwick Theme Park some time. We wus just wond'ring if we could go today." The mood of the boys lightens as, typical of teen boys, they can't cope with emotional intensity for very long, and they respond to the change of subject with relief. Roger smiles. "That sounds like a good idea. And today would be a nice day for it. So yes, certainly." "Cool." Sam looks at Zack. "Why doncha come, too." "Oh, no, that's OK, I don't think so," Zack replies. "Why not? We ain't that bad," Sam challenges Zack. "Yeah, it'll be fun." Trevor's eyes flicker down to Zack's package. "An' I'll keep Sam under control, least ways as much as possible." He sniggers at the thought. Sam grimaces at his best friend and gives him the finger. Zack looks rather helplessly around at the boys. Bill grins and gives the teen a friendly pat on the shoulder as he wanders past to the kitchen. "Er, . . ., well, OK, that would be nice, thanks." "I'm glad to hear it," Roger says. "They are nice boys under their rough exteriors, almost civilised even, and I'm sure you will enjoy yourself." He gets to his feet. "Right, let's just clear away the breakfast dishes and we'll be off." . o 0 O 0 o . EPILOGUE The rains of the previous few days have battered the leaves from the trees into sodden masses on the ground, leaving a only few lonely, withered stragglers clinging to the bare branches. The air outside is washed clean, but chill with approaching winter, making Roger's flat feel even warmer and cosier by contrast. The school holidays are a golden memory, to be stored away and brought out once in a while to be relived with pleasure. The teens are at high school, so once again are the little kids of their community, with a new set of social mores to learn and conform to. Sam and Trevor sit at the dining table. They work at their homework intermittently, between talking, arguing, laughing, breaks to the toilet or kitchen, or just standing and stretching. Schoolwork is never going to be a favourite activity of the two friends, but they accept its necessity. They have developed the routine of coming to Roger's to do their homework, and if they extract a little entertainment in the process, that is only to be expected of teenage boys. Bill sits on a sofa, close to Roger. He is barefoot, but dressed in jeans and an old, faded shirt handed down from his big brother. Bill has reluctantly decided that with the cooler weather, it is time to keep his clothes on. Or, perhaps, he no longer feels the same need to seek attention by displaying himself. Bill's head bobs and weaves to the beat of music that, unheard by anyone else, comes from the Sony Walkman that Roger recently gave him for his birthday. Zack sits on the other sofa, reading 'Titan.' He has long since finished his homework and is immersed in the world of Gaea. Zack has just begun a lifetime journey into the wonders of science fiction and fantasy, that is teaching his imagination to take flight and soar. He glances up at Roger and Bill sitting together and smiles. Roger's flat is a haven to the boys, where they are safe from the world outside. They flourish in the warmth of Roger's love and, with him as a role model, they slowly begin to grow into fine young men, as they see an alternative to the harsh society they were born into. Roger sits relaxed on the sofa, enjoying the company of the boys and the friendly, happy atmosphere they engender. Their emotional demands on him counter his recent tendency to withdraw from the world. When Roger first came to the city, his life had been an empty vessel. Now, with the boys in his life, it is full to overflowing. THE END . o 0 O 0 o .