Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:16:21 -0800 (PST) From: John Michaels Subject: Filipino Love - chapter 40 FILIPINO LOVE BY JM Email: mmanlookin@yahoo.com Disclaimers and other info: see chapter one This story is my personal intellectual property and may not be reproduced in any form without my express written permission. This and all subsequent chapters are dedicated to my own Filipino Love! CHAPTER FORTY As we pulled out of the parking lot, I realized that I'd better call the house to give Paulo and Mario a heads up in case they were amorously involved. I wasn't sure if they felt comfortable answering the phone in our house, but I could at least leave a message for them that was quite audible throughout the salla as it recorded. Hopefully, they'd hear it as long as they weren't too deeply involved with whatever they were doing. The phone at the house rang four times before the answering machine kicked in. "Hi, guys," I said. "This is Phil. I thought I'd let you know that we're on our way back to the house to drop off a few things. We'll see you in about 10 minutes. Bye." I hung up and Ronni winked at me, knowing the real reason behind the call. I'm not sure if Lorenzo knew, but I know he'd get a kick out of it if he did. Sure enough, there was a quiet chuckle from the front seat. We arrived at the house in the time I had stated in the message and each of us grabbed as much as we could to take into the house. There were still a few small packages of software that we just couldn't fit in our loads, and Lorenzo said he come back for those. We managed to get the door open after making enough noise to give the boys a chance to make themselves either scarce or presentable and placed the larger parcels on the floor and the smaller ones on the counter. Lorenzo left to get the remaining stuff, and I glanced over at the two boys, who were sitting as innocently as they could manage, on the sofa. Their hair was still wet from a recent shower, and both were blushing furiously while pretending to watch TV. It would have helped their case if it was turned on! It was so very obvious that they had made very good use of their time alone but were trying so hard to act nonchalant. It was also very clear that it was a damn good thing I called first! Ronni was trying desperately to contain himself over the situation, but he still had an enormous grin on his face. I was also holding back a laugh as the boys looked over at us as if just noticing we were there. "Oh, umm, hi!" said Mario. "We didn't hear you come in." RIGHT!! "How'd it go, fellas?" I asked. "Everything ok while we were gone?" "Umm...err...ah...Yeah," Paulo stammered. "Everything was great!" At this, poor Ronni lost it completely and started howling with laughter as he went over to his two friends, flopping down beside Paulo. "I'll bet it was really great, huh!" he said. Making a big show of sniffing the air, he leaned into Paulo, and in a stage whisper that could have been heard in a football stadium, said, "Mmmm. Smells like sex in here," while wiggling his eyebrows a la Groucho Marx. I never knew anyone could blush as deeply as those two without bursting a blood vessel. They both looked horrified that they had been found out, but Ronni quickly diffused the situation by leaning over and kissing them both on the cheek. "I'm so very happy for you two," he said sincerely. "I'm glad you had this time for just the two of you." I walked over and knelt in front of the pair, placing a hand on each knee. "I told you that this will always be a safe place for you," I said gently. "I'm really happy that the two of you are now able to enjoy that part of your relationship. Just take it slow and enjoy each other. By the way, did you get my message?" "Umm, yeah, ahh, we did," Mario said. "We did not feel good about answering your phone, but we heard the message. We, uhh, had, umm, just finished...you know," he stammered, "and we, ahh, took a quick shower and, umm, got dressed." Just then, Lorenzo came in with the rest of the packages, and patting both boys reassuringly on the knee, I got up to help him get things sorted, leaving the three boys to talk quietly among themselves. "Looks like it was a good thing you called, Boss," he said quietly, nodding toward the boys as I came up to him. "Yeah, it was," I said. "But it was still so obvious what they'd been up to when we came in, and they're so embarrassed about it. I really want them to feel more comfortable about this side of their relationship. Right now, they seem so apologetic. There's nothing to be embarrassed about, and they certainly don't need to apologize to me or anyone else for it. It's all just part of being in love." "You're a really understanding and genuinely good guy, Boss," he said. "And Ronni's certainly no slouch in that department either. They're really lucky to have the two of you at this point in their lives." "Thanks," I said. "I really hope you're right. There's just so much that could go wrong, not to mention the bigots who try to make the lives of us gays miserable. I hope you and the others in our little circle of friends will help keep an eye on them when I'm away." "I can't speak for the others," he said, "but I'll certainly do what I can to help. I owe you both so much, and you've become like a second family to me already. Ronni is like a younger brother to me, and I will keep him and his friends safe as best as I can." "Thanks, guy," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "We feel the same about you. Well, we better get going. We've already kept your cousin waiting long enough." Walking over to the boys on the sofa, I caught Ronni's eye, and he got up and came to where I was waiting. I wanted to be able to talk to him without further embarrassing Mario and Paulo. "What's up?" he asked, with a sly grin and obvious sexual overtones, as he was staring fixedly at my crotch. "Not now, you little horndog," I chided, pulling him into a hug. "I've got a favor to ask, and I didn't want the others to hear since it's sort of about them. Lorenzo and I have to go meet with Josie now, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to stay here with those two. I have a feeling they want to talk to you about this morning, and this would be a good time to do it without others around." There was a fleeting look of disappointment on his face at being separated from me that quickly disappeared, to be replaced by a knowing grin. "I hate being away from you for even one minute, but I see what you're saying. And I know they want to talk. They've been sort of hinting at it," he said. "Actually, more than hinting!" "I think it will be good for them if they can talk about things with you," I said, giving him an extra hug for understanding. "We shouldn't be gone too long. Just remember to be careful while I'm gone. Don't let anyone into the house that you don't know. After what happened this morning, I'm feeling very protective of you, more so than ever." "Thanks, Phil," he said. "I promise to be careful. I love you!" With that, we kissed, and, with an extra squeeze, he went back to his friends, and Lorenzo and I headed off to see Josie. As we got settled in the car, Lorenzo looked at me for a long moment. "There's more to just having Ronni stay and be a sounding board for his friends, isn't there?" he asked, ever observant and already very much in tune with the vibes of our household. "You're right," I sighed. "What I want to talk to you and Josie about could possibly get him upset, at least at first, and upsetting him any time is something I will always fight to avoid. I know you're probably wondering what this will all be about, but be a little patient. It will all be clear soon." "That's ok, Boss," he said with a grin. "I know you'll tell me when the time is right." With that, he started the car, and we headed for Josie's office, which was a short trip. We pulled up to the real estate office, locked the car and went inside. Josie was just finishing up her lunch as we approached her desk, and she stood, coming to us and giving us both a hug. "It's always good to see you, Phil, even if it was just yesterday," she said. "And of course it's always good to see my favorite cousin." "Hey!" he joked, with a mock look of shock. "I'm your only cousin!" "What can I say?" she said, patting his cheek. "You're still my favorite. Now, what brings you in today?" she asked, directing us to take a seat while she sat behind her desk. "Actually, what started out as one has turned into three things," I said. "The first is about that first parcel you showed me. Is it, by chance, still for sale?" She perked up at that question, obviously sensing another potential sale. "It is," she replied. "I've actually been doing a little research since we first talked, and it seems that the owners really need the cash. I haven't been able to find out the reason for the urgency, but anyone interested in buying could most likely get it at a fairly lower rate than what I first quoted you. Why do you ask?" "I've been doing a lot of thinking about the nature of the hotels I had planned to build," I said. "I definitely want that gay-oriented basis, for obvious reasons, as well as the family-oriented, and thought there'd be enough room on the double lots I just purchased to handle both the gay and family theme. The more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that there is still too much societal pressure against gays, and having the two types of hotels juxtaposed on the same property, no matter how large it is, could potentially cause problems from both sides. There are straight people, especially those with children, who want nothing to do with gays, and there are gays who can't stand to be surrounded by straights. This would most likely limit the clientele at both hotels, and neither would reach their full potential, financially. If I bought this other property, I could separate the two, and both would potentially be much more profitable, and both groups would each have a place geared just for them." "You never cease to amaze me, Mr. James," she said with a smile. "When you told me of your plans for the two hotels on one property with separate amenities, I thought you had come up with a perfect solution for handling both sides. Now, I can see your concerns for something like that, and your new plan, I think, is brilliant! As things look now, you'll be able to close on the double lots by Thursday at the latest, hopefully even sooner than that, since your funds are already available at the bank. If it truly is your intention to purchase the other lot, I'll get on the phone with the owners as soon as we're done here and see if I can arrange something quickly so that we can have everything wrapped up as close to the same time as possible. I know now that the owners are most anxious to sell and will take considerably less than the current asking price. By asking them to speed things along, however, we may alert them to the fact that there is a time factor involved and that the buyer is very eager for the sale. This would most likely cause them to try to hold fast to their original price, or as close to it as possible, for as long as they can." "I think by now you know how I `operate'," I said. "I tend to be a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy and go with my gut instinct. This is my first venture into the world of business, and let's face facts. I'm not exactly starting off on a small scale! My instincts have never let me down in my life so far, and I hope they won't in this case. I've already made up my mind that I want that property, but I also won't be forced into paying more than I think is a reasonable price. In my opinion, from what I've seen around here so far, that property is over-priced, and I won't pay the amount they're currently asking. >From what you've told me about the owners, they'll take a lot less, as long as it's still a fairly reasonable return on their investment. I'm willing to make a low-ball offer and see what happens. I can afford to wait, and if things start happening quickly, that's what fax machines are for, if I happen to be back in the US at the time. I just need to know as soon as possible if there's a potential deal so I can alert Marcus Martinez. As you know, he's my representative for land purchase since I can't, being a foreigner." "For someone who's never been a businessman before, you certainly have your shit together," she said with a grin. "Oops! Sorry, Cuz. That just slipped out. Too much time in the US, I guess." Then turning back to me, she asked, "So what do you feel should be your first offer?" "Given what you've told me about the owners, let's start with a bid of 12 million and see what happens." I replied. "That will give both sides some wiggle room." "I think that's a good place to start, considering the information I got from my sources," she said, nodding her head. "I'll get things started this afternoon, although since we're now into the weekend, it may take until sometime Monday before we hear back." "That's fine," I said. "As I said, there's no immediate rush other than the possibility of someone else getting the land first, but I don't see that happening." "You're right," she agreed. "It's been on the market for a while now, and since the initial flurry of interest when it first came on the market, I haven't seen much activity happening, other than your offer. Is there anything else you want to know about the property, or is that all?" "That's it for now," I said. "After your calls this afternoon, I guess it will be a waiting game. Now, for the second reason I wanted to talk to you. Is it my understanding that I can do anything with my house as long as there's no land purchase involved?" "That's correct," she said. "Any foreigner can own or build a building, but they cannot own land. Why do you ask?" "I want to put an addition on the house. We're already finding that we need more than the one bedroom, and I was hoping you'd have the name of a competent contractor who could do the work." "Actually, I know of several who have reputations for doing quality work and on schedule and pretty much on budget as well," she replied. "How large of a project do you have in mind?" "I want to add two bedrooms, each complete with en suite bathrooms, along the wall facing you when you come in the door. I also want a guest `powder room' placed between the doors to these bedrooms, backing onto the two en suites, as I want them separating the two bedrooms for maximum privacy in each, and that will also put all the plumbing in the same place. I want to turn the kitchen 90 degrees so that it will be along the wall where we walk in and with the same configuration. I like that layout and find it very easy to use. The dining area would be moved to along the current bedroom wall, and the focus of the salla would be toward the ocean, with that wall pushed out 10 feet and have that wall as floor-to ceiling, heavy-duty reinforced glass and frames to withstand high winds during typhoon season and a sliding access door to a new patio on that end. I would also want all remaining windows and any new ones to have the highest e-rating with maximum UV protection to help with cooling costs and privacy. I would still keep the current entry door as primary access, and the present bedroom and cr would remain the same, with the exception of new windows." "That would be quite a change to the house, but I like what you describe," Josie replied, with a low whistle. " I can easily envision it, and it will not only expand your home but, I think, make it more appealing and welcoming. How soon would you like to start, and how long are you willing to wait for a finished product?" "I intend for this to be Ronni's and my permanent home, and I want it to be exactly as we want it," I said. "I also want there to be no compromises on quality or detail, even if it means longer until completion. As to construction dates? I'd like it to start as soon as I leave here Friday and finished just as quickly and thoroughly as possible, but I need to talk to Ronni first. He doesn't know about this yet since it just popped into my head this morning after having spent the night with two of his friends staying over on the sofa bed. Let's just say, that because of the current layout of the house, our privacy was accidentally and unintentionally compromised. If this is to be our home for years to come, I don't want the possibility of any repeats." I think Josie knew what I meant, as she blushed lightly and was suddenly very busy shuffling papers on her desk. Lorenzo was also looking a little embarrassed, and I felt a little sorry for both of them. But, as they say, you gotta break some eggs to make an omelet, right? Josie finally regained her composure. "I'm sorry that circumstances dictated at least part of your desire for these changes," she said. "I'll get a list of contractors to you by the end of the day. I also think it might be a good idea to have Lorenzo with you if and when you meet with any of them. He knows several of them and, I'm sure, has seen the work of most, if not all, of them around town." "That would be great," I said. "If we could find a quality-oriented contractor who could start immediately, that would be fantastic! The sooner we can get started on this the better. But I still need to bring Ronni up to speed, though. I think he'll be as enthusiastic as I am, especially being able to have his friends stay over like last night. I know he'd really like to do that more often, and giving them a space other than a sofa-bed in the salla would make everyone happy. I've already told him about the remodeling, and he really liked the idea. I just haven't told him how extensive it will be. The only downside to all this is that due to the scope of the project, I'm sure there's no way it all could be done in the 6 weeks I'll be away. Ronni and I both love that place, but it looks as if we'll be needing either a temporary rental home, or, if it won't be too long to finish when I get back, a hotel suite." "If you find that you need a rental, I also happen to be the agent for the property right next to yours," she said. "It's smaller and doesn't have quite as many amenities as your present home, but I think it would be comfortable enough for you for a short amount of time. You'd also be able to easily keep track of the renovations to your own home. If it's ok with you, I'll drop by after work with the list of contractors. I have a few errands in town before going home, so I'll be driving right by your place. Maybe by then, you'll have been able to talk with Ronni." "I'm sure we'll have had our talk by then," I replied. "We should be there until shortly before 7:00. We're going to his parents to visit for a while this evening, and now, I'll also be able to tell Marcus about this other parcel to get him on board." I wasn't about to divulge the real reason to them for this meeting with the Martinez'. I know that at least Lorenzo knows of the boys' relationship, but I wasn't sure about Josie. She hasn't met them yet, and unless Lorenzo had said something to her, which I highly doubt, she only knew them as friends of Ronni. Their relationship was strictly among Paulo, Mario, their brothers, Ronni and me, and, I guess, Lorenzo too. If, at some later point, the boys wanted to come out to others, it was all up to them. Keeping my mouth shut was all part of giving them a safe place. Now for the hard part. Taking a deep breath I looked at Josie then Lorenzo. "The last thing I wanted to talk to both of you about bothers me a lot," I sighed. "Lorenzo will understand a lot of this because he was present when we had a very bad experience at the mall earlier today. It was the main reason we were so late getting here to meet with you." "Phil, you don't have to say anything," he said, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I know how painful that was for you, `cuz I feel the same." This a really good guy right here! I'm so glad he's become a part of our extended family. "What's wrong?" asked Josie, with some alarm. "What happened?" "Ronni was sexually assaulted at the mall earlier," I said, barely able to keep from sobbing at the memory. "Jesus, God!!" Josie cried. "Is he ok? Where is he? Why isn't he here with you? He never leaves your side!" "He's ok," I said, trying to calm her down while struggling with my own emotions. And sweet Lorenzo had tears running down his cheeks, which is probably what alarmed Josie the most. I reached over and rubbed his arm soothingly. "He's at home with his two friends probably trying to figure out his new computer. Thankfully, Lorenzo and I were able to stop the attacker before any physical harm was done. The bastard is now sitting in jail awaiting trial, and hopefully, he has a big mean cellmate named Bubba!" They both looked quizzically at me, so I explained about `Bubba'. And although they both chuckled, I could still see the deep concern they had for Ronni on both their faces. There's and mine, too, were covered in tear tracks. "The mall manager handled everything very professionally, yet compassionately, and very much to all our satisfaction," I continued. "I would appreciate it if both of you don't say anything to Ronni or anyone else about it unless he brings it up first. Right now, I know he's trying to work things out on his own, and even though he says he's ok, I know there's at least part of him that isn't. I'm hoping he'll talk to me when he's ready, because that will mean he's working through the trauma rather than keeping it inside. It's possible he may even need trauma counseling for a while, and I may need your assistance in finding someone like that to help him. And this is where you two can also help, especially you, Lorenzo, since you'll be around him a lot while I'm in the US. I'm asking you both to keep an eye on him. The boy you've come to know this past week is exactly who he is. Ronni is a happy, loving, caring, compassionate young man who doesn't have a mean bone in his body. If you see anything out of the ordinary, you're to contact me immediately – and I DO mean that very minute - no matter day or night, time difference be damned, and we'll take it from there. And be sure to listen to whatever his friends may say about his behavior. They've all known him for years and will be sure to pick up on anything unusual." "Of course we'll do everything we can for him," said Josie. "Rest assured, he'll be in good hands while you're gone." "You know it, Cuz," added Lorenzo. "He's my little bro. I'll make sure nothing happens to him, and we'll be sure to let you know the second we think there might be a problem," he said to me. "Thanks," I said, gratefully and somewhat relieved. "There's actually a second part to this third topic. I'm about to embark on a very large business venture here that is going to bring a lot of focus, some of it unwanted, on my family and me. This will be made even more so by the fact that I'll be looked on as that stereotypical `Rich American'. Just like anywhere else in the world, there are nut cases out there who are going to try to profit from me in any underhanded way they can, either by attacking me personally or someone close to me. I don't think I need to tell you how important Ronni is to me. I don't want anything to happen to him because of me, most especially, any repeat of what happened earlier today. I'd like to ask both of you if you know of a thoroughly reputable security company where I can hire a bodyguard for Ronni. And before either of you says anything, I need to tell you exactly the type of person I'm looking for. He must be a male, no more than 25 years old so he can still relate to a teen, with at least two years of similar service that was completed successfully, must be proficient in small arms and extensive training in martial arts and, above all, must be gay-friendly. If he himself is gay, I'd prefer someone who's in a steady and committed relationship. I don't want someone who's supposed to be keeping a watch on Ronni being constantly distracted or cruising others. And it's also very important that he can easily relate to someone Ronni's age. They'll be spending a lot of time together, and it would be best if they got along well with each other. I'd like him to be not just a bodyguard, but a companion to Ronni as well. Got anybody like that waiting in the wings?" "Can you be a little more specific in what you're looking for, Boss?" asked a chuckling Lorenzo. "I think we'll need to order some parts." "I know I was being just a bit overboard on the requirements there," I said, with a corresponding chuckle. "Those are all the qualities for what I feel will be the perfect security guard for Ronni. I know there's probably no such thing, but I want to work from that list and try to find someone with as many of those traits and qualities as possible. Ronni's safety is of the utmost importance to me. It would kill me if anything happened to him, especially if I could have prevented it." "You actually weren't too far off the mark with those requirements," Lorenzo said. "The only one not really necessary is being gay. Gay friendly, definitely, `cuz a lot of businesses are looking for security people who can deal with and relate to all types. But the good news is that I think I know of someone who fits all the requirements except the age thing. The guy I know is 28, and you said no more than 25. But everything else you said, he's got covered. He's gay and he and his husband have been together since high school. They flew to the Netherlands two years ago and got married. And he's one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. He'll have no trouble relating to Ronni, since he's the nicest kid I've ever met. This guy, Carl, has a 16-year old brother, and the two of them are best friends, not just brothers. Carl adores his younger brother, and the feelings are mutual. Even the brother's friends think Carl is great. He can really relate to them and always treats them respectfully, never talking down to them." "If he's all you say he is," I said, "I can definitely overlook the age thing. But what makes you think he'd be interested in working for me? Isn't he already working?" "Carl loves his job in security, but he feels locked in at the level he has now," Lorenzo answered. "And he's unhappy with the fact they've had no pay raises in over a year and their benefits have been cut. All indicators point to the fact that the company may be going under, and he wants to find something else before he finds himself having to look for a new job. He's sticking it out there for now `cuz it's that `devil you know' thing. Decent-paying jobs, especially in his field, aren't easy to find, especially since he and his partner want to stay in the area." "Do I know this guy?" asked Josie. "His name seems familiar somehow." "Actually, you have met him once, that I know of," he told her. "Remember when we were at the mall Christmas shopping last year, and we stopped in the music store? His partner, Raymar, runs that shop, and Carl had stopped by to see if Raymar wanted to go to lunch with him. I introduced you to them." "That's right," she remembered. "I recall they both seemed like really nice people, and they invited us to go to lunch with them, but we had other plans." "How did you happen to meet him?" I asked. "There's just enough of an age difference between you that he doesn't seem to be someone you'd normally hang out with." "Even though we all live here," he answered, "we actually met at a club in Manila on one of my getaways, and they were there `cuz they were in town for a friend's wedding and wanted to see what the gay night life was like in the big city. When we all learned we were from the same place, we hung together that night and just talked. That was actually the night I realized I didn't like the kind of gay life style in those places, and they had come to the same decision. The three of us were constantly getting hit on by some really creepy-looking individuals, and it was the final straw for all of us. That's when I decided to not go back to that kind of environment and stick closer to home. We get together with other gays here sometimes just to socialize and stay in touch with the gay community, but I've spent more time just with the two of them. They've been really great as mentors, helping me in my coming out process and in being comfortable accepting my sexuality." "I'd like to meet him if I can to see if he'd be the right candidate for Ronni," I said. "Can you arrange that in the next day or so?" "I'll call him when we leave here," he said. "Since this is the weekend and his job is a Monday-to-Friday deal, maybe he'll have time this weekend, but they may have other plans." "That's fine," I replied, "but it needs to be soon. If it turns out he's not interested in the job or I decide he's not exactly the type I'm looking for, I'll need time to make a search." "I understand," he said. "I know you want to have this set up before you leave. But I really think you'll like him, and I think he'll enjoy the job. There'd be a lot less stress, and from what I've learned about you, you pay well for what you want and will make the pay attractive to him." "Well," I said," I don't want someone taking the job just because of the money. I need someone who will bond with Ronni and be totally focused on his job so that the pay will become secondary to the job." "You won't have any issues with Carl," Lorenzo replied. "He takes his job seriously and will give 100% effort. He's done work as a personal bodyguard before for a young rock singer, and they parted as friends when the assignment was over. They're still in touch through email and chat, and whenever this guy's in town, he always makes time to see Carl. And I know Carl will like Ronni. What's not to like? He's a great kid and can relate to adults much better than any others his age that I've seen. And Carl really likes kids. He and Raymar have been looking into adopting an older child because they are the ones most in need. Because of his close relationship with his brother, Carl knows what teens want and need, which is mostly love, acceptance and respect." "Let's try to get something set up as soon as possible," I said. "If I find that he's everything you say he is, and if Ronni likes him, I'll offer him the job on the spot." With that, we wrapped up our meeting. Josie hugged us both, and walked to the door with us, reminding me she'd be by later with the list of contractors. Lorenzo and I were soon back at the house, and when we went in, we saw the three boys sitting at the counter with Ronni's new laptop in front of them. When he saw me, he jumped down from the stool and ran over to me, jumping into my waiting arms. I was immediately enfolded in his arms and legs as he hugged me fiercely. "I missed you so much," he said, kissing my cheek and looking deep into my eyes with love and not a little lust. "I missed you, too, Sweetheart," I said, kissing him back. "I don't like being away from you for a single minute." Carrying my love bundle, we went to the counter across from the boys to see what they'd been doing. "What's up, guys?" "Hi, Phil," said Paulo, as they both raised their eyes from the screen. "This is a really nice computer. It's got a lot of really cool stuff on it." "Yeah," agreed Mario. "I really like some of the games." "Oh, Phil," said Ronni, excitedly. "We even have internet connection!" "That's not surprising," said Lorenzo, walking over to join us. "The computer has built-in WiFi, and there are a lot of hot spots in this area where you can pick up a signal, although it may speed up or slow down, depending on how many others are getting the same signal." "That is so neat!" Ronni enthused. "I thought we'd have to wait to get our own connection." "We still need to set up our own Internet account," I told him, placing his butt on the counter while keeping our physical contact. "We'll also have a wireless router so you can use the laptop anywhere in the house and around the yard outside. I guess we'll also be providing our contribution to free WiFi too." Suddenly, Ronni got a serious expression on his face. "Where did you and Lorenzo go?" he asked. "I really missed you!" "And I missed you, to, Love," I said, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "Lorenzo and I met with Josie to talk over some things that I felt you would be upset about when we first talked about them, and I wanted to make sure that what I had in mind was going to work before talking to you. I figured you've had enough drama in your day, and I didn't want to add any more. Besides, I thought you, Mario and Paulo would have a lot to talk about that they might not want me to hear." "You're right," he said. "We had a good talk, didn't we?" he tossed over his shoulder to Mario and Paulo, who were both blushing and nodding their heads. "But I still missed you," he added, hugging me tightly for emphasis and putting his head on my shoulder. "Tell you later," he whispered, before kissing my neck, running his tongue up my neck and gently bit my ear lobe. "I REALLY missed you!!" he growled softly. I couldn't help it. I let out a moan, and my cock was immediately hard. Thank God my crotch was below counter level!! The two boys across from me giggled and blushed when they heard and saw what Ronni had just done, and Lorenzo was chuckling. I was trying desperately to will my cock down, made even more difficult with the fact he was pressed tightly against me. Fat Wal-Mart grannies in spandex! Fat Wal-Mart grannies in spandex!!! "I need to talk to Ronni for a bit," I said to the others. "You're welcome to join in, but you can stay on the computer if you want." "Why don't I stay here with them and show them some of the bells and whistles," Lorenzo offered, sensing why I needed to talk to Ronni. "Is that ok with you two?" The boys grinned and nodded. "Ok, then would anyone like something to drink?" I asked. Everyone put in their order, and, with a final squeeze for my love, I let him jump down, and we proceeded to get the drinks. Thankfully, my cock was now just below half mast and, I hoped, not too noticeable. Ronni did notice, however, and groped me as he went past toward the ref. This thankfully went unnoticed by the others, as they were all focused on the laptop as Lorenzo pointed out some of the features but it brought me immediately back to fully hard. Stepping up behind him at the ref and putting myself between him and a line of vision from the others, I cupped my hand on his left butt check and squeezed gently. He wasn't expecting this, and let out a soft yelp. He turned toward me, grinning, with a look of lust in his eyes. "I want you in me so much right now," he said, quietly, so the others couldn't hear. "I got so horny listening to what Paulo and Mario told me. My insides right now are squeezing like it does when you have your cock in me, and I can't stop it! God, I want you so much!!" He grabbed me tightly and planted his mouth on mine, our tongues rapidly beginning to caress and probe. I instantly and totally forgot we weren't alone until I heard Lorenzo laughing. "Get a room, you two," he chuckled. Mario and Paulo were also grinning at us, and I couldn't help chuckling myself. Ronni can turn me from a rational human being into a lust-crazed sex slave with just a look, and frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way! Even though we had an audience, they all know how deeply in love Ronni and I are, and they now took our antics in stride. But I certainly didn't want to become live entertainment! I feel we provided a lifetime's worth last night! So with a final kiss, I released him, and we went about getting the drinks for everyone. We were both very obviously hard, but the others had turned their attention to the computer screen, and by the time we placed the drinks on the counter, both Ronni and I had things under control...sort of. Taking our own drinks with us, he and I went into the salla and sat down on the sofa, Ronni taking his usual spot on my lap after putting our drinks down. "Ok, Love," I began, after a deep kiss. "Here's what went on at Josie's." I started by telling him about the new land purchase and my reasons for doing it. He was very enthusiastic and thought it was a great idea, although I had to reassure him when he brought up concerns about the added cost. I then went on to tell him about my expansion plans for the house, and he really liked that idea. He talked excitedly about being able to have family and friends overnight, and he especially liked the idea of the new patio. He thought that would be a great place to entertain (my word), especially for people we would need to help get our new business up and running. He also reminded me that we could get all the new things we'd need for our new and improved home using the debit card we were given. I chuckled when he said this, I asked him if he was sure he was only 14, and he laughed. He reminded me that he would be 15 soon, and that using the debit card was just common sense. He also said that he knew about that entertaining thing because of his mother's cooking for others who were having a party when entertaining important business contacts. He said he's even gone along to a few of them to help serve and actually got paid for his time. I told him I'd show him a basic plan of what I thought we could add onto the house but that he certainly would be allowed to add his input and ideas. He got very excited about this and gave me a grand hug and kiss for including him in the plans. I reminded him that we were a team, and we worked together as one, making any decisions, whether for our personal lives or for the business, together. Then it was time for the serious topic of his safety. "Ronni," I began, "the most important thing we talked about today was about your safety. I don't ever want to have a repeat of what happened today or anything else that would harm you in any way. You are the most precious part of my life, and it would kill me if anything happened to you, especially if it could have been prevented. Neither one of us thought that anything like that could happen in such a busy and public place, but it did. Thank God it wasn't any worse than it was, but it shows me that we can't expect life to always be as safe as we want it. Add to that the fact that you and I are soon going to be very high-profile figures around here when we get going on the hotels, and especially, once they're up and running. There are too many people out there who are going to be extremely jealous of our good fortune and are going to want a piece of it, no matter how they go about getting it." Taking a deep breath, I got to point. "For those reasons, I'm hiring someone who will be your personal body guard." I waited with apprehension for the pending explosion that I was sure was coming. And I waited. And waited. It never came. What I got instead were Ronni's hands gently cupping my face, tears running down his cheeks and a look of such love in his eyes that it took my breath away. "How can I ever find words big enough to tell you how much I love you," he said, as he gently caressed my right cheek. "Once I knew how big your plans were, I thought about what you said about others wanting what we have. I have seen and heard news about others who suffered `cuz of bad people wanting what they had, and I know that what you plan here is going to be very big. I was sort of afraid that I might be the way others could get to you, but I also know you are my Phil, and you will always take care of me. You show me that now by what you said about having someone to watch out for me when you are not around. I know once the hotels are open, and even before, that you will be very busy, and I also have my school and football, and I will still want to spend time with my friends, so we will not always be together during the day. And I also think of today. Both you and Lorenzo were right there, and we were in a busy mall, but that bastard still tried to get me." He shuddered at that thought, and I pulled him closer, kissing his tear-stained face. "You are wise way beyond your years to figure all that out," I said to him. "You've managed to understand at least a part of what our lives are going to be soon. That's why I want to hire someone who will help keep you safe. Lorenzo knows someone that he thinks will be the right person. Hopefully, we'll get to meet him sometime this weekend." I then told him all I knew about Carl based on what Lorenzo had described, including that he was gay and about his partner/husband and the music store. Ronni lit up at that information. "I know that guy," he said, enthusiastically. "I go into that store a lot when I am at the mall. I can't always buy something, but I like to see what's new and listen to some of the demo cd's. The manager is very nice, and he doesn't mind if I'm not there to buy but just to look, `cuz he knows I buy sometimes. And if he has time, he sometimes talked to me about some of the new songs and bands. A few times, I see a guy who is not a customer, talking to him, and they seem to be very close friends. Now I know how close!" he said with a giggle. "And sometimes, this other guy has a uniform from a security company, so he must be the one Lorenzo talks about, and he has talked to me sometimes when the manager was talking to me about music. He also seems very nice. And very handsome, too, but not as handsome or as sexy as my Phil!" he said, kissing me deeply to drive home his point. I responded just as enthusiastically, since who am I to argue with teen logic – especially Ronni's! At this point, Lorenzo, sensing that things were going ok, left Paulo and Mario, who were busy playing a game on the computer, and came over to us. "It looks like everything is going ok here," he said with a grin. "Everything's going much better than I hoped," I replied, emphasizing it by kissing Ronni on the cheek. "As it turns out, he's already met Carl and his partner at the music store and thinks they're both pretty good guys." "That's great!" he said. "You probably didn't notice, but while you two were talking and once I got those two over there into a game, I went outside and called Carl. I gave him the basics, and he said he'll be able to stop by late tomorrow morning to talk to you." "Good job, Fella," I said, reaching up with my right hand for a `high five'. "Call him back and ask him if he could drop by around 11:00. I think tonight's meeting with Ronni's parents is going to be very emotional, and I'm sure everyone will want to sleep in. Tell you what. Why don't you tell him to bring his husband along, and we'll have a cook out and swim after we meet. It will be a good way to get to know one another socially, and I'm actually kind of curious to see the reactions they both have when they see Ronni. I hope they remember him." "That's a great idea!" Lorenzo responded. "I know he and Raymar really look forward to their weekend time together, and I'm willing to bet the reason he wanted a late morning meeting is so that he'd have an excuse to leave at lunch time, especially not really knowing what to expect from your offer. I just gave him the basics, figuring it was your job to fill in the details. I know he's really anxious to get a better job, which is the only reason he agreed for even that time." "Ok," I said. "Why don't you call him back now and explain about lunch and a swim, although let him know that part is optional but that it's also definitely going to be a family time and no business. I may have to have you make a quick shopping trip for me though. I hope you don't mind." "I don't mind at all, Boss," he said, grinning. "I was with Josie when we bought the supplies for you in the first place, so I already know pretty much what to get and where to get it. No problem!" "Thanks," I said sincerely. "You've become a good friend, and we really appreciate all you do for us. Let me go see what we need, and I'll give you a list." Giving Ronni a peck on the nose, he and I got up, and he went straight to Lorenzo, putting his arms around him. "Thank you for being my big brother," he said. Lorenzo lost it! He pulled Ronni tighter to him, the tears starting to run down his cheeks. "No, thank YOU!!" he said. "Thank both of you!! And thank God for bringing you into my life. You have been like a cool drink of water in the desert of my life. (My God! The guy's a poet too!) In such a short time, you have become like a family to me and have given me a place where I can relax and be myself. And the loving relationship the two of you have has given me hope that I can find the same, but you sure know how to set the bar high! But after seeing what you have, I will settle for nothing less. Thank you for being my friends and my family." At this, I joined them in a group hug then left the two of them talking quietly while I went to see what we needed from the store. I was about halfway through my inventory when I felt a pair of arms around me and a kiss on my neck. "Lorenzo is such a great guy," he said softly, and we both glanced affectionately at Lorenzo, who was back showing Paulo and Mario some more features. "I really do feel like he's an older brother. I always envy Mario and Paulo for having older brothers, and now I have one too. He's always watching out for me, he talks to me like a brother, and I can tell he loves me like one, too. We really have some great friends, huh?" "I totally agree with you, Love," I said. "We're very lucky. But we really need to get this list together so Lorenzo can get to the store and back before we need to leave for your folks' later, and we also need to eat dinner, too. Why don't you look over the list I have so far while I check the ref. That's the last place I need to check." While Ronni scanned the list I had so far, I took inventory of the contents of the ref and realized that we were running low on just about everything. Even the freezer was severely depleted, so it looked like Lorenzo had his work cut out for him. What I thought was going to be a quick trip to the store has turned into a major shopping expedition! I felt guilty sending him off on his own, but time was running short, and I really needed to talk to the boys to get our strategies together for tonight. I hope he's going to be ok with this added shopping burden. I took the list from Ronni and added the refrigerated items, handing it back to him to scan for any omissions. He already had a few from the first half and, after looking over what I had put down for the ref, he had a few more suggestions, which I quickly added. I then went into the bedroom where I had a hidden stack of cash that only Ronni and I knew about and counted out 20 1000 peso notes. Returning to the salla, I handed Lorenzo the cash and Ronni handed him the list. When he saw the amount of money, his eyebrows shot up into his forehead in shock. "Why so much, Boss," he asked, astounded at an amount of money that was more than most locals would see for a month of work. "Well," I began, apologetically, "we're just about out of everything. I'm sorry to ask you to do this now, since it won't be such a quick trip. I'd either go with you or send the boys along, but we really need to talk about tonight. Will that be ok with you?" He nodded, still speechless at the amount of money in his hand. "As for the amount of money, that's a pretty big list we gave you. Also, I expect the best when it comes to most things, and food is no exception, and since I can afford it, why not? Besides, if you were with Josie the first time she shopped for me, I'm sure she spent even more than that." "Yeah, well...but," he stammered. Then, taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and looked at Ronni and me. "You're right! I guess if I'm going to be working for you, I'd better get used to things like this." "I'll turn you into a rabid capitalist yet," I ginned, clapping him on the shoulder, and he laughed. "I'm really and truly sorry that I'm going to have to ask you to make the trip alone. The boys and I have so much to discuss before meeting with the Martinez' later this evening. I hope that's ok." "Of course it's ok. I will always do everything I can for my family," he said with a serious and sincere expression on his face. Then, his face broke out in a sly grin. "Besides, I have to do whatever my boss tells me if I want to earn my pay." We all laughed at this, and after saying his `goodbyes', Lorenzo headed out. Getting the boys' attention, I asked them to shut down the computer and take a seat in the salla. The light-hearted mood of just a few minutes ago vanished, as they realized what was coming. Everyone took a seat, with Mario on Paulo's lap, both boys wanting the security of the close contact, and with Ronni in his usual spot on mine, we got down to planning our strategies. I started off by asking each boy to individually tell us what he personally felt about the upcoming meeting. As each gave voice to his own fears and hopes, Ronni and I answered them, offering positive suggestions and encouragement. There were occasional tears and some laughter during our talk, although the laughs were definitely in much shorter supply. I'm not sure how much time passed, but eventually, I could see Mario and Paulo begin to relax and could detect a note of confidence in their voices that was definitely lacking in the beginning. We must have been at it for much longer than I thought as we heard Lorenzo at the door, struggling with a load of grocery bags. We all jumped up to help him, and, at his suggestion, I stayed behind to put things away while he and the boys unloaded the car. As I emptied the bags and put stuff away, the four of them made two more trips before declaring `that's all'. The counters were loaded down with bags, and there were even a few on the floor for lack of room. How he managed to get all that in, what seemed to me, a relatively short time amazed me until I looked at the clock and realized he'd been gone for almost two hours! We had all been so intently focused on our planning session, that I hadn't realized how much time had actually passed. With everyone's help, all the food was soon put away, neatly and correctly. Lorenzo reached in his pocket, and pulled out some money, which he handed to me. Taking a quick count, I realized has was handing back almost 5000 pesos. I looked at him in amazement. "How in the world did you manage to get all this and have so much left over?" I asked. "Guess us gay boys just know how to shop," he said with a grin and a shrug. Peeling off a 1000 peso note, I put the rest I my pocket and handed the note to him. He put his hands up in a defensive position and vigorously shook his head. "I can't take that, Boss. You're already giving me too much, especially with that computer." Managing to get around his arms, which were still up, I stuffed the money in his shirt pocket. "You WILL take it," I said a bit sternly. "You've more than earned it, especially after all you've done for us today. The first rule you need to learn working for me is, the boss is always right!" "Ok, you win, boss man," he said with a shy grin. "But that doesn't mean I have to always like it. But thank you. By the way, something occurred to me as we were carrying in the groceries. Since you'll be having all that work done on the house, you should consider expanding the gate and making an access in the wall so you can pull your car in and maybe have some covered place to park close to the house. You'll really appreciate that during the rainy typhoon season. You can also have a security gate installed in the opening. It's ok leaving your car on the street during the day, but it's not a good idea to keep it there over night all the time. You're already taking steps for your security. This is just the next logical one" "Thanks. I like that idea, since, when I come back, it will my own car we'll be driving. And remember my rule about the boss." I replied, with a grin and wink. At that point, I realized we had to get our collective acts together to be ready for the meeting. Ronni and I had to take our shower (together, of course) and we had to get dinner going. Because of time constraints, I opted to have flounder with a butter/lemon/parsley sauce with rice and broccoli. I was very grateful to Lorenzo for being able to have this menu choice, since we had none of these items until he returned from his shopping trip. None of these took a lot of time and effort and certainly sounded good to me and the others, when I told them what we'd have. Lorenzo was the only holdout. "Sorry, Boss," he said with regret. "I really wish I could stay and eat with you, `cuz that all sounds so good. But when I called Carl back to tell him what time to be here tomorrow, he invited me to have dinner with him and Raymar. I'm sure he'll be pumping me for information about you guys, but rest easy. He doesn't need to know everything, at least not yet. All he'll learn from me about your relationship is that you're Ronni's guardian and that he's living with you. Oh, and by the way, he liked the idea of getting together after the interview, so they'll definitely stay. He was actually pretty excited about it. He thought it was a great way to get to see if everyone would be able to get along, especially Ronni and him." "We appreciate that, Lorenzo," I said. "There will be time enough to fill him in completely if he's the one I hire." So, with a round of hugs, Lorenzo was out the door, with a promise to be here about 10:30 the next morning. Turning to the boys, I told them that they could go back to the computer or watch TV while Ronni and I got the dinner prepped and took a shower. Ronni's eyes lit up at the mention of the shower, but the other two were anxious enough to go back to the computer that they didn't notice. The only things I planned to get ready now were the rice and broccoli. I asked Ronni to get the rice going in the automatic cooker while I got the broccoli from the ref. I cut the buds from the main stalk into serving-sized pieces, rinsed them and placed them in the small colander over a pot of water for steaming later. I'd turn that on while I cooked the fish. And even though the rice would most likely be done before we were done with our shower, the cooker had a warming setting that came on automatically when the rice was done, so it should be hot when it was time to serve it later. We both had our assigned tasks done, and telling the boys we'd be back shortly, went into the bedroom, shutting the door behind us. The second the door was shut, Ronni was immediately in my arms, kissing me wildly. We were both desperately needing one another, and we were practically tearing each other's clothes off as our tongues dueled inside each other's mouths. We were both finally naked, and Ronni jumped into my arms, wrapping his arms and his legs around me in a vice-like grip, grinding his super-hard cock against mine, both of us so incredibly turned on that we were both already leaking pre-cum by the bucket-full. Carrying him into the cr, I managed to turn on the shower and stepped in, our mouths and cocks grinding furiously against each other. Ronni broke the kiss and literally attacked my neck with his mouth, kissing, licking and even biting, deep in the throes of a sexual frenzy. "Please, Phil, please!!" he begged. "I need your cock in me now. It feels like I have a strong itch deep inside that only your cock can scratch. Please!! I need you now!!" Not one to deny my love such a request, or anything, for that matter, I reached over and grabbed a bottle of conditioner. Using soap or shampoo can dry out too quickly, but the conditioner stayed fairly liquid. Squirting some on my hand, I reached behind him and slathered it liberally around his already-pulsating hole before pushing as much inside as I could. When my fingers breached his hole, Ronni let out a deep groan of pleasure and pushed himself down on my invading fingers. I gently finger-fucked him for a minute to loosen him up, but the level of his arousal made it so that my fingers quickly found very little resistance. Pouring some conditioner over my cock, I dropped the bottle on the floor (Thank God for plastic!), not even willing to take the time to put it back on the shelf. Stroking my cock to spread our makeshift lube. I lifted him slightly so I could get my cock into position. Ronni reached behind himself and grabbed my hard cock, placing it at the entrance to his quivering anus and pushed himself down so that I was immediately buried to the hilt in his hot, tight teen rectum. He let out a groan followed by a huge sigh of satisfaction and began immediately gyrating his hips as I began to thrust into him. This position didn't allow for maximum penetration, but it was certainly deep enough for us. Ronni was moaning and groaning in lust as our hips performed the ultimate dance of love, and it was evident by the glazed, contented look on his face that Ronni was getting that itch scratched really well! We were both so incredibly hot for each other that I knew neither of us was going to last long. I could already feel my cum-bloated balls rising in their sack, and from the strong pulsations of his rectum on my cock, I could tell he was also very close. His incredibly hard young cock was rubbing on my lower abdomen with each thrust, and suddenly, with a deep groan that was almost a growl, I could feel his cock pulsing against me as his potent teen sperm gushed almost as far as my neck as his hips continued thrusting against me. The intense spasms of his rectum squeezed my cock to the point that I could barely make my thrusts, but they also stimulated me to the point that I began shooting my cum deep into my teen lover's bowels. Neither of us wanted these incredibly pleasurable feelings to end, but we both finally came down to earth, both of us gasping from not only the physical exertions, but from our passion as well. Ronni pulled his head back from my shoulder and looked deep into my soul with such love. "Thank you my love," he said, with a satisfied smile. "I really needed your love, and boy, did you deliver!" "Did we manage to satisfy that itch?" I asked grinning. "For now. Maybe," he said winking and kissing my check. "I might need a lot more scratching later tonight." I laughed and kissed his forehead. "It looks like I've got the itch scratcher you need, but he needs a bit of recharging first," I said, as my softening cock slipped out of hole with an audible plop. We both groaned at the loss of our connection, then with a kiss, Ronni got down and headed toward the toilet. "Guess I'd better get this part out of the way," he said, as he sat on the john. The room was soon filled with sounds of air expulsion and liquid, although, since this had really been a quickie by our standards, the sounds weren't as loud nor did they last as long. He was soon done and back in the shower with me, where we gently and loving washed each other. He particularly liked it when I washed his hair. He positively purred with pleasure as my fingers massaged his scalp. We finished up, dried each other off and returned to the bedroom to get dressed. Before we did, though, we met in a deep, long hug. It looks like we were both sexually satisfied for now, at least, since neither of us got hard, although we both plumped up a bit, and it was simply a loving embrace. We were soon dressed and went into the salla on our way to the kitchen. Paulo and Mario turned toward us when they heard the bedroom door open, and both had shit-eating grins. "Took you long enough," said Paulo, with a smirk while Mario giggled. "Not nearly long enough," retorted Ronni, cuffing his friends lightly and affectionately behind their heads. "Since the computer's set up on the counter, why don't you set the table tonight while I finish up dinner," I said to Ronni. "Ok," he said cheerfully. Giving each of his friends a pinch on the butt that elicited yelps from both of them, giggling, he went about his task while I took care of the rest of the cooking. In less than 10 minutes, everything was ready and on the table, and, after saying grace, we all dug in ravenously. The meal was delicious, and Paulo and Mario spent almost as much time telling me how good it was and thanking me as they did in actual eating. It was a little after 6:00 when we finished, and I sent the two boys back to play some more on the computer while Ronni and I did the clean-up. They protested, saying it was only fair that they do the cleanup, but I insisted, telling them that they should spend some more time on the computer since they wouldn't always have the chance. They finally – and with genuine reluctance – agreed. I felt that getting them involved with the computer would help take their minds off the pending meeting. By the time we had the kitchen cleaned, it was almost 6:30 and time to head out. Paulo and Mario were really involved in their game and seemed to be having a good time. I hated to break the mood, but I knew that this was going to be the right thing to do to help them in their relationship, not only between themselves, but their families, too. Walking over behind them, I placed a gentle hand on each of their shoulders. "It's time to go, guys," I said, softly. They both stiffened in their seats, and I could literally feel the immediate tension in them. "Remember what you told Ronni and me last night? This is something you need to do to be able to have the quality time together you both want and to move forward in your relationship. You told us that there was no way either of you could be apart from each other. When you want something as much as you two do, you need to take the steps to make it happen. Everything is going to be ok. You'll see. I strongly feel that this is one of those times when the fear of something is much greater than the reality." Both boys seemed to relax a little. "We know what you say is true," said Mario, "but it still does not make it any easier." "None of the best things in life ever come easily," I said. "It seems that those things always take the most work. Just remember that neither of you is going to do this alone. You already have Ronni, Lola Sanie, your brothers and me on your side. That's a pretty good support team. We'll all be there to help you as much as you need us to." "Everything Phil says is true," Ronni said, moving between his two friends and putting arms around each of their shoulders. "Let's go do this and get it behind you. You will see that there is no need to fear. Everything will be ok." The two boys each turned at the same time and kissed Ronni on the cheek. "You are the best friends anyone could ever ask for," Paulo said. Squaring his young shoulders, Paolo looked at me. "Let's go!" he said, emphatically. "Yes, let's go," agreed Mario, finding the steel in his own spine. The boys stood up, and taking each other's hand, led the way out of the house. Thanks for reading. If you're enjoying the story so far, please let me know. It's the only way I know if I'm doing it right. And once again...ladies? I'd love to get the feminine point of view too. If y'all enjoy the free stories on Nifty, please let them know you appreciate their efforts to keep it free by sending whatever amount you can. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html Thanks!!