Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 02:13:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: justinr_88@yahoo.com
Subject: Love is All that Matters chapter 1

Author's Note:
This book marks the continuation of the "Doing Hard Time"
saga. The characters and locales in this story are entirely
fictional. All characters engaging in acts of a sexual
nature are above the age of eighteen. Political and medical
conditions mentioned in this story are not meant to
represent actual scenarios. Harrison will continue to
narrate the major part of the story, but once again there
will be more than one narrator, continuing the multi-thread
format of Book I.

The usual disclaimers and copyright laws apply. Do not read
further if you are not of legal age to do so in your
country. Otherwise, feel free to read and copy this story
for non-commercial purposes, with proper acknowledgement of
the author.


                           BOOK II
                  Love is All that Matters

                        ~ Chapter 1 ~

         From the Narrative of Harrison Ridgeway IV:

   My elder sister, Phoebe, was waiting for me outside the
                  prison, to take me home.

 Home was a strange word to me now. I'd spent my university
 years across the country, returning home for holidays only
when I couldn't avoid it, and even then just for Mom's sake.
 Now after two months in a prison cell, the opulence of the
      mansion in which I'd grown up seemed alien to me.

    I replayed images of my final moments in the prison.

      "You're sure you'll be okay without me?" I asked.

Caleb grinned. "I've spent almost nine years in here without
           you; you think I can't handle myself?"

   "It's not that. I was just . worried, you know, that ."

 He cut me off. "My next cellmate won't be as accommodating
                          as you?"

  I blushed, eliciting another cheeky grin from Caleb. Then
 more seriously, he said, "You don't need to worry about me,
  Harry. What you need to do now is concentrate on getting
       your life back together. You still need to have
           relationships with guys your own age."

    "I'm not sure I'm ready for that. In here, I could be
      myself, but out there . it's a different story."


 Caleb looked sad and understanding. "Promise me that you'll
        at least try? That you'll go and see Joshua?"

   I hugged him, burying my face in his chest, feeling his
                  strong arms encircle me.

                        "I promise."

Until today I'm not sure I can define the relationship I had
 with Caleb. It started out as hero-worship, it turned into
     something sexual and ended up being quite paternal.

 "Harrison, we're here." I was brought out of my reverie by
                     my sister's voice.

          "Oh, right. Are you coming in?" I asked.

 "Yes, Mom's taking care of Alan today." She nudged me. "Why
 are you stalling? Mom's been waiting for you all morning."

 It wasn't Mom I was afraid of. I didn't know how Dad would
react. The people who voted for Dad weren't too happy with a
father who didn't believe his own son and hurriedly disowned
              him for a crime he didn't commit.

  Feeling dejected, I got out of the car and walked to the
   front door. It swung open as soon as I reached it. Mom
enveloped me in a hug, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
 But I hardly heard what she was saying. I was busy looking
 over her shoulder. My face fell. I thought he'd at least be
 here to see me, after not visiting me in prison for the two
 months of my incarceration. I wasn't expecting an apology;
             that would be too much to hope for.

                  "Mom . . . where's Dad?"

 Mom looked upset. She tried to ignore my question and spoke
to Phoebe instead. "Phoebe, the baby's in the nursery. Don't
                    forget to give him -"

 I cut in. "Mom, where's Dad?" I repeated my question, more
                    insistent this time.

 Mom tried to avoid direct eye contact, a sure sign that she
 was lying. "He said he'll see you at dinner. He's just not
                   free now, busy with -"

     I didn't want to hear Mom making excuses for Dad's
 unwillingness to face me, his only son, whom he hadn't seen
   for two months. Whom he'd left to rot in a prison cell.

    I interrupted her. "I'm going out. I'll take my car."


Mom stared at me in shock. "But you just got in."

I was aware that I was hurting Mom's feelings by leaving as
soon as I got home, but I just couldn't stay right then. I
grabbed the keys from the table in the hall and told Mom,
"I'll see you for dinner . . . I hope."

                             ***

I sat in my parked car, in silent contemplation. I was
reminded how much easier it was to say something, than to
actually do it. I know I'd promised Caleb, but this was a
lot harder than I thought it would be. Damn it, the last
memory I have of Josh is the hurt look on his face when I
lashed out at him for coming onto me.

I looked out the window, at the house I'd spent so much time
in during my high school years. Josh's parents had been
alive then. I had had a perfect life. I took a deep breath
and stepped out of the car.

I walked slowly, as if to delay the inevitable, but I soon
found myself on Josh's doorstep. Taking another deep breath,
I pressed the doorbell and waited. Nothing happened. I
pressed it again, holding it down for a longer time.

"I'm coming!" I heard a male voice yell. My heart skipped a
beat. I could still recognize Josh's voice. The door flew
open.

I started to say "hi" but the greeting died in my throat as
I stared at Josh. Four years since I'd last seen him, and
he'd changed quite a bit. Or rather, I was noticing things
about him which I hadn't before. Josh is quite attractive,
and, I'm afraid to admit it, in a more masculine sense than
me. He was tanned and had a light sprinkling of hair on his
chest. He wasn't overly muscular, and didn't have a six-pack
or anything, but his pecs were well-defined and his stomach
flat. I had the chance to see all this because he was
holding his t-shirt in his hand, not wearing it. My eyes
followed his treasure trail to the waistband of his boxers,
which peeked out above the cargo shorts he had on.

I averted my eyes from his crotch and looked at his face
instead. He looked uncomfortable, at a loss for words. So
was I.

He was the first to speak. "Harry . . . um, I wasn't
expecting you . . . so soon. Come, come in."

I nodded silently and followed him into the house. I didn't
trust myself to speak. I watched his back as he pulled on
the t-shirt, observing how his muscles flexed as he did so.
I knew there were guys who would kill to be the object of
Josh's affections. And I'd had that privilege but said "no"
to him instead. I couldn't believe it.

"Um . . . sit down," said Josh, gesturing to the couch. I
obeyed and he sat down next to me. I got a good look at his
handsome face - he looked as nervous as I felt.

I gathered my courage to speak. "Josh . . . I know it's been
a long time and I didn't exactly treat you well -"

Josh put up his hands to stop me. "Hey, forget about that.
The past is past. I should have known better than to come on
to my straight best friend."

I swallowed. I had to tell him the truth, but it was just so
hard. "Josh, Caleb told me about everything. How you're
still . well, in love with me." Josh blushed.

I continued. "I wanted to thank you, for all that you did
for me. Especially after all that I did to you . I know I
was a terrible friend. I didn't come when you needed me,
when your parents died. Yet you helped me when I was in need
of it most."

"Harry." When he said my name so tenderly, my heart melted.
"I know you can't return my feelings for you. I just wanted
to do something, to help you, to keep you safe. It doesn't
matter if you're destined to marry some girl and have kids
with her. I'll always love you."

I knew this was the moment of truth. With difficulty I got
the words past my throat. When I did, it just bubbled past,
like an incessant stream.

"Josh, that's the thing. I was scared. I couldn't face it. I
abandoned you because I was afraid what feelings it might
awaken in me. Oh God, I'm so sorry, Josh. Please forgive
me."

Josh looked at me with a curious expression. "Harry, what
are you saying?"

"I like guys, too," I managed to blurt out. I looked at his
reaction; there was absolute shock on his face. I opened my
mouth to apologize further, but he reached out and put his
finger against my lips.

"Shh . Don't say anything," he told me. But I had to.

Tearfully, I asked him, "Will you forgive me?"

He didn't reply. At least not verbally. Instead, he pressed
his lips against mine. All the pent-up longing and desire
came to the fore. I guess I should take that to mean my
apology was accepted.

His gray eyes were closed, an expression of pure pleasure
etched on his tanned face. I knew this passionate kiss was
the culmination of years of his unreciprocated love for me.
I returned it with a vigour that told him that the feelings
were mutual. In no time, I was sprawled out on the couch.
Our liplock didn't let up, but his hands were eagerly
exploring my upper body. I felt them move under my shirt,
their touch cool against the warm, bare skin of my torso.

This was going too fast, I thought. But then, I didn't want
it to stop, either. I gave in to wild abandon, my own hands
running under his shirt, feeling his back muscles which I'd
admired earlier.

Then I heard a voice drawl, "Well, well, what have we here?"



                    To be continued . . .


Please let me know what you think of the start to this new
book by dropping me an email at justinr_88@yahoo.com. I
really appreciate your feedback and will do my best to
answer each message personally. The next part to follow
soon.