Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2016 16:11:38 -1000
From: Mark Dross <stateofblues@gmail.com>
Subject: Loving Conor Chapter 11

This is a fictional story, written purely from my desires and
fantasies. The story contains graphic scenes of bisexual and homosexual
sex, in which the characters do not use condoms. I do not promote or
condone unsafe sex, but in my story there are no sexually transmitted
diseases or unwanted pregnancies. So, by all means, indulge yourself in the
safety of your imagination.

If you would like to be notified when future chapters or related stories
are released, let me know.

Please consider donaiting to Nifty to keep all the wonderful stories
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--------------------------------

Loving Conor - Chapter 11

Actions speak louder than words... That's what Sam had been trying to tell
me. I had stayed awake late, thinking and watching shadows dance across my
love's skin in the pale blue moonlight. Conor had been abandoned by his
father and his first lover, and now he felt "broken". Sean had returned
with an explanation, but the damage had already been done. I couldn't erase
his past or his scars, and honestly I didn't want to. Without the past we
have no future, and without pain, no reference for pleasure. No, Conor
didn't need for me to fix him, he just needed me... for me to be his
present and his future, or that was my hope anyway. The plans I made then
were drastic, and a gamble. I finally drifted off to sleep, planning my
move to Florida.

I felt the empty space next to me and realized Conor wasn't there, then I
heard measured breathing and a light thump, and cracked my eyes open. Conor
was facing away from me, sitting with his legs outstretched. I started to
say something, then he lifted himself off the floor and held his legs in a
V position. The move was impressive to be sure, but one thing made it even
better... Conor was completely nude. I recognized the next set of moves
from watching gymnastics on television, the Thomas Flair. Conor twirled his
legs around, lifting each hand off the floor as they passed under each hand
in turn. I counted three, four, five revolutions as his legs rose higher
and higher, then slowed until he dropped into scissor splits, looking
straight at me.

"Good morning, B."

"Morning, Babe. Please don't stop."

Conor smiled and pulled his legs together, lifting himself to a standing
position, then continued his routine. Lifting one leg straight up, Conor
grabbed the back of his calf and held, then released his leg and let the
momentum carry it behind him, his body following in a front flip, then
spinning down into the pushup position facing away from me. Conor lifted
his body off of the floor and leaned forward, lifting his entire body in a
planch, then spread his legs.

"Fuck, babe!"

Conor laughed and rolled out of the move. I continued to watch my love,
marveling at the way his muscles responded, the power and grace, and pure
sexiness. My mind was in overdrive, thinking of all the possibilities of
sex positions, and before I even realized it, I had one hand on my dick,
slowly jacking off. Conor noticed... then ended his last routine by going
from the V, to a handstand, then dropping down on his back with his legs
over his head, and... his dick an inch from his mouth.

I sat up quickly, excited as a schoolboy who just saw his first boob. "Holy
fuck, you could..."

"What, suck my own dick?"

"Well... you could."

Conor grinned at me again, then stuck his tongue out and licked the tip of
his cock and laughed.

"You don't think it's weird, B?"

"Does my cock look like I think it's weird?"

Conor chuckled, then dropped his legs and slipped his cockhead between his
lips. I walked over and knelt beside him, placing a hand on his ass as he
grabbed my dick. Conor locked eyes with me, then pushed his entire cock
down his throat.

"Fuck, that's hot, babe!"

I licked my finger then found Conor's hole and wiggled the tip in. Conor
moaned, then pulled his cock from his lips with a smack.

"You want me to cum like this, B?"

"Fuck yes, babe!"

"Okay... won't take long."

I pressed my finger deeper into Conor's asshole. Conor pushed his hips down
and stuck his tongue out as his cock slipped in deep enough for him to lick
his own balls, then he moaned around his dick and pumped his hips, drilling
further down his throat while he jerked me off. The new experience
triggered something primal and raw in me. I pulled my finger from Conor's
tight hole and sucked it into my mouth, wet a second finger, then pushed
them back into my lover's tight hole. Conor moaned and bucked his hips, his
ruby lips tight around his thick cock... pulling all the way out with a
pop, then back deep into his throat.

My heart raced and my brain scrambled as my hormones took over
completely. Two fingers from my free hand found their way into my mouth,
then up my own ass. There was no rhythm in our awkward position, just pure
erotic lust as my fingers hit both our prostates. Conor's eyes rolled back,
his moans grew louder and desperate... his hand moved faster and faster
over my cock... Conor grunted and his abs tightened along with his ass
muscle around my fingers, then he opened his mouth wide, moaning "Ah, ah,
ah, ahhhhhh!" as shot after shot of creamy sperm slammed onto his
tongue. Hot jets of cum spewed from my dick slit... six massive streams
flew through the air, hit Conor's cock like precision guided missiles, then
slid down his still throbbing dick, mixing in the cum pool. In complete
cumlust, I drove my face down and stuck my tongue in my lover's
mouth. Conor grabbed my shoulders and rolled me onto my back, letting our
cum slide down my tongue and down my throat. We continued our passionate
cum kiss as our trembling bodies relaxed and our breathing calmed... then
Conor rolled onto his back next to me... and the giggling started.

Conor started laughing first. I wasn't sure what was funny, but when I
looked at him, I couldn't help but laugh. I tried to
ask... "Wha... what's... so... fu... fun" but couldn't get the words out,
which only made us laugh harder. Both of us rolled on the floor holding our
stomachs with tears streaming from our eyes. Once we finally calmed down,
we made the mistake of looking at each other, starting the whole thing over
again. We turned away from each other and managed to calm down again, then
Conor snorted... I finally got up and ran for the bathroom, yelling "Ahhh,
fuck it hurts!" which only brought on another round.

It took jumping into a cold shower to break the laughing spree. I was
finally able to ask the question while I dried my love's back off.

"Okay, what was so damn funny?"

"I don't know... I tend to laugh when I get embarrassed."

"Wait, you were embarrassed? I didn't know that was possible."

 "A little... I guess. I just never thought anyone would know that I did
that, let alone watch me."

"Screw that, I wish I could do it. I'm sure most guys would if they could."

Conor's weak smile betrayed his feelings. "I guess It does come in handy."

"I don't think it was embarrassment, babe."

"Oh, then what was it?"

"Vulnerability."

When Conor turned to me, I could read the question in his eyes, so I
answered.

"You've spent most of your life having to be strong. It's difficult for you
to let your guard down."

Conor scrunched his brow. "What does sucking myself have to do with letting
my guard down?"

"It's something you've only done when you're alone, and you've been alone
for far too long."

The look I received then was totally unexpected... and angry.

"Yeah, well, I don't see that changing anytime soon. Thanks for reminding
me!"

Conor pulled away from me and stomped out of the bathroom.

"Wait... I didn't mean... Conor... Babe... I'm sorry!"

I had blown it... big time. Conor had no idea that I was planning the move
to Florida, no idea that I was doing it for him, and no idea that he meant
everything to me... and I couldn't tell him... I just had to do it, and
show him. Our day had started off so well, and my careless words threatened
to ruin it. All I could do was try and get things back on track.

After putting my shorts and shirt on, I left the bathroom. Conor was
dressed and sitting on his bed, staring at his phone. I wasn't sure what to
say, so I simply sat next to him and held his hand.

Conor swallowed, then sighed. "You were right, B. It just stung to hear
it. I think you're starting to know me better than I know myself."

"Right or not, I hurt you, and I'm sorry."

"I know, B. I just wish you could stay..." Conor's phone vibrated in his
hand.

"I should take this, it's the third time she's called."

I saw the name on Conor's phone and nodded in agreement with him.

"Hello, this is..."

"Clarissa, is everything...?"

"Are you okay, what about the girls, did anyone get hurt?"

"No, stay there, we'll be right over!"

I didn't know what was going on, but Conor was trembling by the time he
ended the call.

"What is it, babe?"

"There was a fire at the dance studio. No one was hurt, but Clarissa is
really upset. She wants me to take some photos for the insurance company."

I knew there was more to the call than just photos... Clarissa and Conor
were friends, and she needed him now.

"Get your stuff. I'll grab the car and meet you out front."

Conor kissed my lips. "Thank you, B."

On our way to the studio, I could tell Conor was nervous.

"Did Clarissa say anything about the damage?"

"No, but I could hear it in her voice... I don't think it's good. That
school means so much to so many people, I just hope... Is that it? Oh, no!"

As we stood in front of the dance school, I could read the concern in
Conor's face. It was yet another glimpse of the man I had fallen in love
with... strong yet vulnerable, charming but humble, caring but cautious,
loving but afraid. It was that last part that I needed to break
through. Conor had built a wall around his heart, had denied himself of
love for fear of being burned again. I could only hope that the sight
before me was not a representation of Conor's heart. The building lay in
ruin; nothing but char and ashes remained.

Clarissa had fallen into Conor's arms as soon as we arrived, having
received the report from the fire chief... it wasn't good news. The cause
of the fire had been determined to be old, faulty, wiring which was
supposed to have been replaced by the previous owner. The wiring was not to
code, which meant the insurance wouldn't cover the damage. The young woman
was now sifting through the ashes, looking for anything that may have
survived. Clarissa reached down and lifted something from the cinder - the
remnants of a ballet slipper. A tear ran down the girl's face, leaving a
light streak through the dark ash on her cheek.

Conor, who had been standing motionless and silent, raised his camera and
snapped a single photo... his demeanor shifted, and a look of determination
filled his eyes.

"I have a plan, B, and we have work to do."

Conor walked over and tried to get Clarissa's attention, but she just kept
staring at the ruined slipper. He finally picked her up and carried her to
the car. I found Clarissa's keys still in her car and followed them back to
The House. Clarissa managed to walk inside on her own, then Conor found Sam
who took the poor girl to get cleaned up.

As soon as the girls left the room, Conor grabbed my shirt and kissed me
hard. Even with the dreary details of the moment, I found myself lost in
that kiss... fading off into oblivion, where flame and destruction couldn't
reach. Conor broke our kiss, then looked at me with eyes of steel.

"We can fix this, B!"

"I believe you, Babe. Just tell me what to do."

"You learned old school drafting with pencils and paper, right?"

"Yes, right after chisels and stone went out of style."

"Okay well... No, that's not what I meant, and don't start us laughing
again! Could you sketch the old dance school from memory, and can you draw
those letters like you see on old posters?"

"In my sleep, but I'll need to pick up some supplies.

"Good, there's one more thing."

"Name it."

"I need to go out for a while. Can you make sure Clarissa gets out of The
House before she trips over an orgy and gets scarred for life?"

"Good thinking; she doesn't need any more trauma."

"Oh, and I'm sorry, B."

"Sorry for what?"

"For what I'm about to do."

Conor gave me a quick kiss, and picked up his phone.

"Hi Sean, it's Conor."

"I'm okay, how are you?"

"Good... listen, there's something I need to talk to you about. Can we meet
for lunch today?"

"How about Cillian's at 11:30?"

"Great, see you then."

I didn't really have time to process what had just happened. One second
Conor was on a mission to save the dance school, and the next second he was
making lunch plans with his ex-lover. I had no idea what to say, so I
didn't say anything.

Conor ended the call with Sean, looking like a puppy caught in the act of
pissing on the floor.

"I was trying to keep him out of the picture, but I need his help, B."

"You don't need an excuse to see Sean, Conor. He is your friend after all."

"You've been extremely supportive with Sean, and I want you to know how
much I appreciate it. Even so, I know it's hard for you, which is why I
haven't brought the topic up or even mentioned his name."

I grabbed Conor by his hands and pulled him into me.

"... and I appreciate that, babe. It isn't easy I admit, but if you feel
like Sean can help, I won't stand in your way. I trust you... maybe not him
so much, but I trust you."

"Thanks, B. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Conor had taken Jim's car to meet Sean, and I went to check on Clarissa. I
heard laughing as I knocked on Sam's door... a good sign. When Sam opened
the door, the girls walked out, and Clarissa looked at me with an "I know
what you did last night" look, then glanced back at Sam and giggled.

I looked at Sam. "What was that all about?"

"Oh, nothing... just girl stuff."

When I turned back around, Clarissa was at the end of the hall, introducing
herself to Sun and Moon who had just come out of the Red Room... sweaty and
half naked. I sprinted over and grabbed her by the shoulders, redirecting
her to the lounge. Sam caught up with us and whispered in my ear, "She took
some kind of pill. I don't know what it was."

Clarissa leaned into me, then put a hand on my ass. I reached back and
moved it off, then she put it back and squeezed my cheek.

"Okay... I think we need to get you home."

"Nooooo... I want to stay... lots of pretty people here. Where is Conor? I
want to watch you two kiss."

"Clarissa, what did you take?"

"Happppy pills, yay!"

Sam dug through Clarissa's bag and pulled out a bottle. "It's Valium. The
prescription is for one, but I think she took two."

"She'll be alright, but... and there she goes."

I scooped the girl up before she hit the floor.

"Shit, what do we do with her, Brandon?"

"Well, I can't take her home like this, but I promised Conor to get her out
of here before the action starts... and I have errands to run."

"Well, I guess you can put her in my bed. I'll let you know when she wakes
up."

"You're the best, Sam. Thank you!"

After tucking Clarissa in and convincing Tom she wasn't a sex doll, I took
off on foot to get the supplies I needed. Before reaching the street, an
idea hit me, and I ran back to The House to grab Conor's portfolio.

Back outside, I headed to one of the shops that Conor and I had
visited. The artist store would have the supplies for Conor's project, and
my surprise. Only thirty minutes later, I had everything I needed,
including a folding chair, which I placed on the sidewalk in front of the
abandoned building that Conor loved so much. I made a few sketches of the
dance studio, including the wording from the sign that had hung out front,
"Dance of the heart" both in French and English. With that done, I set to
my next task... an architectural drawing of Conor's photo gallery.

After getting to know him, I could see what had drawn Conor to the
place. The building had a timeless look, and needed no gimmicks to achieve
it's beautiful elegance... much like Conor himself. I started looking
beyond the cracked paint and windows, stripping the place down in my mind,
and the finished project started taking shape.

Looking through Conor's portfolio, I tried to gain an even better sense of
his character, and how it could translate to the architecture of the
building. I had been drawing for about an hour when I noticed the shadow of
someone standing behind me. I turned my head to see a petite woman with
thick glasses and black hair lined with silver. The woman smiled when our
eyes met, and I smiled back.

"Hello, beautiful day, isn't it?"

"It is, and your drawings are beautiful. I hope you don't mind that I've
been watching you work. You seemed to be deeply focused, and I didn't want
to interrupt you."

"I don't mind at all."

"May I have a closer look?"

I handed her the few pages I had been working on and introduced myself. The
woman studied my drawings for a moment.

"My name is Rose. May I ask why you are putting such effort into such a
rundown heap?"

"The drawings are for someone special. He's been saving for five years and
hopes to buy the place and turn it into a gallery of his work. He wants to
bring back the spirit of the building, as it once was."

Rose looked at me above the papers for a moment. "This person, you love him
very much."

I was taken back at the statement, which was no question, and didn't reply.

"I'm old enough to know love when I see it, young man, but I am no
prude. Love is love, and isn't bound by gender, age, or race... You pay
tribute to the original look of the building, but even better than it was."

"You remember the place from before?"

"I should. I've owned it for almost 50 years."

Just then I recalled seeing a faded sign leaning against one of the walls
in the building, which read, "Rose's Boutique & Fine Arts." Rose reached
into her pocket and pulled out an old skeleton key.

"Come, I will show you inside."

Rose used the old key to unlock the door, which despite a few cracked
windows and peeling paint, seemed to be in good condition. As we walked
through the building, rose explained how she had worked two waitress jobs
until she saved enough money to make the down payment for the place.

"Owing the boutique had been my dream, and in all the years, it never felt
like work." Rose paused and looked around, then continued. "I'm afraid that
time has taken it's toll on both of us."

Not sure what to say, I let Rose have a second.

"How much has Conor saved?"

I took a moment to look around the bottom floor, which was basically one
large room.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. He works hard on his photography business, but I
fear it will be quite a while before he could save enough. It's likely
someone will have bought it by then."

"Oh, I've had plenty of offers, but everyone wants to tear the place
down. Enough history has been lost as it is, and I won't stand for
it. Would you sit with an old lady for lunch? I would like to hear more of
your story."

Rose and I walked just down the street to a small diner. As we ate our
food, Rose slowly looked through Conor's portfolio, studying each image as
if reading a book. When Rose got to the ballet photos, she ran her fingers
over one. The photograph was of a dancer who had fallen, and was reaching
up to the outstretched hand of another dancer. With tears welling up in her
eyes, Rose said, "I danced, many years ago. Conor has a rare talent for
capturing the human spirit."

Rose continued to ask questions about Conor, including how long I had known
him.

"Actually, we only met a little over a week ago."

"Conor must be a special person, indeed, for you to fall in love with him
in such short time."

Without looking up, I pushed the remnants of my salad around my plate with
my fork "Yes, he's everything to me."

Rose looked at me above her glasses. "I see. You haven't told him how you
feel."

I looked up at Rose. "I'm afraid I'll lose him if I tell him."

Rose reached out and put her hand over mine. Her touch was soft, gentle,
and comforting. "Fear has left too many hearts lonely, Brandon. I regret
very little at my age, but the chances I didn't take because of fear will
haunt me until I'm gone."

I felt my eyes gloss up, and took a deep breath. Rose gracefully changed
the subject "May I see your other drawings?"

I handed Rose the sketches of the dance studio.

"I know this place... a strong contribution to the community and the art."

"Oh, you haven't heard? No one was hurt, but the school burned down last
night. The insurance company refuses to pay, but Conor is convinced we can
save it. I'm not entirely sure what his plan is, but I don't doubt he could
pull it off."

"Somehow I don't either, but It seems an ambitious task, Brandon, and one I
am keeping you from. You should go. Lunch is on me this time.

Rose... I contemplated our meeting as I walked back to The House. There are
those people you meet in life, once in a lifetime kind of people, and I had
just met one. She didn't judge my relationship with Conor, not for our age
difference or for the fact that we're both men. She didn't doubt my love
for Conor, though I had only known him a short time. She was frail and
strong all at once, and seemed to somehow read my soul. I had a feeling it
wasn't the last time I would see Rose.

Almost to The House, my phone vibrated... a text from Sam. "Where are you?
She's awake." I replied back, "Not far. Don't let her go anywhere if she's
still loopy."

With no sign of Jim's car, I presumed Conor was still away. I rolled up my
drawings of his studio just in case, swiped my key card... and was nearly
run over by Clarissa, who seemed to be leaving in a hurry.

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry!" Clarissa looked to the ground as she tried to walk
around me.

"Clarissa, wait! I need to talk to you."

Eyes still to the ground, Clarissa stopped and turned around. "I
know. I... I wasn't... I shouldn't have come onto you. I'm sorry."

"What? Oh that... No, I need to talk to you about the school."

I handed Clarissa one of the drawings I had made. "Conor has a plan to get
the school rebuilt. He'll have to fill you in with the details, but..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Clarissa buried her face into my
chest. I held the sobbing girl as I finished. "I don't want to build your
expectations up with false promises, but I can promise that we're going to
try."

Clarissa pulled her face from my t-shirt, now wet with tears. "Everyone has
been so nice to me. I don't really have the words... just, thank you."

After giving Clarissa my number and seeing her off, I made my way to
Conor's room and hid the incomplete studio drawings in my suitcase. When I
walked back out, Sam was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed,
staring at me.

"Hey Sam. Thanks for looking after Clarissa."

"Yeah, she's sweet."

"Okay, it's not the first time you've given me that look. What's up?"

"You remember what we talked about before?"

"About getting my shit together? I'm working on it, why?"

"Where is Conor right now?"

"He's out meeting with... Sean..."

Sam raised an eyebrow at me and didn't say more... she didn't need
to. Conor was out with Sean, and no one knew Sean's intentions. What Sam
had said without saying anything was, "Speed it up, dumb ass!"

I made my way to the bar and poured myself a shot of courage. I was about
to take a major step and there was no guarantee that it would pay
off. Still, it was what I had to... no, what I needed to do. After one more
shot, I went upstairs to Jim's room, sat on the bed, and pulled my phone
from my pocket. Being an architect has its advantages, and knowing the best
realtor in Arizona is one of them. I brought Linda's number up, then sat
staring at the screen.

All of the memories of Julie in our house came rushing in at once... The
paint fight when we first moved in, after a dispute over bathroom wall
color... The holiday parties that she insisted on inviting the entire town
to... dancing to old records until midnight... making love on the living
room floor... the ever present laughter... and the tender moments we shared
when she was sick. I wiped a tear from my face and took a deep
breath. Those memories were embedded in my soul, not in our house, and
nothing would change that. Besides, I could never go back to Arizona. Sure,
I could physically go back, but after everything I had experienced
recently, my paradigm had shifted. I wasn't the same person I was when I
left, and even if I wanted to, I could never go back to that life.

Within minutes, the deed was done. My house and all of the furnishings were
up for sale. I called my neighbor next, who said she would let the movers
in for me, as well as donate Julie's clothes to charity. Then I arranged to
have everything else, including my car, packed into a container and shipped
here. I had no idea what I would do with it all, but I would cross that
bridge when I got to it. My final call was to Roger, by boss.


"Hey Rog, you have a few minutes?"

"Actually I was just thinking about you. We scored a big contract in
Phoenix and I'm putting you on lead... but that can wait, how is your
vacation going?"

"Well, I suppose life-changing would sum it up fairly well."

"Life-changing good, or life-changing bad?"

"Better than good at this point, which is why I'm calling you. I'm moving
to Florida, Rog."

"You... are you sure? You know what that means, right? I would hate to lose
you, Brandon."

"Yeah, I know what it means. Tell the board to expect my resignation within
the week."

"Damn it Brandon, you're my best architect! I was counting on you to... oh
hell, this is about your new friend, isn't it?"

"My boyfriend, yes... and no. It's about me making a new life for
myself. I'm hoping he's a part of it, but it's just time to move on, Rog."

"I guess I can't argue with that. To be honest, I'm a bit jealous. I've
always wanted to live near the ocean."

"Well, you and Deb will have to come visit then. You should probably tell
her that I have a boyfriend first, though."

"Haha, well, I'm sure she will like him. I'm sure we both will. I meant
what I said before, Brandon, I just want to see you happy. I wish you the
best, my friend."

"You are truly a good friend, Roger. Let's stay in touch."

"You can count on that. Take care, Brandon."

Though I could poke my keyboard from the Moon and still get my work done,
my contract required for me to live within my state of employment. If the
company had a Florida office, I could have asked for a transfer, but that
wasn't the case. In truth, it didn't matter... I had to let everything go,
everything or nothing. I nearly laughed out loud when I realized that I was
now homeless and unemployed! Then the truth hit me... I was free, and the
freedom was more intoxicating than the shots of tequila I had just
downed. I heard the front door close, then heard Conor's voice. "Have you
seen Brandon?"  It was everything I could do not to run down, scoop him up
and tell him... but I knew I needed a better plan than that... A beach
walk! I would take Conor to the beach after the event and tell him
everything! I calmed myself and went downstairs.

"I'm here, babe. I was just making some calls."

Conor was beaming from ear to ear. "Sean is having his production team
print up posters, and his tech team make a website for collecting
donations. He's even convinced the company to donate the expense!"

It was extremely difficult to sort through my emotions then... though I
knew Conor was excited about saving the school, the fact that the first
word out of his mouth was "Sean" stung. Was I being oversensitive, or
unreasonably jealous? Was Sean even a threat to my relationship with Conor,
or was I making a big deal out of nothing? I would know the answers to
those questions soon enough. Until then, I just needed to support my love.

"That's great news, babe!"  I walked over and wrapped my arms around Conor,
then leaned in and kissed him. It did my heart good to feel those soft lips
return the kiss, and the sweet tongue that snuck in to touch mine. I
couldn't stop the smile forming on my face if I wanted to. Conor finally
broke the kiss and sighed.

"Sorry to be all business, B, but do you have the sketch?"

"I understand, and yes, it's in your room."

"Could you grab it and meet me in the kitchen? Oh, and your pencils too?"

When I found Conor in the kitchen, he had torn pages out of a notebook and
laid them out on a table, then pulled a large photo out of a tube. The
picture was the one he took of Clarissa at the ruins of the burnt
school. Realization struck Conor when he saw the girl.

"Oh shite, is she still here? How's she?"

"No, no, she went home. I told her we were working on things and you would
call her later. She was distraught, but, ummm... took a nap, and seemed
better after." I smiled to myself at the new revelation... Conor's Irish
comes out when he gets worried.

"Oh good! Thanks, B."

After an hour of brainstorming and tweaks... and powdered donut holes and
coffee... we had a finished product. The photo sat on the top half of the
poster sized page, with my drawing of the dance studio underneath, with
"old school" letters that read "Revive the Dance of the Heart!" directing
people to the website. Sam, Tom, and a few others had gathered around
watching, tossing out ideas, and even offered to help distribute the
posters once they were printed. I penciled out the last letter and Conor
smiled, then looked at his phone.

"Damn, it's getting late. I haven't prepared anything for the event
tonight, and I still need to get this to Sean."

Sam spoke up, "No worries, Conor. I knew you had your hands full so I
arranged for Charles to bring his toys again. I also asked Carl to run the
lights and sound... he was so excited I think he jizzed his pants."

The gratitude on Conor's face was evident. "Wow, I... Thank you, Sammy! In
that case I'll stay and help with the printing, too."

I wasn't exactly happy to hear that last sentence. My walk on the beach was
thwarted, and Conor would be with Sean alone again.

"Well, take Brandon with you then. The last thing I need is his distracted
ass missing you and putting rum in my vodka martini. Tom can tend bar
tonight."

Tom didn't seem too enthusiastic about tending bar. "I can?"... until he
got "the look" from Sam. "Oh Yeah, no problemo, man!"

I knew exactly what Sam was doing, and gave her my best "thank you" face.

As we were walking to the car, Conor said, "The tails are sexy."

"Huh? That was random."

"Oh, I was just thinking how much fun the last toy party was, and how sexy
the tails are. Are you sure you don't want to stay?"

I was put off by Conor's question, and my tone reflected it. "The party was
fun for me because you were there. Do you not want me to go with you, or
what?"

Conor looked a bit shocked. "It's not that at all, B. I just thought you
might... Oh, I see what's going on."

We climbed into the car, then Conor's tone changed to match mine.

"I think we need to be honest here! If you have something on your mind,
just get it out!"

"Okay, I will! Do you still have feelings for him?!"

Conor gripped the steering wheel tight, then closed his eyes, took a deep
breath, and calmly replied. "I have fond memories of our relationship, but
we're not the same people we were then. He's my friend, B, more like a
brother now. That's why I didn't accept the photoshoot contract. I don't
want to ruin a friendship with business. We may as well clear the air; is
there anything else you want to know?"

I calmed myself down. "If things happened differently, do you think you and
Sean would still be together?"

Conor thought for a moment. "If things happened differently, I don't think
we would have been together in the first place. Our circumstances are what
bonded us. Anything else?"

Starting to feel a bit of an ass, I decided it was best to lighten the
mood. "Yeah, I think the tails are hot, too. Maybe you should get one."

Conor looked at me and smiled, then started the car. "Maybe you should pick
one out and surprise me."

After arriving at the office building, Sean greeted us and took us to the
publishing room. Because of my conversation with Conor, I was more at ease
with the situation, and Sean seemed genuinely happy that I was there. With
the small team now formed, Sean had his staff prep everything and train
each of us on the machines, then he sent them home for the evening. We
fumbled through a few mistakes until finally catching our rhythm. The two
boys nearly had me falling down laughing as they talked about some of their
youthful misadventures.

"Ey Conor, remember Mrs. O'Malley?"

"Yes, an' do you remember charlie horses and wet willies?"

"... and her strawberry patch."

"Shut ur trap, Sean."

"... and her one eyed hound."

"Keep it up and I'll have at you, arse weed."

"We were tendin' to the ol' lady's berries."

"We were stealing them, Sean."

"Well, she would just leave `em to rot... Anyways, the ol' lady came out
the side door with the hound, blocking our exit. I hid behind a
wheelbarrow, but Conor..."

"Keep laughing, geebag."

"... Conor tried to make a break for it and literally ended up with his ass
caught in a blackberry bush hanging upside-down. Well, Mrs. O'Malley was
near blind and didn't... didn't even see him when... when she tossed the
chicken shite fertilizer!"

"...and... and then turned the water hose on him... but the best
part... was when..."

"Last warning, dick face... and no laughing, B, or you won't be getting
laid tonight."

"...when the hound lifted his leg and..."

Conor took off at a sprint towards Sean.

"... pissed him in the face!"

In spite of Conor's warning about not getting laid, I was in stitches
again. Sean tried to run, but was laughing too hard to move. Conor tackled
Sean, and held him down, stuck a finger in his mouth, then stuck the
glistening wet digit into Sean's ear. Watching the two quenched any
remnants of doubt I had left... they were brothers through and through.

Between the commotion and the noisy machines, I didn't hear the door open,
and didn't realize someone had joined us in the room until he spoke.

"It looks like someone is enjoying themselves."

I jumped a bit then turned to see a man standing next to me.

"My apologies if I startled you. I'm Aiden, Sean's fiance."

I smiled and held out my hand. "Brandon, Conor's boyfriend, well met. Sean
has mentioned you, but I wasn't aware you were engaged."

Aiden shook my hand, but I sensed something was off. "Funny, Sean hasn't
mentioned you two... Tell me, Brandon, why is your boyfriend on top of
mine?"

I started to explain that they were just horsing around, but Aiden didn't
give me the chance, walking over to Sean instead. Conor had just helped
Sean up, and when he noticed Aiden it didn't take much to read the look on
his face... the look of fear. Aiden completely ignored Conor, then leaned
in and whispered something to Sean. Without a word of explanation, Sean
followed Aiden out of the room.

"Was that Aiden? He seemed upset."

"Yes, and apparently Sean neglected to tell him about you."

We could hear Aiden's raised voice through the closed doorway. The only
words I could make out were "Ungrateful tramp!", then we heard a loud slap.

I caught Conor as he sprinted toward the door.

"Let me go, B!"

"No. You calm down and wait here. I'll go."

Conor started to pull away, then stopped.

"Okay, you go, but if that bastard..."

Before I could get to the door, Sean was coming inside. I knew we had
trouble when I saw the bright red handprint on Sean's face.

Conor raced past me and reached for the door handle behind Sean, who
blocked his way. "No, Conor, please! It was just a misunderstanding!"

Conor pointed at Sean's face. "That is not a misunderstanding!"

A tear ran down Sean's face and his voice cracked. "Please, it'll just make
it worse... please."

Conor's expression softened, then he pressed his back to the door and slid
to the floor. "Why, Sean? You could have left it all behind. Why?"

Sean slid down next to Conor. "It wasn't intentional. I, I guess it's all
I've ever known. I've tried to break it off with him, but..."

"But he won't let you go."

"... but I love him, Conor."

Conor put his hands over his face. "No, no, no! This has to end, Sean. You
may love him, but he does not love you and he certainly doesn't deserve
your love."

I knelt down in front of Sean. "He's right. You don't abuse people you
love. I would never do that to Conor, and he wouldn't do it to me. How many
others do you think he's abused? I guarantee you're not the first, and you
won't be the last. How would you feel if he went after Conor?" I knew that
last statement was a stretch, and Conor would pummel Aiden anyway, but I
needed to drive the point home.

Sean sat up, eyes full of fear again. "No! I can't let that happen! ... but
I don't know what to do."

I had a hunch that Aiden's past was riddled with violence, and I knew just
the person that could find out. "I have an idea, if you will trust me. I
won't do anything that will put you in harm."

I knew better than to expect Sean's trust, so I looked to Conor.

"You can trust him. I do."

With tears streaming down his face, Sean nodded his agreement. "Whatever we
need to do to make him stop, let's do it."

Conor put his hand on Sean's shoulder. "You're staying at The House until I
know you're safe."

The last of the posters had printed while we were talking, and I was ready
for a change of scenery. "Let's load these up and go. You can ride with
Conor and I'll drive your car."

"Thank you, but I'm okay. I need to stop at the dry cleaners and pick up
some clothes for work tomorrow anyway." Sean looked at Conor and
grinned. Unless you have a suit that I can borrow."

Conor grabbed Sean and ruffled his black hair. "You know I don't wear
monkey suits!"

With the thousand posters loaded up, we set off to The House.

"So, what's the plan, B?"

"Well I want to fuck that gobshite up so bad he cries every time he sees
his own shadow! Unfortunately that's the exact opposite of the right way to
deal with him. My plan starts with Thomas. He should be at The House with
Charles tonight."

Conor grinned at me. "Gobshite? Dead on, B! But if we get the cops
involved, it could backfire and set Aiden off."

"If my guess is right, Aiden has outstanding warrants, either here, in
Ireland, or both. I'm hoping we can get him locked up without Sean being
involved. If that doesn't work, we'll come up with another plan. You don't
think Sean would go back to Aiden, do you?"

"I thought about that. If he makes the choice to return to Aiden, there's
not much we can do for him. I don't think he will, though. He was right
behind us until he turned into the dry cleaners a block back."

It started raining hard as we pulled up the driveway. "Here's a new phase
for you, B. It's bucketing out there!"

We made a quick dash inside, leaving the posters in the car for later. The
party had just started, and Conor had a good laugh when he realized the
scene Sean would be walking into. "Well, it'll keep him distracted if
anything." Sun and moon were locked in a 69 wearing nothing but fox
tails. Carl had apparently been abducted from his post at the sound booth
by Josh and Kevin. The two mischief makers had Carl writhing on a beanbag
with some kind of remote controlled toy up his ass. Carl's stomach was
glistening wet with cum already, and he yelled out, spraying another load
on himself.

We found Thomas at the bar talking to Katrina and Tom. Tom gave us a sour
look when he saw us.

"Oh man, you're back already? I was just starting to have fun!"

"Well, don't let me stop you. In fact, I'll have a bourbon and cola,
please."

"Oh hell, no. I made a new drink. You gotta try it!"

"A new drink?"

Tom grabbed a pitcher and poured his concoction into two frosted glasses.

"I call it, "The Flaming Dragon!" Named after Kat's tits... I mean tats!"

I cringed, but didn't dare ask what was in the drink, then looked at Conor
and said, "Cheers?"

Conor lifted one corner of his mouth and crinkled his nose before taking a
sip. "Damn, B, that's not bad."

It wasn't bad, it was actually good. "Nice work, Tom. Do you remember what
you put in it?"

"Yeah, man. I wrote it down. I'll tell you if you teach me some of yours."
Tom pointed at Kat, who pulled her shirt up to show us the
recipe... written on her boob.

I laughed and raised my glass to Tom. "You have a deal my friend, but you
better snap a picture before someone licks your receipe off."

Conor grabbed my arm to get my attention. "Sean is leaving the cleaners
now, B"

Reality set in, and I pulled Thomas to Conor's room then loosely explained
the situation, leaving names out. "So, if I gave you a name, could you run
a warrant check on this person?"

Thomas rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, but It's illegal for me to
run a check without probable cause. I could do it if this friend of yours
wants to press charges, but believe me, I understand why he or she may not
want..."

"Help me, B!"

Conor yelled and sprinted out of the room. Thomas and I followed, arriving
at the front door just as it was opened, revealing a rain soaked
figure. Both Conor and I reached out and caught the man as he fell through
the doorway. It wasn't until we got into the light that I recognized Sean,
his shirt covered in muddy boot prints, and face covered in blood.

The training I received in order to take care of Julie at home kicked in. I
checked Sean's airway and realized he was drowning in his own blood! I
checked for a pulse and found none. As I started compressions, the world
seemed to slow down around me. My entire being was focused on the dying boy
under my hands. I was his breath and heartbeat, and his only chance to
live.

I faintly heard Thomas call 911, and how upset Conor was, but there was no
way I could comfort him. "Don't you fucking die, Sean! I just got you
back... fight, damn it, fight!" I heard Thomas yelling at the crowd to get
back, then at Conor.

"Conor! Conor! Do you know who did this?"

Conor finally responded by handing Thomas Sean's cell phone. "He told me
who did it! It was Aiden, that fucking bastard!"

"Shit, it's password protected!"

"Try C h r o i!"

"That's it, I'm in!"

Seconds seemed like minutes as I continued CPR. I finally heard sirens and
screeching tires and glanced through the open door... Fuck!... a police
car, no ambulance! I paused to feel for a pulse... nothing... compressions
again... One, two, three... The fucking ambulance would take too long!
Four, five, six... Come on, Sean, breathe! Do not die on my watch, damn it!
Droplets of blood hit my shirt as Sean coughed and gasped for air, then his
eyes went wide and he shielded his face.

"It's me, Sean! It's Conor!"

Sean reached out and took Conor's hand, then passed out again. I saw the
fear in Conor's face, then checked... "It's okay, he's still breathing." I
heard the ambulance pull up, then moved out of the way as the medics took
over. Conor wrapped his arms around me and buried his head in my neck,
trying to contain the sobs.

"You saved him, B. Thank you!"

"You should go with him, Conor. He'll need you."

Conor nodded and kissed my neck. As he started to get in the ambulance, the
medics stopped him, stating that only family was allowed. I yelled out,
"They're brothers!" The medic hesitated until Thomas yelled, "You heard the
man, let him go!"

As the flashing lights pulled away, Thomas put a hand on my shoulder, then
handed me Sean's cell. The last message he had sent to Conor read, "Aiden
followed me. Help!".

"You did good, Brandon. Now, let's talk about that probable cause that I
needed."

After filling Thomas in and quickly cleaning myself up, I stood at the
mirror looking back at myself. This day didn't exactly turn out as I had
planned, and it didn't escape my notice that Sean's choice of passwords was
his pet name for Conor. Years had passed, yet he still clung to his
Chroi. I couldn't blame him. The bond those two shared would likely never
be broken, even by death.

I picked up my phone and brought up a map to the hospital. I may have
pulled Sean from death's doorstep, but Aiden had hurt him badly. I told
Conor that Sean would need him, but if Sean didn't make it, Conor would
need me. I grabbed the keys to Jim's car and headed out.

With a bit of detective work and some exploring, I finally found the small
waiting room outside the trauma ward. Conor was standing just outside on a
small balcony, staring off into the night. I walked up next to my love.

"Hey babe."

Conor jumped at the sound of my voice, then wrapped his arms around me once
he realized who it was.

"Sorry, babe, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I'm glad you're here, B, but how did you get in?"

"Unfortunately, I have a great deal of experience with hospitals. If you
act like you belong, people expect that you do. How is he?"

"He's in surgery. He has a punctured lung and other internal damage. They
are trying to stop the bleeding. That's all I know. What did Thomas say?"

"They are looking for Aiden. I told them he may try to leave the country,
so they're watching the airports. I don't suspect he'll get very far."

"Good. He needs to pay for what he did. I got Sean's mom's number from my
mom. She's catching the next flight out."

"That's good. Just let me know when she's arriving and I'll pick her up."

Conor snuggled into my shoulder. "Thank's B, for everything. I don't know
what I'll do without you."

"Conor, what would you say if..."

Before I could finish my sentence, a nurse stepped out on the balcony.

"He's out of surgery and asking for you. He'll recover but it won't be a
quick process."

Conor took my hand and started walking toward the nurse.

"I'm sorry, but the officer said only his brother is allowed in."

Conor started to protest, but I didn't want to compromise his "brother"
cover. "It's okay, go take care of him. Whatever you need, I'm here for
you."

Without hesitation, Conor pressed his lips to mine, then pulled away and
followed the nurse into the building. As the glass door closed behind him,
Conor turned and looked at me... his emerald eyes sparkled as he mouthed "I
love you."

-----------------------------------------

To be continued...