Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 19:17:04 +0000 From: Steve Thomas Subject: Coles-Dreams chapter 21 This is a work of pure fiction, based on the author's feelings, beliefs, and in some cases, experience. There may be graphic sexual encounters at times between men, so if this offends you, you are invited to retreat. If you are too young or it is otherwise illegal for you to be reading this kind if story, shame on you for reading it - - please stop here. If not, - - ENJOY! Cast of Characters: Cole Alexander Stephanson IV -- Our hero Jazz -- (Jack Zachary) Coles oldest brother Diane -- Jazz's wife Rod -- Coles middle brother Igor (Iggy) -- Cole's Tutoring Pupil Cole Alexander Stephanson III -- Coles Dad Ethyl Stephanson -- Cole's mom Rex Remlin-- Rod's best friend Gus Hartwin -- Cole's Boyfriend Michelle -- Cole's old girlfriend. Dexter -- Iggy's boyfriend Ed -- Paramedic Manolo -- Paramedic Steve -- Manolo's boyfriend Diane -- Jazz's wife Randy -- Found Boy Curtis -- Found boy's brother Kian Willis-- Friend in Vancouver Nicolas Poole-- Friend in Vancouver Howard Poole -- Nicolas's Father Christian -- the pool guy >From Chapter 20: "Nuh-UH! I'm the jock footballer!" "Yeah and if any of your jock friends could see you now -- and with whom you are sharing these tidbits -- you'd lose THAT rep!" "True!" he said and he grabbed me by the dick and pulled me to him. We kissed long and deeply. "I may have to make you pay for that last comment though!" "OOOOO!" I said in mock fear. "Gonna make me eat my words, huh?" "Maybe more than your words!" And he kissed me again and grinded his groin into my own. Our moans were interrupted. "Wow! That was about the hottest thing I ever saw!" We sprang apart and looked up at the pool guy. Chapter 21 I stood there, my mouth agape. I looked at Gus, and he was not so much surprised as pissed. "Dude! What the fuck! You can't be sneaking up on guys -- er -- people like that!" Pool guy looked like he's been whipped. "I -- I -- I'm off work - - n-n-now. I'm s-s-s-s-so s-s-sorrry! I didn't mean t-t-to -- I mean -- I just wanted t-t-to say g-g-g-bye. So, I g-g-guess - g-bye." He started to walk away. He was visibly shaken and dejected. "Dude!" Gus said. He turned around. "I didn't say you had to leave. I'm sorry I reacted so strongly. You just startled the crap outa me. What's your name?" "Christian." "Good! We were getting tired of calling you `Pool Guy'. Haha." I was so surprised. Gus was not usually so forward with people he didn't know. I was frankly a little confused. Christian couldn't know, but I knew that Gus was pretty uncomfortable doing this. Then it happened. Gus turned to me and winked. I felt a shiver go through me from the top of my head to the end of my dick! I know I even winced. Was Gus doing what I thought he was? He had to be doing this for me -- he'd never do it for himself! "Well, Chris, are you coming in?" He actually was asking him to come in to the spa with us! "It's Christian. And I'd like to, if you still want me to." He took off his shirt. He was pretty skinny. His white skin accented his jet black hair, which fell past his shoulders when it was not neatly tucked inside his uniform hat. He had a perfectly hairless chest. He smiled demurely as his shirt came over his head. He flung his head to get his hair back out of his face. Another mild shock went down to my genitals. I held my breath as he agonizingly slowly undid the enclosure of his pants. I saw the top of dark blue boxers. It looked so pure against the hairless white of his tummy. Was he teasing me on purpose? Then when he dropped his pants, the boxers turned out to be a bathing suit. He stepped in on the first step of the spa. "What's this?" Gus said, pointing at his swim suit. "Clothing IS optional here, but do you REALLY want to get that nice blue suit wet?" Christian turned around and removed his shorts. His butt cheeks were sunken in like you would expect from a skinny dude, but they were accented with pink just like the cheeks on his face. Then I saw the only hair I had seen on his body. He had a little patch of hair on his lower back just above where his crack started. When he turned around, his red face was in stark contrast with otherwise white body. His pubes were cleanly shaven, and his dick was pure white, except for the delicate pink head. It was at the point of being full of blood but not hard yet. It was almost a work of art! He blushed even deeper when my mouth dropped open. He quickly stepped down into the water. "How old are you, Chris -- tian?" Gus asked. "18 two weeks ago." "Really?" I said. I thought sure you were older -- well, with your uniform on, anyway. You have a pretty youthful looking body -- nice!" "Wow! You g-guys are so perfectly buffed out! How c-c-can you s-s-say that?" "'Can't explain a reaction that is so natural. It is what it is. Eighteen huh? Wow!" I paused. He looked embarrassed -- maybe even apologetic. "It's okay, Dude. So - - Christian -- obviously you liked what you saw when you came in here just now." He turned his head away and said, "Uh huh." "What do you -- um -- I mean -- um -- do you have a boyfriend?" "Nuh-uh." "Have you ever?" He shook his head. Never had a boyfriend. Okay. "Ever played with a guy before?" Almost inaudibly, he answered, "No." "So this" started Gus, "Will be your first time?" Christians head snapped over to gape at Gus. "I mean -- you've never talked about this to anyone before, have you?" "No. Sorry." "No need to apologize!" Gus looked at me and smiled -- then winked again. "We all have been there before." "How old are you guys?" "Almost 21. You knew that when you served us that alcohol." "Yeah -- well, I was pretty nervous. I knew someone was pretty young. I thought that one guy was -- well -- way too young." "Which one?" Gus said. I KNEW he was playing with Christian now. We BOTH knew he meant Kian. "The one -- er -- the one -- with th-th-the - " He stammered and stopped, turning deep red again. " - - with a fire hose for a dick?" Gus suggested gently. Christian grinned. "Yeah. Where is he -- or th-they?" "They went back to their room. What did you think of Kian -- that's `fire-hose' guy." "Well -- um -- he s-s-seemed a little -- umm -- f-f-fem?" "Yah THINK!??" Said Gus with a burst of laughter. "Yah." "Did you have some kind of something you hoped would happen -- I mean why did you come back?" "Kee-kee -- er -- what's-his-name -- he invited me -- didn't he?" "He did! What did you think would happen?" "What're your names?" he asked. "I'm Gus and this is Cole. What did you want to happen?" Gus was relentless. "I -- d-d-d -- really didn't have anything in m-m-mind. R-r-really! I just couldn't stay away." "Fair enough." Gus said. "Soooo - " I started, "now that you are here -- what do you think?" "About what?" He said. "Dude! Don't play games. Or is that what you were hoping for?" I didn't know Gus could be so evil! "I really don't know. I didn't think about it that deeply. I just had t-t-to c-c-come back!" Gus walked directly up to him, not quite touching him. He looked into Christian in the eyes and almost whispered, "Well, if you DID know, what would you want to do -- now -- tonight?" Christian's back was against the hot tub wall. Gus took his hand. "Sit, Dude." They both sat. "What do you want to do -- right now? And don't say, `I don't know'!" Tears sprang to Christians eyes. "Gus, don't press him, so - " "No, Cole, it's okay," said Gus to me, "isn't it, Christian?" Christian nodded. "What do you want?" Gus looked from eye to eye. "I wanna t-t-t-t-t-touch - - someone." "You want to touch - - a guy?" "Mm-hm." "What would you say if I told you my partner wants you to touch him?" Gus said. I almost lost my cookies! My eyes widened and I swallowed hard. So did Christian. I was sitting. I slowly stood. I was too nervous to have a woody. My hands were at my sides. I beckoned him to come to me. He stepped to me and I pulled him into a full body hug. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. I felt his hot breath on my neck. He was about 4" shorter than we were. His body was stiff. "Dude -- relax. It feels better if you relax. I was a bit more relaxed saying that, and that being the case -- my own woody started to react a little more. As he followed my instructions, his body seemed to meld with mine. He quietly moaned -- and he exhaled sharply. I don't think he meant me to hear, "Omigod!" He breathed it more than said it. "I know what I was born for -- at last!" He didn't stutter. "It is pretty incredible, isn't it?" I whispered back. "What else would you -- I mean -- I don't want to rush you -- but -- is that enough for now?" His head came up and he looked into my eyes. "Yeah." He said in a whispery voice. I was a little disappointed -- then he quickly came back with a very urgent, "NO!" "I know exactly how you feel Dude!" Said Gus. "I felt the same way my first time." "What d-d-did you d-d-do -- your f-f-first time?" Gus paused for a long time. He was measuring his answer. "My partner was very experienced. He showed me a lot. He was an older footballer. He knew I was game." "I'm g-g-game!" "What?" I said. "I wanna learn everything you can t-t-teach me -- tonight." "Can I watch?" Gus said. I thought he was feeling left out. "You can play too!" I said. "Nope. I just wanna watch." Gus averred. "D-d-do I get a say in this?" Christian asked. "Nope! I just wanna watch." "Can I see you two k-k-kiss again?" I let him go and pulled Gus to me. We hugged first. I whispered in his ear, "Gus! I don't wanna just do him alone. I want a threesome!" Then we kissed. I took his kiss to be a yes. I closed my eyes and then I felt another body close in behind me. I felt Christian's hands go from my hips to Gus's. Gus's intake of air told me that his butt must have gotten squeezed. Christian's woody was against my butt cheek crack. Then I felt Christian's lips on the back of my neck. I shivered, and Gus got a shot of precum from me. "Dude! This is weird. No hair on your body except for this little patch back here." Apparently Gus had his hand on the patch. How come that happened - - Patch?" "That's my nickname." "What?" Gus said. "I was only kidding." "The guys started calling me it as soon as they saw it in gym class. I used to hate it -- but when you said it, that was the first time I liked hearing it!" He kissed my neck again. "It's getting pretty late, Dudes. We better get going." Gus said. "Oh! Yeah!" Patch said. "Oh -- um -- yeah. So -- okay! Thanks! It was g-g-great to meet you guys. See you later -- or maybe not -- your checking out t-t-tomorrow, right?" "You mean" said Gus, "you can't stay with us tonight? Is your mother expecting you home -- or something?" I was embarrassed for Christian by that question. "Really? You want me t-t-to s-s-stay? Fu -- fu -- fu -- WOW!" He was hyperventilating! "Y-Y-Yes!!! I mean, no! I mean - " He took a deep breath and closed his eyes and then without missing a word, "I often work all night here, so Mom doesn't ever expect me until she sees me. I can stay!" I looked hard at Gus. "This is so strange!" I said. I looked at Patch. "We would never do this at home!" Then I turned back to Gus. "What're we gonna tell Nick? You think he'll be pissed?" "I doubt it. But I think Kee will be very jealous and disappointed! Nick'll just have to live with it." Then he looked up and said to the air, "Sorry Nick!" "What was th-th-that about?" Patch said. "Oh, Nick is not so liberal' as we are I guess. He doesn't want Kian getting any idea that this would be okay for him." "Oh. Yeah. He sure is - - W-w-well - um - " "Hung?" I said. "Yeah! I never saw anything like that b-b-before. I don't think I could d-d-deal with it!" "I don't think you'll ever get a chance!" Gus said. Let's go." When we got up to the suite, we went quietly through the dark living room to our room. We had very little on, so we just all hopped in the bed. No one made the first move at first, and when I was about to just touch Patch, "Hey, guys! I'm glad you came in!" It was Nick. "Mind if I come in for a couple minutes?" "C'mon in." Gus said, almost laughing. "What?" Nick said. "Flip on the light." Nick flipped a switch that lit a lamp on the far side of the room. He took a moment to get his eyes used to the light then his eyes widened as he saw Patch there in bed with us. "Omigod!" he almost whispered. "Sorry!" Gus said. "No -- it's okay." Nick said, as he could not suppress the hungry look on his face. "Kee is asleep?" Gus said. "Yeah -- dead to the world until late morning! I should have never let him take a drink." "You wanna -- uh -- join us? Plenty of room in this bed!" I shot a look at my lover. He winked at me. I THINK he is getting in to this idea more and more. "Ooof! You are EVIL! I -- it's so damned tempting, but -- no. I could never do that to Kee. He wanted to do this so bad. I couldn't. And if I ever let him, he doesn't have the sense to put any controls on it. No -- DAMMIT NO! AARRGGHH! Hahahaha!" "You're a saint, Nick!" "Must come from my Catholic upbringing." He said sarcastically. Hey you guys have fun!" Gus got out of bed. "At least you can give us a goodnight hug!" he said as he stretched out his arms. Nick very unsuspectingly walked over to the bed. When he got close, Gus said, "Get him!" in a loud whisper. He grabbed Nick and threw him on the bed. He started to object. Gus said, "SHHhhh! Don't wake the dead! Nick still struggled -- quietly. "Guys! Don't -- please!" But he was smiling. I felt sorry for him. This was exactly the kind of thing that a footballer would do, overpower someone against his will. "Gus! NO! We shouldn't!" I said, as Nick grabbed my crotch! Okay, maybe he did want it! He was only clad in his boxers, so we easily got them off. He was still putting up a fight, but I was convinced now. He could claim we overpowered him. Skinny little Patch just looked on in wonder and was all grins, as we giggled and wrestled. We didn't actually do anything to or with Nick. Only a lot of touching and laughing. All at once it ended of its own accord. As he left our room, boxers back on, Nick said, "Now I may HAVE to wake the dead!" squeezing a very upright organ! We all laughed. After he was gone it was just the three of us again. I then said what I was going to before Nick came in. "What do you want to do, Patch?" "I -- um -- d-d-don't have any id-d-dea. P-p-please show me. What w-w-would you g-g-guys d-d-do?" I looked at Gus. He nodded. He knew what I was thinking. This kid not only had never had any sex -- with a guy or girl -- he had never had any love -- from anyone. I said, "C'mere." He did as he was told. I just pulled him into me and hugged him and cooed in his ear a little and then my lover slid up to his backside. We cuddled for quite a long time. He cried! He had so much emotion locked up inside him! I mean he really cried. I looked over his shoulder at Gus and we both were bewildered what to do. Finally, he stopped, and he said, "I'm so sorry! I don't know where that came from! Well, I do, but I didn't expect anything like that to happen." "Patch!" I said. "you're not stuttering." "I know. It's happened only once before. I cried then too." "You've really never done anything like this -- with anyone?" Gus asked. "No. I -- I -- d-d-didn't even know that anything c-c-could feel this g-g-good." "Hug us again, Dude!" Gus said, realizing he was starting to stutter again. "Yeah -- that's great! Dude -- we haven't even done anything yet -- haha -- and you didn't know anything could feel that good?" "Ummm -- no one's ever held me and -- I wanna say loved me, but - - that's not possible - - is it? I mean we j-j-just m-met." "NO one's ever hugged you?" "No." "Aw, c'mon! Your mom and dad do -- or did!" "My dad is not with us any more, and -- no my mom doesn't and never has -- as I can remember." "You're parents divorced? That sucks! It's gotta be - " "No. He died last year. I wish it was before I was born! That son-of-a-bitch was the meanest bastard I ever knew." "He never let you talk! Isn't that right? He never let you talk, and -- your mom? Did she talk to you?" "My father didn't know how to talk. All he ever did was yell. My mom always kept me quiet -- so I would not rile Dad. I HATE him! I'm so glad he is gone! That ass hole!" "Patch -- that's why you stutter. You have never been allowed to talk!" I said to him. It was kind of bold of me. I was not a psychologist. But I had taken enough in high school to know that this was so obvious -- and text book typical." "I know that." He said. "But knowing doesn't seem to h-h-help much. Um -- I -- don't know how to -- um -- can we hug some more?" "Dude, I mean, this is so great!" I said. I felt like some psychological detective or something. "Gus -- we need to stay a day or so more." I said. Gus started to reply, but I gave him the "nix" look across Patch's shoulder. He just shrugged. "Patch, I want to tell you something and - - you need to know something -- a few things." "Okay." He replied. "Do you have to work tomorrow?" I asked. "I work every day. They like me here, I guess." "Oh. When do you go to work?" "You know! I w-work evenings." "Oh! Duh! Okay. Can you spend tomorrow with us?" "Yes. I want that - m-m-more than anything else in the w-world. I would sell my left n-n-n-nut to spend a day with you guys!" "That won't be necessary!" I said. Now, the first thing I want you to know is that there are things that feel better than hugging! But hugging is a start. Something else you said awhile back - - I want to clarify for you." "What's th-that?" "You CAN love someone this soon! I don't know if there is actually `love at first sight' like they say, but you can love someone you have never met. Probably for you though, you will have to -- um -- be careful. Just because someone shows you love -- doesn't mean that he -- or she -- is in love with you. And since you have not been allowed to experience love growing up -- I bet you think -- that you're in love with us, even. And that we love you -- in a romantic way. Is that true?" I was afraid of this. "Uh huh." Was all that he said. But his face told a whole story. He looked almost bewildered/disappointed. "I don't want to burst your bubble, but -- you need to know that Gus and I are a couple -- with no intention of making any threesome or any other combination. Yes, we love you. But it is a love that most people call friendship -- or brotherly love. Since you have not experienced that before, you feel like you're in love. Believe me -- `in love' is a whole `nother level that you deserve to experience. "B-b-b-but - - no! I AM in love -- with you b-b-both!" "We love you, Dude, but what you are feeling is only what most people take for granted. But it's so much more than you've ever felt before -- you think it's love. I mean romantic love. It's not. And I want to make it clear now that you can't believe that we will stay or mean anything more. We love you -- like a friend -- you ARE a friend. We hit it off because of a silly sexual thing, maybe -- but that's all there is. And dude! We haven't even had any sex!" "Yet!" He said with a slight grin. "Anyway -- for whatever reason, you have not let yourself `feel' love except for two times. Both times you were so overwhelmed, you cried and then your stuttering went away. Tomorrow I want to try something with you that I read about in my psyche class. It can't hurt you, but it may be -- interesting -- to see how you feel after." Still looking rather bewildered -- AND disappointed -- he replied, "Okay." "Now, we are going to do something neat." "What?" Patch answered. "But first -- um -- why are you called patch?" "The guys called me that in gym class and also in front of girls -- to embarrass me." Okay. We're not gonna call you that any more. Next - - why do you not like being called Chris?" "It's not my name!" He said too emphatically. "Who told you it's not your name?" "My name is not Christopher. It's not Chris! It's CHRISTIAN! My mom never let ANYONE call me by any nickname!" "Wow!" I said. Gus was looking almost as bewildered as Patch was. "What?" Patch said. "Did you get what you just said?" "What?" He said again. "Do you really hate the name Chris so much. Don't answer immediately -- just think about it." "I d-d-don't hate the name C-c-chris. I actually like it. But my Mom - " "STOP!" I said. "Listen to yourself! Think about this: You warmed up to us immediately when we started calling you Patch." "It felt nice when you said it." "I KNOW!" I said. "You preferred a name that was given to you in ridicule -- over your own name -- Christian -- which is a great name, as far as I'm concerned -- by the way. Here's the catch. You like `Chris' but your mom never wanted you to be `Chris' for some reason. Why do you like `Chris'?" "It's my Dad's name." "Wha -- at?" I queried. "I thought you said you hated him." "Not my real dad! He died when I was 3. He was the only one that ever was sweet to me. My mom married that ass hole when I was 11!" " - - and your mom doesn't want ass hole to be reminded that she really loved someone one day long ago. So she insisted you be called Christian. Right?" "Oooohhhh. Geeeez! You -- you -- you're -- r-r-r-right." This time he wasn't stuttering. He was crying again. "THAT ASS HOLE EVEN MADE HER CHANGE MY NAME!" "Chris -- how do you feel right now?" "Oh! I LOVED hearing you call me that! Oh My God! How is it possible to not know something like that? It's so simple! Wow!" My own heart was singing within me. I could only imagine what he felt like. It must be like being set free from some kind of prison. "Okay!" I said. "You should write about this experience -- so you can read about it in case you forget. This one moment in time is not enough for it to become part of you -- like a habit. We will be gone after tomorrow -- or the next day. You will have to keep this going yourself. Understand?" "Sort of." "Tomorrow I hope we can unlock another door for you -- make you feel even freer." "Wow!" "What?" I asked. "I can't imagine feeling freer that I do right now!" "I figured." I said. Gus gave me a querulous look. I just winked at him. "Okay -- ready for some fun?" I said. "I -- um -- I g-g-guess." I flipped off the light, then said - : "Umm -- maybe you want to watch this?" He giggled and then said -- "N-n-naw! Surprise me!" I did surprise him. I went down on him and he suppressed any audible emotions, and came very fast -- and really, powerfully, considering he was absolutely quiet about it. When I was finished, he clung to me like he thought I would disappear if he didn't. He cried again. "That was -- OH MY GOD -- I can't -- I mean -- it was -- I had no idea that -- I mean - - you know what I mean, right?" "I think so." I said laughing. I swallowed his spunk, but didn't kiss him. He didn't know or care if I kissed him. All he knew was that was the greatest thing that ever happened to him. He went to sleep pretty quickly. I made myself a mental note to tell him when he's with someone special -- DON'T fall asleep so quick! "I was afraid you were gonna kiss him." Gus whispered. "I'm glad you didn't. I don't want you too." "I agree. Kissing is too intimate. Keep it sexual -- not romantic." "Exactly. Dude! Where did you learn all that psycho-babble stuff? "I dunno! I have heard it all somewhere -- different places probably. Mostly high school psyche. Mr. Hannah was a sex freak. But tomorrow -- be ready for anything!" "Why? You planning to kiss him tomorrow?" He sounded worried. "I love you so much, Gus! NO! I'm not gonna kiss him. But you obviously thought I might, and if I'm not missing your point, you would have let me -- even though you didn't want me to. No, I'm not going to do that. No, what I meant was -- - I have a sort of activity for him, and after -- I want you to -- well -- do what I just did." "What - - suck him off?" "Well, umm - - yeah. Is that okay with you?" "You have strange psychological techniques! I'm not sure it would be legal in the real world! But yeah! I WANT to do that!" "Well yeah, I wouldn't do that if I was a real shrink! But just think about it. If it was legal -- and okay -- that could be a fun job -- huh?" "Okay pervert! Speaking of jobs -- I guess you're gonna change your major now huh?" "Huh?" I said. "It's so obvious! You were born to do this! You're a natural!" "What? Bore you to sleep?" "No, silly1 You HAVE to change your major to psychology!" "I don't know -- do you really think I could do it?" I asked. "Change your major? Of course! It's as easy as going - " "No! Do you think I could really BE a shrink?" "Not only be one -- be one of the best! DUDE! If you lose your sight -- it would be perfect. You - " "Psychologists have to make observations -- see people, Gus! I can't - " "YES! You CAN!" He insisted. "You HEAR more than most people see already!" "I'll think about it." I said. "Promise?" "Promise!" "Good. Then I shall reward you." And he went down on me. Gave a whole meaning to "lick and a promise!" I did exactly what I was gonna warn Chris about. I fell asleep as soon as I came. I woke up to: "WHAT THE FUCK! OH MY GOD!" My eyes opened and slowly -- a little too slowly, light came into them. Kian was standing over the three of us. "Morning." Chris said. "You guys slept with pool boy!??" Kian was green! "It's not fair! Nick won't even let me look at another guy -- and you guys -- It's just not fair!" "Nick was with us last night!" Said Chris. Uh-oh! "WHAT!!!???" "KEE!" I shouted him down. "Kee, we didn't do anything with Nick -- nothing! We tricked him in to a hug and then attacked him -- three on one -- with lots of tickles and hugs -- but nothing more. And - - he objected the whole time." "Yeah -- like I believe that!" "You're gonna have to -- or risk calling me a liar!" I said it with some amount of emphasis. "Okay. But -- I suppose you are gonna tell me that YOU guys didn't do anything either!" I reached way in to my mind to pick out this gem: "Actually not!" I remembered President Clinton's definition of sex, so in my mind -- at least to Kian -- I wasn't lying. "Nope! We didn't have any sex with Chris last night." "Oh." He sounded disappointed. We let him stay that way. "So - - are you leaving this afternoon?" Again thinking on my feet (lying in my bed!) I said. "No. We'll just have breakfast with you and then we'll be on our way." I was hoping the other two would not give me away. They didn't. Kian left and went to his room. I quickly told them the plan. "Look," I started, "I don't want to hurt any feelings -- and it would if we left these guys to spend the day with someone else." I heard footsteps coming. "Just agree with me -- okay?" They both nodded. "What's going on?" Nick said. "I thought you were staying for today! I wanted a chance to say good bye!" "We really have to go, Babe!" I said. I wasn't lying. "We can have a nice breakfast and say goodbye then." "My parents are expecting us for breakfast." "That's okay." "They eat late -- it'll probably be brunch." He was almost challenging me. He looked at Gus, who didn't back down either. "Mmmm -- okay! That'll give us that much more time to say g'bye -- huh?" That seemed to satisfy him. "Go back and get dressed." I said. "You look great in your skivvies, but I doubt your parents will want you that way -- especially if all those other people are there!" "They aren't. It'll be just our family -- that includes YOU, you know!" I didn't -- we were only there one morning! He and Kian left the room. "Give me your cell phone number, Chris. I'll call you as soon as we leave the Poole's home. He did, just in time for Nick to pop his head back in. "Oh! Patch! You're invited too -- if you want to come." Chris looked at me. I very carefully shook my head no. "Thanks! B-b-but I better get home. I'm sure my m-m-mom wonders a little where I am. I'm n-not usually gone th-th-this long -- even when I work overt-t-time." "Suit yourself." We got dressed and we left together. Gus checked us out of the hotel as we left. Our breakfast with the Poole's was quite different. Howard was not nearly as formal around the family as he had been with their friends and business associated there. I could detect (I thought) some bit if discomfort on both his and Nick's attitudes. Well, that shouldn't be surprising. It was only yesterday that the came to their "understanding". Somehow Howard maneuvered me into another one-to-one chat. "Cole, I feel very much indebted to you. I hope you know you are now one of the family." I still was uncomfortable with that. "What did I do, sir?" "You were open and honest with me. Honesty is such a precious commodity these days." "I guess that's true, sir, but I wouldn't expect to be any other way with anyone." "And I can tell that, Cole. And stop calling me sir!" "Sorry, s- um -- I just am not comfortable calling you Howard -- yet. I only just met you yesterday." "Yesterday was a long time ago in my relationship with my son." "Was it? I seem to pick up some pretty nervous energy passing between you two." "Your honesty is even a bit disarming, son." He said. This was getting to feel too strange. "I hope you don't mind me talking openly to you, Cole. I want so much to have a great relationship with Nicolas. What can I do?" "Just be a dad. His sexuality is irrelevant when it comes to your relationship." "Oh! You're right!" he sounded surprised. "It's just so hard for me to -- understand -- or something -- why -- er I men -- what it must be like to -- um -- I mean -- what's it feel like to crave a guy?" "In the first place, I don't think you are required to understand -- that -- to be a dad. In the second place -- I have to guess that the feelings that Nick have for Kian -- at least sexually -- are no different than what you feel about your wife. You DO still have those feelings, don't you?" "Oh -- haha -- well, yeah! I'm not THAT old yet." "And - " I tried to be very diplomatic about this question, "those feelings are only for women -- right?" He looked at me for a moment that stood still in time. It was as if my question stopped his brain! Then he said "YES! Of course! What kind of question is that?" It seemed like he was a bit too defensive with that answer. I ignored that last question. "It's just that you need to stop trying to analyzing your son and just love him. It's obvious you DO love him, but don't let this come between you and him. "I know you're right, Cole. I just -- I mean -- I am a confident business man -- I practically RUN Vancouver -- or it seems so sometimes. How can I be so unsure about how to be a good dad?" "I don't know sir -- er -- Howard. How many children did you have to practice on before Nick?" "Nicolas is my -- well, you know he's an only son!" "My point exactly. I'm sure you made a few mistakes as you climbed to the place where you are in business." "You have no idea!" He said to me. "So it seems to be in your favor that Nick is as well rounded as he is." "How can someone so young be so wise?" He said. He pulled me into a hug. When his boner started pressing into my body, he quickly withdrew his body so we weren't touching at that point. Well - - too late! I was hoping he wasn't trying to tell me something. I wondered if he noticed that I had no such reaction. "Thanks, son!" When we came back, the first person I saw was Nick. His eyes met mine and there obviously a question in them. I just shrugged it off. But he walked directly to me. He looked from eye to eye (which was a good trick, since I only HAVE one eye!) and then asked, "When do you have to leave?" "Almost right away." I responded. "So you come here to say goodbye and spend most of the time with my dad!" He was actually pouting! "I'm sorry. I -- er -- he -- er -- we just had to get some things ironed out." "Great, so when are you coming back?" I was happy he misunderstood. I seized upon that and replied. "Not quite sure. Man! Your dad sure has um - " " -- taken a liking to you?" He finished my sentence. He saw my embarrassment and continued, "That's fine, man! He's never liked many of my friends. I'll take whatever I can get." "Nick, give your dad some slack." "What?" he asked. "Your dad is just coming to grips with the reality of something he suspected for a long time. That's not easy. Don't push him away. Let him love you." "How do I do that?" He said, clearly confused. "Just love him. Know that he will make some mistakes. Love him." "Easy for you to say. Then you're off and we won't see you for months." "If that's your way of telling me you love me, thanks. And I love you too -- even though it's been less than three whole days since we met!" "S'matter babe?" Kian walked up, sounding as masculine as he could sound feminine at other times. "Aww -- nothin'. I just feel bad that Cole and Gus have to go so soon." "We got them three days more than we thought we would. And - - you ARE coming back -- right?" "I think- uh -- YEAH! We'll be back!" We all hugged -- close hugs -- and we almost ran out to our rented car. As soon as we were out of view of the Poole mansion, I dialed Christian's number. Notes: Wow! Is Howard gay too - - or bi? I don't think so. I think it confuses a lot of guys when they react sexually to non-sexual stimuli. And a close hug is somewhat sexual in nature no matter what sex you are hugging. Well, I can't wait to see what Cole has in mind -- oh what the hell, I KNOW what he has in mind. And if you are a long time reader, you will not be surprised. Please write, if you like, to Steve at stevethomas535@hotmail.com. Thanks and love, Steve