Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 14:02:23 -0700
From: Roy <roynm@mac.com>
Subject: Leith - chapter 18 - College section

This story is entirely fictional, and any resemblances to actual persons
are completely coincidental.  Actual locations are mentioned, and are used
for 'background' only.

This story runs concurrently with the 'Phalen' sequel, 'Finding Happiness.'

Many of the character's names are Finnish.  For those who wish to know how
they are pronounced, read on.

Mikko - MEEK-ko
Paavo - PAW-vo
Joel - YOE-el
Halonen - HALL-oh-nen


Roy
roynm@mac.com


Chapter 18


Andrew hummed tunelessly as he took long strides across the plaza of the
office building where Mikko's office was located.  It was a beautiful early
autumn day, hot but not scorching as it had been only weeks before.  Many
of the office workers had decided to take their lunch breaks outside and
were lounging either on the dark green lawns, perched on the concrete edges
of the raised planter beds, or sitting at one of the many tables scattered
around the large plaza.  As with most open spaces in the city, the plaza
was awash with the yellow blossoms of acacia trees, multi-hued mounds of
gazania, and the lilt of people laughing.

'It's a beautiful day, and I'm in love,' he thought with a smile on his
face.  'For the first time in my life, I am in love!'

His thoughts flashed back to his recently ended relationship with Larry,
the man who introduced him to Mikko.  At the time he was dating Larry he
*thought* he might be in love.  He *wanted* to be in love.  He'd spent most
of his adult life flitting from one sex partner to another.  Larry was the
first person with whom he thought he might be able to form a permanent
bond.  At the time, he knew for certain he was in lust.  Larry had been a
wonderful sexual partner, in part because everything was new to him.  He
wanted to try everything, and threw himself into all he did with total
enthusiasm.

Mikko, on the other hand, was stronger than Larry.  He knew what was
exciting to him and took control of a situation to ensure both he and his
partner were left completely satisfied.  It was the first time Andrew had
ever experienced someone sexually as intense as Mikko.  He had only been
half joking when he described how exhausted he was to his sons after his
and Mikko's first sexual encounter, at the gym.

'Mikko's wonderful,' he thought, mentally thanking Larry for introducing
him.  He was even willing to ignore the self-satisfied expression Larry
often exhibited when he watched Andrew and Mikko across the table during
one of the times they had dinner and drinks after work.

'Everything about Mikko is great,' he thought for the hundredth time, 'from
his curly black hair to his sparkling eyes and flashing smile and the
expansive gestures he made as he spoke.  His voice was smooth and
captivating.  His touch, warm and insistent.'  He grinned, thinking how
exciting it was to have Mikko take charge.  A few days earlier when they
were at the gym, he seemed so mellow until he stood and backed Andrew
against a row of lockers and kissed him with a ferocity that was totally
unexpected.  *Then,* instead of the warm smooth voice, his voice was rough
with emotion and his hands were strong as he pulled Andrew close.

'That's what I like,' Andrew thought as he entered the office building's
lobby.  'He's totally unpredictable.  It's exciting when he takes control,
and when he demands, "more," or, "again."  As wonderful a person as Larry
is,' Andrew thought as the elevator doors shushed closed, 'Mikko is
exciting, precisely because he was so unpredictable.

The elevator slowed to a halt and the doors opened.  He half expected to
see Larry in the reception room of his law firm, directly across the lobby
from the one where Mikko had been overseeing construction of *his* new
office since his arrival in Phoenix.  Andrew tried not to let the
receptionists see his shudder as he gave them a jaunty salute before
turning his back on them.  Even though his back was turned, he could feel
their steely-eyed glare, so typical of the employees in Larry's firm.

'How can Larry tolerate working in a place like that,' he wondered as he
stepped into the lobby of Mikko's office, smiling and nodding to a couple
workers who were in the process of hoisting a very large painting of a
brilliant Arizona sunset onto a waiting room wall.

Mikko was standing with his back to him, some distance away, speaking with
one of the construction workers, gesturing widely with his arms before
pointing to something.  The worker bent to examine the spot indicated,
while Mikko stood with a straight back and his hands on his hips.  When the
worker stood once again the conversation continued with Mikko taking a few
steps further down the corridor and pointing out what apparently was
another problem area.  He stopped speaking when the contractor nodded in
Andrew's direction, obviously trying to divert attention from himself.
Mikko turned and looked over his shoulder, his mood instantly brightening.

Andrew found himself smiling and thinking he had never felt like this with
anyone else.  'If this is love,' he thought in the instant Mikko turned
back to the contractor for a bit of last minute instruction, 'I've been
missing something.'  It was exciting to merely watch Mikko move.  His crisp
white shirt hugged his shoulders and then tapered to his slim waist.  The
beige slacks clung to his buttocks, the same firm butt Andrew remembered
clutching as Mikko thrust his cock down his throat at the gym the previous
Friday.

Andrew turned away from Mikko and looked around the office, loosening his
tie.  'Suddenly, it's awfully hot in here,' he thought, noting that no one
else seemed to be bothered by the heat.

The contractor finally went on his way, shouting to one of his men that
they had a few problems to get taken care of.  Mikko turned toward Andrew
and smiled as he took the few steps separating them, giving him a brief
embrace.  Andrew was surprised when he felt Mikko's lips brush against his
neck.  He didn't think the receptionists across the elevator lobby had been
able to see the kiss, but he was positive they had seen the embrace, and
grinned, liking the idea that they might have been shocked.

Mikko moved back a step, seemingly reluctant to release Andrew's shoulder.
"To what do I owe the pleasure," he asked, continuing to smile.  "By the
way, I haven't had a chance to tell you how much I enjoyed the gym the
other night.  We should work out like that more often."  He finally
released Andrew and perched on the arm of one of the nearby chairs and
broke into laughter when he saw Andrew's expression.

"Am I being too forward for you?"

"Ah . . . ," Andrew hesitated, trying to figure out exactly what he was
feeling.  "No, not too forward.  I love that."  He hesitated a moment
longer.  "I guess I've just never been so open with my affections in
public.  I thought I was pretty open, but you're showing me I'm a lot more
restrained than I thought."  Mikko smiled more broadly and raised his
eyebrows at the same time his eyes sparkled.  "I'm thinking I like that
openness."

Mikko gestured Andrew to a burgundy colored chair that closely matched one
of the colors in the nearby painting of the sunset, and watched as he sat
down with a sigh of pleasure, running his fingertips over the nubbly
texture of the upholstery.

"You never did tell me why you're visiting," Mikko teased as he sat facing
Andrew across a low glass table.

"Oh, yeah."  Andrew held up the two white paper bags he had been clutching
in one fist.  "I took a chance that you wouldn't have something planned for
lunch and brought us something to eat.  I thought we might be able to go
outside and sit on the lawn.  I hadn't thought that you probably have to
stay here in case something comes up."  Mikko nodded.

"We can eat here if you don't mind."  He gestured to the partially
furnished reception room.  "Also, my brother called earlier and told me he
was planning on stopping by a little after lunch to see the new office and
to talk a few things over."  He accepted one of the paper sacks from
Andrew, opened it, and began removing its contents.  "Hey, if you hang
around you could meet him.  I've mentioned going to the gym with you."  He
unwrapped a sandwich, peeled up a corner of the bread to see what was
inside, and then took a bite, chewing slowly as he watched Andrew.

"I have to tell you that since I mentioned you at dinner the other night,
Joel's and my relationship has been a little strained."  Mikko slowly shook
his head from side to side in resignation.  "He can't seem to get it into
his mind that I have need to have my own life.  I'm his brother, and I love
him, but he has a family and responsibilities that I won't interfere with."
He sighed.  "I'm not sure he's willing to accept that."

Mikko continued as Andrew ate silently letting him speak.  "I've told him
that he and I will always have something special, and that I would love to
continue being . . . intimate . . . with him, but I also need my own
freedom."  He looked up with one of his sudden smiles.

"Freedom to have some fun . . . something like our recent work out.  Did I
tell you," he said, lowering his voice, "that you are the first man I've
ever been with other than my brothers?"  Andrew paused and shook his head
as he was about to take another bite of his sandwich.

"Is that's why you were so wild?"

Mikko gave him a puzzled look.  "Wild?  I was just being my normal self."
Andrew barked a laugh and leaned back in his chair tilting his head back
and looking at the ceiling with his mouth hanging open in surprise.

"Normal?"  He looked back to Mikko as his voice rose slightly and he tried
not to laugh.  "I've spent the entire weekend basking in the afterglow."
He leaned closer.  "You about drained me dry, Mr. Halonen."

Mikko smiled, seeming pleased.  "If I recall correctly, you did your best
to drain *me* dry as well." Andrew shrugged slightly as Mikko continued
talking.

"Afterward, I got to thinking maybe we left too early.  We probably should
have taken a shower so we could . . . collect ourselves, but I didn't want
to."  Mikko smiled once again.  "I wanted to go home with your scent still
on me."  He glanced across the small table, suddenly seeming to be shy.  "I
love your scent."  He glanced at Andrew from beneath lowered eyelashes.
"And taste."

Suddenly, his mood changed.  "Whew, I better stop these thoughts. I'll be
drooling in my pants."  He picked up his earlier thought as a means of
diverting himself.  "You *did* seem to be pretty worn out . . . after the
gym, I mean."

"Are all your encounters as . . . intense," Andrew asked, ignoring the
construction workers as they trooped past on their way to lunch.  Mikko
shrugged.

"Who knows?"  He looked thoughtful.  "I think that I'd enjoy spending an
evening doing nothing but cuddling and kissing."  He seemed to hesitate a
moment.  "I've never had the opportunity to cuddle with another man."
Andrew glanced up, struck by the change in Mikko's voice.  "I'd also like
to just sit close to you and hold your hand."

"Mine?"

Mikko slowly nodded, giving Andrew a bashful glance.  "I'd like that a lot.
I've never gotten the kind of physical affection I would like."  He seemed
to stare into the distance.  "Even when I was married . . ."  His voice
trailed off and then he cleared his throat and grinned crookedly, glancing
at Andrew who quietly watched.

"Would cuddling and things, wear you out?"  Andrew laughed, releasing the
tension he was feeling while wondering at the source of the pain that had
momentarily flashed across Mikko's face.

"I don't think so.  But, don't get me wrong.  I like your assertiveness and
enthusiasm.  I like someone taking over for a change.  Normally, I'm the
one in charge.  It's nice to have the tables turned on me."

"Then, we'll have to play more often, won't we?"  He wiggled his eyebrows
and gave Andrew a lewd grin.  "Don't worry, Mr. Johnston, I'll go easy on
you."  He laughed and fended off a crumpled napkin Andrew threw in his
direction.

"Is this a private game, or can anyone join in?"  Both men looked up at the
newcomer.

"Joel!"  Mikko stood, looking pleased and nervous at the same time.  He
glanced from his brother to Andrew, who slowly stood and returned Joel's
wary nod of greeting.

"Ah, Joel.  This is my friend Andrew, the person I told you and the boys
about the other night at dinner.  Andrew, this is my brother, Joel."

Mikko stepped away from the table and dragged over another chair as the two
men shook hands.  He motioned for his brother to have a seat.  Joel
squeezed his brother's shoulder in thanks.  "Don't be so nervous," he
chided as he sat down, sparing a glance and grin in Andrew's direction.
"Everything's cool.  Sit and finish your sandwich."

Mikko glanced from one man to another and warily sat down, making an
attempt to return Andrew's unperturbed grin.

Andrew finished his sandwich and crumpled the wrapper and stuffed it back
into the paper sack, trying not to let the brothers see how captivated he
was by their interactions.  Mikko returned to his abandoned sandwich making
an attempt to look comfortable, while Joel watched his brother with an
enigmatic expression.

"It's good to meet you Joel," Andrew said, drawing Joel's attention away
from his brother.  "Mikko's told me about how important his older brother
is to him."  Joel gave Andrew a distracted grin and picked up a paper
wrapper from a straw and began running it through his fingers, apparently
trying to marshal his thoughts.

It was easy to tell the two men were brothers.  Both had the same tall,
slender build and black loosely curled hair.  They also had the same long
startlingly dark eyelashes, though their eyes *did* differ.  Mikko's eyes
were a pale green while his brothers were a light blue.  'Two very handsome
men,' Andrew thought, wondering briefly what it would be like to see the
two of them making love.

"Has my brother told you some about *us*?  I mean about our relationship?"
Joel's expression was intense as he spoke.  Mikko's eyes shifted from his
brother to Andrew as he slowly took another bite of his sandwich.  Andrew
sat back in his chair and crossed his legs, casually resting his arms on
the arms of the chair.

"Some," he responded.  "I gather you both are still very close."  Joel
softly snorted.

"You could say that."  He paused a moment as he continued to toy with the
strip of paper.  "I love Mikko, Andrew," he said in a low but firm voice.
"I never really knew how much I love him until he and his son began staying
with us."  He took a deep breath.  "Now, it's almost as if I can think of
nothing *but* Mikko, and what I feel for him."  He suddenly wadded the
straw wrapper into a small white paper ball and turned to Andrew,
apparently having made some sort of decision.

"Andrew, I should apologize to you.  I know we just met, but I've been
consumed with jealousy ever since Mikko told the boys and me about you
taking him to the gym a few days ago.  It was next to impossible for me to
get any sleep, because I kept imagining you with my brother."  He paused
and drew a deep breath.  "I didn't want to imagine you with him.  I didn't
want to think of him being with anyone but me."  He bowed his head.  "I
felt terrible."

He glanced at his brother who was watching him with wide eyes.  Mikko was
ignoring his unfinished sandwich, his full attention on his older brother.

"I probably would have *still* been . . . feeling awful . . . if my
youngest son hadn't sat me down last night and made me see reason."  He
glanced toward Mikko and then to Andrew.

"You see, I love my brother more than anyone . . . except my family.  Kent,
my youngest, told me I was letting my jealousy prevent Mikko from finding
happiness."  He shrugged slightly with a wry grin.  "As difficult as it was
to admit, Kent was right.  I was thinking more about what *I* wanted than
letting Mikko find what *he* wanted."  He paused a moment and visibly
swallowed before continuing.

"That's why I feel as if I should apologize to you . . . both.  To you
Andrew, because I was thinking terrible things about you, things I feel bad
about and I'm sure you don't deserve."  He turned to his left.  "And to
you, Mikko, because I would have done my best to keep you *mine,* at the
expense of your happiness.  I would have made both of us miserable
. . . and, as Kent pointed out to me, I would most likely have lost you
from my life."  Joel choked as he finished the sentence.

Mikko was visibly moved and reached out to rest his hand on his brother's
knee.  Joel absently rested his hand on top of his brother's.

Andrew cleared his throat.  "I'm glad you got things worked out, Joel.  I
can imagine how difficult it has been for you to say these things not only
to your brother, but to a complete stranger.  For all it's worth, I think
you've got a pretty special brother."  Joel gave Andrew a crooked grin and
nodded slightly.

"I've always thought so."  He bit his lip.  "Kent also told me to remember
that if the two of you end up in a . . . relationship . . . that you're not
taking Mikko away from me.  We'll always be . . . close, no matter what."

"Relationship!" Mikko's voice squeaked upward.  "What is Kent thinking?"
He glanced at Andrew.  "We only met a couple weeks ago.  Hell, we haven't
even *fucked* yet!"  Joel laughed as Andrew covered his eyes with a hand
and bowed his head.

"Tell the whole world, why don't you?" he muttered.  Mikko looked around
the reception room and saw no one was nearby, so he merely shrugged.

"You're right . . . sorry, but isn't it a little early to be talking about
a relationship?"

"Not for Kent."  Joel laughed easily, having released all the tension of a
few minutes earlier.  "He asked me at breakfast this morning, what I
thought you guys might name your first . . . cat."

"That's easy," Andrew laughed, glancing toward Mikko . . ." assuming of
course that we'll ever be in a relationship."  He grinned at Mikko.  "We'll
name him Kent, after his cousin, of course."  Joel laughed aloud.  Mikko
looked back and forth from his brother to Andrew as if he couldn't believe
what he had heard.

"Cat!"  Mikko squawked, and looked at Andrew in surprise, and then toward
his brother.  "Kent? . . . Kent!"


----------


"Hi, Leith," Thian called, walking into the gym.  Leith held his open
textbook at his side and stood.

Thian gave him a brief hug, feeling a momentary unexpected surge of
pleasure wash over him at the touch.  "Are you going to be joining Brett to
watch the team practice?  I didn't know you were interested in gymnastics."
It appeared as if Leith wasn't sure whether to be surprised or pleased at
Thian's brief embrace.  His grin faltered, to be replaced by a bright
smile.

Leith sat and turned toward Thian, motioning for him to have a seat.
"Yeah, I'm planning on joining Brett whenever I have a chance.  He's always
talking about gymnastics, and Kerin and Adam and you, so I thought I'd
better learn a little bit about the sport so I won't be totally in the dark
whenever he's talking.  Besides, I like you guys.  I haven't had a chance
to meet many guys since moving to Phoenix, a couple months ago."

Thian grinned, thinking about something Leith had said.  "You say Brett
talks a lot?"  Leith nodded.  "He always seems so quiet.  He's just like
Adam.  They'd make a good pair," Thian continued.  "In fact, it would be
great if Brett tried to make friends with Adam."  Leith gave him a puzzled
look.

"The poor guy," Thian sighed.  "Adam, I mean."  Leith nodded slightly,
encouraging Thian to continue.

"He's a nice guy but he's so shy and intimidated by everything.  He keeps
jumping and apologizing all the time.  He's *so* serious.  He comes from
some small town in Kansas and doesn't know a joke when it slaps him on the
butt with a loud smack, not that being from Kansas makes one incapable of
recognizing a joke, but you know what I mean?"  Leith chuckled and nodded.

"Yet, Adam hangs around you and Kerin.  If he's afraid of a joke, your
brother isn't the best person to hang around with.  He never stops, does
he?"

Thian laughed, straddling a bleacher and facing Leith.  "That's my brother,
irreverent to the core."  He stretched to see what Leith was studying and
then made a face.  "Ugh, I hate biology.  I don't like poking around inside
dead things that are lying on a piece of cork with little pins stuck in
them to keep them in place."  He shuddered and then smiled, his pale brown
eyes twinkling as Leith laughed at his joke.

"I see Kerin's not the only one of you guys capable of making a joke."

"Nah," Thian made a dismissive gesture, shifted around on the wooden
bleacher seat and leaned back, stretching his legs out in front of him and
supporting himself on his elbows.  "I joke around too, but only around
people I'm comfortable with.  K just likes to joke and be the center of
attention."  He shrugged slightly and grinned.  "I guess I like to be the
center of attention too . . . at least when I'm on the floor in the middle
of a routine.  All gymnasts do.  K's on stage all the time."

"Doesn't he ever get depressed, or something?  I can't believe someone can
be so hyper all the time."

"Oh, yes.  He has his share of quiet moments, when all he wants is to be
held.  He doesn't let many other people see them though."  Thian grinned.
"It would ruin his image."

They were interrupted by Leith's cell phone ringing.  He dug around in his
book bag and pulled out the phone, telling Thian he'd only be a moment.

"Hey Dad.  What's up?"  There was a pause while Leith listened to his
father.  Thian looked up and met Leith's glance and grinned.  "Yeah,
classes are over for today.  I'm sitting in the gym with a friend of mine.
He's on the gymnastics team."  He paused again, nodding a couple times as
his father spoke.  "Oh, okay.  Well, you guys have a good time."  His
father said something more.  "Yeah, I love you too.  Bye."  He closed the
phone and slipped it back in his bag.  When he looked up he realized Thian
had been closely watching him.

"That was my dad.  He's going out to dinner with a guy he knows. He called
to tell me he wouldn't be home, so Brett and I would have to fend for
ourselves.

"I didn't know you guys lived together."

"Well, Brett's been moving his stuff to our place.  Dad bought a place
across the street from school, in that new loft building.  It's great, but
the place is a shambles, and with Brett's junk thrown into the mix, we have
to step over stuff to get from one room to another."  He turned to Thian.
"When we get the place straightened up a bit, you and Kerin should come
over for dinner or something.  I'd like to get to know you guys when you're
not having to run off to practice."

Thian shifted so he was once again straddling the bleacher seat, facing
Leith.

"Leith, you know Kerin and I are gay, don't you?  We don't try and keep it
a secret, but it still freaks some people.  Some guys don't want to hang
around us too much after they learn we have sex with each other."  He
looked out to the practice floor and was silent for a moment.  He saw Thian
close his eyes for a moment before he swallowed and turned to face Leith
once more.

"I just don't want you to be surprised . . . when you find out."

"Thian, is something wrong?  I mean, you look sad all of a sudden."  Thian
gave Leith a small grin and shook his head.

"No, nothing's wrong.  It just struck me all of a sudden how few friends, K
and I really have.  I mean, we're part of a team, but those guys aren't
really good friends."  He nodded toward the practice floor and a few of his
teammates who were limbering up.  "But, as far as real friends . . ."  He
shrugged.  "Being an athlete, and gay, and having a sexual relationship
with your brother that everyone knows about . . ."  He shrugged once more.
"It sort of isolates us.  We exist in our own little world, just K and me."
He swallowed and then tried to put on a smile.

"So, since you've not already made an excuse and left, I would guess that
you're either really polite, or you're not bothered by K's and my
relationship."  Leith grinned and reached out to squeeze Thian's knee as a
show of support.  Thian followed Leith's movement with his eyes.

"Thian, I'm not freaked.  I had a sexual relationship with my older
brother.  I also know how being gay can isolate a person."  Leith paused
for a moment as Thian watched him closely.  "So does Brett."  Thian's eyes
widened slightly.

"Do you still have a relationship with your brother?  I notice you said you
*had* one.  Is he going to a different school or something?"  Leith bowed
his head slightly.

"No, he . . . died . . . about a year ago.  Brett's been great at helping
me out."  Thian leaned close and took Leith's hand with a stricken look on
his face.

"Geez, Leith.  I'm sorry about your brother, and about opening a wound.
Leave it to me to say something stupid."  Leith gave him a sad grin and
laced his fingers with Thian's and gently squeezed.

"Thanks, and you didn't say anything stupid.  You couldn't have known."

"Hey, T, *there* you are!"  Kerin trotted over to where his brother and
Leith were sitting.  He smiled at Leith, pausing only a moment when he saw
the two guys were holding hands.  "I was wondering where you were."  Thian
squeezed Leith's hand again before he released it and turned to face his
brother.

"Hi, K.  Leith and I have been talking about what it means to be gay and to
love your brother."  He glanced at Leith for a moment, as if for
permission.  His voice took on a serious tone.  "K, Leith just told me that
his brother died recently.  They were close, like you and me."  He sighed.
"Life's a bitch sometimes."  Kerin's eyes were round.

"Oh, Leith.  What can I say?"  Leith smiled a crooked grin and swiped at
his watery eyes with his hands and sniffed.

"Don't say anything more or you'll have me crying."  He sniffed and wiped
his eyes once more.  "I don't do as much of that as I did, and I try not to
do it in public."  He sniffed once more and sat up straight.  "There's
nothing you guys can say, so let's not talk about it any more.  Deal?"  The
twins soberly nodded, mirror reflections of one another.

Leith looked up and noticed Brett and Adam walking into the gym, deep in
conversation.  Thian noticed Leith looking at something and turned to see
what it might be.  When he saw the two men he turned and returned Leith's
smile.

Adam gave Brett a pat on the shoulder, waved in Leith's direction, and then
jogged out onto the practice floor, joining many of his team mates.  Brett
smiled brightly and walked over to Leith and the twins.  "Hey men," he
said, blushing slightly when Kerin rested his arm across his shoulders and
nudged him with his hip.

"I love it when you blush," Kerin teased, nudging Brett with his hip once
again.  "He gently pulled the neck of Brett's shirt away from his neck and
leaned close as if he were looking beneath the shirt fabric.  "Just how far
down does the blush go?"  He laughed when Brett pushed his hand away.

"All over," Leith supplied, ignoring Brett's scowl.  "It's cute."

Before anyone could comment, the coach called to the twins and told them
the rest of the team was prepared to begin . . . if they had finished their
little chat.


----------


Andrew stepped out of his car and closed the door, waiting while Mikko
drove up behind him.  Ever since their lunch earlier in the day, he had
thought of nothing but Mikko, the slight brush of his lips against his neck
during their brief welcoming embrace, and the way he would catch Mikko
watching him.  He would grin slightly whenever Andrew caught him, and
return to his lunch.

He remembered Joel as well, how the hug he gave Andrew was so much like his
brother's.  He was glad he didn't have any clients scheduled during the
afternoon because he would have found it difficult to concentrate on their
problems.  All he seemed to be able to think about was looking forward to a
time when he and Mikko could spend the night with one another.

He couldn't help it, thinking more than once during the afternoon, what it
might be like to see Mikko and his brother, two self-avowed exhibitionists,
making love . . . or better yet, being with them both.  He paced the
office, tried to organize some files . . . unsuccessfully, and had finally,
near quitting time, called Mikko's cell phone and asked if he would join
him for dinner and afterward for a glass of wine.

"I've been thinking how much I'd enjoy sitting with my arm around your
shoulders in a quiet room lit only by a couple candles, with soft music
playing."  He chuckled slightly.  "I must admit, I've never thought of
doing that sort of thing with a guy before."  He could hear Mikko's
wonderful laugh over the telephone.

"Perhaps, we might spend the night together?"  Mikko's statement ended as a
question.  "We can cuddle in bed too."

They met for dinner at a restaurant on the way to Andrew's house.  The
place was frequented by many university students, and although the food was
good, the dining room was loud.  They hurried through dinner and now found
themselves at Andrew's house.

Mikko pushed his car door closed with a firm thud and walked up to Andrew
wearing a broad smile.  "Are your sons likely to be home soon?  If so, we
could go to my place.  I'd like to be alone this evening.  My son and
nephew will understand if I ask them to stay in their room, or better yet,
go out to a movie or something."  Andrew smiled and shook his head.

"Nope, Kerin and Thian usually don't get home much before midnight."  He
held the front door open and motioned for Mikko to enter.  "Sorry if the
place is a mess," he apologized.  "None of us really enjoy cleaning house,
though we all do our share."  He looked around as he closed the front
screen door, seeming surprised.  "I guess I shouldn't have apologized until
I saw what the place looked like.  It seems the boys have been busy."  He
slipped his shoes off and unfastened the buttons around the neck of his
shirt after first pulling off his tie.  He looked over his shoulder as
Mikko followed him to the kitchen and urged him to, "get comfortable."

Mikko leaned against the island while Andrew opened a bottle of wine and
continued speaking of his sons.  "I've been thinking of getting myself a
new place and giving this one to the boys.  They seem to hate any kind of
change, and they're a lot more attached to this place than I am.  I'd miss
having them around all the time, but sometimes, like this evening, it would
be nice to *know* we'd have our privacy."  He handed Mikko two wine glasses
and led the way to the living room, where he lit a couple candles and then
turned out the lights.  Mikko watched him squat down in front of a stereo
system, punching a series of buttons and then adjusting the volume of the
classical music he had chosen so it wouldn't interfere with any
conversation.

He handed Mikko a glass and watched with a bemused smile on his face as
Mikko reached out and tenderly ran his fingers through the neatly trimmed
hair on Andrew's chest.  "Very sexy," he murmured.  "Just like the rest of
you."  Andrew grinned and raised his glass for a toast.  Simultaneously,
both men gave the same toast, "kippis," touching their glasses together.

"How'd you know the Finnish toast," Mikko asked, sitting next to Andrew on
the sofa and stretching his long legs out in front of him.

"One of my clients used that toast recently.  I thought, with you being
Finnish, it might be appropriate."  He glanced to his left and saw Mikko
watching him.  "Don't ask me to say anything else though.  I only know one
word of the language."  Andrew put an arm over Mikko's shoulders and
scooted closer, kissing him gently when Mikko turned to face him.  It was a
tender kiss, long and lingering, so much different than when they were at
the gym.

Mikko sighed, leaning his head back and playfully toying with Andrew's
socking-clad feet with his own.  "I could become accustomed to this very
quickly," he said, snuggling closer.  He shifted his wine glass to his
other hand and took Andrew's hand, gently intertwining their fingers with
one another's, as they quietly listened to the soothing music, enjoying the
nearness of the other.

A set of car lights swept across the room through the large front window,
causing Andrew to softly groan.

Mikko glanced to his right and murmured.  "What's the problem?"

Andrew sighed, "We're about to be overrun by a couple guys who don't know
any better than to come barging into a perfect evening and attempt to tell
jokes."  Mikko gave him a puzzled look.  "My sons," Andrew supplied,
hearing two car doors slam and the playful laughter which normally
accompanied his sons anywhere they went.  "Did I tell you they're
athletes," he asked, emphasizing the word.  "They have entirely too much
energy for their own good."

"Come on, Andrew, they can't be that bad?"

"Oh, they're not bad.  I love them both dearly, but they could have chosen
to stay away from the house a little longer so we could enjoy each other's
company in some peace and quiet."  Andrew shifted slightly but maintained a
grip on Mikko's hand.  "That new house is sounding better all the time."

"Hey, Dad," one of the boys shouted into the dimly lit room as the front
door opened.  "Why are the lights off?"  He immediately stopped, when he
saw the flickering candle light and heard the low music.  The second son
tried to look over the shoulders of the first.

"What's going on," the second asked in a loud whisper.  "Is Dad trying to
burn the place down?  Why the candles?"

"Come on in, men," Andrew said with a resigned sound to his voice. Both
boys slowly came into the living room and dropped their gym bags on the
floor next to the front door, each with a dull thump, and then turned
toward their father and the man sitting with him on the sofa holding his
hand.

One of the boys looked around the room with a curious expression.  "It
looks as if the fat lady hasn't sung yet," he murmured, loud enough to be
heard.  "Oh, I mean, you two haven't finished.  Maybe we should leave," he
suggested to his twin.

"Sorry, Dad.  We didn't mean to intrude," the other said.

"We saw someone else's car behind yours and thought that since it was dark,
you guys were probably in bed already."  He jumped aside as his brother
elbowed him and gave him a dirty look.

"Oww, T.  Why the elbow?"

Andrew stood, offering Mikko a hand.  "Boys, this is my good friend, Mikko.
We decided to come back to the house tonight, rather than go to the gym."
One of the twins snickered and then tried to look serious, without much
success.

"Still haven't recovered," the young man asked, finding it difficult not to
laugh.  Mikko glanced aside at Andrew and pulled him closer with a hand
around his waist.

"We'll get him whipped into shape in no time.  Tonight, we're trying
something different, as a change of pace."

"I like this guy," one of the twins said.  "He's covering for you, Dad.  He
thought you'd be recovered enough for another round, but he's too polite to
say something."  He looked at Mikko in the flickering candlelight.  "I'm
right, aren't I?"  Mikko merely grinned.

"The evening has just begun, guys.  I'm not planning on holding your Dad's
*hand* all evening."  He stressed the word, hand, and grinned broadly.

"Now I *know* I'm liking this guy," Kerin crowed.

Andrew tried to regain control of the conversation.  "For your information,
Kerin, we were cuddling."

Kerin turned to his brother with a puzzled expression.  "What's that," he
asked in a stage whisper.  "I don't think Dad's ever done *that* before
. . . has he?"

"If not, he does it like a pro," Mikko chuckled, extending his hand in
greeting and shaking the hands of both twins.  "Hi men, your dad has told
you my name, but I don't know yours."

Andrew spoke up, speaking sotto voce.  "My sons, the unholy terrors.  The
vocal one with the bruises from his brother's elbow is called, Kerin.  The
*nice* one, is Thian."  He seemed to be having difficulty not laughing as
he spoke.  "You can easily tell them apart.  Thian . . . the nice one
. . . usually has his mouth closed."

"Hey, I thought *I* was your favorite," Kerin complained.  He seemed about
ready to say something more but stopped and turned toward Mikko.

"Do you happen to have a son named, Leith?  He mentioned his Dad's name,
and it is the same as yours."

"Do you guys know one another?"

Kerin grinned.  "Yeah, we went to dinner with him and his cousin tonight."
He glanced quickly at his brother.  "T has the hots for Leith."  Both Mikko
and Andrew turned toward Thian who shrugged, looking a little
uncomfortable.

"Then, Brett must be your nephew," Kerin continued.  Again, Mikko nodded
slightly.

"And do one of you have the, *hots* for him?"  Thian grinned and pointed to
his brother, who uncharacteristically bowed his head and looked
embarrassed.



~ to be continued ~



Thank you for taking the time to read my work.  I've been amazed at how
many of you have contacted me about 'Leith' and my other story, 'Phalen.'
I *always* welcome your email and enjoy hearing your thoughts.  If you
would like me to send a pic of the character(s), please ask.

I have four other stories you may want to read.  'Phalen' and the story's
sequel, 'Phalen - Finding Happiness', and 'Chris,' are located in the Nifty
College Section.  The fourth story is called 'Wesley', and is located in
the Adult Relationships section.  I hope you enjoy them all.

Best wishes,

Roy Reinikainen
roynm@mac.com
suomalainen_abq@mac.com