Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 14:48:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Evan Bradley Subject: Chapter 13 of "Ambush" The following fictional story deals with sex among males. If you are offended by such material, are too young, or reside in an area where it is not allowed, depart. Though not observed in this story, care enough about yourself and humankind to practice safe sex. The author retains all rights. No reproductions or links to other sites are allowed without the author's consent. EBradley33@Excite.com Chapter 13 Troths, Pledges, and Bonds Troy had driven Jeremy to retrieve his car from the school parking lot. Upon returning, they carried in Jeremy's belongings, which were few. "Is this everything," I asked, "or is there more at your parent's house?" "No, this is it," Jeremy answered. Susan and I glanced at each other. Jeremy didn't have much. I hadn't realized how few clothes he had. Just jeans and a few other shirts he wore open over tee shirts. A Walkman. Two pairs of Nike's and some work boots. His school books. A couple of small cardboard boxes of socks and underwear. Not even a suitcase. How remarkable: Jeremy's countenance and personality shone so much that one really didn't notice his clothes. When I was able, Jeremy and I were going shopping. We might take Troy along too; better add Susan for that special touch. Otherwise, I'd have him looking like a preppie. We were going to enjoy helping Jeremy elevate his sartorial presence! If he was okay with that, that is. After Troy and Susan took their leave, Jeremy began settling his belongings in his room, which took no time at all. I showed him where the sheets and towels were and briefly introduced him to the workings of the washer and dishwasher. Surprising how the evening had moved on. It had been a meat grinder of a day for Jeremy. I chuckled to myself. He was just like a little kid: all I had to do was look in his eyes to perceive how tired he was. "I'm going to turn in, Jeremy. Do you want me to wake you in the morning? Or that clock on the nightstand in your room has an alarm." "I'm used to an alarm clock. But I'll help you before I run off to school. I'm looking forward to springing my new address and the identity of my new roomie on everyone. Imagine--rooming with Evan Halsey. Free tutoring, easy grades, a go-between with the other faculty, advance copies of tests." That devilish gleam was back in his eyes. Two men in my life knew how to charm others with that gleam. Who knows where I might be if I could do that with my eyes? "Poor Jeremy. He's delirious," I clucked in disapproval. "Well, a good night's sleep and some protein will pull aside the veil. Then he'll realize what it really means to be in Evan Halsey's clutches. Studying, studying, travail, and labor--all for the drive to excellence and glory!" Jeremy groaned. Jeremy's excitement disclosed fully how totally "down" he had been feeling, especially because of his family's problems. I didn't want him to think other people viewed him as a zero, but I stopped myself from uttering the thought. Given where he was now in his development, that point would have no meaning. That meaning would come later. His friends, likely Troy and Susan--for the three now had a special bond, would make the point when the time was right. Not all of it had to issue from Evan Halsey. "My car hasn't been driven for a few days," I observed. "Would you like to drive it to school tomorrow? It would do some good to get it out of the garage and moving again. Appearing in a different car will certainly announce your new prospects to others." "Well, yeah," he said eagerly, "if you don't mind. I'll take good care of it. Only thing is, it's not a chick mobile." "Jeremy Wilder needs a chick mobile to attract women?" I asked scornfully. Besides, the board of education won't allow me to drive a chick mobile. It would be too devastating to womankind." He snorted. As we were standing in the hall where the bedrooms were located, I reassured Jeremy, "This is your home now. I want you to be comfortable here. Anything you need, any problem I cause for you, just tell me, as I'll tell you. We'll have problems only if we DON'T communicate." He walked up to me, sliding his arms around my waist. He pulled me gently but determinedly against his body, put one of his hands gently on the back of my head, pushing it against his chest. "You saved me, Evan. I was so-o-o-o-o-o afraid, felt so worthless. I'll never forget it. If you weren't before, you're my hero now." "Well . . . thank you, Jeremy. You know, something to keep in mind is that heroes still have feet of clay. Maybe, if you think about it long enough, you'll realize how you saved me." He just stared at me doubtfully. ............. The next morning, Jeremy's alarm awakened me as well. I lay in bed, allowing myself to reintegrate slowly. I finally sat up, pulled my legs over the side of the bed, located my crutches, visited the bathroom. As I came out, Jeremy knocked on my door, then entered. "I came to see what I can do to help," he explained, his eyes riveted on my bruised chest and rib cage. I saw the tears forming again. He walked over, gently embracing me. "I have caused you so much pain. Hurt you so much. I'm so, so, so sorry." "I know you're hurting too, Jeremy. You needn't say you're sorry again. I'd rather you sang the national anthem than do that." He grinned through the tears: "Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light . . . ," he warbled. "Cut that racket out. Let's go have some breakfast." After breakfast, and many assurances to Jeremy that I could still bathe myself, he took off for school in my car. I peered at him out the little glass circle set in the front door. A huge smile graced his face as he backed out of the drive-he was going to enjoy being seen driving that car. ........... My first post-bath duty was to call Kate Williams, the principal at school. "Evan," she exclaimed when her secretary forwarded the call to Kate's office. "How are you feeling?" "I'm soon going to start feeling a little bored. I go back to see Dr. Sorenson early next week. I'll be pushing to return to school." "Much as I'd like, I can't keep you from returning before you are ready. When it comes to you, I know a lost cause," she laughed loudly, enjoying her own joke. "So you ARE healing?" "Yes, starting to do more and more on my own all the time." "And Halsey's Rangers are still riding posse?" "Not as much, which is one of my reasons for calling. You may remember that we spoke of a police investigation, but you allowed me some time to conduct my own investigation. I wanted to let you know that the issue has been resolved, quite well in fact, so we will not need to bring the police into this. No danger exists to anyone else or to me." "Um-hum," she expressed doubtfully. "I have a roommate now. Jeremy Wilder will be staying here with me, at least for a while. You probably know more about his home life than I, but he was tossed out. He'd been living in his car for several days. He was feeling overwhelmed and angry at his fate, didn't know where he was going to turn. The afternoon of the accident, he had waited to talk to me, but when I walked by the classroom in which he was waiting, he came out and shoved me to get my attention. He didn't realize that I was at the very edge of the stairs. When he saw me at the bottom of the stairs, he thought he had killed me, so he ran. He's contrite to the max, Kate. When I realized how desperate the poor kid was, how afraid, I told him he was staying with me. He just celebrated his 18th birthday, so his family and Family Services will not be an issue." "Evan, have you considered that you may be taking on too much in the midst of your recovery? And have you considered that teaching a teenager is not the same as living with one?" "Yes, O Delphic Sybil, I have considered those factors." She chuckled over the "Delphic Sybil" reference. "I know I'll be learning too. It's just possible that this experience will be good for me as well." "I never cease to be surprised. As long as I've had this job, something still comes along that I would never have expected. Evan Halsey, the Iceberg . . ." "Hey!" I protested. ". . . is severely injured but comes out of the deal a dad." "No, just a buddy." "We're each wrong," she said. "You'll be both. I know it does no good to argue with Evan Halsey once he's made up his mind. If you need help, advice, someone to talk to--on any count, Evan, contact me." "Okay. I'll also let you know when I can return to teaching." We said our goodbyes. .............. When I had asked to speak to Kate Williams, I also requested that her secretary leave a message in Tim's mailbox to give me a call when he had a break. I had just finished lunch when the phone rang. "Hello." "You bastard!" "What's wrong, Tim?" "You know what you did to me? "No." "Remember that curse you put on me when I was leaving your home to go to my meeting: 'You're going to bone up. You won't be able to get rid of your hard-on?'" he said in a sing-song voice. "Because of that curse you put on me, I had a hard-on all through that meeting. I was so big I had to ask a woman for some paper and then I had to take worthless notes so that I could have something to cover up with when I left the meeting." I was cackling with glee at this point. "As I was rushing to get out of the room, Carol Dunning kept trying to chat me up when all I wanted to do was get to the car and adjust my cock in my briefs." I roared. "Now I KNOW Carol spotted your boner and was just wanting to help you out with it." "Screw you," he threw back. "You have to have a worthy cock and balls to be able to handle that feat," I retorted imperiously. He laughed evilly. "The curse made certain that you wouldn't forget me, Tim." "How DID you do put that spell on me?" "I didn't do anything--you did." "Come again." "What you just told me is that you have connected so much with me that all I have to do, knowing your rampaging libido, is plant a suggestion and you follow it. Course, it probably works only with sexual matters." "Eat me!" "I've been doing that in my imagination ever since I found out you were on the other end of the line." "If you continue to talk to me that way, I'm going to go back to class with a hard-on. If I had my hands on you now, I don't know what I'd do first, you've got me so stirred up. But you'd be fucked good by the time I was done." "Promises, promises . . . ." I taunted. "I had a special reason for calling. I have a roommate now. I wanted you to hear it from me before someone told you at school." There was a long silence. "Got tired of me that quickly, huh?" "You know better. The next time I see you, I'll demonstrate how much you bore me. Get it--"bore me?" "If you can pun so badly, you must be feeling better. So who is it?" "Jeremy Wilder." More silence. "I'm guessing then that Jeremy pushed you down the stairs." "Yeah. But it was an accident. I'll tell you all about it when we we're together next." "I'll bet Troy and Susan brought all this about." "Correct. Great people, aren't they?" "Yeah, they are. Does Jeremy know about us?" "No." "Are we over?" "No," I stated indignantly. "If you think that, you're going to force me to become a stalker. You will be the hapless victim. I'm not giving you up even if I have to kidnap you, take you to a mountain cabin, tie you up, and make love to you unceasingly." A pause ensued. "I love you, Tim. Really love you. You may not feel the same way, and I apologize for rushing that information out. I'm not pressuring you for a similar admission or anything, and you may never feel like saying it to me. I just want you to understand that this living arrangement changes nothing between us." "Okay. Jeremy's living with you will complicate details a little, but we can work around it. He was in dire need then?" "Yes. You'll not only understand but you'll agree with my decision when I can explain it to you." "And you feel safe with Jeremy living with you?" "Absolutely." "I need to be with you, Evan, really BE with you." "I am experiencing the same need, Tim." "So you think we might be the right two to make the long haul together?" "I'm hoping for that more than I have ever hoped for anything in my life. It's a lot easier dealing with the hard, frightening stuff in life when a good man loves you." I could tell that we were stalling, not wanting to give up the contact with each other. I wasn't at all skilled in this phase of phone conversation. In fact, I rated myself quite low on phone dynamics. "I have to get to class, Evan. I'll be seeing you soon." "Hey, would you ask Troy or Susan to call me?" "What are you up to now, Evan?" "We need to go clothes-shopping for Jeremy, so I want some help." "So little Evan Halsey has a missionary side to his personality!" "Eat me!" "The plans are already laid, Babe. Now think about that, let it simmer and torment. I can throw curses around too. Bye." ........... Jeremy had returned home from school charged. We hadn't any more than finished greeting each other when there was a knock on the door. It opened as we heard, "E-e-e-e-van, Honey?" LaRonda walked in, smiling like a million dollars, with a handsome man in tow. She gently hugged me, planting a kiss on my cheek. She turned. "Evan, I want you to meet my man, Clifton Washington III. Clifton, this is Evan Halsey, teacher, friend, prophet, and rascal." He smiled, flashing brilliant white teeth, holding out a huge hand, which I grasped and shook. I wondered how one got teeth to shine like that. LaRonda walked over and hugged Jeremy, who hugged back. "Jeremy, meet Clifton, Clifton, meet Jeremy Wilder, Evan's new roommate, my classmate, and a really nice guy." Jeremy blushed while he and Clifton shook hands. LaRonda continued, "Now I know you two men are settling into your new living arrangements and haven't had time to think about cooking, so I put together a picnic dinner for all of us." We suddenly noticed that Clifton was carrying a huge picnic basket. "Naw," Clifton said, "she heard that you had a new roommate, Evan, so she had to come over and check it out. No amount of talking could change her mind." We all grinned, knowing that that was exactly what had prompted LaRonda's plan. She would have created a picnic for us anyway without needing an excuse, but Jeremy's taking up residence moved matters along quicker. LaRonda ignored our reaction to Clifton's disclosure. "Your sunroom, Evan, with all those ferns, palms, and ficus trees will be the perfect place for us to have our picnic. I've brought everything; you needn't do anything. Let's all move out here in the sunroom and start picnicking!" I laughed out loud. "What?" she turned, looking at me wide-eyed. "You are so in your element, LaRonda. You are in command of a group of men you've put together, who are hanging on your every word. Soon they'll be sated with your wonderful food, looking at you adoringly. Just the way you love it-men besotted with LaRonda. That should be your motto: Men sated and besotted with LaRonda Huges." Jeremy and Clifton joined in my laughter. Clifton added, "You've got that right. This woman is at her best when she's playing to other people, especially men." Above a response, LaRonda preened as she walked to the sunroom with all of us in her wake. Before we knew it, a table cloth had been spread on the floor and the contents of the huge picnic hamper emptied: various sandwiches, potato salad, cole slaw, a cucumber salad, pickles, a can of Coke for each of us, and chocolate chip-walnut cookies for desert. I sat on the sofa while the others sat on the floor. Clifton was a looker. Broad shoulders, not a lot of chest definition that one could detect through his sport shirt, thin waist, bubble butt, LONG legs (he must have been 6'2" or more). He sported a small moustache; sparkling dark eyes set below a flat forehead and dark eye brows; beautifully curved lips, which like LaRonda's, possessed a red hue; those dazzling teeth; and black hair cut so low that looked like a skull cap with a hairline that defined his face-he was beautiful. He seemed to take to us as readily as we took to him. After all, he was LaRonda's man, so he was okay. Several times I caught LaRonda and Clifton looking deeply into each other's eyes. Anyone could tell that these two people were seriously involved. Soon, LaRonda and Jeremy were telling Clifton stories about the wild side of Evan Halsey's class, followed by stories about what a taskmaster I was. Then the jokes they THOUGHT they played on me. After smiling quietly while they had their fun, I disclosed what I REALLY knew about them. Their jaws dropped during the recitation of how much more I knew about those shenanigans than they thought possible. We quizzed Clifton. The III after his name owed to his paternal grandfather, who was a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a freshman at the local community college. As soon as LaRonda finished her senior year, they would be going to the state university together. He would major in business. LaRonda had yet to decide her major. She looked coy: "Maybe men." "You'll be so into me by the time we get there that you won't see other men," Clifton promised. Before we knew it, we had picked the bones clean, so to speak, had begun to know and like each other, feeling that Clifton was a natural. LaRonda began repacking the hamper, assisted by Clifton and Jeremy. Finally, we arose, moving to the living room and the front door. "LaRonda and Clifton, this was such a treat. Thank you for a wonderful evening." "Yeah, let's see," Jeremy said, his eyes twinkling, "how about coming back for a repeat picnic next Wednesday. I'll be tired of Evan's cooking by then. I'll probably be tired of him." "Honey," LaRonda replied, "I may take care of my men, but I never spoil them. Makes them too hard to handle." As she intended, she drew hoots and scornful laughter from us. We all decided to do something together in the future and they left. Jeremy and I went to the kitchen to get something to drink. We sat down at the kitchen table, he with a coke, I with coffee. "So how did your day go?" I asked. "Cool. Kids' eyes popped when I drove in the north school parking lot in your car. You should have seen their faces when I told them I moved out of home and am rooming with you. Boy, LaRonda really nailed me to the wall, asking me all kinds of questions. They could hardly believe it. I could tell that they looked at me differently." I doubted that, but Jeremy needed to believe it. "When I told Mrs. Burge what happened and where I was living, she was so happy. She had tears in her eyes. She said she knew I couldn't have found a better home." "All day long, people kept coming up to me to ask if I was really rooming with Evan Halsey. They also wanted to know about you, how you are doing, when you are coming back to school. We students in your English class want it to be soon. The substitute teacher is stiff, formal, no fun." "Troy and Susan told me straight out that I was having lunch with them. I could tell they really meant it, Evan," he exclaimed, his eyes shining. "They wanted us to be together. When some of Troy's jock buddies joined us, Troy made it clear that he and I are buds too. A couple of them kept looking at Troy and then at me as though they couldn't believe Troy would have anything to do with a dweeb like me. But by the time lunch was over, we were all cutting up. I think they found out that I can contribute something to a group." "Oh, guess what. Kate Williams came up to our table at lunch and asked in a friendly way if she could talk to me for a minute. I know she must have planned it. I think she heard from the kids about how I moved in with you. She walked us out into the center of the cafeteria so that we could talk." [Kate likes the boy, I mused, wants other students to know he's okay. What a sweetheart Kate is. She's earned a hug and a kiss when we next meet.] "She asked if I was okay, if I was going to be able to keep focused after moving out of my family's home. I just looked at her and said, 'I'm living with Evan Halsey and you wonder if I can stay focused? Can you imagine the torture I will endure if he finds out I'm NOT focused?' We were both cracking up. Then I think she wanted to remind me that we all needed to make certain you were taking care of yourself, not letting you rush to get back on your feet. We laughed together again about what a stubborn little cuss you are." [Ah, Kate's looking out for me.] "Funny," Jeremy stated. "I never thought Kate Williams ever approved of me. But it was like we were friends, standing there chatting in the middle of the cafeteria with all the kids looking on, wondering what the two of us were cracking up about. They probably couldn't imagine that the principal would find me a good person to know. Everyone at Troy and Susan's table was studying us closely. I think they were surprised that someone like me could be so buddy-buddy with the principal." "Well, I'm glad that I can be fodder for others' and your laugh track," I said in a mock, aggrieved manner. I had miscalculated how much Jeremy felt reduced in others' estimation, how much his personal circumstances had depreciated his self-worth. It would take him a while, but I thought he--and we--could correct that misperception. He was already headed in the right direction. He leaned over, taking my chin between his thumb and index finger. "I have you to thank for this Evan. Because of your generosity, your good heart, people are seeing me differently. I haven't felt this good in a long time. I thought life was over when my dad kicked me out. Now I know I'm going to have a better life." Just then the phone rang. Jeremy reached over, grabbing the receiver, listening a few seconds, and greeting Susan. They made small talk. Then he handed me the phone. "Hey," I greeted Susan. "When you and Troy can spare it, Jeremy and I need some of your time." Jeremy looked at me questioningly. "Just a couple of hours maybe. . . . If Jeremy agrees, we're taking him shopping for clothes." His eyes widened. "I figure Jeremy and Troy can represent a young man's point of view. And you'll be along to lend class to the entire selection process. . . . Okay, day after tomorrow. . . . Great. Why don't you all come over after school and pick me up. . . . Okay. I'll let you guys all work out the transportation. I'll treat us all do dinner afterwards if you are free. . . . I'll be looking forward to it." We hung up. "You okay with this?" I asked Jeremy. "I can't believe it," Jeremy said. "After all you're doing for me, I don't want you to feel you have to do this." "I don't feel I have to do it; I want to do it. It would be the best medicine I could receive at this point." "Well, I'll whimper and fret that morning about how you are forcing me into stuff, but I'll be in the car smiling by afternoon," he commented slyly. "Now back to our topic. Jeremy, people have always liked you. Besides being a riot in social gatherings, you have a good, decent heart. Remember when many of your classmates told you as much." "Yeah, but you put them up to that." "I simply asked what they valued about you. Their answers were immediately ready. Then I requested that they tell you what they had said. In the same way that a sophisticated person can accept a gift with grace, you are going to have to be strong enough to accept the gifts they offered you from their hearts. A good friend does that. What will be wonderful for you is that you will very quickly discover that you can return the favor to some of these people." He was obviously weighing my words. We heard a knock at the front door. "I'll get it," he said, rising and leaving the kitchen. I heard him greet someone followed by a brief exchange of pleasantries. Jeremy walked into the kitchen followed by Tim. Jeremy resumed his place at the table, but Tim walked up to me, put his hands under my arms, pulled me up, and kissed me passionately. Planting one of his hands squarely on my ass, he began to squeeze and cup it. I started to push myself away, thinking about what we were doing in front of Jeremy. But I realized that Tim had taken charge. I didn't wish to challenge him. The kiss was so hot I threw myself into it. I would worry about fallout later. As Tim broke the long kiss, he turned me around and put his arms around me. Jeremy was staring at us boggle-eyed. "I figured, Jeremy, that since you are Evan's roommate, you might as well know that Evan is my man. We have just discovered each other. We are very happy. I've lived too long waiting for someone special to sacrifice happiness because of some living arrangement. I hope you don't object, but I am not hiding my relationship with Evan from you just because he has taken on a roommate. I've thought about it all afternoon, and I decided that you deserved to know about us, but we aren't changing a thing just because you're here." Jeremy looked at me, then back at Tim. "No, I don't object. I'm just surprised, that's all." "I hope you regard this as something confidential among the three of us," I said. "There are less than a handful of others who know. We don't want for this to get out at school." "Oh, I understand. It makes me feel good that you all trust me enough to bring me into your confidence, especially after . . . you know," he said, looking at me and blushing. "Gosh. This is great. I think you've been lonely for longer than even you know, Evan." "You DO understand," Tim exclaimed. "Old Knucklehead here was the last one to catch on, hiding himself away in his classroom and at home. Actually, it was the accident that brought us together." Jeremy turned beet red and looked to the side. "It made me change my approach to Evan, and it made him take notice. It gave me a chance to demonstrate my real feelings for him." "I've apologized to Evan for the accident. I still feel really guilty and bad," he confessed, tears making his eyes sparkle. "I'm not explaining where Evan and I are now to you to make you feel bad, Jeremy. But if you are going to live here, you might as well know about Evan and me," Tim said. I was noticing how Tim had taken the lead role, how he was directing the conversation. I liked it. It told me how much he cared, how much he was NOT going to let anything or anyone impede our relationship. He still hadn't told me outright that he loved me, but this behavior said it all. A twinkle sparked in Jeremy's eyes. "Does this mean that you two are going to be smooching it up around me, tearing each other's clothes off, committing unspeakable sex acts in front of me?" "You should be so lucky, kid," Tim shot back. "You shouldn't complain: you'll probably learn something about being a stud." "I'm already a stud." "Bull, you're a micro Evan Halsey: I never see you with a woman, never see you dating." Jeremy blushed. "I've never had the opportunity. I haven't had enough money to date, I've always had to work, I drive a bucket of bolts that most women probably would not want to be seen in, and my parents discouraged any friends, including girl friends. I think maybe they thought I'd get some girl pregnant. In fact, details suggest that that may have been how my parents learned that a mistake to be named Jeremy was on the way. So if a girl has seemed interested, I backed off." "Aha," I thought. "I'll bet Susan could effect a rewarding introduction or two for Jeremy. I'll drop a hint tomorrow. Jeremy was good-looking, tall, slim, but, from all indications, had a nicely muscled body, dark brown hair, brown eyes. Besides these physical attributes, his most attractive aspects were those of his personality-his humor, good spirits, ability and inclination to make others feel good. There were women who would value those qualities. Susan would know just the right one for Jeremy." "Do you feel you need to continue being so solitary now that you are living here with Evan?" I noticed how Tim was taking an interest in Jeremy, fashioning a role with him. I was staying out of it; it was an opportunity for Jeremy and him to begin building a relationship, a rather important factor if we were all going to be seeing so much of each other. As Tim stood behind me with his arms around me, making me feel so protected, I slowly allowed my head to rest back on his wide chest. He pushed his crotch into the small of my back, where a hard mound pressed against me. Claiming me before Jeremy was turning my man on. "The task master hasn't laid down any dating rules," Jeremy explained, grinning. "You guys want to double sometime?" Mischief was shooting through his demeanor. We laughed. "Yeah, right," I said. "Just dying to spend an evening with Jeremy and Hornella Bowser. What a treat." They cracked up. "Hornella who?" Jeremy asked. "Bowser? That means a dog, right?" "You see," I turned, looking at Tim. "He understands teen love so well." "You two tired geysers couldn't keep up with me on your best day," Jeremy sneered. "You have to have a woman before you can make boasts like that," Tim shot back. "Or, it seems, a good man," Jeremy shot back at Tim. "Just so you know," Tim told Jeremy, "I'm sleeping with Evan in his room tonight." "Oh goody!" Jeremy and I exclaimed in unison. All three of us shared laughter. "Oh no," Jeremy groaned, looking crestfallen. "There's no common wall between my bedroom and yours. I won't be able to hear the passionate moans and screams. I guess I'll just have to hope that I can hear the springs squeaking and squealing." Tim picked me up in his arms, telling Jeremy, "Turn out the lights when you go to bed." Tim carried me into my bedroom, shut the door with his shoulder, and then stood me on my feet, holding me close to him. "You will never be able to understand how much I want you now, not just for me but for you too. Something happened to me after your call today. It's like I've come alive, taken charge, found untapped sources of energy and possibilities." "I think you've just discovered the really dark side of your libido," I grinned. "Shut up and let me make love to my man." Before I knew it, he had me out of my clothes, lying on the bed. "I've thought about how we can do this. If this doesn't work for you, we'll have to figure out another way. Mark my words, Evan, I am going to make hot, passionate love to you tonight. You ass is going to be mine. But just as importantly, I am going to be yours." He gently lifted my hips, placing the pillows under them. This elevated my legs enough to give Tim access to my ass but not enough to hurt my chest, ribs, or leg. He licked up the inside of my thighs, up my balls, up my cock. When he reached the cap, he licked all around it, making me moan. Then he deep-throated me, making me wiggle with pleasure. Now I could understand those tremors that set Kenny's ass awag when he was intent on being fucked on my dick while I played with his nether regions. As Tim pulled off, he stood and slowly stripped while he began a litany of love. "Know about desire, Evan?" he said, peeling off his shirt. "Yes, I want you," I answered as he lifted his undershirt over his head, dropping it to the floor, taking a hand and ruffling the rich black hair on his chest and stomach. "What do you desire?" he asked as he unfastened his belt and dropped his slacks, revealing a huge mound in the front of his briefs. "To give you something so special that you will never let me go, never tire of me . . . never reject me," I answered as he pulled off his shoes and socks. "You know what you must do then?" he voiced as he slowly pulled his briefs down over the whopping bulge in his crotch, revealing a huge, cut dick centering a forest of black crotch hair and big balls hanging quite low in a hairy bag. The hair ran unbroken from his pubic area down his beautiful legs. His cock stem was a straight tube, crowned by a mushroom cap. "You must surrender to me, give yourself to me, allow me to control you." My eyes widened, for I suddenly felt threatened by the challenge. Evan Halsey, always in control. Here it was back again. Guess I hadn't changed as much as I thought. He crawled on the bed and then crawled over me, his hard cock gently touching my ass cheeks. A battle was at full pitch. The resistance in me to total surrender was so strong that I was surprised. If I gave control over to anyone, he would hurt me. He would tire of me and then dump me. I'd had enough of that. I wasn't Humpty Dumpty, but I still felt like I could find his fate visited upon me-how many times can one's heart, spirit, and love be destroyed and still put the pieces back again. I could feel just short of actual movement the urge to sit up, scoot back, and push Tim away. Now I knew viscerally the fear about being totally alone and unprotected that Jeremy had felt. Who would I be if I surrendered to Tim? How could I respect myself after that? Gradually, I felt a calming, for I was realizing that I had reached a point in my life that I had longed for, emoted over, but never expected to see-the place where I became deeply the love interest of another. The fear was lessening, for I realized that I would be a better person, would find deeper realms of satisfaction, had found that person to whom I wanted to give and give and give. Tim had been studying my face and eyes intently. He knew the battle raging inside, which told me how genuine his request/demand was. Tim chuckled. "I see the reluctance in your eyes. Good. I want you to know what you are doing. I want you to resist surrendering to me. I want you to sacrifice your autonomy, offer it up to me. It is quintessential Evan Halsey. I won't destroy it, but when you give it up to me, I will know that I have won you, that you are truly mine, that I possess you. You will have learned the power of surrender to Tim Minor." He leaned down and kissed me. The kiss was hard, his lips were hot. He began moving his mouth in small circles, pushing down on my lips, pushing my head back into the mattress, letting me feel his power and his ardor. He took one of my hands and moved it to his cock, which I clasped, moving my hand gently back to its base, then back out to the tip, taking my measure. We were talking about 8 « inches here. Tim dropped his hairy ball sack beneath mine, moving it around on the surface of my ass cheeks, setting off reverberations running deep into my crotch and hole. The hair tickled, and the heat seemed to generate heat in my balls and around my hole even though it was still tucked away. I leaned up to nibble at Tim's nipples, drawing a growl from him. He looked for lube in the nightstand drawer. He took some on a finger and gently rubbed it around my hole, sliding some inside with his fuck finger. "When you surrender, you will not be able to take back what you have given, for you gave it to me while you loved me. To take it back would mean that your love for me is dead. You have too much integrity to surrender in love and then take it back. I know that so well that it is making my dick granite hard now." Indeed, he was right. I had felt it hardening while he had been talking softly to me. He pulled his hand back, squirting lube on it and smoothing it over his huge pole. "Are you going to surrender to me? "Yes," I replied, hardly able to breathe. "No, my lover, you must say it. It's a pledge. It's a bond, tying you to me," he said as he moved his cock head up to my hole. "Beautiful Tim, hot friend, passionate lover, I surrender to you. But in giving you this gift, I ask you to pledge not to hurt me ever, to always love me." As he slid his cock into me, he said, "I pledge always to love you, Evan, to never hurt you." He leaned forward to kiss me without putting any weight on my chest or ribs. The feeling was indescribable. Not only were his cock and tongue filling me, but he was filling me with his strength, his love, his caring. My surrender and his pledge opened some door so that I felt his cock sliding in and out of me more intensely. I felt his cock moving in and out of the ring of muscle around my hole more, balls dragging on my ass more, his hairy thighs moving on the inside of mine more. I leaned up, kissing his hot mouth. We both knew I was surrendering entirely to him, allowing him to use me, to own me. This knowledge left both of us moaning. He knew that I could not have done so without a struggle ensuing in my mind and heart. It required redefining my image of myself. But having done that, I had given him a gift beyond compare--not only myself, my love, my body, but validation of his power and strength. As our eyes signaled our mutual realization, an orgasm crashed simultaneously into both of us, burying us in waves of pleasure and cum. We held each other tightly in our arms as I exclaimed and Tim shouted. We heard a muffled groan followed by a soft grunt from the other side of the door. We continued to feel the orgasm lifting and carrying us along. The waves of pleasure moving out from my cock, balls, and hole were constant. For once, those parts of me were completely linked to my mind. I felt myself merging with Tim physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I knew it had to be the same for Tim. He whispered, "Evan, I love you so deeply, that I surrender myself to you." He plunged his big dick into me three more times. I couldn't believe it. Another orgasm crashed into us. Tim was whimpering. I was moaning. After more cum, he slowly lowered himself on me, careful not to cause pain. When our breath returned, I whispered, "That was incredible, Lover. I never experienced anything so intensive or explosive. I still can't believe it." "It wouldn't have been possible if we hadn't desired each other so much and then surrendered to the other's desire," Tim said. "I think I heard someone getting off with us on the other side of the door," I said softly. We giggled. "He may never have it so good again. At least he has something to shoot for," Tim observed. "Hypocrite! You accuse me of punning badly," I charged. "Well, I have higher expectations for you," Tim smiled, looking lovingly into my eyes. (To be continued.)