Mark 73

MARK

By Lee Mariner

August 2003

DISCLAIMER: This is the continuing story about the relationship between Lee Michaels and his nephew Mark. It is a gay fantasy and will depict homosexual acts between men and young men. It is intended for adult readers only. IF YOU ARE NOT OF LEGAL AGE IN YOUR LOCALITY TO BE READING THIS STORY OR YOU FIND SUCH MATERIAL OBJECTIONABLE, PLEASE LEAVE. All characters are fictional and in no way related to any person or persons living or deceased.

PLEASE DO NOT ENGAGE IN UNPROTECTED SEX OR USE INTRAVENOUS DRUGS.

You will find all stories I have written in the Nifty Archives of Prolific Authors under the pen name of Lee Mariner. Use www.nifty.org for access.

This work has been edited and proofed by my friend Sean. Many thanks for your assistance Sean the story is better because of your work.

If you would like to be notified by e-mail of future episodes of this and/or other stories, please contact me at: mariner23502@hotmail.com

Please support Nifty with you donations.

* * * * * * * * *
Chapter #73

The afternoon was not only emotional but also exciting. I had learned over the years that Uncle Bill seldom did anything before thinking it through and it was obvious that with Paul’s assistance he had decided on the changes before I came on the scene.

The name Oval Turf Lodge surprised me but I liked it and I was fairly certain that Paul would make an excellent manager. Since William gave him final approval over the lodge’s operation and any changes Henry might want to make in the restaurant/kitchen showed clearly the confidence he had in Paul.

Coleman and Anderson had allowed their perverted sexual requirements to take precedence over business and that had led to their downfall. Paul and Eric had an open relationship but from my experience with both of them, they seemed to be devoted to each other and sex would not become a concern in the management of the inn.

Eric and Victor were two hot and horny studs filled with passion, panting at the bit. Their desires were not quite as subtle as Pauls and while they didn’t pursue their quarry, they both dropped ample hints that dripped with availability. In addition to being magnificently proportioned, they both had the endearing and desirable qualities of youth and power.

On the other side of the equation was Paul. He was the stabilizing influence and he had unseen qualities that ran deep. He was not an outwardly emotional person and unlike Eric and Victor he kept his desires under control. Yet Paul had a charismatic magnetism much like Mark that drew you to him and his ice blue eyes held the secret to his feelings. In their depths you could see the smoldering coals of a banked fire waiting to be ignited and then blaze up with the heat of passion.

It was perhaps wishful thinking but I couldn’t help but wonder if he and Eric would be susceptible to a ménage a’trois.

I was so preoccupied with the events of the afternoon and more exciting thoughts that I hadn’t noticed that Uncle Bill standing in front of me.

“Would you like to take me on your trip?” He asked smiling.

“I’m sorry Uncle Bill, I was distracted by this afternoon’s events. Do you have time for another drink?”

“No, sorry to say.” He said sitting down next to me. “There is so much I still have to do at the store. I’ve asked Malcom to have Charles bring the car around. Are you sure you won’t change your mind and have dinner with Calvin and me tonight?”

“I appreciate the invitation but the past few days have been draining experience and I’d like to get an early start in the morning. I wish I could have seen a little more of Calvin but he has had a few problems of his own and then there is his mother.”

“I understand Lee. Will we see you and Mark again any time soon?”

“I can’t say when for sure Uncle Bill. Until I can see how this new venture in Delaware is going to go, it will take up quite a bit of my time. You remember Eric and Justin my stockbrokers in Cincinnati don’t you? I asked Justin to do a quite investigation into Philip Cohigg’s company to be sure that going into business with him will be feasible. He has some pretty big ideas on the drawing-board that sound good on the surface but I don’t want to be pumping money into a lame horse before it even leaves the starting gate.”

“Well, I always hate to see you leave but your next visit gives an old man something to which to look forward.”

Leaning closer I whispered, “It wasn’t an old man I was in bed with last night.”

I watched his eyes light up and a smile cross his face. There was still fire in their depths.

“That is what keeps me young, loving a young rapscallion like you have always been.”

“And now you have Calvin.” I said teasingly.

“Ah yes, but the second son never replaces the first in the heart.” He said meditatively as Paul walked up.

I loved William but hearing him refer to me as his son filled me with a deep warm feeling and if we had not been in a public lounge I would have hugged him.

“Forgive me for interrupting Mr. Woolford. Your car is waiting when you are ready.”

“Thanks Paul.” Uncle Bill said as he stood and shook my hand. “You have a safe trip Lee.” He said, squeezing my hand.

“Thanks for everything Uncle Bill, I’ll call you when I’m in Delaware.”

“No need to do that. No news is good news. Paul you call me if you have any problems, the Oval Turn Lodge is yours now.”

“Thanks Mr. Woolford, I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t.” He said walking away.

* * * * * * * *

Paul and I watched as William departed. Even at his age he was ramrod straight and moved with the grace of a much younger man who was confident of whom he was.

“Quite a man.” Paul said interrupting my musing.

“He is that Paul, one that you can count on completely.” I said while sitting down.

“Eric, bring Lee a fresh drink and I’ll have one with him.” Paul called out before sitting down.

We sat silently lost in our own thoughts until Eric brought the fresh drinks. He was moving gingerly as he approached and I smiled. “He really did get burned didn’t he Paul?”

“You should have seen him in the car Monday on the way back if you think it’s bad now, he looked like a boiled lobster. I told him not to take his shirt off at the picnic after the tournament but there was a dark-headed stud for whom he just had to show off for. Didn’t you?” He said kidding Eric as he sat the drinks on the table.

Eric was already red but he changed a deeper embarrassed red and glanced at me with an anguished look. “Gee Paul, you don’t have to rub it in. Even you said he was a hot looker but we didn’t know he had a boyfriend.”

“Ah ha, the two of you were spreading your nets for one fish.” I said enjoying the repartee between the two of them.

Paul huffed before saying “Not me, little brother was the horny one. You don’t see me moving around like a sand crab trying to avoid being touched or caught.”

“I’ll touch you if you keep it up.” Eric growled good-naturedly.
“I can’t wait. It’s been four days since you’ve touched anything.” Paul said grinning at me, his eyes sparkling.

“Wait until after work.” Eric said, his emerald green eyes flashing as he moved away, going back to the bar.

We lapsed into silence after Eric left but I noticed Paul looking at me over the rim of his glass. I thought I could read what he was thinking but I was wrong when he spoke.

“Lee, I, we, Eric and I appreciate what you’ve done. I know Mr. Woolford spoke with you before he offered me Anderson’s job and that means a lot to me. I, dammit, we want you to know if there is ever anything we can do for you, just ask.”

“William only talked with me briefly Paul, you got the job on your own merits. He told me you had spoken with him about Anderson and that meant a lot to him. Uncle Bill trusts the people that work for him and when you told him about what Anderson was doing that showed a loyalty that Anderson did not have. I don’t ordinarily discuss his business but he realized he made a mistake with both Coleman and Anderson. Coleman he knew from when they were in the army together but he only knew that Anderson seemed like a good man when he discharged Coleman. Don’t let it upset you but Uncle Bill knew all about you before he offered the job. Therefore my friend, I had very little to do with it.”

“It doesn’t upset me Lee. When we were talking he mentioned that he should have known more about Anderson. I don’t want you thinking I was pushing for the job by reporting what Anderson was doing, I wasn’t. I won’t lie and tell you that I wasn’t hoping he might consider me, I was. If he didn’t check my background it would have surprised me. It’s something I would have done. Christ Lee, I can see what this place can become and I want to be a part of it, not just be the bartender.”

“That is just what he is counting on Paul. That and the fact that you have already displayed the kind of loyalty he expects. Stick with him Paul, hire good people gay or straight and you will see open for you and Eric future doors and opportunities.”

“I sure don’t intend on letting him or you down. Are you still leaving tomorrow? I was hoping you might stay around for a few more days, I could use your help.”

“In the morning Paul, I wasn’t supposed to be here even this long. Mark went home on Sunday because of school and I was going to leave right after the court hearings yesterday for Uncle Bill’s adoption of Calvin. I was until all of this came up.”

“It was probably supposed to happen that way Lee, if you believe in predestined fate.” He said looking past me with a smile on his face. “Some things are meant to be.”

“I didn’t know you were a philosopher Paul.”

“I’m not Lee.” He said still smiling with a twinkle in his eye. “I was going to ask what your plans were for tonight but I’m pretty sure someone else is more interested in that than me.”

“Just what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Turn around and you’ll see.” He said as he leaned back in his chair with the look of a cat that had just eaten a canary.

“Do what?” I exclaimed twisting around. Mark was walking hurriedly across the lobby towards the lounge, his face beaming.

“Mark!!” I blurted out in surprise turning and looking back at Paul.

“He called to see if you were still here while you and Mr. Woolford were talking with Anderson. Malcom was going to tell you but I told him I would.”

“And you’ve sat here talking all of this time knowing he was in route?”

“It’s more fun this way. Besides, you would have been fidgeting all over the place if I had told you.”

“I owe you one Paul.”

“You’ve already paid that. Go to your nephew.” He said, his brilliant blue eyes flashing with the excitement I felt.

* * * * * * * * *

He didn’t have to tell me twice but Mark beat me to it. No sooner did I get up and turn he almost tackled me in a bear hug. “Gotcha.” He said almost squeezing the wind out of me.

Gasping for air I loosened Mark’s bear hug and out of the corner of my eye I saw Paul moving to the bar where Eric was standing with his mouth open gawking at us.

“Oh you got me all right. What are you doing here, how did you get here, what about school Sport?”

“Let me get something to drink before I die of thirst and I’ll tell you.”

“Sure, lets sit at the bar. Eric, fix me another drink and a Coke.”

“No Coke Eric, water please.” Mark said with his arm still around my waist. Obviously a public bar meant nothing to him.

After we sat down at the bar Mark drained the glass that Eric sat in front of him and asked for another. Paul was sitting on Mark’s opposite side grinning impishly and leaning over he whispered something into Mark’s ear. Whatever was said, they both broke out in peals of laughter while Eric and I had dumb looks on our faces.

“Do you want to tell us what the big secret is that you need to whisper?” I asked

“Should I tell him Paul?” Mark said looking over his shoulder. Paul just shrugged.

Mark put his hand on the back of my neck and pulled my ear close to this mouth whispering, “Paul told me to pack your ass tight tonight you’ve had a hang dog look all afternoon. Have you really?”

“That Paul Prescott could get you into a lot of trouble.” I said grinning.

“Not tonight it won’t.” He said laughing while poor Eric looked like the outsider until Paul took pity on him. “I’ll tell you all about it later little brother or better still I might show you.”

“Okay, okay.” I said, holding my hands up. “If you’ve had enough water would you mind telling me what you are doing here and how you got here? You’re supposed to be in school and the Blazer is with me so how did you get down here?”

Mark gave one of his little boy sighs but he was still grinning. He deliberately licked his lips with the tip of his tongue and those little golden flecks once again flashed in his hazel eyes. “You should know the answer to your first question Uncle Lee but as to how I got here, someone left a Mustang parked in the backyard.”

I had all but forgotten leaving the Mustang at John’s but I had told him Mark was to have it on his birthday. Mark didn’t have to tell me anymore about what happened, I could almost hear him wheedling his mom and dad. Still though, I had to act a little upset even though I wasn’t.

“But…but, your dad wasn’t supposed to let you have that before your birthday.” I said trying to act irritated.

The little boy looked a little sheepish before answering. “I wanted to be here with you so badly that I told dad I would take the bus.”

“Wait until I see that brother of mine.” I thought but I knew he loved Mark just as much as I did. I didn’t notice Eric and Paul discreetly move away while we were talking.

“You are a loveable devil but you already know that.” I said squeezing his hard thigh. “How about we take a swim get cleaned up and then I’ll call Uncle Bill. He asked me to have dinner with him so I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you were with me. Besides, you can see Calvin.”

I barely heard him softly say, “Uncle Lee, would you get mad if I said I’d rather spend the evening with you?”

He surprised me when he said that but I knew if he had a reason he would tell me. “Of course not. I’d kind of like that myself.”

“Great.” He said perkily. “Maybe we could work out and then swim.”

“It sounds like a plan to me, lets go.” I said glancing down the bar and waving at Paul and Eric as we left.

* * * * * * * * *

“Jesus Paul.” Eric said as he watched Lee and Mark leave the lounge. “I still can’t believe he is sixteen; God but he is one of the most gorgeous guys I have seen. Besides you that is.”

“Which one bro, Mark or Lee.”

“Oh shit you twit you know who I mean, Mark. Lee is a stunner but Mark is a real heartbreaker.”

“I guess you think he would be better in bed then Lee.” Paul said turning to look at his brother.

“Oh hell Paul, you know just as much about Lee in bed as I do but I damn sure wouldn’t kick that kid out of bed.”

“Lee, little brother, is almost as good a lover as you. Mark on the other hand has only given one person I know of a tumble and that’s Calvin, Mr. Woolford’s newly adopted son. If and when you meet Calvin you will be looking at a younger Lee Michaels and that may have been why Mark was so attracted to Calvin.”

“What do you mean by that, a younger Lee Michaels?”

“It’s a long story Eric but Calvin worked here not very long ago as front desk/bellboy. He is nineteen years old and built just like Lee, lean and hard, except he has blue eyes where Lee has hazel ones like Mark. He’s a hell of a good-looking kid Eric you’ll like him when you meet him. Back to business bro, a new client just walked in.”

* * * * * * * *

“You haven’t told me why you aren’t in school Sport.” Lee said as they walked down the hallway.

“Tomorrow is a Teacher’s Day, that’s when they meet and talk about tests and stuff like that. When school let out at three o’clock today and I had tomorrow off I asked mom and dad if it would be all right if I came down here. Mom was against it at first and Dad wanted to know if I was going to hitchhike or take the bus. You know the rest. Boy, Uncle Lee the pony is a great car. Is it really mine?” He said as he melted into my arms when the room door closed.

He leaned back in my arms and pressed his groin to mine. Golden flecks flashed in the soft hazel depths of his eyes and I felt the fires of passion igniting in our loins; hardening cocks pressed between us.

He was all boy but in my arms I held a strong passionate young man who snaked his steel hard muscled arms around my neck and pulled us closer. With that impish grin playing across his face he nuzzled my nose and brushing my lips with his whispering, “you aren’t mad are you?”

He knew the answer to that question before I said it and pressed his soft ruby lips to mine. Our tongues danced and played the timeless waltz of lovers eternal and we drifted into the euphoric fog that shrouded the mysteries of male love. Scooping him up in my arms I carried him into the bedroom and laid him on the bed, the altar of Eros, God of Love.

* * * * * * * *

After I unlaced and removed his sneakers, Mark lifted his arms and flexing his ripped abdominal muscles he lifted up and I pulled his shirt over his head. Dropping back on the pillow he arched his back allowing me to slip off his shorts and briefs.

He lay like a golden statue with one leg bent at the knee and his eyes sparkling as he gazed up at me. His magnificently developed body gleamed in the soft subdued lighting and his beautifully tapered cock rested on a nest of silky thick pubic hair. The protective skin that sheathed its crown receding slightly exposing a pearl of pre-seminal fluid clinging to the urethral opening.

I started to remove my clothing and he held his hand up. “Slow Uncle Lee. I like watching you undress.”

“I’m not very good at doing a strip-tease.”

“You only think you aren’t, I’ve watched you undress.”

I’m not sure who was teasing whom but watching him caressing his chest and stomach while I undressed sent my passions to a fever pitch. He moved his hands over his silky smooth pectoral breast muscles and down into the silky soft hair covering his pelvis. With his thumbs he encircled the thick base of his cock and pushing back the cowl he exposed the engorged crown of his steel hard javelin and I heard him moan softly teasing himself at me; his eyes never wavered as he watched my impromptu strip-tease.

The blood rushed through my veins and my breathing became quicker as I responded to the erotic aura we had created. My cock was so hard it ached, dripping as steady stream of pre-cum. I could see the beat of Mark’s heart at the apex of his pectoral muscles. His chest was heaving and the stream of pre-cum had become a gushing torrent.

When I placed a knee on the edge of the bed his head snapped around and he looked at me his eyes blazing with passion. “Take me.” He growled, breathing heavy, as he bent both legs at the knee. “Take me Uncle Lee, take your lover.”

Kneeling between his bent legs he lifted them in one smooth movement onto my shoulders; I moved the head of my cock close to the anus of his love canal. When I touched his cock filling my hand with his pre-cum it throbbed and jerked pumping more seminal fluid in a rampaging stream at flood level; he was so hot that foreplay was totally unnecessary.

Mixing his seminal fluid with mine I anxiously lathered the length of my steel hard cock and leaning forward against his legs I guided its head into position. With one powerful thrust I drove my cock deep to the hilt groaning from the passions that coursed through my veins as it sank into the hot velvety depths of Mark’s bowels.

A wail of ecstasy that I had never heard escaped from his lips, “Fuck meeeee Uncle Lee fuck my ass hard.”

With a fury not unlike two animals rutting in the wilds of the jungle I drove my cock with the power of a piston engine my balls aching as they pounded against the underside of his ass with each thrust. It was like I was another person outside of my body looking on as I pounded Mark’s ass watching as his cock jerked and spewed pre-cum each time I brushed his prostate. He clawed at the sheets as his muscles strained and he lifted his hips each time to meet my downward drive. The sweat poured from me dripping onto his glistening chest running in rivulets over his ribs and down into the cavity of his stomach mixing with the elixir from his pulsing cock. My balls became a fiery cauldron tightening and thrusting the magma of my life’s seed upwards. I felt the tightening of my muscles, the swelling of my hardening cock and I succumbed to the desire to fill his bowels with scalding hot sperm. In a fog of lust and desire I lunged driving my cock deep and I heard myself growling like a lion taking his mate, “I’m cumming babe.”

He responded and grabbed the cheeks of my ass as my cock pulsed and pulsed again, spewing streams of my seed filling his bowels and I bit the soft inner flesh of his thigh lost in the intensity of my climax. I felt his muscles tighten, his back arching and heard him scream, “Yessssssss, Yessssssss” his cock shooting stream after stream of hot milk-white sperm over his broad chest. Driving my pelvis against the bottom of his ass I watched his orgasm with fascination as cum ran like a river between the hard ridges of his tense abdominal muscles soaking and coloring his thick brown pubic hair.

He shuddered and collapsed panting on the bed. Releasing his grip on my ass his legs fell from my shoulders. I fell between his legs driving my head into the pillow next to his as my cock slipped from his ass. He held me tight or I would have slipped from his sweat and cum slick body. We both were covered with sweat and when I lifted my hips slightly so my softening cock would lay with his I felt his cum soaking into my pubic hair.

We lay quietly for several minutes, the afterglow of receding passion flowing over us while our breathing and racing hearts returned almost to normal. He turned his head and blew his warm breath into my ear. I lifted my head and putting both palms under my chin for support, I gazed down into his soft eyes. “Will I ever get enough of you?”

“I hope not, you’re my uncle.” He said reaching up and running his fingers through my hair.

I kissed him quickly before moving off of his chest saying, “Uncle and nephew are just words Sport, titles bestowed by social convention. We were meant to be lovers the day you were born. I knew it deep inside of me the first time I held you and you wouldn’t let go of my finger. I could see it in your eyes even when you were a baby. There was something that told me you belonged to me; we belong to each other.”

“You’ve always felt that way Uncle Lee? I knew how much I loved you the first time I cried after you left to go overseas. I felt that way Sunday night after Calvin left Mom and Dad’s. I cried myself to sleep.”

“Is that what brought on the sexy act. I’ve never seen you do that before.”

“It turned you on didn’t it? I haven’t had sex since last Saturday and I wanted to see if I could make you as horny as I was.”

“You did a good job of it Sport. Let’s rinse off or we might need the maid to change the bed sheets.”

* * * * * * *

Mark’s playful nature always surfaces when we shower together. He loves teasing me by touching certain spots that he knows will make me shiver and get excited. I love the feel of his satiny soft skin, his hard muscles rippling beneath my fingers as I massage his magnificently toned muscles. Holding me he pressed our hardening cocks together, those golden flecks flashing in his eyes. Releasing his hold he twisted and leaned backwards against my chest a soft purring sound deep in his throat as I ran my hands over his chest and stomach scratching my fingers at the base of his thick cock and tangling my fingers in his thick silky pubic hair. When the head of my hard cock slipped between the cheeks of his ass he leaned his head back on my shoulder and inhaled deeply his body quivering in my arms as he pushed his butt cheeks back letting my cock slide between his legs.

“Do you know what you’re doing Sport?” I whispered my heart beat quickening at the sensuous feeling of his legs squeezing my cock.

“Ung Huh, playing.” He said pulling away from me and laughing.

“You don’t play twice in one night you foxy devil.” I exclaimed, pulling him to me.

Sliding his arms around my neck he giggled and kissed me molding his supple body to mine while he moved his hips rolling his cock over mine. I melted and kissed him back.

“You are terrible Sport.” I said gently. “You know just how far you can go without getting me really riled up.”

His eyes were the windows into his soul and I saw the love he felt in their soft mellow depths. He spoke with his eyes and that combined with what he said as he laid his head on my shoulder mellowed me even more.

“This is when I’m the happiest Uncle Lee. I feel safe and wanted when you hold me. Being with Calvin meant a lot but I never felt with him the way I do with you. I don’t think I ever would.”

“There it is.” I thought, thinking about Calvin’s coldness after dinner on Monday and Mark’s earlier remarks rejecting the opportunity of seeing Calvin. That’s the reason he’s here.

Reaching behind him I pushed the buttons that turned the shower off and lifted his face to mine. “Uncle Bill and Charles said you and Calvin had talked and cried when you went home Sunday. Do you want to talk about it?” I said handing him a towel.

“There is more to it than that Uncle Lee.”

“Now it sounds serious. Are you hungry?”

“I haven’t eaten since lunch at school.”

“I’ll call the restaurant and have some sandwiches brought to the room.” I said, pushing the telephone room service button.

Henry answered after a few rings, “Room service, how may we help you?”

“Henry, Lee Michaels. Do you think we could have a few ham and swiss cheese sandwiches delivered to my rooms?”

“Of course. Do you want them plain or would you like LTM?”

“Put the dressings on the side for me Henry and make four sandwiches, two wheat and two rye. If you have milk in the small cartons would you send a couple of them?”

“We have milk in pints Mr. Michaels. I’ll have two included with your order. It should be there in about twenty minutes.”

”Thanks Henry. Do me another favor will you and reserve that small table in the alcove for breakfast?”

“Yes sir.”

“Now that that is taken care of we should call your parents and let them know you are here.”

“Awwwwww, do we have to do that Uncle Lee? They know I’m here.” He said pouting.

“They know you were coming here but they don’t know you are here.” I said as I dialed my brothers phone number.

“They don’t make Loretta call home when she goes away.” He said as he slipped his arms around me and rubbed my naked chest and back. Pressing his soft cock against my thigh he blew softly in my ear and laid his cheek against my shoulder.

A voice crackled in my ear, “Michaels residence.”

“Hi John, thanks for sending the Mustang down. It’s just what I needed.”

“Your nephew’s idea bro, not mine. I take it he arrived safely.”

“He did and I’ll be sending him back tomorrow.” I said grunting as Mark squeezed me.

“Don’t be to sure about that Lee. From the sound of that grunt someone might have other ideas.”

“Daaaaaaaad.” Mark wailed into the receiver.

“Ooops. Sorry son, I thought you had already talked with your uncle.”

“Not yet he hasn’t. What are you two up to?” I said glancing at Mark.

“I’ll let him tell you Lee. It sounds as if I’ve let the cat out of the bag. Sharon is at choir practice and as soon as she gets back I’ll tell her Mark made it okay. I’ll talk with you later. Bye.”

“Just what were you supposed to tell me Sport.” I said as I hung the phone up.

“That I want to go to Delaware with you.” He said softly, twisting his towel in his hands and looking down at his feet.

“Go to Delaware.” I exclaimed incredulously as I went into the bedroom for my robe with Mark following timidly. “Mark, we’ve talked about this before. You still a year in school before you are eighteen and then you can do as you want.”

“I talked with Mom and Dad and they said I could go but it was up to you. Please Uncle Lee. Loretta is at school, Carl is in Philadelphia and I’ll be at home all alone with you in Delaware.”

“Do you have any idea of all that we have to do in order for you to live with me? School records have to be transferred and we need your health records. Above all a custody agreement has to be executed and then there are your clothes and other things you will want.” I said while moving to open the door after hearing the knock.

Henry rolled a food cart inside with our order.

“Thanks Henry but you didn’t have to deliver it.”

“The staff is gone. Paul and I were discussing what we are going to be doing when you called. I made the sandwiches, no big problem. I hope you and your nephew enjoy them.” He said, looking at Mark and smiling as he left.

“Thanks again Henry.” I said, closing the door behind him.

* * * * * * * * *

While Mark cleared off the small table and placed the sandwich tray on it, I poured his milk and got beer for myself from the fridge. He was unsure if he should sit at the table and was fidgeting waiting on me. He didn’t say anything while we ate in silence but I could see him trying to gage what I was thinking about. I was thinking there was no real reason that he could not drive with me to Dover. Every reason I thought of could be handled easily enough. He was my nephew and registering him in school would not be a problem, his records could be mailed. It was not as if he was in the middle of his last year, school had just started.

There were unseen forces working and I could feel them. I only wish I knew what he had said to convince his parents that it would be all right if he left with me. One thing they did know was that when he reached eighteen they could not stop him from leaving and that may be what they were thinking. There was no need to delay the inevitable or create an uncomfortable atmosphere just to keep him home with them.

Oh what the hell. I thought filling my lungs with air and exhaling. I wanted him with me just as bad as he wanted to go.

“You just start school and your mom and dad say it’s okay if you go with me.” I said quietly.

“They did Uncle Lee, the really did.” He said, his eyes as big as saucers. “You heard what Dad said on the telephone.”

“I heard him say something about someone having other ideas than mine.” I said teasing him.

“That’s what he meant, really, I told them I was going to ask you again and they said it was up to you.” He said softly, lowering his head.

When his shoulders started shaking and I heard him whimper, “Please Uncle Lee, take me with you.” I jumped out of my chair and kneeling beside him I lifted his face to mine. His lips quivered and his eyes were filled with misery, the tears ready to flow.

I kissed him gently and placing my cheek next to his I whispered softly, “If you’ve finished eating Sport, its late. We better be getting to bed, there is a lot we have to do if you are going with me in the morning.”

I felt his body stiffen in my arms. He stopped breathing for a few seconds but I could feel his heart beating faster. When he pulled his cheek away from mine his eyes were sparkling and exhaling he turned in his chair and put his arms around my neck pressing his lips to mine. We kissed long and lovingly our tongues tasting and twisting. When we broke the kiss he leaned his head back, his eyes gleaming softly. “When was the last time I told you I love you?” He asked

“Every time you look at me I see it.” I said standing up and pulling him up with me.

* * * * * * * * *

When we finished brushing our teeth, Mark got into bed first and held the sheets up for me. When I lay down he moved closer and lowered the sheets over us; he left his arm in place over my chest and laid his head on my shoulder. I put my hand on his rib cage and he snuggled closer. Putting his leg over mine he nudged my balls with his knee.

His heartbeat and breathing were in rhythm with mine. His warm skin was satiny soft under my fingers and I ran my hand over the smooth hard ridged muscles of his back until he fell into a deep sleep.

I closed my eyes and breathed a soft prayer, “God help me make this right.”

* * * * * * * * *