Date: Thu, 9 May 2019 18:23:31 +0100 From: J. Forrester Subject: Do As You're Told - Chapter Thirty Three Do As You're Told Chapter Thirty-Three: The Ariadne Thread If you need permission to read this story (from a master, husband, partner, lodger, boss, next door neighbour, gardener) please obtain it first. This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people, places and events is unintentional. This story is exclusively for entertainment purposes so please enjoy in safe and legal manner. FRIDAY 12TH APRIL 2019 Arthur followed Adam home... Not like a stalker - he'd been invited. Arthur went into Lomond Market - a corner shop - to by a chocolate bar, while Adam stayed outside; Adam was still finishing a sandwich which he nibbled at while he waited. It was the end of the first week of the Easter holidays but the boys had stuck to a study plan and were quite proud to have concentrated until well into the afternoon. They had studied in the library and now the plan was to go back to Adam's and study or do homework... that or fire-up Spotify and lark about. They chatted while they walked and when he got to the house Adam noticed his sisters' car in the driveway - Alisha was thirty-five, or was it thirty-six, weeks pregnant. "I'm going to pee," Arthur said as Adam headed to the living room. Alisha was eating a lemon curd and bacon sandwich when Adam entered the room - he hadn't seen her for a while. More often than not they saw one another when visiting their mum at the same time. "Wow, you're as big as a house," Adam said. "Bungalow or semi-detached?" Alisha joked. "Bouncy castle," Adam parried and hugged her, with bump and giggles coming between them. "You should sit down," Adam said. "Why do people always say that? You should sit down. I don't need to sit down, I'm preggers not crippled," Alisha replied testily. "Ok, don't sit then," Adam said. "No, I will. My legs are tired," she jested. "Me and dad are going to see mum tomorrow. You want to come?" Adam asked. "I'll see you there," Alisha replied. "Hi Alisha," Arthur said when he came in a second later; "You should sit down." It was clear Art was taking the mickey - having heard the siblings' exchange - so Adam laughed and Alisha swatted his arm, but they hugged affectionately after that. "Whoa! You might wanna cut down on the junk food..." Arthur said motioning to the big belly; "And also the sex with men." "You give the same advice to Adam?" Alisha replied. "Hey!" Adam protested. "Just joking," his sister answered but she high-fived Arthur; "Actually, I was looking for dad, d'you know where he is?" Adam and Arthur shared a look. Adam knew exactly where his dad was... Rhys Jones climbed out of his car and grabbed a pile of homework off the passenger seat. He'd had lunch at a nearby cafe and taken the homework for company. It was the Easter holidays but marking homework stops for no man. It was the glamorous life of a teacher - in which there simply wasn't enough paid hours in which to do all the bloody work expected of them. Rhys pushed his key into the lock of the front door and left the bag full of marking in the hall. He wanted a drink and needed to plan something to eat for dinner but... "Hello?" Rhys said out loud. He was aware of something being wrong with the house - like when you 'sense' someone staring at you and look to find someone not breaking their vigil fast enough. There was no obvious trace of anyone or anything in the hall, so what was it? A sound from the living room, a door not closed over the same way as when he left that morning? Rhys had the feeling someone was in the house - he'd feel stupid talking to an empty house if it just turned out to be paranoia. It wasn't paranoia, Rhys knew someone was in his house but haughty confidence made him call out again rather then run or dial 999. Rhys still hadn't moved from the hall but threw his voice towards the sitting room. "Who are you?" he asked. "You know who I am." The voice was calm and gentle and Rhys felt a wobbly smile that turned into a scowl when he heard it. It was a voice he hadn't heard in a long long time. Rhys walked to the sitting room door, nudged it open with his foot and stepped inside. "Hello, Aziz," said Rhys. Few people called Aziz Mansouri by his first name. Mr Aziz was a term of endearment used by the boys and men who worked for him. Mr Mansouri was a far more formal title. The use of his first name was a familiarity that Rhys had not earned and did not deserve but he knew Rhys was aiming to be disrespectful and so the man just ignored it as if he minded not at all. Aziz was sat in a chair facing the sitting room door, his legs were crossed and his hands folded together in his lap. "Please, take a seat. Make yourself at home," Rhys said sarcastically. A long pause and a cold stare emanated from Adam's father. "You know why I'm here... yes?" Aziz asked eventually. Rhys shrugged; I don't know, I don't care, whatever. "Do you know why I am here?" Aziz repeated slowly, each word bore a sharp edge. It raised a half-smile to Rhys' lips to know Aziz was restraining his anger. Aziz himself chastised himself for being so easily bated by Rhys' indifference. "I can take a guess. When did you find out?" Rhys asked with a twisted smile. Rhys tried to think how long it had been since the last text or emailed Adam to set him a task or set Micah onto him - before the Easter holidays started certainly. Indeed, he tried to recall the last time he had spoken to Micah - a few days before the Easter holidays? The day Micah had presented the dildo he'd used to fuck Adam with. It was eight days since Adam had told his dad everything; preparations to deal with Micah had been easy and swift. The boy had also admitted Rhys was behind it all... "His name is Mr Jones. Rhys Jones, he's a teacher..." "I know who he is." ... Aziz had only taken hours to make his move against Micah but for Rhys, he knew he need time to think. "Last week," Aziz replied vaguely. "Micah told you?" Rhys enquired. "Of course he told me," Aziz said flatly. Rhys just nodded - of course Micah told him. He wasn't angry about it. Rhys always knew the day would come - it just came a little bit sooner than he'd planned. "The way you used Micah," Aziz said, his face twisted as if he had a bad taste in his mouth; "It's almost as bad as..." "Micah's a big boy, he made all those decisions for himself. And loved every minute of it," Rhys said contemptuously. "You can't abdicate responsibility for him. Micah might be broken but you groomed him," Aziz asserted. "Let's agree to disagree," suggested Rhys dismissively; "Are we really here to talk about Micah?" Aziz didn't agree. But he wasn't really there to talk about Micah. "Why did you do it?" Mr Mansouri asked with a swell of sadness; "Why did you go after my son?" "Are you really going to pretend you don't know?" Rhys asked bitterly. Aziz felt anger well inside him. A year ago, Rhys Jones had left teaching at the Earl of Lennox Boys School - a private school - to take a job at the far less prestigious Coalwater High School. Had Rhys really taken the job - indeed searched for the job and coveted it - just to get close to Adam? Or was it a coincidence and convenience? "The only reasons I can think of make you sound like a pathetic looser," Mr Mansouri replied mildly. "Don't be rude, Aziz," Rhys said in a relaxed tone of indifference. "Don't you fucking dare..." Aziz flashed with anger at the off-handed chastisement. "I wanted to hurt you..." Rhys interrupted and laughed in Aziz's face, then malevolently; "And I plan to go on hurting you." "By attacking my son?" Aziz asked while shaking his head; "I won't let you." "I'm guessing you've already taken care of Micah. But I'm not a seventeen year old boy, I'm not so easily intimidated," Rhys replied confidently. "And it's not like you can just kill me." "Actually it's a lot like that." Aziz reply was so straight and deadpan that for a moment Rhys didn't respond but when he did it was to pull a face: c'mon, get serious. Rhys snorted with derision and loathing. Aziz really did want to kill the arrogant fuck. "There is nothing you can do to stop me, Aziz. I knew you'd come eventually. I knew you'd strut in here. Maybe threaten me. Maybe really do something horrible to me," Rhys replied. Rhys hardly sounded bothered about the danger he was in. "But I don't care..." Rhys continued; "That's how much I fucking hate you." "You hate me?" Aziz flashed with anger. "You abandoned me," Rhys said - finally emotional. Or finally showing an emotion beyond anger. What was it? Hurt? It didn't matter, Aziz parried his response without a beat: "You raped a man, Rhys!" And there it was. The elephant in the room. The reason why Rhys had targeted Adam and wanted to carry on hurting Aziz - because Aziz had punished Rhys for his actions. Aziz fixed Rhys with a cold stare - he held Rhys responsible for Micah's actions too. "You raped and stalked..." Aziz pressed on. "It wasn't like that and you know it," Rhys said hurriedly. Rhys rushed the words out so that all Aziz heard was a desperate excuse. The same one he'd heard before. "Toulouse only wanted to be your friend. You followed him and drugged him and fucked him. You used him. You raped him," Aziz said methodically. Aziz had gotten to his feet and now the two men paced around each other like predators sizing each other up. "You use people all the time," Rhys pointed out; "I was seventeen when I get a job at your damned club..." "You loved working at my damned club," Aziz admonished. "I was seventeen. I danced and I stripped and I sold my body..." Rhys said. "You chose to do that. I never made you," Aziz interrupted. "Listen to yourself making excuses," Rhys said rebutted. "You consented. You were old enough and mature enough, that's why I let you work for me. You were never naive; you wanted to work for me. I ask all of you, and frequently too, to make sure you want to carry on. You wanted to do those things and you chose to carry on," Aziz said. "I wanted Toulouse," Rhys said heatedly. "But he didn't want you. And you wouldn't take no for an answer," Aziz said through gritted teeth. "What the fuck would you know about it," Rhys said petulantly. "You had to fucking drug him to get inside him..." Aziz replied in frustration. Aziz groaned shook his head with irritation. "Shit, this is the same argument we had seven years ago," Aziz added. "When you fired me," Rhys said bitterly. "I didn't ban you from the club though. I didn't turn you in to the police. How could I let you stay after what you did? How could I trust you? You stalked and raped your friend!" Aziz said for what felt like the millionth time - the same argument again now as back then. Rhys groaned with frustration. When he was fired seven years ago, he had just started his honours year and had another year after that before qualifying as a teacher; it was a major setback to not have his income from The Fourth. He'd learned to make savvy investments - such as in a web series that also made pornography. When his plans with Adam prospered even better than he'd dreamed of, pushing Adam toward pornography seemed like the perfect conclusion. The perfect fuck you to the old man who had betrayed him. "I know the real reason you didn't ban me was because Toulouse asked you not to," said Rhys triumphantly; "Because he..." "Felt sorry for you," Aziz interrupted so he didn't have to listen to Rhys' delusion that Toulouse loved him; "But he never forgave you. He knew how much your life here meant to you and didn't want you to lose anymore than you had to." Rhys was right - it was Toulouse who asked Rhys not to be banned; they had been friends and Toulouse was a good man. Too soft in Aziz opinion. Toulouse thought there was good in Rhys and to reject him farther would feed the bad. Thus, Toulouse tolerated Rhys' presence and asked Rhys not to be banned from The Fourth but he was fired as a performer and he wasn't allowed to talk to Toulouse or use the parlours. Rhys ignored the low blow by Aziz. "You're right about one thing. I did love working for you," Rhys paused and smiled before adding; "Toulouse wasn't the only man I wanted to fuck, you know?" Aziz knew that over the years he had been the object of both desire and speculation amongst the boys and men who worked for him. Does a man who manages a gay nightclub and employs beautiful young males, partake of the fruits he pays for? "I knew," Aziz said quietly; "But the only person I have ever loved in that way is my wife. And we're getting off topic here." "You're right, we are getting off topic here. You betrayed me when you fired me. Toulouse would have forgiven me..." Rhys said. He believed it too. Was it really rape? Toulouse had enjoyed it. He'd cum. Toulouse never turned Rhys in to the police. Toulouse never objected to seeing him back in the club. Toulouse never cried rape. It was Aziz who had called it that. It was Aziz' fault! "...But you poisoned him against me. You took him away from me. You took the job I loved away from me," Rhys continued pathetically; "You hurt me, and now I'm going to hurt you back." "You sexually abused my boy, you son of a bitch," Aziz spat. Secession of hostilities was over. It was all Aziz could do to not close the small space between them and choke Rhys with his bare hands. But he resisted. "You planned to embarrass him, humiliate him, expose and use him. You used Micah to demean and belittle Adam; to degrade and rape him..." Aziz paused long enough to catch his breath; "If you think I'm going to let you carry on doing that then you're out of your fucking mind!" "Well, you really can't stop me, can you Aziz?" Rhys said (rhetorically) arrogantly; "You think I haven't thought of your next move? Do you think I'm afraid of a beating from Mr Little and Mr Big?" Aziz stared impassively and Rhys who was impressed that Aziz didn't even flinch as his big hitters (so to speak) were ridiculed. "A beating, Rhys? You should be so lucky," Aziz replied conversationally; "I'm not going to hurt you, I'm just going to ruin your life." It threw Rhys off that Aziz didn't even sound angry was he spoke. Rhys wanted a reaction. "Just try it and I'll release all the pictures and all the videos I have of Adam," Rhys goaded; "Have you seen any of it? It's really fucking filthy." Rhys chuckled as he baited Aziz but grew frustrated as Aziz failed to respond. "Imagine if it was emailed to everyone at school?" Rhys suggested; "Imagine if..." Throughout his professional life, Aziz had walked a fine line - the problem with walking it that it's so easy to cross it. Aziz had always tried to do the right thing for the right reason; cross the line and you can tell yourself you're doing the wrong thing for the right reason. "I've planted child pornography on your computer," Aziz interrupted - he didn't even raise his voice. Rhys fell silent, blinking stupidly and unbelievingly. "What?" "A lot of it." "You're lying." "No." Rhys wasn't sure how to proceed. Physical injury or threats he could deal with, but this was not the counter-play he had anticipated from Aziz. It would ruin his life and, grudgingly Rhys realised it was a good move. Rhys loved his life in Coalwater and Aziz's threat was a direct attack against the life he'd built. Aziz had spent time thinking about what to do. There were other solutions besides this one and navigating the labyrinth of options had kept him awake at night until even following an Ariadne thread nearly failed to lead him back out. In logic, an Ariadne thread is the solving of a problem - such as a maze, logic puzzle or ethical dilemma - that has multiple means of proceeding via an exhaustive application of logic of all available routes. Kill Him! had appeared more than once on the list. Disappear Him! "If you try to hurt Adam, the police will receive an anonymous tip..." began Aziz. "You planted that..." Rhys said. Rhys seethed but also felt the tables turning. "I've deleted all the video and pictures of Adam that I could find on your computers, tablet, phone, cloud... even found a couple of flash drives," Aziz said gently; "I don't know if you have any more backups hidden away but I really wouldn't put them to use if I were you." Beyond allowing his anger to subside, Aziz had needed time to delete as much as he could find. He'd had help from amenable sources, including sources willing to plant some illegal images as leverage and insurance against Rhys. It had made him sick to think of the material he had been party to planting. He felt sullied. But Adam was his son and he loved his son - he would do anything for him. Anything. Even this... "You... You can't do this to me," Rhys said. "You did this, Rhys. All of this," Aziz replied hotly; "Do you know why I took a week before coming here? Because I want you dead. There were nights when I planned burial sites rather than planting filth. After what you did to my son, I'd have buried alive. I'd have dug a hole so deep I'd deliver you to Jahannam myself." "Bastard," Rhys spat. "Consider yourself lucky, Rhys... because you know I would," Aziz warned. "If even one explicit image of my son goes viral... I will fucking end you!" Aziz promised chillingly. The politeness of his threat was frightening and final. "I can get a new computer you know..." Rhys said desperately but he knew he had lost. "Consider this a friendly warning to back off," Aziz interrupted; "If you do anything else to hurt my son or anyone else, I will ruin your life. I will burn your fucking soul. I plan to live a long life and if you hurt my boy I'll dedicate it to making sure the worst people in humanity shit on your parade very day of your life. Do you believe me?" "Yes," Rhys said pathetically. "I want you to leave Coalwater and never come back. I literally don't care where you go. Just go," Aziz said. "I have a life here," Rhys said desperately - he didn't want to lose it. "Not anymore," Aziz replied. "Please... You can't..." Rhys tried. "I don't care," Aziz told him. Rhys became very still. If they'd gone to the police and done it "the right way" Rhys might have faced ten years in prison but probably less. Maybe a lot less. Three years - half that maybe depending on what charges stuck. Was it worth doing things the "right way" after hurting Adam and affecting his whole life? "I'll be watching, Rhys. No matter where you go, I'll be watching. There will be no more warnings, friendly or otherwise, if you cross the line again. I don't need Mr Big or Mr Little to persuade you of how... undesirable you would find the consequences," Aziz warned. "This is the end for you." This was not how Rhys had imagined things ending. He had been out manoeuvred and so easily too. He would have cherished memories of everything he had done to Adam and the knowledge that it had inflicted pain on Aziz Mansouri... but his revenge tasted bitter now. Rhys had wanted to win but he had lost everything. One conversation and it was all over. Aziz felt no satisfaction at having "won" - the things that had happened to Adam could never be undone. By the end of the whole sorry series of events, so many people had been hurt, so lives changed that Aziz' victory tasted as bitter as defeat. Aziz brushed past Rhys as he left the room - it would be so easy, no-one would ever know... just kill him. Aziz took a deep breath and allowed the thought to pass. "Remember, this is your very last chance Rhys..." Aziz whispered. Rhys felt the menace and knew he had totally failed and worse, he was so easily defeated. "...If you hurt Adam or anyone else, I will come for you. Nothing will stop me." LATER Arthur had just left and Adam was alone - all alone. Art really was a good friend - keeping him company because they both knew Adam's dad was "dealing with" the problem of Adam's blackmailer. Adam hadn't asked who Mr Anonymous was - maybe he would one day, but not today. Arthur hadn't asked Adam who Mr Anonymous or the boy who raped him was - maybe he would one day, but not today. Just knowing his dad was dealing with the problem was a weight off Adam's shoulders and he decided he wasn't going to sit in all night feeling all alone. Adam wanted to feel normal again and watching shirtless boys in the park as he'd walked home had unexpectedly stirred his libido. Adam didn't want to let what happened with Micah spoil his sexual exploration - he wouldn't be young and horny forever. Adam had phoned Shiro and suggested they make a date. That Shiro replied in the affirmative did not surprise him - they were dating after all - what surprised him was what Shiro said next... "I have a naughty idea," Shiro said. "Sex in a restaurant? Been there, done that," Adam said glibly. "No," Shiro said with a chuckle; "I wondered... eh..." Adam listened to Shiro struggle to find the words. "I'll have another consonant please, Rachel," Adam said. He was trying to break the ice and reassure Shiro he could say anything; he was also trying to imply he was intellectual enough to watch Countdown. He wondered if Eight Out Of Ten Cats Does Countdown, counted as watching Countdown? "Do you remember Lewis?" Shiro said at last. "Do I remember Lewis?" Adam repeated. How could he forget the fucking-super-hot fifteen year old with the seven and a half inch cock? They'd met the boy at a stag party for Hiroshi - Shiro's cousin. Actually, Adam had been a stripper at the party and at the after party Lewis had watched as Shiro fucked Adam. Adam had cum all over himself and then Lewis piled his spunk on top; Lewis then licked the mixture of jizz off of Adam's body and sucked Adam to a second orgasm. That night had finished with Adam and Shiro teaming up to give Lewis a blowjob. Adam had saw the younger boy once since - bumping into him in the street while he was bare naked in the middle of the night, accompanied by his former tormentor Micah. Micah was a shit, but the memory of the fifteen year old seeing him naked outside was exciting. "Yea, vaguely," Adam answered. "Right. Well... I wondered..." Shiro was still trying to be diplomatic. "You want him to watch again?" Adam suggested with slow realisation. "Yea." "Maybe some more audience participation?" Adam prompted farther. "Yea." "Do you fancy him?" Adam found himself asking. "Don't you?" Shiro replied - not really answering the question. "How about tonight?" Adam answered - but also not answering the real question. Adam had an empty house for the night. His dad had returned and suggested he stay in for the night whereas he would usually go to The Fourth until the early hours. Adam knew his dad was protecting him and worrying about him but he didn't need a babysitter. "I'm ok, dad," Adam reassured him. Aziz sighed and looked at his feet; "I crossed a line today. I'd go to Jahannam and back for you, but I still crossed a line." "Good. Thank you," Adam replied. There would be no preamble or discussion about right or wrong - Adam wouldn't let his dad feel guilty for protecting him. "I love you dad and you love me. That's what happened today," Adam told him. His dad sighed again but it was less weighteous. "You sure you don't want me to stay in with you tonight?" Aziz asked. "Positive," Adam affirmed. "Are you having company over?" his dad asked with a twinkle. "Never you mind," Adam said but his face said it all. Adam was looking forward to celebrating his dad dealing with Mr Anonymous - he felt weightless now that it was all over. Last week, when he and Shiro had been out together at The Fourth, Adam had balked at Shiro's touch; it had been too soon after what had happened with Micah and things had been too uncertain. Now Adam recognised anticipation and he looked forward to being with Shiro - and Lewis. Aziz headed out to The Fourth leaving Adam enough time for a nap - because naps are good - before company came over. Shiro arrived with Lewis just before nine o'clock - ringing the doorbell and waiting for Adam to open the door. Adam was nervous and excited and it felt awesome and liberating to feel that way after the last few weeks and months. Adam was excited to see both of them naked and the anticipation of what they all might do together was enough to give him an instant boner. Adam was dressed in a very loose vest that showed off his underarm and most of his flank, the neckline so low his nipples could peek out. He also wore white denim shorts - which were loose enough to give his hard-on room to breathe - low around the hips and finishing mid-thigh. He was barefoot when he answered the door. In comparison to Adam, Shiro and Lewis were all dressed up. Shiro wore dark blue jeans and a loose white shirt with a faux leather jacket over the top; Lewis also wore dark blue denim but shorts - the bottom half inch was turned up a little to show a pale blue cuff just above the knee - and a short sleeved blue shirt that looked like a summer sky with clouds floating through it. Adam noticed Shiro first - his sepia skin smooth and his brown eyes both wide and happy. Adam thought Shiro looked stunning - thin and dark haired. Lewis was beautiful: his arms and legs had fuzzy fair hair that was almost invisible against his white skin, his developing chest and tight abs were a treat that were teased by his clothing choices. "Can we come in?" asked Shiro. Adam realised he'd been staring but it had been strange seeing them stand side by side. Shiro and Lewis looked almost like a couple; the idea had been planted by Shiro's eagerness for the younger man to join them. It was an early spring evening but pleasantly warm - sunset was half an hour ago but the sky didn't know it yet so it was still bright outside. Adam stepped aside and the boys came in. Shiro took his shoes off at the door so Lewis followed suit, revealing sockless feet. Was there anything about this boy that wasn't perfect? Adam noticed Shiro staring too - Lewis' bare feet were big for a fifteen year old with veins along the top. His bare feet became bare calves - his legs were naked up to the knee where his shorts began. Shiro smiled guiltily at being caught staring at another boy by his boyfriend but Adam just winked in response. Adam showed them into the living room and the visitors took a seat, but Adam didn't. "I'll be the first to get naked if you like," Adam said. There was no preamble and no build-up, Adam let his penis do the talking. Shame, guilt, fear and angst had been piled on top of him for so long that Adam felt the need to indulge base desire. He reached for the bottom of his vest but Shiro stopped him. "Wait, wait. Why do you let Lewis do that for you?" Shiro suggested. Lewis looked surprised at Shiro and then at Adam - the prospect of the boy stripping Adam excited all three teenagers in the room. The fact Adam had been asked and not forced to allow the intervention was not lost on him. "Ok," Adam agreed. The fifteen year old stood up and stood in front of Adam. "Lift your arms," Lewis said in a soft voice. Adam did so, exposing his armpits, and Lewis lifted the hem of the vest and pulled it up and flipped it off so Adam was now topless. Lewis' hands trembled as he reached for the button of Adam's shorts. "Are you sure this is ok?" Lewis asked. Adam was pleased to be asked but nodded vehemently. The shorts were already obscenely low on his hip - nearly exposing his bushy pubes. Lewis unbuttoned the shorts and pulled the zipper down; Adam's pubes and the root of his cock emerged and he felt the open atmosphere of the room like a gentle breeze on his butt crack. Lewis pushed the shorts down and they were heavy enough to fall satisfying unaided. Lewis' body blocked most of Shiro's view, but he knew the task was complete, what he didn't see was Lewis lifting his hand to hold the head of Adam's cock in his hand. Adam wasn't fully hard but the touch was amazing and even more amazing was the way Lewis' thumb gently traced the ridge of the knob. "Now what do you want to do?" Shiro asked - Adam or Lewis, it was not clear. "I wanna put it in my mouth," Lewis answered. "Put what in your mouth?" Shiro asked innocently. Lewis grinned, and turned his head - his body still blocking Shiro's view. "I want to put Adam's cock in my mouth," Lewis said. "I want to watch," Shiro replied. Adam recalled the last time he and Shiro had mutually fooled around with Lewis. Adam had recognised part of hi attraction was a passing resemblance to Robin: blondish hair, blue eyes, fair skin understated build, innocent smile, endearing personality... Was Adam really thinking about Robin as he fooled around with another boy while his boyfriend watched? Lewis dropped to his knees in front of Adam's cock which was hard enough to be plump and lengthened but soft enough to still be dangling down and at least an inch of expansion left in it. Lewis dropped his face below the penis and then raised it until his lips touched the cock. Adam's cock lifted appreciatively - sticking straight out - and Lewis' lips matched its height. He kissed the tip of Adam's boner and then licked it and then opened his mouth to suckle the first three inches of dick. Shiro finally stood and walked to Adam's side, hovering benevolently over Lewis, before kissing Adam's mouth and tangling with tongues. Lewis pulled back and watched with big eyes as the wet cock bobbed in front of him. "Let's go upstairs," Adam suggested because he wanted both of them naked too. Adam led the way and as soon as they were in his bedroom, he rounded on Shiro and began to unbutton his shirt. Lewis watched as Adam stripped Shiro bare, tugging the shirt from Shiro's arms and pulling Shiro's dark blue jeans down with a sharp tug born of teenage excitement. Adam and Shiro pressed their naked bodies together and kiss again. Lewis watched as Shiro's legs lifted and his feet tugged at the denim until both feet were free; meanwhile, he rubbed his dick through his shorts until an embarrassing damp spot began to form. Adam and Shiro's hard-on's pointed up at forty-five degree angles, trembling and dribbling and crossing like swords in a battle. Shiro tweaked one of Adam's nipples and leaned in to kiss his neck and nibble his earlobe - passion and excitement made it hard for either boy to concentrate or stay still. Adam put hands on Shiro's head and guided lips to his nipple; Adam moaned as Shiro licked and sucked on his nipples. Lewis meanwhile watched the whole display; he could feel hot beads of sweat trickle down the back of his legs and his groin and armpits grew moist with perspiration while he watched the hot display. The fifteen year old breathed heavily and stroked big dick through his dark blue denim shorts to the sight of the naked seventeen year olds and their crazed sexual interactions. It was Shiro who remembered Lewis was there and he broke free of Adam's orbit to approach the boy who was nearly two years younger. Although younger, Lewis was just as tall as Shiro and a little broader in the shoulders than Adam - a maturing body that was converting most of its development into muscle and sinew. Shiro's lips met Lewis' and seemed to catch him by surprise - he had expected Shiro to show passion and lust for Adam, they were dating after all, but this felt very intimate. Lewis hadn't kissed that many boys before; in fact apart from his last sexual encounter with Shiro and Adam, he hadn't had that much sexual experience either. With their lips still together, Shiro began to unbutton Lewis' shirt - exposing the smooth chest and abs and brown-pink nipples underneath. Lewis worked his arms free while Shiro unbuttoned Lewis' dark blue denim shorts and pushed them down. The fifteen year old now stood in bloated briefs that barely contained the swelling within. Lewis repeated what Shiro had, lifting each leg to free his feet from the short, his legs caressed Shiro's legs - both silky and soft to touch. Shiro kicked Lewis' shorts away and they joined the space where Shiro's jeans had landed; the dark blue denims in intimate contact just like their owners. Shiro reached down to Lewis' distended underpants and released the big tumescent penis within. Lewis' pants were pushed to his ankles and the boy shivered with excitement as he stepped out of them too. Shiro retreated and the three naked boys stood admiring the others - points in a triangle, cocks pointing toward the centroid. "Now what?" Adam asked. He had watched the display between his boyfriend and Lewis and wondered if Shiro appreciated how intimate it had been. Shiro smiled and stepped closer to Adam, hugging him and putting his lips to Adam's ear. "Top or bottom?" Shiro whispered. Adam thought he was ready to move on and had anticipated Shiro might want to have sex, but was he ready to let someone inside him after Micah's invasion? Micah was dealt with but what he did remained. Bending over was not an option - Adam wasn't ready for that. Did Shiro know that too? Is that why he'd asked so softly? The last time they'd had sex with each other was in Boy Appétit - at the behest of his tormentors. Last week Adam had confessed he was going through some things; Shiro was a good person and looking into his eyes Adam saw understanding. "I'm on top," Adam replied; "Just like the first time we..." "I remember," Shiro interrupted delightedly; "I was hoping you'd say that." "And what about me?" Lewis asked. "Oh, I'll show you where you can go," Shiro told him. "Ummm...." Adam said reticently. "Um what?" Shiro replied. "I was just thinking... I know this is a bad time but Lewis is fifteen and..." Adam said. He was trying not to say Lewis was underage (age of consent in Scotland is sixteen.) but Shiro knew that's what he was saying. "Well, according to the Sexual Offences Scotland Act; if someone over sixteen has sex with someone under sixteen but the age difference is less than two years, it's defined as sex with an older child," Shiro recited impressively. "That means no jail, no sex offender's register, no criminal offence. Two years and a day and you're fucked, but we're all good." "How the hell do you know all that?" Adam asked in an astounded tone. "My parents want me to be a lawyer. I literally read legal textbooks for fun," Shiro replied. "Weirdo," Adam muttered with a piss-taking grin. "Your brain is so sexy," Lewis said. The boys chuckled and Adam prepared protection. He grabbed the bottle of lube and made his way over to the double bed. Adam knelt on it and shuffled back to make room for Shiro who in turn guided Lewis to stand facing the bed. Shiro got on the bed with Adam behind him, almost ready to push in, and proffered his ass to his boyfriend and his mouth to Lewis. Adam was drawing the condom over his erection while Shiro took Lewis' seven and a half inch cock in his mouth and started to suck. Lewis moaned as the head of his cock filled with beautiful feelings. His whole body quivered with pleasure and a warm feeling filled his body. Lewis' penis was tingling while Shiro licked the bell-end and slipped his lips over it again. Shiro took more and more length while Adam finally lubed-up and pressed the tip of his dick against Shiro's hole. "Are you ready?" Adam asked. Adam had been watching the hot blowjob between Shiro and the younger boy with great interest. Shiro let Lewis' cock free from his mouth - the erection was wet with saliva and pre-cum - and then replied after swallowing the mixture in his mouth. "Yes," Shiro replied. Adam pressed gently and then with increasing force, slowing compelling the sphincter to yield. It opened gently and held tight against the girth of Adam's cock as it slowly plunged deeper. Adam reached over Shiro's back and offered his hand to Lewis, who reached over Shiro's head with his hand until it met Adam's. Their hands peaked above Shiro's body - filled with cock from both ends. It's called an Eiffel Tower, or as Shiro called it... "Oh my fucking god!" He had to say it in between gasping breaths and sucking on Lewis' big fat cock like a lollypop. Lewis had gripped is dick and smeared silvery trails across Shiro's cheek while he expressed his sentiments. Adam built up a rhythm and the sound of smacking could be heard as his pelvis made contact with Shiro's buttocks. Shiro moaned as he wrapped his lips around Lewis' penis again and felt both cock's deepen inside his two most important orifices. Adam slid his hands up Shiro's back, feeling the vertebrae as his fingers danced across the sepia skin; his hands came to rest on Shiro's shoulders and he would have pulled to rear Shiro upright if his lover wasn't busy pleasuring another man. Boy. Adam contemplated his feelings about Shiro sucking the teenager; some couples engaged in threesomes but as a matter of convention but Adam had never contemplated the dynamics of a throuple. Neither Adam nor Shiro seemed to have hesitated about admitting a third wheel to their relationship as a couple and Adam could help but ponder what this meant for them as he continued to have sex with Shiro's ass and watch the shit-hot fifteen year old getting a blow job. Adam thought he ought to feel jealous but he felt... "I'm going to cum!" Adam said. He intended to slow down and stave off his orgasm, but Shiro worked his ass back and forth - humping Adam's cock - and tightened and loosened his sphincter to alternate the tightness of his ass. Adam was only going to last a few more seconds. Adam was glad at the pleasure he felt since this was his first time since Micah had been inside him; presumably it was the first time Shiro had had sex since Micah had orchestrated this at Boy Appétit. Adam wished he hadn't put those thoughts together - he harboured guilt over the plot that had dragged Shiro into his nightmare. It was hard enough for Adam to deal with his own shame and guilt - the only time he felt normal was when he had been with Robin, cuddling, sleeping, dreaming... "Fuck," Adam said. He could feel his cock pulse and release hot spunk into the condom; he kept pumping Shiro's ass but slowed down, weakening with every thrust. At the moment he came, Adam's attention had snapped back to the smooth globes of Shiro's buttocks. Adam gripped them with firm hands and spread them as he pulled out and pushed in and out a little with sensitive head. If they'd been bareback - not recommended, way too many STI's around nowadays - Adam would have pushed his cum back in or creampied Shiro's ass until all the juices was gone. Shit, Adam almost came again just fantasising about it. Adam pulled his cock out and slumped onto the bed breathlessly - he pulled off the condom and made it safe and then lay back, one hand behind his head to watch Lewis getting suck off. "You ok Sweetie?" Shiro asked. His mouth was again - momentarily - dick free as he looked over his shoulder to check on Adam but his hand continued to jerk the younger boy. "Oh, I'll just watch for a bit, thanks," Adam replied. "We shouldn't neglect you," Lewis said earnestly and Shiro almost melted at the attentiveness. Shiro grinned, let go of Lewis' erection and propped himself up on the bed - he'd been bent over to suck Lewis while Adam fucked him, but his back was getting sore. Shiro intended to slide off the bed and kneel in front of Lewis to suck in his big knob again, but as he sat on the edge of the bed Lewis dropped to his knees. Lewis wrapped young lips around Shiro's cock and worked his tongue around the slippery head. Shiro groaned and moaned and bit his lip - Lewis had a magic mouth. Lewis smiled at Shiro as tapped the hard member against his tongue and then slid it back between his lips. Adam shuffled around on the bed so he could get a better view of the fifteen year old getting to work on Shiro's aching hard-on. He liked looking at the tight teenager whose body was developed through obvious but humble effort. Shiro couldn't believe his luck - fucked and sucking at the same time and now his dick was getting swallowed by Lewis... Like Adam, Shiro wondered why he wasn't more reticent about bedroom antics with this boyfriend that involved another man. Boy. No relationship, especially at the beginning, is the same from day to day or week to week - things change. But with Adam things had CHANGED! Shiro wondered how a relationship that was less than three months old could need a third-wheel to spice things up. It should still be totally spicy! Shiro felt Lewis deep throat his cock and the then the slurping sound of Lewis' breath as he pulled it out to recover. Shiro paid the boy more attention, reaching down his smooth, creamy-skinned back and sliding his hands into the crack of the teenager's perfect bum. As he slide a finger up and down the cleft, Shiro felts the warm and clammy skin, damp with sweat, and the totally hairless hole. They were all hot and bothered, but the slippery feel of Lewis' skin made Shiro shudder - that or Lewis was kissing, licking and sucking on the head of his cock again. "Lewis, I'm going to..." Shiro didn't even have time to finish the sentence before cumming. He spewed cum into Lewis' mouth, over his lips and dribbling onto his chin; a second and third spurt landed on the boy's happy face. Lewis licked it up and wiped his hand across his face, panting breathlessly. "Two down, one to go," said Shiro who turned to Adam; "You ready to participate again?" Adam grinned and replied, "You bet." Shiro, Adam and Lewis stood up and both seventeen year olds closed in on Lewis, kissing and stroking him. Adam took the fifteen year olds cock in his hand and gave it a few pumps while Shiro exchanged tongues. "Have you ever had sex, Lewis?" whispered Shiro. "No," Lewis replied without embarrassment. "Would you like to?" Adam asked him. Lewis nodded. "I'll toss you for it?" Shiro suggested to Adam. "Toss me off for it?" Adam asked, leaping on the poorly articulated suggestion. "I mean a coin, I've got a penny somewhere," Shiro responded. "Head's or tails?" Adam asked ironically. "Don't get clever," Shiro told him. "I..." Adam didn't know how to say it other than just to say it; "I don't think I can do that. Take it, I mean. You do it." Shiro didn't miss the reluctance in Adam's voice - the avoidance of anal sex - and he knew it must be related to the things Adam's manipulators had done. Shiro would have asked more but the mood in the room was humid and highly sexed the opportunity was lost by Adam giving Lewis a condom with one hand and tug on Shiro's cock with the other. "Fine, I'll bend over again," Shiro huffed as if it were a big sacrifice but then he wore a cheeky grin; "See if I give two fucks." Adam laughed, "I see what you did there." "Thanks," Shiro answered "Don't get clever," Adam replied. Shiro lay on the bed with his legs dangling over the edge, he put his arms behind his thighs and pulled his legs up to expose his hole; Shiro wanted to be able to watch Lewis while the boy fucked him. Adam had his own ideas about his role in this event. "You sure you want to do this, Lewis?" asked Shiro. "Fuck yea," Lewis answered enthusiastically. Lewis stepped up to Shiro and nervously pressed his penis against Shiro's hole. It was warm and tight but the tightness stretched and he could feel the hole inviting him in. Lewis obliged, pushing deeper and deeper and Shiro moaned with the realisation of pleasure. Lewis barely knew what to do so copied what he'd seen Adam do and what he's seen in porn; Lewis pulled back and pushed in and out and in... The fifteen year old hadn't expected to feel Adam behind him; fingertips on his ankles, a light touch caressing its way up his nearly-hairless calves. At the back of his knee, Lewis felt the flat of Adam's hands which soon made contact with his thighs and then his ass. Lewis felt his cheeks spread and then... Lewis felt a tongue on his ass, licking across his hole - it felt. "Shit. Oh..." Lewis had once read that the anus has taste receptors - which is why an after-curry poo burns on the way out - but he was wholly unable to define the flavour or sensation of Adam's tongue and lips against his hole. Adam's hands rested on Lewis' buttocks - fingers extended towards his pelvis and thumbs pointed towards the crack between his cheeks, spreading them subtly. Lewis found it hard to pull his cock out, knowing that Adam's face was right behind him. Yet Adam seemed content with probing Lewis' ass in tandem with the thrusts; his tongue slipped in just a little as Lewis slid his cock in and out of Shiro's hole. Shiro turned onto his side on the bed but still pulled his legs towards his chest to optimise Lewis' access, the new angle of entry changed the sensations Lewis felt and Shiro too enjoined new probing points as the hard cock slipped in. Lewis was turned on by Adam caressing his legs, from his ankle to his hips. Adam had withdrawn from the rim-job and was now rubbing a thumb against the virgin hole. Lewis was excited to feel what it was like to have something inside him. "Do you want me to..." Adam asked as he circled the sphincter with a finger. "Yes," Lewis replied breathlessly; "Please yes." Adam doubted Lewis even realised he hadn't allowed the whole question to be asked. Adam went slow with his index finger first, slick with the bottle of lube that was just within reach. As Shiro was humped again, Lewis' pubes tickled against his buttocks as the boy went deep. Lewis felt a finger slip in and press against a nugget just inside. Lewis knew this was the prostate and wasn't sure what he had been expecting from prostate stimulation. He found it a little distracting. Not sore. Not euphoric. Pleasant enough, but... "Ohhh..." "The look on your face Lewis, I wish I had a picture," Shiro said followed by a giggle. "I wish I had a picture of this," Lewis said - his cock half way inside Shiro's hole. "Shiro, stop flirting with him," Adam cheerily admonished. "If you feel left out, stop fingering his hole and get up here," Shiro demanded. Adam popped his head around Lewis' waist and kissed his right hip. "What did you have in mind?" asked Adam. "Double penetration," Shiro said; "But you better hurry because the new boy is about to split." Adam was enticed by the proposition. He pulled his finger out of Lewis' ass and cleaned his finger on a discarded towel. Then he put on his second condom in half an hour and hoped his balls were sufficiently recharged. Shiro had rolled onto his back again and Lewis was pulling out. Adam liberally applied lube to his condom-clad cock drizzled Lewis' too. "Are you sure about this?" Adam asked. "Nothing ventured," Shiro half quoted the adage. Adam and Lewis pressed the heads of the cocks against the hole and pressed together. The erections slip-slided and merged, and pushed together, urging the sphincter to yield as two substantial organs entered. "Oh my fuck," Shiro announced. Lewis had clamped his hand over his mouth and Adam felt giddy beside the boy and inside Shiro. Adam was impressed that Shiro was able to take both of them at the same time. Together, Adam and Lewis pulled and pushed, entering only a handful of times before... Lewis felt his cock explode inside Shiro in a rush of hot jizz that felt like it went everywhere. It was all inside the condom, but his cock was in the condom too so he could feel the tip of his dick pushing against the mush. Lewis stopped and panted and pulled his cock out; it slid against Adam's veiny penis and Lewis could not resist putting his hand gently on the small of Adam's back. It was a teasing touch, just the ass but not quite touching the buttocks - just a suggestion of sensation on the nerves near the coccyx. With this touch, Adam too came - not winning points for stamina but it was a fucking good orgasm. Shiro hooted delightedly and rolled back onto his back, throwing his arms out like he'd been crucified. "That was nifty," Lewis attested. Adam moved to open his window to let out the close, musty, sexual stink. Lewis had removed his condom and Shiro told him how to tie a knot in it to keep the contents from spilling. Shiro suggested he slurp the contents but it was clear Lewis wasn't in to that idea. Adam took off his condom too but he watched from the window as Shiro sat up and took both of Lewis' hands in his own, they were intimate and speaking softly enough that Adam could not hear; he got the gist that Shiro was complimenting Lewis for his fist time on top. Lewis blushed as Shiro praised him but it felt nice to hold hands; he was aware of still being naked and since he was standing and Shiro was sitting, his cock was dangling in Shiro's face. Shiro offered no complaints and any embarrassment Lewis thought he should feel about his nudity evaporated. Shiro had really really enjoyed being fucked by Lewis. He was talking softly to the younger boy and holding hands when he became aware of being watched; he lifted his eyes and knew Adam was appraising them, but Lewis was in the way and he could not see Adam's face. "C'mon, let's all lie down," said Shiro invited. Shiro stood up and pulled the bed sheet back and Lewis climbed in first - shuffling over to the far side of the bed, then Shiro got in beside him, leaving Adam to climb in last. There was plenty of room in the double bed for all three boys. Adam was on his back and pulled the sheet over them as Shiro turned and put a hand over Adam's chest. "That was just what I needed. Are you ok?" Shiro asked in a voice loaded with insight. Adam grinned back; "Yea. It was fantastic." There was a tiny delay before the adjective came and Adam wondered if it made him sound insincere. The pause came not from insincerity but from doubt. Shiro was beaming back and kissed Adam's cheek so Adam turned his face and they kissed on the lips. Shiro made a small glance over his shoulder to check on Lewis who was already asleep. "All tired out," Shiro said warmly. Adam lifted his head and looked past Shiro to check the boy out, he looked beautiful at rest. "He's really sweet, isn't he?" Adam said rather than asked. Shiro dropped his head onto the pillow and made no reply. Ten minutes later, Shiro was asleep and half an hour later, he had rolled over to snuggle Lewis. Adam didn't mind. Adam got out of bed after lying in the dark for an hour. He pulled on a pair of boxers and went downstairs; Adam put the clothes he'd left in the living room into the laundry hamper. Then he got a glass of water and went back upstairs. He paused at his own bedroom door - watching in the wane light the two sleeping boys. He decided not to bother them - his brain was busy and confused and he wanted time to think about things that he hadn't really realised he'd been thinking. Adam didn't know how to articulate all his thoughts and feelings; they were a jumbled mess, an ocean of secrets even to himself, a desert that was not barren but vast and hard to find things in. Adam went to the spare bedroom and considered the bed but if he fell asleep his thoughts and feelings might never be resolved. Instead, Adam sat on a two-seater sofa that had a blanket over the back of it; the window behind him and with the curtains open a mixture of moon and artificial light picked out few details in the room. The small sofa faced the bed and Adam watched the changing picture on the quilt as clouds moved past the moon as if a lunar shadow play were being cast. Adam didn't want to lie down or sleep. He wanted to think... Shiro watched Adam for a moment, a blanket around his shoulders but only boxer shorts underneath. Shiro had pulled on underpants and a t-shirt that was too big for him. "Did you sneak out?" Shiro whispered. Adam lifted his eyes, which took a second to focus; he looked tired, he was tired. "I didn't want to wake you," Adam admitted sleepily. "Hmm," Shiro replied. Shiro crossed the room and sat next to Adam, reaching for his hand and turning Adam's palm up; Shiro placed a coin in Adam's hand. Adam looked at it without comprehension. "A penny?" Adam asked blearily. "...For your thoughts," Shiro said wryly. Adam chuckled softly. "Adam, c'mon. What's going on? Why were you sitting in here all alone?" asked Shiro. "I guess I feel like I'm alone," Adam replied forlornly. "You felt all alone in bed with me and Lewis?" Shiro asked sceptically. "That's what feeling alone means," Adam replied; "Being lonely when you have company." "That's kinda sad. Can I help?" Shiro asked. "I don't think so. It's just the way I feel now," Adam answered honestly. Adam leaned forward and rested his head on his hands, his elbows on his knees. "I thought all that... stuff... with the anonymous guy was over? I thought you'd feel better?" Shiro wondered aloud. "So did I," Adam agreed. He was thinking about his dad's love of mythology and logic puzzles and how Adam was struggling to solve the puzzles that were in his path. The Ariadne thread is the solving of a problem with multiple means of proceeding via the exhaustive application of logic of all the available routes. So why did he still feel lost in the dark? "I thought it was all over but I'm left with all the... stuff... to deal with. I feel..." Adam tried to say. "What? You can tell me," Shiro said reassuringly and he rested a hand on Adam's bare thigh. "I made a mistake," Adam said; "Last night, I think I wanted to celebrate my dad sorting things out with that anonymous bastard who was blackmailing me. But after we had sex, after Lewis and you and me went to bed... I got to thinking about how I dragged you into my mess." "That wasn't your fault," Shiro pointed out honestly. "It was," Adam said sullenly; "Yes it was." It didn't really matter if Shiro had enjoyed what had happened at Boy Appétit. It had happened because of Adam. "It's your fault that fucked up people blackmailed me too?" Shiro asked pragmatically. "You would never have been involved if it wasn't for me. They involved you to get to me," Adam said. "I thought they fancied me," Shiro said facetiously. Despite himself, Adam chuckled again and Shiro laughed too. "What happened, happened. It wasn't as bad for me as it was for you and I'm ok. I don't want you to feel guilty, Adam," Shiro told him. "But it is how I feel. And, besides..." Adam added slowly He didn't want to say the next thing and it must have shown on his face. "You want to break up with me, don't you?" Shiro said - his tone unreadable. Adam sighed - it seemed like the thing to do - and replied; "How did you know?" "'Cause you're sitting here all alone and left me in bed with another man," Shiro answered. "He's a boy," Adam corrected. "Oh good, semantics at six AM," Shiro said dryly. "Why do you want to break up with me?" Shiro was worried it was his fault - they'd gotten more hot and heavy with Lewis than he had anticipated - did Adam feel rejected or obsolete? "Shiro, I think I was in love with someone else before I met you," Adam confessed; "He didn't want to be with me and he moved on. I don't want you to think you were a rebound guy. You're not, you never were. I moved on too and met you. You were the first person who wanted me. Meeting you was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was so fucking lucky." Adam paused, unsure if Shiro would want to interrupt but he waited patiently for Adam to continue. Shiro folded his hands in his lap and looked at the floor. Adam did not consider himself articulate or the type to wear his heart on his sleeve; he didn't like talking about emotions but he felt the words pour out like a tap that couldn't be turned off. "But then everything that happened, happened. And now that it's over I've suddenly realised I'm not the same person anymore. I hate feeling this way because I still care about you but it doesn't feel right anymore..." Adam paused before adding, carefully, "I saw the way you looked at Lewis." Shiro's head lifted and he looked at Adam sharply; "Please don't blame me for this, Adam. If you're implying..." "I'm not implying anything. Really, I'm not. I know you're faithful because I trust you and because you asked if I wanted Lewis to join us last night," Adam interjected. "It's not really about him, but I'm kind of glad he came along and that you seem to like him. I want to break up because I feel guilty. Because I need to move on again. Because I want you to be happy and I'm not sure I'm the right person to do that." Shiro worked to form words but found it hard to do so. He did like Lewis, but breaking up with someone wasn't made any easier by also liking another man. Boy. "You went through a lot. It's understandable you would need time to figure things out," Shiro eventually said. "Be honest though... Do you still want the boy you were in love with before you met me?" "Oh, I don't know what's going on with him anymore. It hurts my brain to think about it," Adam confessed. "You've been through a lot," Shiro repeated gently. "I want you to be happy, Shiro," Adam repeated himself too; "I want you to be happy with someone who isn't me, who hasn't been through the crap I have. I know I'm making excuses and I didn't mean to bring Lewis into this, but it seems to me..." "I do like him," this time Shiro was the one to interrupt; "I would never have betrayed you for that liking. But I like him a lot." Adam closed his eyes and shook his head because being honest with people you care about can be hard and exhausting. Adam felt break into tears, which he quickly wiped away. "I'm selfish, Shiro. I always have been. Selfish, cruel, stupid. But I've been trying really hard to change and I guess a part of that means actually changing," Adam took a deep steadying breath. Shiro patted Adam's back, rubbing it soothingly while Adam completed what he had to say. "I need you to believe me that I'm doing this because I don't think I'm right for you rather than for any other reason," Adam confessed. Shiro slid his arm around Adam and embraced him warmly. "Adam, we're seventeen. You're my first proper boyfriend and I'm yours," Shiro said softly; "I didn't want it to end like this, but it did. It sucks, but I don't hate you or blame you." "Wait! Are you saying you can get over me?" Adam said with a smile, surprising himself with the jest. "Well, I got under you, how hard can getting over you be?" Shiro replied. Adam laughed; "Pervert." "Are you going to be ok? I don't mean breaking up with me or figuring out the deal with this other boy... Or not figuring it out," Shiro winked; "I mean you. Are you going to be ok?" "I think so. Time will tell." "Now what do we do?" Shiro wondered. "There's a cute boy next door we could go and cuddle," Adam suggested - half-fun but wholly-earnest. Shiro gave Adam a squeeze Adam covered Shiro's hand with his own. "And are you going to be ok?" Adam asked. Neither of them had ever broken up with someone before so it seemed like a fair question. "Oh sure... I've got a cute boy to cuddle," Shiro answered. And with that they went back to Adam's bedroom to keep Lewis warm - Adam platonically and Shiro with butterflies in his tummy. When they'd all been together last night it was with the understanding that Adam and Shiro were a couple. Now Shiro was single and spooning into the shit-hot fifteen year old felt different this time. Shiro dozed fitfully but Adam lay down and fell into a peaceful and unburdened sleep. He dreamed of a labyrinth; at the centre was a space once occupied by a monster that was now gone and defeated. The space had multiple openings that led back into the maze and Adam worked his way around until he found one marked with a thread. He followed Ariadne's thread through the dark without fear and emerged at the other end into the light... I've created a newtumbl with a few short stories tagged. I'm convinced it's as good as Tumblr was but it it growing on me. https://niftyguy.newtumbl.com/archive Many thanks to all my correspondents for getting in touch, staying in touch or just saying hi. With Micah and Rhys finally dealt with, there are only three chapters left. If you fancy emailing me: niftyencomiums@gmail.com If you love the stories Nifty has to offer, remember to donate: http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html Visit my blogspot - https://niftyencomiums.blogspot.com - for updates including chapter synopses and excerpts. If you are enjoying this story, I have also written: School Exhibitionism - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/highschool/school-exhibitionism The Symposium - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/authoritarian/the-symposium/ The Embarrassment of Riches - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/highschool/the-embarrassment-of-riches/