The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the small suburban neighborhood. Coan's bike, a sleek black cruiser, stood proudly by the curb. Next to it was Coan's old bike, the very first one he had ever bought. Brady eyed the bike with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"Come on, Brady! It's not rocket science," Coan called out, tossing Brady a helmet.

Brady caught it with a half-smile. "Easy for you to say. You've been riding this thing for ages."

Coan chuckled, adjusting the straps of his own helmet. "Well, yeah. But everyone starts somewhere. Today, it's your turn to conquer the beast."

Brady reluctantly straddled Coan's old motorcycle, its powerful engine humming beneath him. "Feels like trying to tame a beast."

Coan grinned, mounting his new bike, kicking up the kickstand. "More like becoming one with it. Now, give it a gentle twist and feel the power."

As Brady revved the engine, the motorcycle roared to life. The vibrations beneath him sent a shiver down his spine. Coan, ever the seasoned rider, gestured for Brady to follow him.

Brady cautiously eased the motorcycle forward, wobbling at first. Coan rode alongside, nodding. "That's it, Brady. You're getting the hang of it."

With each passing moment, Brady's confidence grew. He navigated the suburban streets with increasing ease, the wind tousling his hair. Coan's contagious excitement fueled Brady's determination.

Brady accelerated, the thrill of the ride coursing through his veins. The motorcycle hugged the curves of the road, and Brady couldn't help but revel in the exhilaration. Coan's whoops of approval echoed in his helmet.

After a spirited ride, they pulled into a scenic overlook, the city sprawled out below them. Coan killed the engine, and Brady followed suit. They removed their helmets, the wind tousling their hair.

"See? Piece of cake," Coan said, slowing to a stop.

Brady took off the helmet, a flush of pride on his face. "I admit it, I might not be joining a motorcycle gang anytime soon, but that was pretty damn awesome."

"Here," Coan gave him a chocolate bar. "You deserve something nice every once in a while."

Brady sat down, still grinning at his friend. "You sure know how to make a guy feel special."

"Consider it a reward for conquering the bike," Coan smiled proudly. "And who knows, maybe biking will become our new thing."

Brady chuckled, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Our own two-man gang. I like the sound of that."

***

Brady stood up from his desk, stretching, finally finishing his last essay for the day. College was killing him. Lying on his bed, Ness was deeply engrossed in a video game. The screen displayed a frenetic battle with characters leaping and shooting. Brady ignored the screen and sat next to Ness.

"Hey, you won't believe what I did earlier today," Brady exclaimed, excitement bubbling in his voice.

Ness, fixated on the game, grunted in response. "Hold on, I'm about to eliminate this squad."

"Seriously, it's a big deal. I learned to ride a motorcycle!"

Ness finally tore his eyes away from the screen for a second. "That's cool, but check this out, I just got a Victory Royale!"

"Fortnite again?" Brady fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Man, don't you ever get tired of that game? It's like, for kids."

"Dude, it's not just for kids. It's a strategic masterpiece. You wouldn't understand."

Brady chuckled, "Alright, whatever you say. But seriously, let's do something else. How about we hit up my parents' coffee place? I could use a good real life price after my epic motorcycle adventure."

Ness sighed. "Can't it wait? I'm on a winning streak here."

Brady shook his head, grinning. "Come on, Ness. Victory Royale can wait. I need a victor latte right now... okay, that was lame, sorry. But seriously, let's get coffee."

Ness sighed, pausing the game reluctantly. "Fine, only because I love coffee."

"Yes!" Brady mentally high-fived himself, leading the way out of the room. "Don't worry, Ness, if you want we can come back and maybe we'll even find a better video game. Maybe Red Dead Redemption or Tears of the Kingdom."

"I already played those," Ness complained as they went down the wooden stairs and entered The Little Café.

They sat at a table before Brady got up and quickly ran to his parents, making up the excuse that Coan had asked him to watch his little brother for a while. His parents smiled in agreement, as always.

As he walked back, Brady felt a little guilty. Yeah, it wasn't cool making up excuses to his parents for why he was hanging out with Ness, but he couldn't picture their reaction if he told them he was dating a thirteen year old. Not good, that's for sure. It was easier this way.

"So, Ness, any plans for the weekend?" Brady asked, as he sat down, trying to keep the conversation casual.

Ness was glancing at the menu. "Not really. Maybe more Fortnite, you know, the usual."

Brady smirked, "Still trying to achieve that elusive Victory Royale?"

Ness chuckled, "Always. But you know what would be a nice change of pace?"

Brady raised an eyebrow, "Enlighten me."

Ness looked directly at Brady, his expression somewhat mischievous. "Receiving flowers. I mean, it's not like I get them often."

Brady nearly choked on air. "Flowers, huh? Isn't that a bit... I don't know, old-fashioned?"

Ness shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I'm just saying, it could be cool. You know, to mix things up a bit. Not that I care or anything."

Brady couldn't help but grin at Ness's attempt to sound indifferent. "Flowers it is, then. Maybe I'll surprise you with a bouquet one of these days."

Ness smirked, "sure, if you feel like it. I wouldn't mind." Ness raised his hand trying to get the attention of the waiter before ordering a cold brew. Brady asked for a latte and a couple of cookies.

Ness sipped his cold brew, stealing glances at Brady's parents behind the counter. They worked seamlessly, a duo of coffee artisans, crafting drinks with practiced precision. Ness couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity.

"Why are you staring at my parents?" Brady whispered, leaning on the table. "You are going to make them believe we are talking about them, stop. Or at least be more discreet."

Ness didn't reply, he kept casually sipping cold brew, his eyes lingering on the busy duo. "When do you think you'll introduce me to them?"

Brady raised his eyebrows. "Why? You want to be welcomed into the family business?"

"Ha-ha," Ness chuckled. "Not exactly. I was thinking more along the lines of being introduced as your boyfriend."

Brady almost spat out his latte, eyes wide. "Boyfriend? Ness, we've only been dating for three weeks."

"So? Isn't that what you want?"

Brady opened his mouth but stopped for a second, thinking with a sigh and running a hand through his hair. "Look, Ness, we are dating, we are. And it's not that I don't want you to meet them. It's just... it's a big step, you know? We've got to take things slow. I told you before, enjoy the stage we are at."

"What about spending Thanksgiving with you and your family?" Ness proposed.

"Wha... that's even further down the line," Brady replied. "Besides, my family doesn't do Thanksgiving dinners."

"They don't?!"

"It's not that they don't want to, they usually host a dinner here, at the café, you know, for everyone who doesn't have anywhere else to go. It's quite fun actually. But that isn't the point. The point is that Thanksgiving with the family is not the stage we are at."

"But wouldn't you enjoy the next stage too?"

"Of course, Ness! Of course I would, but we need to be sure about this. I really am enjoying this, I just don't want to rush things and then regret it later," Brady moved his hand, discreetly letting it rest on top of Ness'. "It will happen, Ness. Just give it some time. We're still figuring things out."

The young boy didn't reply, instead he just laid back against his chair and sipped on his cold brew. Brady stayed quiet as well, enjoying the silence and the November afternoon, the quiet and calm. In the coffee shop, a hint of hazelnut floated in the air, hinting at the holiday's soon to come.

"Wanna go upstairs?" Ness suddenly asked.

"And, let me guess... get into bed?" Brady took the last sip from his latte. "Actually... can't, I need to do some research on a few topics for school, semester's almost over."

Brady stood up, he was about to suggest to walk Ness home but just as he opened his mouth, a sparkle shinned on the young boy's eyes.

"Let's go to the cabin," he said then. "I told you about it last week, remember? Let's go. Not now, of course but on the weekend. No school, no needing to be quiet, just us and the lake..."

Brady scratched the back of his neck. He wasn't a bad student but he was also not the brightest, studying was something he did need. Although a weekend at the cabin, or even just a single day, could help clear Brady's mind a bit, who wouldn't want to be at a cozy cabin in the woods with a horny thirteen year old boy?

"...and Laketown is not that far away from the city, we can go and..." Ness was still talking. "...be back in no time. Come on, we'll have fun! We can..."

"Okay," Brady nodded. "I like it."

"Really?" If Ness' eyes were shining before, now they had turned into stars.

"Of course, I'll try to get ahead on a few assignments so I don't have to study while we are there."

"And I'll try to convince my uncles and parents to let me go," Ness added.

"Oh," Brady hadn't thought about that. The cabin belonged to Ness' uncles, so of course he had to ask for permission. Now going didn't seem as likely. "Do you think they'll let you?"

"Of course!" Ness brushed it off. "It will be no problem."

***

"They didn't let me," Ness sighed heavily, his arms hanging low.

"What?" Brady was standing outside Ness' house. It was early, too early for a Saturday morning. The sun wasn't out yet, but a hint of soft blue hung over the entire scene, whispering of the cold and dew of the morning.

"They said I'm too young to go there on my own -I, of course, didn't tell them I would be going with you-, that it could be dangerous, so... they didn't let me."

"But lucky for you two, I interceded!" Coan appeared from behind Ness, a backpack hanging from his shoulder.

"Wait," Brady took a hand to his head. "I'm lost, are we going to the cabin or not?"

"We are," Ness was carrying his own backpack. "But my parents didn't let me go alone so Coan is coming too."

"As I said, I interceded for you. It was either me or nothing, so... you're welcome," Coan did a little bow, as if thanking his audience, before hopping in on his parent's car, nudging Ness and Brady to do the same. "Come on!"

As they got in, Brady didn't actually mind having his best friend go with them. Yet, Ness' face indicated the exact opposite.

Coan revved up the engine, the car humming to life beneath them. "Nice," Coan murmured before turning to the two souls on the back. "Get ready, my friends, because this beast of a car, as Mary Shelley would put it, it's alive!"

Ness rolled his eyes while Brady leaned forward from the back seat. "So, what are we playing today, eh?"

Coan grinned, eyes on the road, hands tapping the steering wheel in rhythm. "Only the classics, my dear friend."

Ness crossed his arms. "It better not be cringy."

"Everything is cringy to your generation," Coan dismissed his little brother as the car speakers came alive with the sound of drums, bass, and an electric guitar. The intro to the song was instantly recognizable.

"Get your motor running" both Coan and Brady sang in unison in a fake deep voice. "Head out on the highway!"

Outside, the road roared.

"Looking for adventure," They sang, banging the sides of the car. "In whatever comes our way."

To Brady's side, Ness, still with his arms crossed, stared at him. Brady leaned towards him. "What? It's a great song, come on! I bet even you know the lyrics."

"He does!" Coan teased from the front.

Brady motioned his fist as if he was holding a microphone and kept going. "Yeah darlin', gonna make it happen! Take the world in a love embrace."

"Fire all your guns at once, and!" Coan helped from the wheel. "...explode into spaa-aaa-aace".

"Like a true nature's child, we were born, born to be wild," Coan and Brady sang in unison. "we can climb so high, I never wanna dieeeee" And right then, Brady passed his imaginary microphone to Ness. "Quickly! Your turn, come on, you know, you know it."

In a split second, Ness looked at Brady, then at the city outside the car window, before smiling and... "Born to be wiiiiiiiild " he sang.

Coan and Brady cherred before the three of them sang, blasting: "Born to be wiiiiiiiiild! "

"Wooo!" Coan screamed from the window.

"Was that cringy?" Brady softly pushed Ness on the shoulder, smiling.

"A bit," Ness' attempts at hiding a smile were totally useless. "Cringy, but fun."

As they hit the open road, Coan kept playing what was probably a carefully curated and well-planned out playlist, singing every tune, one hand on the wheel and another tapping the dashboard.

It wasn't until the open fields turned into woods that Coan caught Ness' eyes in the rearview mirror. "I don't know if he has already told you, bro. But Brady here learned to ride a motorcycle the other day."

Ness raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? How was it, Brady? Did you crash?"

"I had already told you about that," Brady raised an eyebrow jokingly. "But no, I didn't crash. A few wobbles at the start, I'll admit, but Coan here is an excellent teacher."

Coan grinned, taking a playful bow. "We are going to start our own two-man gang."

Ness leaned forward, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Yeah? And when are you teaching me to ride?"

Coan laughed, "Patience, young grasshopper. Mom and dad would kill me if I let you get on one of those. But don't worry, play your cards well enough and you'll get on two wheels soon enough. You'll even be able to go to Laketown on your own." Coan pointed at a sign on the road, telling them they were on their way to Laketown -a small town next to a lake, mountains, and forest, close enough to the city- where their uncle's cabin was.

"What's Laketown like?" Brady spoke up, "I've heard about it, but I've never been."

"Laketown is a gem. Small, but charming. The lake is fun but the best is the forest, you are surrounded by miles and miles of woodland, it clears your mind somehow. My uncle's cabin is the perfect place to do some relaxing on your own."

"Or with a girl," Ness added, grinning.

"Shut up!" Coan stared at his brother in the rearview. "I've actually been here more times alone than with someone, you know?"

"Wait," Brady tilted his head. "You said here?"

Coan's eyes sparkled as he parked the car on the side of the road, next to a wooden gate. "That's right. Here. It's closer to the city than it seems, right? Although, it would have been faster by train."

Coan and Ness got out fast, almost jumping out of the vehicle but Brady opened the door slowly. The first rays of sunlight beamed through the sky above the orange, yellow, and green treetops, the air fresh, pure, the ground beneath him felt safe and alive. It looked straight out of an autumn postcard. Of course they loved the cabin, of course! Who wouldn't fall in love in such a magical, wonderful place?

"Brady," Ness stood beside him, taking his hand for the first time. It felt weird, and surprising but also absolutely spectacular. "It's about time you experienced Laketown magic."

***

The cabin wasn't straight out a fairytale. Instead of having separate rooms for the kitchen, dining room and living room, it was one big space for it all. It was huge and cozy, sure, but it was covered by dust and in need of some repairs. In its own way, it was as beautiful as the fall scenery outside.

Ness and Brady left their backpacks on top of the dinning table, starting to unpack but, to their surprise, Coan waved at them from the door. He hadn't even come in.

"Alright, lovebirds, I'm off," Coan tossed the cabin's front and back door keys at Brady. "You have the entire cabin to yourself and I... Well, I have the entire day to myself... What? You thought you were the only ones who came with an ulterior motive?" And just like that, Coan left.

For a moment the big, giant space of the cabin felt quiet, too quiet. But soon enough, Brady and Ness exchanged a look and they immediately started making out. It was fierce, passionate, and desperate, their hands danced all over the other's body, their lips and tongues were hungry for the other. They stayed stuck together, bumping against the dining table, the chairs, even the wall, until Brady stopped.

"Okay, so... what are we going to do?"

Ness grinned as he took Brady by the hand, took both backpacks once more, and led him outside of the cabin. They walked from the front door to the gate at the edge and out into the road.

Brady was expecting to see nothing but forest but after a few steps they were in the middle of a cobblestone street, people walking all around them. For a moment he had forgotten the place was called Laketown, and there he was, in the lake part of it.

Ness, still holding his hand, led him through the main square and towards the opposite edge of town until, in the distance, it finally became visible: a big body of water, so blue it almost put the sky to shame, a blue so vivid and alive it must've been a painting, not the real world. But it was, it was right in front of them: the lake.

"Come on!" Ness let go and started running towards the water.

Brady smiled as he saw the young kid's back, loudly running. Gosh, he hadn't felt such a sincere joy in ages. And just when he thought things couldn't get better, Ness took off his shirt, tossing it over the edge of the lake, on the grass.

"Dude! What are you doing?"

"It's a lake," Ness replied. "What's the point of being here if we don't get in?"

Brady looked around him. The edge of town was fixed into something of a park where the street suddenly became grass, there were benches, trees, and trails. People were laying on the grass, taking in the morning sun, and several kids and families were going for a swim too.

"But I don't..." Brady leaned closer to Ness. "I don't have a swimsuit."

"So?" Ness took off his pants, standing in full view of at least fifty people, wearing nothing but his tiny pair of underwear that hid barely nothing. "No one here knows you. Besides, this isn't a pool, you can swim however you want. Well, it may not be a good idea to be naked here, right in front of everyone, but you get the idea."

And then, Ness ran straight into the water, diving gracefully in. Brady saw the splash as the drops of water lifted into the air, followed by Ness' head appearing above the surface, waving, urging him to join him.

Brady shook his head and tried not to think about it as he undressed all the way down to his deep red boxer briefs -which matched perfectly with his hair- and tossed his clothes on a pile, diving towards Ness.

"Fuck! This is freezing, fuck!" Brady said as he reappeared on the surface, swimming towards Ness. "Why didn't you tell me it was this cold?"

"It's a lake, not a jacuzzi," Ness teased. "The key is to keep moving!" And as he said that last word, Ness climbed on top of Brady and hugged his back as if he was a backpack.

"What are you doing?" Brady started laughing. "Are you trying to drown me? Or is this more of a koala situation?"

"Koala for sure!"

"Well, not for long..." Brady dived in and forced Ness out of his back. Like that, they started playing and horsing around, splashing water, chasing each other on and under the water against a backdrop of sunset colored trees. Brady felt like a little kid and, suddenly, the six -almost seven- years between him and Ness vanished completely. Both were young, both were full of life, and both were having the time of their lives.

For lunch, Brady had come prepared. He unfolded a blanket and set them near the edge of the woods, facing the lake. He had stolen a couple of pastries, sandwiches, and paninis from his family's coffee shop. Ness almost devoured them, swimming had made them hungry.

They ate as the sun rose, not bothering to dress up again, laying almost naked at the edge of the forest, without a care of who saw them.

When the pastries were done, Ness leaned against Brady's chest, resting for a minute. Brady could feel the boy's breathing against his chest, the blinking of his eyes, even his heartbeat. It had been such a long time since he had experienced a peace like that.

***

They had spent their day browsing through the little town, it was a cheerful, relaxed place. All the houses were picturesque, all made out of stone and wood like a fairytale, the cobblestone road, the kiosk, the parks and forest, it all seemed like it belonged to another world. They had even entered a local coffee shop, cozy and with a fireplace. A little empty save for a cool looking girl with boots and a boy a little older than Ness.

"...and that was the first building they built when Laketown was founded. And there, following that road, is the Grey Manor, richest family in town. And over there it's the Rosewood House, second richest, people say they are a big family," Ness explained as they walked through the middle of Laketown. Then he turned to Brady. "Speaking of family, are you sure I can't convince you to introduce me to them as your date?"

"No chance," Brady said. "Remember: enjoy the stage we are at."

"Okay, okay..."

In the end, as the sun started to set, they went back to the cabin and climbed to the roof, watching the spectacle of colors the sun benevolently provided them: the cadmium yellows, tangerine oranges, and crimson reds, matching perfectly with the wooded foliage of the trees below. It was a masterpiece.

"That was beautiful," Ness mentioned as they climbed down from the roof, a satisfied, full, expression on his face.

The young boy, still holding hands with Brady, started walking towards the cabin when he felt a tug on his arm: Brady had stopped and was now walking in the opposite direction, towards the woods. "What are you doing? You wanna go there, now?

"Well, I did promise you we would do one particular thing, didn't I?"

Brady laid out the picnic blanket on the grass once more, not too far from the cabin but also not so close in case Coan returned. And just as Ness head cliked, Brady unbuttoned the boy's belt, letting his jeans fall to the floor.

"Here?" Ness' eyes sparkled, taking off his shirt and socks in a hurry.

"Let nature see us," Brady replied as he quickly stripped too.

It was an unusual but weirdly hot and adventurous image Brady had before himself: Ness, nude as the day he was born, against a background of thousands of pines and trees, as the sky slowly turned dark, exposed to the world, to the wandering eyes of the curious. It was an exciting, daring image, complemented by the sensory details Brady felt on his own naked body: the soft touch of the wind, the tickling cold of the night, the awareness of the immensity surrounding his naked body. He loved it.

"Well, what do you want us to show nature?" Ness defied.

Brady held the young boy by his shoulder, took in a handful of air, and whispered "everything," before pushing him against the blanket and letting himself fall on top.

Brady's lips immediately rested on they young boy's neck, dancing around the kid's collarbone, leaving a wet trail behind. His hands were holding Ness in place, keeping him from twisting with pleasure. And as they made out, Brady pressed his body harder and harder against Ness, who found his own body between the blanket and Brady's.

Softly at first but more eagerly with every second, Brady started thrusting against Ness. Letting their chests, legs, and boners rub against one another. The kid started to moan, which made Brady move faster and faster, making Ness, in turn, moan louder and louder. Anyone from the cabin could see them, anyone from the forest could hear them, and for some reason that idea made Brady hornier and hornier.

As they kissed, Brady let his hand feel the young boy's body. For some reason, that had become one of his favorite things to do. With the palm of his hand, and the tips of his fingers, he adored feeling every inch of Ness' body. From the top, Brady caressed Ness' messy hair, sensing the softness of his face -shifting and moving as he smiled and opened his mouth with every moan- he enjoyed teasing the ticklishness of his neck, and the firmness of his smooth lean chest, rubbing his delicate nipples; Brady felt Ness' hairless abdomen, with that perfect and visible V line that lead to his hard, warm, eager dick.

He couldn't hold it anymore, he couldn't. Standing up, Brady moved Ness to his knees, making the young boy suck his dick. Ness had come a long way since the first time he had tried to engulf the entire erection in his mouth. He now was a pro, moving his tongue masterfully, taking every in in.

Yet, instead of letting him continue, Brady took his dick out of Ness' mouth, making sure it was wet, dripping. And then, pushing Ness to the ground, on his back, he lifted the kid's legs into the air of the night as they started licking the boys hole.

Ness had never experienced that before, and it showed. The young kid moaned louder than before, faster. Brady wondered if people back in Laketown would be able to hear them. Strangely, he wanted them to.

Moving his tongue around, up and down, in and out, Brady was rimming the young boy's gorgeous ass, making him discover forms of pleasure a kid couldn't even imagine. And just when Ness thought he couldn't resist it anymore, Brady took a step back.

Taking a hold of the kid's legs, keeping them up in the air, Brady took aim. Ness looked at the college boy in between his legs and knew, he simply knew what was gonna happen and couldn't wait another second for it to do so.

And then, finally, laying out in the open, next to the woods and lighted only by the cabin's clear shadow and the moonlight, Brady pushed the full length of his dick inside of Ness. The boy cried in a mix of pain and pleasure. No wonder, really, he was tight, oh so tight, Brady could feel Ness' hole pressing against his boner, so warm and so wet, it almost made him come.

As Ness finally grew used to the dick inside him, Brady started moving and fuck it was a hundred times better, the tightness rubbing his erection, stimulating it, almost grasping it. So Brady moved, slowly at first, thrusting his hips in a rhythmic dance. Elegant, almost a ballet that slowly turned into a face paced tango, a flamenco as Brady fucked the kid faster, harder.

Ness was pulling the blanket, also moving his body, his ass searching for Brady's dick. Not a word was being said but Brady understood the message cristal clear: fuck me more. And sure enough, Brady was there to comply, but...

"Say it," Brady whispered. "I want you to say it."

"What?"

"What you want me to do to you, say it."

Ness was floating high in a cloud, soaring through a paradisiac sky. "Brady," he finally said, looking straight into the college boy's eyes. "Brady, please. I want you to keep doing it. I want you to keep doing me."

"Is that it?"

"I want you to fuck me, Brady. Fuck me goddammit! Fuck me, more!" And those words were as beautiful, and as passionate as music to Brady's ears. Holding no more, Brady unleashed his whole force, his whole soul, and started fucking Ness as if it was the last thing he would do.

The panting, gasping, and moaning echoed through the woods, through the night. Their bodies intertwined, their hearts beating, and their souls burning. It was such a wonderful sensation, feeling their bodies on fire while the air around them was chilling, the contrast, the colors, the fullness of it all.

And then, they reached it. The point of no return, the point when the volcanoes that were their bodies built and built up until... Brady gasped, his mouth open, and eyes closed as Ness gave out the biggest moan Brady had ever heard. Coming into the young boy felt like nothing Brady had ever felt before, filling him with his warm juice was simply delightful, every last drop that came from Brady's dick went inside Ness.

When he opened his eyes, the college boy realized Ness had also come, his naked chest and chin full of delicious, creamy, white cum.

"Better?" Brady asked, gasping for air.

"A thousand times."

***

"That was fucking amazing," Brady was out of breath, several minutes had passed and yet, the hand on his chest was telling him that his heart wouldn't stop racing.

"You mean that fuck was amazing," Ness chuckled at his own joke.

The night had already settled in, the boys laid on their backs staring at the trees -nothing more than dark silhouettes now- and the moon shining above. The stars were barely visible, the light from the cabin was too strong.

Brady and Ness stayed there for a moment, catching their breath when Ness suddenly stood up and started walking towards the forest.

"Ness?" Brady asked as he saw the kid walk away. "Ness? Is it safe to...?"

"Follow me!" Was the only thing that the kid replied before disappearing into the woods.

Brady stood up and quickly followed him inside. It was dark there but, somehow, Brady wasn't scared. The forest, even at night, felt cozy and alive, almost as if the darkness was nothing more than a blanket.

"Where are we going?" Brady asked, confused.

"Last time I came, my family had a party at the cabin," Ness explained, walking between the broken branches and rusty leaves. "It was super boring so Coan showed me a cool place. Come on, I can see the lake."

"The lake?" Brady walked behind until, true enough, the lake appeared from the trees. Brady hesitated for a moment before joining Ness at the water's edge. The lake mirrored the starlit sky, creating a breathtaking panorama. They walked along the shore, the silence punctuated by the soft lapping of waves.

In the distance, Brady could see the lights from Laketown, not close but also not too far away. However, the other side was completely calm. It was a charming, quiet scene. Brady took in the air, fresh, pure, cold.

Ness broke the quietude. "Isn't it something?" The young boy always so eloquent, the night wrapping aroun them like a secret.

Only then Brady realized both him and Ness were still naked. Their exposed bodies were on display for the entire world to see, their bare feet were filled with dirt and mud. And yet, Brady had never felt so complete, so part of the world, so... alive.

"Here," Ness pointed at the edge of the water. At first, Brady couldn't see what Ness was pointing at, even though the moonlight was strong enough, everything in the dark looked like a shadow.

As he stepped closer, Brady finally saw a weathered wooden boat tethered to a small dock.

Ness took Brady's hand. "How about a little moonlit rowing adventure?"

Brady raised an eyebrow. "You sure we won't end up lost in the middle of the lake?"

Ness shrugged. "Lost or not, it'll be an adventure."

Why did he agree? Brady couldn't say, all he knew was that a moment later he was untethering the boat, hopping into it and rowing into the center of the lake. Neither said a word as they placed the rows inside and stared at the scene.

"Wow," they were in the middle of the reflecting pool, far from all the electric light, so much so that the night sky was shining in full force, a dark blanket punctured not hundreds but by thousands of sparkling white dots, stars burning a million miles away, all once, all on their sight. Below, the lake reflected the sky so fully, so perfectly, that it also seemed as if there were stars not only above but at the bottom too. It was a heck of a sight, a canvas of constellations.

Ness and Brady held hands in awe of the scene, so full, so... complete.

Somehow, being naked made it better, so much better. They stood still for who knows how long, admiring the scene. It was a feeling, an energy neither could describe... At least until Brady stood up on the little boat, careful not to rock it, and started caressing his own skin, letting the tips of his fingers brush his chest, his nipples, his thighs and groin, until his dick started growing into a full erection, pointing straight like an arrow.

Next to him, on the boat, Ness watched fully immersed as Brady started jerking off in front of the sky, forest, and lake. It was lust, yes, but not a hungry, passionate, desperate lust, but rather a filling one, one so wholesome, and full of awe that Brady had the desire, the need, the urge of letting a bolt of electricity rush into his body in the shape of an orgasm.

Ness watched as the college boy started letting out little moans, his eyes open as his body started twitching, only closing when his dick finally reached the point of no return and, like a living thing, shot Brady's sperm towards the night, falling into the lake.

It was lust, and it was life, it was as if poetry had turned into a verb, an action, an orgasm.

As they rowed back to the shore, and through the woods, the cabin came into view, a comforting silhouette against the night. They walked under the warm light, hand in hand.

Inside, they lit a fire in the hearth, the crackling flames casting a warm glow. They settled onto the cabin's cozy couch, wrapped in blankets, not bothering to get dressed. The night echoed with the sounds of the forest.

***

Brady woke up as the first rays of sunshine crossed through the windows, lighting up his face. He moved slowly, lazily on the couch, reaching for Ness but he wasn't there. Brady stood up, looking at his sides only to find both Ness and Coan, standing in front of the couch, staring at him with smiles on their faces.

"What are you...?" Brady, only then, noticed the little table in front of him where a plate of eggs, bread, butter, a bowl of fruit, and a glass of green juice laid before him.

Ness produced out of nowhere -like a magician- a bouquet of flowers from his back, handing them to Brady. It was a beautiful arrangement of orange, red, and yellow flowers, ornamented with a couple of white clouds, and an orange ribbon tying it up.

"Brady..." Ness started as he presented the flowers. "I know you say it's too soon for you to introduce me to your parents as your... date, and it's okay, I respect it. But I was wondering if... you know, since your family will be busy, I... you... would you spend Thanksgiving with my family?"

Brady was frozen, his eyes dancing from the bouquet, to Ness, to the table stuffed with food, to Coan, and back to the bouquet. It was such a simple but wonderfully complicated scene.

Coan pointed with his chin towards Brady, making him remember he was naked, his blanket falling to the ground, showing almost too much. Brady quickly picked it up, covering himself.

Ness moved the bouquet closer. "So?"

Slowly, a smile appeared on Brady's face. "Of course I'll go."