Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:04:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: firehose Joe <firehosejoe@yahoo.com>
Subject: To Thine Ownself Be True Chapter 27

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Shakespeare (Hamlet)

Thanks to Chael for assistance proofing the story. This is wholly fictional
with no reference intended to persons alive or dead.

From the previous chapter:

Zach looked to Alejandro as a friend and perhaps more. Their interactions,
their sex, their compatibility promised hope that something might
develop. If he honestly faced his intention and need, Zach realized in
quiet moments of introspection that what he most deeply wanted was a
lasting relationship with another man. He knew the church would frown on
it, not to mention his family. He'd cross those bridges when the time came.

When he looked at Alejandro he felt a connection. No, he felt a longing
both in his heart and a pressing sexual need to be with this man. He didn't
know what their future would hold. He was almost afraid to hope that it
might become a relationship but he was willing to take the chance.

Chapter 27

Alejandro's first visit to San Francisco representing the family had been
nothing but routine. On subsequent visits, he and Charles had added the
city to those places where they had purchased and furnished a condo.

Alejandro had done his homework on the members of the board. He was
familiar with the Bertrand Fund contributions to the Museum among
others. Their donations were significant in supporting the Fine Arts
Museum, primarily the Legion of Honor. At previous meetings, the Bertrand
Fund had been represented by a distinguished, portly, grey-haired gentleman
who had the bearing of a lawyer. His participation was minimal, his vote
was with the majority and rarely did he ask questions. Yet, he was treated
with such deference that Alejandro's curiosity was piqued.

After Alejandro's return home, the staff lawyer, who'd initially set him on
the `straight and narrow' regarding representing the family, did some quick
research. Alejandro was moderately impressed by the additional information
about the Bertrand Fund, as well as by the family history.

The Bertrand and Algara families supported similar kinds of institutions.
Alejandro was impressed by the generational links that had helped shape
California over the decades. He wistfully considered his own situation--the
only heir to the Algara name. What could his family have accomplished if
their influence had spanned more than a century?

`Oh well,' he thought to himself. It was never a fruitful expenditure of
time to dwell on the past. `Grow and learn' had been his mantra in times
like this. He shook off the lethargy of guilt that usually accompanied
these infrequent moments of morbid introspection.

This momentary distraction about the Bertrand Fund was mentally filed. He
added it to the bank of data he was building on his various and expanding
associations across the country.

When time came for the next San Francisco trip, Alejandro was looking
forward to exploring the clubs he and Charles had enjoyed during the
previous visit, when they had inaugurated the condo. He felt himself swell
pleasantly with the memory of that visit.

He marveled that his conservative demeanor could, on those occasions, fall
away like an uncomfortable suit of clothes. He and Charles enjoyed the
clubs and bars as they would a buffet of forbidden fruit.

They began their evening visiting some cowboy bars dressed in their
`redneck' jeans, flannels and boots. They laughed as they returned to the
condo to change into the leather ensembles they'd helped each other buy in
anticipation of visiting the numerous biker bars found in the Tenderloin
District.

Somehow they each fed into the fantasy of the other. Individually, neither
Alejandro nor Charles would have been so bold, so blatant. As they finished
pulling on the supple, gleaming, black leather, there was both laughter and
lust in their eyes.

Both knew that by dawn they would both have sore asses and would awaken to
crusty cum-stained sheets. They would both `top' tonight. No doubt, several
times. It would be a pleasant exhaustion.

More than a few times that evening, Alejandro was glad he had someone
watching his back. His appetite was such that he attracted leather-clad,
muscled guys like bees to honey.

A man of average height, Alejandro often felt dwarfed. Sure, there were
some guys under six feet; but the sheer bulk of muscle and the height of
many of the men in the bars were a bit daunting to Alejandro. His
well-formed, hairy chest, along with his bulging basket, caught the eye of
many who thought he'd be easy pickings for a hot ride.

With Charles nearby, Alejandro enjoyed the attention, and could `push back'
when the occasional predator seemed determined to claim him as his
amusement for the evening. What both pleased and surprised him was the
sense of camaraderie that he found with some of the guys who were willing
to set aside their posturing for a moment and spend a few moments in
conversation.

The memory of that night gave Alejandro a bulge in his briefs. His
disappointment that Charles wouldn't be able to join him on this trip was
reinforced as he considered what he'd likely end up doing - meeting,
greeting, eating, sleeping and returning home all within twenty-four
hours. Damn!

As he packed, he shook off his disappointment and temptation. He refused to
pout or project his frustration onto Charles. It wasn't his fault.

Unsure of the extended neighborhood surrounding the condo, Alejandro
decided to leave his running clothes at home, but instead grabbed his gym
clothes and Speedo. There was a great men-only club he was planning to
use. Who knew? Maybe he'd meet someone there who'd want to play a
little. Pursing his lips, he just shook his head, knowing that indulging in
that kind of fantasy was likely to increase his frustration.

At the last minute he grabbed his tux, remembering that there was a formal
reception and cocktail hour after Friday's meeting. A new exhibition had
been mounted and the `who's who' of San Francisco would be there. Onerous
as it was, Alejandro knew it was his duty to be in attendance. Try as he
would, he couldn't imagine how Isabella and Salvador had enjoyed this kind
of thing.

They had developed circles of friends across the country. These obligations
had been eagerly anticipated by the couple as an opportunity to renew
acquaintances, catch up on news and gossip, as well as to make new
friends. With Charles, he was beginning to get a sense of how it might be
possible for a gay man to function in this social milieu.

Again he shook his head. Grabbing his gear and his briefcase, he headed for
O'Hare. During the ride, he again found himself looking forward to the
private charter. It made the travel so much easier.

The condo was a quiet haven after the trip. He found the housekeeping and
catering service had done their usual outstanding job. He convinced the
butler/cook assigned for his stay that he was perfectly able to fix a small
dinner and turn down his own bed. After giving Alejandro a quick `tour' of
the food in the fridge, the man agreed to return the next day to freshen up
the condo.

Walking through the rooms of the 1,000 square foot condo, Alejandro
realized how much he enjoyed Charles' company on these trips. They had
talked about their relationship; both confirmed that their friendship had
grown and deepened, yet remained free of romantic complication. He smiled
thinking how they'd both expressed their relief to the other. It was what
both wanted; they were comfortable as very good friends and fuck buddies.

The living room provided a comfortable spot for seated conversation. This
area connected to a dining room that accommodated twelve comfortably. The
condo was furnished for entertaining the friends they'd envisioned when
buying the place.

The space was in a totally renovated apartment building, in an area of the
city that was beginning to make a comeback. Alejandro was one of the first
who'd bought-in, and was able to configure the space to his
specifications. If the demographic projections about the regentrification
of the area were close to accurate, he'd make a killing on the resale.

The bones of the building had great character. He'd snagged half of the
penthouse floor. Situated on one of the many hills of the city, it offered
a magnificent view of the Bay Area. Alejandro had blocked off half of the
original 2,000 foot area he'd purchased, knowing that he'd never need that
much space and that the second apartment would bring in a premium price in
the future.

After a drink, he enjoyed a quick dinner. He cleaned up the kitchen, and
after watching the news restlessly flipped through the channels on the
TV. He debated a workout or a night of clubbing alone. Smiling ruefully, he
acknowledged to himself that solitary clubbing was not a real choice and
grabbed his gym clothes.

~~~~~~~~

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