Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2020 17:02:24 +0000 (UTC) From: JH Subject: Cards in the Deck - Adam and Ben 13 This is a work of fiction - names and places are elements of fiction. Please donate to Nifty.org at http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html. Your donation will allow stories such as this to be published. Cards in the Deck - Adam and Ben 13 Well Christmas is coming fast. Adam finished his exams without further issue. He invited Clarissa and several other friends to Brevard where they made hotdogs and rummaged around the property. The goal was to find the ultimate place for a bonfire party for New Year's Eve. I was ok with the idea. The parents agreed and they would provide transportation. No one would be driving home in the middle of the night. When I advised Adam that the Phil/Margo arrival was moving up a day to Friday he said he might throw up. I told him Friday Night Supper would be on so we prepped about that as well. He was so anxious about their coming. I could understand his feelings but didn't think they would be warranted. When Friday came, Adam and I had staged his bedroom to look like he stayed there which made him feel better. Kent had driven to Birmingham to pick them up and bring them in. When Kent texted me, "The Eagles have landed," I cracked up and knew they would be pulling into the gates. I yelled for Adam to come down to the front porch. Sure enough, the gates were opening as Adam and I took our places. He was peaked and said he was sure he was going to throw up on the North Portico. I screamed with laughter. When the Tahoe pulled up, Kent jumped out and opened the door for my mother. Father climbed out and came up to us. "Mom, Dad, how was your trip?" "It was fine Ben, how are you?" Phil responded. "Phil, Margo, I want you to meet Adam West. He's our caretaker around here now," I joked. "You wish!" Adam said with a teenage flair. "I'm sure," said Margo with a dry smile. She approached and offered him her hand. I had previously advised you only shake a woman's hand when she offers. He took her hand gently and "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ma'am." Perfect, I thought! Phil came over and surprisingly, gave him the power shake. You know what that is. That's where the gentleman takes your hand in one hand and takes your elbow in the other. That's the shake of understanding, the knowing of things down under. I was very impressed. It was a real gesture. Kent brought the bags up to the porch and Adam volunteered to take them in. Kent thanked him and went back to the Tahoe to drive it back to the garage. We went inside. Margo commented how well things looked and was glad we had proceeded with decorating. I saw her glance toward the study which is where she had spent so much time in the past. It was almost instinctive that she should head there since that's what she had done for 30 years. As we headed up the stairs, Phil asked which room we were putting them in. White Room I told him. It was the nicest of the guest rooms with a private bath, facing the front of the house. Margo asked what we were having for dinner. I told her, "Lamb chops with a plum sauce, roasted asparagus, and chilli pepper shrimp. "Lord, how I have missed Cook's cooking!" was her response. When we entered the bedroom, I couldn't help but notice the huge floral arrangement sitting on the side table between the windows. Clever Adam went over and stood by the arrangement to ensure Margo noticed. She smiled and said, "Blessed that's a beautiful arrangement. The yellows and blues pop in this room." She smiled at Adam, "Did you do this, son?" she asked. "Yes ma'am," he said with some bashful and some pride. "Cook helped me. I wanted to do something nice for you." "Cook loves him, you know," I said sarcastically. "She never liked you," Margo responded in wit. "Adam, this was a beautiful gesture. Thank you very much." With that she dropped her jacket and suggested we go down to the family room and sit by the fire. As we walked out into the foyer, Phil took a look in the secret room. I know he was measuring out what had transpired that awful night but wasn't willing to say anything out loud in front of Adam. Adam jumped on it and suggested to Phil they talk after dinner about some analysis he had completed at the Trust. He thought there was a way we could shrink our 10% tax gap by, maybe, 2%. Phil became giddy and said, "I'll take that meeting young man. Anything to address that gap is a gift!" Margo chimed in, "I would like to be CC'd on that invite please." "Sure thing, Ma'am," Adam said. "Lord knows, I haven't been CC'd on anything in a long time," Margo said with some dramatics. We went into the family room. Phil was wearing a tweed jacket while Margo was wearing a burgundy cashmere sweater and tax slacks. "Where did you get the winter clothes?" I asked. "We have some things on hand for coming home," Phil said. We enjoyed some light conversation and Phil asked for the Rolls key. They wanted to drop in some friends for the afternoon and be back in time to dress for dinner. When they left, Adam breathed a sigh of relief. He was happy with the meeting and said they were very nice. I told them they would be. But, care must be taken not to say too much or say too little. Margo would assess each of those situations to determine if you were a limp noodle or if you were hiding something. She was strategic that way. Adam and I were dressed for dinner by the time they got back. He looked so damn fine in that blazer and paisley tie and I'm not going to apologize to anyone for admiring the look of a dressed teenager. Don't we all wish we could look so good in a sport coat and tie. Let me correct, I look very good in a blazer if not everyone else does. We had drinks in the South Paror. I poured Adam a half glass of wine. "Oh you drink, do you, young Adam," Margo commented. "Ben lets me have small drinks with dinner at home so that I understand etiquette and moderation," Adam defended. "He said there is nothing worse than the dinner guest who gets drunk." "Well, yes, there is that," she replied. "I don't always like the wine but I'm learning to tell one from the other," Adam said. Phil was grinning a bit with his lazy closed and responded, "I don't like them all either. A nice cold beer suits me!" "A Sam Adams to be specific," said Adam without thinking. "Agreed!" retorted Phil. Cook announced dinner and we entered the dining room. She winked at Adam as we walked through. "Thank you," he mouthed. "They were perfect." While we were eating and talking about some of growing up experiences at Brevard, mostly my shenanigans. Then Phil broached the Trust topic and was excited to hear about Adam's intern work. Margo said, as if no one was listening, "A little history repeating itself, I think." We all knew what she was referring to but no one responded. Topic changed back to me and somehow when Margo asked Adam what his family life had been like. He told them about life with his mom until she passed away and said that's when things had changed. His dad didn't take it well. It was sympathetic but not pitiful. Then Adam, trying to move the subject interjected, "My friends and I have wondered what a mother to Ben must be like!" "Oh damn," I thought to myself. He went there. He went there and the game was afoot, so they say. The little piece of lamb I had just put in my mouth caught in my throat and it felt like a cat was stuck back there. Phil looked up and had both eyes open. He looked very amusing. Margo jumped on the moment. "Lets unravel that, shall we?" she said expectantly. We were all very quiet. She goaded Adam with the kindness strategy, "Please Adam, share your assessment with us. Can't wait!" she said know she had the mouse in the trap. It was such a moment like in a movie. I wish I could explain it better but you would have had to be there. After stuttering around a bit, Adam looked up at me and said, "Well as you get to know Ben, you'll find that when you have some hurt feelings, he's like a mother to you. Then when you need to put on the "big boy" pants and be a man, he's very fatherly. Then when you need a buddy, he is your best friend. Then he's a mentor and a good business person. Always trying to do the right thing by people. And Strategic in many ways." He looked around the table for a minute then added, "The way I figure it. He must have had one helluva mother to make him great like he is," and with that he looked down at his plate not knowing if there was damage to recoup from. I myself was a bit moved. Phile roared, "Here, Here Son! Well said! Good form!" Margo gently put her fork down and took a sip of her wine. She wiped the corners of her mouth leaving just that trace of red lipstick on the napkin the way ladies do. She responded. "Adam, [pause] let me tell you this [pause]. I have been in many places in my life where I have been paid many a compliment. The commonality around most of these compliments is there would be some line of shit trailing behind." Adam smiled at this. He liked her straightforwardness, I could tell. "However," she paused, "I may have just been handed the best of all those compliments and I believe it was the most sincere. Thank you, son, for that." I believe, looking back on it, that the simultaneous breath I exhaled and the breath he exhaled, literally met across the table and joined hands in delight. Adam was quick this time, "Ben made me watch "The Crown" on Netflix. Have you watched it?" he said looking back and forth from Phil to Margo. "She made me watch it too," Phil said. "It's suggestive," said Margo. "The point is, if you don't carry the cross, you'll never wear the crown." She raised her eyebrows at us then took the last byte of her meal. We finished the conversation and dinner. Phil asked if the gentlemen were taking to the Billiards Room after dinner. "Yes sir," said Adam. "Oh you play?" asked Phil. "Do you have $10?" Adam asked jokingly. "20 to be specific," Phil responded. I rather loved the comfort everyone was feeling. Really put me at ease. "Margo, dear, I expect you're heading off to the study?" said Phil. "Oh no, I think I will join you for Billiards." she said smoothly. "Oh do you play too, Mrs Brevard?" asked Adam. "No one at this table has anything on this southern gal," she said confidently. Adam laughed again. As we were exiting the dining room into the main foyer, Margo stopped in front of Adam and gave him a good look. It was then, I watched her and so did Phil, taking her finger push a tuft of his blond hair behind his ear. This is where I could go thesis on you all. What the hell was this? Tufting his hair back and showing that sign of affection. She never did that to me. I wanted to yell out, look mom, I have a little stray hair over my ear. Why don't you tuft it back for me? Like I might just leave a strand of my black hair to grow long just so it could be tufted behind my ear. Just like with Ian, they were all so "lubby dubby." Like the good stuff, the private stock of affection was always good for the outsider. No time for that for the insider...for me. Well there it is, my little rant. I put my poker face on to lead the way to the Billiards Room. I opened the double doors and turned on the lights. I could only think back to the time I first showed Adam this room and what transpired on that table and on the couch. I bet he was thinking it too. I got horny very fast. It was all I could do not to climb on top of him. I poured us all a glass of Port while Adam explained to Phil that a friend of his was a freshman at Alabama and was criticized for being a violin major but was playing with a high school violin rather than an adult instrument. None of us were aware that there was a difference. His friend could not afford to buy a new one because a violin could cost a thousand or more dollars and that while our scholarship funds were tapped out, there was the possibility of incorporating instruments and other costly materials needed for college majors into funding. "I figure 2% at least, sir." Adam concluded. Phil was very excited, both by Adam's initiative and the prospect of closing the tax loop. Well, in truth, what Adam had discovered was not rocket science but letting him suggest that it was made for family acceptance. Phil looked at me and asked why I hadn't chased this down previously. I told him there had been conversation about it and that Ian was reviewing before he became ill but we didn't have data to support at the time. Phil suggested, in a very direct tone, it was time to move on with hiring an executive director. Running two businesses was going to leave both in a shortage. I already knew that and didn't want to get into it with him. I would address it after the first of the year once Adam was away at school. After two glasses of Port each, we were really enjoying the billiards. Adam took a win and so did Phil. All in all, a good night. Tomorrow, Margo and Phil would be heading to Birmingham for the Governor's Christmas Party. They were old friends and is why they came home a day early. While I was slinking into bed and I thought Adam was slinking into his, I heard a quiet knock at the door. He came in carrying that bottle of port from the billiards room. It was funny actually. "What are you doing?" I asked. "I can't sleep in that room and you know it. And this port is good as hell. Hated to let it just sit down there. Thought we could have a few more sips. What do you think?" he slurred all the way through that. "You're drunk," I stated. "And horny," he replied with a cheeky grin. I wasn't in much of a state to perform but I didn't want his anxious state to go without disposition. He plopped down on the sofa and turned the bottle to take a swig. "Typical! How country!" I exclaimed quietly, knowing parents were down the hall. He laughed then changed moods quickly. "Did I do ok tonite? I mean, I was terrified and then I wasn't. And Margo is like a hawk. Her eyes never leave you. And your dad is the opposite. He only looks at you with one eye. I mean,. It was a crazy night. Was I ok?" "You were magnificent," I told him. "Adam, I'm never disappointed in your ability to put the big boy pants on. You really did it tonight." "And take the big boy pants off," he said mockingly. He eased himself up a bit and slid his jeans off. "Look Daddy at this bulge. This port shit has my wound up," grabbing his swaying hardon in his boxers. "Well fuck, baby, you look like you need help with that," I said taking his cock in my hand. This boy could pull an erection within ten minutes of losing an arm! I helped him back down on the couch so he didn't fall. I eased him back on the couch and climbed up to his face. "Let Daddy show you how proud he is of you, baby," then kissed his lips. First, gently, tasting the port on his lips. Then I took a swig myself. It was good stuff. Then we kissed harder. I pulled his shirt off and tweaked his right nipple. That always got him going. "Aw fuck, Daddy, that was hot. Do it again," he groaned. "Shhh," I whispered. "We are not alone anymore, remember?" "Yeah, I get it. What are you gonna do, Daddy?" he asked. "I am going to suck the skin off your cock," I replied quietly in his ear. "Oh fuck, Daddy, I won't last long. Are you sure you wanna suck me?" "Oh yeah," then I took his cock in my mouth. It was salty and sweaty. I tasted that familiar taste his cock exudes. His head slipped into my mouth and I did give him a suck to remember. I was hoping he wouldn't pass out but it seemed the buzz was easing a little. He rubbed the top of my head and pushed my bangs off my forehead. I felt his leg starting to twitch. He was watching me intently and moved up and down gracefully on his dick. I used one hand to stroke the spit as I went down and came up. "Daddy, I'm going to cum," he warned me quietly. "Fuck, this feels so good. Awe damn...damn Ben...so good. Awe here it cums! I'm cumming baby!" That was it, he unloaded a nice load in my mouth. Damn, he cums so much. I just can't swallow it all. It's just too much. I pulled off him and he came on my face and then on his torso. His breathing was fast and shallow. This was much more quieted than we were used to and I could tell it added to his intensity. I went to the bathroom and cleaned my face off. When I went back to the bedroom,he was climbing into my bed. "You gonna sleep in here?" I asked. "Send me home early in the morning. I want to stay here with you." I crawled in beside him and snuggled up behind him. "That was so good, Ben. Thank you," he said looking over his shoulder at me. He pulled my arm tightly around him and he dozed off. I lay there awake replotting the evening. Then, I was asleep as well.