Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2021 13:54:18 +0000 (UTC) From: JH Subject: Cards in the Deck - Adam and Ben 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 16 So I kept the last recollection limited to the night of New Years. Quinn ended up in a crisis identity. We went through the discussion several times. Sex and homosexuality and bisexuality. He is confident that he does not look at guys with interest but he cannot deny the excitement he has for the sex. Well, more to come on that. Adam left for St Lukes the week after New Year's and it was a very quiet January. I was able to hire an Executive Director for the Trust which put Phil at ease. She launched the Musical Instrument and Other Support Devices for College Freshmen program. It's rewarding to know that Adam, in his high school mindset, was able to spawn a new program. We have to keep him moving forward so he can face up to the great things he can do. I spend a lot of time thinking what he can do for a career but then I remind myself that duty belongs to him. Some attention was put into the package plant. End of year bonuses were calculated and paid out. The end of year accounting had to be completed. I was rather glad to have the time devoted to work. When I looked back over the last few months, work was clearly falling behind. My responsibility after this semester will be to create the work life balance that is required. I was hoping dramas would be behind me. Then, somewhere right about Valentine's Day, I had a text exchange with Quinn. "I miss him," he typed. "I do too" "He texts me all the time but its not the same" "I know" "I'm so bored can we hang? Sorry if i'm rude but i have nothing and its friday night" "Ok come at 7. I will feed you dinner" There it was. Drama, invited by me, without regard for the past. Should have been an innocent dinner but it wasn't. I should have left it alone but I didn't. Cook made ham and cheese sliders with Coleman's mustard green beans with mushrooms and onions. IIt was a nice casual dinner for a cold and windy Friday night. Quinn and I had some good discussion, focusing on his college expectations at Auburn and what he would like to do for a career. He's convinced that marketing is a worthy career. I think it's a hogwash program and the first thing to go when a budget crunch occurs. However, you have to let them dream and think it through. They will find a reality when the time is right. Quinn and I retired to the billiards room where we played some pool. During a three run ball streak, Quinn looked at me joking and said, "stop dropping balls Mr. B. You are going to clean the table! I might have to smack you with the stick of the Gods!" he exclaimed, waving his pool stick in the air. "I think I have already blessed you with the stick of the Gods!" I replied with a wink and a grin. He was all over that. He came over by me and said in a growl, "that was fun too. You know, Mr B., I got some perspective on that thing now." He lowered to a whisper and said, "We could do something like that again," and he placed his hand on my back. Now, I am a strong person, with determination and a decent rationale but in that moment, it was all gone. Reason had left me. I was hard as a rock and very lonely. What would you expect me to do? Probably the same thing you would have done if you were me! I looked up into his eyes without a blink or a grin or any show of amusement. "Kiss me," I said, " and see where it goes." "I don't Mr. B. That shit gets in my head." I leaned down and aimed my stick at the Queue Ball. He pulled me back up and moved his thick lips onto my mouth. He licked my bottom lip with his wet fleshy tongue. "Quinn," I said, "no drama this time. No crisis. Got it?" "Oh yeah, Daddy," he growled at me. "None of that,'' I said. That is for Adam only," I said and smiled at him. "Got it Ben." Then he kissed me more and we were full embrace. Then he was lying down on the sofa with me on top of him. Despite what his crisis might involve, he gets hard as a rock while kissing. It certainly turns him on. Clothes were peeled off. The warmth of the fireplace made us warm. His beautiful skin was glowing. I walked over the light switch and dimmed the light. It was a very sensual atmosphere. We began our exploration and then his hard meaty cock was in my mouth and he was giving light moans. I gave him the deep blow with swirly hands, lips and tongue, with extra spit. He asked me to slow down because he was about to cum. I stood over him and aimed my cock at his face. This was all about mutual satisfaction tonight. He took me in his mouth and I can only say that his lips are worth money. Not a lot of effort was needed and he didn't extend any extra either. He was very novice but it was satisfying feeling my cock slipping in and out of his mouth using his lips as the gateway. Oddly enough, things didn't go as you might expect. Without realizing how I got there, I found myself on my back with my legs up and spread. He was about to take me. Had the straight boy finally found his place in a male on male escapade? It took him a couple of tries to get the direction just right and when he did, his cock slid into me with a thrust and a wave of something I hadn't felt in a while. All my nerves were on high alert! He towered over me like a man. He pushed in and quenched his face in some feeling. Groaning about all that he could not believe, and how amazing it all was, he fucked me. He kissed me some and then leaned back up. We didn't need to change positions. We didn't need to make a porn movie out of it. It was hot and loaded with the necessary feelings for this to be one hot encounter. "I'm going to cum in Ben," he said directly. "Like now. I'm cumming!" he exclaimed. He froze in place. I had my hands on his tight ass cheeks which must have looked amazing from behind. They surely felt it. I told him to hold it there and I stroked my cock to an incredible release. We were dressed in a minute. There was no afterloving. It wasn't long before he needed to go. I asked him if he wanted to say and he said he promised his mother they would go out early Saturday morning. He indicated he was perfectly comfortable with what happened and nothing more needed to be said about what we had done. I was fine with that, but wow, what a change. Was Quinn growing up? Perhaps not. Two weeks had passed. The texts from Adam had slowed and I had not heard from Quinn. I had prepared for Adam's first return home for a short spring break the last weekend in February. He would come home Thursday afternoon and be with me until Sunday. I was so excited, and the day finally arrived. I saw him barreling up the drive in the Tahoe and he pulled over into the garage court. He got out and grabbed his backpack and suitcase and lugged them over to the door. I opened the door for him and he pushed past me. "Hey there," I said He moved toward the stairs and started up. He stopped and looked at me with a most heinous look. "I'm not going back to that shitty school!" he exclaimed furiously. "And if you don't like it, you call your new lover and cry about it with him!" He turned and carried his things up the stairs. When he reached the top landing, he looked back down on me again and concluded, "and I'm going to spend the next couple of days coming up with a PLAN to suit your ever so rationale mind!" He then moved down the hall to, I guess, the small bedroom and BANG the door slammed. Now who was in crisis? Now who was paying for the indiscretion? I deserved part of that but did not understand the other part. What happened at school? And Quinn, I was going to have him killed. I have enough money. I would smyte him until he couldn't be smyted anymore! About 6:30, having let Adam stew for a couple of hours, I went up and knocked on his door. "Come and eat," I said quietly. "No," he said. "Adam come downstairs please." "No" I tried the doorknob but it was locked. "Open the door Adam!" I demanded. He flung the door open and his eyes were red. I took his arm and ordered him to come with me. I dragged him downstairs and led him to the Solarium where dinner had been laid out. "Cook made this for you. Like it or not you are going to eat." I sat him down at his place and took mine. Her shrimp and grits was nothing to waste even in the worst of times. I told him we needed to address the problem that could be addressed. I wanted to know what happened at school. He sneered about why I didn't want to talk about Quinn. I told him that was not a problem I could address. I was very sorry about that. School was the first priority. He disagreed with my priorities. I advised that I thought Quinn was a blip on the map compared to his future and school would be the priority. "They have a nickname for me," he said resentfully. "One of the guys on the team found my story online and came up with a nickname he thought would fit me." "And?" I said. "Im Soja now." He looked at me like this would be commonly understood. "What the hell does that mean?" I asked. "Son of a jailbird," was all he said. Now, I am going to skip the rest of that conversation because it was mostly muddled. There comes a time in every educated, intelligent, accomplished person's life where one does not have words to correct, to resolve, to remediate. I was so angry it made my eyes to water. I thought I was going to have an explosive diarrhea right there at the table. He returned to his room after dinner and I returned to mine. I'm sure we had the TV's on the same channel but I was not going to disturb him. I picked up my phone and dialed headmaster Lewis's number. The call forwarded to his administrative executive. "Hello Mr. Brevard," said a calm and professional voice. "This is Carol, what can I do for you?" "Carol, this is Ben Brevard.." well I suddenly realized she had just called me that. I was stupid at that point. "I need a meeting with Lewis at 10 am in the morning," I said calmly. "He is going to be tied up all morning," she said. I interrupted her, "Carol, this is a code red matter. Appointment at 10 am. How soon can you confirm?" I said maintaining calm. "I will call you back in 15 minutes, Mr. Brevard," she said impatiently. In fifteen minutes, she called me back and confirmed. I spent the rest of the evening planning my attack on Headmaster Lewis. And for the main culprit, Court McKinnon, son of Courtney McKinnon, head graduate of my class, and Chief Rector of St Luke' Academy, I might destroy them both. Maybe I would just lump them into muy siege on Quinn and deal with all at once. Fuck I was travleing a dark path. While I could normally deal with some degree of anger, I was really angry, perhaps mad was the better term. The next day, I put on my pinstriped suit, grabbed the new Cadillac XT5 and headed south to Mobile. I parked and got out of the car. The temperature was slightly more comfortable down here on the Gulf. I entered the school and greeted several staff as I walked down the hall to the headmaster's office. Carol greeted me warmly and asked me to wait a minute. Then, she asked me to come in and ushered me into the inner-sanctum of Headmaster Lewis's office. Brendan Lewis was hired by the rector committee that Phil was serving on at the time. He had been with the school for 6 years. He hailed from Harvard and had implemented a number of successful programs adding three new accreditations to the school. He was impressive and it was up to me to apply all the strategy I could muster without looking like Yosemite Sam throwing a cartoon fit. When I entered, I found Coach Taylor sitting in one of the high backs. "Glad you're here," I said sarcastically. "Listen Brevard, I'm not sure what you're up to but..." "Quiet Taylor!" I said with admonishment. "Both of you," interjected HM Lewis. "Ben, please have a seat," and he pointed to the leather high back across from his desk. "Ben, please enlighten me as to this matter. What's wrong?" "Sir, you did me an enormous favor by taking on Adam West in his second semester of senior year to help him graduate and maintain his commitments to Mississippi. However, I have been informed that a serious breach of etiquette has occurred and Mr. West has given me his refusal to return to St Lukes on Sunday," I concluded and took a breath. "Please clarify this breach of etiquette," HM Lewis said. "The rugby team, with Mckinnon at the head, has nicknamed Adam Soja, abbreviated from Son of a Jailbird," I said with emphasis. "It is my understanding that Coach Taylor was in the know and may have sanctioned the label," I added. "Ben, I did no such thing!" said Coach Taylor. I knew that but wanted to make pain for everyone. "Quiet!" I yelled. "And its Mr. Brevard to you!" "Ben," interrupted HM Lewis, "right here please," using his fingers pointing to his eyes. "Headmaster, I do not mean any disrespect but if he does not come back here, the Brevard support will be diminished substantially. I would have no choice..." "Ben, we are not heading that direction today. You have brought to my attention something that is stirring quite a bit of emotion in me. I feel your anguish and I share it. Let me say this: I did not take on Mr. West as a favor to you. I took him on because in reviewing his dossier, I found a young man that I would have preferred to have had here all four years of high school. Well rounded, scholastic, athletic, well spoken. Our biggest weakness in admissions is always based on affordability. What I see is a young man, who will not run things from an executive level for a short term, then burn out in scandal and moral depravity only to pass on without resources. I see a young man who will run things from his coming in to his going out," he paused and captured his thoughts. He stood from his chair and walked over to the large picture window overlooking the campus. Coach Taylor looked at me and was about to speak when I put my finger up at him indicating "shut up." HM Lewis returned to his chair and sat. "The matter is very grave to me because it goes against my Treat in Kind policy. If I am to carry my weight, I will have to address this in an aggressive fashion. It's bigger than Mr. West. It's the heart of the school. This is ugly. Very ugly. Taylor, what do you know?" Coach Taylor, head of the athletics program running football, baseball, rugby, and wrestling, cleared his throat. "Headmaster, I heard the thing and I was right pissed off. I asked Mckinnon what he was thinking and he said it was a joke. Everyone knew it was. Said there weren't any problems. I am very sorry about Mr. West. He's a fine boy and I have high hopes for a decent rugby season because of him." He looked at me apologetically. "Certainly not a funny joke, is it?" I asked. "And that damn Mckinnon, apple doesn't fall far does it?" "Ben," said HM Lewis, " we are all on the same page here. Mr. West will be returning here if I have to address him personally. Taylor, I need an action plan on my desk by 2 pm today. I want this matter addressed in writing. 2 pm," he ordered. "I would like to be CC'd as well," I added. "Absolutely not," replied HM Lewis. "This is a procedural matter not a policy matter and does not fall under the Board of Rector's oversight. You will be informed as needed. Gentlemen, thank you for bringing this to my attention. It will be remediated." He stood and pointed us to the door. When Taylor and I said our goodbyes, we exited the office with a Bang! The door slammed behind us. I looked at Coach Taylor, a handsome man, but an all-time jock, "Taylor, that was one fine season. Your football team brought the heat this year. We were very proud of them," I offered. "Thank you, Ben, I appreciate that. We also appreciated the new practice footballs you gave us. Made a big difference," he replied. "I'm glad," I said with the feeling in my arms and legs returning. We went our separate ways and I headed back to the car. Back to the country. Back to Brevard House for what awaited me there. It was a quiet afternoon. I found Adam out in the garden clearing out some dead stuff. It warmed me to see him involved. He had nothing to say. Nothing at all. He did join me for dinner in the Solarium again. I ordered a pizza which he ate quietly. "Adam," I said. "I know it's bad. I am so sorry." "I know," he said and with his face reddening, he excused himself and went back upstairs. I thought to myself, I may never heal from this and he is the one who took the hit. Both hits. Maybe I should take Margo up on her offer to swoop in. Was there a way to save the day? Upstairs in my room, I cried a little. I wished Adam could see it so he would know I was with him on this but that would look pitiful. I kept it to myself. I went back downstairs and made myself a cocktail - Woodford Reserve and a splash of ginger ale. Thankfully, there was a lime in the fridge. Thanks be to the Lord for small wonders. The next day, Saturday, and after two nights of limited sleep, I got up and had a grapefruit for breakfast. The bitter tang settled my stomach. I took a call at 9 am from Coach Taylor asking if Adam could be available for visitors at 10 am. I said I thought so. He hasn't gotten up yet. Then I took a very strange call from none other than Courtney Mckinnon. Courtney was an ambitious man coming from an old family like mine. He lived in the new house and didn't spend a lot of time dealing with old or vintage or historic. He was a top partner in a large law firm in Augusta, Georgia. He was the current Chief Rector, turning over the leadership to me after graduation. "Ben," he said in his overdramatic southern aristocratic drawl, "I believe some nonsense has gone down but Court is going to make it right today. How is the boy?" He asked. "He's in a tough place. He's been in a tough place since his father was arrested. This is a direct hit, Courtney," I said without accusation. "It was, and Livie and I were disgusted. I put Court on a notice that he did not challenge. I think he got the message this time. I was severe, I'm afraid," he said admittedly. "Thanks for calling Courtney. More to come?" "Absolutely," he said. "Thanks for taking the call Ben." and the line went dead. I had a hunch, some foresight as to what was to come. Boys from the team were there way here to make amends. I believed the consequences were dire. I suspected that if Adam did not return to school, the rugby season would be suspended and several of the boys would be sent home. I suspected it was a dire promise with no blind threat. If Chad Taylor pulled this off, I would him in the highest esteem, might even approve a one time salary bonus for him. The gate bell rang at 10 am. I pressed the button and allowed the BMW 3 series to enter. I met the car at the front Portico. 3 boys got out. The first boy to speak was a smaller boy, cute as hell. "Morning Mr. Brevard," he said politely. "We are here to see Adam. Can we come in?" "Who might you be?" I asked. "I'm Judson Alt," he said, coming forward to shake my hand. The driver, who stayed beside the driver door waved and said, "I'm Kyle Mattox, captain of the rugby team," his lips were trembling. "We're here to sort some things out with Adam." His eyes were watery. I think he was going to cry. The third boy standing by the back door approached me confidently and shook my hand. "Im Court Mckinnon," he said. Looked just like his dad but better looking. A stud, actually. Where were boys like these when I was their age? I would have had all three of them, I honestly believe. I said, "come on in boys. Adam is not aware he has company." They entered the foyer and gasped. "What a great house," said Judson. It reminds me of my grandfather's house," he said, taking in the sights. "Wasn't that where they filmed The Omen?" asked Court. "Shut up Court," Judson demanded. Feisty too, I thought. It was a good quip, I couldn't help but laugh to myself. I ascended the stairs and went down to Adam's room. I knocked. "What?" he asked. "Adam, open the door please," I responded. "Whatever," he said. I jiggled the door hard and said, "Now!" as discreetly as possible. He opened the door and I told him further rudeness would not be necessary. I told him he had company. I shut the door behind me and gave him specific instructions. Take them into the South Parlor. Let them enter first, you enter after them. Shut the pocket doors behind you and let them do the talking. Be nice, like you have no idea what's going on. "I don't," he said. "They are here to make amends," I said. "You put them up to it didn't you? This is bullshit," he said. "Enough of that! It's time to put away the Pity Party and put on the face of grace," I said. "This is serious. I did not put them up to it but the school has given a directive to clean up a cultural matter. Now go down there and treat your guests to the Adam I love. If you cannot make amends with this you are derailed. I'm not having that, Adam. Remember, face of grace." I opened the door and ushered him out of the room. He walked down the stairs and smiled at the guys. He greeted them and shook their hands when he reached the bottom of the landing. They made comments about him getting to live in a bomb house and all that. He asked them to come to the South Parlor, and following my instructions, he closed the pocket doors behind him. The game is afoot, as Sherlock would say. I pondered quite a bit. There were times he and I were together, on the same page, a couple. Then there were times, I would be man and he would be boy. There were times I could interfere and instances where I could not. He, in the South Parlor, with its gold and gray accents, plush carpet, view of the South Garden, gas logs warmly lighting the room, was in charge of his audience and he needed to meet this with his face, his heart. I was still stunned and the nickname. I will admit, everyone of us, has had a time where we thought of someone in the most derogatory, most insulting terms, whether it was racist, sexual, ethnic, or gender based. We have all thought of someone in the heat of anger in the most unflattering way. There is, however, some sense of conscience, some moral stem that keeps us from uttering those words out loud. That prevents us from looking like the lower race on this planet. I pondered if that level of conscience was fading. The tone at the highest levels of government certainly does not give encouragement to do better, I thought. After an hour or so, the boys exited the room jubilantly. They were laughing and joking. All seemed rather good. Adam led them in the kitchen where I was scrounging for food. "Ben, we are all hungry and it's almost lunchtime. Is there anything to eat?" Adam asked. "I am hungry,"said Kyle "As always," said Judson. That little Judson, with his straight, fine brown hair, and petite fit body, was just gorgeous. They could put a bow on him and have him shipped here. I would put him up in Grandmother's rose bedroom and I would sprinkle the rose petals on his bare butt directly! Uh, back to reality. He has a crush on Adam. I can see it in his facial expressions. "Sorry guys, I don't have much to choose from this morning. Adam, why don't you take the guys downtown to the Freeze and get some burgers. Show them what real burgers taste like," I was grinning. He grinned back. "We have one of those places," exclaimed Kyle. Court asked if they came with crinkle cut fries. Adam confirmed that these were made by God, himself. "I'm in," said Court. "Take them in the Tahoe and put it on the debit card, Adam. Please be careful," I said as they headed out the side door. The last thing I needed was trouble with Carlton Atl, Circuit Court Judge of Birmingham. Not him, of all people. He scared even me. When they returned, Adam showed them around the house and they played some pool but the afternoon was getting on and it was time for them to go. They all hugged with Adam and greeted me thoughtfully. Court approached me thoughtfully, damn he was good. "I am sorry it all came to this, Mr. Brevard. I think we cleared everything up," he said with genuineness. "And you have a great house if I may say so," he smiled. "They filmed Haunting of Hill House here, you know," He laughed out loud and so did the others, including Adam. I figured Mr. Mckinnon, with his tall lanky frame must be hung like a horse. As they drove away, Adam looked at me not sure what to do next. "That was good," Adam said. "I think it will work out better now." "Are you sure?" I asked. "Adam, don't think I have taken a bullet here. Two, actually. I am so sorry." "I know. Let's go in the house. I have something to tell you." We went back to the family room. "Ben, I was really mad that you hooked up with Quinn. That was like the biggest no-no and I thought you would know that." He put his finger up to keep me from interrupting. "But I know how tempting he is and I'm he made it very tempting. But, I can't stay mad at it because I had a hook up too. Just not with your best friend." Well, I was about to feel relief but he was not letting up on me. That was an "ouch" for sure. "Do tell," I encouraged. "Well, I have been hanging out with a guy and one night while we were doing homework, we got close. I knew we would and I didn't know how it would be. But we were both pretty hot and I hadn't gotten off in a couple of days. While we were kissing and stuff, it dawned on me that I could not fuck him. There was no way he could take it. No way! So we jacked each other off while we made out. Well, Ben, when I came, I came like I do. You know? I shot a big load and he screamed in panic. He told me that was gross and we needed to clean the shit up. He was running around his dorm looking for a use towel and panicking like a stupid person." He stopped and collected his thoughts. He continued telling me that he felt embarrassed. He understood that he was out of the "boys league" now and that he wasn't sure he would ever be with anyone his age because he felt more advanced. I agreed with him. He is advanced, both because he knows what love is and he has felt the deepest and most intimate sensations at the hands of an older lover. I was in no place to chastise him so I agreed we would let these experiences make us stronger but not linger. He got that growl in his voice. "Was the guy Judson?" I asked. "How did you know that?" he responded "I know everything, remember?" I laughed in response. "It was but I..." "He has a huge crush on you and it's obvious when he looks at you. Want me to take care of him for you?" I said with fake pleading. "Would you? You better not!" "Adam, listen, his dad is one of most conservative judges in Alabama. That boy was born to the wrong father. Maybe he has a different dad and doesn't know it, you know? Anyway, don't mess with him. Be a friend but leave this alone. His father is trouble. Got it?" "Yes, is it that bad? Wow," he said. "Jud hinted that his family life was tough. He must've been telling the truth." Adam was quiet then leaned into me. "Daddy, do you know how much I want you right now?" licking and kissing in my ear. I kissed him and nodded agreeingly. The heat was rising fast. I led him to the South Parlor to our sofa. I asked him, "Do you want to fuck me, Adam?" He responded, "No I don't ever want to fuck you again," again putting up his finger to keep me from interrupting. "I want us to make love and I want you to make love to me right now," with real pleading in his voice. "I don't want Quinn to be the last person you fucked." ] We made it right there on that sofa, which was so fucking comfortable for fucking, lol! I held him so tight and it was so gentle and passionate. No porn talk or aggressiveness. It was the best that it could be and so was the last day of Adam's visit home. The next chapter is a big one - the graduation. Hope you enjoyed this. Please let me know if you did. I fear sometimes I interject too much of a story and maybe you just want the steamy parts, lol. Sometimes I wonder if the story would stand up without the sex. Its hard to tell my regular friends about it because of the sex scenes. You are a special audience:) Happy New Year - be safe and healthy!