Date: Mon, 22 May 2017 12:32:58 -1000 From: Mark Dross Subject: Loving Conor Chapter 21 If you would like to be notified when future chapters or related stories are released, let me know. If you just want to chat, feel free to write me. Please consider donating to Nifty to keep all the wonderful stories cumming http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html -------------------------------- Loving Conor - Chapter 21 "Good morning, Jim." "Aye, good and gettin' better! Grab a cup and sit with me." Although Jim was born and raised in LA, he had embraced the Irish accent during his stint there. Combined with his already gruff voice and dark facial hair, the adopted accent made him sound more pirate than Irish, and Tom's nickname of `Blackbeard' was dead on. I filled a cup with hot coffee and pulled up a seat next to my old friend and cousin. "You missed the fun last night." "If you call sittin' in the barber's chair with your locks halfway cut in a blackout fun, then I had loads of it. Fortunately Ted had a candle and bit of rum to pass the time until the juice kicked back in. I'm just glad you had things under control here." "Not that things were out of control, but `under control' isn't quite how I would describe it. Let's just say this is quite the place you've set up." I detected a melancholy undertone to the chuckle Jim let out before replying. "Yes, it's somethin' alright. It's quite more than I ever imagined, that's for sure." "Oh? What did you imagine?" "I intended to provide a safe-haven for the free spirited... an escape from the hateful hypocrisy of those who mind everyone's damned business but their own." "Isn't that what it is?" "Aye, but The House is for the young, or young at heart, and I'm neither of those any longer. There was a time when erect nipples under a wet t-shirt and the flash of beer covered tits was the mainstay of our fun. There was more fun behind closed doors, of course, but everyone had the time of their life, and when it was all over they left wanting more. These days it seems there's nothing left for wanting. The orgies, the wild parties, that Red Room... it's all a bit much for me. I'm not knockin' the younger generation, mind you, this is their time not mine." "I'm with you. When you told me to keep an open mind, I didn't realize how open it would need to be." Jim chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "Says the one who's been here for two weeks and got himself engaged... and to a young man at that!" "Guilty as charged, cousin. Listen, I know our decision to marry must seem premature, but nothing has ever felt so right to me. Are you sure you're okay with me... with us together?" "I would be a damned fool not to be. Sure, I was surprised at first, but it makes perfect sense now. You both have good hearts, Brandon, and good hearts belong together. I've never bought into the `try before you buy' mentality anyway. Truth be told, when you've found the right one, you just know. Just like you knew with Julie." "And just like you knew with Nancy?" Jim paused and thumbed the handle of his coffee cup at my question, as if trying to come to terms with the idea himself. "Aye. Not a day passes that I don't think of her. She thought she was doing right by leaving me, but, damn it all, I would have seen her through it if she'd have let me, Brandon! I couldn't bare to stay in Ireland with her gone, so I moved here, bought this place and poured myself into it. The pain was dulled some by my efforts, and then by the parties and one night stands, but the pain returned in spades at the end of the day. Then Conor came. I saw his face and knew in an instant that it had been worth every bleedin' moment of heartache. If it took my loss to bring him into the world, I would endure it a million times over! I still haven't moved on from her though. When you've found yer one, who else is there?" "Now that she's here, do you think there's a chance for you two?" "I want to think so, but I'm afraid what it'll do if she rejects me again. The wounds have scabbed over, but if they're opened... it might be the end of me." "I know that pain, Jim, and I know something of fear. It's a frightening thought to know it could resurface, but are you content with just living, or would you rather be alive?" "You know me, cousin, contentment has never been my specialty." "Then run, Jim! Run to her as fast as you fucking can and don't stop! I do know you, and I know if you let this chance pass, you'll tear yourself apart!" "You're right of course, but..." "But nothing! She's here, Jim! What are you waiting for?!" "Calm down, Mr. Dramatic. I've a mind to meet with her, but only if Conor is onboard. That boy means more to me than my own self." Two things struck me in that moment... The first that I should have talked with Conor before trying to push Jim and Nancy back together, and the second that Nancy was staying with Sean. I didn't have a clue if Jim knew about Conor and Sean's past, or if Conor wanted him to know. So, I did the next best thing to thinking before speaking... I improvised. "Okay, maybe I am being a bit overzealous. Let me talk to Conor. If he agrees, would you be okay with the four of us meeting for lunch today?" "Make it brunch, and it's a deal. I would very much like to see her face again." ________ Having escaped my own stupidity for the moment, I went back to Conor's room to find him still sleeping. We had stayed up late discussing expectations and boundaries, which in turn meant talking about sex, then one thing led to another and... it was a good night! I watched my Love sleep as I thought about our decisions. The sexploits of the event had been an eye opener. We were turned on by the sounds of fucking in the dark, but felt a mix of emotions after the lights came back on. Oddly, the cum fight didn't bother me as much as it did Conor... then again, my mouth wasn't the target for Sun's record breaking cumshot. I confessed to being somewhat turned on while Moon was painting my cock, and while watching my cum cover her face. Thankfully Conor talked me through things instead of getting upset, reminding me that he had witnessed more events than he could count and was over most of it. I was the newbie, and my experiences were like the kid finding his dad's skin magazines for the first time. Conor also reminded me that I nearly knocked the wind out of him trying to get away from the orgy. We came to the conclusion that we both enjoyed the sights and sounds, and didn't mind being watched, but touching was our boundary. We also decided to be completely forthcoming if one of us ever wanted more, and would continue to be okay with each other appreciating hot guys or girls when we saw them. Our list was by no means exhaustive and we definitely had more talking to do, but it was a good start. Having that much settled lifted the weight off our shoulders and kicked our libidos back into overdrive... which led to sneaking out naked, swiping body paint, and a night full of laughter and love. As skilled as we both were in our own talents, our attempts at face painting resulted in the equivalent of four year old refrigerator art. At one point Conor freaked himself out by trying to paint my face like a masked wrestler, instead turning me into a creepy clown. Having discovered something new about my Love, I did what any good boyfriend would do... exploit it! The chase began in the bathroom after he insisted I clean the paint off. I started to, I really did, but then the mask got even creepier when I added soapy water. Conor had unwisely taken his eyes off me to check his messages and didn't see the black and red "tears" running down my cheeks. I suffered the taste of soapy paint and dabbed the front of my teeth black, then turned the lights out. As Conor looked up to see what was going on, I stuck my face in the dim light of his phone and with my best clown voice, said "Let's play!" His silent scream and phone being tossed at me should have been enough. Instead, I caught the phone and peered around the corner in time to see my Love's pale ass dive under the bed sheet. I stalked ever-so-slowly towards the lump on the bed, pausing to breathe deeply and ignoring his pleas for me to stop. When I finally reached the bed, I ever so softly put a hand on the lump then... felt him shaking. If Conor had a fear of small places, would I have locked him in the closet? No, I had taken the clown thing too casually. An apology rolled off my tongue as I ran to wash my face. When I returned to find Conor still hidden, I knelt down and admitted what a terrible person I was and promised to never do such a horrible thing again. I heard my Love whispering something and leaned in close. The sheet pulled away until I could see his brilliant eyes, and... a blast of whipped cream hit my face followed by roaring laughter. I had been set up! Unable to see, I reached out and started the most intense tickling bout I had ever given, which ultimately ended up in a sticky makeout session and some less artsy, more intimate, body painting. Conor decided to take up where Sun and Moon left off by trying to make me cum using only paint brushes. I had doubts that it would happen since I had already blown a load, but unlike the episode with the "Cute Pixies", Conor had an advantage... I wouldn't hold back for him! Pinning me down and flipping around in the 69 position didn't hurt his chances either. With his sweet peach in my sights and perfect cock in my mouth, each brush stroke was intensified, making my heart race and sending shivers through my body. I laid a hand on each of his smooth cheeks and reveled in the sensations of the paintbrush. Combined with the taste of his precum and slightly musky scent, my doubts faded and even more with each stroke on my balls. When my Love peeled my foreskin back, all doubts vanished... Conor painted a line up my shaft and the brush flicked the underside of my dick head. When my body jerked and I moaned loudly around his thick cock, I could feel Conor's heart rate pick up and knew he was as turned on as I was. Each consecutive line up my cock ended with another flick, another spasm, and another moan. Involuntarily spasms wracked my body when the brush was laid directly on my glans and the line was slowly painted around the circumference of my cock head. Knowing I was close, I pulled my Love deep and started sucking wildly. Conor responded by bucking his hips, then said something which unexpectedly sealed the deal... "I'm cumming, daddy." Without the usual warning signs, cum flew from my cock in thick ropes. I couldn't see it, but I knew I was shooting huge amounts of spunk as Conor sprayed the back of my tongue with his massive load. When the delayed convulsions hit, I pulled my Love by his hips, driving his cock so far down my throat that his balls rested on my face. We held on to each other's trembling bodies, continuing to eject masses of cum until we were both drained and exhausted. Conor finally rolled off so I could breathe, then flipped back around and kissed me with his lips still covered in my juices. It was definitely a good night! ________ I watched my Love he stir and his eyes open. He had tossed the sheet off his hips, revealing his morning hardness and making me hard again. I didn't bother moving my hand from the bulge in my shorts when he focused on me and grinned. "Morning daddy." Daddy... I had thought about the term before, and didn't think I would like it, but hearing him say it when we were having sex had turned me on big time, and hearing him say it again nearly made me cum in my pants. "Morning, baby." "You want help with that?" "God yes, but we'll need to wait. Jim wants to see your mom, but he's not sure how you would feel about it. I told him I would talk to you." Conor sat up and rubbed his face, then pushed his cock away from his abs, pointing it in my direction. After previous incidents involving piss, I prepared to launch myself out of the way. Conor chuckled and stood up, then grabbed my hand and led me to the bathroom. I knew what was coming next when he stood in front of the toilet and put my hand on his dick and said, "Aim." Had there been no other plans, I may have let his face get soaked again. My aim was true this time, with not a drop missing the toilet. Conor sighed. I kissed the sweet neck of the man I love. "Sorry. Jim was hoping the four of us could meet for brunch, so we don't have much time if we're going." After relieving himself, Conor brushed his teeth. I had already brushed my teeth, but took the hint and rinsed my mouth, then accepted the embrace and kiss that followed. His lips on mine and our tongues dancing together made me forget Jim, Nancy, and the entire world for a moment, then I detected a slight tremble and lifted my lips from his. "Hey. What's wrong, babe?" Conor put his head on my chest and held me tight. I had learned in my early years with Julie not to rush someone who's upset, so I held on silently and waited for my Love to answer when he was ready. After a few moments, Conor pulled away and led me to the closet where he got dressed, then back to the bed where he plopped himself down and leaned against the headboard. I knelt next to the bed and took his hand until he finally looked into my eyes with his misty greens, giving me the okay to continue. "Is it Jim and your mom?" Conor nodded slightly before answering. "They um... they both mean so much to me. What happens if one of them wants to get back together and the other one doesn't, or if they both do but it doesn't work out?" "You're afraid someone will get hurt." Conor nodded. I squeezed his hand and tried to remain positive. "Maybe it will work out and they'll live happily ever after." "Yeah, happily ever after in Ireland." "Or, they stay here." "Here, in this place? Jim would never bring my mom here." "Um, I see your point. I'm sure I would get along just fine in Ireland." "You would move to Ireland for me?" As I answered Conor's last question, I climbed up and straddled his hips, then bent down and kissed him with fire and passion. "Ireland... Arizona... Siberia... Mars... You, sir, are stuck with me no matter where you are." All of the options presented were possible... well, maybe not Mars, but with a history of being separated from those he loves, I wanted to reassure my devotion. With a bit more prompting and some tickling, I managed to get a smile and another kiss before we headed out the door. ________ I knew the drive to Sean's place would be awkward, with Jim fidgeting about meeting Nancy and Conor still mulling over questions that would take time to answer. To ease the stress, I pulled a mixtape from my glove compartment and popped it in. Conor looked bewildered by the antique artifact, and I wondered if he had ever seen a cassette tape before. Jim, on the other hand, smiled and let out a "whoop!", recognizing our old party mix on the first note. It didn't take long for Conor to catch the enthusiastic bug as we all sang along to the classic songs. Though the music had eased it some, tension was still heavy when we pulled into Sean's driveway. Not only because of Jim's meeting with Nancy, but also because he had known about Sean since the beginning. Conor had told Jim the story and leaned on him through the loss of his one time lover. Without time for details, Jim settled on trusting Sean's motives based on our own trust. After pulling into Sean's driveway I turned the key to the off position causing the rumble of Sweets' motor and the music to come to an abrupt end. Each of us sat in silence, unwilling to make the first move. I finally clicked my seatbelt off, prompting two more clicks around me. I heard Jim take a deep breath, then exhale. "Gads, I feel like a damned lad pickin' up his prom date!" Conor turned in his seat, smiled, and placed a reassuring hand over the big hand squeezing the seat. Jim smiled back at the gesture and found his will power. I walked around and stood next to Conor as he let Jim out of the back seat, and then the front door of Sean's house opened. It took me a moment to be sure the person I was looking at was actually Conor's mom. Nancy's golden hair had apparently taken well to the damp salt air, curling and spiraling down around to frame her delicate face. The Sun shone brightly behind the woman, causing her petite silhouette to show through her yellow summer dress. I caught the back of Conor's hand on my thigh for the "Wow!" that slipped from my lips a bit too loudly. When Nancy spotted her long lost love, both hands went to her mouth. Jim cleared his throat and took a single step. Nancy took a step, then they practically ran to each other, colliding in the middle of the driveway. Behind Nancy, two heads poked out from the doorway. The smiling faces of Chloe and Sean watched as she was scooped from her feet into Jim's arms. There was no kissing for the couple, only a long overdue embrace. The fact didn't diminish the impact of the reunion which was apparent by the lump I was once again trying to swallow. When Jim finally led Nancy to Sweets, Conor wiped a tear from his cheek, hugged his mother, then lifted the seat to let the two in. ________ Brunch turned to lunch as we waited for a table. We had opted to go to Cafe Oceana, the place Luke had met us before. We picked the restaurant for the outside seating since it was such a nice day, but it seemed everyone had the same idea. Conor elbowed my side when the same young lady who Luke had traumatized brought our menus. I couldn't tell if the girl recognized us or not, but hoped the large tip I left was enough to keep her from spitting in our food if she did. Jim was the gentleman's gentleman, letting Nancy sit first, helping with her chair and ensuring she knew he was paying. The gestures may have been a bit old fashioned, but Nancy smiled and gave her thanks. Conversation started off with small talk about the weather and the view, how happy Nancy was to see Conor again and how much he had grown up. Tears came to Nancy's eyes when she thanked Jim for taking such good care of her son, then she quickly changed the focus of the discussion, pulling a small object from her purse and handing it to Conor. Nancy explained as Conor opened the box. "They are Claddagh rings. The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty. It's an Irish custom, and I don't know what traditions you're following, but I noticed you're still wearing your wedding ring instead of engagement rings and... I hope you don't mind. I can take them back if they're not right for you." I could see the emotion building up, so I took Conor's hand while he struggled to respond. "I um... they are beautiful, but I don't... we haven't really talked about..." Conor's voice failed, so I continued for him. "I think what he's trying to say is we haven't discussed traditions yet, or done much planning at all for that matter. To be honest, I don't think either of us qualify as wedding planners." Jim snorted. "Aye, well that's obvious. You should let Nancy square you away." Nancy beamed. "I would be happy to help, really, if you don't mind." I caught Conor's slight nod and answered for both of us. "We would be extremely grateful for your help." "Oh, that's great! I promise not to be a pest." Conor finally cleared his throat. "How are these worn, mom?" "Well, you wear them on your left hand with the point of the heart toward your fingertip, showing you're engaged. Some people turn them `round and use them as wedding rings, but you can exchange them with your rings at the ceremony." Conor's fingers shook as he reached for his wedding band. I knew how much the ring meant to him, so I knew it was a big deal to part with it, even for a short time. His mother caught the struggle and responded. "You don't have to do it now. I'm sure they'll need to be resized anyway." Undeterred from his task, my Love slipped the wedding ring off and handed it to me, then took one of the Claddagh rings and looked at his mother. "Is there a traditional saying or something?" "Just say what your heart tells you, son." Conor took my hand and with tears falling said two simple words that meant everything to me. "Until forever." My own tears fell as I took the second ring and Conor's hand, looked into his eyes and my future, then repeated his perfect words... "Until forever." The kiss that followed was brief enough not to cause a scene, but still enough for the world to slip away once more. As I turned back to our table guests, I saw Jim and Nancy wipe their eyes, and standing behind them, the waitress wiping hers. The girl smiled shyly then placed our orders on the table. The rest of our lunch time was mostly spent talking about the wedding. Conor took the opportunity to tell Jim and Nancy about Rose and the Studio, which is where we decided the ceremony would take place followed by a reception at Cillian's. Rachel came to mind when we talked about attire, so I called her and got an ecstatic "Yes!" to help with our outfits, with a plan to meet later in the day. Nancy filled us in on Irish wedding customs and superstitions which brought much snickering from Conor with talk of magpies, cuckoo birds, and fairies. There were two things that did resonate with both of us, however, handfasting and pipe music. From early Irish history, hands were bound with a braided cord and tied by a witness to signify a union between two people. The symbolism struck us both as perfect for our union, and having someone play the pipes was, well... just cool. There were still plenty of details to cover, including setting the date, which led to the topic of Rose's health and Nancy and Chloe's inevitable return home. I knew that the trip to Florida had been unplanned and both of the women had jobs to return to. Nancy's answer surprised everyone when I asked when she was leaving. "Well, Chloe and I have had such a wonderful time here, and besides our work there's really not much for either of us to go back to. We've been talking and..." Nancy looked at Conor. "We're thinking about staying. That is unless it would be too much having your ol' mum around all the time." Conor beamed. "Of course it wouldn't be too much! Are you sure, though? I know how fond you are of the work you do." "Yes, I would miss the Center, but there's a place here that helps young mothers fighting addiction and abusive relationships. They've offered both Clo and I jobs and training, and... I'm trying not to get too excited because it all hinges on whether or not we can get visas." Something dawned on me then. Conor caught the question in my look and chuckled. "Aye, you've technically been sleeping with an illegal immigrant!" I squinted my eyes and tried my best not to smile. "Oh, now I see the truth. You just want to marry me for the citizenship status." Conor met my gaze. "Oh, you've found me out! I confess! I coerced a lady I never met into giving you a ring I never saw, fully knowing you would ask me to marry you on a day I never planned to see you, all to avoid the torture of being deported back to a place I still love! Just call me Mastermind O'Keefe!" Everyone chuckled, then we left the table with full stomachs, good memories, and much planning done. As we were headed to the exit, our server pulled me aside, handing me a paper with a phone number on it along with the name "Angie". I smiled and received a sheepish smile back as the girl spoke. "I want to apologize for the way I reacted before. Please tell your friend that I'm sorry, and um... that I know he's not into girls but I would like to talk to him about um... relationships." "I'll get the message to Luke. I'm sure he'll call you." Angie's smile broadened. "The ring exchange was sweet." "Thank you, Angie. I'm sure we'll see you again soon." Angie's step seemed lighter as she walked away. The girl was obviously coming to terms with the reality of same sex relationships and Luke was the perfect person for her to talk with. On the way back to The House, Jim sat up front with me, the grin never leaving his face after managing to secure another date with Nancy. I attempted to strike up a conversation, but he was lost somewhere in oblivion. I smiled, knowing the feeling, and let him have his time. Sean had joined us, sitting in the back with Conor. The two were at their usual games, razzing each other and laughing. I could pick out a few words but wasn't sure what they were talking about until I stopped at a light and heard Sean say "VanKeefe". Conor was quick to reply with a simple "No". The name was obviously a combination of both our last names which peaked my interest. I tuned into the discussion as best as I could with the street noise. The boys carried on about whether it would be best if Conor and I took on a new last name, kept our own, or hyphenated our names together as O'Keefe-Van Duren or Van Duren-O'Keefe. Sean kept pursuing the idea of morphing our names into a new name but Conor wasn't having it. I took note that even though Conor's father was a major asshole, his name reflected his heritage and he was proud of it. I knew the argument wouldn't be resolved in the car or with Sean. It was an important topic that Conor and I needed to discuss together, and I had an idea and some news that should make for an easy resolution. I noticed a familiar car parked along the street as we reached The House, then luke's smiling face as we pulled into the back driveway. Sean let out a cat-call whistle at the fit young man, standing in a form-fitting white t-shirt and cutoff jeans. The tattered denim had so many holes you could see his dick imprint through the pocket lining, and he was apparently happy to see Sean. Jim's eyebrows wrinkled together when he first saw Luke, then relaxed and a smile filled his face when recognition set in. As I cut the ignition, he barreled out and held his arms open. "Luke?! Gads, what a sexy beast you've grown into!" "Hi uncle, Ji... oomph!" Though no blood relation, Luke and Jim had apparently known each other for a while, which wasn't surprising given the connection with Sam and Conor. Luke's face turned various shades of red until he was finally released from the death grip and set back on his feet. "It's good to lay eyes on ya' again, Luke, but why are ya' standin' in my driveway? Did your sister lock you out or...?" Luke pointed to Sean who reached out and took his hand. Jim looked from boy to boy then shook his head. "You'd think I was gone for years, not days! Don't tell me you two are engaged as well!" Luke chuckled. "Us, no. Just those two and Tom and Sam." "Tom and?!" Jim turned in my direction, his eyebrows crinkled together again. "Is that it, cousin or do we need to have a...?" Jim's mouth fell open and he looked directly past me. I turned to see Rachel and Dimitri walking up the driveway, the duo apparently having just come from the beach with their long blonde hair, still wet and slicked back, glistening in the sunlight. Dimitri wore only a pair of boxer style trunks and sandals, his muscles flexing with an almost feline grace as he took each step. Rachel wore her bikini bottoms and carried her top, apparently having exchanged it with a light blue tank that did little to hide her wet breasts. True to form, Rachel kissed me before our hug, and I saw her brother do the same with Conor. I turned to make introductions, but big Jim planted a palm on his forehead before I could. "Alright, that's it! Everyone inside and no one leaves until someone fills me in on what the blazes happened here while I was gone!" I hadn't had the chance to mess with Jim since we were teens, and I can't say it wasn't fun to watch his brain fry a bit. Everyone obeyed and shuffled inside, with Jim dragging Tom and Sam from the kitchen as we headed to the Common Room. Jim's Interrogation started with Sam and Tom. Luke took a smack to the back of his head from his sister for spilling the beans about her engagement, but Jim was quick to offer hugs and best wishes before his attention turned to me. I made introductions for Rachel and Dimitri next, simply as good friends, leaving the personal details out that didn't need to be shared. Conor chuckled and elbowed my side when Jim went to shake hands with Rachel but received a hug and kiss instead. The poor guy was dumbstruck, with "Nice to meet you" coming out as "nithtomethya". Dimitri was no help, following up his handshake with a kiss to Jim's cheek, causing a round of laughter when the big guy was left completely speechless. Tom, being Tom, pouted "How come Blackbeard gets kisses and I don't?" to which Rachel and her brother responded by smothering him with kisses until he fell into a beanbag. Sam and Luke couldn't pass up the opportunity to join in on the fun, kissing and tickling Tom until he announced he was about to piss his pants. Once again my emotions took over. The laughter, the lightheartedness, the comradery... it all somehow came together for our ragtag group. We were all slightly bonkers in our own way, all from different walks of life and even different cultures, but we all fit together... like a glove made from mismatched fabrics. Knowing my emotional quirkiness, my Love recognized the mist in my eyes for what it was, put his arm around my waist and kissed my neck. When everyone calmed down, Jim continued prodding for information. I started the story of Eve, with Tom and Sam telling their part. Tom lifted his shirt revealing marks that had yet to fade, still on his back. We all concluded that even though it had come from bad circumstances, we had gained true friends in Charles and Thomas. Next, I told of the attack in the alley, and how both Charles and Thomas had come to our rescue. I attempted to lighten up the heavy story by describing how the drag queen posse won the day, but the humor was lost on Jim. Sean spoke up about the incident with Aiden, letting Conor and I fill in the details he couldn't remember. As much as I hated telling him, Jim had to know eventually, especially since it happened in his front yard. Once the stories were told, Jim's face turned grim and ashen, and the mood of the group had turned solemn, but there was nothing to do but go on. We had an event to prepare for, the last event of the season, and spirits needed to be lifted to pull it off. The call Conor took didn't help matters, however. Apparently the dance group he hired for the evening had all eaten bad food and taken ill. The news seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for Jim. "Six years ago I went on holiday and the guests took it upon themselves to transform my gymnasium into that Red Room. I waited for two years to go again, only to be called back by the police because the person I left in charge was selling orgy tickets to the general public. The next year I was gone for one day and the fire department called because their was a bonfire in my front yard. It seems I can't leave my own house for fear of not knowing what I'll come back to. I... I don't know a good way of sayin' it, so I'll just say it. I've decided to sell The House. I'm sorry. I know how much it's meant to so many people, but it's simply more than I can handle anymore." For a long moment our heartbeats were the only sound in the room. I looked around and saw a mix of surprise and sadness on everyone's faces, especially Sam's... everyone that is except for one. When I looked at my Love, I saw only determination, and a gleam in his eye. "What if someone else could handle it?" Jim shook his head. "I appreciate your thought, Conor, but we both know you've never taken to the wiles of the place. It's just not your thing and I wouldn't want that for you." "Actually, I wasn't thinking of myself." Conor turned to the beanbag behind him. "Sammy, you're better at planning the events than I ever was." Jim shook his head again. "But there's much more than event planning to be done, and much more than Spring Break. The rooms are rented all year and..." I interrupted Jim and added to Conor's assessment. "Tom is a natural behind the bar, and he's a wizard with numbers. I have no doubt he can manage the books." Tom narrowed his eyes at me. "I ain't no wizard, man." I narrowed mine back. "Bullshit, Tom. How many days have passed since Independence Day?" "Six." "Funny. How many days?" "Why you gotta..." "Just answer the question, Tom. I know you know..." "Fine! It's been 87,970 days since the original or 251 days, 15 hours, 12 minutes and 43 seconds since the last one. You happy now bro? Shit." "Sorry, but you can't hide your genius forever. It doesn't change what any of us think of you, it only enhances who you are." Sam put her hand on Tom's shoulder. "He's right, baby. It only makes you sexier." Rachel, who was sitting in the next beanbag over, looked at Tom. "It certainly does. Brains are sexy, dear." The grin on Tom's face told me he was warming up to the idea. Jim pulled the drama reigns in. "Alright, alright, I'm impressed, and it's something we can consider, but what in Thor's name are we going to do about tonight though?" Conor smiled. "I have an idea, just give me a moment." Conor gathered Dimitri, Rachel, Luke, Sean, and Sam in a huddle. After much whispering and nodding, they all cheered then took off toward the back. Conor suddenly stopped, rushed up and kissed me, then ran off again. Sam stayed behind and filled us in. "We have our new dance group and musicians! I'll need someone to make a supply run, and someone to find Sun, Moon, and Carl's lazy asses. Tom and I will start setting up. We're having a rave tonight!" Being the only two with transportation, and neither of us big on shopping, Jim and I tossed a coin over who would pick up the odd list of supplies Sam had made. After losing the first toss, Jim demanded two out of three, but still ended up going. That left me to find the Pixies and Carl... then I remembered the cum fight and Moon's face covered in my jizz, and... decided that having to face them was still better than shopping. I looked through the guest roster, noting that all of the rooms I needed to check were on the second floor. Having never been up to that floor, I didn't think anything of it until I reached the top of the steps and nearly choked on the strong herbal smell wafting in the air... cinnamon, with a hint of evergreen. Someone was burning incense. I took the last step and felt like I had been transported into a gypsy caravan. Instead of the normal lights that were downstairs, red and yellow paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, a multi-patterned rug lined the floor, and silk fabrics hung on the wall. Sun and Moon's room was the closest, so I started there and gave a knock, but no one answered. I knocked on Carl's room next, and came face to chest with Kevin, dressed only in his boxers. "Oh, hey man. What can I do you for?" "I'm looking for Carl. Is he here?" "Yeah, he's in the shower. Come on in." I looked past Kevin. The room could have been any dorm room from any college, with pizza boxes, porn magazines, beer cans, and clothes all over the place. "That's okay. Could you just tell him Sam would like his help as soon as he gets out? I think she needs some tech support." "Um, you should tell him. I'll forget and I don't want to be responsible. Just go in, they won't bite... hard." I started to go off on how lazy Kevin's generation was, then remembered that my generation and probably every generation before me were all the same at his age. Instead, I nodded and kicked cans out of my way to the bathroom door. The room layout was the same as Conor's room, with a small living area in the front, restroom and closet in the center, and bedroom in the back. Instead of a single bed, the room had two sets of bunk beds, only adding to the dorm room look. Not seeing Josh around, I suspected he may be in the shower with Carl when I heard a deep voice. I thought of turning around and leaving, but remembered I was on a mission. After all, it wasn't like I hadn't seen the boys fuck before, so I opened the door and walked in... to see three forms behind the foggy glass instead of two. A sultry moan told me that the third person was female. I lost my nerve and turned back to the door. "Wait, where are you going?" Spotted before I could make my exit, I turned back around to Sarah's wet face and fiery red hair peeking around the slider. "Hi Sarah. I actually came to talk to Carl." "Carl is... about to... ahhh one sec!" A large hand appeared in the glass next to Sarah's head. Her eyes rolled back and she let out a high pitched squeal that I was sure would break the glass doors along with my eardrums. Two deeper voices moaned in tempo with loud, sloshy, slapping sounds. Squeals and moans increased in volume, steadily turning into growls. I rolled my eyes and started to leave again, then stopped when the sliding door opened wider and Carl poked his head out. "Sorry Brandon, but she had me on edge for an hour and I couldn't stop myself." "Understood. I just came to tell you that Sam needs your help with something for the event tonight." "Gotcha. I'll go down in a few." I tried to get his attention as he closed the glass door. "Wait, can you tell Sun and... nevermind." The next task was to find Sun and Moon since the only way to get Car's complete attention seemed to be by shoving my dick in his throat. I did, however learn from Kevin that he saw Sun near Kat's room. Once again I was told to "just go in". Fully expecting to run into another fuck session, I pushed on Kat's partially open door and was pleasantly surprised instead. Unlike Capa Beta Fucka down the hall, Kat's room was clean and elegantly decorated with wispy fabrics of various colors. Kat and Sun sat in the center of the living area, dressed in white gowns and appeared to be meditating, with incense burning in a bowl between them. Somehow it felt more awkward to interrupt their reverie than the ménage à trois before. I cleared my throat causing Kat to peek one eye open and wave me closer. "Sit. Sit and breathe." Not offered a choice, I sat cross legged on the floor. "Good, now inhale, then release the negative energy I feel in your aura." I decided to play along if it meant getting my task done, then closed my eyes and did as Kat instructed. The Incense lent itself to the relaxed breathing around me, and it soon felt as though my heart was beating in sync with the other two. Before I knew what was happening, I found myself drifting off into some unknown space, not unlike the place I go when Conor's lips touch mine, but not quite the same. In the still quiet of the room, it seemed as if my soul separated from my body. I became weightless... wispy as the smoke. The problems of the day flittered around me, and I found myself wanting to laugh at them. Then there were no problems, only solutions. There were no questions, only answers... then, only one answer... "...andon. Brandon." I opened my eyes, unsure where I was for a moment or who was calling my name. Kat's graceful smile greeted me. I looked down and saw that I had her hand in one of mine, and Sun's hand in the other. I turned at Sun's melodic voice, almost always sounding like a song when he spoke. "How did you do that?" "Sorry. Do what?" "Let your consciousness slip away like that?" "Oh that. I don't know, really. It happends to me quite a bit, but this was different, more focused." Kat purred. "You're a daydreamer, hon. People think that's a bad thing, but it's not. You're just in touch with your psyche." "Well, my psyche and I need to get back downstairs. I actually came here to tell Sun that Sam would like his and Moon's help for the rave tonight." Sun perked up at the word "rave". "Great! I'll go get Moon and head down there!" I started to stand but Kat held my hand tight. "Before you go, will you share what you saw?" "Sure. I saw the answer to everything. It was love, and he had green eyes." Kat smiled. "He does, doesn't he? Thanks for sharing." I left the room with light footsteps, a fresh perspective, and a strong desire to kiss my green eyed love. __________ Preparations had all been made for the event, and I was excited about this one. I had taken a peek at Conor and the twins before getting booted out, but from the minute or two of rehearsal that I did manage to see, I could tell that everyone was in for a treat. Jim had returned with the supplies including neon spray paint and plain white sheets. Setup had turned into its own party when the sheets were laid out on the floor and everyone took turns spraying out graffiti. We then covered the large back wall with the sheets and helped Carl switch a few rows of colored lights out with black lights. I had known Sean and Luke would be playing for the event, but wasn't sure who would be playing the bongo type drums or the massive drum that had been set out. Kat had joined the setup team and was now handing out glow sticks, neon scarves, wraps, and other colorful items. Jim and I took a glow stick, but waved away the accessories until we got "the look" and decided not to upset the tigress. A few moments later, we were both looking like neon gypsies. Jim whispered, "Not a soul!" which I knew meant certain death if I ever told anyone. I responded by whispering back, "Ever!" echoing his threat back to him. The main lights suddenly dimmed. I heard a familiar voice on the sound system, then turned to see my Love standing in front of the bar holding a microphone. "Before we start the event, I want to acknowledge someone. If it wasn't for him, you would all be getting puked on in the streets with the rest of the hooligans out there. If it wasn't for him, years of fun would never have happend, friendsips would never have been made, and your Spring Break posts wouldn't have so many likes! You all know who I'm talking about, so please put your hands together and make some noise for... Jim!" Claps, whistles, cheers, and a "Jim, Jim, Jim" chant went out so loud I had to plug my ears. Not one for the spotlight, Jim leaned into me and waved away the "speech, speech, speech!" request, but managed a smile of thanks. Conor held up a hand until everyone calmed down. "No worries, Jim, I won't hand you the mic, but I will embarass you for a moment longer." Conor's voice cracked with emotion as he continued. "You've been a father to me for many years, and now you've become my friend as well. If it wasn't for you I have no idea where I would be or what my life would be like. I am who I am today because you invested in me, and I'll be forever grateful. Because of you, I understand what true love is. I understand that true love makes sacrifices not demands, it gives and requires nothing in return, and it always forgives. Because of you, I found myself, and I found my true love. You've touched my heart and the hearts of countless others in ways you'll never know. In honor of all you've done for all of us, we've decided to dedicate the first half of tonight's event to you. Not only that, but we'll be toning things down to an R rating because we have some special guests. Sammy, if you would, please." Jim put one hand on my shoulder and squeezed, trying to hold his emotions in. Sam, Tom, and a few others stepped aside revealing two women dressed in neon gowns, scarves, glow stick necklaces and bracelets... and I wondered how in the hell I was going to hold Jim up when he realized that Nancy and Chloe were the special guests. Thankfully the big guy managed to pull it together, then opened his arms toward the two beautiful ladies. As soon as the women were at our side the room went pitch black and a deep bass drum sounded out... boom, boom, boom! Tandem electric guitars joined in as Conor's voice filled the room once more. "Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, and freaks of the world... welcome... tooooo... THE HOUSE! -------------------------------- To be continued...