Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 13:58:05 -0400
From: T.CHASE MCPHEE
Subject: FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS 13

The story below is a work of fiction, set in the format of reality. Any
resemblances to real people, alive or in the hereafter, is entirely
coincidental in nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon persons,
of continents or islands, in countries, counties, cities, towns, villages,
neighborhoods, streets, cul-de-sacs, nor governmental or non-governmental
areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene involving male-to-male
relationships offends you, then why are you here? Seriously, if guy-to-guy
sex stuff makes you barf or is going to screw up your mind, you should not
read this story. Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age in any
state (21yo in Alabama, Mississippi, Wyoming, Nebraska), or in most
countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by law. Check with your
local laws regarding such.

Following, pages of this story contain `adult material', intended for an
`adult audience'. Bypass this warning at your own risk.

% Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction. In real life, use
protection.

Hey dudes, remember, Nifty needs your

donations to provide these wonderful stories.

http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html

^o^ Concluding remarks ~ reading this story could make you stiff or gooey,
so I would suggest not reading it at work... just sayin'! :)

%

FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS 13

WriTten by T. Chase McPhee

^o^

%

Watching, listening, observing, Jay had the impression the two having so
much in common, eating good food, cooking meals from scratch, getting along
so well, it would be a mortal sin if they did not hook up and get
hitched. Yet, he didn't want to push the issue, especially while Tal was
`on the clock.' Seconds later, Jay's thinking, if the two did get it on,
where would it leave him? Not one to dwell on himself, a thing he could be
accused of in the past, he thinks on how many other good-looking fish there
are in the sea!

When they sat down for lunch, Tal asks, "Jay, you have been so quiet. Are
you feeling all right?"

Adam butts in with comedy relief, "Maybe after he eats he'll feel worse!"

Cracking a little smile, Jay says, "Maybe," picking at his food, "but it
looks good."

However, knowing his failed attempt at humoring Jay, Adam does observe,
"Yeah, there's something definitely wrong with Jay."

Rather than wait another hour, another day, till next week, if he was still
under the same roof, "Okay look, I'm going to say this once and then I'm
never going to mention it again, unless I forget I mentioned it, you know
me... wait, you don't know me... anyway, I sometimes forget stuff I've
already said, but you two guys are like the most perfect two guys together
I've ever seen and if you don't hook up, well, then I'm going to make up my
mind to take one of ya's for myself!"

Neither knew what to say, until Adam takes a stab at humor, "I like the
last part. Take me!"

Tal gets a signal, a knee knocking against his, "We know you were listening
in. Did you hear the part where Adam asked me to go to Castillio's
tonight?"

"Dammit! It doesn't pay to nod off anymore!" Jay criticizes himself!

Tal says, "I will have... we will have dinner all made for you, so we can
leave whenever Jared comes home."

"Um, I think Joey is coming. Monday nights, usually Jare gets caught up in
business with the distributors and with two store, it takes a little
longer," Jay tells them.

Of course, Tal wanted to know who Joseph was, Adam, having met him, but not
as, "Joey? Is this the same Joey I know?"

"You know him as Joseph, moron!" Jay replies, like why didn't Adam get it?

"Remember you're a guest here," Adam imprints on Jay's mind.

"Oh good. I don't have to do the dishes. What's for dessert, waiter?"

Things went along smoothly, much more so, Joseph showing up early,
1pm. Another surprise, Riley shows, right after Louis and Nelson, holding
the door for them.

Of course it was cool having all these men in one place, but on Jay's mind
were some other matters, of which Riley notices right away, "Who broke the
china closet?"

He didn't think about it then, but did now, Jay watching Riley take an
interest in Thor, "He didn't do it!"

Truly not angry, it wasn't his china closet, Riley turns around, hovers
over Jay, hands on both sides of the armrests, "Did I say your doggie did
it?"

Noticing first his breath, secondly, the ability to peer down the alleyway
of his half unbuttoned shirt, Jay asks, "Starting happy hour a little
early, aren't you, Ry?"

Before getting up, his answer was a deep inhale, expelled in Jay's face!

"You're gross, Ry!"

"Thanks!" Riley says, feeling free to unfasten the last two buttons of his
shirt.

"Party time!" Joseph yells out, a bottle of water in his hand.

Wearing his signature outfit, which carried over into the clubs, natural
for Joseph to wear pants, but it was his bare upper bod, clothes with only
a leather vest and some knick-knack leather chain hanging from his neck,
which was tough to make out, buried in his chest hair, a small detail for
making the man look as sexy as hell, forces Riley to gravitate right over,
"Where's the music?" he places both hands over Joseph's shoulders.

First impression for Jay, right away, the very next chance he got, he would
have to burst the perfect bubble his brother and Riley shared, giving him
the worst possible news, whatever he had planned in the way of a
relationship, the dream was over!

Upon thinking it, he was totally whacked out of his gourd when Joseph gives
Riley the brushoff, dramatically saying, "Don't look now, Riley, but my
boyfriend is getting jealous by the minute, watching your hands all over
me?"

"Boyfriend?" Riley's eyes waded through the crowd of men, who seemed to be
paired off, except, "You and him?"

"No," Joseph made a sap out of Riley, "me and Thor, you idiot!" Ranting on,
"You think just because a guy is confined to a wheelchair, he doesn't have
feelings like the rest of us?"

By the end of Joseph's meaningful message, all of it catching Jay's ears,
he's right there at the railing, which keeps a person from dive-bombing
over the edge, looking up, "Hey, boyfriend, wanna dance?"

"Of course, boyfriend. Why not?" Joseph answers Jay.

A muscled bear of a man, it didn't take much to grab Jay up in his arms.

Though Jay had second thoughts, saying, "I love being close to you, but
don't you mind what the others might think about not being able to do any
fancy dance steps with me?"

"I could swing you around. Might be fun for you, but not if some other guy
gets kicked in the butt!"

"Are we really boyfriends, Joey?"

"Of course, Jay. I always say what I mean... Wait! That didn't come out
right..."

Jay joins in with him, the two chiming, "Mean what I/you say!"

"That's what I meant to say," Joseph says.

He didn't get his hopes up, Jay knowing Joseph was just messing around. But
there is one thing he learned, "Oh wow, I thought this was a necklace you
were wearing, Joey," Jay, hugged in at the waist, can freely move his arms,
singling out four chains, which come to a conclusive `O'.

"I've been accused of having too much chest hair, but no man better even
hint that I shave it!"

Not oblivious to the bear/cub culture, Jay quips, "Natural is hot, shaved
is not!"

It made Joseph giggle, "Right you are, right you are," he ends with, "I
know you and your friend Jake had a leather experience. Did you happen to
have any gear?"

It excited Jay, someone unpaired, a person to talk to, a `boyfriend'. His
butt flopping down in the chair, he watches as Joseph takes off his vest,
which finally notices them, whistling, telling Joseph to go all the way!

Watching, from Jay's perspective, he looks right at Joseph's navel, looking
like the Holland Tunnel, except no way out, but dark and surrounded by a
swirl of beautiful, dark brown hair below and above. Above, the trail gets
wider and wider and wider, until all this dark matt fans out over Joseph's
pecs.

Trying to lift the symmetrical chain off his chest, he had a little
trouble, "Need some help with that Joey?"

"I sure could!"

Whether he did or he didn't, Jay thought it an awesome experience, feeling
up all that kinky fur...

"Oo-o-oh, watch the nips!" Joseph cautions him.

Too much of the devil in him, it sends Jay over the edge, "You mean these,
Joey?" he tweaks up the fur-embedded nips.

"Proceed with caution," Joseph warns him. "Last time a guy got a hold on my
sensitive pecs, my cock busted down the zipper and hit him right in the
face. Knocked him right out, flat on the floor!" he motions with a hand.

Jay stopped, not because of being a scaredy cat, but with greater plans in
mind, "I'd sure like to see you get a rise from me doing that sometime?"

He already knew Jay's history, especially when it came to boys, not a good
track record. Only steady guy Joseph knew of was Jake and with Jake's
reputation, he immediately was crossed off the list of the category,
`relationship material', "Ever hear, `never say never'?"

"Never!" Jay toyed with him.

Rather than commit himself to anything he couldn't follow through with,
Joseph says, "You want this chain over your shirt or under it?"

"What're you crazy? Under it, of course!"

Everyone was much into what they were doing, drinking, laughing, dancing,
smooching, others a little further on, like Riley, teaming up with Louis,
with Nelson on the sofa, stripped bare, Riley and Louis fighting over who
got his cock, the other popping balls in and out of their mouths. Scanning
the room, the only down to earth couple, was Tal and Adam. Barely able to
look over the counter, he sees Adam with a cookbook in his hand, explaining
something or asking a question, Tal saying something back, his finger a
guide to something in the cookbook.

"Are you paying attention to me?" Joseph acts like he's jealous.

Sort of, Jay says, "I think Tal and Adam are starting to like each other."

Turning his head over his shoulder to look, Joseph says, "I could have told
you that a 1/2 hour ago!"

"Then why didn't you?" Jay had it in mind to pinch Joseph's nips till it
hurt, but didn't feel like getting shot across the room by Joseph's rise to
the occasion!

"Because you didn't ask. There. How do you like it?"

"I didn't even know it was on me, Joey!"

"Next time, pay attention."

"I can't see what I look like," Jay says, looking down his bare chest, till
he hits his wrinkled treasure trail.

"Do you know where there's a mirror?"

"Mens room or behind the door in the small bedroom. I think we better use
the bedroom!"

Something Joseph sensed, could have been the cocky smile, made him hear a
little voice in the back of his head, `beware!'

Sure enough, soon as they get in the room, door closed, so Jay can see
himself in the door mirror, he says, "Hey, I got an idea, Joey?!"

"Whatever would that be?"

It was a steamy invitation, for sure, Jay saying, "Well, you can get me up
out of this chair and lay me out on the bed and to see if I can get hard,
you can strip down and if that didn't work, you could walk on your knees up
the bed, unbuckle my belt, fish out my cock, give it a few licks and see
then if I can get hard. But if that doesn't work..."

That little voice kicking in, Joseph was about to say something...

Jay stealing the time, "I could play with your nips some more?"

`Dammit!' Joseph thought. He loved his nips toyed with. Stalling for time,
he asks, "How do you like the chain harness?"

"Does the chains rubbing on your nips make them hard as mine?" Jay feels up
his own tweakers.

"I think it's a combination of that and my bod hair, but there's nothing
like a live pair of hands working them," Joseph is thrown off course.

It's not the first time Joseph has thought about age differences and
meeting up with guys. As long as they were of legal age, he wouldn't mind
it if the guy was 18. Looks play a part. Strangely, either his man had to
be either smooth or `filthy hairy', like himself, a full frontal assault of
hair, thick pits, pubes, beard optional. It wasn't the fact they were 10
years apart in age, people often telling Joseph he looked much younger than
32, but the fact part of the friction of what he could do and what he
should do, Jared lay in between and what he would think if Jay's brother
came home and found them in bed together.

"Whatsammatter, Joey," Jay says to him after a lull in the action, "did you
forget already we're boyfriends?"

He said it, but wasn't convinced he meant it and rather than drag himself
and Jay into the Bermuda Triangle of love, "Jay, what I said about us being
boyfriends?"

Knowing this line, in the movies and real life, Jay gets adamant on Joseph,
"Fuck it, Joey and get the hell outta here," Jay starts wrestling with the
wire harness.

With a friend, one can feel for the other, but Joseph felt really conscious
of hurting Jay, "No, wait, leave it on," he fished his mind for a different
set of words, other than allowing the fish to fall off the hook, "I was
going to say I think we should take this slow, and if it's right, it's
right," he hoped he messaged Jay clearly, so it would sink in, adding, "Do
you want to instantly fall in love with a guy and then a week from now have
to rack your brain, figuring out a way to get out of it?"

"Owch! It just pinched me!" Jay says, trying to get the chain over one of
his shoulders.

"Let me help," Joseph says. He didn't want to do it, but getting the chain
harness off of Jay's bod was like extracting a tee shirt. He had no choice
but to kneel on the bed, lean over Jay's chest and... trying to do a
balancing act... "oh shit!"

Last ditch effort, Jay had seen Joseph having a tough time balancing a knee
on the soft mattress. Using it to his advantage, Jay hit him where it meant
the most, well maybe second place on the human bod, latching onto his two
nips and pulling!

"What did you do that for?"

"Um, like my hands are squashed between us?" Jay says.

"And who's fault is that?" Joseph says, contrary to what Jay was thinking,
in a jovial manner.

"Like, does it matter Joey, like, your face is like, in my face?"

Slowly caving in to not only Jay's silly way of trying to be charming, also
`the hands', still something tweaking his chest, whether they were on
target or not, Joseph says, "I suppose you want me to kiss you?"

"No," Jay says facetiously, "I want you to suck my dick!"

Coming up with a wild scheme, Joseph thought, if Jared happened to walk in
on them, he could fend him off with trying to see if he could make Jay
hard, taking mental notes on how he got him that way.

At first, Jay was disappointed, Joseph lifting himself off the bed, but
after removing his signature leather vest in a jiffy, Jay's sad demeanor
brightened up, "Cool! You're going to make love to me, Joey?"

Kind of feeling a bit giddy himself, something taking over his mind, Joseph
says, "Oh you betcha! Gonna get my tongue under those big basketballs,
glide right over the top and then suck that cannon down!"

Jay laughs, "You mean the walnuts and pencil?"

"Don't put yourself down, before you see me get you up!"

It was corny, but that's the way all this got started.

Biting his lip, Jay couldn't wait till Joseph unleashed his manhood and
wasn't disappointed when it came to his cock poking out from the mass of
pubic hair. He couldn't help it, but say, "Wow, Joey! You are really hairy,
like everywhere!"

"And if I wasn't pretending to bottom for you, I'd have your tongue wetting
every fiber!"

"Is that what you tell guys, when you meet with them? I mean, Jake and me,
we had a torture experience and these big, mean top guys demanded we lick
and suck them or else we'd get punished. Then, Jare came in right as this
big top guy, Master Bartosz was going to stuff a huge buttplug into Jake's
ass. Trust me, have you seen Jake's tiny pee-hole?"

Cocky smile, Joseph says, "Uh, yeah, matter of fact, I have!"

"Oh, then you can relate to seeing this huge," Jay holds up his hands,
rounding them to form a circle as big as an elephant foot, "buttplug,
forced up Jake's ass? I know I would be screamin' bloody murder!"

There was Joseph, all stripped down, buying time with Jay's
conversation. But when the conversation runs out, he knew he was at the
ultimatum, answering the last thought out of Jay's mouth, "I know. There's
not many men who can take a log that big and not complain."

"Really? A guy can take a buttplug that big?"

"Uh-huh," Joseph agrees.

Then they had hit rockbottom. Getting a little clammy, after he had psyched
himself and tried doing the same for Joseph, Jay says, "Um, are you going
to help me get my pants off, Joey?"

Suddenly, there's a knock at the door, Riley on the other side saying,
"Your dog has to go out?"

Probably as much into the moment as Jay, seeing all that smooth skin lain
out on the bed, Joseph yells back, "Well, fuckin' take him out!"

"Oh!" they hear, "Sure. No problem."

"Are you like that when you do dungeon scenes with guys, Joey?"

"Worse. Are we going to get you naked, or what?"

It's the moment he was waiting for, Jay saying, "Like, a half hour ago,
Joey?"

"Hmm, I think you got some potential at being a dungeon master!"

"I never thought of myself as being that way with a guy. I've always felt
like I would meet up with a guy, one who could get along with me as good as
Jake and me have gotten along all these years."

Joseph asks, as he unzips Jay's pants, "Why not Jake?"

"Jake? No, not Jake. Love the guy, but our differences of opinion on how we
would want a relationship to go are like," Jay moves his hands way apart,
"Jake is like here and I'm here!" he signs to the left and the right.

"I know what you mean. We really didn't get too far, when Jake and I met
up, but..."

"Wait," Jay interrupts, "then how did you know he had a small asshole?"

"This is going to come out, but Jake obviously does not share every meet up
with you?"

"Bullshit! We've never kept anything from each other. We're like best
friends forever!" Jay contradicts.

"Oh really? Does Jake know every time you took a dump?"

"That's gross, Joey. I'm not talking about stuff like that, but what guys
do with each other?" Jay gets adamant.

It made Joseph smile. Ninety-nine percent of the time, when meeting up with
a guy, in particular for some bdsm fun, the guy has been the type to
obey. One percent of the time, like right now, Joseph's loins were tingling
with sensation, Jay turning the tables on him, "Y'know, I really like your
tone of voice when you get like that, Jay?"

"Really?" Jay's temperament instantly changed.

"If you practiced, you could make Master Bartosz look like a pussycat!"

"But Jake and me, we didn't like him very much."

"As I heard it from Jake, you walked into the club like you were
pro's. From what he told me, the guy at the desk took down details of what
you would want to experience, Jake so hyped up, shooting his mouth off,
saying you and he could take a lot?"

Sharing Joseph's opinion, Jay didn't refute the facts, but right now,
finding out Joseph and Jake had hooked up before the bdsm club experience,
"Um, would knowing what you and Jake did before then, do you think it would
make me hard?"

Exhaling a breath of finding Jay, not only adorable, but funny and with a
knack of getting a guy to divulge facts about something, "You're
naked. Should we try?"

He wanted to, with all his heart, not to mention with hope to feel
something, but Jay was also courteous, "I don't want you doing anything you
don't want to do, Joey. I know you and Jared are friends and I'm your
friend too. Notice I didn't say, `boyfriend'?"

Admitting already to it, Joseph was happy Jay understood, "Friends, then
maybe boyfriends?"

Campily going about it, Jay straightaway says, "I don't know if I want to
get involved with an older man!"

Already picking up on it, Joseph retorts, "Age? I thought you liked me for
all this forest of fur!"

"What are trying to do, be voted in as hairy Care Bear of the year?"

"Hmm, now there's a thought!"

>From there, tired of trying to outdo the other, Joseph smiles, looking
upon the chain harness, stretched across Jay's spotless chest, as if the
Queen's diamonds, stunningly placed strategically in order to make the tray
look as beautiful. With plenty of experience under his belt, at being the
one being made love to and initiating the man to man experience, Joseph
kneels, then sinks his head down, right between Jay's legs, taking a lap up
the top of his slumbering cock.

"Feel anything?" he looks up at Jay.

"No. Can you like, forget my cock and balls for a minute and lay down on
me?"

He did as Jay requested, but in seconds, Jay is complaining, "Owch! You
pinched me, like all over!"

Doing a half pushup, Joseph says, "I don't think chains are your
thing. We're going to have to get you a leather harness!"

"Cool! When?" Jay pesters.

"Well, not right now," though Joseph knew, a place to buy leather
implements could be at the club.

"Okay. Whenever, Joey."

Effortlessly, this time, Joseph removes the chain harness, tossing it
aside, saying, "Y'know, I might just get myself another one too!"

"Do you think you can outfit me to look like a `master'?"

Taking the chain off overhead, put Joseph right in the position of face to
face, "I think you'll need a lot of practice beforehand?"

"Can I practice on you?" Jay asks innocently.

"Why not?" Joseph could only hope, feeling the pings of interaction. "Give
me an order!"

"Go jump off the Brooklyn Bridge!" Jay laughs his ass off.

"Your wish is my command, your royal hiney-ess!" Joseph gets up, to go!

"No, I meant," Jay thought of something just as risky, "make me hard!"

"I think I'll take the bridge!"

"I thought you came here to save me from dying a lonely, old man, Joey?"

He wanted to follow that treasure trail up to where it cut off, zip up that
smooth chest, Jay's nips looking like succulent apricots and kiss those
lips, but remembering his lowly place, "So, what was it you wanted me to
do?"

Shrugging his shoulders, yawning at the same time, Jay says, "Can you just
come up, next to me and lie down with me?"

"Only if you hug your little huggy bear?"

Half on, half off, Joseph lay on Jay, reciprocating, swayed to the side, it
is revealed, Jay's right nip, which became fodder for Joseph's tongue, his
other hand, wetting a finger and drawing circles around Jay's left nip.

"Wow, that feels awesome!"

Sliding his hand down, Joseph asks, "Affect anything down here?"

"Nope."

Running rings around Jay's nips, tongue and finger, put him right to sleep,
Joseph feeling drowsy.

Out in the other room, couples left, leaving a mess for Tal and Adam to
clean up. Already having found so much in common, the mess only serves to
bring them closer.

Without pinning labels on each other, Tal, after just 2 glasses of wine
asks Adam, "Do you suck as good as the vacuum?"

"Is Bobby Flay addicted to barbecue?"

Dropping the vacuum right there in the living room, the two took up with
kissing, Adam slowly guiding Tal towards the bedroom.

It was a very strange scene, when Jay woke up, the sole window telling him
is still was early afternoon. He shouted out, "Yikes!" which causes Joseph
to awaken and turn on the table lamp.

"Oh my god," Jay laughs, "I thought there was another bear in bed with us!"

Sound and light had also made Thor stir, lying on the left side,
sandwiching Jay in between him and Joseph!

Joseph thinks, "The door must've sprung open when Riley knocked before."

Petting Thor, Jay says, "Awfully quiet out there."

"Should I take a look?" Joseph asks, already sliding his legs off the bed.

"I dunno. Someone might scream when they see a bear in the house!"

In the silence of the house, Joseph did find the outer rooms quite empty,
but checking in on the master bedroom, all it took was peering through a
crack to make out two nudes in the bed, which made him smile, seeing one
spooning the other, yet not knowing who was the spooner, nor the
spooned-up. None of his business, but still it left a horny aftertaste in
his mouth!

Walking back to the room, who should set foot in the house...

"Joseph?"

It might have been so indifferent, standing there in the buff, but with a
dude at Jared's side, Joseph froze, except a hand catching up his cock and
balls, "Um, I can explain," his attention was first on Jared, ping-ponging
back and forth between the two men.

"Don't take too long," the other dude says, cheerfully walking up to Joseph
and like he was fully dressed, sticks out his hand, "I'm Jared's new store
manager, Bron Yubanski."

Staring at the `four-eyed' man, Joseph simple says, "Joseph."

"Good to make your acquaintance," Bron replies, eyes locked on Joseph's
pupils.

"Uh, let me go get something on."

Holding his privates, Joseph makes a dash for the bedroom, busting in,
saying, "We've got company!"

Yawning, nonchalantly, Jay says, "Oh, Jared's back?"

"Yeah and with a friend!"

"Hey, wanna hear something funny, Joey?"

"What?" Joseph asks, his mind on the other side of the door.

"Thor. He accidentally kicked me in the balls, but I didn't feel it."

Suddenly, one thing was more important than the other, Joseph asking, "You
felt Thor kick you in the balls, but you didn't feel it? How would that go,
Jay?"

He had his pants on, but let them falter to his feet, Joseph's hands around
Jay's ankles, looking up to Jay's eyes, down to his balls.

"Yeah, I guess I must've felt something!" Realizing it, Jay's mouth formed
a huge `O', "Like, oh my god!" followed by a commanding, "Jare, get in
here!"

"What's up bro?" Jared asks.

"Maybe me!"

Joseph breaks the suspense, "Thor kicked Jay in the balls and he felt it!"

Cringing, Jared says, "I wouldn't like it much myself."

"But, dah, Jare, like this is big news for me?"

"Oh yeah. Sorry. Forgot. Do you want Joseph to punch you in the balls and
see if..."

"Me?" Joseph questions. "Why do I have to be the one to maim his
cantaloupes?"

"Walnuts," Jay says.

"Get a grip, Joseph. I wasn't serious," Jared replies.

"Everything okay in here," Bron knocks, as he sticks his head through a
crack in the door.

Knowing all about Jay, it wasn't like he was a freak of nature for Bron,
the bespectacled man letting himself in. Being a gay man, it moved him to
once again see Joseph's hairy pubes and looking upon Jay, splayed out in
the bed.

Fortunately for Bron, Thor made a good diversion for his staring, "What a
nice dog. What's his name?"

He got `three' responses, all the same, but chose to address Joseph, "I
think it suits him."

Remembering why he came back to the room, Joseph bends at the waist and
retrieves his pants, bringing them up to just below his navel, stuffing
himself in and zipping up.

Not that he intended on paying that much attention, Bron says, "I prefer
the natural feel as well!"

"Natural?" Joseph didn't get it.

"No briefs?"

"Oh, well I do have briefs around here someplace. It's just when I stripped
down... never mind. It's immaterial at this point!"

Though, for the 29-year old store manager, the sight of a man stripping
down, slow and gently, each button, buckle, slipping each article off,
really could get him hard before even a guy touching him.

"So, how far did you and Joseph get?" Was Jared's first question.

Plain, simple, to the point, Jay responds, "Not as far as we got!" said,
like Jay was getting even for something.

"Um, you gentlemen want to leave us?" Jared requests.

Like Thor could read `humans', he decides not to stick around, exiting with
Joseph and Bron.

A lecture ensued, Jared having been over this before, Jay claiming each
time he referred to them doing gay-sex stuff together, whether early teen
years, or later, right up to the moment, it had to stay locked up in each
of their minds, not to be spoken freely, which placed the tennis ball back
in Jay's court.

After the tongue-lashing, coupled with how the past five days have gone, so
much packed in and since they were alone, Jay plays with the folds of the
front of Jared's white dress shirt, one handedly, "You know, out of all the
guys I met in the past five days, there's only one who really stands out?"

"Jake?" Jared guesses, full well knowing he was'nt the one!

"No. `You,' dimwit!"

As much as he would like to spend the rest of his life loving one man,
Jared had to look beyond the fraternal bond, "But it just can't be that way
for us, Jay?"

"I know," he sulked, fully knowing the implications, as society dictates,
"but can't we like, do it once in a while? For old time's sake?"

It was the hardest thing in his life, Jared having to give up such a close,
common bond with his brother. Like right now, wanting to please Jay, it was
tearing him apart.

Standing, he says, "What happens in private, stays in private."

Jay wondered why his brother said it, only to start taking his tie off,
guessing, "You mean, you're going to get it on with me right now?"

Pulling his tie from his shirt with one hand, Jared approaches the door,
forcing it open a tad, turning back to Jay, "Remember you have a doctor's
appointment... I wonder what happened to Joseph and Bron?"

Placing his hands behind his head, Jay casually says, "I think Bron is kind
of cute."

"Apparently you and Joseph share the same opinion!" Jared replies,
unbuttoning his shirt.

"It's so different with you, as opposed to someone who is not my brother?"
Jay speculates.

He didn't have to ask why, Jared saying, "I know."

"I never stopped loving you and never will, Jare."

Pulling his shirt out of his pants, shucking it, Jared says, "I suppose I
feel the same."

"But you hardly ever say it."

"I know, Jay, because I think it's time we both look for different men in
our lives?" Jared unzips, kicks his tied shoes off, steps one leg at a time
out of his pants.

Hesitating for a moment in his thoughts on bromance, Jay says, "Gosh,
you're so damn beautiful!"

"You are too," Jared draws his bro's mind back to reality, "and even though
you are incapacitated, there's no reason you cannot land a man of your
own," Jared thumbs down his briefs.

"Only one problem. Your's is in great working order and mine's all rusted
up," which didn't put in a downer as much as, "Hey, guess what? I forgot!"

"What?" Jared says, kneeling, with both knees to the sides of Jay's hips,
looking down upon him.

"Before, Joseph was licking my balls and I could feel `wet'!"

"Oh really?" Jared sits up, his asscrack landing right over his brother's
privates. "Maybe I should try them out?"

"No offense, but I don't feel anything with you trying to make them
hatch?!"

"No kidding," Jared says.

However he didn't go experimenting on Jay's balls, rather lying down next
to him, rewarming the place Joseph had lain.

"I thought you were going to test my balls out?"

"Plenty of time for that. Right now we have to talk business."

For a long time the brothers lay there, feeling free doing stuff to each
other, nothing they haven't done before. Only difference, Jay could not
move his bod to accommodate Jared, sucking on one nip, so his brother
hovered over Jay's mouth.

Trying to speak about the business, the name change, from Evan's Marine, to
`J&J Marine & Camping Supply', there were hesitations, Jared, tongue
circling his nip and the feeling of teeth was just right or too much,
"Owch, bro!" he feels his pec with a hand.

"Shuddup, bro. You love it!"

Jared couldn't fight the feeling, Jay's tantalizing causing an even greater
expression of how it felt!

The name change sort of phased Jay, but to him this wasn't the time to talk
business, until Jared brings up, "Did you know Topher's is up for sale?"

"What?!" Jay exclaims, the best surf shop on the east coast up for
grabs. "Are we going to buy it?"

Jay's excitement caused Jared to sit up on his knees, leaving his mouth
gaping open.

"Huh? Are you thinking of buying it for me, Jare?" Jay says, not realizing
the reason Jared is in tears.

Still not in the loop of things, Jay asks, "What's this about?" Jared
hugging him and crying with such passion.

"This," Jared says. "Don't you feel it?"

Breaking off his affection, Jared kneels there, hands ready to grab Jay, if
he should happen to fall forwards or backwards.

"Like, oh my god! Tell me I'm not!"

"You are. You're sitting up all on your own, no one is helping you!"

"Holy cow! I am, aren't I?" Jay is testing too, to see if he's going to
fall. A little over joyed, he takes to getting out of bed, "Oh cool!"

Fortunately Jared was there to catch his brother from diving head first off
the bed!

"Bummer! My legs still don't work!"

All Jared could do is hug his brother, but Jay wasn't fighting him
off. Over a period of a year the two have had their ups and downs,
successes and setbacks and now with this little bit of progress in Jay's
condition, "Are we going to Doc Nam or what, today?!"

In all, Jared had hoped to do the same, only he had a very full schedule on
his afternoon palate, including a buyer which he had to journey out to
their location and view tent set ups and other equipment, crucial to
launching their new line of camping and hiking supply.

Standing, Jared began dressing, at least his pants, remaining shirtless as
he cracked the door, "Then I better go find Bron."

So it came to pass, Tal accompanying them to the Big Apple, Bron
representing `J&J Marine & Camping Supply', Joseph his sidekick.

The whole time they were in the truck, headed out and back, all Jay could
talk about is `Topher's'.

He allowed Jay to vent, fully well knowing, surprising Jay as they turned
to go on the ferry, "By the way, I signed the papers yesterday."

"What papers?" Jay asks.

"Would be nice, if the surf shop you hung around was yours?"

"Ho-ly-cow! You did it? You bought me Topher's?" Jay was ecstatic!

Good thing Jared was parked, instead of driving. Even though given a
talking to last night, Jay `forgot', kissing Jared almost passionately.

Because he knew Tal was watching and picking up on every detail, Jared
explains it away, "Jay, he gets more excited than he can handle it!"

Shrugging his shoulders, Tal says, "I don't see any reason why brothers
should not share their feelings."

"Why?" Jay was suspicious, "Have you shared your feelings with your
brother?"

He wouldn't have said it, unless he had, Tal divulging his greatest secret,
"My brother, Keanu. We are both gay, but we both keep it a secret from our
family. It is how we both know we like men, because we have..."

Jared knew Tal was having a tough time getting it out, helping him along,
"Had sex together?"

"Do you think it is okay for brothers to be gay together?"

"Welcome to the club," Jay giggles.

The trip in was long, so they had late lunch at a shop on Lexington
Ave. Dr. Namboothiri gave Jay some tests, which made him feel like a voodoo
doll. His response made Jared smile, which trickled down for Jay, it was
good news.

On the way back, they lucked out, the ferry to the island having departed,
already half way on the return. They were second car in lane, which put
them on the front of the car and walk-on ferry.

While Jay and Tal talked up brotherly love, Jared checked his cell. Having
a text message, knowing it was from Bron, assured things were just dandy,
Bron sending through, like a coded message, `things went well.' It was all
Jared needed to put a smile to his lips, tapping his cell off, whistling as
he stepped out of the truck.

Texting back, how happy he was of cinching a contract, that smile quickly
faded, seeing Tal up on deck, waving his hands. Running to him, Jared
yells, "What's up?"

"Jay. He is sick," Tal says.

Running past him, Tal follows Jared below deck. In seconds he is leaning in
the driver's window, asking, "What's up?"

As he says it, the ferry suddenly comes to a grinding halt. People go
flying past him, however, with quick reflexes, Jared grabs Tal's shirt,
bunching the chest portion up in his hand. Hanging on for dear life,
grabbing the door of his truck, he watches in horror as Tal is lifted off
his feet, hanging on by literally, `threads!'

Fortunately Jay had his seat belt on, which saved him from collision with
the dashboard. Not only that, the small sports car behind them comes
crashing into the bumper.

>From all over the ferry they hear multiples of `What the fuck was that?'

Even though Tal's feet were on deck, Jared's hand still clutched his chest,
while leaning in the window.

With tears in his eyes, Jay's mind was mixed up over the sick feeling in
his stomach and whatever happened to cause the ferry to make a quick
shudder, "I don't feel good, Jare."

It was at that moment, Jared knew he had to get to his brother,
physically. Only, trying the driver's side, the door wouldn't open, "Oh
shit!"

Allowing Tal free, they both realize the truck indeed had leapt forward the
few inches needed to more than touch the bumper of the car in front of
them, an SUV. Approaching from the rear, Jared remarks, "Oh, boy," seeing
the hood of the Jaguar pinned under his truck. The damage was done, which
wasn't exactly what was on Jared's mind, only to get to Jay, so he didn't
care if he left foot-tracks across the hooded surface of the Jag.

Nimbly, Tal shimmied his way up onto the hood of the truck and Jared, with
a slight lead, reaches Jay. At the same moment, when Jared reaches his
whole bod in the window, as much as will fit, to comfort Jay, another head
sticks through the other side.

"Is everyone okay in here?"

Lost for the proper title to call the pastor from St. Stephens-by-the-Sea,
Jared addresses, "Mark?"

This guy was like no pastor he has ever known. First, the dress code, tank
top, skimpy at that, showing chest hair, like it could be a perfect full
square of dark brown... Other than this, nothing else really caught Jared's
eyes, except, at a moment like this, not out for a sexual romp, like Mark
had dropped on them out of the clouds, and right into the truck cab, his
belly lying on the sill where the window was rolled down, "What's up with
Jay?"

Tears down his face, a dismal look, portrayed someone either in pain or
with deep anxiety, Jay saying simply, "I don't feel good."

"I don't know what's wrong with him."

"Well, first I think we need to get him out of this truck," Mark says.

"The doors don't work," Jared informs him. "Either the Jaguar slamming into
the rear or the truck jumping into the SUV, either one might have caused
the electrical system to fail?"

Regardless, Tal sticks his head in Jared's side, "We need to take Jay out
through the window."

"Just what I was thinking," Mark says.

There were injuries, to say the least and two small fires. With the fires
out, smoke still lingered, yet those who were not seriously hurt, began
helping those who were.

Even though, in times of disaster, Mark circulated, he stay with Jay, Jared
and Tal, slowly freeing Jay up from the truck.

Fellow who owned the Jaguar, wasn't about. Seeing a need, Mark didn't think
it would hurt, using the dude's surfboard, having fallen forward, folding
the passenger seat in half, as a stretcher.

Only place to lie the stretcher down, was across the surface of the
convertible, juxtaposed from side to side. There, the three managed to get
Jay out of the locked truck and at least semi-comfortable.

In Jay's mind, even though his stomach felt like the after effects of
getting hit by a baseball bat, coupled with the hullabaloo on deck,
realizing he was atop a surfboard made him regress to a life filled with
more happiness.

In the distance, the owner of the Jaguar first exclaimed, `Oh my god!', but
not only for his expensive ride, but the dude lying across it, "G'day, Is
everything good?"

They all were attentive to the face asking, with total, serious abandon to
what seemed to be an only concern, Jay, Jared says, "My brother, he's sick,
but we don't know what's wrong?" Jared was torn between Jay and the dude
with the NZ/Aussie accent.

"Tell you the truth, deadset, we should get a doctor back on the line,
mate?"

Jared wasn't sure what he meant, but kind of got the idea, whipping out his
cell.

At the same time, Mark, who seems to know what's going on, chats up the New
Zealander, "Do they know what hit us?"

Using his hands to describe the monster boat, "Fishing skiff, thi-i-i-is
big. Totally rooted, but us mate, we're doing fine."

"Oh," Mark replies, more attention given the New Zealander, than Jay right
now.

With surprise suddenness, the ferry jerks and right in the middle of Jared
on hold, he's thrown against the railing, Tal returning the lifesaving
favor, catching Jared by the belt, "I have you!"

Truth is, he could have been thrown overboard and not just his cell, which
flew out of his hand. Realizing it, it wasn't the `thing` which concerned
Jared right now, but Jay, who took a good rollover.

Then again, realizing the force, the motion, Jared show relief, the
Kiwi-dude having thrown his bod over Jay, clutching the other side of the
board, showing his gratitude, "Thank you so much," at which point, he turns
and joins Tal at the railing overlooking the water.

"It's gone," Tal says, knowing Jared was searching for his cell.

However, the stranger to the rescue, right in front of him, held an iPhone
for his use, "Here, mate."

At first Jared looked at him, but then with Jay groaning, "Thanks." Then,
thinking about his whole quarry of phone numbers, on his cell, "Oh shit,"
Jared drops the phone to his side.

"Problem?" Mark and the New Zealander ask at the same time.

"Doctor Noomboothiri. His number is on my cell," Jared says.

"Which Namboothiri brother?" the New Zealander asks.

If it wasn't for Jay in discomfort, even though Tal was catering to his
immediate need, petting Jay's arm, Jared might have felt in the loop,
asking for the stranger's name, instead, "Elton. You know him?"

"I know the whole Namboothiri family. Some of the brothers are my clients."

In a sarcastic way, Rev. Lachey gets hip, "Well, at least we now know you
know, even though we don't know your name?"

Feeling comfortable with the bunch, the New Zealander first presses a
button, corresponding to Elton Namboothiri's name, which happened to be
more than Jared hoped for, taking on the second course of business, turning
to the reverend, slapping the back of his hand on his stomach, "Didn't get
yours, mate!"

Mainly, Mark smiled from feeling the touch of hand to his tummy, which
seemed like friendly torture, immediately making the preacher confess,
"Mark Lachey, Jr.," a hand offered.

Smiling, they all find out, the cordial and caring stranger is none other
than, "Zachary Eric Zoen," he tacks on a smile.

Jay had calmed quite a bit. Later on, he would admit, lying on Zack's
surfboard made him feel nostalgic, which threw a calm into his malady,
which Jay would credit the strange taste of the prosciutto with the
crostini he had, after the doctor visit, catching lunch at Koss'
Lunchtable.

"Thanks for the use of the phone, `Zack'," Jared says, "but apparently more
than Jay will have to be airlifted off the ferry."

"Oh, I'm sorry he has to wait so long," Zack replies.

Then, their attention was once again drawn to Jay, him saying, "I feel
awfully sick, Jare."

Tal's TLC had given Jay some mental soothing, however, at this moment
nothing could beat Jared's half-hug, an arm over his brother's midsection,
tucked under a little, as if they were lying in bed together. Not much
different than those times, each of their glances, staring, telling that
things indeed were going to be fine.

Such a display of affection, both the warm camaraderie they share, also
dashed hopes for Zack, looking upon the two. On his way out to the island
for the week, he was on a sort of vacation. Twice before he recalled seeing
a dude in a wheelchair. Confronting one of the Sea'n'Rescue people he knew
at the beach, Zack found out the lad was once a surfer himself. Before Zack
went back to his own beachfront pad, he knew all the dirt on Jay, except
mention of a brother. Therefore, right now he was mistaking Jared for a
boyfriend or lover, leaving him to think, `things going walkabout!'

Hearing some buzzing in the air, Jared bends back over the railing, looking
above the roof, saying, "The plane has landed!"

Of course, the helicopter didn't land, a launched basket dropping out of
the sky, onto the craft. Figuring there had to be someone worse off than
Jay, he was wrong, flocked on by men in orange suits, the forerunner, a
quite handsome, blond individual, yelling, "Where's the sick passenger?"

Waving their hands, Jared, Tal, Mark and Zack wave their hands in the
air. Surely, only pitch black darkness could keep anyone from noticing!

The four stepped aside, paramedics going to work on Jay. In the state he
was in, Jay could care less that a pair of scissors planed down his bod,
from his neck to hemline.

The blond, asks, "Anyone related to this man?"

Experiencing relief, that Jay was the second passenger to be airlifted, he
was relieved as hell, saying, "Me. I'm Jared Evans, Jay's brother."

His head popped up, as if someone were calling him, Zack's attention drawn
to Jared, like, probably as relieved as Jared knowing Jay was in good
hands. It made the New Zealander smile!

Blood pressure and all the usual statistics were gathered, saying his bp
was a little elevated, which could have been an infection. With little more
to on, other than the prosciutto and crostini, it was asked, "Who's the
owner of this fine board?"

If casually speaking, about surfing, Zack might have engaged the hot blond
in conversation, but it being business rather than pleasure, he says, "Me."

"Are you related to the patient?"

"No, mate."

"It would save us some steps and a bit of a hassle, if we could transport
the lad on the board?"

As it went, Jared never made it back to the store, not that he had to, with
Bron in charge, JT running back to store #1.

When the ferry docked, 2 hours later, without Jared and Jay, Mark and Zack
helped Tal, with recovering information about the truck. It took another
hour to tow every car off of the ferry. With little more to do, except
wait, Tal was put in a cab home, to Jay's home, which was Riley's pad. He
knew which rock in the front garden the spare key was under!

"Looks like a lot of damage to your Jag?"

His mind probably should have been on the multi-digit price of the car, but
instead, in the opposite direction, Zack says, "What do you know about Jay
and his brother?"

Reading him like a palm-reader, Mark asks, "Which grabs your interest, Jay
or Jared?"

Realizing the implication, Zack replies, "Why? Do you have a stake in one
of them, reverend?"

"Not yet," Mark replies, "and by the way, it's `Mark'. Even around church I
don't cater to formal names," he smiles.

"Then, mate, what about Jay?" Zack divides his attention.

"What have you heard, which I'm thinking you know something, since you are
asking at all?" Mark meant, from a `gay' angle?

"I know he was a surfer, had a surfing accident and... um, like does his
dog bite?"

Even though he hadn't a quest for a relationship, getting settled at his
new church post, Mark left room for speculation, even though Zack was bent
on pursuing something, "The dog is as tame as a kitten, except I wouldn't
go throwing myself at Jay, since no one knows how touchy a dog could get
towards his master?"

Smiling, Zack says, "Hey, before I decide to involve myself with Jay, would
you care to fool around a little bit?"

"I have to admit you give me a rise there, Zack?"

"Hmm, and I thought you had a hand in your pocket, counting loose change!"

Right from the reverend's mouth comes, "I got an idea. My car is worth
crap. Why don't you leave your business card under the wiper and we take a
walk over to your place?"

"Nice idea," Zack says, digging in his wallet, turning up 3 business cards,
handing 1 to Mark.

He got the hint, watching Zack put one under the Jag blade and the other
under the blade of Jared's truck.

"Oh, I get it," Mark snaps a finger against the card. While enroute to his
beat up chevy, he takes the opportunity to read it, turning and yelling
over to Zack, "You're not Zoen, the architect, are you?"

"Depends."

Sticking the card under a wiper, walking over to the architect, "On?"

"If the building is still standing or if it fell down!"

"Neither. I just know of it. My sister, in Fort Lauderdale owns one of your
beach homes."

"Lachey? Doesn't ring a bell," Zack replies.

"No, wouldn't be. Her married name is Dade?"

"You know, sometimes I work with a local architect, depending on the area
of the world. Perhaps that's the reason I don't find the name
recognizable?"

Mark says, "That's gotta be it."

A lull in the chat, Zack says, "So, do you have a nice lollipop to suck
on?"

"Not tellin'!"

"Hard to get, are you?" Zack says, both walking towards the booth where a
person would normally pay the fare.

"Truth is," Mark replies, "it's kind of like this... The harder you suck,
the harder it gets!"

Since it meant a beat up chevy vs. a black Jaguar, Mark let Zack do the
talking. It didn't look like the same dude who, 6 hours ago, let him onto
the ferry. Call it, just something nice to say to the guy, or conversation,
because the fellow was making an impression with his nice, middle-aged
looks, "Did you guys change shift?"

Zack bent one eyebrow, because Mark suddenly became the attention-getter,
which he didn't conceive the possibility, a motive to beef up the
membership roles of his church...

"I'm a less than part time worker, giving lunch breaks," he replies,
returning to Zack.

`Hm-m,' Mark could only think, never had turned a guy off so fast.

Pastor Mark wasn't exactly the frocked monk look. Even if it wasn't his day
off, he could be seen around the church, dressed down in tee and jeans, on
hotter days in shorts. Days off, like Monday's, which he knew he was on
call anytime, if someone needed face-to-face attention, they would have to
take him like it is, tank top, bare minimum of a rag, showing his dark
brown hair, coming out from the tank top on all flanks, pecs, top-lining
the ridges of his shoulders and because he got real lazy on days off, a
scruffy face. If he wore shorts, his hairy legs were something scrumptious
for the foot and leg admirers, unless smooth, a guy could get turned off
just by Mark's legs. If Mark was on the beach, he wouldn't hold back, like
any other hot guy, with a hot bod, only rag of clothing would be a skimpy
speedo, whereas the hairy story continued, stripe down the abs wall,
increasing in width, swirling around the navel, opening up to a swath,
where a person could not tell where the pubes began or ended, only because
of the fabric obstruction.

Mark had figured, when the guy was done talking with Zack, they would be on
their way, however, sharply he turns and says, "I've seen you before?"

It was dry standing out there, Mark licking his lips, saying, "I'm the new
pastor down at St. Stephens-by-the-Sea. You weren't by chance standing on
line for food?"

He would have to be homeless, nearly penniless, Zack answering for the
mid-aged dude, "I hardly think David would fit the pattern, mate?"

His finger wagging back and forth, Mark asks, "You know each other?"

Zack says, "There's hardly anyone I don't know on the island?"

Feeling like a doofus, Mark says, "I suppose so. What would a newcomer to
the island know?" he laughs.

"Someone should give you a proper welcome."

Like, `omg!' Mark thought, this forty-something year old guy running a
pickup line by him, "I only caught half of your name?"

"Digby. David Digby," Digby says.

"Y'know, I just thought of something... I've got to make an awfully
important phone call?" Zack suddenly brings up.

Zack knew things were taking a turn here. Perhaps David was throwing Mark a
pickup line, but from Mark he was getting a letdown, "Okay, well I'll catch
up with you later, Zack!"

Taking his phone out, Zack made like he was calling, but put his phone back
in his pocket when he turned the corner by Ali's market.

The way the town was set up on the island, it was encouraged years ago for
people to do their business about town on foot or bicycle. Throughout the
years, slowly streets have been blocked off, walkways becoming the
thoroughfares. A few roads remained as such for the handicapped or
emergency vehicles, or if someone were having furniture or appliances
delivered. Private citizens, like Jared, would have to secure a permit, but
driving wasn't like the big cities. The maximum speed was 15mph, which
walking sometimes was faster, depending on distance. Riding the ferry
across from the mainland, for people who owned or rented, were parking
spaces. Anyone else had to take the ferry and walk.

Right now, Zack was reliving sights on the island, how it has been built up
over the years. He passes by a few buildings responsible for designing,
replacing when destroyed or condemned from the last big storm, which they
hadn't seen a humdinger like this in decades.

No matter how many buildings he chose to pick apart, according to his own
design, thinking how he could have done it different, one thing, he did not
dwell on the total loss of his Jaguar. Thinking about it for a second, it
made him stop in front of `The Flake Shop', a clothing store for the hip
youth of the island and those older guys who can get away with dressing
youthfully.

On his mind, as he looked up at one of the tee shirt, which read, `If
Zombies Are Chasing Us, I'm Going To Trip You,' he chuckled, thinking of
Jay, but because of the logo, he had to have one of those!

He doesn't know what happened, entering `The Flake Shop', but leaving, he
had the tee shirt he came in for, hoping it would fit Jay, running wild
with his credit card, racking up $2,567.77 on mostly surfing labels; tee
shirts, shorts, hoodies, caps, designer towels, Nouguet briefs, all with
his mind on Jay and not himself. Pausing at a rack, he thought how cute Jay
would look in a jungle hat, creased on one side.

He allowed one of the sales-dudes to help him pick out stuff, telling him
it wasn't for himself, but a friend. With the usual line, `anyone I know?',
it's amazing Jeremy, his appointed salesman, knew the kid in the wheelchair
with the dog!

"One of the guys who comes in here often, told me he was surfing out in
Oregon. On his second wave he hit the rocks. It hit our little surfing
community hard. We were all broken up over Jay's accident," Jeremy tells,
ending on a somber note.

"You're good mates, then?"

"Not really. I just know of Jay, from other guys I've surfed with. Even
though, I wish him the best and hope he gets through the problem he had
earlier on the ferry."

"I'll give him the message." Having finished his transaction, piles of
clothing on the counter, Zack says, "It's obvious I can't take all of this
with me. Would there be a way of having this delivered?"

Things perked up, Jeremy finding out almost all of the clothing was a gift
for Jay, saying, "Man, wish I had a boyfriend like that... Uh, yeah, I
could arrange to have this delivered after the store closes."

Zack laughs, saying, "Maybe you can hit the owner up for some delivery
money!"

"Um, yeah," Jeremy says, acting a bit strange, saying, "I doubt it, since
the owner is my brother!"

Zack says, "Well, it's time to hit the turps!"

In a serious manner, Jeremy asks, "Which means?"

"Would you like to have a drink with me, sometime?" Zack made his quacky
Aussie slang sound more personal.

Hesitant at first, Jeremy gives in, thinking, when he knocks it off for the
day.

Leaving, a few parcels under each arm, a shopping bag in each hand, Zack
begins slowly condemning himself. Even though he has not rightfully
introduced himself to Jay, he's already a `heel', or rather feels like he's
at the heel of a big leather boot, being ground into the asphalt, or should
be, picking up Jeremy like that in the store.

Two doors down, Zack stops at Topher's ordering up a lemonade and wrap, a
small concession disguised as a lunch counter. Age 26, when he settled in
the states 2 years ago, he made a vow, swearing to not check out every hot
guy who crossed his path. It hadn't worked until a former boyfriend back in
New Zealand, who knew Zack could not carry on a monogamous relationship for
more than a few days, challenged him, with big stakes, over a contract for
an office building in Christ's Church. It was a bitter lesson to learn,
costing himself plenty, realizing, if he ever wanted to develop a
relationship with one guy in mind, he would need to summon up all his
willpower.

Sitting almost in the big plate glass window at Topher's, Zack had the
whole world in view. As the summer wore on, the hot, shirtless boys who
passed through his world...

Not set on any one kind of man, Zack didn't like too fat, blubbery, but the
occasional muscle bear or cub could give him a rise. Hairy or smooth, it
was a matter of a toss of the coin. Even long or short, cock, not hair,
didn't phase him as much, as long as it was succulent and juicy...

Now, the whole panorama was before him; bears, cubs, muscle, chubby, some
hair, chest, stomach, darkened pecs, light pecs, stripes from chest to
stomach, happy trails, `unhappy' trails, swaths, not to mention facial
features, arms, legs, the occasional guy who reached to scratch the back of
his neck, revealing a tuft of pit hair, skimpy, or shaved, which Zack
thought a sin.

Even with all those types walking through his world on the sidewalk outside
and across the street, the word `sin' made him think of Mark. Something he
learned about Mark, it was obvious, David Digby an older man, Mark
liked'em!

Speaking of the devil, "Hi there. This seat taken?"

"No. Not," Zack said, juggling the shopping bags around, a little nervous,
because his mind was already on topic, "um, were you able to connect with
David?"

"He's dropping by the church later on for Monday night soup kitchen," Mark
replies, helping himself to a plate of fingerfoods.

"I see."

"Have you been in touch with Jay or Jared?" Mark asks.

"No. I'm not sure I should bother them."

He didn't mean to shame Zack. It just came out, "Bothering sometimes means
caring about a person," Mark chomped on celery.

"I guess you're right."

Of course he was right, Zack putting himself to shame, excusing himself to
take his call in the hallway, out back by the kitchen. It must've been the
place to go, another guy, popping open the back door, out onto the back
deck, which faced the bay, jabbering away.

It was a test, Zack just knew it, the dude noticing him first, smiling. He
smiled back, but took a deep breath and told himself he was not going to
jump at the next moment of making eye contact.

And he didn't, connecting with Dr. Namboothiri. Puposefully he studied
every sign or picture in the hallway. Since he mainly walked about town as
a tourist, he checked to make sure he had a shirt on, which he did, because
an exception was traveling to the mainland on business, though Zack checked
to make sure it was properly buttoned. He knew of a dude coming into an
eatery, a shirt on, but unbuttoned down to his hot treasure trail and the
manager had to come out and tell him to button up or butt out... of the
place!

He was on hold, the receptionist placing him there, for all of 60 seconds,
but it was enough to tire him, from studying the walls, peering out of a
corner of an eye. The cell-dude was gone, but in his place, a sous chef had
taken his place, drinking a cup of coffee. Zack bit his lip. His frame in
the doorway, apparently he fit the description of one of his favorite types
of men, muscular, but not totally buffed up.

On hold, it made a connection in his mind, Elton Namboothiri, who fit the
description perfectly of his type of man. Race wasn't an option, but some
bod hair, flanked over the pecs, stripe down the middle, fanning out over
the stomach, darker around the navel, treasure trail cool, but not
essential, nice package, being connected finally, Zack, in his mind had
just described the person he meant to talk to, "Oh hi, Elton. I was
wondering, about Jay, how's he doing?"

Not that the food was tainted, but for Jay, he had a tough time digesting
it, rather a combination of foods he was not used to eating, caused the
rather symptoms one would sense with a penectomy.

"I suppose that is good news?" Zack said, sweating from heat blown out of
the kitchen, plus a guilty feeling for dressing down Elton in the hallway?

Elton had informed him both Jay and Jared would be coming back to the
island around 7-ish, that his brother, Rowan would be coming with him and
wondered, since he was taking a brief holiday, would he mind putting them
up?

After hanging up, Zack had experienced more than a rise in
temperature. Unfortunately, he thinks the sous chef might have noticed!

"That didn't take long," Marks says, facetiously.

"I had to wait to be connected," Zack replies.

When Zack sat down to eat, he realizes the rest of his wrap gone, saying,
"A kangaroo must've been through here!" he looks straight as his plate,
sitting.

"Oh, I got a little hungry and didn't think you would mind?" Mark licks his
chops!

"I have a problem."

"Good thing I stopped in. Horny?" Mark whispers.

"No, not that kind of a problem. You see, I thought maybe I was starting to
feel like I might want to get to know Jay some and... I went crazy at The
Flake House and bought him all kinds of clothing, shirts, pants..."

As if he was on the pulpit, reciting a harrowing sermon, Mark says flat
out, "The best things in life are not things!"

"I didn't think so," Zack thought, after racking up a smidgeon of credit
card debt.

It could have gone either way, Mark's followup, opting to speak low and
quiet, "It's sex!"

"Really, mate?" Zack questioned Mark, only because he was a preacherman and
in his educated opinion, men of the cloth were all serious, religious, so
catholic and all that religion jive.

"Depending on how a person feels at the moment," Mark says a little more
outspoken.

Shaking his head, Zack says, "I don't think I get religion at all."

Getting up, Mark uses Zack's shoulder to help catapult him out of his seat,
"Then you need to get to church!"

Zack watches as Mark picks up a muffin and starts eating it like an apple.

About to leave, Mark doubles back, leans on the table, "Oh, you didn't tell
me about Jay?"

Telling all, about Jay, his sick stomach, recovering, coming back tonight,
he also mentions about Elton Namboothiri and his brother, Rowan bringing
the duo home, plus staying for possibly a few days, maybe more.

"At your place?" Mark asks.

It didn't take a rocket scientist for Zack to tell why he was asking, but
not heartless, he says, "Maybe you can come out for dinner some night?"

"Well," Mark says, "I suppose I can steal away from the soup kitchen
tonight for a few hours?"

He then remembers, "What about David Digby?"

"Oh, it's okay that I bring him along with me, isn't it?" Mark says, so
angelically, how could a person refuse?

Not caring how Mark was, Zack liked him, thought him to be quite a
character, funny, kind of a numbskull, not minding the way he was at all,
even though he stole his muffin!

%

Copyright 2013 T. Chase McPhee

`FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS', and developing segments of this story, may not be
sold, nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the
author.