Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 10:50:05 -0400 From: T.CHASE MCPHEE Subject: FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS 16 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 FYI: I don't get a hefty paycheck from NiFTy at the end of the month. I write about horny dudes because it helps keep me stiff. Take your hand off your stick shift for a minute and dig into you wallet. It's costs to keep these stories coming to you. ^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 16 WriTten by T. Chase McPhee ^o^ % Phil and Dean couldn't believe how good things were coming their way, with the morning `gone wrong' at J&J Marine, only to have their afternoon working out so beautifully. "Yay!" Phil says at the conclusion of the meeting between himself, his lover and proprietor of HOODWINK'd, Trey Castro, him carrying on, "Does this mean sleeping in a real bed?" Another little thing about the `Oasis', Trey's `home' for guys passing through life, he lets on, "You boys can fight over the top and bottom bunks!" Dean didn't like that idea one bit, but was nice in saying, "Um, it won't work out for us then." "Why not?" Trey asks. Phil, who didn't see the obvious, too asks, "Yeah, why not?" "Question, Phil," Dean addresses his other half, "like, how many do you think you can fit in one twin size bed?" Something Trey hadn't gotten, at the beginning of the interview, he thought Phil and Dean were good friends, not... "Oh, I see," he giggles, "I was under the impression you were friends?" "Yeah," Dean replies, Phil chiming in, "Since 10th grade." Trey glances down at the applications, his own sketch work, having recollected on their ages, "And what did you do between graduating high school and now?" Phil and Dean look at each other, Phil saying to Dean, "Go ahead. You're better at explaining it than I am." With his undivided attention on Dean, the 19-year old says, "Spring break, we had talked it over, it better I come out to my family, with Phil along as moral support. To make a long story short, not only did my dad `not' like it that I was gay, but said to forget I was and that I was no longer to associate with Phil. I think you can guess the rest." "Threats don't always work," Trey says. Phil could now interject, "The way we figured it, eventually we could find ourselves some jobs and then get back to college." Having talked about it, Dean spoke for both, "Or if we find a job we like, who cares if we never go back." "You can forget that idea. I'm one for everyone getting an education. I'll make it Arne's job to help you follow the necessary paperwork for fall enrollment," Trey says. "No respect intended sir," Dean politely retorts, "but we don't have that kind of money, let alone feed ourselves?" Plainly, Phil puts it, "We're like... broke?" "How much money do you have in your wallets now?" Trey asks. "About ten bucks," Dean says. "Show me." Dean goes for his wallet, Trey egging Phil on, "And you?" Okay, so Dean was close, $9, Phil having $6. Maybe Dean was banking on their total worth! Taking a dollar bill from each one, picked from their hands like a ace of spades, Trey says, "I'll be holding each of these as collateral until you pay me back in full." "That's only a dollar," Dean says. Phil assumes, "Aren't we going to owe you at least tens of thousands of dollars?" "Let's get you through college first and then we'll worry about pay back," Trey tells them, getting up. Even though no formal mention of duties, dancing or otherwise has been mentioned, Trey opens the `cookie jar', taking out a wad of bills, "I'm going to advance you both salaries for a month," he lays down 5 one hundred dollar bills in front of Dean and Phil, a hundred at a time, like dealing cards, "because I like people who work for me to look nice in public." Phil looks to Dean. Of course they knew they looked like slobs when they applied for jobs at J&J Marine, wondering how they were hired, with wrinkled tee shirts, which probably stank a little. Although, Phil's bottle of Old Spice seemed to sweeten them up a little, for the first hour! "This is overwhelming," Phil says, afraid to touch the money. Dean, brought up with values, though couldn't force himself to turn against his gay brotherhood, based on his father's hatred, says, "We can't take your money, Mr. Castro." "Then I can't hire you," Trey says. Right away Phil grabs up the 5 bills, "First thing I'm going to buy is a speedo!" It wasn't only his pride, but Dean wanted to know, "Exactly what do we have to do for this money?" Trey smiles, saying, "Do you trust Kevin?" "Sure," Dean says. Trey goes on to say, "Kevin brought you here. We're almost brothers. I think he thinks much of you boys to bother to even introduce us. Tell you the truth, it would not go over big with Kevin, if I did something which I did not tell you up front." "Exactly," Dean replies. Phil asks, "Are you going to make us be sexy dancing boys? I mean, I can't even dance!" Dean says, "Yeah, Phil does have two left feet, but he looks sexy in a speedo, so all he would have to do is wiggle his booty," he smiles at his other half. Making like he was vain, Phil says, "Yeah, I guess I do look hot for the man with his sights on sexy fur!" He rubs up and down his shirt with both hands. Trey wasn't at all feeling sorry about this part of the interview, Phil plucking his shirt out of his pants, pulling it up, revealing his deep bellyhole, surrounded by fuzz, showing off his college-aged man-fur! "Mind your manners," Dean slaps Phil's hand. "Oh, think nothing of it," Trey didn't mind! Getting back to business, "I'm not going to ask you to become part of my employ as `dancers', or anything else... "I think Dean would make a good dancer," Phil suggests. Because he didn't think it was not for himself, Dean says, "I do have some good moves." "Like I said, I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do, but my hopes are you will find, by choice, something you like to do, whether it is helping with payroll, money counting and deposits, any other paperwork, or tending bar..." "Phil's great at mixing drinks," Dean blurts out. Sheepishly, because he didn't get his experience from some elite bar, or bartender's school, Phil says, "I learned how to mix drinks at campus parties." "Well, there, you've found your niche," though Trey was partial to fuzzy navels, "You think about it and I'll pair you up with Timofey, to ease your way into the job," Trey says. First though, he had Arne Fracao run over from the `Oasis' Condominiums to meet Dean and Phil. When he walked in, they were expecting some old guy, grandpa glasses and hobbling around, not a shirtless, chiseled man in his forties, baseball cap on backwards and dressed in just shorts and sneakers. "Hello-o-o, there!" he greets both boys. Glancing back and forth to each other, Phil and Dean were most likely thinking the same thing, Phil saying, "We thought... I mean, I thought you were an older dude," quick-thinking `older' less of an impact than `old', "professor." "You sure are a hot young man," said with a French twang, Arne takes the initiative to place an arm affectionately around Phil's shoulder, lift his shirt and check out the new tenant, "Hmm, what's all this?" he rubs Phil's fuzzy stomach. "Ahem!" Dean coughs loudly, "Phil and I are a couple?" Freezing, Arne drops Phil's shirt, "Oh," unhooks his arm from Phil's shoulders, "sorry `bout that," then turns on Trey, "Why didn't you warn me?" Trey busts on Arne, like a father telling a child, "Because you go too far, Arne. I'm surprised Dean didn't turn his knee into a ballcrusher!" "Owch!" Arne says, telling Dean, "Thanks, kid. It won't happen again." "You'll have to forgive Arne. He can be quite the dingbat!" Though, there was something about Professor Arne Fracao Phil was liking very much, scruffy chops, light grazing of dark hair on his chiseled pecs, almost 6-pack lines and the continuation of that beautiful bear-fur on the muscled areas, all leading to what could be something spectacular down further. Yet, when Phil had thoughts like this, it always came back to him, why he was with Dean and not some other stud! "Then it's settled," Trey says. "Arne will take you back and get you settled and maybe in a few days we'll meet again. Good luck," he shook each of their hands. A quick thinker, the only way he figured he could lay his hands on the cub again, was to welcome Phil's lover as well. Exiting HOODWINK'd, Arne stands in the middle, cowering both under his arms, "Where are off to first? How about getting you into some hip threads?" "I guess," Phil looked over Arne's chest to Dean, waiting for the final say. "Yeah, okay, but we have to watch how much of what Trey gave us, we spend," Dean replies. "Hey, don't worry. You be good boys and Trey will never let you go hungry!" Arne gives them fair word of warning. "Has there ever been any guy who has made Trey angry?" Phil asks. "Oh sure," Arne replies, "all the time, but he usually doesn't find out, unless they do something which really ticks him off. Most of the time, you gotta go up against me and then I give Trey the thumbs up or thumbs down." As they approach Topher's, only the best surf shop in a 50-mile radius, Dean, the penny-pincher, says after seeing front window signs, "Oh cool, a going-out-of-business sale!" It made Arne stop dead in his tracks, pulling the boys back, "No! It can't be!" "That's what it says," Dean had just read the signs, which said the obvious. "Wait, I'll get to the bottom of this," Arne says, unlatching his arms from the two, marching towards Topher's. "What's that about?" Phil asks Dean. "Only one way to find out," they run after Arne. They had watched him take out his cell phone and make a call. Approaching the store, Arne suddenly slowed, till he stood still, right before the front door of the store. "What is it, Arne?" Phil asks. Before his time, when Trey had first started giving handouts, Eric Christopher and Brad Folkes were the first two habitants of the brand new `Oasis' condominiums. Going back fifteen years was also the start up of Topher's surf store. As some, like Arne already knew, starting out as roommates, their relationship flourished and with the opening of the store, they sought out a civil union and became partners, taking on the surname, Christopher-Folkes. Eric, with more the surfing experience and his `dream' of becoming a successful business owner, they agreed on Topher's, Brad more working at the business part of the store, surfing on the side. Eventually his position included `surf instructor'. With quickly relaying this to Phil and Dean in a nutshell, Arne goes on to say, "I just can't believe Trey didn't mention it!" Already having forgiven Arne for flirting with Phil, Dean puts a hand on his shoulder, "Good thing you made the call, huh?" Being a couple of inches taller, it wasn't tough to look down Arne's chest, stomach... "You're telling me," Arne replies, "whew!" "Well, are we going to stand out here and melt or go in, spend some of our big bucks?" Phil asks, pushing right between the two, purposefully grazing Arne's stomach with his elbow. "Feisty little cub, ain't he?" Arne asks Dean. "Yeah," Dean replies, "one of the many reasons why I love him!" "Ah-h," Arne reflected on the past, "just like Eric and Brad!" % Meanwhile, Jay was stripped of the little he had on, Adam down to nothing on, and the two nudists followed Thor into the pool. "Wow! This is awesome!" Jay gasped, looking up at the glass and metal structure, which formed the covering over the square swimming pool. "Yeah, cool," Adam replies, feeling more than the inanimate surroundings, Jay hanging around his neck, their bods to each other. Too good to be true for Adam, he slips, "Oh shit!" Adam going down, with the sudden drop in depth, Jay goes right under with him. Thor was nothing less than Rin Tin Tin, or Lassie, a hero, rushing to Jay's aid, brushing right past him, becoming something for Jay to grab onto. It seemed, while Thor was in the water, he had cased out every inch of the pool, the reason he knew, once he felt Jay pull on his fur, he swam to the side with a slightly convex trough, going from deep to shallow. Sloping upwards, Thor dragged Jay into the shallowest part of the pool. "Oh my god!" Jay gasped, thinking it could have spelled doomsday for himself. "Adam!" was his next concern, having felt his stomach resting peacefully on the cement bottom, his back sticking out of the water, face propped up with one hand. Thor had jumped back in the water, but way ahead of him was Tal, dropping himself in too and swimming towards Adam. After slipping, Adam had hit his head on the side and sunk. In no time, Tal had him above the surface, arm under his chin and swam to the shore, where Rowan, still in his house clothes, waited to haul Adam up. Thor, sensing he wasn't needed, returned to his main concern. An arm around Thor's neck, he walked over Jay's bod, which made him turn over, from stomach, to lying on his back. Not that big of a pool, Jay could easily yell across, "Adam, how is he?" Neither Rowan, nor Tal answered, Tal giving lifesaving action, lips to lips, Rowan helping below the neck. He knew things were okay, when Adam began coughing. However, it was too late for Jay, having flashbacks to his own miserable moment and while hanging onto Thor, both arms around the dog's neck, was crying his heart out. Leaving Tal to nurse Adam, Rowan traverses the boarded walk around, coming to the little lagoon, stepping carefully over to where he hears little whimpers, "What's all this?" Some people have heard more, others less, about Jay's big accident which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Now, after giving a tearful rendition, which leaves Jay in Rowan's arms, his bod dragged nearly out of the water, they look over the subtle waves, seeing Adam on his feet. Excited to see it, he yells, "Adam! I'm fine. How about you?" Adam seemed fine, walking over towards the adjacent side of the pool, Tal there for support, if he needed it, with what looked to be a limp or a hobble. "Oh, I'm so glad you're all right," Jay was heartfelt in his seeing Adam well enough to walk by himself. Sarcastically, almost blaming, but in a good-natured sense, Adam says, "Well none of this would've happened if you hadn't kneed me in the balls!" "Oh-h, I'm sorr..." Jay first laments, then turning to excitement, "Wait a minute... I hit you in the balls?" "With your knee," Adam replies. He knew, as well as the others, Jay would suddenly lose interest in his welfare! "Like, oh my god! Get Jare on the phone. This is news! This is big news!" Then Jay, turning not to Rowan, nor Tal, nor Adam, but of all `people', Thor, boasts, "Y'here that boy? I kicked Adam in the balls!" While Rowan phoned Jared, Adam and Tal got Jay up out of the water, back in his chair, uncaring if the water running off him rusted out the bolts. The whole time, Jay lamented on the treatment of Adam's balls, which Adam claimed was not as bad as getting whacked in the back of the head by the side of the pool, which gave Jay something else to feel bad about. When Rowan came back, mentioning Jared was with a client, but would ring back when that was over, Thor capitalized on wringing himself out! "I can't believe it," Rowan exclaims, "if I took 1 more minute on the phone I would have missed it!" Jay says, "You're already wet, Rowan. What's the big deal?" Jay asks, as they all signal pool time over for now. With dinner next on the agenda, while Rowan saw to it, Tal and Adam take on getting Jay into some clothes. Thor was let out onto the deck to dry up! % When Rowan had called the store, he called the wrong store. With cell battery almost used up, Tom Gerardi, the manager of the main branch of J&J Marine, said he would pass on the message. He felt it good enough excuse to speak with Jared, but also use it as connecting with him, because he hadn't spoken to Tom since coming back from vacation. Having known Jared and Jay longer than he managed the main store, Tom was quite concerned. With his trip to San Francisco, Tom, an avid leather fan, he often would gloat about his vacation to those who had an interest. For now, Jay was in front of everything else. Tom got invitation to dinner in lieu of telling about his whole vacation over the phone. Often it would lead to some steamy scene, like a guy tied out and his cock worked from either the source or by means of stimulating another part of the male anatomy. After Jared had spoken with Jay, hearing the excellent news on his brother's behalf, not so lucky for Adam, he was in his car, on the ferry and before he knew it, was on his walking trip home. It's when he came upon the `Going Out of Business' signs plastered to Topher's windows, it made Jared stop dead in his tracks. It had slipped his mind, to call the real estate agent in charge of the sale and seeing the number, in tiny letters, `if interested', he whipped out his cell and made the call. Of course, the owners knew Jared was interested, very interested, to the point, if it were that easy, he would take cash on the spot. The real estate agent considered Jared Evans his first and only prospect. Walking in the front door of their knew home, which Jared would think of it as Jay's home, he was all bright-eyed, teeth gleaming. Jay mistook it for Jared's attempt at thinking about how he must have moved his leg, conking Adam in the balls. "Guess what?" "What?" Jay asks his brother. It's then Jared remembers news which is supposed to supersede this, "So you felt something, did you? How is it?" Brothers. They go back a long way. To make it more sweet, they got along... very well. Jay knew when he was being conned, "My leg's fine. What's with you?" "What's with me?" Jared still tries to hide the `other' good news, "I'm glad you and Adam's balls are okay. They `are' okay, aren't they?" "He's got a little lump on the back of his head," Jay replies. His mind on Adam's balls, naturally it's plain to think... "Oh! You mean Adam's `head'?" "Forget it. Both heads are fine, so you can take your mind out of the gutter, bro. Now, what's up?" Jay asks. "Remember I mentioned Topher's?" "When can I start working there?" Jay replies. One step ahead of him, Jared says, "You're too smart for your own good sometimes." In front of him, Jay says, "Wait. Stand there a minute." "Huh?" Jared looks down upon his brother. "I want to see if I can hit you in the balls!" "Fuck that. I invited Tom Gerardi over for dinner. He's into that stuff. Do it to him!" Jared commandeers Jay's chair, wheeling him towards the kitchen, Jared's voice trailing off, talking up the acquisition of Topher's. Just as he gets turned around, the doorbell rings. Seeing Rowan approach, again with his famous kitchen outfit, apron and this time a pair of briefs, Jay says, "I'll get it," Rowan about faces, heading back to the kitchen. Opening the door, Jared is greeted by Jake Lasko, "Hey, what's for supper?" Walking right past, Jared says, "Won't you come in?" he closes the door. "Hey, what's up stud?" Jake asks Jay. "I kicked Adam in the balls?" "Adam?" Jake questions. "Oh right, Surf'n'Rescue Adam. So was it on purpose?" "Jake, you stoopid, dumb-idiot, it's not about Adam's balls," Jay explains, "I hit him in the balls with my knee. Like, doesn't that tell you something?" "Um, Adam has balls of steel?" Jay, showing friendly frustration, "You don't even know how Adam's balls are, dope?" "How are they," Jake meaning it in a different way, size mattering. "Fine and so is my leg that's been paralyzed since my surfing accident, dah?" "Oh cool! So, you're uncrippled now?" Jake asks. "No," and because he could never blame his best friend in the whole world, Jay says, "I need another set of balls to practice on," he smiles. "Don't look at me. I've got a hot date later on tonight and want to make sure the system stays intact!" Jake replies, changing the subject, "Something smells good." Walking past Jay, he asks, "What about me?" "What? You forget how wheels roll?" Jake replies, disappearing. He was going to mention, for Jake to put the shirt on he carried over one shoulder, but figured Rowan would yell at him, about the new rule of coming into the kitchen and not being properly attired, even though Rowan was his own biggest offender! Then, if that wasn't enough, Jared who is about to head into the shower, remembers how he met not only his youngest yacht salesmen in front of Topher's, but another dude with him, had invited them over for dinner too. "Oh shit!" he looks down upon himself. It's not that Jared was horrid looking, quite the opposite, people considering him, with the clothes on, comparable to a Hollywood lookalike. Debating on whether to break the news to Rowan before or after he doused himself with soapy water, he hears ringing in his ears, based on Rowan's friendly response, `I wish I had know this sooner,' Jared grabs a towel to wrap around his waist... "Uh, Rowan," Jared's teeth are gleaming white. "Yes?" Rowan glances up from stirring a pot on the stove, looks down, then pays more attention, with a more profound answering, "Yes?" Slowly walking fingers over a countertop, some little quirk indicative to one of Jared's traits, when worried, "I forgot to mention, I met two of my youngest salesmen, who today happened to sell a luxury yacht and I thought, in recognition of the good sales job they did, I..." Rowan read him like a Rolling Stone magazine, "I'll set the table for two more," he goes back to his turmeric-spiked tomato sauce. "Three would be the case, since they had someone with them and..." "Okay," Rowan simply replies. "Thanks for being understanding," Jared says, thinking it was in the bag. "It is no problem for me. Now, you will tell Jay and the others to eat very tiny portions, so we have enough for our guests." It didn't go over that well, Jared condemns himself, walking back upstairs, repeating word for word Rowan's reaction, wrinkling up his nose, tongue stuck out, when repeating someone else's sassy remark! After his shower, he was happy to see Jake being useful, not only to Jay, but himself, having them both dressed in dinner attire. He just had to pose this question to Jake, "Go shopping?" "Another reason I had to stop in," Jake replies, "had to borrow some of Jay's new threads. Found myself a place to stay and a new job, but the wardrobe was getting too mundane." Twirling a finger in the air, Jared replies, "Ooh, look at you, um I could have offered you the same, thanks for asking?" and he walks away. "Am I missing something?" Jake asks. "Probably," Jay says, "like I had always hoped you and me could be brother-in-laws?" "Dammit!" Jake replies. "Yeah," Jay says, "like it could have been so sweet, having my best bud around for the rest of my life." "Like, I'm not going anywhere," Jake replies. Standing, looking in a full length mirror, the two reflected, not only images, but how best friends talk, telling each other intimate thoughts and secrets. Jay, looking up at Jake, through the mirror, questions, "I know you two get along and the sex, it's always good, right?" "No offense, but Jare does have a tasty morsel?" "Like, you don't have to tell me?" As best friends share, they have had this conversation before, how Jake, tasting Jared's cock, Jay very well knows how it can get, pumped up into a massive stalk, more savory than a big banana picked from a tree. "I think you guys should try it one more time, for old time's sake?" Jay initiates thought. "Would be nice," Jay says, "the three of us." "Oops!" Jay says, thinking on someone else. Jake pushing down on the handles of the wheelchair, reclines Jay, telling his friend, "Keeping secrets from me, good friend, ole buddy?" "I met this guy," Jay replies, "Jeremy." "Oh really? And when were you going to introduce us?" As far back as they can remember, there's always been an unsaid oath between the two, that whenever a new guy came into their lives, one would check the other's boyfriend out. "I wasn't holding out on you Jake. It's just, you're not around much anymore. We're getting older and... and..." Jay sulks as he says, "Jeremy's in the hospital. I wish he wasn't." First they talked up Jeremy, how he came to be in the hospital, the brother in jail, blah, blah,blah... Jake's turn, knowing the reason he took the dancing job at HOODWINK'd, for free room and board, make a little money and then decide what he was going to do, which is the reason Jake brought this up, telling all about his new living experience, the job and the possibility of being on `display' in a gay night club, someone might just come into his life; he finally took a breath! However, as Jay knows, "When are you going to stop that stuff about quick-sex and think about settling down with one man, Jake?" "With Jare," Jake replies. "No. Not just Jare, even though it's always been my dream, but seeing you really don't want to..." "Hey, don't put this entirely on me. Have you like, seen Jare lately trying to co-... co-- whatever that word is.." "Coerce," Jay says. "How do you always know?" Jake says about picking words out of his brain. "Like, how long have we been friends?" It didn't seem like they were getting anywhere, but it didn't matter, because there was Jared at the door, saying, "Knock, knock you two. Dinner is being served?" Coming out of his room there were a few individuals neither Jay, nor Jake had made acquaintance, Jared introducing Phil, Dean and their friend, Arne Fracao, who caught Jake's eye right off. Unlike Phil and Dean, Jake didn't find his way to the Oasis, escorted by the professor, just meeting him now. Jay resigned, telling himself, "I give up!" "On what?" Jared, the only one catching his brother's comment. "Jake." Jared asks, "What's about him?" "Arne's cock?" Jay replies. "Right," Jared knows, whenever a hot man enters the room where Jake is present, his eyes become like flashlights in the dark, ready to show the way! However, for sure Jay was giving up on ever matching up his brother and best friend, Jared working his way over to where Rowan tended the stove. Everyone off on their own conversational tangent, Jay hungered for Jeremy's presence, but got the next best thing, Thor! Other than Rowan, everyone knew there was another room near the poolside of the house, towards the front of the building, but never investigated enough to find out it was a dining room. Much like their original living space, the mansion, Jared and Jay were amazed by it almost being the same size, perhaps a little longer, same long table, with the ability to serve up multiple people. What astounded Jay the most is the huge painting on one of the walls, "Holy cow, Jake!" Referring to Jake, it was natural, the two into surfing, big time, and the lifelike painting of a dude on a surfboard, surfing a multi-colored wave, Jake saying of it, "Now that's like, so awesome!" Walking over, behind Jake, Arne Fracao almost leans his chin on Jake's shoulder, saying, "I happen to know the artist, if you want to meet him sometime?" Jay gasps, "You know Louis Martino?" "Lucas," Arne corrects him. "What do I know? His signature looks like Louis," Jay replies. Jake, not wanting to admit to Arne he thought it `Louis' too, says, "Jay, his brain can be so mundane sometimes. His head," Jake whacks himself in the side of the head, "took a direct hit to the rocks... kind of knocked him..." "Jake, do you have to tell all my business?" Arne says, "Sometime I would like to hear the story and if you would like to meet the artist sometime, when I'm going to Rio, we can all hop on a plane." "Rio?" Jay thought, one of the places in the world he never thought of going, "Sounds cool!" Rowan, with dinner on the table, comes over to the three, admiring the painting, "When his brother passed away, Zack gave most his things away, but kept the painting his brother liked so much. Said it `belonged' here." Still looking up at it, from the wheelchair, it looking larger than life, Jay says, "I agree and you can tell Zack, I'm never going to get rid of it!" Thor barks. "See? Even Thor thinks so!" However, Jared says, "Oh really? When is the last time anyone took Thor out?" Hearing `out', Thor barks and barks and... Jared offers to take him out, telling them not to wait for him. While outdoors, he walks along the secluded road, where not many traveled. It was the other end of the road, where the access road to the beach met the main drag, always people walking to the beach or walking back, but away from the house. Thinking of things, of how `things don't happen without a reason', maybe the fire at their own place was a good thing. The progress towards making it handicapped accessible was a slow, slow process and here, Jared smiles, everything is right in place for Jay. He bothers to ask Thor, "You like it here, boy?" Thor barks in agreement. Going back a few days, thinking about each having their freedom, Jared thinks it not a good idea he gets too comfortable staying there. `Where?' was the next problem. So accustomed to living on the waterfront, he would seriously need to look into finding a place. Thor, taking minutes to lift a leg, Jared thinks on how, as Jake would put it, `mundane', it will be living alone. Much to his brother's wishes, he shot down the idea of ever shacking up with Jake, however, quickening their pace back to the front door, Jared smiles, thinking, if not Jake, then who? At the dinner table, they took turns focusing on someone, first, a toast to Phil and Dean on selling their first luxury yacht and finding a place to live. Arne filled them in on the `bug' job, all about his position at the University. To their bewilderment, Phil and Dean turn to each other, admitting their wrongfulness, over busting on Kevin about the word `entomology', indeed it being about bugs! It seemed to steer the conversation Jared's way, which brought it into his court, it switching to the subject of acquisition of Topher's. Even though he was 41-years old and on the brink of an early retirement, the professor says, "It's my most favorite place in the whole world to shop!" If he didn't have the worked out bod of a gymrat, as Phil and Dean well knew, the others guessing from the way his shirt hung from his shoulders, they could have condemned the older adult for shopping at a store destined for the teenage crowd, into their twenties, thirties stretching it! About to comment, Rowan is called away to the door, returning with none other than... Jay sees him first, "Joey!" Affectionate, because it's how he's always been towards Jay and Jared, he bends down, saying to Jay, "Don't get up," giving him a peck on the lips. Walking over to Jared, "Long time, no see," he places a kiss on Jared's lips. Thinking nothing of it, he turns to a familiar face across the table, "Oh, hi Arne. I didn't know you knew each other?" Joseph spots the professor, giving him a wave of a hand. Knowing they were eating only a light meal, spaghetti and meatballs, just enough to go around, without another plate pulled together, Jared says, "Won't you stay for dinner?" at which time he faces Rowan, mouthing, `there is enough?' Making it right, Rowan addresses Joseph himself, "If you have time to stay?" As it turned out, Jared gave up his stake in the strawberry shortcake. The evening didn't linger on too long before the party broke up, Joseph leaving first, followed by Adam. Good thing Arne stay a little longer, getting a phone call from Trey. When he said goodbye, Arne was silent, just standing there. "What's up?" Jared detected something amiss. Fortunately for Arne, everyone else had gone to see the amazing swimming pool inside the glass and metal pyramid, "Trey feels really terrible about this, but he's going to have to renege on his offer to put Phil and Dean up at The Oasis. Though, he has offered to put them up at a bed and breakfast until they can find other arrangements. You wouldn't happen to know of any rentals? Trey feels really bad, says he'll help out with the rent." `Hmm,' Jared thought to himself, running his fingers along the table in the hallway, where Arne had taken his call, thinking this maybe an `in' for his `outing', leaving the nest egg, "I think I might just know of a place, but you'll have to take it up with the landlord?" At which time, Jared ushers Arne out to the pool. Fortunately, this time, Jay had decided to be a landlubber, keeping his feet on dry land, or rather the metal plates of his chair, watching, as Jake, Rowan, Tal, Adam, Phil and Dean took to skinnydipping. It made him think about Terror's cheerleading remark, sitting on the sidelines, taking in all the eyecandy! Before business, Jared turns to pleasure, badgering his bro, "Why didn't you give a shout to tell me there was a wet'n'wild party going on?" However, Jared, not starting to strip down like the others, Jay gets suspicious, "Like, how come you two still have your clothes on?" Arne did start to unbutton his shirt, Jared saying, "Um, business before pleasure, Arne?" Together they explained the circumstances regarding Phil and Dean. After his portion was fulfilled, he stripped down, much to the glee of Jay and Jared, Jared saying, "If it's okay with you, Phil and Dean can stay here, in my room?" "Where are you going to stay?" Jay liked the idea from a charity point of view, but frowned upon it from the aspect of his brother kicking himself out. Utilizing Arne's suggestion from Trey, Jared says, "I thought I'd take some time and spend it at the Gyro's Bed and Breakfast, until I can make something more permanent." Jay, not unhappy to lend a hand, says, "Why? How long are Phil and Dean staying here?" "I don't know. Until they make other arrangements," Jared replies, kneeling down, which made the knee of his khakis wet. A splash coming over them both, if it were anyone but Jake, they might have felt apologetic, Jake just issuing a scant `sorry'. "Do you think he did it on purpose?" Jared asks. Jay retorts, "Why are you evading my question?" Nonchalantly, Jared says, "Um, like... because I'm trying to evade your question?" he smiles. Knowing something was up, Jay asks, "What's really troubling you?" "Troubling me? Nothing," Jared lies. Jay could tell, "Liar!" Dropping his chin, Jared gives in, lifting his head, saying, "I think it's time..." he was having a tough time bringing out the news, "that we... I don't know how to put this, but..." "You know, I was thinking about something?" "What?" Jared jumped at the chance to be sidetracked. "You know, there isn't really much room for both Tal and Rowan to hang out here when either of them aren't on duty. Tal, I would have thought he would be staying with Adam, but he and Adam," Jay gives the thumbs down. "They look happy," Jared says, but it's clear, if Jay knew, `Jay knew!' "They're just having fun with the other guys. Trust me, Tal and Adam aren't going to make it as a couple." "You know, you're pretty good at this match-making stuff?" "Shut up and listen," Jay says. "Tal is going to need a place to stay. You and Rowan look like you can put up with each other long enough to live together and..." Jared asks, "You think so, do you?" "Why? We weren't brought up mattering if we had people of other color as friends?" Jay confronts him with. "You're joking? I'm like so jealous of Rowan's `forever tan!'" "Good," Jay replies right out, saying, "because then you and Rowan go stay at the bed and breakfast and when Phil and Dean move out, you can come back here and live." Jared was amazed how Jay had it all figured out, leaving a happy ending up ended for now. Both in agreement, Jay says, "Good. Now show everyone what a big dick you have!" Jared did, stripping down, making a big splash to join the others. In doing so, Jake comes swimming over, lifts himself out and says, "Hey, what's happening?" As Jared had predicted, Jay knowing much to do about other people's business, he says, "You and Arne?" He leans over to swat Jake in the head, forgetting he shouldn't do stuff like that. Too, the brake wasn't set, which ejected Jay, making his bod lurch forward, out of the chair and since Jay was facing him, while he sat and chatted, he became the landing pad. The moment it happened, Jared was cutting through the water, being the first on the scene, responding to his brother laying on top of Jake, "Do you two have to do it right in front of guests?" Jake, looking up over his own chest, saw an evil look on Jay's face, his mouth a tenth of an inch from his left nip, "Don't even think about it, bro!" It wouldn't be the first time Jay has put the hex on Jake's nip, given it a little teeth-tweaking, but resigns to a lick! Out of the water, Jared's big pendulum and drippy balls swung between his legs, bending to help Jay, which made them dangle more pronounced, "C'mon. Let's get you back in the chair before you shock everyone with your wantonness!" "Are you kiddin', bro? They're all getting hard as we speak!" Jay laughs it off. Jake just lay there, it becoming a show, looking up at Jared straddling him to get Jay back into the chair. To the delight of the others, he held his mouth open, collecting `rain drops!' After Jay adjusts the strap, Jay asks, "Um, could you take my shirt off?" "You're a pain, you know that?" Jared says, having to loosen the strap across Jay's chest. "Yeah I know. You're gonna miss that, aren't you?" Kneeling up to the chair, Jake thinking Jared's front more exciting then the rear, "What you mean `miss that'? Who's going where?" Jay doesn't mention anything short term, "Jared's moving out." Condemning it, Jake knowing how long the two have been living together, "You scumbag!" "Fuck you," Jared tells Jake, giving him a push over the side with his knee. "He's only going to swim back and give you hell, you know?" "Happens when you have 2 brothers who care?" Jared snaps back. Jay glances behind Jared's back, between his arm and oblique, which Jared picks up on, "Don't tell me. I'm about to be shanghaied?" Sure enough, Jake, standing there, reaches in between Jared's armpits and with himself part of the heave-ho, they both plunge into the pool. Jay smiles, sorry Jake will not officially become his unofficial brother-in-law, but felt good about the camaraderie the two share. He knew Jake's lithe bod and puny muscles couldn't possibly have taken Jared on, without help from his brother falling to his right side. He thought it a good thing this time, not being included in all the merrymaking, because it gave him time to think. Still on his mind was Jeremy, because he knew when he got out of the hospital, not from his injuries, but because of his brother's mixed up bookkeeping, he himself would be up for a roof over his head. He had it all worked out though, Jared and Rowan staying at the bed and breakfast, Phil and Dean put up in his room, Tal using Elton's old room and Jeremy shacking up with him! How simple could it be? % 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.