Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:06:00 -0400 From: TCHASE MCPHEE Subject: FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS ~ ?MAkiNG WaRRioRs? 14 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. Various states and countries have various rules regarding reading or viewing `adult material'. It is up to the reader to research this subject, abiding by their own laws. The 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, if you have enjoyed reading NiFTy stories as much as I have, over the years, consider adding some support for `internet $pace'. 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 ~ `MAkiNG WaRRioRs' 14 WriTten by T. Chase McPhee ^o^ % Jay was sleeping when Jared walked in. Eric had nodded off, but woke up when Jared accidentally steps on his toe, "Owch!" Out of a deep sleep, Eric had fists up and ready to do battle. "Calm down, Macho-Camacho!" Jared studies Eric's face, with a smile. He found it wasn't as much himself in question, but the man behind him, acting like Jared was his shield. With question on Eric's face, Jared gets the formalities out of the way, whispering, "Eric, this is Luca. Remember the story I told you of the paramedic who brought Jay back to life?" "Yeah?" Luca still acted cautious. "This is him," Jared says to Luca, but then turns attention back to Eric, "um, you can lower your fists now?" They had to have something to talk about on the ferry, Jared pouring out life, surrounding his brother. "By the way," Eric says, walking out the door, "Jay sleeping like a baby." They all got a little relief, Kiernan showing up at the door, toweled around the waist, "I hope no one minds that I helped myself to a shower?" They came at Jared, Luca and Eric from both flanks, Kiernan's wrapped up hips and from the left, "Joseph? Like, how did you get..." "Inside info," Joseph says, hand to the side of his mouth, like telling a secret secret. "Bummer. Gerardo says the club's closed down." "Club?" Jared questions, "Closed down?" "Nice towel," Gerardo tells Kiernan. Taking the lead, Kiernan lies, "I was just about to take a shower... You're welcome to join me?" With different opinion, plus homeowner and breadwinner, Jared says, "If you guys want to get wet, I'd suggest outside?" Gamal, helping himself to shaking Eric's hand, Eric says, "No problem if you guys don't have trunks. We don't bother with'em any how!" "I love the sound of that," Joseph busts a buckle on his harness. "Is that you, Joey?" they hear Jay's wee little voice. The others had skidaddled, leaving Joseph, "Why does this always happen to me, during prime time boy hour?" "Your 32-years old Joseph. In case you haven't noticed, you're in a different class?" Jared pats him on the shoulder. "See you later out back!" "What's up meatball?" Joseph accosts his friend, strewn out in bed. "I was having a dream and you were in it, Joey!" "Oh really?" Joseph walks over to the side of bed, sits, "And how many boys were waiting in line to be fucked?" he laughs. "None," Jay says, still groggy. "None?" Joseph exclaims, "What a nightmare!" "I was there, if that's anything?" "I suppose it couldn't be that horrible," Joseph sweetens his tone. "It wasn't, but I'll make it a short story so you can go outside and play!" Teasing, he twisted to his side and lay across Jay, "Oh them! They can play with themselves," Joseph swats the feeling away, though it was tempting! Reaching over his own chest, Jay manhandles the loose frond of Joseph's harness, "Something's come loose, Joey?" "Has it now?" Joseph allows the back of Jay's hand glide against man-fur, looking at the action happening on his chest. "Are you still sensitive, here," Jay's knuckle swipes by a nip. "Oooh, man... stop it, before you make me hard!" Saying it, Jay knew Joseph meant it more as invitation, rather than condoning the activity, "Hard? Like where do you mean, Joey?" Suddenly they hear laughter and a whole bunch of splashing, Joseph saying, "Feel up for another swim?" "Uh, yeah, but my chair is ruined." Standing, Joseph says, "Nuthin' wrong with these," he holds both arms outward, like he was holding his favorite olympic swimmer. Laughing, Jay says, "You look like Frankenstein, Joey!" Getting a kick out of it, Joseph rubs hands up and down his frontal fur, "I don't think the scary man was this hairy!" Unknown to the bedroom occupants, only some had made it to the pool. Passing through the kitchen, it acted as hunger to tastebuds. Throwing together a takeout menu, Jared asks, "I'm calling out for pizza. What do you like on yours?" "Sausage and peppers would be cool, some mushrooms... and oh! Cheese. Lots of it!" The initial greeting was wearing off, Jared wanting to inhale all of Kiernan, like a fresh pizza coming out of the oven, "You've got it!" Eric didn't have to, but said he didn't have any plans tonight, sleeping in the easy chair. Joseph, egged on to join in, on Jay's behalf, made his bid, but looking at the clock, says he had a hot date at The Spin Club and wondered if Jared would mind if he left. "You could always invite your trick over here?" Jared jokes. "Um, he would rather remain incognito," Joseph replies. "At The Spin Club, Joseph? Like, everyone knows everyone. How can a guy conceal his identity with a crowd like that?" Jared interrogates. "A mask?" "Oh. That's right. I forgot they had stuff like that," Jared says, but still puts a damper on Joseph's evening, "Did you mention it to Jay?" Jared turns around, just in time to see the towel slip from Kiernan's hip, catching it, but not before the tip of his cock is exposed. "Sorry `bout that." Jared says, "It's okay. Besides, I know what a guy looks like, `there'!" Of course, it didn't pass by, the towel slip, without affecting Joseph. An appointment pending for the last two weeks, he had finally convinced Aris Flock, poolboy, a mask could hide the identity, in lieu of passing up a `hard-cock' experience like hanging around down at The Spin Club. Now, whether Aris cared or not, Joseph was about to out Aris. His plan was to excuse himself for awhile, walk over to the club and escort Aris back to Jay's pad, which he did. "Good!" Jared exclaims. Joseph didn't like the sound of it, but it was the least he could do, to help Jared out, helping the pizza boy deliver, on the return trip. Joseph hoped his favorite delivery boy was on call! While waiting for the pizza, Jared covered a lot of ground, finding out Kiernan is a farmboy from Iowa, whom stuck it out in the closet until he graduated from high school. Hitch-hiked east and for all purposes, "I intended on finding work in New York, but met a guy, who was nice enough to invite me out to spend a weekend on Fire Island." "Did he dump you or something?" "No," Kiernan replies, "I dumped him. He was a real creep. I wound up dancing at HOODWINK'd, but then found a real job, when Arne offered me a position at the market." "Well, our father always used to say, `things don't happen without a reason'. Your misfortune turned out to be to your advantage," Jared speculates. "I would say so, except I'd really like to earn enough to get my own place and save to go to college." "Which college?" Jared asks. "I don't know. I know I have an interest in fashion design, but not sure I want to be a designer. Dumb thought, huh?" Kiernan smiles, adjusting the towel. "You never know if you want something until you go for it. College, if you don't like it, you can always change your mind and go for something else." "That's good reasoning," Kiernan says. "What else is good," Jared gets up for the bell, "is I happen to have connections and you can consider yourself enrolled at the Fashion Institute and first semester paid for." Hopping off the stool, the towel slips, Kiernan stating, "No way!" Things don't happen without a reason, Jared with attention drawn to the pizza dude at the door, just when the towel malfunctions! Going to the door, Jared is scratching his head, not really surprised the pizza was being delivered, Joseph no where to be found! Jay was awake for some short moments, just enough to be out by the pool, enjoying all the horseplay and a couple of slices of pizza. He tired quickly, Eric electing himself to putting Jay to bed. Out by the pool, Jared had taken to lying a beach towel down on the hard pool surface. The chairs could fit two, at the most and with the other chairs occupied, except one, Jared decided, instead of picking and choosing either Kiernan, or Luca, they too put towels out, kneeling next to Jared, then follow his lead. Sometime during the night, Joseph did show, with his trick accompanying. He had finally released Aris out of the collar around his neck, saying it might rust, the Aris diving, Joseph jumping in. On purpose, Joseph wanted to create a scene, yelling out, "Cowabunga, dudes!" Worked like a charm, the yelling, which constituted for a two second warning, his splash waking up the sleeping beauties. Of course, they condemned Joseph for his prank, but it caused the rowdy pool party to start all over again. Kiernan bolted for the water, but Luca lay there, "Not going to join them?" "You think Joseph can be a meanie in a dungeon, you should see him in a pool!" Jared jokes. "I see," Luca says, laughing at Joseph, who has plucked Aris out of the water, put him in a full nelson and was using his bod as a shield, "but I think he's kind of hot." "Who? Joseph or Aris?" >From lying on his stomach, on a towel, elbows propping the upper half of his bod up, Luca turns around, flopping down on his back. Jared already lying out casually, says, "I think something else woke up!" He sort of realized it, Luca playing it down, his cock standing up tall, "Oh that. I think I have to pee." Looking up, like up to the Empire State Building, Jared remarks, "Maybe I should show you to the boy's room, so you don't get lost!" Both standing, Luca tells him, "Yeah. Would be terrible if I had to go so bad and because I couldn't find it, I'd pee all over your floor." "Pa-lease," Jared says, "I've had enough with my brother doing that!" Luca almost slipped. Earlier on, he would have heard about Joseph's part he played at the club Jared mentioned, but thought he better play it cool. He figures, if Jared knew that he's licked up pee off the floor, for sport, he might think him too weird to get to know! % When Jay awoke the next morning, watching the sun paint miniblind slats down Eric's hairy bod, he didn't immediately make a disturbance. Rather, he smiled, something like a kinky thought coming to mind, which made him reach over, across Eric's bod and try touching some of that moss. Not Eric, but Jared had to be the one, "You're awake!" His bellowing voice made Eric jump to life, grab his shirt and wrap his hot bod up in it! Recalling last night's incident, Jay exclaims, "Hey, Jare. I'm sorry about the chair. It was my fault." One thing Jared knew, he had to cheer his brother before sinking into a depressed mental state, "Forget about it. Most important thing is, you're in the land of the living. Want some leftover pizza for breakfast?" He couldn't be fooled, but at least Jay knew his brother wasn't angry at him, "What are you wearing?" "I know," Jared says of a pair of loungepants he pulled out of Dirk's wardrobe, "pathetic, isn't it?" Kiernan, peeking around Jared's corner, pulls at the waist. Being fashion conscious, says in a monotone, "Someone has a passion for `Toy Story'!" Jared had explained to Oz what the story was with Jay, said he'd be spending the night at the house, but he wasn't alone in bed. Adam and Scott never made it back to the house. Dirk had phoned, was concerned, but said he had some business to attend to. Of all this, Jay thought, "What Adam and Scott do, is their business, but what kind of business would Dirk have, other than Warrior One?" Kiernan wasn't saying about things he overheard at the market yesterday, kept his mouth shut, but was disturbed, learning Dirk and Jay were akin to boyfriend status. Yet, he was skeptical, viewing Eric in bed next to Jay. "I don't know," Jared says, "could be he had something personal came up." Tapping a foot, Kiernan could only guess what was `up' last night. It wouldn't be the first, would not be the last customer who walked into Westside Market and got more for their money! However, he dwell on Jared's words, `things not happening without reason'. Jared and Kiernan disappear into the kitchen, "I've decided to take you up on your offer?" "College?" Jared asks. "Everything," Kiernan replies to Jared's offer of attending the Fashion Institute, new job, new place to stay, credit at all of the Evans brothers enterprises and a bank account. "But I was wondering one thing?" "What's that?" "I was wondering if I could stay at your place?" "My place?" Jared gulps. "Unless it's too small?" "I... um... have a boyfriend." Then again, Jared had second thoughts about himself and Oz, like it wasn't happening. "Oh," Kiernan sulks, "but I can make other arrangements." Really wanting Kiernan to spend more than a night at his place, which happens to be Korbeau's, "You don't have to make arrangements. I already have. At Korbeau's. That's where we're staying for the moment, until we figure out other plans." "Okay, but I want to pay you back," Kiernan says insistent. Approaching Kiernan, Jared takes his arms, holds him, like a giant, precious Chinese vase, "You've already paid me back in ways which no one could ever repay, so forget about it and just take me up on my offer." "Well, considering I wouldn't have enough to pay for a cup of coffee at Korbeau's, I guess I could take you up on your offer and then keep tally..." Jared gave up on giving away something for nothing, knowing somewhere down the line, unless Kiernan won the lottery, no way would he be able to repay him, even in a timely manner. But, he wasn't looking for a dime. The only thing which mattered, Jay was okay and that's what he looked for, in the future tense, but leaves Kiernan with a friendly jab, "But hurt Jay and I'll break both your legs!" He knew Jared was joking, regardless, Kiernan responds, like gangsters are after him, "I hope you're kidding?" Meanwhile, Luca walks in, yawning and rubbing both sockets with fists, "Oh, I had no idea you two had something going?" Releasing his grips on Kiernan's waist, Jared says, "We do and we don't." Joking, Kiernan says, "From what I learned so far, if Jared doesn't make up his mind, you have to make it up for him!" Processing the coffee maker, Jared says, "Oh, you mean how you've made up your mind about college, down to the last detail, Kiernan?" "College?" Luca says, "Is there a reason why I should question Jared's motives about the `free' education offer?" This made Jared the third person, Kiernan excitedly saying, "He offered you too? Cool! What's your major? Where are you going?" "I dunno, about either," Luca replies. Being fashion conscious, Kiernan had noticed Luca walk into the room, first because he was a hot dude and the dumb look, green paisley flannel pants and something, which resembled a white dress shirt, ornately placed around his neck, which gave him a fashion flair. Touching it, he says, "You did a nice job tying this, but," he looks at the size, "a shirt fit for an elephant?" Sipping, taking it all in, Jared says, "They say `clothes makes the man!'" Last laugh was on Luca, saying, "Oh really Buzz Lightyear?" "Oops!" Jared says, coffee cup in one hand, the other hand making like he was cupping his balls, with intentions of hiding the whole bed pants. Like he was front man of a conga line, Joseph emerges from the rooms down the hall, "I've got spurs that jingle, jangle, jingle. I've got spurs that..." "Okay, Joseph," Jared says, like some bigshot master down at the club, "knock it off!" "Hmm," Joseph says snottily, "I'll forgive you for that snide remark, if you give me a cup of that stuff you're drinkin'!" When Joseph came around the nook Jared couldn't help but burst out laughing, Kiernan and Luca joining in! "What?" Joseph claims, like nothing is wrong with the bright pink thong he is wearing. Luca says, "Talk about fashion conscious?!" Jared could get away with anything. His two young friends, Joseph warns, "Watch your mouth, boy!" Kiernan expected intimidation, but knew the score, when Luca just smiled. He wasn't too much into the scene, but knew it when another hungered to be a part of it. Joseph, he went right for the cup in Jared's hand, "Ah-h-h, the wine elixir of love in the morning!" Kiernan says, "I guess we have different priorities, Joey!" Condoning, Joseph confronts his friend, "Where did you pick up these two wise-asses, Jared?" "Cute, aren't they?" Jared answers, sips. They were, but if Joseph had his pick... he loved bears, cubs and all assortments in between. Smooth guys, well it was a shame, but Luca broke that law and the feelings which went with it. Smooth, with a thin boy-trail, he seemed to have more hair under his pits than everywhere else on his bod. Looking back and forth between the two, Joseph was about to make up his mind, Jared cutting in, "Where's Aris?" "Work." Knowing the severance from Sean's uncle's pool cleaning service, several employees cutting themselves loose, Jared asks, "At what, may I ask?" "Cleaning pools. What else?" Joseph replies, picking bacon up right out of the pan and chomping it down. "But I thought he left the pool cleaning business?" "Did," Joseph replies, "but you see, the owner called him and begged him to come back." "On his knees?" Kiernan wise mouths. Wise man himself, Joseph says, "That piece of information will cost you and it doesn't come cheap!" Jared could only guess, it costing Kiernan something more than being down on his knees, "No pun intended Kiernan, but I wouldn't stick my nose in Joseph's business, if I were you?" However, Luca began daydreaming, with Joseph on his knees, bent way over, looking upon that hairy ass, licking lips and yearning to have his tongue tasting all that bear fur... About to escalate, it was like fate and destiny stepping in, Scott and Adam waltzing on in... "Donuts anyone?" Scott announces. "Donuts?" Joseph's eyes were as white as saucers, "Yeah. Give them over here." "Uh, Joseph?" Jared says, walking over to him. "What?" Joseph gets possessive, holding the bag near his dear heart. "My claim on the raspberry jelly?" "Oh. Right," Joseph changes from snotty to sweet, "I forgot." The others knew something was passing between the two, staring. What neither of them knew, is how passionate Jared and Joseph got one time over a dozen donuts, a mashup of food and sex, both eating tasty cream, but Jared relishing the taste of raspberry. "Fresh!" Joseph calls it, when Jared sticks his hand in bag, a finger poking his friend through the side of the bag, pushing in on Joseph's right nip! "Yeah, right Joseph. Like you didn't get something out of it?" "Oh shit!" Joseph says, coughing out a sip of coffee, "I've got a meeting with Pastor Mark, about the knitting club!" Well, that made it field day for Kiernan, Luca, Scott and Adam. "Oops! I almost forgot," Jared snaps his fingers, of what was once a nervous reaction, a reflection of remembering something in haste. "What's that?" Kiernan is faced with Jared running away, his question going unanswered. Yet, he smiles, those two buns, shifting back and forth! "Hey, you guys, time to shake it up?" Eric, in his chair, one slacked over the edge, shirt parted down the middle, Jared bit a lip, it being a shame to wake up such a lovely pose. Regardless, Eric was already stirring, yet the picture shifting from portrait to a moving violation, "Shake what up?" Jared could only smile, watching Eric stretch, arms above his head, which made other parts of his bod contort, treasure trail longer, skin pulling more out of the pants, which led to a steamy vision of more loveliness... "Jare!" "What?!" Jared shifts his eyes to his awakening brother. "Like, what time is it?" "Time to get up and get moving. I forgot." "Forgot what?" Jay asks. Jared wanted to steal some more looks to Eric, but sometimes a person couldn't help it, focus on other matters, "Pastor Mark? The fundraiser?" "Pastor Mark?" Jay interrogates. "Fundraiser? What funraiser?" Sometimes Jay's brain skipped, "I mean fundraiser?" "Fun-raiser?" Eric says, "I like the sound of that!" Nicely, Jared says, "Don't encourage him, Eric. It was just a slip of the tongue." Licking his lips on purpose, Eric says, "Slip of the tongue, Jared? Now who's being suggestive?" Rolling his eyes, Jared thought `two Jays?', "Whatever, you guys, we have precisely 1 hour before we have to be at church?" Going for Jay in the bed, Eric waves him away, "That's okay. I've got him." "Aren't you on duty?" Jared asks. "Sunday is my day off, sometimes. This is one of those sometimes," Eric says. Jay cheerfully says, "Eric is okay to help me, Jare!" `Of course he is,' Jared figured it out. If he were in Jay's situation, he would love to be fussed over by Eric, "Okay, but if you need anything, I'll be in the kitchen." "Cool!" Jay says, "I'll have my usual." With Jared gone, not responding, Eric asks, "What's your `usual'?" "A nice big bowl of Cap'n Crunch cereal. You?" Jay replies, Eric throwing his legs over the side of the bed. "It varies. Sometimes Greek yogurt, or it could be eggs, but I never touch much pre-packaged foods." Truthfully, Jay could get out of bed on his own, but Eric didn't know that! Much like he's uprighting a patient, taking care not to allow the head to snap back, sitting Jay upright on the edge of the bed, Eric cups his head in one hand, extends arm around the back of the shoulders, much like he was ready to get it on with the kissin'! Responding, Jay looks right into Eric's face, to catch his reaction, his hands moving to Eric's waist. "You think you're being funny?" "No," Jay suddenly feels guilty, removing his hands from the sides of Eric's flesh. "I'm sorry... I..." Still head cupped in Eric's hands, he changes from the sore attitude he used on Jay, to something sweeter, smiles, "I know. I'm kind of faking it." "Fake what?" "Jared already told me all the things you can do on your own... like get out of bed?" Getting wind of the scam, Jay says, "Did he tell you, when I get out of bed, I need my wheelchair to hold onto?" "No," Eric replies, "Jared didn't mention that part, but if you want, you can hold onto me?" Eric felt a little more in his pleasure center, Jay explaining, he had to grab him under the arms. Then, when face to face, bod to bod, Jay barechested, himself halfway there, asks, "What's next, sweetheart?" "Aren't you moving a little fast?" Jay says, holding onto Eric's belt for dear life, like if he let go, he'd slip right out of Eric's arms. As if climbing a tree, Jay grasped Eric's belt with one hand, pushes down and in a matter of 3 seconds, both hands are positioned, in a hand clasp around the trunk of Eric's neck. "I was joking, us, together, holding each other?" Since his accident, coming out of the short coma, first thing to occur to Jay was, he couldn't move. Second thing, he realized he wouldn't be surfing any time soon. The rest of his disabilities slowly filtered through his brain in the coming week, thinking about sex, men, or as he figured his future would hold, the lack of men, being the `pump' was broken. Every man whom has come in contact with him, in the past few weeks, has been an object of desire, only to find out them becoming friends, instead of something more. Even now, Jay had dreams of waking up next to Kiernan, "It's okay. It's not you, it's me." Dropping Jay down, into the cozy easy chair he slept all night in, allowing him to slip from his hands, Eric says, "What makes you draw those conclusions?" Before responding, Jay couldn't help, but look into the dark cave of Eric's shirt, "To be honest?" "It's how I always thought it should go?" Eric smiles. "I think every man is beautiful and it's probably because I know I'll never find a man to fall in love with me, because of this," Jay laments, his eyes tearing up. The way Eric had Jay situated, he wasn't in any danger of falling over. Gone to bed with only briefs, Eric says, "Well, if you're worried about what you've got packed in there, you don't have to. Trust me, you don't know how I've been ridiculed for having a `little one'," Eric had dropped down on one knee. For a reason, it gave him the stamina to lean forward, skip right over Jay's briefs, "besides, there's much more towards getting to know someone?" Jay didn't know what was happening, a guy coming onto him, with such passion, that when Eric parted lips, Jay was left almost breathless, "What was that?" Acting silly, Eric says, "Wow, you're the first guy that ever told me you didn't like my kiss!" Still serious, Jay asks not so serious, "Like, how many guys have you kissed?" "Dozens, but what you're probably really wondering, I've never gotten serious with a guy." "And, you're how old?" "Twenty-seven. Do you approve?" "You're the same age as Jare," which sent Jay's mind really back into the past, when he and his brother used to do more than share a bed. "Is that a problem?" "Not as long as you don't mind my age?" Jay responds, still shaky, nervous about this older man hanging over him, physically and driving the mental aspect wild. "I got an idea. Why don't we pretend we're both the same age?" Eric proposes. "Your age or mine?" "In the middle." Jay figures, "Um, I'm 22 and you're 27, that would make us about 24?" Of course, they were stalling, mostly waiting on Jay to make up his mind of whether to pursue or give Eric the brush off, "24 is good for me. Tell you, in my sport, training just makes me older and older." "Which one is that?" Jay asks. "Triathlon, but sometimes I scale it down to running or cycling... or beach volleyball!" "Beach volleyball? But that's not..." "I know," Eric interrupts Jay with a smile, "but we both know how hot all that stretching and jumping about can do to a man-kini?" Eric got Jay laughing, "Man-kini? Never heard it called that before!" It's not how Eric initially planned it coming out. He knew it was a known term, yet since Jay wasn't catching on, let him think it was his own creation! Acting closer to Jay's age, yet a lot of men are not older in their thinking as their age dictates, Eric says, "Do we really care what they are called?" Neither one could tell at this point, Jay and his disabilities new to Eric, but Jay, so wrapped up in what Eric was telling him, compromised by what the parting of his shirt revealed, neither picked up on Jay sitting up tall in the chair and not falling over! "Hey, you two wanna get a room?" Jared peeks in the door, just in time. Catching Eric and Jay kissing, Jay breaks away to say, "We `are' in a room, Jare. What's up before I have Eric kick your ass out?" "What's up, is, you've got 15 minutes to shower, dress and eat... far as kicking me out, good luck with that!" Jared closes the door and leaves. Cheerful himself over what is developing between himself and Jay, Eric says, "If we cheat, skip the shower and just run a cloth over you, we can probably make it to the breakfast table in 5?" "Can you just use your hands and skip the cloth?" To make things more swift, they did what Jay and Jared did for a time without the wheelchair, piggybacked. Almost there, Jay says, "Oh shit! I'm so sorry!" Eric could only guess, feeling warm water dripping down his back, replying, "For what?" he keeps walking. Arms clinging around Eric's throat, Jay says, "If you didn't feel it yet, you will!" Even though the back of his shirt was soaked, a stream of water cascading down the crack in the back of his pants, Eric remained cool, setting Jay down on the toilet, "So, what's up?" "Shut up. Now we both `need' to take a shower!" "For what?" "Shut up again!" Jay says to Eric's smiling face. Stripping his shirt off, which was enough to keep Jay's mind blank to the fact he wasn't falling over and kissing his own knees, Eric blames, "You ruined a perfectly good shirt, you know?" "It'll wash off. Just throw it in the hamper." Not a stranger to undressing in front of other men, whether it be the locker room at the paramedic's station, which share with one of the Island's beach patrols, not to mention stripping down during a tri, Eric comfortably removes all articles of clothing. "Thanks for the strip show!" "You're turn," Eric says, going to work on Jay, fingers pulling at the elastic of his briefs. "Man, you reek!" "Your fault!" Jay condemns. Will the ability of taking an ordinary moment and turning it into a joke, when Eric pulls the briefs down to Jay's knees, he looks down between, "Hey, where did your monster go?" He couldn't feel, but well knew, when the bottoms falls out over a toilet hoop, everything tries to go swimming, "Monster? Hardly." Picking it up, placing it on the saucer of his hand, Eric says, "A soft monster?" This time, it was Kiernan who was sent to remind, "Nice position, Eric. Wish I had the time," Kiernan meant to bend right over Eric and stick it to him, "but Jared says you've got 3 minutes before we walk out the door?" When the two look at each other, Jay says, "You blush easily?" "Not really. Only when I look like I'm on my knees and really to give a blow job to a guy I've just met?" Jay replies, "I wish I could feel it, but trust me, we don't want to cross Jare." They showered in 1 minute flat, Jay receiving most of the care and attention. Whether the toilet was dirty or not, Jay was pulled from it, sucked into the shower, cleansed off and then plopped right back down the throne, Eric saying, "Don't go anywhere," while he showered off, taking a half minute. "Oh really? Was thinking of taking a trip to Brazil!" Stopping a moment, Jay looking up, seeing Eric's soapy head pop out of the shower door, "You ever been to Brazil?" "Nope. Never been much any place," Jay says, his hand playing with something he couldn't feel, trying to get his soft shaft to stand up, only to have failure every time! "We'll have to go there sometime," Eric looks down, "Keep practicing," pops back in the shower. "Great, but I think we should concentrate on getting to church!" Next time, it was Jared, telling them, "Hey slackers, you're on your own!" "Was that your brother?" Eric says, sliding the glass door open, showing his full, wet figure. "Yeah and I don't believe it." "Believe what?" Eric asks, hands on top of the runner which held the shower doors. All Jay could do is stop, watch, as he reveals, "Jare, he's leaving me a lone with you." "Oh goodie!" Eric says, like he has hidden desires. Then, "Um, think you can hand me a towel?" Knowing he can't get up, walk to the rack, Jay reaches over head, grabbing the fingertip towel, "Sure. Here." "Thanks," Eric says sarcastically, of the towel which would barely sop up a man's pubes, which Eric went right to sopping up. Knowing, if he wanted to be completely dry, he would need to fetch a bigger towel himself, climbs over the tub wall and walks to the rack. "Don't fall on your ass," Jay quips, giggling, "because I won't be able to pick you up!" Playing with Jay, Eric says, "Probably fall right on my stomach and then you'll jump me!" "Can't. Remember?" Jay points to both thighs. "You wiggle your toes, though?" "Get outta here," Jay doesn't believe it, bending over to look, reporting back, "I don't see anything," sits up. "There, that proves it," Eric has dried, towel held to his pubes, from habit, "when you're not thinking about something, you're already doing it, without knowing." "You're crazy." "Me, crazy? You just did it again." "Did what?" "You didn't need me to push yourself into a sit-up position?" Remaining speechless, Jay is observing himself, how indeed, he had bent over, touched, chest to thighs, was peering over the lip of the toilet seat and observing his toes not twinkling, recollects, "I... I did it, didn't I? I... I sat up on my own!" Eric had remain in place, the 27-year old watching, waiting, until tears started to flow. "I really did do it on my own, didn't I?" Stepping over to the bowl, Eric falls on his knees, bj position, places both hands on Jay's thighs, like he was ready to gulp down sausage, "You did and you can do it again." "No. I don't think I can," Jay says, with more tears. "Right. Let's continue to get ready. Your brother will be wondering what became of us." "Wait. Can you help me try it again?" Using his better judgement, much as Eric wanted to help, "You don't need my help, but I'll be here in case of anything?" In Jay's estimation, Eric was very good looking. Rounded face, bushy brows, stache and beard which looked like it never grew in and to bring all that handsomeness together, the smile, "Okay. I'll try, but don't let my head fall in the bowl." Eric could see Jay was being serious, when he knew his thighs would prevent this, "Let's try it." When Jay tried it, he couldn't do it, Eric catching him by the shoulders and trying it again. Sitting there, all perspired, Jay says, "I can't believe, when I didn't think of doing it, I did it and now that I want to do it, I can't." "You can't do this to yourself, Jay." "I know. I don't want to. It just happens," he sobs. "You know, I don't think it would be a good idea for you to go to church?" "No, that's definitely not my scene," Jay wards off the same. "How about this; I situate you out by the pool, come back in and scramble us up some eggs and then wait on you hand and foot until Jared gets back?" "Sounds all right," Jay replies, disappointment still lingering, wiping his runny nose with his forearm. "Ewe. Is that a habit?" Eric asks. "No. You have the towel?" In the midsts of helping Jay out, Eric had dropped the towel between his legs to the floor, "Oh this?" a hand reaches for it, retrieves. "I don't want it now?" "Yeah, right," Eric stands, purposely knowing what he's doing, his whole bod leaning over Jay, feeding the towel onto the rack above the bowl. "Are we feeling better?" Eric asks, having felt a tongue on his abs. "A little," Jay said, honestly. "Up!" he calls out, surprising Jay, hands fed into his pits. While Eric walks, Jay hanging on, Eric talks of hoping Jay didn't have to pee. "Oh no!" "What?" Eric stops at the edge of the pool. "My chair. I bet it's ruined," Jay sees it next to the barbecue grill. "Don't think about it now. Let's just dwell on having a nice day." Jay did just that, lying in a lounge chair, looking up at the sky. Soon, morning had turned the sun around to face towards noon. It was great to relax by the pool, not a care in the world, Jay not having to fix his own vittles. He wanted his sunglasses, didn't have them, but spotted a pair on the table. Downside, the table wasn't right next to the chair, positioned for reaching from the next chair over. Most of the time he could reach some stuff from bed, off the night table, but this was a farther distance. Reaching over or under the chair arm produced the same results. Next idea coming to him, was to reach his right arm over, grasp and fall back. First time there wasn't success, but Jay knew, like practice, maybe he could do it. Sometimes success doesn't come without a price, Jay paying for reaching the shades, grabbing them in his hand, the flimsy frames popping the lenses out and if that wasn't enough of a failure, his right shoulder making contact with the chair, tips it over, bringing it right over, on top of him, "Oh-h-h-shit!"! For a minute Jay was stunned, until tasting blood, calling out for `Eric', which he seemed unsuccessful, trying again, louder, "Eriiiiiiic, I need help!" Finally hearing Jay's cries, Eric rushes around the perimeter of the pool, but stops and just looks. "I did something stupid and I need your help. I think I'm bleeding." "You don't need my help." Jay didn't think he was helping himself, claiming, "My fuckin' lip is bleeding, idiot!" This didn't really phase Eric. It's sometimes how his older brother, Sean, used to speak to him. He couldn't help it half the time, plagued with mental illness. Perhaps it's how he found the patience to deal with Jay. When he got wind of how Jay could be sometimes, it sunk in. He wasn't going to allow what happened to Sean, to happen to Jay, taking his life instead of working out his problems. "Okay," Eric surrenders, pulling the chair off Jay like he was some kind of Superman, "maybe it's too much for right now." Setting it right, getting Jay to sit back in it, he says, "I only reached for the sunglasses. I'm such a failure." "But that failure didn't come without trying. Trying is the first step," Eric uses the kitchen towel, which was on his shoulder, to dab Jay's lip. "How come you know so much, thinking like my shrink thinks?" "Experience. How do you know so much about surfing?" "Okay. I get it. By the way, did you ever call Jare and tell him we're not coming?" Eric replies, "No. Here," he hands Jay his cell. "Oh, right," Jay looks towards the pool, "my cell drowned." "Can I trust you to not go anywhere, until I return with the eggs?" Eric's sweet babyface, had a way cheering people up, Jay smiling, but then having to say, "It hurts when I smile." "Only proves my point, the more you do something, the less cumbersome it becomes?" Eric leaves Jay with his words of wisdom. "Hm-m," Jay wonders if that's true. Bringing up the dial pad, he types in Jared's number. No answer, he leaves a message. For a few seconds Jay opens his mouth wide, like going down on a fat one, contorts his lips, feeling pain sometimes. Forgetting about his smile, he slides a hand over his thigh. Returning with the eggs, Jay claims, "Your theory doesn't work." Temporarily forgetting about bringing his cock back to life, something tears Jay's hand away, "You made all this?" On a big tray, round one, like waiters use to schlep food from kitchen to table, Eric had dropped it from shoulder to the table the sunglasses were on, "Of course. I'm very good in the kitchen. Found some flour and other ingredients, whipped up some biscuits, pulled some jellies and butter from the fridge," he covers the rest of the tray, "orange juice or coffee or both?" Looking everything over, like what to open first from under the Christmas tree, Jay says, "Now I know how you got that sixpack!" "I would rather think, all the things I did to get that sixpack, has given me the strength to lift the tray," Eric puts things in perspective. "Wow! What can I do to get breakfast like this everyday?" he unearths the biscuits and shiny jellies. "How else does a man get what he wants?" Eric asks. "I told you ten times already, Eric, my cock doesn't..." "No, I meant putting sex aside, how does... you know the rest?" "Oh! Of course! Sure! That's how I thought you meant it," Jay replies. "I don't really think Jare would consent to me being married at such a young age." "Marriage?" Eric cocks an eye. "Um, how about boyfriends, before we make the jump to the extreme?" "Yeah... Wow, that's cool, because I can't even think of myself as ever doing that... well, right now... not, like in a few years, that is if I ever met the right guy." "Well, if and when that happens," Eric speculates, "and I'm in the running to be that lucky guy, I hope you will still like my cooking!" It was already leading to something serious, but their eye to eye concentration was broken off from the persistent activity of staring, whooping and hollaring coming from the alleyway. "To be continued," Eric smiles, walking away from Jay. Running into the hoard on the left flank of the swimming pool, first to address them is Joseph, hiccuping, "Oops! Sorry. Someone spiked the punch bowl at the church luncheon!" "Makes me sorry I missed church," Eric says. Three dudes pass by Eric, Joseph, Jared and another, a guy he didn't know, but only guesses, because of the little white square, fenced in by a black collar, "Hey, how's it going?" "Fine," Eric replies. Soon as he sees the last few, Adam, Scott and a few other no-names, he turns around. There, on the opposite side of the pool, the dude in the preacher's collar has stripped down naked, Eric catching his vitals disappearing below the surface. Tapping Jared on the shoulder, Eric asks, "He runs the church?" "Theoretically?" Jared poses a query, "No. Pastor Mark says the people run the church. But... yeah, he holds us all together." Already with sights on the pool, Jared removed his jacket, tie and white shirt. That's how Jay and his mom told them to properly dress for church, even on hot summer Sundays. He didn't want to be rude, lifting his tee shirt off and after finishing up his chat with Eric, lifted it. Eric didn't mind, studying Jared's hairy sixpack! Dropping his shirt into a chair where all his other Sunday clothes were, Jared kicks his shoes off. Dropping pants, he allows them to fall on top of the pile, adding his briefs, like they were the finishing touches. "Geesh!" Eric says, keeping his opinion, Jared being a slob, to himself. Force of habit, Eric straightens the mess out, slacks folded nicely, dress shirt over the back of the chair, jacket over that, tie nicely placed over the back, two strands, pants evenly lined up at the waistline... "Oops!" the wallet falls out of Jared's pocket. So it doesn't happen again, he announces to the pool, "Jared, I'm putting your wallet on the table?" A hand shooing such an informality away, Jared yells, "Forget that. C'mon in!" Everyone, except Jay and himself were naked and swimming, Eric saying, "I'd love to join them, but I've got a second batch of biscuits in the oven." "Biscuits?" Adam says, like they are the last food left in the world, "I love biscuits!" Really, with the vodka someone slipped into the ice tea pitchers, Pastor Mark knew some would need more than communion wafers. Thus, Eric teases, "Then come into my web, said the spider to the fly," he takes Adam by the arm. It's not like Jay was forgotten, occasional sloshes, tsunami height pounding his bod, like surf on sand. In particular, Jay zeroes in on, "You did that on purpose, Joey!" Coming to the side of pool, deep end, Joseph lingers, fingertips on the edge to keep him afloat, "Me?" he wears a toothy grin, which could be mistaken to accompany an evil deed, "Now, why would I want to rile up a tough guy like you?" Having heard this a zillion times, Jay replies in the same zillion range, "I know you want it, Joey and someday I'm going to make your worst nightmare come true!" "Lord, help me!" Joseph says, losing balance, taking one hand to his heart. Submerging right behind, Pastor Mark says, "5 Hail Mary's for taking the Lord's name in vain, Joseph!" "We're not Catholic, remember?" Joseph tells him. "Oh! Right! I forgot! Thanks for reminding me!" Pastor Mark re-dives. Turning his attention back to Jay, Joseph says, "What a ditz!" "I think he's cute," Jay remarks. "I like all that... you know?" The muscle bear, hauling himself out of the water, Jay watches the pool flush down Joseph's bod. Pubes so thick, it obscures his balls, some cock, "Time for me to get out." It wasn't time. There was no time set for swimming, Joseph meaning, by his clock, it was time someone, appointing himself, to get out, sit by Jay and keep him company. Holding his cock up straight, Jay says, "You can sit here if you want, Joey?" "Thanks," he plops down in the chair opposite side of the table, "but I don't feel like having a sore bum all day," he laughs. "Ha... Ha," Jay didn't mean it! Pumped up, Jay could give some dude quite a ride, but he knew Joseph was being kind. Yet, more, he watches as Joseph's hand feels up the surface of the table, "Hmm, I could have sworn I left my shades here yesterday?" "Yesterday?" Jay questions. "Um, like when were you here yesterday, Joseph?" Counting back from Sunday on his fingers, Joseph says, "Actually, it was," Sat, Fri, Thurs... "about a week ago, if I recall right." Jay recalls perfectly, it being before he met Dirk, "You were here with Dirk?" "Uh, yeah," Joseph started to feel panicky, "I was meaning to tell you about that, that..." "You were here with Dirk? You and Dirk alone, here, in the backyard?" Jay does a re-check, "Naked, swimming in the pool and what else?" Momentarily, Jay had a lapse of memory, himself spending the night with Eric. It was all sinking in, Joseph making one measly correction, "No, we hadn't gone swimming. At least, not until..." he leaves out a chunk of info, "afterwards." "Wow," Jay tears his attention away from Joseph, stares at the gray wall. "Is there something wrong?" Joseph sensed it the case. "I was under the impression Dirk wasn't with anyone for a long time?" "Well, if it means anything, it was just some fun stuff, tied to the chair, making him deep throat me, you know how it goes, Jay, the `big master-bdsm' scene?" "Sure, Joey." "Then... you can guess how it ends?" Joseph's voice trails off in shame, because he knew Jay and Dirk had something going. But then, threw that idea out, like the baby with the bathwater, seeing Eric with Jay, like he was standing there. Jay thought it a good time, like he had Joseph where he wanted him, even though the events leading up to it were not his choosing, "Your shades fell on the ground. They are probably all over the place." "What?!" Joseph stands. Jay couldn't fight the man-feeling to gaze! "Those shades came off Cayman Karlyle's face. They're one of a kind!" Joseph clamors, walking around and looking, head down, like he was in `dog-walk alley', searching for remnants. "Owch! Oh-mi-god, I stepped on something!" they hear Scott bark out the pangs of pain. Sitting in a chair, Scott has his foot up. Most whom reported to his side, except his boyfriend, Adam, were looking between his legs. Adam already was examining Scott's foot. "Sure does look like it needs takin' care of!" Pastor Mark quips. Jared, feeling he knows the pastor well enough, makes comment, "You're supposed to be paying attention to the bottom of Adam's foot, Pastor!" "Oh man, ain't that a crock!" Joseph exclaims, ripping a piece of his lense out of the bottom of Adam's foot. "Shit, Joseph?" Scott says in a blaming tone, "You could have hit an artery!" That vodka ice tea was really doing a job on Pastor Mark, licking his lips, wanting Scott's major `artery'. "It's not as bad as it looks," Jared says, opening the door of a small fridge, found behind the outdoor bar. No ice, he picked out 2 cans of cold beer, saying, "Best I can do?" Joseph took one of them, but he didn't go to Scott's aid! "Shame on you, Joey!" Jay scolds, just as Joseph is ready to sip. Cool, calm, collective, like nothing's taken place, Joseph says, "My throat is so parched." "If I could, I'd wet it for you, Joey!" Jay lightens up. Joseph wagers, "The day you get online again, I'll gladly whet my whistle from your fountain!" Now, there was new incentive for Jay to work harder at Warrior One! "Oh, before I forget. Got a little present for you," Joseph says, jogging over to where he dropped his pants, hustling back, which was a treat for Jay, watching! "I made it myself," Joseph proudly holds up a linen-laced circle... well, sort of a circle. Coming up from behind, Jared, with sinister ideas of getting Joseph involved in chicken fights, says, "You still trying to pawn that rag off on some unsuspecting soul, Joseph?" Joseph says to Jay, "Y'know, your brother is cold, heartless and every other shitty word I can't think of right now?" "Yeah, I know," Jay concedes, "but I like what you made, Joey," Jay takes it, analyzing the square-circular pattern. Jared had already clued Joseph in on not saying anything, any improvement in his brother's condition, to let personal trainer, Dirk, be the one to suggest. Usually, when Jay show improvement, it was by accident. When he really tried to do something, he failed, which brought on pangs of anxiety. Joseph wanted to cheer Jay on, for his shoulders moving to retrieve the lovely little doily he knitted, but kept silent, except to gloat in a pompous manner, "Yeah, well, some people don't know `art' when they see it!" "Nice ass-wipe, Joseph!" Jared acted cruelly. He `paid' for his actions, Joseph using an elaborate police technique, grabbing Jared's left hand on his shoulder, standing, plastering Jared's chest to his back, then backing into the pool. "Oh shiiiiiit, Joseph," Jared exclaims, "You almost made me fuck you!" A minute ago, Joseph ranted on about `art', Jay pinning the immediate scene, his brother's fake attempt at surprise, on, "Actors!" He also wasn't in the dark about the relationship Jared and Joseph share. It was almost on the eve of his surfing accident, the two fessin'-up to the special relationship they've held over the years, the sex and non-sex, numerous times each has bailed the other out over small infractions. Yet, it was something on a larger scale which brought Joseph into their lives. Jared called it no big deal, having pulled him out of the line of fire, of a bullet, at HOODWINK'd, right after it first opened. Quick reflexes on Jared's action, had Joseph dodging the discharge, the owner of the club at the time complaining more about the projectile becoming lodged in the finely wooded wall, 50 feet away. Little had Joseph thought, helping to get some underaged kid into the gay bar, would have paid off big time later on! However, sometimes bad things don't happen without a reason and for HOODWINK'd, it made the owner hire thug-looking fellows to patrol the entrance, scrutinizing ID's, frisking when necessary... or unnecessary! Joseph had figured it wasn't the only benefit the incident involving him panned out to turn into something good. During the investigation, it was determined, the owner's credentials didn't check out. Given 6 months to bring the place up to code, the owner bailed out. Appalled at one of the great clubs on the Island, barely getting it's feet wet, Joseph came to the rescue, finding an owner. He was also instrumental in the new owner, Carlos `Trey' Castro, in annexing the empty store right next to it. Instead of fully converting the square feet into nightclub space, Trey used it for storage. After conversation, knowing Trey was into the scene, Joseph suggested turning the old wine cellar into something more lucrative and to his tastes. Therefore, if a 17-year old kid never had the insight to react when he saw a gun, Joseph might never have gained island-fame, as a hot top to seek out when playing at The Spin Club! On the side, The Spin Club got it's name from a the brainchild of Trey Castro, a huge `roulette' wheel, four cuffs in place and finding a willing victim, was placed on it, water balloons thrown at him. It was dismantled on account of Trey got tired of shelling out money to pay fees to the Island urologist! Returning to Jay's side, he's surprised by, "Karl? What are you doing here?" in addition to Dirk. Dirk says, "We were in the neighborhood and dropped in." "Yeah," Karl scratches the back of his crewcut head, "Jared asked me to check out Kermit's Nook, well I suppose we should start getting used to calling it the plain ole `Nook'. Anyhoo, I made a list of suggestions." Looking Karl down and up, Jay says, "Where is it? In your pocket?" Worth mentioning, 9 out of 10 times, a man entering the alley way, would come out the other end, in the buff. "Take my advice, Jay, being a wiseass is going to get you into trouble someday!" "Why don't you show him your kind of justice, Karl?" Dirk instigates. "Nah," Karl says, after cracking his knuckles, "I'll wait till I have him trussed up at The Spin Club!" Hearing his name called, "Help, Karl," turns around, just in time to see Joseph bulldoze Jared under. "Duty calls!" Karl holds up a finger, then takes a running leap. "So, what is Karl's `kind of justice'?" "Tickle-torture, but it's much more than that. Will get you hard in no time, what he does to you," Dirk replies. Dirk had slacked down into a squat position, tiring, moved his butt onto the facing lounge chair. In an interrogative manner, Jay says, "You come by this knowledge from first hand experience?" Knowing where Jay was going with this, Dirk replies, "I should have told you, way back when we first met, I wouldn't be good tied down to apron-strings." A little perturbed, especially after Joseph telling about his sex romp with Dirk, Jay says, "Then why did you bother coming onto me?" "I know this sounds cruel, heartless, and yet mysterious to a point, but I did it out of kindness, probably due to the fact of how I had to be towards my mother. Am I making any sense?" Flashing through his mind, Jay knew, how not only physically, but psychologically his horrible accident rendered his disposition. Even today he wondered what stamina his brother had, to endure the person he was then and on occasion even now, "I understand." "Do you really?" "Yeah," Jay sums up, "the rock doesn't fall too far from the tree." "Rock? Tree?" Dirk questions. "Never mind." Giving in, Jay says, "Can we still be friends?" Overhearing, Eric had happened by a few seconds earlier, carrying two Margaritas, whipped up over at the bar, "Friends, okay, but not `close' friends?" It wasn't any secret, Jay now hanging with Eric, though Jay had his reservations to as, `how long?' Dirk sees how things are panning out, placing hands on thighs, using as leverage to haul his ass up, "I'm going to go check on the barbecue." Jay knew it faux pretense, clearly seeing Karl and some other dude over by the grill, "Who's that?" Placing a long-stem glass in Jay's hand, Eric says, "Um, I'm not sure, but as I understand it, it's your new psychologist?" "Oh," Jay giggles, "I forgot! I can't believe he was lying next to me in bed and I forget who he is!" "Lying in bed, huh?" Eric says in a suspicious tone. Then, off on another train of thought, "Aren't you feeling a little cooped up, corralled into that chair?" Right on the same page, Jay says, "Would be more roomy if I could spread out, with you at my side?" "I'll be right back," Eric brainstorms off. "You're not supposed to have alcohol, bro!" Jared swipes the drink right out of his brother's hand. He sat down, Jay saying, "I sipped out of it. You could get what I've got, you know?" "Oh really?" Jared doesn't sip, gulps, "How many times is it now, I've heard you say, you wouldn't wish your condition on anyone else?" His cheeriness sinking, Jay says, "Let alone, you?" Turning Jay's attitude around, Jared dwells on something meaningful, "Hey, we never got to get it on between the sheets, but I have a feeling I'm being pushed out of the bed by your new boyfriend?" It was Jared's way of getting the inside scoop about his brother and his new suitor, Eric Russeau. On the other hand, Jay knew this how his brother's mind worked, checking out a guy, without prying open the cupboard on his own, "His real name is Eric-Phillipe, but he likes just `Eric'. He's 27-years old, 5'10, muscular as you can tell and `down there', I lost track of how to figure out how big a semi-soft man is." Jared was ready to say, `size does not matter', changing his mind to more subtle, open-ended, "Does it really matter?" "Depends," Jay replies in a somber tone. Feeling what his brother felt, that close connection, brotherly bond, Jared asks, "What's really bugging you, bro?" he takes Jay's hand in his empty one. In broken thought, Jay puts together his thoughts, "The last couple of weeks, I've gotten to be friends with so many guys, but it's like, all of them dropped me because the plumbing isn't working. I mean, you know as well as I do, Jare, how much getting it on means to a sex-hungry guy?" "We're not all like that, Jay?" Knowing Jared `was', Jay toys, "From firsthand information, bro?" Narrowing the odds, not which he was an expert, Jared says, "Okay, maybe 1 in 10 will go for the heart and not what's between the legs," said like he was the expert! They were interrupted by a loud thunderclap, which made Jay look towards the heavens, only to see Eric standing there, hands clasped in prayer-position, "Got it all set and waiting your approval!" "You're out of breath?" Jay says to him, upside down. Jared clues his brother in, "Yeah, well, you would be too bro, if you were to blow an air mattress," a sly smile forms on his face, after his wink. "For your information, `blow' and `blew up' have two different meanings?" "Oh, I think Joseph's calling me," Jared vanishes. "I think Jare was trying to be funny." "I think your brother failed!" Eric well knew, going to work, his hefty muscles aiding him in slipping arms under Jay's pits and hauling him out of the chair. "Where are we going?" "To bed," Eric quips. His front molded to Jay's back, he brings him over to where he has pumped up a double-sized air mattress, covered in towels. Carefully he goes to place Jay on it, "Faced up or down?" "Depends on what you're going to do to me!" Jay replies in a gleeful, airy laugh. "Down, boy," Eric makes the necessary arrangement. From out of nowhere, well, poking around behind the bar, he says, "Lotion?" Jay answers, "What an excuse to get your hands on me!" "Of course! You think I'm stoopid?" His head turned towards Eric, Jay was under the impression he was about to be coated first, watches as Eric rubs the lotion on his chest, hands planing down his sixpack, "Um, don't take this the wrong way, but I thought you were going to do me first?" "Nah. I decided on, `the hard way!'" `The hard way' turned out to be the erotic way, yet Jay would only be able to feel it halfway from the shoulders, down, Eric flipping over and rubbing his front on Jay's back! Sometimes Jared and Joseph could be friends, though never enemies. Right now, it was more business, Jared, like he usually turned into, the `father', wanting the best for Jay, "What do we really know about this, `Eric Phillippe Russeau, Joseph?" It wasn't a trick question, nor one he hasn't heard before. The first couple of times, Joseph needed it spelled out to him, but now, he just reacted, "Not much, other than, unlike me, he can blow up an air mattress and not faint dead away?" "You know the drill," Jared replies, staring across the pool at Jay having his back `waxed'. Complaining, Joseph rises up out of the easy chair, "I thought Sunday was a day of rest? Where's my pants?" If it wasn't a `day of rest' for Jared, the idea of `not knowing', it was not a restful day for Joseph, seeking out the whereabouts of his pants, digging in the pocket for his cell phone. Then, it became an interrupted day for others, Joseph making a call to one of his buddies at the small precinct headquarters, only to be passed on to someone else, like a closely knitted grapevine. Reporting back to Jared, Joseph says, "Done," placing his cell on the table between, sitting. "Well, what did you find out?" Jared presses. "It's Sunday. The chain works slower on weekends?" Joseph protests. "The minute you get anything, I want to know," Jared says, eyes still glued to the air mattress. "Aren't you going a little too much `James-Bond' on this?" More than a brother's point of view, Jared says, "You bet your ass, Joseph!" "Sorry," Joseph says, knowing he should have never popped the question. "Oh, by the way Joseph, when did you stop treating Jay like he was your own brother?" Turning to Jared, Joseph forces his chin away from the scene unfolding, which has Eric sliding off Jay's back, half on-half off, "And why the fuck are you busting my chops over it? Of course I love you both, more than my own family?" "Joseph, you don't have any family?" Jared says, looking into Joseph's eyes. Turning the `turning the cheek' into a slight slap of shame, Joseph says, "Then, who the fuck do you think my family is?" "Sorry," Jared's head darts down, like he's looking at his own balls, "I don't know what's come over me," he exhales. "Well, I do," Joseph says. Like it's not tough to tell, "Every time someone gets close to Jay, it's like your paternal instincts kick in?" Both knowing what Jay wants, Jared reiterates, from a family standpoint, "It all started with Evan, which I can't say he hasn't been a good influence on Jay, but picturing him being independent, out in the world on his own, it's just tough to..." "Let go?" Joseph says. "I can't be around him 24 hours of every day, Joseph." Joseph moans on Jared's behalf, sitting back, relaxed in the easy chair, grabbing the back corners of it with each hand, flaunting hairy pits, his robust bod, "I can't believe you made 2 u-turns on the NJ Turnpike yesterday!" "Yeah, well I know I'm overusing what dad used to say..." "The thing about bad things turning into good?" Joseph has been torpedoed enough times! "I haven't talked to Jay, nor anyone else about it, but I'm thinking of selling off the marine part of our enterprises." Not in a surprising way, Joseph keeping his cool, closes up his pits, placing hands on the arms of the chair, bends forwards, assuming the position of his friend and advises, "I think it sucks, but that's only my opinion?" "It's not only the business, but I'd have more time with Jay?" "If you want to develop more independence in Jay, I hardly think that's a way of going about it, Jared?" Joseph puts it to his friend. "I know Joseph. It's just that I guess I've got too much on my plate right now and..." "Of course. What do you think I've been trying to tell you?" "If you knew, why didn't you say it?" Jared blames, but not too harshly. "Ugh," Joseph reacts, "how do I get myself into these things?" After an interlude of silence, watching dudes splash in the pool, Jared places a hand on Joseph's forearm, "I didn't mean to drag you into my affairs." "I thought we were `family'?" "I was talking business," Jared differs in opinion. Joseph quips, "Business doesn't come without pleasure!" Jared gives Joseph a straight-faced reaction, meant to tell him he didn't appreciate the gag. Acting more businesslike, Joseph says, "I don't think you should sell off the marine business." "No?" Jared looks to Joseph, like he was a Wall St. investment firm offering free advice. "It's easy." "Nothing's easy in the business world, if you want to stay ahead, which right now I feel like the Titanic about to break in half?" "You don't sell off the stores. You find someone who is highly business-minded, to take your place. Then, you show up at each store once a year, instead of 3 times a week?" "I thought opening the satellite store was going to be a good idea," Jared starts beating himself up. "C'mere." Joseph doesn't drag Jared to him, but makes him get up out of his own chair, sits, then has Jared sit on one knee, like a father, ready to give junior some advice. "Um, like my knee is kind of close to the hardware?" Jared takes notice. "Don't change the subject. Here's what you're going to do..." Looking across the way, Jay inquires, "Eric, what do you suppose that's about?" Surveying the situation himself, Jared on Joseph's knee, Joseph's arm around Jared's shoulder, Eric says, "I dunno. You know the relationship between them, better than I do?" >From his own knowledge and perspective, and feeling comfortable speaking with Eric about it, Jay recalls some history, "I can't really figure out who is dominant in bed, because they're both tops. But I also know Jare will bend for the right man." "And, has there been many men in your brother's life, he's `knelt down' for?" Eric asks. Not only was he curious, but rubbing on the towel, abrasive against the vinyl mattress was turning him on, like a steamy Nifty with a lot of sexual detail. Smiling, because he knew something Eric didn't know, "Only one that I know of!" Tired of holding his head up, Jay's chin had collapsed to the raft. Eric, turning his head away from seeing Jared kiss Joseph, cocks one eye and with great insight, "No idea who that might be, I take it?" Jay nicely blames, "If you know who it is, why don't you just say it?" Chinning the floatation device, Eric says, "I like mysteries!" "You're a hopeless moron," Jay awards him. "Thanks," Eric says. "Now, how about we give them some competition!" "What tha..." Jay gasps! Eric, lying to Jay's left, pulls on his left arm. His chest and stomach, other parts, all greased up, making it a light chore to slide Jay over on top of himself, asking, "After all you've been through, you can still feel a kiss?" Eric didn't allow Jay to think about it! % Copyright 2014 T. Chase McPhee `MAkiNG WaRRioRs', and developing segments of this story, may not be sold, nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the author.