Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 20:41:07 -0700 From: Lael Stalnaker Subject: Near Collision: Chapter 12 This is a work of fiction. It contains material that might be considered by some to be objectionable, i.e., graphic sexual contact between consenting men. If this is likely to bother you as a reader, stop right here and click the 'x' at the top of your window. That will save your eyes the trouble of being polluted. If you are a minor or in the presence of a minor, remember to click the 'x' and get your tail out of here. If it is not legal in the place where you reside to view such material, you know the drill by now. If you continue to read, it is with full knowledge and understanding that it is your own doing and no other's. In that case, enjoy the story! All of my stories are now collected at http://www.laelnet.com There is a wide range of stuff, so give it a look see. As always, I can be reached at vanyelashkev@pacbell.net. I can't promise a quick turn around, but I always answer email. Thanks for all of your support over the last year guys! ----------------------------------------------------------- "Near Collision" By Lael Stalnaker Chapter 12: Maybe This Isn't a Good Idea Skyler sat on the patio, thinking as he watched the sun come up. He hadn't slept well and so came out to listen to the silence of the early morning. Stars were still faintly glimmering their last before the sun peaked the horizon. The birds had yet to make their presence known with the adulation of the new dawn. He sat in his robe, waiting. Neither immortal had been there when he came out. Skyler could only assume that they were off in the Dream Realm. At least, that's what he hoped. He let his sight fade and checked on Jeremy. His ex was sleeping fitfully, still no doubt terrified of the events from the night. Skyler felt a certain satisfaction that the ugly green-yellow light was fading rapidly. That could only mean that Anteros had withdrawn his energy. A good sign, after last night's brawl. He flitted back to his waiting body and opened his eyes. The morning looked even better already. Skyler took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Then he froze. That damn stray cat was sitting on the fence in front of him. A grin gradually spread over Skyler's face. This battle would end now and permanently. The cat sat, tail twitching, staring down at Skyler. Suddenly the cat's nose wrinkled and an indignant meow burst forth. Skyler just grinned and waved to the rapidly retreating backside. He had put a scent trigger into the cat's nose. Anytime the cat touched the fence; an overpowering grain alcohol smell would overpower its sensitive feline nostrils. His roses should now finally be safe from cat urine. Small victory, but satisfying. Skyler sighed. Not that his day was going to be any easier. He still needed to get things straight in his head concerning Bryce and Joshua. More to the point, what they were and would do. Immortals without holds, checks or any sense of modern understanding, loose on the world. Skyler knew that there were definitely others, but it appeared that at least these two were his to deal with. He had to find a way to bring them up to speed. Their sense of right and wrong belong to an ancient age when might was right and the gods too powerful to gainsay. He watched the sunrise, the sky shifting its colors toward the ultramarine of day. The birds finally began their tribute to a new morning of sight. Skyler sighed. This was going to be hard. He knew the legendary pride of the Greek immortals. How does one make them understand the modern world without stepping on an emotional land mine? He needed Ethan's logic to get through this maze of contradictions. Between them both, they might be able to get the point across without an all out battle of wills. Skyler could only hope at this point. He rose to his feet as the world began stir. He could make out the sounds and smells of people getting ready for the day. Turning on his heel, he went back into the apartment to see if Ethan was up yet. ******* Eros strode through the halls of his palace, deeply disturbed. A scroll was clenched in his fist, nearly crumpled into ragged scrap. He turned down another corridor; headed for the rooms he had put Anteros in the night before. Reaching the doors, he pounded his fist on them, thunder sounding throughout the palace. "Open up, Brother!" Eros called out. The doors swung back and Anteros stared at Eros. He had not seen his brother this upset in millennia. He stepped back and to the side allowing Eros entry. Eros stepped in and went into the sitting room. He threw himself onto the divan, strangely disturbed. Anteros followed and sat more calmly on a high-legged stool. His wings twitched, black shimmering in the glow of morning light through the skylight over head. "Something amiss, oh elder Brother?" Anteros asked, now curious. "Something is indeed amiss, sibling. I woke to find this upon the foot of my bed. None of the servants can tell me how it got there. Though they are only bits of energy, still they observe and report all to me that happen within these walls. It disturbs me greatly. Here," Eros tossed the rumpled scroll to his brother. Anteros caught the missive easily and carefully unbent the paper so that it would unroll smoothly. Using both hands, he brought the scroll out into the sunlight sifting down from the ceiling. He scanned the words, then started over to read more slowly. Once finished, his hands fell to his lap, the paper once more abused without thought. "Does this mean that Apollo knew so long ago?" Anteros asked uneasily. Eros shrugged, "Possibly, but though his sphere included prophecy, I have come to believe that much that comes through the oracles originates well beyond our ken. What I have seen through the centuries implies that the Universe at large may sometimes use a mouthpiece that belongs to another. I believe this is the case with that," he stated, pointing to the scroll in Anteros' lap. "Apollo may never have even heard of it. Especially with the chaos at the end of our days together as family. I would dearly like his words on this matter. For, if he knew and said nothing..." "I cannot see Apollo holding back such news as this, surely. To know and not tell us all, such a betrayal is beyond belief. Sooner would I believe that the Cybele had no way to give this warning to us." Anteros said firmly. "Well, it is in our hands now, for better or worse. The words are vague but the message clear. They match the ill dreams that plague me in the mortal world. We will have to share this with our bonded both. I dislike bringing such ill tidings to those I love," Eros replied. "Aye, I agree." "As for the matter of last night... I think it best that we do not butt heads with our bonded. The links are too new and might easily shatter under the strain of ill will amongst us. Curb your instincts until a more suitable time. I understand that you meant well, but how are they to know? Surely you can see the wisdom of this?" requested Eros. Anteros re-rolled the scroll while thinking on his answer. It irked him that the mortals so misunderstood his need to assuage the wrongs done in Love's name. It was too much a part of his nature, his ultimate being to simply push aside and ignore without complaint. He handed back the scroll to Eros, more than pleased to release the ill-omened thing back to his brother. "Aye, I will do my best not to provoke them. The strength of Skyler! It is still a bitter taste to know defeat at his new-made power. He outfoxed me so quickly that I did not even realize that it was he. And Eros... that was simply his spirit. Think of the power of the three combined, for we both know that it is only partial strength that goes with the wandering spirit into the night. His body, mind and soul combined will harbor a strength that we of Olympus never knew. These strange times have bred new men, it seems. I think that only my longer experience would sway an all out battle in the end to my favor. Though, I doubt either would survive to enjoy a victory long. The drain might well kill me as nothing else can." "Why Brother! I believe that is the most you have spoken in my presence, ever, at one go! Truly, the world has turned inside out!" laughed Eros. "Laugh as you like, but this changes things. They will have to be guarded, for one of them holds the answer to the riddle. I have no idea which of them it could be. And now we have to watch for the third party. Can you make anymore of the rest of it?" asked Anteros, flicking his wings back in irritation. "We should get back soon. There is much to talk about," said Eros. ******* Ethan groaned and pulled the covers back over his head. He really didn't want to get up yet. His sleep had taken up all of 3 hours of a night of restless tossing and turning. Each time his arm had hit the unoccupied space next to him, Ethan's eyes had popped open. He missed the warmth of his bonded next to him. Giving it up as a lost cause, Ethan flipped the covers back and sat up. The sun was just fully past the horizon. He stumbled into the bathroom and sighed with relief as his bladder emptied. Yet another reason to get up. He showered, keeping his head up under the spray of hot water. He hoped it would help clear his head. No such luck since it just made him sleepier. Toweling off, he shaved and wandered back into his room. Dressing quickly in shorts and sandals, he plopped himself down in front of the computer. It was still running the program they had started days earlier. No luck so far, but there was still a huge pile of entries left to enter into the system yet. He worked on that for an hour, rapidly entering data and found that his head was clearer once he stopped. Nothing like plain facts to bring order to chaos. Yawning, Ethan left off and went out into the house. As he came to the living room, he saw Skyler come in off of the patio. There was no sign of the immortals. Smiling, he went into the kitchen and began to make breakfast. Surely the others would show up before he was done cooking. Ethan was surprised though when Skyler followed him in. "Were you able to sleep?" asked Skyler. Ethan shook his head as he grabbed a carton of eggs out of the fridge. "Me either. I was up with the sun, thinking. We need to talk before they get back from where ever they wandered off to." "What about Sky?" inquired Ethan as he continued with making breakfast. "Well, we have got to get those two to understand that this is not ancient Greece and the world is not full of ignorant peasants any more. We can't have them dispensing their own justice as they see fit. Theirs is too heavy handed and possibly totally out of line. You see what I mean, don'tcha?" asked Skyler. "Yeah, I do." "Any off the cuff ideas?" probed Skyler. "Give me a sec. I'll give ya an answer when we finish breakfast. I guess I should make enough for them too, in case they show." "Ether! I was hoping to get this sorted 'before' they get back. Why are you avoiding this?" asked a now exasperated Skyler. "Huh? Oh... I guess I hate the thought of disagreeing with Josh. Everything is still so new between us. And I am sorry, but I think Jeremy really did have it coming to him." "Great! So he deserved a death sentence? Don't you get it? That's what the end result would have been!" "How do you know that?" demanded Ethan. "Who is the mythology expert here? Did you not understand what Bryce said about the arrow I intercepted? That the poison on it is lethal? The punishment does not fit the crime, my bloodthirsty bro. Greek gods are famous for their over the edge punishments, even if they end up regretting it later." "Oh." Ethan became thoughtful. "Yeah. Now do you get why I am concerned? The morals of ancient Greece have no place here. We have got to get them to see this. We are the only ones that they will listen to. I need help finding a way that won't bruise their egos. Will you help me or not?" Skyler pushed. "Yeah, I'll help." "Ok, so any ideas?" "Well, it comes down to finding out how important their ways are to them. Then we have to make them see that we are not the people they are used to dealing with and haven't been for hundreds of years. With a bit of luck, they should accept that readily enough. Neither of them is stupid. If all else fails, we simply tell them that we will be forced to withhold our help if they insist on doing things their way." Said Ethan thoughtfully as he set the prepared food on the table. "That's about what I came up with myself, but I'm glad to hear it from you bro. Hopefully that ends any further disasters. Thanks," said Skyler as he sat. They ate in a now comfortable silence, concentrating on their own individual thoughts. Just as they were finishing up the last bits on their plates, they both sensed the arrival of the missing pair. The immortals faded into view near their respective lovers. Skyler and Ethan calmly chewed and swallowed what was in their mouths. Bryce pulled out a chair and sat down heavily. Josh stood behind Ethan and wrapped his arms around his bonded's shoulders. The silence grew. Bryce played with the parchment scroll, rolling it between his hands. He looked up at Skyler and smiled faintly. Skyler's eyes caught on the moving parchment, a frown suddenly creasing his forehead. Bryce's hands stilled and his smile lessened. Ethan finally noticed the scroll himself and stiffened. Joshua's hands tightened briefly and he pulled back Ethan's chair. He then plopped himself into Ethan's lap, putting his arms around Ethan's neck. "I am sorry for all that happened yesterday, Skyler. Though words do not take back actions long done, I hope that you can forgive the trespass. I forgot your request for amnesty for the fool. It will not happen again, my word on it," offered Joshua into the silence. "I accept." "I too offer my apologies, most beloved. I should have thought more carefully before intervening. I will make sure to hear you out in any future situation. Joshua and I have come to the conclusion that there must not be conflict amongst us from now on and for the foreseeable future. Things are unraveling. This was left on my bed in the dream palace last night. Read it for Ethan, since he does not speak Greek and definitely not that of so long ago. We need to discuss its contents immediately," said Bryce. Skyler took the offered scroll and carefully unrolled it. The letters were handwritten and slightly erratic. Faded with age, the words swam in his sight until he forced his focus to shift as needed from clear to faint and back again. Once he had puzzled all the way through it once slowly, he reread it more quickly. His brow furrowed. He read it out loud for the final time, "When Love hears Dream's call Within the Sleeping Lord's Field, Though he be not there, Pay heed and awaken mankind's shield. "Within the circle of the Sun, Death and Death and Death and Death Each on four legs will come, Driving from mankind their Mother's breath. "First two, then four, then five in all, The witnesses gather, the mortals two, For they shall bear witness To the passing of the Old to the New. "Should they falter from their task, And forsake that which empowers the sane None shall survive the aftermath And Death triumphant shall reign "The witnesses start the Gathering Seeking that long plundered Two mortal and three not Bring together those ancient Sundered. "When the Immortal clan Is once more whole, The next task is sixfold To check the Death toll. "Old must welcome New Granting that blindly withheld Immortal transformation of two Past and Present into Future must meld. "Find the others that are Old >From the peoples of ancient states, For each their place to stay Knotted by us, the Fates. "Guard the mortals from themselves Lest the day end in red Once the first Battle starts Or all living are now Dead "Call forth with Battle cry All the world's elementals find For the Battle will be lost If not fought by Nature's kind. "Bring together those who know The growing of the field and its call Should the First linger long, A Blight upon the land shall fall. "Pandemic sweeps the World New fear and old merge in the night Disbelief destroys none Mankind prays for healing light. "The final Death cannot be stopped By Heaven's hand nor Hell's neither The riddle is spoken long before: A mortal's mind holds the tether. "Each in their order comes, Sweeping from land to land Mankind laid to rest in drifts With but a touch of hand. "One Death, and all is possible Add the Second, Hope withers on barren limb, Add the Third, Chance is thin All Four together, the World ends," finished Skyler. "Wait, there is a final paragraph... 'Thus says the Cybele, last of Delphi's voices. This being her final prophecy before her death. And lo, there shall not be another after her.' Ok, that's it," said Skyler. They sat in silence, absorbing the words. They echoed within their minds. Skyler felt as if the words were now branded directly into his brain, an ancient long dead woman's voice hissing within. ******** Smoke roiled and twisted on the barren plain. The smell of sulfur stank in the dry air. A deep crevice gaped open as the earth shook and groaned with internal agony. Rumbles and crashes echoed into the open air as the crack in the surface grew, seemingly torn by the ground's shaking. The smoke began to circle and spin over the misshapen ground. A deep red glow filtered up into the yellowed air. A final trembling split wide the tortured earth and rock. The smoke hissed up in billowing poisonous clouds. Within the deadly smog, a form shaped. Four limbs straddled the opening, red gleaming off of polished metal. The words spoken in the other world echoed here, within the Dream Realm. Glowing eyes scanned the surroundings, finding satisfaction that there were no living creatures for miles in any direction of this cursed spot. Laughter boomed forth, and surely, had there been anything living, it would have died at the mere sound of that creature. ******* Ethan sat in front of his computer inputting the stack of information that never seemed to end. He wished there was a faster way to do it. His brow furrowed and then he came to a decision. He scanned the top sheet with his eyes, reading quickly, and then stared at the monitor. Instantly words appeared. Ethan grinned and kept reading. Now, as he read, the words appeared on the screen less than a second after he read them. He split his attention, now that it was a matter of reading and sending the words straight into the machine. Ethan was worrying at the words of the prophecy in the back of his head. They all had sat silent for a long time, absorbing what it had implied. Bryce then told them that there would be no further deviations from the real purpose. Skyler had been relieved that it was not necessary to go into their earlier planned discussion. Ethan was just as relieved. The immortals had come to the right conclusion on their own, it seemed. When the pile of data was down to half its original size, Ethan stopped and stretched. He felt an intense satisfaction that he had found an effective use for the power granted him by Anteros. Ethan was not given to the kinds of experiments that his twin reveled in. Then again, Skyler seemed to have a better understanding of the possibilities inherent to the gift. The computer pinged suddenly, bringing Ethan's attention swiftly back to it. The data stream had stopped and highlighted one of the names from the list. There appeared to be a strong chance that an immortal, other than their own pair, was here in California. Ethan mused on the information. Another idea was forming and he debated the wisdom of checking it out. After several minutes of deep thought, Ethan decided to go with the new idea. He saved the results of his search program and sat back comfortably in his chair. His eyes drifted shut and his body relaxed. Light patterns began to play across his closed eyelids, gaining speed rapidly and changing so fast that they became nothing more than a quicksilver flicker. His chin soon rested on his chest, his mind now out and elsewhere. ******** Thousands of pinpoints of light raced in a stream before Ethan. His eyes took in the sight with awe. He concentrated a moment and the stream slowed to a crawl. The pinpoints became broad bands and he looked down at them carefully. He shifted his mind, changing the light into recognizable information that he could use. He laughed with delight, reminded of the scene from Matrix when Neo looks down the hotel hallway, seeing it as streams of code. Though far cruder, the information highway did in some ways resemble the movie. Ethan studied the flowing light patterns below him. He was still unsure exactly how he was doing this, but he knew that he was breaking several laws of physics. Ethan glanced back, looking for his entry point into the data stream. He almost panicked when he could not readily identify it. Then he noticed a faint cord leading along his back trail. Silvery and insubstantial, it showed up as he slitted his eyes and used peripheral vision. Even more curious now, Ethan willed himself back to the entry point. He found himself facing himself, from the inside of the computer monitor. He frowned, thinking hard. He would have thought it more logical to enter through the drive of the computer itself. Ethan examined all of the information showing in his 'sight'. Within seconds, he was able to comprehend what everything meant and how it appeared to his altered state. He groused to himself as he recognized a subtle virus twisting and turning within his hard drive. It was slowly eating into the computer's memory and would eventually cause nothing but 'fatal error' messages as time progressed. He tightened his focus and reached forth with his mental hands. He caught the 'head' of the virus as it quietly consumed valuable space. He clenched his fingers and crushed the thing. Then he hauled each part of it to him, back tracking the course it had taken. An intense satisfaction crept through Ethan as he annihilated the insidious thing. Ethan swept his senses through the rest of the memory on the hard drive; cleansing and fixing those places that needed it. Soon the job was complete and Ethan decided that he had done enough exploring of this new realm for the day. It would not do to get caught up and forget to return. With a last look around at the incredible display of light structures around him, Ethan retreated back to the monitor and out into his body. He opened his eyes and sighed. His mind reeled with all of the possibilities this discovery opened for him. Ethan really had not believed that the power given him by Anteros had any practical real effects in the physical world. He was skeptic enough as it was, even with some of Skyler's more flamboyant tricks as proof. Still, this was an application that could really help, in a number of ways. His intimate knowledge of computers and programs now took on whole worlds of meaning. Ethan grinned to himself as he listed things in his head. Yes, things would prove to be very, very interesting as he discovered all that he could do in the computer virtual world. Let Skyler have access to the Dream Realm, Ethan would have the Virtual one as his own. Satisfied with the experiment, Ethan only now realized the deep weariness that prevailed throughout his body and mind. The energy cost was something he would have to consider for the next time. No sleepless nights before hand. The grin faded as he thought of the possible things that could go wrong. Until he knew more, caution must rule his actions. He debated telling the others his discovery, but ended up not wanting to share his new toy. Ethan lowered himself onto the bed, exhausted beyond description. He wondered if Skyler felt this way after his ventures into the realm of power. He sighed to himself. His eyes felt so heavy that he knew he had to sleep and recover. His breathing evened out and his body relaxed. Ethan slept, at peace with himself. ******* He woke to hands caressing his face. Joshua knelt at the side of the bed, his hands feather light as they traced the lines of his jaw and cheeks. Ethan smiled sleepily. Joshua stopped his stroking, letting his hands cup Ethan's face. The smile pierced his heart, sending a surge of exultation through his being, that this smile was for him alone. "Hungry?" Joshua whispered into Ethan's ear. "Yes, but not for anything to eat," Ethan whispered back. "What for then?" asked Joshua, puzzled. "For you! I missed you." "Oh! What shall we do about it then?" inquired Joshua, pleased to no end. "Well, I want another shower. The humidity is bad today. Join me." Ethan said as he leaned over to kiss Joshua. "As it is your wish, so it is my delight. Though, it has been night now for some hours. Come, let us make use of your marvelous bathing room." Joshua took Ethan's hand and helped him to rise from the bed. Ethan glanced at the window, startled to find that the day was gone. Still, sweat trickled down his back and sides from the heat of the day. He desperately wanted to get clean. Even more, he wanted Josh. He quickly stripped and tossed the soiled clothes into the hamper in his closet. Turning back to Josh, he found the muscular form already naked and Josh's smile beaming at him. Ethan felt a massive twitch from his groin as he gave Josh a long, slow, appreciative, going over with his eyes. He never tired of looking at him. "Come on, stud, into the shower!" commanded Ethan, his voice low with need and desire. Joshua walked into the bathroom and hopped up onto the counter. He still did not like taking the initiative, much preferring the fascination of seeing what his bonded would do in any given situation. He enjoyed the variety immensely. His rear felt slightly chilled from the counter and he squirmed a little. Ethan soon had the shower going and pulled Josh off the counter by both hands. Joshua delighted in the impish grin Ethan wore. They both climbed into the shower, allowing the water to flow over and around them. Joshua savored the feel of the hot water cascading around him as Ethan moved around him. He closed his eyes and leaned into the spray, his hands resting lightly on the tiled wall under the showerhead. His entire body felt fit to melt in the soothing heat. Fingers began to lightly trace circles and swirls along his back and sides. Goosebumps rose in their wake. Joshua shivered with desire. Ethan picked up a sea sponge from the shower ledge and applied some liquid soap to it. He then began at Joshua's neck and lightly trailed it up and down the broad shoulders and back in front of him. He lingered along Josh's calves finally finishing at his feet. Soapy suds slid along the contours of the sculpted muscles. Ethan turned Joshua around, allowing the flowing water to wash away the lather. He began as carefully on the front as he had done the back. The sponge trailed along the ribs and stomach, following the natural valleys of the body under his hands. He paid no special attention to the groin... yet. Once Josh was covered in bubbles again Ethan turned him again to rinse him. Joshua let Ethan do as he liked, still passively waiting to see where things went. He closed his eyes again, savoring the feel of Ethan's hands all over his body now. Ethan slid around, coming back under the water himself. "My turn, sexy!" said Ethan. Joshua nodded and opened his eyes again. He took the sponge from Ethan's hand and moved him further from the water. He squeezed the sponge over Ethan's head, letting the soapy water pour down onto Ethan. He added more soap and began his own bath treatment for Ethan. He massaged the soap onto him, using the sponge. It slid and slipped everywhere along Ethan's body, gliding everywhere that Joshua could reach. He pulled Ethan further from the water and turned his whole body white with bubbles. He began to follow the sponge with his other hand, pressing lightly into the skin, smoothing taut muscles. Ethan groaned with the pleasure that the touch brought him. Joshua lingered on Ethan's crotch, soaping it into a mound of bubbles that soon could not contain Ethan's growing erection. He knelt carefully, to better observe his prize. Joshua focused intently on it, sliding his suds slickened hand along its length. Ethan's breath whistled between his clenched teeth. Joshua sped up his stroking, then stopped abruptly. Ethan looked down, admiring the profile below him. Joshua rose back to his feet and kissed Ethan. Ethan backed into the water slowly, drenching them both again. The bubbles slid from him, helped along by Joshua's hands. The kiss lingered, with water pouring down between them. Ethan let his own hands wander, seeking all of the places he knew would excite Joshua. He also lingered at the well-muscled backside, kneading the muscles. Joshua pressed into Ethan's body, enabling them both to have contact down their entire bodies. Joshua began to copy all of Ethan's hand movements, shadowing them. Ethan's pulse throbbed in time with his rapid breath. He ached for Josh to be in him, but first he wanted to taste him. He slid down onto his knees, water pummeling his back, neck and head. Joshua braced his feet along the sides of the shower, resting his hands on the back of Ethan's neck. His eyes widened as Ethan's warm mouth engulfed him in one fluid motion. His hips tingled where Ethan's hands gripped him tightly to keep his balance. Joshua placed one hand on the top of the shower door to steady himself as Ethan's head began to bob rapidly. The other hand trailed through Ethan's wet hair at his neck. Ethan released Josh from his mouth and began to lick and suck on Joshua's scrotum. He trailed one hand down from Josh's hip and between the splayed legs of the man above him. He gently lifted the leg, which Joshua placed on the shower ledge in the corner. Joshua leaned forward, his chest resting on his raised thigh, his hand sliding from the shower door to now brace against the wall as Ethan licked even further back. Josh gasped as Ethan's tongue slid over the sensitive nether skin. Ethan flicked his tongue back and forth over the skin behind Joshua's scrotum and then further back still. The mild after taste of the soap didn't bother him at all. When he reached the place that indented, he pushed lightly. Joshua's body shuddered under his touch, delighting Ethan. He let his free hand, the one that had lifted Josh's leg, begin to stroke the ridged hardness that rose above his head now. He kept his eyes closed, reveling in the water that pulsed against his eyelids, not needing sight to do what they both wanted badly. He probed harder, feeling Josh suddenly relax the tense gateway to the battering of his tongue. Josh moaned again, even louder. The sensitive nerves at his opening quaked with the in and out motion of Ethan's intruding tongue. Time lost meaning as the purest form of sensual touch became his only reality. It intensified as Ethan stroked him in time with the rhythm of his oral maneuverings. Josh could even feel Ethan's breath against his skin, warmth that cooled quickly within the pounding watery atmosphere. Nothing mattered, nothing existed now except for where body touched body, skin slid on skin. It was almost a shock when Ethan stopped. Ethan slid himself further between Joshua's legs, doing a unique limbo move, his back nearly touching his heels as he moved out from under him. His hands trailed along Josh's inner thighs as he slid along the smooth surface of the shower floor. Once out from under Josh, Ethan turned around and stood again. He ran his hands over the tightly muscled surface of Joshua's backside. He could feel Josh tremble under his fingers. He ran his tongue from the small of Josh's back up his spine to his neck. In the process, Ethan's body was now pressed firmly up against Josh's. Ethan felt his granite like erection slide between Josh's legs, pressing firmly up against his underside and scrotum. Josh opened his eyes and turned his head back to look at Ethan. Through he daze of ecstasy, Joshua found Ethan's face so near his own. Ethan leaned even closer, bringing his lips to Josh's. They kissed, fused together the length of their entire bodies and beings. Joshua began to arch and unarch his back, causing Ethan's erection to slide back and forth between his legs. An eternity later Ethan broke the kiss. He reached around Joshua and picked up the soap bottle that had been forgotten by them both. Rubbing the soap along Joshua's back, Ethan slid it closer and closer to the spread cheeks. Joshua's position left him utterly open to Ethan. Joshua reached up and pushed the shower nozzle to the side. With the water now cascading down the wall, instead of over them, the soap clung to Joshua. Ethan slid the soap down the muscled valley, carefully soaping the smooth skin. Once the suds were thick, he slid the soap even further down, running it along Josh's underside and over his own flesh. Dropping the soap, Ethan slid his fingers up and down Josh's exposed areas, pushing in gently each time he came to the site of his earlier tongue invasion. His two fingers slipped in easily after a couple of pushes. Ethan gathered more bubbles onto his fingers and pushed in again. Over and over this went on. Joshua was moaning as Ethan's fingers entered and again when they left. "Enough teasing, beloved," Joshua finally whispered. "OK," came Ethan's whispered reply. He pulled his body back, letting his erection slide gradually out from between Joshua's legs. Ethan gasped as his blood-engorged erection came free and smacked up against his stomach. He had never felt so hard in his life, before this moment. Making sure that he was completely covered with soap, he guided himself up to Joshua. He pushed lightly, waiting for Joshua to adjust to the much bigger intrusion. Within seconds Ethan gritted his teeth as the tip slid past the opening. He felt as if the tightness as going to cut him in two. Ethan nearly slipped and fell as Joshua abruptly pushed back against him. More than half of his length jammed into the tight space. Ethan's breath hissed out from between his clenched teeth. He leaned forward and thrust his hips. He quickly reached the rest of Joshua's body. Joshua twisted his waist slightly, reaching a point that enabled him to see behind him better. He savored the feel of Ethan within him. All of his nerves tingled, signals of pleasure spreading as he felt Ethan begin to move. Ethan's fingers kneaded the muscles on Joshua's shoulders. He drew back, nearly coming free of Joshua, then pushing back in to the hilt. Slow and steadily, Ethan moved in and out of the warm tightness that gripped him. He trailed one hand down Joshua's side and snaked a hand around to grip Joshua's hardness. Ethan stroked Joshua, his still soapy hand firmly embracing the silken hardness. Joshua was now pushing back into the incoming motion of Ethan's penetration. They became one in the sense that synchronicity, without mistake or false movement, carried them both. They were fluid, smooth, together in their shared ecstasy. Gradually, the pace increased, the motions between them more brisk, almost sharp. Joshua was blissfully aware each time Ethan pushed over his prostate and then dragged back over it on the outstroke. Jolts of pleasure, sharp and clear flowed out in waves each time. Josh gripped down with his inner muscles, heightening the experience for them both. The rhythm of motion gradually reached a body pounding, frantic level. Ethan was lost in how good Joshua felt and wanted it to go on and on. His hand zipped up and down Joshua's length, stimulating Joshua from outside as well as from within. Ethan finally reached the point of no return, though he tried desperately to hold back. His free hand wrapped over Joshua's chest, pulling him tightly upright against Ethan's chest as he pounded into him. His hand became a blur as he stroked Joshua in time with his frenzied thrusting from behind. Joshua twisted his head back and Ethan captured his lips in a soul-devouring kiss. Groaning with a near pleasurable agony, Ethan felt his nerves reach their zenith of ability. His nerves spasmed and his knees nearly crumpled with weakness. He could feel the pressure within surge to an unbearable peak and then he exploded. Pulse after pulse shot through him and out through his overloaded connection to Joshua. The sound of his skin smacking into Josh's became louder than the spray of water against the tiled wall of the shower's interior. The impact of his body into his lover's added another dimension to everything he was feeling. Then Joshua clamped down and held tight with his internal muscles, bringing Ethan's last few jets of ejaculation to new heights. Their lips still locked together, Ethan could only moan as he came to rest buried deep within Joshua. He sagged into the strong body under his. Joshua broke the kiss between them, lightly. Ethan's eyes were closed, shuttered tight. He smiled, aware of every point of contact between them. He could almost make out each individual hair rubbing against his backside. He intensely liked having Ethan in him. He liked the way it made them one. Joshua sighed in disappointment as Ethan finally withdrew. Only then did he become aware of his own raging need for release. Ethan's hand still had him in a death-grip. "Your turn babe," breathed Ethan into Josh's ear near his lips. "What do you mean?" asked Josh, still in a daze of conflicting sensations. "I want to give you what you gave me." Ethan turned Josh around and planted his lips to Josh's. He stroked gently, keeping Josh at a near fever pitch of arousal. He then bent carefully to pick up the soap bottle, still feeling slightly weak in the knees. He handed the soap to Josh and turned to present his backside. Joshua carefully maneuvered them both to the far end of the shower. He took both of Ethan's hands into one of his and pulled them up over his head, up against the shower wall. This caused Ethan to lean forward just enough to make it easy for Joshua to get where they wanted him to be. He lathered Ethan's skin as carefully as Ethan had earlier done his own. When the soap bubbles were thick and everywhere, Joshua reapplied the soap to himself. He kissed Ethan's neck and brought himself in close. With amazing accuracy, he hit the right spot and pushed, hard. Ethan gasped as he was invaded. He immediately relaxed with all of his concentration. Joshua slowly pushed in once his massive erection made in through the now unguarded opening. Ethan felt as if Joshua was going to fill his entire insides before they reached the end of that impaling shaft. Then, to his amazement, Joshua's pubic hair scratched the sensitive skin of his open rear. Joshua waited a moment; savoring having his shaft completely embedded in Ethan. He wondered at the trembling of Ethan's body under his. Reaching around Ethan's waist, he found that Ethan had regained his former hardness with startling speed. Joshua gripped him and began pulling in time with his own strokes into the furnace of heat that was Ethan. He hammered into him, jolting Ethan with the impact of his groin into Ethan's muscled backside. All too quickly Joshua neared the pinnacle. Ethan's earlier manipulation of him had him more than ready to seek refuge in orgasm. Ethan had not taken such a pounding in ages. Josh's miniature grunts as he slammed home spoke volumes for the total concentration that he was giving to bringing an end to his near painful build up. Ethan was just as surprised when he found himself shooting again so soon after the last. It had crept up on him and then roared through him. This time it was nearly painful, but just as powerful. He felt his inner muscles bunching and contracting down on the shaft that flew in and out of him. Joshua was going so fast that he actually was totally leaving Ethan's body now and immediately pushing right back in. It made the experience for Ethan even more of a mind-blowing event. As Ethan's body caressed and grabbed at him, Joshua lost the ability to hold back any longer. He pulled all the way out and slammed back in, over and over. Just when he thought he could hold out no more, Josh felt the pressure within his rock hard shaft reach critical and spray Ethan's entire insides. He continued to pull all the way out and back in. Soon Ethan's outer body was as covered with filmy white liquid as his inner one. Joshua went on until every last spasm ended and he could no longer move. He buried himself one last time and released his grip on Ethan's spent shaft. He nuzzled into Ethan's neck and then licked behind his ear. They both stayed still for long minutes, breathing heavily into the water-laden air. Joshua pulled free at last and let go of Ethan's hands. He turned Ethan around and pulled him close for another mind numbing kiss. Once they were somewhat rested, Ethan pulled back. "Time to finish cleaning up love," he suggested into the afterglow. "I agree. We both seem to be very sticky again," replied Josh. As they stepped back to the water end of the shower, Ethan marveled at what they had just experienced. Sex with his immortal always seemed better than the time before. Nothing paled; nothing lost its appeal. He turned the nozzle back toward them and stepped into it. "Oh Shit!" yelled Ethan. "What happened?!" asked an equally startled Joshua as the water nailed them both. "We've been in here so long, the water went cold!" Ethan yelled as he quickly tried to turn the hot water knob higher still. All in vain, they had drained the water heater as thoroughly as themselves. ---------------------------------------------------------- That's it for this chapter. Sorry about the delay. A lot of stuff going on again. I am juggling stories now, working on them in a random rotation. Hang in there, more will be forthcoming. I do need to do some on the spot research for this upcoming chapter... *grin* I am going to take a look through the West Holywood clubs and bars. It's relevant to this new chapter, planned for almost a year! If you have any suggestions for where the twins might go clubbing, give me an email soon so I can go take a look at the layout of the place. I decided I would prefer to describe a real place for this, instead of making it up. Email me with suggestions at: vanyelashkev@pacbell.net.