The following week crawled by for both teens. They savored memories of their weekend together and longed to see each other. The highlight of each day was their evening phone call in which their conversations were both comfortable and lively but ended with the somber realization that they had to live apart.
On Thursday, TJ mentioned his swimming coach had scheduled a Saturday morning practice session.
"I'd like to watch. Would that be a problem?"
"Not at all! There are always people watching, mostly mothers waiting to give their son a ride home but some brothers, sisters, and friends. Being Saturday, there will probably be a few fathers there."
"I doubt there will be any team member's lover watching!"
TJ laughed, adding, "Don't be too sure. I've seen girl friends or wannabees. I suspect there are girls who just want to see a lot of boy flesh."
"So you guessed my real reason, to leer at hot male meat!"
Playing along with the teasing, TJ replied, "Get your eyes full. Then try to hide your erection while sitting with a group of strangers!"
"Hmmm. Maybe it's not a good idea. Perhaps, I should spend Saturday morning in my room jacking off."
"I've got a better idea, Neil. Come watch, hide your boner, and let me jack you off after the practice."
"With your hand or mouth?"
"Both! No, wait. My mouth ... because I want your cream! You've saved it for me, haven't you?"
Well,... I tried. I really did. But then I think of you and ... well ... But there will be plenty in the tank for you."
Thanks, Neil, for your honesty. As long as we're being truthful, I had the same problem. However, "beating the monkey" isn't the same anymore. It's much better doing stuff with you.
"Indeed!"
"Good night. I love you!"
"As do I, TJ! Hot dreams."
Neil arrived at eight-thirty Saturday morning to pick up his boyfriend so they would be on time for practice. Answering the door, Mrs. Ryerson warmly welcomed the youth and expressed her appreciation for providing her son a ride.
"His father was called into the office today and my schedule was disrupted. The soloist for a concert in Albany next week canceled so I have been asked to replace him.
"What will you be playing?"
"Paganini, number two."
"Oh. Isn't that concerto with the hand bell?"
"My word! You do know your music, don't you?"
"Not as well as you, I'm sure. I remember a lecture on how harmonics can be reinforced. My professor illustrated it with the rondo in the third movement."
"They only gave me a few days to practice a piece of music I haven't played in years I'm quite nervous about my performance!"
"I'm sure you'll do fine, Ma'am!"
"I hope so!"
At that moment, TJ barreled down the stairs carrying his gym bag.
"Shall we go?" the fifteen-year-old asked before turning to his mother and explaining, "After the practice we're stopping for lunch and maybe hang out here in the afternoon."
"That's fine, son." Turning to his companion, she added, "If you want to stay for supper, Isabel made one of her famous lasagnas. Simply warm it in the oven."
"We'd better be on our way. Have a great morning, Mother!"
"Goodbye, Ma'am. It's always an honor to speak with you!"
"Enjoy your time together, boys."
They arrived at the school in plenty of time. The younger teen directed his friend to the viewing stands before entering the locker room to change into his competition speedos and cap.
Rick, one of his team mates remarked, "You brought a friend."
While the casual comment sounded innocent it alerted the fifteen-year-old to be on guard.
"Yes. He's a friend of the family. He's studying violin and my mother has been mentoring him. He offered to give me a ride here and back home again.
"A violin? One of those sissy types, then!"
Resisting the urge to confront the obvious stereotype he retorted, "No. He's a regular guy!"
TJ abruptly turned, shut his locker then left. He was still annoyed at the boy's snide remark, but rather than argue with his team mate, he promptly dismissed the comment. There would be bigger battles more worthy of his efforts.
At poolside, Neil's lover scanned the stands until he saw his friend sitting alone.
The older teen waved to him, but, sensitive over Rick's comment, TJ smiled rather than returning the gesture.
"Listen up," the coach barked. "Ten minute warm-up. Remember, enough to limber up your muscles, no more, no less!"
Twelve boys jumped in the pool to begin the exercises they had been taught. The eighteen-year-old was disappointed to see the lean, firm bodies disappear into the water. He had admired them all, three in particular: a tall blond with a well-defined chest, a shorter stockier boy with an unusually large bulge in his skimpy speedos, and a youngish looking teen with prematurely profuse black hair covering his legs and chest. Any of the three would be a worthy target for discrete, carefully measured, seduction. None of them, however, was the equal of the stunningly attractive boy he loved.
The coach blew his whistle, which alerted his athletes to exit the pool for instructions. He split the teens into groups. The first consisted of four boys, each of whom was to swim a medley using the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle for one pool length of each style. The remaining boys were assigned duties as starter, timer, and judges for stroke, turn, and finish.
Neil didn't understand the procedures and rules of competition swimming. He would have to ask TJ about that later, but he continued to enjoy watching the activity and, of course, the youths' nearly nude physiques.
The jocks rotated roles so that each team of four athletes had a chance to complete the medley. The coach was generally quiet during the rotation but watched carefully, jotting down notes on his clipboard. He then gathered the team in a huddle at poolside and quietly critiqued each boy's performance. The team members also added comments. Neil guessed that serving as referees enabled each sportsman to praise or critique as warranted.
The practice continued until nearly noon when the coach dismissed the team and all the boys headed to the locker room. Neil went outside to wait for his pal.
TJ exited first. Upon seeing his lover, he wanted to rush over and kiss him but knew the severe consequences if he did anything so foolish.
During the drive back to his mate's house, Neil said, "That was really impressive. I didn't always know what was going on but it was interesting to watch."
"Did you get your fill of boy flesh?" the fifteen-year-old smirked.
"That was interesting, too. However, I was fascinated by how well everyone performed. I can't do much more than dog paddle in the pool."
"You never learned how to swim?!"
"I took a few lessons at the YMCA, as a kid. However, I wouldn't be able to make it from one side of the pool to the other!"
"Want to learn?" TJ asked. "We can get in the pool at home and I could show you a few basics."
"That would be fun," Neil replied. "But I don't have a swim suit and I don't think your neighbors would appreciate me skinny dipping."
"I've got four or five swim suits. I'm sure they should fit you."
"Are they skimpy like the ones the team wore?"
"I've got both kinds. But I prefer you wear a speedo. You'd look awesome!"
"Hey! Is your motive teaching me to swim or to leer at me?!"
"Both!" TJ laughed.
Moments later, Neil remarked, "I don't know how you can remain unaffected around all those hot jocks, seminude in the locker room and then naked in the shower!"
Cackling, TJ stated, "It's hard!... NO. Wait! I mean it's difficult, not "HARD" as in ... YOU KNOW!"
Both guffawed, before the younger teen continued, "I trained myself early to avoid temptations. One guy was caught staring and then got tormented for weeks. But, of course, you can't avoid observing the interesting scenery at times. I learned whenever that happens I have to concentrate on something boring, like one of the teacher's boring lectures or a book I was reading ... anything to get my mind off the other boys' crotches."
"It's a good strategy, but it doesn't always work!"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you remember playing tennis and showering afterwards?"
Feeling his face flush, TJ recalled getting an erection, and his unsuccessful attempt to hide it.
"That was different! You were not just a team mate. You were special from the moment we met the previous night. Want to know a secret? Don't you dare laugh at me! After you left that first evening, I couldn't get you out of my mind. I imagined what it would be like in bed with you. Naturally, it made me hard, so I jerked off thinking about you. After I came ... And, this is hard to admit ... I cried, because I KNEW I could never be in bed with you. It was a futile dream! You HAD to be straight and I could NEVER be with you!"
Suddenly embarrassed over revealing his feelings and confessing that he cried, TJ fixed his eyes on the road ahead, afraid to see Neil's reaction.
"I'm immensely flattered, my love. As long as we're disclosing secrets, let me mention mine. I returned to my dorm thinking about you. I was impressed by your mind, character, personality, and, of course, your body. While you jacked off picturing me, I was doing the same thing. I, too, had no idea you were gay, but I resolved to find out. Fortunately, you accepted my invitation on the sofa when you massaged me, you allowed me to rub your boner, and you permitted me to kiss you!"
"Invitation? Ha! You seduced me! It's what I wanted but didn't dare hope for. I've thought sometimes what my life would be like if you hadn't taken the initiative. We wouldn't be together today. Being in love and adored are the best things ever to have happened to me!"
Neil didn't respond immediately, causing his boyfriend to wonder what he was thinking.
Eventually, he said, "If I weren't driving, I would give you a long, wet, passionate kiss! I suppose you'll just have to wait for that."
The boys stopped at a Burger King to eat. As they pulled into a parking space, TJ said, "Let's hurry. I want to show you exactly how I feel about you!"
"I know how much you love me, TJ ... almost as much as I love you. But, I won't mind being reminded. Do you think we might have some private time?"
"I'm sure of it! My mother will be busy practicing so she will be happy if we stay out of her way."
Arriving, the teens walked into the house. Mrs. Ryerson was in the kitchen after finishing lunch.
"Hello boys. Did you eat?"
"Yes, we had a burger, fries and a milkshake."
"That's not nutritious. However it does sound better than my soup and salad. I'll leave you two alone to -- What is it you call it? -- "hang out". I'm going to the Mall. I want to get a new dress for the concert next week. Your father called to say he will be tied up at the office until late. Isabel is at her sister's. You have the house to yourselves. I'll be back in time for supper. I hope you can join us, Neil!"
"Yes, Ma'am! And, thank you for the invitation!"
The boys, of course, welcomed the news they would be alone but managed to conceal their delight.
When TJ's mother pulled out of the garage and drove away, the lovers embraced, exchanged a long kiss, and rubbed their crotches together. Both were well on the way to full erections when TJ broke their lip lock to ask, "Shall we?"
"Try to stop me!" his lover joked.
Taking his boyfriend by hand, the fifteen-year-old led him upstairs to his waiting bed.
***************** My thanks to Baruch for his valuable suggestions on this chapter.