Well, folks, if anyone has gone through the rite of passage called "law school," s/he will have a sense of what Jay and Brice were in for.
When one begins law school, there's always an introductory, orientation lecture. Someone will tell the new students "if you were thinking of getting into a relationship, DON'T. If you're in one, warn your partner. This is going to test both of you like nothing ever has." Brice had gone through this, but as a single man. He was familiar with the rigor of law school, but not of the rigor of law school on a relationship.Jay chose to do a night school program, which meant four years. Brice urged him to leave work and take the shorter, three year option, but Jay was adamant. "I can't afford to stop working." This frustrated Brice "Why is this an issue? I'll support you." That offer, made with a full heart and out of love for his partner, angered Jay more than anyone could imagine. "I've never asked for help from anyone, and I'm not going to ask for it now." On one level, Brice could understand: one thing he loved, totally about Jay was his strong sense of independence: except when it impacted their life. Now, Jay's life was a string of getting up, work, classes, eating, studying and going to bed. Sex was in there, but it sure wasn't what it used to be. The cage was off more than it was on (mostly, because Jay was so tired that he forgot to relock it), and Brice missed that sense of BEING controlled. Left to his own, he was far less likely to ask for permission to shoot, or to play with himself, or anything else. One afternoon though, Jay caught him at it. The punishment that followed, including the bondage, the clamps, the tickling, the rimming, and the hard, HARD fucking taught Brice that he had to be more clever about getting dominated. The man he married was still there, but buried under case law, statutes, and regulations.
It was a haul that seemed short, and long, at the same time. Jay aced nearly every class, but it exhausted him. After four years of this, though, still together, they got ready for Jay's graduation ceremony. Jay was going under protest. "All I want is the fucking initials," he said. Brice, however, "manned up." "After four years of this shit, I wanna get to see you in a dress", referring to the graduation gown. Loretta and Mel were home from the Caribbean, and Loretta, of course, had something to say about it "Darling, when it doubt, accessorize." She gave Jay some jewelry to borrow, including a sterling silver pin of a shark she had bought in "the Islands" on a day where "there was nothing to do but stare at the sun and go blind." Retirement was NOT working for Loretta, and she was open about it. Mel said nothing, but Loretta confided "he wants to go back to work."
So Jay processed down the aisle, and took his diploma. Jerry and Al were there, and so were Ahmed and Sean. "THAT'S MY HUSBAND BITCHES" he heard Brice yell as he took his degree. The dean looked at him. "That's the senior partner at....." Jay smiled "He is. And my husband." The Dean smiled. "I never knew he was that, ahem, enthusiastic."
If law school was tough, the three months getting ready for the bar was worse. Jay did take time off to study, and there was more than one night when Brice came home , and found the man he loved asleep at the table, books and papers in front of him. He had a habit: he'd kiss Jay on the top of the head, wake him up, kiss him again, and then bring him to bed. No sex, just sleep. There were times that Jay would sleep for upwards of 14 hours. "Why is he doing this to himself? " Brice asked quietly, knowing the reasons. He looked at the sex toys, the restraints, and all the other equipment that didn't get used that often anymore. ''
One morning, close to the date of the bar exam, Jay woke up, and rolled Brice onto his back. He pinned him down and whispered 'one more week. I've done without you for four years, and I'm gonna make it all up. In four days..." He made a lot of it up that morning. It was another day when he had forgotten the cock cage, and in the middle of the sex, Brice shot uncontrollably. THAT got Jay's notice, and the cage went back on. "Thank you Jesus," was all Brice could whisper.
Then it was "the day." Or, rather, the two days. Two six hour exams. Brice took Jay to the exam site and before he went in, held him. "Listen topman. You're gonna subdue this, the way you subdue anything. Now go in there, and show it who's boss." He hugged Jay tightly, and kissed him. Jay looked at him "Don't get me aroused before the trusts and estates section," smiled, and walked in.
Brice wanted to go to work, but couldn't. He sat outside, for six hours. He sent messages, emails, and just tried to send good thoughts. He heard the stir in the building as the exam ended, and in a few minutes, Jay was out. "I've said my peace. Six fucking essays. 100 multiple choice questions. ." He paused. "If the yokels at your firm could pass it, I'll pass it." Brice took his hand as they walked back. "There's no doubt. " When they got home, Jay saw that Brice had put together a box of sex toys, with a cardboard sign: "One day more." "Maybe not," laughed Jay, as he pinned Brice's arms behind his back. No toys, but a short intense bout of love making followed.
Day 2 was 300 multiple choice questions over six hours. Jay broke three pencils over the course of the six hours. Then it was done. Finished. He sat there, trying to think of what it had been like. He could only think of the first time he had gotten fucked, and the guy had pulled out. That was..... how many years ago? GOD. He was getting old. It was the first time he thought that. And that's when another thought began. As he met Brice, he saw that he had worn the lavender and jeans that aroused him so much. "Those toys on the bed?" "Yes sir." "You let your office know you're gonna be gone for two days?" "Yes sir." Brice was gleeful, internally. The part of his husband from the waist down, was back. That was confirmed after Jay had him tied to the bed, and began a slow, VERY slow, edging, which started at Brice's pits and worked down. Jay used his tongue on Brice's cock, pulling it back before Brice could get a chance to jizz. When Jay did take his ass, he smiled at Brice "I hope you don't think all that studying pushed your G spot out of my head." He then proved it hadn't. And that "absence makes the sex grow hotter." Jay and Brice's love making was usually wild, but Brice had learned to keep quiet. Not so this time. He got so loud that Jay had to find something, roll it up and shove it in his mouth. The fact that he found his own jock strap, did not make Brice any calmer.
Jay filled in all the paperwork, and a few weeks later, holding back his tears, he was sworn in as a member of the Bar. Brice was there in the audience, of course, but so were "the regulars" as they started calling themselves: Jerry and Al, Ahmed and Sean, Loretta and Mel - and their newest member Lauren. She had very much become a confidant of Brice at the office. Her cool manor, her disdain for shoddy work, and her sharp tongue, all reminded him of Jay - "if Jay had a sister" he would laugh sometimes and she would answer "she wouldn't be as good looking as me." In all seriousness, she had become head of the tax department, and had gained some notoriety, because she supervised 9 men and 3 women. Her desk was flooded, constantly, with resumes of young female tax attorneys, who wanted to work for her. She was considered brilliant, ruthless, and the best in the business.
Brice trusted Lauren so much that she was the only one who knew that he was pretty fed up with the law practice at his firm. His work days just kept getting longer and longer. He thought that, with the end of Jay's law school and the bar exam, they'd have more time together again. That wasn't happening. In fact, he seemed to have less and less time for his husband. He was falling behind on the gym, having to cancel more than he attended. He didn't have any other interests or past times but Jay, the gym, and work. He began to think exit.
Meanwhile, at Jay's firm, they started calling him "Esq." He had always had a good relationship with the people at work, but of course, there were the bad apples. He wished he had a dollar for every time someone had said "you know, for a paralegal, you're pretty smart." ALL of that changed once he had the J.D. He hadn't changed in any way, he just had the letters at the end of his name. "There's something wrong about that," he thought, frequently.
As long term couples do, or don't do, frequently, neither Jay or Brice shared these thoughts with the other. It seemed that something was bubbling, waiting to explode.
Three guesses who catalyzed it? One day, Jay got a call from Loretta.
'MY DEAR OLDER BROTHER, NOW ATTORNEY, HOW ARE YOU?" She began. Before Jay could finish laughing, she continued. "Darling, I do need your help. Or rather, Mel needs your help but he doesn't know it." Jay thought it was illness. "Loretta, what's wrong?" "OH DARLING HE'S SO BORED HE'S DRIVING ME CRAZY. Do you know what he did today? He painted our kitchen." "Well, Loretta, I would love to have someone..." 'HE PAINTED IT FOUR TIMES. A DIFFERENT COLOR EACH TIME."
"Oh dear," said Jay "This IS serious." "INDEED IT IS" she went on. "You know, since he retired, he doesn't know what to do with himself. Certainly, work wise, he's not the man he once was. " Jay couldn't help teasing her "Other problems?"
'DON'T YOU START YOU DIRTY MINDED MAN. BUT NO. NONE." She continued "Seriously, you wouldn't happen to know of anyone who could use Mel, at least on a part time basis? NOT his old firm. He wouldn't go back there if you paid him triple what he made."
Jay's mind began to whirl. "Loretta, I may have something in mind. Let me talk to Brice. " "Darling, as always your younger sister will be in debt to you. This time, I may even pay you. Speaking of: lunch next week? Someplace where we can get bubbles?" "Pick the day sorellina, it will happen. "
The wheels of Jay's mind began to turn. Mel. Himself. He put a call into his husband.
"Hey sweets, it's me. " Hearing Jay's voice always gave Brice a frisson of erotic charge. Today was no exception. "Hey Sir. I'm thinking of you," he fingered his nip ring. "Good. That's the spirit. Listen stud. I know you've got commitments at work. I respect them. But something important has come up, and I may need to make a big decision. Can you get home a little early tonight so we can discuss?" "Is something wrong Jay?" Brice was concerned. "Nah, nah. Nothing's wrong. If anything, everything may be better than I thought it was. But I'd like to know you're with me if I make any kind of decision. " He blew Brice a kiss. "How are those nips studboi?"
Brice smiled when he got off the phone. He HAD to figure out a way to spend less time here, and more time with Jay.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Notwithstanding that both of them were spending less time at the gym, Jay had gone all out. He made a huge pot of baked ziti, garlic bread, and all the other fixings for dinner. Brice smiled as he ate, thinking, as he swallowed some wine. "How many men have a husband who can fuck like a devil and cook like an angel? Betty Crocker at the stove, and Don Juan in the sack." Jay took his hand. "Listen. I wouldn't have even brought this up but Loretta called me today." Brice put down his fork. "Is everything ok?" "Well, yes and no. Everyone is healthy but, happy.... I'm not sure. She told me Mel had painted their kitchen... four times. In different colors each time." Brice paused "He's bored. He needs a hobby." "I know. What he wants to do, is work again. " Jay smiled "we should have had the pool at work . None of us thought he'd be staying away from it."
"Well, husband o mine, I had a thought. If you didn't know, I haven't been thrilled with MY job for a while. " Brice was stunned. "Jay, I thought you LOVED your job." "No, I love my WORK. I don't love the attitude. I don't love the smugness, I don't love the whole ambience." Brice laughed "Well, that's a law firm for you." That's when Jay stood up. When he did that, Brice knew he had been thinking hard about something. "But why does it HAVE to be Briceman? Is it something evil in the law? Or is it something we build, because all of a sudden people who would never have anything to do with each other, are forced together, because of money?"
Brice paused. "I always said you were the smart one, and I was the pretty one." Jay gave him a look "No, seriously Jay, I think you're on to something. And you never bring this kind of idea up unless you have a solution. Let's hear it."
"Brice..., I want to leave my job. I want to start my own firm. And I want to ask Mel to serve as counsel. He can come in if he wants, stay home if he wants, whatever. But I think it could work." Brice furrowed his brow. Had Jay just given him the off ramp?" He grabbed his husband and hugged him. "Sit. I have something to tell you too."
Jay sat down, because when Brice used an imperative, it meant something was up. "You're not the only one who's been unhappy. Frankly, I've been unhappy with my job since I became the managing partner. " "Brice, you never said anything" "No, no, I didn't. I thought it was something about ME. I never thought it might be something that I couldn't change. You've got a great idea, but, to be honest, Jay, you and Mel alone will not be able to make it. It's too competitive, you don't have any name recognition among clients, and frankly, he's old. " Then, Brice got down on a knee, and took Jay's hand. "Jay, would you allow me to be your law partner?"
Jay's mouth dropped "WHAT? You'd leave the firm to join ME?" Brice shook his head yes. He was a little overcome . He told Jay how he had thought law school ending would mean they'd spend more time together, but their jobs were eating them alive. "I've been trying to figure out how to solve this, and I couldn't. You just did." Jay looked at him. "Do you think we could do this? " Brice answered "not we three. But you know what? Let's ask Al to join us. And I'd bet you that Lauren would come on board. Let's make some calls."
The two of them got to work, while the pasta got cold. Jay called Jerry, who allowed his sub to use the phone. Al had become an excellent submissive under Jerry, who could devote all his time to him. "I'll check with my Master, but if he says it's ok, I'm in." While Jay was making that call, Brice was on the phone to Lauren. Her response was typically Lauren. "Fuck Yes. I've been wondering how long it was gonna take. I'll pack a bag tonight." Brice was laughing "OH. We're NOT opening the office in Europe? Ok, that's alright. I'll still come along.
Then there was the call to Loretta and Mel. Loretta answered, and Jay outlined their thoughts. She answered "I'll put Mel on the phone, but yes, I'd LOVE to be your receptionist." Brice almost burst out laughing, as did Jay. They each had visions of Loretta at the front desk. They had to.
So there was the core group: Jay, Brice, Mel, Al, and Lauren. Since Mel had retired, they couldn't use his name on their mast head. Brice had the most name recognition in the field, so his name went first - which Jay made him pay for dearly. Al's name followed, then Lauren's and then Jay's. Lauren and Jay would make private jokes about how it might be the first law firm where the two first named partners were submissives. They found a space, and they moved in. Many of Brice's clients followed him. So did Lauren's. Much to Jay's surprise, when he announced he was leaving, clients followed him too. And Mel's name was "money" in the business. It was , like any new business, a rocky first six months. But after a year, the small group had hired six new junior attorneys, all of which had to be approved by ALL of them. People would come by the office, just to chat with Loretta, who always had fashion advice or jewelry advice for women - and men.
Sometime that year, Al underwent the ring ceremony for Jerry, and then they, too, got married officially. Jay had registered as a minister, and he did the honors. Lauren had described herself as "not the settling type, " and she didn't. But she and Loretta always organized the best office parties. It was considered a privilege to be invited there.
And Jay and Brice? Well, if you thought you missed something about their honeymoon, you didn't. They had never had one , something that dawned on them that year. They were reluctant, but one day, the two "L's" as they called Loretta and Lauren marched in.
WHAT THE FUCK IS IT THAT I HEAR THAT YOU NEVER HAD A HONEYMOON? began Lauren. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Now look! You have an afternoon to plan one. A minimum of three months. MINIMUM. You can take your cell phones, but NO MORE THAN ONE BUSINESS CALL A DAY. Al and I can run... there was an 'ahem' I'm sorry. Al and Loretta and I can run the office while you're away. This is NOT a subject for discussion."
And so it was. Jay and Brice took a three month tour of Europe. The rode gondolas. They saw the Alhambra. Big Ben. The glaciers of Iceland and Greenland. They went whale watching in Norway. They came back rested, and happy. And their first night back, in the apartment, Jay turned to Brice. "I still think of the night I locked you in that car." Brice smiled. "Well, you still have the place upstate. Wanna go away this weekend?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gentle readers, to steal from the great one "And now our revels are ended." I do hope you enjoyed the story. No end of thank you to all of you who sent your encouraging words to this first time writer. There were days when those comments kept me going - not just in writing the story, but all around. Most of all, thank you to the Nifty folks for making it possible for me to see my work in print. Again, gentle readers, if you've foregone buying a book because you're reading Nifty stories, pay a little back. Keep it going.
I'll have a new story soon. Look for it. And my other story "When Mr. Harris and davey met again" is still going on. Take a peek. 'A PRESTO AMICI