Bumping Into Love 4

Disclaimer: All character, and events in this story are made up. All characters in this story belong to myself, use without asking permission may warrant castration, or punishment to as severe a degree. Again, this is a story of fiction. The context of this story may contain a little homosexual something' something'. If this offends you, do not read. All readers under the age of thirteen (13) must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian of the age of eighteen (18) to partake in this entertaining experience. If you actually read this disclaimer and actually believed any of it, you are a dumb shit. Please, all employees wash hands before returning to the work place, because that's just nasty.

Bumping Into Love

Chapter 4

The next few weeks I sort of disappeared from the world. I had exams coming up and I needed to start my pre-study preparations, which consisted of such things as making flash cards and making sure I had all of the notes. Once that was done, the studying began, and I truly did disappear to my room for a week. I would call Eric during my breaks, and it was quite nice to hear his voice. I had to resist inviting him down, but I felt that I could survive a few more days on just the sound of that voice. I got in trouble and had a detention because I was studying in the library during my study hall, and due to the lack of sleep I was getting because of the studying I was doing at night; I ended up falling asleep in a corner out of sight, and missed my next class.

Then it was all over. I spent all that time and effort, for a few measly, two-hour sessions scribbling madly to finish in time. And as soon as they were over I called up Eric, and he came and picked me up at school. It felt great getting piss ass drunk that night as a celebration for completing the semester. I knew I passed the exams, I didn't really care, the only way they could have affected my grades much was if I had failed any of them. I had gone out with Caroline because Eric had another exam the following day, and he felt he should stay home and study. He practically threw me out of his room, at around six, saying that he really needed to study, and I was distracting him. I asked him if he minded if I went, but he told me to have a fun time, and he would see me the next day.

Caroline and I went out stag, since Alex had the same exam the following morning for their philosophy class. We had a hell of a time. After we pounded down a few shots, we were out on the dance floor having a grand old time. She taught me some moves, I taught her some. We got really seductive with each other at one point. Of course we were both only kidding around, but it was fun. A couple of guys dancing next to us were giving me dirty looks, but I just got more into it, and grabbed her ass. We were both all giggles as the cab came that her friend called us, and when we got home, the party didn't end. We sat down in the kitchen and she whipped out the shot glasses and a bottle of tequila, and after that, my memory become a blur, and I woke up the next morning asleep on the couch, my face wedged in between Caroline and the couch, with a pounding migraine. I again swore to the porcelain thrown never to drink that heavily again.

By the time Eric came home from his exam, the migraine was pretty much gone, and he was all smiles. He practically had me undressed before he even got me upstairs and in his bed, but let me tell you, the sex that day was phenomenal. We had both been pent up for the past two weeks with work, and between him and I, we had thirty-eight days of wanton. We lounged around for the rest of the day; I ended up sleeping over once again, and after a few more rounds of drinks, we had a night filled with mind-blowing sex. I don't know what time I passed out from exhaustion, but Eric was there and I snuggled up to him. I wish he had been there when I was little, because I had no worries when I was in his arms. I knew the boogieman would never be able to get within five feet of me when I was snuggled in his arms.

I dropped Eric off at the airport the next afternoon, and then drove for home. He was going home for a week, and then he was meeting me in Miami on the 27th. When I got home, I was surprised to see my dad there. He had decided to take an extra week off, well more like he decided to work away from the office for an extra week. He took me and my mom to Haruki's, my favorite restaurant, and we had a nice time. He asked about school and life, everything except for Eric. I was a little discouraged by this, but I decided that I wouldn't let it get me down. I had three weeks off, and I wasn't going to let something he said, or more, something he didn't say, ruin any second that was absent of schoolwork. On the ride home from Haruki's my cell phone started ringing.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hi Andy."

"Oh, hey Laura, how are you?"

"I'm well, how about you?"

"I'm doing about the same."

"That's good."

"Yeah, well I got a question for you?"

"Okay...?"

"Well I was supposed to go to Boston tomorrow with Kristin to go shopping and just have a fun time, but she isn't feeling well, so I was wondering if you wanted to go?"

"Hold on a sec, let me ask my parents." I said. "Hey, can I go to Boston with Laura Kacewicz tomorrow?" I asked my parents.

"Yeah, that's fine." My mom replied.

"Yeah, my parents say it's cool." I said to Laura.

"Okay, how about I pick you up at around nine?"

"Sounds good to me, see you then."

"Bye Andy."

"Bye Laura."

***

The next morning I woke up at eight, which was a little early, but whatever, I was spending the day with Laura Kacewicz. It was worth it. I took a shower, put on some styling cloths; I had to look my best. I heard the doorbell and ran to the door, to see Laura looking as elegant as ever. She gave me one of her killer smiles that make all the boys melt, and we were soon on our way towards "The Hub." I was surprised that she had gotten me a chai and some breakfast, but she told me it was all part of the service.

When we got to Boston we did a little shopping, and then sat down for lunch at a nice upscale restaurant. Normally I wouldn't have gone to a place like this, it was just too expensive for a lunch, but we were both having a fun day, and we felt a nice lunch was deserved. When our meal was brought to us, I said to Laura: "Laura, I have no idea what to get Eric. I mean, I know something that I'm going to give him, but it really isn't a material good. I know Eric isn't that sacrificial materialistic type, he loves corny romantic gifts, but I feel he deserves something really nice. I really have no idea what to get him. A watch maybe?"

"Well I think a really nice watch might work, but does he already have one? That seems like something he would have bought on his own."

"Shit, I didn't think of that, yeah he does have one, but it looks sorta old though. It's silver and nice, but it's a bit tarnishing."

"Okay, well then maybe that's a good idea."

We brainstormed other things for the rest of the meal, and tried to think of other stuff as we strolled from shop to shop on Newbury Street. When we got to Copley Square, we went into Louis Vuitton and had fun trying stuff on. The sales woman was giving us dirty looks when we were putting the clothing items back. She probably thought we were just some kids trying it on for fun. Though, Laura ended up buying a white leather bag with multicolored LV logos on it. This made the sales woman happy, seeing as how it was a $1000 bag. We then hit up Gucci, which was next door. I didn't see anything I really liked, but then again, Gucci doesn't usually thrill me too much. Laura found a sexy pair of sunglasses. They weren't necessarily for going to the beach, but they definitely added to her flare of sex appeal, and would be perfect for a night out on the town when she went down to Florida after Christmas. I had to drag her out of the store because the sales guy and she were starting to get really flirty, and I couldn't stand it anymore. We hit up the rest of Copley Square buying a few things here and there. We dropped into Armani Exchange, and French Connection. Now, FCUK has to be, by far, my favorite store in the world. I got a pair of pants and a funny t-shirt that had a witty use of FCUK in place of FUCK. We then hit up Ralph Lauren, which again, was right across the way. We both got a pair of sunglasses that were beach worthy. Lastly we stepped into Neiman Marcus for that final buy, a pair of Manolo Blahnik pumps. Laura, found a pair that she was in love with, and when she tried them on and they fit, I told her I'd buy them for her. I thought she was going to suffocate me, she hugged me so hard.

"You know I would have bought them myself." She said as we left Copley Square.

"Yeah I know, I'm just catching up on all of those missed birthdays and stuff."

"Okay then, well I'm paying for the stuff from Ralph and French Connection."

"Okay, then we're even."

"Good." She said smiling.

"Where do you want to go now?" I asked.

"I donno, it's about sixish, you wanna get some dinner?"

"Yeah sure, hey I've got an idea, let me call my brother and his fiancé, and we can go to dinner with them."

"Awesome, I'd love to have dinner with your brother, he's hot."

"Eww, that's disgusting coming from your mouth."

She laughed. "Now you know what if feels like when you say the same thing about mine."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." I said, dialing the number to Sidney's apartment.

"Hello?" Scott answered picking up.

"Hey dude, how's my favorite brother?" I asked sarcastically.

"You mean you're only brother." He replied in the same tone.

"Yeah, yeah, well, how's my big brother?"

"I'm doing pretty well. It's been nice not having to worry about work."

"I bet, you lucky bastard."

"Hey, watch your mouth." He said joking.

"Whatever. So, what are you and Sid up to tonight?"

"Umm I think we might be going out for dinner, we're heading off to the West Coast tomorrow for Christmas."

"Yeah, mom told me. But I'm here in town, actually I'm sitting in the car near Copley Square with Laura Kacewicz, and we were wondering if you guys wanted to meet up for dinner?"

"You were coming to Boston and you didn't tell me?"

"I know, sorry, it was a last minute thing though. Laura called at about nine last night and asked me."

"Still, I would have loved to spend the day with you guys. I haven't seen Laura in ages, and you, well I never get to spend any time with you anymore."

"Sorry Big Guy, but we were on an important mission. You wouldn't have wanted to come."

"Oh yeah, and what would that be."

"Emergency Operation: Find my boyfriend a gift."

"Oh come on, I would have been perfect for that. I know what guys like."

"Yeah, you know what you and most straight guys like."

"Well Eric is a straight guy except for the whole part about having sex with my little brother."

"Excuse me?" I asked jokingly being offended.

"Oh you know what I mean, but seriously I would have known what to get him."

"Okay then, if you are such an expect, what would you have told us to get him."

"I'd go for a watch." I laughed hysterically at this.

"What's so funny about that?"

"Oh nothing, I'll tell you at dinner. Where do you guys want to go?"

We decided to meet them in a half hour for dinner at a sushi bar that was over by them in Cambridge. So by the time we got over to Cambridge and found a place to park, it was time to meet them. I saw a light green Range Rover parked across the street from the restaurant, and figured it was Scott's. And after entering, we looked around and saw them sitting over in the back. When they saw us approaching, they both got up, giving me a hug. Scott said hello to Laura, and introduced her to Sidney.

"How are things with Eric?" Sidney asked me once we had settled down and ordered.

"Things are going pretty well. He's coming down to spend some time with me in Miami."

"Oh, that'll be fun."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."

"So what did you end up getting Eric?" Scott asked.

"I got him a bunch of little things, one of them being a watch."

"See, what did I tell you, I'm good at this sorta thing." Sidney and I both looked each other and burst out laughing.

"Oh be quiet you two." He replied. The waiter came shortly after, bringing us our food.

"So Sidney, what are you doing in Boston?" Laura asked.

"Well Scott and I went to Yale together for undergrad, and now I'm here in Cambridge at Harvard for law school."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'm in my third year."

"That's awesome, you must be quite the lady." Laura replied.

"Oh she is." Scott piped in.

"You'd think so, wouldn't you?" Sid said to him, and they went off on a tangent complimenting each other, which ended with them each having a huge grin plastered across their faces.

"You guys make me sick. I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do the wedding if you keep those looks up." I said facetiously.

"Hey, at least I'm not giving her another look." Scott said raising his eyebrows in a sexual way.

"Oh god, that did not just come out of your mouth. What has come over you lately? I think it must be living in England. I'm glad I have yet to stay at your place since you've been back, because you're a sex-crazed maniac. Sid, I'm not even gonna repeat the words he used about Eric when we were at lunch in New York."

"Oh it wasn't that bad." Scott defended.

"You flat out asked if I had lost my virginity, and then you later went on talking about how you didn't like the idea of some guy `fucking the brains out of my little brother.' And I quote exactly."

"I did not..."

"Yes you did..."

"Boys, boys, we are not going to get into this here." Sidney said interrupting our argument as Laura and she laughed at the identical pout we had on our faces from being reprimanded. Hey we are brothers after all.

The rest of the dinner went more civilized. Scott and I joked around some more. I was really going to miss him when he went back to London for the spring. Though he had a job lined up in Boston starting in August, so he was moving back to the U.S. after the wedding. But after that, I really wasn't sure what their plans were. Scott said they were definitely thinking about raising a family when we had lunch in New York, but I think they both wanted to get more settled first. Sidney still had to finish Law School, though she was at the top of her class, and was going to get a job at some high price firm when she graduated. I think she still wanted to get herself known before she took time off to have a baby. And Scott, I knew he'd make a great father, but he just wasn't ready for the responsibility yet. Sometimes I wonder if he was even ready for the responsibilities of marriage. I mean just look at the way he acts with me, we are like little bickering kids.

When we finished our meal we decided to go over to their apartment for a little while. I spent some more time talking with Scott. I was really sad that he wasn't going to be in Miami for Christmas. What was even worse was that he was leaving to go back to London on the 3rd, so I really wasn't going to see him much again, until he came back from England in May. I gave him a big hug when Laura and I were leaving. The ride home from Boston was very quiet, and Laura dropped me off at home at about eleven. I talked with my parents a little, as they were reading in bed, but then crashed for the evening myself.

***

"Hello?" I asked picking up the phone.

"Hey, it's Meg."

"Hey, what's up?"

"Oh, nothing much, I was just wondering if you wanted to do something today."

"With you? Of course."

"Good, how about I pick you up in an hour and we can just figure out what to do from there?"

"Okay, sounds good to me."

"See you soon."

"Bye."

Soon I saw Meg pulling around the circle in front of my house. She parked, and got out, walking up to the door, ringing the bell.

"Hey come on in, I gotta show you what I got Eric." I said. She came in, and I followed me to my room. I hadn't wrapped Eric's stuff yet, so I got it out.

"Do you think he'll like `em?" I asked.

"If someone gave this stuff to me, I think I'd marry them right then and there."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Sweet! Well how about we get going?" I said.

"Okay."

We piled into Meg's Audi and headed up to Providence where we had dinner and a little more Christmas shopping. We decided to head back home after our shopping and lounge around Meg's house some.

"So, how's your hunk of a man?"

"He's good. I dropped him off at the airport yesterday, and sadly I already miss him."

"Aww, that's so cute. God I wish I was in a relationship like yours. Eric seems like he's a really caring guy."

"Yeah, I got lucky. He's really romantic, and really smart, he's pretty sensitive too. I know he doesn't share all of his feelings with me, but he shares most."

"The best part is the package it's all wrapped in." Meg said causing us both to laugh.

"Yeah, who would have guesses the captain of the Brown lacrosse team was gay, and had a thing for me?"

"You lucky bastard. It seems all the guys I'm attracted to are either high 20 out of the 24 hours of the day, or gay."

"Meg, we've been over this, I'm not available, so don't even try to flash me."

"Damn it, and I really thought you wanted some tit tonight."

"Oh God! That reminds me of the time I helped you with your Geometry project."

"OH YEAH! That was hysterical."

"Yeah I'd have to admit my options of reward were quite...comical...if there is even a word to describe it."

"Oh come on, how could you pick a new belt over seeing some tit, or a nickel?"

"It's actually quite easy, one, I don't like breasts, and we've been over that more than once I know. Two, a nickel? You know were that leads..."

"Yeah, tickling someone's pickle."

"Exactly and lastly, because who can resist accessories." I joked in a very feminine voice.

"You are so gay! It really amazes me that your sister didn't figure it out." She laughed.

"Well my sister wasn't necessarily snooping around trying to figure out the sexuality of her younger brother."

"Oh, and like I was?"

"You read my diary for Pete's sack."

"Well it was just lying there."

"Yeah, in the drawer of my bedside table."

"So what, that doesn't mean don't read."

"It's a diary!"

"Those are public record, quite your fussing."

"You're impossible. Now you know why you can't find a boyfriend." I said laughing.

"Well, I'm an actress, I'm a dramatic person."

"Right..."

"Oh shut up mister."

"Wait, did you ever get that audition?"

"No, I got a call back, but they picked some perky breasted bimbo instead."

"You should have had my mom call, she knows people around the city."

"Nah, it's okay, I really didn't care for the part that much."

"Meg, it's a part, it's better than nothing."

"Oh well, hopefully I'll get into the program at Tische, you know the acting school at NYU, this summer."

"Yeah, that would be awesome. I'd definitely come and visit you a lot."

"I'm looking forward to it." She said smiling. "So did Eric ever decide if he was coming down to Miami over break?"

"Yeah, he's coming down the 27th I believe. I can't wait."

"Ugh, just picturing him in a bath suite is making me moist."

"Eww, Meg! That's disgusting."

"Sorry, but it's true." She said, as I looked down at my watch.

"Shit Meg, it's like eight. I should probably be heading home." I called my mom and she said she'd be to Meg's in a twenty minutes; she was at the airport picking up my sister.

"Yeah, well I had a great time today. We are totally getting together when we get back from vacation."

"Definitely, we're gonna have to go crash some parties and show them how it's really done."

"Oh you know it boy, have fun in Miami." She said giving me a hug after I put my coat on, when my mom arrived.

"I will, and you missy, you behave yourself in Aruba, don't do anything I wouldn't."

"Oh, and like that leaves a lot out."

"Well...now that I think about it, that statement doesn't hold much anymore."

"Yeah, yeah. Just remember to always use protection."

"MEGHAN!" I said flabbergasted.

"Yeah boy, you heard me, now get going before I show you a demonstration."

"Oh, like I need one." I said, both of us in hysterical laughter.

"Love ya cutie."

"Love you too babes, have fun."

"Bye!"

"Bye!"

When I got home, my dad had gone to blockbuster and gotten a movie, so we all watched that, and then went to bed.

***

I woke up the morning the morning of 23rd feeling very refreshed from a nice full night of a sleep. It felt good to sleep till 10, but my mom wasn't so thrilled because I had two hours to pack before we left for the airport. I waited till the last minute and threw my bag into the trunk of the limousine waiting outside. This was another occasion in which we road in one, because my parents didn't want to leave one of the cars at the airport. But I figured if I needed something, I could certainly buy it in Miami.

The flight down was fine, and when we landed in Miami, there was another limousine waiting to take us to our apartment in Miami Beach. We had a shit load of stuff, which the doorman nicely hauled up to the penthouse. It was mainly Christmas presents, and things of that sort. My sister and I helped my mom unpack that shit and place them under the "Christmas Tree," which was in fact just a small palm tree that we put colored lights on, but after that my sister and I went down to the beach to catch a few rays while we still could. We had to plaster on the 45 SPF, because we were white as ghosts, and neither of us wanted to look like we could have appeared on the menu of Red Lobster.

On Christmas Eve my sister, mother and I spent the day at the beach that our apartment overlooked. I was amazed at how nice the public beaches were down there. Compared to the beaches in Rhode Island, South Beach was pristine, and because the crews were out in the wee hours of the morning it seemed as if the beach magically cleaned itself. I called Eric at about noon, and we talked for a while. He was flying down the 27th, and he was going to spend about a week with me down there. I was looking forward to his arrival, and I couldn't wait to give him his presents.

Christmas morning we all slept in, including my father. I must have been the last one to get up, because they all woke me up by sitting on my bed, making themselves comfy and started opening their stockings. I got some funny little jokes, such as "forksticks," they are two chopsticks but the ends that you hold up have forks at the end. My sister got a thong, or "butt floss," as we like the call them, as a joke from my mom. My mom got a stainless steal sieve. My sister and I asked her what she wanted and she said a stainless steel sieve that she saw at William Sonoma, so that's what we got her. My sister made up a gift certificate for a prostitute on Photoshop for my dad. He thought it was the funniest thing he had ever gotten. When we were done with our stockings we sat down in the living room where the "Christmas Tree" was, and reminisced about past years Christmases as we ate some muffins and bagels and drank our tea, coffee, and OJ, respectively.

We finished the gift unwrapping shortly after, and soon the whole room was covered in wrapping paper. My sister and I got a lot of cloths. Els got some DVDs and a new entertainment system for her dorm room. I got a few books that I was planning on buying over vacation, but somehow my mom found out about them. My mom got my dad an original Van Gogh for his office. She didn't actually bring it down to Miami with us though. Instead she just gave him a picture of it, wrapped in a huge box, and told him that it was in a vault at the bank. My family wraps things in very weird ways, for instance, I got my sister a couple of DVDs, so what do I do? I wrap them together, and then tie them hanging from a string in a 4x4x4 foot box. Therefore when she shook it she wouldn't know what it was, but she'd think it was something big. My dad in return got my mom a beautiful diamond necklace, and matching earrings that he had gotten made special for her.

We spent the rest of the day down at the beach. We had reservation for dinner at seven, and we headed back up to shower and get dressed at around five. Dinner was lovely, and it was nice spending the time with my family. We all missed Scott not being around, but we all knew that he was moving into a new phase in his life, one that we weren't the focus of.

My sister, mother and myself all protested when my father broke the news to us the next day, that he had to head back to New York that night, because supposedly there was some crisis at the office that he had to go clean up. I for one didn't buy it. For some reason I felt that it was due to the fact that Eric was coming down the next day, but he said he had to go, and we all were sad too see him hop onto his plane and fly off. I was bummed for a little bit, but I realized that Eric was coming to visit the next day.

I could hardly sleep that night knowing that I was going to be seeing Eric in a few hours, but I finally did drift off at about 3 AM. My mom woke me at around 10:30, so that I would have enough time to shower, get dresses, eating something, and then head off to pick Eric up at the airport. I waited at the exit to the terminal, and I was really beginning to worry when the monitor said his flight had been on the ground for fifteen minutes and I still had not seen him exit. I was pleasantly surprised when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to meet those gorgeous brown puppy eyes.

"Hiya baby, you miss me?" He asked, as I engulfed him in a hug.

"You don't know how much."

"Oh, I bet I could guess."

"How did I miss you come out of security."

"Well my flight got in a little early, and I decided to go wait for you out by the pickup, but I didn't see you, so I came back in and there you were." He gave me a quick kiss. "Yumm, and you taste as good as ever."

"You're telling me."

"Well how `bout we head to the beach."

"Let's, I can't wait to see your hot body in a bathing suit."

"I can't wait to see you later tonight wearing nothing." He whispered into my ear.

My eyes lit up in shock, but I didn't respond to his naughty comment. I could hardly keep my hands to myself on the ride home from the airport. His lips looked and tasted so good, and his sent, oh how I missed that sexy, comforting sent. We got up to the apartment, and I found a note from my mom and sister saying they were down at the beach. So we put our suits on, and headed down. We found them in lounge chairs down by the water laying out tanning. They were busy reading books, and my sister had headphones on so she didn't hear us approach. My mom got up and gave Eric a hug, and we got chairs of our own. My sister didn't notice us, until the stage when Eric had his shirt off and I was rubbing suntan lotion into his back. It was great rubbing those strong, taught muscles of his back. My sister appeared a little shocked at first, when she saw my stud of a man, but she got her tongue back, and politely introduced herself. They talked for a little while, and hit it off while I laid back and caught some rays. But after a half hour, I asked Eric if he wanted to go for a little dip.

He was a little playful in the water. We got in a splashing fight that ended with me being thrown in the air numerous times. It wasn't fair, he was taller and stronger, but whom am I complain, he was amazing. We went back to our chairs and laid out some more. Elspeth and my mom went up shortly after, but Eric and I wanted to stay out longer. I noticed Eric was getting a lot of stairs, mainly from a group of women that were to our left. They were in their early twenties, about the same age as Eric. All of them in the group of four were attractive. I didn't mind their stares, but I noticed that they started talking to each other, and then one of them got up. She was the prettiest of the group. Rather tall, with blonde hair. She had a nice figure; skinny, but with muscle. I was surprised that her breasts weren't bigger, but I think that's what made her more attractive. She looked like a real woman, not some fake Barbie. She walked up to our seats next to Eric, who was closer to them. He had his eyes closed and probably wouldn't have noticed her if she hasn't blocked his sun.

"Hi I'm Emily."

"Hi, Emily, what can I do for you?" He asked politely opening his eyes and looking up at her. I decided to just leave it be and see how he dealt with it.

"Well my friends over there," she said pointing to her friends, who waved at Eric when they saw what she was doing, "saw you and your brother come down, and well, I'm going to be blunt with you, we all think you are gorgeous, and we were wondering if you wanted to go out with us tonight to some bars or something." She said with a smile.

"Well Emily, I'm a afraid you and your friends are out of luck today."

"Aww why's that?"

"Well see, I just got in from Pennsylvania today, and my boyfriend over here," he said, as I sat up and gave her a little wave, "hasn't seen me in a little while, and I sorta promised him a romantic night tonight."

She stood there for a second in shock a little. I had lain back down, and was pretending to not be paying attention.

"Damn it. Why do all the hot ones have to be gay?" She said to herself laughing. "I'm sorry, I thought he was your brother."

"Nope, but I hope you and your friends have fun tonight."

"Well it was nice talking to you anyways."

"Yeah, I'm sure I'll see you around some more."

"Yeah, we're here until the 5th."

"Okay, well then, see ya around."

"Bye."

With that, she walked back over to her friends. They all wanted to get the news out of her, and she must have told them at the same moment that I had sat up to adjust my chair, because they gave me death stares. I rubbed it in their faces though, and leaned over and lightly rubbed Eric's left bicep, getting his attention, and told him that I was about ready to head back. He gave me one of his killer smiles, kissed me on the forehead, and sat up. He stretched a little, showing all of the onlookers a marvelous display of his raw muscle, and found his t-shirt that he had put in his backpack, and pulled it on. He gave me a short hug once we were standing and ready to go. He was doing the same thing I was, but only I think it was so that anyone who saw it wouldn't come up to him and hit on him again.

***

That night we had a quiet candlelit dinner at a nice Cuban restaurant. The place was great. I had eaten there before, but Eric had never had Cuban before, so he gave it a try. We had dressed up for the occasion, and Eric looked damn hot. He had on a light blue dress shirt that was tight in all the right places showing off his amazing body, and a pair of black dress slacks. He had the romantic glint in his eyes as we ate, and the shadows that were created from the candlelight made his facial features look even more chiseled and sexy. He was a lot more affectionate in public with me, than he normally was. He had reached over and was lightly rubbed my hand, which I had haphazardly placed on the table as we were eating. He was speaking to me in a slight whisper that was sending chills up and down my spine. His smile was quite big that night also. He was getting a few looks from another group of girls who were sitting a couple of tables away. These damn girls were starting to get on my nerves. Luckily this bunch didn't come over and talk to him. I think they got the message though when he lightly kissed me hand when our meals had come. I was quite enjoying being treated like a king. Though, dinner did eventually end after we split some papaya and mango sorbet.

When we returned back to the apartment my mother and sister still weren't home from wherever they had gone off to. We sat down on my bed, and were planning on exchanging our gifts. >From the looks of what was on the bed, we had both gotten more than one gift for each other.

"You go first." I said, placing his presents in front of him.

"How many things did you get me?"

"Oh shut up, just open them."

He did. The first present he opened was Hugo cologne. "It's my favorite. And well, I thought it would smell really great on you, but I'm not so sure now. I was at the mall and I saw it, but today when I picked you up that airport one of the first things that hit me, was how much your sent is an aphrodisiac." I said spilling my brains.

"Oh, and what does this sent of mine include?"

"I donno, a mix of stuff, some cologne, deodorant, soap, after shave, I'm not really sure what, but it all mixes into this amazing sent of Eric. You should bottle it, cuz it makes my knees weak."

"Well now I will have a new ingredient to add to the `sent'." He said laughing.

He opened his next present, which was a pair of white silk boxers that had the multicolored Louis Vuitton logo on them.

"Those are so you can be fashionably stylin' even when you are just lounging in bed with me. Plus I thought they'd be quite sexy on you."

"Oh so is this a present for me, or for you?"

"Lets just leave it as a present for both of us." We laughed again.

He opened his third present. It was a silver Rolex watch, with a black face.

"Jesus, do you think this thing has enough on it? I feel like it could practically think for me." He asked sarcastically.

"Well I liked it, and I know your old watch was getting a little ratty."

"Yeah, I've had that for about ten years. Thanks babes, I love it." He said giving me a kiss.

"Your welcome."

"Anything else?"

"Yupp, one more." I said handing him his gift.

He opened it and found a picture of the two of us, the same one I had in my wallet of us asleep on a couch, snuggled together, asleep. We both look so calm and peaceful; it brought a smile to his face.

"I love this one the best. I'm gonna put it next to my bed when I get home. So the days I don't wake up to you in my arms, I'll be able to see your adorable little face." He said, giving me another kiss. "Thank you."

"Okay, here you go." He said handing me one of my presents. Inside this box I found was a t-shirt from French Connection. Ironically I didn't have this one, but the front it said "POSSIBLY..." and on the back it said "the best FCUK ever!" I laughed at it. "I'm glad you think I'm good in bed."

"Not just good baby, the best."

"I'm flattered stud." I said still laughing a little.

"Here is another one." He said handing me another box, this one smaller. I unwrapped it to find a jewelry box. Inside I found small silver ring.

"It's called a wave ring. This guy I know makes them, this was the first one he ever made. I got if for you because I know that the sound of the waves relaxes you, so now that whenever you are feeling stressed you can just run your fingers along the ridges of the waves, and it really does help."

"Thank you Eric. It's beautiful." I said giving him a kiss, as I ran my fingers over the small rippled edges. It was the cliché waves that outline many bobbles copying the Greeks, these were slight sporadic bends in the metal. "I love it."

We sat there, looking at our gifts and each other.

"I have one more for you." He said to me, getting up and going over to his bag and pulling out a small wrapped box.

"Wait, me too." I said getting up and getting another wrapped box from my closet.

"Here." I said giving it to him.

"Okay." He said as he opened it. Inside was a black felt box, he opened it up, and attached to the top was a little note, and at the bottom there was another piece of felt covering something. He started reading the note out loud.

"Eric," he read aloud, "I have been very fortunate to spend the last few months of my life with you. I have been lucky to become so close to such an amazing man. You are so full of care and compassion. You are so beautiful that not only the sun and moon, but also the dazzling stars are jealous of you. Your eyes bring soothing to my soul, because I know in the root of my being that you will never hurt me, or any other living creature. Your sweet voice is calming to me, like the lapping of the waves. When your strong fingers entwine in mine I feel that they are the roots of some great tree that has been standing on this earth for hundreds of years, rooting me to you, because Eric, you have become my rock. You have become my world. To me, the sun only rises because you are here, because your beautiful face must be illuminated. Your smile casts away all my doubt. Your soft kisses awaken the spirit inside of me every morning that I awake in your arms. What I'm trying to say is that over the past few months that I've been with you, you have awakened me to the world. You've awakened my heart to the world. Inside this box you hold in the key to my heart. I love you Eric Jacob Broman." He had tears running down his cheeks when he was done reading. When he finished he looked up at me first, and then he pulled back the piece of velvet that covered the bottom of the box and underneath was a white Austrian crystal cut in the shape of a heart with a small silver skeleton key attached to it by a ribbon a white silk.

"Andrew...I...I...just don't know what to say..." He said, the tears still rolling down his cheeks. I had never seen him cry before, and right now, I was scared out of my mind that I had finally admitted to him that I had fallen in love with him.

"Wow, baby, you don't know how much this means to me. Thank you, I love you too." He said, taking my hand in his and kissing the back of it. When he did this, all the worry and doubt drained from me, and I had a smile on my face.

"Here open this." He said handing me a small box that was the same size as the box that had the ring in it. I was all smiles when I opened it. Inside I found what appeared to be a house key.

"Eric, what is this too?" I asked finally getting my voice back.

"My house."

"What? Why are you giving me a key to your house?"

"So that way you can come over whenever you want."

"But what about Caroline..."

"I already talked to her, she loved the idea." He said cutting me off.

"Oh." I said flatly. There was a little silence between us. I just wasn't sure what to think. I had placed the box open on the bed, as had Eric, and I sat looking at my hands and glancing over at the key.

"This had been the best present anyone has every given to me." I heard him say. I looked up him into his eyes. He was smiling, but I was mainly focused on his beautiful eyes. He took my hands into his, and he started rubbing his fingers, along the back of my hands, sending chills up my spine.

"No one has ever made me feel the way you do. I've felt love before with other guys, but nothing ever this strong. It scared me at first, but after the things you just said to me, it no longer does, because I look into your eyes, and I know that you feel it too. It started as a small flutter in my chest but it has grown into an explosion. I can see it in your eyes. I can see it illuminating brightly like a star. I love you." We both had tears in our eyes.

"Eric you mean so much to me, my heart ached this past week while you were gone."

"I know baby, I missed you just as much." He said pulling me against his chest.

"Well we are here together now, and that is all that matters. I'd have to say that this has been the best Christmas I've ever had, and it's because I've spent it with you. I loved the stuff you gave me, I love the note you wrote me, I love you. I love spending time with you."

"I love you too Eric." I said, as he kissed me on the forehead.

"Hey I've got an idea. It's really beautiful out. Do you wanna go for a walk down on the beach?"

"You're such a romantic."

"I know, but what are ya gonna do?"

"I donno, maybe kiss you to death and never let you go."

"I actually really like that idea." He said smiling.

The walk was very relaxing. It was a little chilly seeing as it was winter there, so we had on light jackets. It was nice walking down the shore, feeling the sand between my toes, and Eric's strong hand between my fingers. It was really comforting to be holding his hand, especially after our little Christmas present swapping.

He stopped me at one point, turning me away from him, and pulling me back against his chest. He had pointed me towards the bright white moon that was almost full. Neither of us said anything, we just stood there, staring up at the white orb in the sky. I could hear Eric's heart beating in his chest as I leaned against it. It was a steady rhythm that was faster then the crashing of the waves on the shore in front of us, but somehow they remained in the same beat. It was these intimate moments that I loved the most with Eric. It wasn't the sex, or his amazing body. It was the serenity of these amazing moments that we had that I loved the most. It was the tenderness and caring that he possessed. It was the aura of comfort that he embodied that melted my heart and made me weak at the knees.

During our moment staring up at the moon, he was holding my hands, but in a way that was only Eric. He would use his long fingers to rub the palms and backs of my hands, as well as massage up and down my fingers. He did all of this while he lightly kissed the back of my neck. He knew these sensations sent shivers up my spine, and it would make me melt into him even more.

"You wanna head back?" He softly whispered into my ear, after a good 15 minutes.

"Sure." I said turning around to face him. I had to reach up but I gave him a light kiss on the lips, warranting me a knee-weakening smile.

We took longer to get back than we did to get down to where we were on the beach. We laughed and joked, but I didn't let go of his hand once.

"What are your mom and sister up to tonight?"

"Oh, I donno, I don't care either. I just want to spend the night with you."

"Me too, but I was just wondering how...umm...sound proof...the walls of your room are in the apartment."

"Oh, so that's what you have in mind for tonight?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, and like you didn't?"

"I wanted to jump your bones when I met you at the airport, but I felt it wouldn't have been very nice to let the driver wait while we had a quickie in the bathroom."

"Oh, and since when have you ever had a quickie?"

"Never, but there's a first for everything."

"Does your sister know the things you think about?"

"Yeah, her and Scott are the ones that plants most of them in my brain."

"Well I'm gonna have to have a talk with them, because I don't like the things they're telling you, spoiling that innocent mind of yours."

"Oh yeah, and like you've really kept me innocent."

"Hey, I'm the big strong man who has come to rape and pillage you, I'm supposed to take you innocence, but it doesn't seem that there is much to take." He said with a comical grin.

"Well rape and pillage all you want big boy." I said jumping into a run the rest of the way back to the building. Eric easily caught me, and wouldn't let me go. He had picked me up and put me over his shoulder. The view of his ass was quite nice from up there, but his tickles were really not comfortable in that position at all.

Once we got back to the apartment, we got into more comfortable cloths. This entailed me in my cotton pajamas bottoms and a t-shirt, and Eric in his boxers. We snuggled on the couch, turning on the television to see if anything interesting was on. We ended up watching another movie. I wasn't really paying much attention though. I was in a daze thinking about Eric and myself. I still couldn't believe, even four months later, that a guy like him would really want to be in a relationship with me.

"Eric?" I asked.

"Yeah baby?" He replied kissing me on the forehead.

"I don't think I've ever really asked you this question before, but I've noticed that you don't really have any friends who are gay."

"That's not a question." He replied, still watching the movie.

"Well, do you?"

"Yeah, they aren't my best friends, but I have friends."

"Oh, have I ever met any of them."

"No... I don't think you have. If you had, you'd know it."

"What d'ya mean?"

"Well a couple of them are a little bit flaming."

"Oh..." I said pausing a little. "Do your other friends, like Greg and those guys, like me?"

"Yeah, of course they do, why do you ask?"

"I donno..." I said again pausing. "I mean, I am sixteen, and they don't have a problem with that?"

"They don't have a problem with it that I know of, but they think you're pretty cool. They were in hysterics when you played football with us a couple weeks ago, after Thanksgiving." He was referring to a Saturday in the beginning of December, before exams when I had slept over the previous night, and we ended up having a little football game. It was Eric, his friends, and I. Now they are all over six feet tall, and then there was little ol' me. It was a little to their advantage when I tried tackling them. I had somehow managed to catch up to his friend Steve who was running with the ball. That alone was a miracle. I had jumped on him, and had him in a headlock, trying to pull him on the ground, but he just kept running, with me hanging from his neck. It was a pretty funny sight. Even after he had scored a touchdown, I was still trying. I remember yelling, "Jesus, you could at least pity me and fall down or something," but no he would not fall. Eric and his other friends were gasping for air, when Steve attempted to pull me off of him. I didn't let go until Eric showed him how to get me off and started to tickle my exposed torso. Eric and I were on different teams, so we had a fun time playing against each other. I couldn't get the ball from him, so I decided to play dirty. I punched him in the stomach, took the ball, and ran for it. Now, he wasn't hurt, but it caught him off guard and with his taught stomach, I couldn't have hurt him if I tried. His friends were laughing at him, so he ran after me, and when he caught me, he tackled me. That hurt a little. Having a two hundred pound human fall on you can be pretty painful, but I was used to it from my brother and sister. I was flailing my limbs trying to hit him with something, but he eventually had me pinned.

"You are so gonna pay for that one later." He stated.

"Oh really? And what are you gonna do to me? Something naughty I hope." His friends could hear our conversation, and surprisingly they were laughing. I thought some of them might have been put off by my comment.

"No, I was thinking maybe tie you up and tickle you until you can't breathe anymore."

"I was hoping for more along the lines of raping and pillaging."

"Nah, but I know you like the whole role playing scene sometimes."

"Oh shut up, I do not! It was you who had fun when I hand cuffed you." I was lying about the handcuffs, we had never used them, but I just said it to get a rouse out of his friends. It had the right affect, because they were laughing and making comments about Eric. He though, wasn't too happy.

"Baby, tell them that's not true."

I laughed at his misfortune. "Only if you let me up."

"Okay, but you better be good."

"I promise." He kissed me on the forehead and let me go. I stood up, noticing all the mud that was covering me. It had rained that night, and the contact of Eric tackling me had both of us pretty caked in mud.

"He doesn't seem like it guys," I said to his friends, "but Eric really likes the whole chain and whip scene." I immediately ran behind his friend Chris for protection, because he tried to tackle me again.

"Now Eric, just because he tells little secrets about you doesn't mean you have to beat him up." Chris said, defending me. I was laughing with them.

"Nah, I was only kidding. He hates kinky stuff, though I do love it when he can be a little dominating." I said giving him a little hug. "Now do you boys want to play football or stand around and gawk at us all day?" I said picking up the football on the ground.

"Yeah, that was a fun game. We have to do that again. Your friends all have great asses and it was a lot of fun "accidentally" hitting them as I tried to tackle them."

"Yeah, they did ask about that later."

"Oh shut up, they did not."

"You know me too well."

"No, it's just that grin you get on your face."

"Hmm, I'm gonna have to get a new smile then."

"No, I love that grin."

"You do huh?" He asked raising an eyebrow at me.

"Yupp, I do."

"Good, cuz you're gonna get a lot more of it." He said kissing me passionately on the lips.

"I like the grin on your face now better though." I said breaking the kiss.

"Mmm, lets take this back to your room just incase your mom comes home."

"Good idea." I said pressing against those luscious lips again.

Eric picked me up in his arms like I was some helpless princes, and he was my knight in shining armor. He laid me down on my bed, and closed my door. Returning to the bed, he pinned me in a kiss. His lips felt even more amazing now than they did the first time I touched them a few months ago. They were just as soft, and they tasted just the same. It was a special flavor, unique to Eric. But the electricity that they sent through me was a hundred times stronger. I knew I was alive when Eric kissed me. His kisses were still the same, tender but powerful. It's an oxymoron, but if he ever kissed you, you'd know what I mean. They filled with passion and love, and they touch to the depths of my soul. That night, our mouths only parted a couple of times. Once to pull my t-shirt over my head and a second time when he got up to get a package of condoms from his bag. That night, his hands had never felt so good exploring me, and when he had finally entered me, I thought I was floating on cloud nine. I was entirely focused on him that night. The roof could have fallen on top of us, but neither one of us would have noticed. All that I was aware of, was his big strong hands that I was holding, the feeling of his lips on mine, and the magic that he was working inside of me. He prolonged our ecstasy that night. He had me on the edge of bliss more than a few times, before he would slow down his pace, and started over again, building up the feeling welling inside of me, inside of us. I had never felt more connected to him than when he was inside of me that night. I felt as if I could practically know what he was thinking, and feel what he was feeling. Yet eventually it all came to an end, but not before an explosion. I longed for him to be inside of me when he had withdrawn. He rolled next to me, and I was longing for his touch. Though, I was so overwhelmed by the sensation that had just occurred that I could hardly move myself. My eyelids were heavy and I could feel myself falling into sleep, but I did feel Eric's arms wrap around me, and I snuggled up to his strong form.

"I love you baby, good night." He said kissing me lightly on the forehead.

All I could respond with was an inaudible mumble that was meant to be "I love you too Eric."