CHAPTER 20
"Brad, you just don't know how much I have missed your touch," Mark whispered as he shut the bedroom door behind him.
"I do know, Mark," Brad whispered as he embraced his lover silently.
The two young men moved into a passionate kiss. As they started to move toward the bed, Brad reached for the light switch to turn off the light. Mark stopped him and said, "No, I want to be able to see every beautiful inch of your body. Just lock the bedroom door."
As the lovers slowly undressed one another, they both admired the body that they had not been able to admire for several days. To them it had seemed like an eternity.
Brad slowly but silently undressed Mark. When Mark was completely exposed, he undressed Brad. When they were both naked, they each just admired the object of their lust for a moment. Mark pulled Brad into a slow and passionate kiss. As they kissed, Mark pulled the two of them onto the bed. Mark loved the feel of Brad's body on top of his. They broke the embrace, and Brad slowly tasted Mark down his chest. Brad stopped to taste each nipple on his slow and deliberate decent. Mark softly moaned. Brad stopped for a moment to whisper, "Shhh." He was still nervous about doing this in the Lee house.
He resumed his activity, putting his hand lightly on Mark's beautiful face. He slowly stuck his tongue into Mark's belly button as he felt the rock hard abs that surrounded it. As he slowly moved lower, he began to follow the trail of hair. Just as he reached the object of his desire, he stopped and looked up into the eyes of his lover. There was a look of pure love in them. Mark reached down and gently caressed Brad's face. Brad then moved down to Mark's aching member. He first licked the head, teasing Mark. He then took a little of it in his mouth and then removed it, moving down to gently lick Mark's beautiful scrotum. Then Brad began to suck his dick in earnest. Mark leaned back and tried his best to keep quiet, while running his fingers through Brad's soft brown hair. After just a few moments, Mark pulled Brad's mouth away from his aching member.
Mark whispered, "Please fuck me."
With that, Brad reached into his bag and pulled out a condom and some lube. He began to lubricate his lover's hole with his finger, when Mark stopped him and whispered, "Brad, just do it. I need you in me now."
Brad made love to Mark as only he could. He slowly eased himself in so as not to hurt Mark, and then he slowly began to pump in and out. He gradually increased his pace until he could feel Mark's body tense up. He knew that Mark's orgasm was imminent. Mark let out a loud sigh, and Brad knew that he was spreading his seed all over the bed. The feeling of Mark's coming was enough to take Brad over the edge, and he began to fill the condom with his sweet nectar. After their orgasms subsided the two of them cleaned up and returned to the bed and silently embraced one another. As Brad felt the warm hairy chest of his lover firmly against his back, he felt complete and comfortable again. It had been several days since the two had been able to fall asleep like this. They were able to both fall asleep quickly and easily with the peace they found in each other's arms.
The scene in the next room was a completely different one. Mark's younger brother John had been struggling with the events of the past few weeks. This had taken it over the top for him. A teacher at his old middle school was pregnant with his brother's child.
John had always been the youngest child, but contrary to the normal sequence, Rick had always been the free spirited child, while John was the quiet and thoughtful type. He just wasn't quite sure how to handle these feelings. He just didn't believe in the actions of his brothers, and it was quite hard for him to sit there silently and support his brothers the way he felt he had to.
That is one thing that his parents had taught him, that you had to stick with your family and love them no matter what. It was really tough for John. He knew he was going to be senior next year, and that everyone in school already knew one of his brothers was gay, but now the other one was forced to get married. He was so embarrassed he didn't know how he was going to handle this. It was a tough thing to handle for John.
He had not had a lot of experience in love, but all of this made him fear it. He was infatuated with a girl in his class at school named Janie Lou Montgomery. He was afraid that she would not give him the time of day because of his family's recent events.
John eventually drifted off to sleep in a cloud of torment for what he viewed as wrong.
CHAPTER 21
The next day everyone in the Lee house woke up refreshed. Mark and Brad were very happy because of previous night's sleeping arrangements. Mary woke up with a more peaceful feeling about her whole situation. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were just relieved that yesterday was over. Finally, John woke up still confused and concerned how his family's antics would affect him, but the night's rest had given him a little better perspective of handling this worry. Rick, at his own house, was probably the most relieved of anyone. Yesterday had been a day full of utter hell for him, and to know that the things he had been scared of were finally over. He knew that he had to deal with the fallout, but now, he knew that whatever happened, just had to happen.
Today was the last day of school for both John and Mary. It was also the day that Mark and Brad had planned to go back to Athens, but they decided the night before to ask John if he would like to go up there with them for the weekend to celebrate his last day of school. They cleared this with Mrs. Lee before John came downstairs for the morning, and she thought it was a great idea if they could get him to go. She knew it would prevent him from going to the graduation party that was always held the night after graduation which was at 6pm. Even though John was not graduating this year, she was afraid he would want to go anyway because he was popular at his school. She knew that the graduation party was traditionally just an unsupervised drunken blur out in the middle of nowhere.
John had other things on his mind, like Janie Lou Montgomery. He might not see her over the summer if he didn't say something today. He had spent the past few weeks building up his courage, making up his mind that he was going to ask her out today.
When he got downstairs, he began to eat his cereal and Mark asked him, "John, Brad and I are going back to Athens today. Don't you want to ride up there with us after school?"
"Um, well, I don't know."
"Aw, come on, we never spend any time together anymore."
"Yeah... but... well, it depends on how things go today."
"Huh?" Mark said.
"It just does," John said.
"Mark, don't pressure him, we can just wait until he gets back from school this afternoon and see if he wants to go," Brad said.
"I guess," Mark responded.
With a grin Brad continued, "And then we can just drag him in the truck and take him with us anyway when he gets back."
"That's enough guys, I'll let you know as soon as I can, ok," John said.
"Ok, but if I wait until you get home from school, then I better be hearing something along the lines of `sure great and wonderful brother I would love to go with you. It is such an honor to be asked by you.' "
"Don't hold your breath," John said.
Mary came down and offered her encouragement for John. She told him that he should definitely go up to Athens with them because he would have to decide what school he was going to, and that he should take as many opportunities as he could to learn about his different options.
Rick came by and told everyone good morning, but was mainly there to check on Mary. Everyone got ready and went their separate ways for the day. This left Mark and Brad at home alone waiting on John. They went ahead and packed their bags, and decided to go by and visit Brad's father. As they drove up, they noticed that Mr. Jones's car was gone. Just as they were turning around in the yard, he pulled in with a big grin on his face.
"Wait, boys, don't leave. I have something to tell you. Come on in."
Mark parked the truck and went into the house. As soon as the door was shut, Mr. Jones shouted, "I have a job!"
"That is great!" Mark said.
"I knew you could do it," Brad said hugging his dad.
"What is it?" Mark asked.
"Well, I really can't believe I got it, but you remember that I used to run that factory that made dishwashers?"
"Yeah."
"Well, they are starting back up and need people there. It isn't a huge job, but its more than I have done in ten years."
"Don't sell yourself short. It's great that you have something."
"Honestly, I just can't believe that I was able to get a job that wasn't at a florist."
"Dad, don't talk like that."
"I was afraid I was going to have to learn how to cut hair."
"Why are you stuck in these stereotypes?"
"Because this is a small town, and that's the way it usually operates. Cravey County is still not as tolerant of things like this as Athens is. You should have figured that out by now."
"We have, but it really hasn't been what I feared."
"That is lucky. I think I should have done this a long time ago."
"I still can't believe this place," Brad said.
"What do you mean?"
"It looks so nice."
"Well, thanks, I tried to clean it up."
"It just looks really different without all the bottles."
"You wouldn't believe how many there were."
"I filled my trunk with them three times."
"Wow," Mark said.
"So, Mr. Jones, when do you start?"
"Mark, you know to call me Steven. They aren't going to need me for two weeks. I start two weeks from Monday."
"Dad, I want to ask you something."
Mr. Jones just smiled.
"What is it?" Brad asked.
"Nothing. I'm just sitting here thinking how great it is to have you call me dad."
"Aw, I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Thanks. You don't know how much it means to me. I am so ashamed that I have acted the way I have for all these years."
"Dad, lets not talk about that. It is in the past, and while I know you wish we could, we can't. All we can do is love each other the best way we know how from now on."
"Brad, I love you. I don't think I could have forgiven me as easily as you have."
"Dad, I can forgive you because while I hated you for what you had done, that hate was so intense only because I loved you so much beneath it."
"You are both wonderful boys, and I am so thankful that you both are together and happy."
"Thanks, Mr. J... I mean Steven. You know I love you too. I thank you for accepting me."
"Ok, ok, enough of all this mushy stuff. Lets go and eat lunch to celebrate your new job."
After lunch and a nice long visit with Mr. Jones, Brad and Mark said their goodbyes and went back to the Lee house to get packed for the trip back to Athens. On the way back, Mark asked Brad, "You said you were going to ask your dad a question, but you never did. What was it?"
"Oh, that. I kind of forgot to ask. I was just going to ask him if he thought that my mother would ever accept me."
At that moment, they drove up to Mark's house, and as soon as he parked, he reached over and put his arm around Brad and said tenderly, "It is really hurting you, isn't it?"
Brad looked into Mark's eyes, and Mark could see sadness and pain on his lover's face. Brad didn't have to answer, but he quietly sobbed, "Yes. As much as I hate to admit it, it still hurts. I am just glad that I have you and your family, as well as my newly found Dad."
Mark just silently slid over into the passenger seat and enveloped Brad with his love. "Go ahead and cry, Brad. It's ok. I love you and always will. After several minutes, Brad pulled himself together and they climbed out of the pickup and went into the house to get ready.
When John got home from school, they were sitting in the den waiting on him. As he walked through the door, Mark grinned and said, "Well what's it going to be? You are going, aren't you?"
"I don't know. Mom and Dad might not want me to go up there today since it's the last day of school and all."
"I don't think they will have a problem with it. Go and get your things together. These two have patiently waited for you all day," came a voice from behind John.
John whipped around to see his dad behind him and said, "I didn't know you were home."
"I drove up right behind you. Now go and get ready so you can go."
"Ok. I'll be right back," John said, a little less enthusiastically than Brad thought he should have.
A few minutes later, John reentered the room and said, "Ok, come on."
As they loaded their things into the truck, John said to Brad, "You get in the middle, I'm not riding there."
Brad happily agreed, and made a mental note to keep his hands off of Mark on the way up there, and to talk to Mark when they got a minute to themselves.
They stopped for gas about halfway to Athens, and while John went inside the store, Brad took the opportunity to talk to Mark. "John is not happy to be going with us."
"Aw, he is ok."
"No, he's not. I think I make him uncomfortable. I can tell."
"I think you are making this up, Brad."
"Mark, you know I love you and your family. I can tell that something is bothering John, and I think its me. I don't want to come between you and your family. He hasn't said two words the whole drive. When we get to Athens, I am going to go on some errand alone, and I want you to please talk to him while I am gone."
"Brad, I'll talk to him, but only because I love you and want you to feel good. I think he is ok."
"Thanks, Mark. I love you," Brad said as he stood with Mark between him and the open truck door, and gave his lover's cock a squeeze through the thin running shorts he was wearing.
Mark immediately turned a bright shade of red and said, "I love you too, but when we get home, I'll get you for that."
Brad just grinned a shit-eating grin and said, "I can't wait."
Just then the gas pump stopped, and Mark completed the transaction at the pump. When John finally came out of the store, Mark and Brad were both in the truck waiting on him. The rest of the ride was a quiet one.
As soon as they arrived at the apartment, they unloaded the truck, and Brad said, "I think I need to run get a few things from the grocery store. I'll be right back."
Mark shot him a glare, and said, "Ok, we will see you in a little while."
"Ok, I think I will probably be gone about an hour."
"That sounds good. Get us something good to eat, ok?"
"Will do!" Brad said as he turned and walked out the door to his truck.
Inside the apartment, Mark wondered to himself what he was going to say to his brother.
Ok guys, I hope you liked this part. In the next one, we get to hear what is on John's mind. Also, I hear wedding bells in the Lee family. This could prove to be a very interesting event for all of Cravey County. As always, hearing from you guys is what makes this writing worthwhile. I have been overwhelmed with responses from my question as to whether I should continue the series, and so it will obviously continue. Thanks again for your continued interest and support, and please remember to email me occasionally to keep me reminded that people out there are still interested.