James

Hello readers! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Special thanks go to Derek and Chris, authors of two very fine series here on Nifty, "David and Tristan" and "Turnabout" respectively. I have enjoyed my many conversations with the two of you. Also, special thanks as always to DivineGlow, creator in "Into the Darkness." You have been a great friend. Readers, if you get a chance, check their stories out. Guys, you have inspired me beyond imagination, and I thank you all.

This part is dedicated, once again, to Alex... all fans should be like you. :-)

Part VII

I swallowed nervously as I looked at the girl in front of me. I forgot all about my state of undress, and immediately began thinking of how James would react. "Umm, excuse me for a minute... I'll go get him," I said. "Come on in."

Deanna Kennedy walked in and I shut the door behind her. I couldn't get over the similarities in looks between James and his sister. I walked in the bedroom and shut the door. James walked out of the bathroom. "Who was it?"

I was distracted by his nakedness for a minute, then I remembered. "Umm, well..." I stammered. "Uhh... I think... well... maybe..."

James grinned. "Hey, Mister Webster... sometime today." He put his hands on my shoulders and leaned in to kiss me.

I relished the feel of his lips for a minute, then I pulled back. "You may want to go ahead and get dressed," I said slowly.

He frowned. "Why?"

I swallowed nervously. "Well... because your sister is here."

James just looked at me in silence, his expression totally neutral. Then he looked to the door, sighed and wordlessly walked over to where he had discarded his clothes from earlier in the day. I found my clothes and pulled them on as well. "You want me to make myself scarce?" I asked.

James looked at me and smiled this tight, little smile I had never seen before. "No, that's okay. I think I need you out there with me."

I nodded and finished dressing. James walked to the door and put his hand on the knob, then he stopped cold. He put his head down and began to breathe hard. I walked behind him and embraced him, kissing him on the neck. "Don't worry, dude... I'm here." I said. He nodded, and opened the door.

Deanna stood up and her face broke into a big smile. "Jamie! Oh God, it's been so long!" she held her arms out as if to hug him, but James simply stood there, staring at her. Deanna's pretty face fell slightly, then she smiled again. "You're looking well."

James just nodded. I had never seen him this tense before, or this quiet. The James I knew was always loose and friendly.

Deanna frowned. "Aren't you going to say something?"

"Why are you here?" he asked. I was taken aback by the chill in his voice. This was definitely a side to James I had never seen before.

Deanna swallowed. "I came here to talk to you. You never answered my letter, and I wanted to see you and tell you how much we all miss you. We want you to come back home."

James snorted and smiled sarcastically. "Sure, Dee. I'll bet our parents are just dying to see their faggot son."

"Oh, Jamie, please! Don't say that! You know they don't really feel that way!"

James laughed derisively. "Sure they don't." He walked over to the rocking chair and sat down. I followed him and perched right behind him.

I put my hand on his shoulder. The muscles were rock hard with tension. He looked up at me and smiled gratefully. "Dee, this is my boyfriend, Dave."

Deanna smiled again. I had thought she had James' smile before, but now I was starting to think not. It was definitely different, I concluded. "Yes, we've met already." I blushed.

The room was filled with a palpable tension, which I decided to break. "Would anyone like something to drink?" I asked.

"Vodka." The answer came from two sides of the room, at once. I looked at both of them. James and Deanna both broke out in laughter. I smiled. Good, I thought. Maybe this will finally break the ice.

"Still going for the hard stuff, I see," James observed.

Deanna smiled again. "Yeah, you know me."

I made up a pitcher of screwdrivers. Hell, why not get all liquored up, I thought. Clearing the air would be good for this crew. I gave each of them a glass and took one for myself. We all raised our glasses in a toast and then drank. I took a good drink of mine. James and Deanna both gulped theirs down. I was impressed.

James set his glass down on a coaster. "Now, say your peace, Dee. Why are you here?"

Deanna set her glass down on the coffee table. "Well, it's like I said before Jamie. Liz is getting married in a few months. She wants all her family to be there... ALL of her family. She mentioned you specifically," she added.

James looked hard at his sister. "Not my problem," he said.

Deanna's eyebrows raised. "Jamie, what happened? What turned you against all of us?"

James actually smiled. "Are you serious?" he asked incredulously. Then he narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. "What did they tell you about why I left?"

Deanna swallowed. "Actually, they never said a word."

James' eyebrows raised. "Oh really? Never a word about their own son disappearing in the night? Never said a word about what could have driven him to such lengths?"

"Jamie, I knew. All of us knew, even Elizabeth. Lauren and Gary didn't, they were too young to understand. They were just confused. None of knew what to say at all, especially Mom and Dad."

James smiled. "They sure had a lot to say when they told me not to file charges against those guys. They also sure said a lot about their `pussy boy son.' "

"Jamie, please. You know it hurt them a lot, they just didn't say anything, and we didn't ask."

James laughed derisively. "Sure it hurt them, Dee. Sure. It probably would have hurt them a lot more had I stayed... they would have had to look at me."

Deanna's look softened again. She smiled. "Jamie, come on, cut them a little slack. Do you honestly expect that they knew how to deal with this? How would you react? You have this idea of your son in your head, and then you find out it wasn't true. Jamie, you had us all fooled! None of us had any idea you were gay!"

James looked down at the floor as his sister continued. "Then, add on to that the pressure of having your son attacked! They were reeling from the punches, Jamie, one right after the other. Did you give them a chance to get used to it all?"

James looked up in anger. "No, I didn't! I didn't think I needed to! I was raped, Dee! I was violated in the most horrible way possible, and for what? Then, just when I need their love and support the most, they turn on me!"

Deanna sighed. "Jamie, they aren't perfect. None of us are. They had to go along as it came to them. Sure, maybe they weren't always thinking of what you wanted, but they did the best they could."

James shook his head. "Okay, but how do you explain what happened with you guys? You turned on me just as much as they did."

Deanna swallowed and blushed. "Yes, I admit it. We did. James, you were a hero to all of us. You were the perfect big brother. Handsome, athletic, popular, and you protected us and defended us from when we were little.

"It's really disconcerting to see that hero brought down, but in that way? It killed all of us. Finding out you were gay just added to it, Jamie. We were just in shock. Especially Paul," she added.

James had been shaking his head, but the mention of his younger brother brought his head back up. Deanna just nodded. "Yeah, he took it worse than any of us. James, you were like a god to him. He looked up to you and he was actually frightened to see you the way you were."

James stood up. "I need a cigarette," he said. He pulled one out and lit up right there. As he smoked, I noticed that his sister didn't take her eyes off him once. I could see the worry in her face, and a little guilt.

Finally James put his cigarette out and turned back to his sister. "All right, Dee. You've got my full attention. Make your case."

Deanna stood up. "James, we want you to come home. We all want a chance to make this up to you. Elizabeth wants her big brother at her wedding, and Mom and Dad want to see you. Liz is so excited about getting married, and she has been saying nothing but how much she wants you to be there. Besides, you won't believe how much has changed. It's been five years, Jamie. Lauren and Gary are getting so big, and I've missed you so much." I could see tears forming in her eyes at the last part.

I looked over at my lover, and I could see a few tears welling up. He swallowed. "And Paul?" he choked out.

Deanna looked away. "Well, Paul still has some things he has to work through. He won't admit it, but he's missed having you home, too." I wondered what she meant about James' younger brother having things to work through, but I kept it to myself.

James stood there thinking for a few minutes, then he looked at his sister. "I'll think about it. Okay? That's the best I can do right now, Dee. It's all I can give."

Deanna smiled warmly. "That's all I can ask, Jamie." She walked up to him and hugged him, and this time he didn't pull away. I could see the emotion on his face as he hugged his sister. Tears were forming in my own eyes, as I could plainly see that neither sibling wanted to pull away. Finally they pulled apart. "I'll be heading out now, Jamie. I need to be getting home."

James wiped his eyes. "You mean you came all the way out here just to see me for a few hours then go right home? That's a long flight, Dee, and pretty expensive."

"Yeah," I broke in for the first time. "Couldn't you stay a little while and have dinner?" I asked.

Deanna turned to me and smiled. "Well, I suppose... I'll call the airline and change my flight."

Later that night we returned to James' apartment after a lovely dinner with Deanna. I had been somewhat surprised to see how the tension seemed to evaporate. For a few brief moments, I caught a glimpse into what James' childhood had been like, happy and fun. They joked and laughed, and I felt myself drawn into the good feelings and warmth.

After a few hours of embarrassing stories and tall tales, we parted company for the night. Deanna went to a hotel, and would be leaving for home early the next morning. James and I offered to drive her to the airport, but she told us to sleep in and enjoy the weekend, that we needed the rest. I think she also wanted to give James some time. I called my apartment and asked Matt for my messages while James used the bathroom. I got the feeling that Matt didn't mind my almost constant absence now that he and Laura were getting more serious.

James walked back into the living room wearing only the shorts he had worn to dinner. I stared at his lovely torso for a while as he lit some candles, and then he walked over to me. I wrapped my arms around him and we kissed. "Mmm," he said. "You know, we never finished this afternoon."

I smiled. "No, we didn't... seems like we need to make up some time." James grinned and we kissed some more.

"Come on," James said as he pulled me toward the bedroom. I blew out the candles he had just lit and watched his sexy walk as I followed him into his bedroom. I began to pull off my clothes as James lit some more candles and turned on some soft music. Then he turned to me and undid the front of his shorts. They fell to the floor, revealing the rest of his taut, tan body. James walked over to where I was standing, now naked, and he kissed me softly. He pulled away and ran his fingers through the hair on my chest, almost purring. James looked me in the eyes and we kissed again. I pulled him into my arms and we started dancing to the slow jazz.

I don't know how long we danced. Maybe five minutes, maybe fifty. After a while the events of the day caught up with us and James yawned. I let out my own a few minutes later, and we looked at each other and laughed. Without a word, James led me over to his bed and lifted the covers to the left side, the side I preferred to sleep on. I got in, and James pulled his covers over me and kissed me. He blew out the candles and turned the music down, and then crawled in next to me. We faced each other in the darkness, just looking into each other's eyes.

"What are you thinking?" James asked me.

I smiled. "That I am extremely lucky to have found you. And that I am even luckier to have kept you." That got me a tired grin. James leaned in and we kissed again. "What are you thinking?"

James's grin got bigger. "How glad I am that you were her today, right when I needed you the most." He kissed me again, long and deep. Then he turned over and we fell asleep spoon-style. That was the first night since we had been together that we had not had any type of sex. Believe it or not, it felt good.

I woke up early the next morning in a mood to think. I could hear the rain outside, and I knew this was an inside day for sure. It was September, and the fall rain was here. James was still asleep to my right. I looked at him for a while and then I turned back to the ceiling to think some more. I was definitely a thinker. I spent more time thinking than any other activity.

I reflected on school for a while. For some reason, school had not seemed a drag this semester so far. The classes I taught hadn't been total pains, and my PhD classes in historiography and research hadn't been too hard for me yet. I knew I needed to buckle down soon. I had been spending a lot of time focusing on James and had let some research time go by, but ultimately I thought it was worth it. Now that we were becoming more comfortable in our relationship, I could spend a little more time studying.

Then I started thinking about my family. My whole family knew about me. Both of my older brothers and my parents were extremely cool about it. I guess I was really lucky to have been born into the family I was. My brothers had known about me for years now. My dad was the first one who I told, when I was sixteen. We had been outside, raking leaves, and I just out and told him. He stopped raking for about five minutes while he thought. Then he started back up and said a simple, "Okay." It drove me nuts wondering what he was thinking, but I worked out my stress in the weight room and on the field. The funny thing was, here I had finally come out as gay to my dad, and it spurred me to make a meal out of an opposing quarterback. I sacked the guy 5 times in one game.

About three weeks later, he asked me to come into my parents' bedroom to talk to him and my mom. We sat down and hashed out everything. I got the safe sex lecture, the are-you-sure questions, and then finally, both of them hugged me and told me they loved me. Since then, things were hunky dory.

Looking back, that was the day the first crack in my armor broke open. My walls to my family came down just slightly then. It was still years before I told my brothers, but they had also been cool. Another part of the wall opened. The walls to the rest of the world had been relatively closed until the angel next to me had bulldozed his way through them in one night.

I looked back down at said angel and felt a surge of warmth in my chest. This blond with the little boy gaze and wicked as sin smile had burrowed his way so deep that there was no getting him out, and I sure didn't even want to try.

As I gazed, those deep pools of brown opened up. How could anyone be so damn sexy when they woke up? James was sexy when he woke up, sexy when he slept, sexy when he washed dishes... hell, he was sexy when he put on old clothes and cleaned his apartment.

James closed his eyes and smiled sleepily. "Morning, gorgeous."

I leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Those were going to be my words. Sleep well?"

He stretched. "Sure did. I don't even remember dreaming." James hopped out of bed and immediately began doing stretches.

I was fascinated by his morning routine. On most mornings, James usually took all of 20 seconds after waking up to rest in bed before he got up. He never needed an alarm clock, and even if he did I think his snooze button was never used. He hopped out of bed and would stretch every muscle in his body, then he would strap on his roller blades and be gone for about an hour. On these same mornings, I would usually wake up and watch him stretch, then immediately fall back asleep. A sweaty, horny James would interrupt my snoozing when he got back and we would fool around for a while, then I would fix breakfast while he showered.

This morning, he was taking his time with his stretches. As I watched him, his cock slowly hardened. When a guy who is hung like James gets hard, especially since he's uncircumcised, it's hard to hide. Of course, James never tried to hide an erection around me. I always loved this little show. It was even better than the striptease he gave me the night we first met.

After he finished stretching his arms, he walked back over to the bed. He leaned down and pecked me on the lips. "You gonna join me today?"

I groaned. "Oh, all right. Give me a minute to finish waking up."

James laughed and walked over to his dresser. He pulled a jock out of a drawer and pulled it on. The only underwear James ever wore was a jock, and only when he roller bladed in the mornings. When we would go blading for leisure around the park in afternoons, he went commando as always.

By the time James was dressed I was finally out of bed. I did a few short stretches myself, and I pulled on some clothes. As I put them on, I reflected on how I was now leaving some clothes at James' apartment, and he had left some at mine. I never even thought about it. By the time I was finished, James was leaning on the door and looking at his watch. He tried to look impatient, but I laughed. James never got impatient about anything.

We went down to the bottom of the stairs and put on our equipment. James and I both took off toward the park. James was a much stronger blader than I was, and he always took the lead after a while. When we first started doing this, he would hang back and stay with me, but I knew he didn't like to hold back, and I told him to go on ahead. He didn't like it, but after a while he started doing it. About the time we got to the park, he took off. I watched the muscles of his body play as he stroked, and then he was out of sight on the path. I concentrated on myself then.

After two circuits of the path around the lake in the park, I started for the place near the flower garden where I always met James. I had a pleasant feeling of fatigue in my legs, and I was thinking of what we were going to do for the rest of the day when I saw him. Actually, I saw him and this really hot looking Latin-looking guy.

As I came closer, my temperature started to rise a little. This Latin guy was shirtless, and had a really hot looking body. He was rubbing James on the shoulder, and James was grinning big. This was flirting at its finest. I huffed a little, then kept going toward them. James was a natural flirt, and I knew it. For some reason, it still bothered me when he got all friendly with some other dude, even though I knew he was in love with me.

As I came closer, James looked over and he smiled. I heard him tell the guy it was nice to meet him, and then he started rolling toward me. I noticed the guy check out James' ass as he bladed over, and my temperature officially hit boiling. James came up and gave me a short kiss on the cheek, and I shot the guy a look of pure hatred. I tried to put as much meanness in the look as I could, to give the guy a hands-off-he's-mine message. The guy swallowed nervously.

I turned to James. "Who's that?" I asked.

James turned around and waved at the guy. "Oh, that's Jorge. I was here skating around while I waited, and he was on his run. He stopped to stretch a little and we just started talking."

"Uh-huh," I said, and shot another look of death to this Jorge-dude. Jorge swallowed again and took off. This time, James caught the look, and he started laughing.

"Oh, come on Dave! We were just doing some friendly talking, he wasn't making any moves."

I looked at James. "Come on, dude. He was stroking your shoulder, and it wasn't anything `friendly.' And I haven't seen you grin that big in a while. You were enjoying every minute." I couldn't help it. My feelings were a little hurt. I pushed past James and began skating toward the entrance to the park.

It didn't take long for James to catch up to me. "Dave, come on. You aren't really hurt are you? We were only talking." I kept going. "Dave? Dave, you aren't hurt. Come on, dude!"

I looked at James and kept going. James rolled his eyes. "Dave, you're jealous!"

I stopped. "You're damn right I am!" I said loudly. A few people looked over at us. "I am out of sight for a little over an hour and I come up to see some asshole hitting on my boyfriend. The best part is my boyfriend was thoroughly enjoying it!" All the previous warm feelings of the morning seemed to be totally gone by now.

James looked at me sternly. "Dave, we were only talking. I don't think there are any rules against that."

I gave James a look. "Nope, no rules. But I would think you would try not to be so happy."

James chuckled. "David, listen to me. I love you. The second I saw you, did I stay with him? No, I went right to you."

I looked away, then back at him. I nodded and gave him another sarcastic look. "Uh-huh," was all I said. Then I skated off again. This time, James didn't follow me.

I was sitting on the stairs at James' apartment complex when he finally skated up. I didn't look up at him. He skated over and stood still for a minute in front of me, then he sat down next to me. Neither of us said a word for a minute. I felt hurt still, and now a little ashamed. I had totally overreacted to an innocent conversation. Sure, the guy had been playing with my man's body, but James didn't invite it. And I knew James was a flirt. He was just playing.

"Dave?" James said quietly. I looked over at him. "Dave, I'm sorry, dude. I shouldn't have flirted with Jorge as much as I did. I guess that did look a little bad."

I shook my head. "Nah, James, I should apologize. I overreacted. I came in and saw something, and I went off for no good reason.

"The thing is, just last night and this morning I was thinking how great it was that I had you, and how I was unbelievably lucky. And then I saw you with some other guy, and he was rubbing your shoulder like that, and this awful fear took hold of me. I thought I was just mad, but it wasn't anger; it was fear, plain and simple."

James touched my chin and turned my face to his. "Dave, are you really worried that you're going to lose me?"

I thought about it. "I don't know, James. Most of the time it doesn't cross my mind, but when it does I get scared to death. You're the best thing that's come into my life, and I don't ever want to lose that."

James smiled and leaned his head on my shoulder. "Dave, don't even think about it. You don't have anything to worry over. I may flirt with every guy in the city, but I'll always go home with you. Don't ever doubt that."

I leaned my head over on his. God, I was so lucky.

I walked into my apartment after yet another hard week of class. We were getting into the nuts and bolts of my seminar class, and I was going to have to present in two weeks. I saw long hours at the library ahead, and I groaned as I collapsed onto my couch.

Just then, the door opened and in skated my man. This was definitely starting to get routine. I would come in and collapse in grad school fatigue, and almost on cue, James would skate in like the big ball of lazy energy he is. I once explained that idea to him, and he had just laughed. His was a lazy energy. He always seemed relaxed and easy, yet never seemed tired. James pushed himself over to me and he stopped right in front of the couch. I wasn't so exhausted that I failed to appreciate my love in his nylon pants and sweatshirt. I think that even if he wore a garbage bag he would look hot.

James' eyes widened. "Jesus, Dave, you look like shit!"

I laughed weakly. "Thanks, James. I can always count on you to boost my ego." So I could study and rest, James and I had slept apart the night before. We had been doing that more and more as midterms came and went. It had the effect of making the time we did have together that much better. But, it was still a strain on our relationship. I missed him terribly. Sleeping alone sucked. Now midterms were finally over, and Halloween was approaching. Maybe now we could have a little time together.

James plopped down next to me and pulled my head down into his lap. "Now, now... I think you'd look good if you were in an oxygen tent." We both cracked up at that. I knew I looked bad, though. I had showered that morning, but that was about all. I was wearing old jeans, a ratty looking sweatshirt, and I hadn't shaved in two days, so I was starting to look a little... okay, a lot scruffy.

James cocked his head and looked at me closely. "Actually, now that I look closer, I think this is a good look for you. Stressed out makes you look sexy. Tousled and hot."

I rolled my eyes and groaned, cracking James up yet again. "Hey, has Todd called you?"

I looked over at my machine. The message light was blinking furiously. "I guess that's him," I said, gesturing at the machine. "What's he want?"

"He wants to treat us to dinner tonight, since we've been working so hard on midterms. Also, he wants to know if we are going to the big Halloween party next week."

I groaned again. "I haven't even thought about it, dude."

James grinned. "Well, fortunately, I have. I already have my costume."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" I asked.

James slid out from under me and went over to where he dropped his backpack. I noticed a large bag next to it. "Hang loose here for a minute, dude. I'll model it for you." He took the bag into the bedroom. A minute later, he emerged in what looked like a silky bedsheet. Actually, I shouldn't even say that. A bedsheet would have concealed more. James' was wearing some Roman looking thing that draped over the right side of his chest. The skirt-like part fell to about mid-thigh. I gaped at it, then it occurred to me that this was exactly the kind of costume James would wear. He had on some kind of gold laurel leaf crown, and gold sandals. I looked at his face, and he was grinning huge. "I'm a god," he said.

"Yes, you are," I answered. "But what's the costume?"

James groaned. "That was bad, dude, even for you!" He walked over. "I'm going as a Roman god. I'm going to cover myself with this stuff," he said, holding out a jar. I took it. Gold body paint. I tried to imagine him all done up with gold body paint and this costume. My body instantly reacted. James looked down at my now-bulging crotch, and his grin got even bigger. "Yeah, that was the reaction I was hoping for from you."

I handed him the jar and laughed. "Man, you'll be getting that reaction from everyone! Are you planning on going undies-less for this, too?"

"Of course! Underwear would ruin the whole effect," he said, lifting the skirt part and checking out his ass in the mirror. "You like?"

I swallowed. "Oh, yeah."

James smiled. "Good. Now, we have to go find one for you."

I thought for a minute. Then an idea sprung into my mind. "Hang on a second, dude. I have to make a phone call."

A few minutes later, I came back out of my room to find James re-dressed in his own clothes. "What's up?" he asked.

I smiled. "Oh nothing," I said. "I just arranged for my costume."

His brow furrowed. "Jeez, that was quick! I thought you hadn't thought any about it."

"I know, I just had a strike of inspiration, and it paid off."

James shook his head. "So, do I get to find out?" he asked.

I grinned. "Nope." Actually, I figured James would get a kick out of my costume. I would have to cut my hair... it was already kind of buzzed, but maybe I would shave it totally. I would also have to grow a goatee or something to fully carry it off.

James frowned at me. Then he put on a pout. "Pleassseeee?"

I ruffled his blond hair. "Nope, you'll have to sit in suspense," I said.

He popped me on the shoulder. "Bitch," he said.

I leaned in and rubbed his head. "You know you love me."

He jumped up and straddled my legs, and leaned in and kissed me. "Oh, hell yeah," he said before his lips pressed mine again. His tongue slipped in my mouth and wrestled with my own. With the stress of the last few weeks and our having slept apart for a while, I was ready for some action. From the feel of the hard object trying to burst the seams of James' pants, he was ready too. I reached up under James' shirt but he pushed my hand away. "Not now, love. We have somewhere to go."

I groaned in agony. I had thought our initial abstinence had been tough, but now that I knew how good sex with James was, being cut off was pure hell. "Where could we possibly have to go?" I whined.

James hopped up and adjusted his hard prick. "Come on, dude. I have to be there at four thirty."

I sighed and got up. "Okay, but you're driving."

Four thirty found us sitting in the office of a body piercing/tattoo parlor. I looked around at the pictures of various tattoos and piercings on the walls. "Are you sure about this?" I asked dubiously.

James smiled. "Sure I am. I've been thinking about it for a while now. Besides, who are you to talk? You have a tattoo."

I rubbed my left shoulder. I had gotten the tattoo my junior year in college, in honor of my old high school. My coach had done so much for me. I had come out to him my junior year of high school, and he had been the one who convinced me to come out to my folks. He was a mentor and a very good friend. I still went home once every year to give his teams a pep talk. I had a black and blue ram on my shoulder, our school colors and mascot, with a big number twenty-two, the number I had in high school and college.

I couldn't argue with James' logic this time. "Well, you know this is liable to hurt pretty bad, dude."

"Yeah, I know. They said it would be sore for a few days, maybe longer. Also, I have to keep it disinfected, and you know you can't go near it with your tongue for months."

I grimaced. I loved playing with James' nipples. Oh well, at least I would still have one to play with. Just then, a shirtless dude with piercings all over his face and torso came out. "Hey dude, ya ready?" he asked.

James grinned at me. "Sure am," he said. "I'll be back soon."

I fidgeted for what seemed like hours, when it was really only twenty minutes all together. James came out, looking just fine. When he brought up his left arm, he winced a little, but he seemed none the worse for wear.

I walked up to him. "Everything okay?" I asked. James looked at me and grinned. He paid the pierced guy and we walked out to my car.

We drove in silence for a while, then I couldn't stand it anymore. "So, how does it feel?" I asked.

James shook his head. "It's sore as hell, dude, but nothing I can't stand."

Just then, something occurred to me. "James! What about next week? The party! Can you wear the body paint with the new piercing?"

James nodded. "Yeah, dude. I told the guy about it. He told me that if I kept it disinfected until the party that it should be closed enough that it wouldn't matter. Besides, the paint is very gentle."

I looked back over at his left pec. "Can I see it?"

James laughed. "Sure," he said. He unbuckled his seat belt and pulled off his shirt. There it was. James' left nipple was red and swollen, but there was a silver hoop through it. I had to admit, it was very hot.

"Hmm," I said. "So are you planning on getting the other one done?"

"Yeah, but not for a while. I want to let this one heal up."

I stared at the road for a while longer, then I looked back at James. "Why hadn't you mentioned this before?"

James laughed. "I knew you were going to ask me that. I wanted it to be a surprise. I have been thinking about it for about a year now. Besides, I remember how you went gaga over that dude with nipple rings that day in the park, and I figured you would like it." I laughed. James and I had been walking through the park one afternoon and a shirtless guy had run past us with both nipples pierced, and I spent the whole afternoon talking about how hot it looked.

"Cool," I said. When we got back to James' apartment, he immediately stripped off his shirt. I spent the whole night glancing at his nipple, and it got even hotter every time I saw it. Truthfully, I was getting hotter every time I saw it.

We ordered a pizza and spent the night watching TV. A nice, mundane night for the two of us, which was exactly what he needed. I was lying on the sofa with James in my arms. After Sports Center, James clicked off the TV and I started kissing his neck. James moaned and turned over so that he was lying stomach to stomach with me.

Almost the instant he did it, he yelped in pain and jumped up, his hand clutching his left nipple. I couldn't help but laugh. "Dude, I can't believe you did that," I said between fits of laughter. "That's hysterical!"

James glared back. "Sure, sure, laugh at my pain." He blew down on his nipple and fanned it, hoping to ease the pain that way.

I stood up and touched his shoulder. "I'm sorry, babe." I took his hand and then began blowing on his nipple. "Is that better?"

He still looked like he was in pain, but the look was mixed with another look, one of pleasure. "Dude, that feels weird."

I looked up at him, and did it again. "Like this?"

He breathed in sharply. "Oh, wow, dude. That's incredible." His pants were beginning to bulge out in front.

I took him in my arms and kissed him deeply. Then I blew downward on his nipple again. His crotch leaped and he breathed in again. He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward his room. "Come on." Who was I to argue?

End of Part VII

Okay everyone... I know this part was pretty short on sex, but there's sex a-plenty coming up. I hope to hear from all of you, and thanks to everyone who has sent emails.