Copyright 2001. Disclaimer:
a) The following story is a work of fiction, and the rights of this series belong to its author.
b) If you are breaking one or more of your local laws by reading this, don't read any further! And,
c) Whoof! It's been a long couple of weeks. I keep writing, but just hadn't felt like anything was ready to send in. Hope you continue to enjoy the story, I feel guilty if I make anyone wait too long. . .thanks again for your encouragement!
Chapter 10--Those Aren't Pillows. . .
I slept soundly, or at least nothing woke me until the alarm went off; Jase was in his usual position, one arm underneath my neck, and the other two across my chest, his erection pressed firmly into--
Wait a minute. I reached out to hit the alarm, then brought my hand back to feel the pair of arms across my chest. Following the smaller of the two over my shoulder, I realized that we were in pretty much the same position as when we fell asleep, only Eric's head was tucked down into the small of my back. Eric was very hard, his erection impressive if my backside was any judge, and I let the moment drag itself out while I figured out my next move. It could only be taken as a compliment, I decided, and I was willing to bet that Jase was hard too, only maybe he had the decency to put his hand in between the two of them. At least mine was facing away, and not quite so obvious.
A light kiss touched the middle of my back and one of the hands caressed my chest briefly before the arm it was attached to hugged me tight. Better not get too comfortable, I thought, and I lifted both of their arms slightly so I could roll onto my back and let my erection subside. Eric put his face into my shoulder and let out a contented-sounding sigh.
"You guys really are something, you know?"
He murmured this almost too soft for me to hear. Jase turned away to face the other direction and the bed rocked as he flopped over. I reached to touch his back, to let him know I was there; he put a hand up to hold mine in place as we rested for another minute.
Eric spoke quietly. "Zach?"
"Yeah Eric?"
"Sorry about the stiffie. . .I , um, well, it happens. A lot."
I chuckled, as I thought about how I had momentarily mistaken him for Jase. "We're no different . . . although I have to admit that I thought Jase had gone up a size or two."
Jase spoke up from his side of the bed. "Not even funny." His hand tugged mine over and down to where his erection threatened to poke out of his boxers. I pulled my hand back, laughing, and crossed both arms behind my head.
"Talk about a side-by-side comparison. . ."
Eric scooted up a little higher on the pillows and turned slightly in Jase's direction, pushing my elbow out of the way and forcing me to drop that arm to my side to make room.
"Hey Jase," he said.
"What."
"That WAS your thumb poking me a minute ago, wasn't it?" He looked back at me, grinning, then lifted the cover while pretending to check out Jase.
Jase snatched the covers back, pulling them tightly around himself in sudden prudishness. "Very, VERY funny, Eric. And stop snickering Zach, I hear you."
I fought hard to keep my voice normal. "It's ok, sweetie, I like you just the way you are."
"Oh, that's it--now you're gonna get it." He rolled over and threw himself across us both while wrapping an arm around each of our necks. We struggled, twisting in the covers and laughing as each of us fought for dominance. Finally Jase got me pinned underneath him as Eric rolled off the bed and stood up, tugging his boxers back onto his hips. Jase loomed over me, pinning me with his weight and holding my wrists above my head. Out of nowhere, Pugsley jumped onto the bed and rubbed his head into my armpit while Jase held me down.
It was no use; I couldn't budge an inch as Eric leaned over and used both hands to tickle me mercilessly. I held my breath and squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to laugh, but it came out in a stuttering gasp as I begged for mercy.
"Stop, I--ahhh, I give up!"
After a few moments more, they let go, and I hugged my now sensitive ribs, just in case the reprieve was temporary. Jase got off me and out of bed then held out his hand; I accepted it warily and stood to look him in the eye. I leaned in for a quick kiss while Eric made smooching sounds behind me.
Jase leaned around me. "What's the matter, you jealous?"
"Nope. Especially now that I've seen you guys first thing in the morning. And, I gotta tell you, it ain't a pretty sight."
While Jase laughed, I took advantage and pinned him up against the dresser, digging my fingers into any available ticklish spot. Jase fought me in turn, and we struggled playfully while Eric dressed. As he went downstairs to start work, I looked up from the headlock Jase had me in to caution him.
"Don't mess with Kara until she's had her coffee. . .she stays crabby until after her third cup."
"Check."
Leaning around the doorframe, I spoke to Eric's disappearing back. "And make sure you wipe off the chairs and tables after hosing everything down. . ."
Jase was checking himself in the mirror, and I saw him adjust himself more than once, possibly looking just the slightest bit worried. It was kind of cute, so I went over to him and put my chin on his shoulder and my arms around his waist. He met my eyes in the mirror and leaned back into me with a sheepish grin.
"It's not really that small next to Eric's, is it?"
I snorted. "Get real. You could line up a million penises in a row, and I'd still pick yours first." "And," I paused for emphasis, "it just so happens that it's attached to the brightest, cutest, most all-around likeable guy on the planet."
He turned around so he faced me. "Really, Zach? You know, I didn't hear you complaining when you thought his was mi--mmm." Putting my hands in his back pockets, I pulled him close and closed my lips over his to smother any further nonsense. When the kiss ended, Jase took my hand as we walked to the door of the bedroom. "You're one-in-a-million to me too, Zach."
He brought the hand up to his lips and kissed my fingers softly. "One-in-a-million."
Once downstairs, we went about our usual chores; Kara met my glance and held it questioningly, raising one eyebrow for a little longer than necessary to make her point. I just smiled and rolled my eyes, shaking my head negatively. I knew what she was thinking, and I didn't think it was fair. It was going to be a long morning.
By mid-day, the lunch crowd had populated a large portion of the outdoor area and we stayed busy shuttling the orders out the door. Weekends were always busier; Eric and Jesse had to split up the work between the inside and outside seats, keeping the tables cleared while also delivering food. That left Kara and I taking orders, and Jase and Sam working the preparation.
A few familiar faces dotted the tables, although it was a stranger that caught my eye. It was a young man, sitting alone near the door to the patio with a backpack and a pair of skates next to him on the floor. He must have been skating the bayfront, I thought, judging by the way he was dressed; we weren't all that far away, and he must have just skated over for lunch. As Eric passed him on his way to the kitchen, the guy watched him over the top of his book, only looking down when Eric came back headed the other direction. Interesting--was he checking Eric out?
Eric wasn't giving him more than a passing glance that I could see, but the more I watched, the more I decided I was right. Whenever Jesse walked past, the guy didn't even look up. He had long since finished his sandwich, and was nursing a bottle of water as he read. I started a mental checklist.
Possibly on the short side, though it was hard to tell since he was sitting down. Defined muscles, but not built; he wore sandals on feet that were in neat proportion to the rest of him. Dark blonde hair, fading towards lighter on the ends and neatly cut although somewhat windblown at the moment. Cute? Absolutely. I started wondering what his personality was like. Well, only one way to find out. The crowd had begun to thin, and I took the opportunity to carry another bottle of water over to his table. He looked up in surprise as I set the bottle down.
"You looked like you could use another, and it's on the house. My name's Zach by the way."
"Um, thanks--I'm Chris." He held out his hand and we shook.
"Been skating this morning?"
"Yeah," he smiled and set his book down. "I was on the way home and almost walked past, but then thought it looked like a cool place to eat."
"You live on the island, too?"
"Not too far." He waved vaguely down the street. "What about you?"
"Upstairs, actually."
"Oh, that's neat. Don't have to travel far to work, huh?" Chris grinned, and I decided I liked the guy.
"Nope, sure don't."
We talked for a few minutes, interrupted occasionally by the patio door opening and closing as Eric came and went. Chris kept glancing at Eric as we spoke. The conversation turned towards work, and I pointed out Kara and Jase, who waved at us from behind the counter.
"Can I ask you something?" He hesitated, then leaned forward and spoke a little softer. "What's the name of the guy working the patio?"
"His name?"
"Yeah, he seems familiar, and I thought maybe I knew him from high school."
"It's Eric."
"Eric. . .? Thanks." With perfect timing, the door opened again and Eric brushed past us, carrying an armload of trays. Carrying several orders on his way back from the kitchen, he made a face at us as if the food he was holding weighed a ton. We both laughed, and Chris offered to help.
"Nah, I got it, thanks." Eric hooked the door with his toe and went out.
Chris looked at his watch, then leaned down and grabbed his backpack and skates as he got up. "Hey, Zach--thanks again for the water."
I held out my hand once more, and we shook a little longer this time. "You're welcome, stop back again anytime; we'll be here."
"Thanks, I will."
He took one last look at Eric through the side windows on his way out, and I whistled happily as I cleared his table and made my way back to the kitchen.