Copyright 2001.
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) It's funny, sitting here in my chair, writing this installment in one session. It sounds ok to me the way it is, so I am posting it-hope I didn't miss anything in the process. I was watching a section of "Broadway Damage" where one character sings a song he wrote as a `grand gesture' for his best friend-it says a lot, and is one of my favorite parts of the movie. The last part goes something like this:
. . .someone who's daring Someone who's warm and caring I reach my hand out, in the cold But I never find a hand to hold- When night has fallen I find my true star And make my constant wish That happiness will come my way- And with my eyes closed I keep on dreaming And pray my empty heart Won't have to wait Another day.
Lleagar a ti.
Chapter 12. A Moment Alone--
I leaned over the edge of the roof, inspecting the alleyway while the sun glowed orange through the late afternoon haze. Ugh. Why are alleyways always so untidy? To me, they represent hideouts for squatting dumpsters, whose rusting, greenish exteriors and poorly fitting lids dot the broken landscape of asphalt and utility connections like cactus on an urban desert. Pugsley joined me out of nowhere, rubbing my leg in greeting, then jumping up on the ledge.
"Hey, little guy, how are you?"
He nosed my hand. It felt cold, rough, and a little damp. I scratched both sides of his face, gently at first; he likes it harder, though, so pretty quick I used both hands to rub him from head to tail, back and forth to the sound of delighted purrs. Inevitably, I picked him up. Pugsley was my second baby, Jase being my first and favorite.
The door opened, while I sat there holding him, and Chris came running over carrying a flapping sheet of paper and waving it like a standard. He never does anything slowly when he could be running; he might sit quietly when reading or coloring or all of the other ways he keeps himself occupied, but when he starts moving, it's full speed ahead. Kara is always yelling at him to slow down before he runs into something or someone. However, it doesn't make a bit of difference, and it always leaves me feeling slightly out of breath to watch him as though I were the one dashing around.
"Uncle Zach, look what I made for you!"
"What is it?"
"Just look, Uncle Zach, please?" His face looked pained, as if any further delay on my part would cause irreparable damage. Pugsley jumped out of my arms as I inspected the artwork, which was actually a pretty good representation of the group of us; Jase and Eric, Kara and me, Sam and Jesse all stood arm in arm with the caf‚ in the background behind us. Of course, there were a few additions of cars, animals, and a few jungle animal stickers scattered randomly across it, but that was ok too. I thought it was terrific, and told him so.
"You keep it Uncle Zach, it's for you."
"Ok Chris, how `bout I hang it up on the bulletin board downstairs where everyone can see and enjoy it."
"Yeah, alright. That's good." He spotted the cat walking away and ran towards him laughing and waving his arms. Pugsley did the prudent thing and made a dash for the cat-door, disappearing to safety with Chris in hot pursuit.
I let it go; it was a game played out at least once a day and both participants were well schooled in the rules of the game. It was so typical, though, I just had to shake my head as I went over to where the swing was mostly dry now from my earlier watering efforts.
Sitting down, I threw one arm across the back and used the other to support my head as I watched the sun creep lower in the sky.
No sooner had I gotten comfortable than Jase walked through the door with a paper sack, spotted me, and smiled. He sat down next to me, his damp hair and clean smell letting me know he had already had his shower, while I was still in my work clothes and damp from splashing myself with the hose.
"Hey you." He brushed my neck with his fingertips, and I leaned into the touch grateful to be in a world where Jase existed and cared for me. It was such a comfort to know that I only had to take a short walk most of the time to be near him.
"Yeah."
"I brought us something." He rummaged in the sack, pulling out a towel, a loaf of bread, a wedge of cheese, and a couple of apples, which he laid out in the space between the two of us.
"What's the occasion?"
"Nothing, I thought it would be nice to share the sunset, just you and me."
"Ok." I perked up and turned to face him, drawing one leg up underneath and laying out the food while Jase rummaged around for something that clinked as he lifted it.
"A little vino. . . " I accepted my plastic glass and Jase thumbed the cork on a partly used bottle of Woodbridge. He poured carefully, filling my glass half full and then pouring his own before reinserting the cork and setting it under the swing. He held glass, looking thoughtful.
"Wanna start?"
"To us, and to the future." I smiled at him, and took a sip.
"To Eric finding a friend, and maybe more." Jase held his glass high, and we clicked them together in a hearty salute.
"To your parents, for their understanding, and for their acceptance of us."
"To your parents, Zach; may they come to understand."
This was a little sobering, so I took a generous swig while thinking about what I was grateful for.
"For my loving sister and nephew, for our business, and for all of the success that we've enjoyed."
"Amen to that." Jase held up his glass and looked me directly in the eyes while I raised my glass to his, slowly beginning to feel a warmth spreading outward from my stomach as the wine kicked in. God, Jase was so handsome, sitting there with me as we sliced the bread and shared dinner.
Afterwards, I snuggled close to Jase and ran my hand back and forth under his shirt, tracing the outlines of his chest as we rocked. His arm, behind the small of my back, was warm and I could feel his finger through the material of my pants tracing circles on my hip; I was halfway aroused, halfway asleep, and completely comfortable. Although, I guess I fell asleep, because the next thing I knew Jase was gently kissing me on the side of my face and murmuring in my ear.
"Wake up, Zach, let's get you downstairs and into the tub."
"Mmmm."
Once in the bedroom, Jase sat me on the bed and pulled off my shirt. With it off, I was free to flop over backwards and play the rag doll while he tugged off my shoes and socks. This was arousing in it's own way-submitting my body to him--so I kept my eyes closed and felt his hands undress me. I could hear the pipes rattling in the walls as the bathtub down the hall filled.
A gentle tug at my waist, and my belt came undone. Pause. The waistband of my pants tightened, then relaxed as the button popped open, then a brief downward tug as Jase unzipped me and opened my fly. Pause. I could feel myself expanding as my pants were tugged off, the slide of cotton past my growing shaft a curious feeling, as stimulation all by itself. Jase grabbed me by the arm, and guided me up and into the bathroom while I kept a hand in front of a now obvious erection and tried to keep some privacy.
Standing on the mat, Jase turned the water off and then slipped his hands under the waist of my underwear and slowly lowered them to my feet. He knelt and ran his hands up the backs of my legs and worked his way up, nuzzling me in the process and causing me to jump as the stubble on his chin brushed a more sensitive area. Who says sex has to be routine? With simple little gestures, Jase had made me as hard as I could possibly get, short of coming.
He held my hand then helped me into the tub and sat next to it, facing me and letting his hands roam under the bubbles over everything in reach. I laid my head back and slid a little lower. My legs opened of their own accord, and I let out one long breath. This was heaven, and Jase worked me oh-so-gently as I built towards a climax that left me gasping, while muffling the sounds with the knuckles of one hand. What an incredible feeling, coming like that, knowing that he did this for me and that he wanted to be the one to make me to feel this way. I could have stayed forever in that moment with Jase at my side. Relaxing, soft lips brushed mine, and I opened my eyes finally to meet his as he held my head and I whispered thanks to the man who held my heart and soul in his care.