Play to the Heart

Play to the Heart Copyright 2004 by Paul H. Daventon. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author. If you are enjoying this story, write to me at authorpaul@juno.com

When you write, please put "Play Heart" in the Subject line so I concentrate on story email. Thanks, Paul. This story is from my imagination only, It never happened and any resemblance to people living or dead, places or events is purely coincidental.. If you are under 18, or not legally allowed to read this, I urge you not to read it. BE SAFE Thanks, Paul To write use the address authorpaul@mail.com Please put 'Play Heart' in the Subject line.

PLAY TO THE HEART

written by Paul Daventon.

========== Chapter Two ==========

Eric woke up slowly, very gradually though his eyes remained closed.. He and Felix had played a recital the previous night. He also remembered that he and Deke had made wonderful love before going to sleep.

Eric reached with one arm to his left, expecting to find his lover lying beside him. His hand found no one but he needed to open his eyes to make sure. He raised his head slightly, but found no Deke in the room. Not feeling like getting up, tired from the stress of the recital and their exertions in bed, he lay back and let his lids drop.

"Wake up, sleepy head, wakey, wakey, time for breakfast." Deke walked into their bedroom, absolutely naked but carrying a full tray of eggs, pastries and fruit and a pot of coffee. His soft cock flipped back and forth, his balls were pushed alternate sides by the strong thighs on the man's legs. That sight was the first Eric had of Deke that day. His heart began panting furiously and his soft dick immediately began to rise to the occasion. Even though Deke wasn't aroused, Eric could look at his soft hanger and easily see it change to the monster hardon which had visited his rear end last night, again and again.

"Oh, you love, you are so wonderful, making breakfast for us." He threw the sheet down, revealing his fully erected cock, standing tall. "See what I have waiting for you."

Deke cautioned, "I think you will have to save that for a while. I've brought this morning's newspaper. We'll see what Wilma has to say about you and Felix this time."

Eric and Felix had played a two-piano recital in Severance Hall the previous night, with a respectable-sized audience to listen. It was the first time they had played in Cleveland since their initial performance just over a year before.

Deke had trouble setting the tray on Eric's lap because of his upright knob being in the way. Eric put it between his thighs while they ate, a little uncomfortable but not painful. After a brief 'good morning' kiss, the two young men began to eat. Deke had the newspaper opened to the music review page and the music critic's column on their performance. He read out aloud.

The headline said it all, 'Triumphant Return Recital by Felix and Eric'. After touring the Midwest and East Coast over the previous year, the two-piano duo of Wright and Mendelssohn returned to their home city and demonstrated again their supreme command of the genre with extraordinary musicality, flawless technique and impeccable synchrony. I found a new flavor to their playing which shows they are totally joined when performing, by their intelligence, their emotions and, I believe, their souls. Their coupling is the work of some genius of fate, introducing them to the only place they should be in life. I believe that 19 year old Eric has been able to meld himself into the substance of his partner, 49 year old Felix, a marriage of extreme finesse and absolute abilities. (Note: they are NOT married.) Their choice of music was not only unusual and daring, but still featured the classics of two-piano repertoire along with some new works commissioned for the duo by their local patron, Mrs. Elsie van der Gordon. Mrs. Van der Gordon is a noted philanthropist and society leader in the city of Cleveland. Those commissioned works were scored for two pianos with orchestra, but were superbly playable by just the two pianos.

Watching their breakfast tray, Deke leaned over Eric, his eyes moist, and kissed him on the mouth with fervent feelings of respect, honor and love. "Mr. Eric Lowell Wright, you have arrived."

Eric was so touched that his eyes were also swimming, staring at his partner and lover. "It's all because of you, Deke, you found me and brought me out," he smiled, "actually in two different ways," he snickered, "but I'm loving both so much .... maybe we could put this tray on the table beside you, and find out how much I'm out." Eric was so thrilled with the music review and with his lover, Deacon Whittaker, that he shivered under the sheet.

"Eric, I'm going to suggest that we call Felix, I know he never gets the newspaper in the morning. We should tell him about the review from Wilma. Worth a try." His brows were raised in a questioning mode, wondering if Felix were all right, he usually called them by that time.

"Good idea, Deke, I was sort of wondering why he hadn't called."

Eric picked up the phone and called. He sat on the side of the bed, his naked, saucy bottom barely catching on the edge of the mattress. After a number of rings, he got no answer.

"Gee, Deke, he should be there. He hates eating breakfast out and he wasn't going anywhere." Now Eric was really worried, concerned for his 'favorite' uncle, who was not a real uncle.

"Please, Deke, lets get dressed and go to see him." His eyes pleaded with Deke's.

Any interest in sexual activities lost all meaning for them.

Fifteen minutes later Deke pressed the bell push beside Felix's door jamb. He also knocked on the wooden door with his knuckles. Only the hollow sound returned from the raps.

"Eric, I think we should use your key, really." He was really worried then, if anything happened to Felix, Eric would be distraught, maybe worse.

Eric found the key on his key ring, inserted it in the lock and turned, opening the door.

"Felix, are you home? Hey Felix, are you still sleeping?" No answer, no sound.

He nodded to Deke and stepped quietly in the foyer of Felix's apartment. They search the living room, kitchen, dining room and hallway. Both of them realized they were avoiding the master bedroom, fearful of what they might find. Finally, Deke braved their fears and opened the door to Felix's bedroom. It was empty so they tried the bathroom connected to that room.

Eric and Deke gasped in terror seeing Felix was lying on the floor with a pale and restless look on his face. Deke reached to Felix's neck to check the carotid artery for a pulse.

"It's good, Eric, he has a good pulse and I can see he's breathing steadily. You better go call 9-1-1. I'll get a cover to put over him, he's probably chilly." Deke noticed that Felix's face, though pale, was warm and firm. Pulling back his eyelid, he also noted that the eye reacted to the light. 'That should mean he's in fairly good shape'. He wondered if he'd had a heart attack. "Oh, God, I hope not. Eric will be devastated."

Within fifteen minutes the EMS men were in the bathroom, tending to Felix who woke up while they were trying to get him on the stretcher. They would put him on the gurney in the foyer.

Felix looked around, wondering what was happening. He spotted Eric and held up his hand toward his 'son'. Eric knelt on the cold tile floor, holding Felix's hand in his, trying to keep his own emotions under the surface.

Felix tried to get up, but the EMTs quickly squashed that. "No, sir, we'll have you in the hospital emergency room in just a few minutes." They busied themselves and had Felix on the gurney and down the elevator within 10 minutes.

Eric and Deke followed them in Deke's car all the way to the Cleveland Clinic and Eric went into the ER looking for Felix.

"Can I help you?"

"My uncle, Felix, he was just brought in a minute ago, possible heart attack. I'm very concerned about him. He has no family, no wife, no children, I'm the only one."

"We'll have to wait until the doctor's have him stable, which shouldn't take long." She looked at Eric sideways, "Aren't you .... ah ... Eric Wright? I was at your concert last night. So wonderful."

"Thank you. That's Felix Mendelssohn, my partner they brought in."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Look, Eric, I'll get you in as soon as I possibly can. Okay?"

"I guess, if that's the best we can do. You can understand why I'm so worried." He saw Deke come in. "This is Deke Whittaker, my other partner. He's our manager and runs our concerts."

Deke came close to Eric, put his arm around his shoulder, but nothing further. "Is there any news yet?" he asked the nurse. She shook her head.

"Why don't you two sit over there and I'll call you as soon as I have any word."

Eric and Deke looked at each other but decided they must stay detached, no display of passion or anything showing their love. They sat and waited, and waited. Almost forty-five minutes passed before a doctor came out and called for Eric Wright.

Eric jumped up, "That's me, doctor. Do you have some news?"

"Our patient was asking for his nephew, Eric Wright. Is that you?"

"Yes."

"Okay, let me sit with you for a minute."

Both Eric and Deke had stomachs which just flipped and flopped. They were so worried, almost panicked.

"Your uncle, Felix Mendelssohn, has had a mild heart attack. He's had medications which will mitigate any further damage. There probably would have been none at all if he could have been brought in sooner."

"Doctor," Eric broke in, "He doesn't live with me, but when he didn't call this morning like he always does, I went to his house and found him. Luckily he had given me a key."

The doctor smiled at Eric, "You did fine, and I'm sure we caught him before there was any serious damage. We are doing blood tests so we'll know very soon." He looked askance at Eric, "The nurse said you two performed at Severance last night."

"Yes, we played a two-piano recital. We both were stressed after it was finished. Just the side effects of that activity."

The doctor held out his hand, "You must tell me when you are playing next."

Eric was excited, "You mean that you think we'll be able to play together again?"

"I see no reason why not, you uncle will be fine with a couple months rest. He must rest for a while and do some rehabilitation for his heart. He should be able to play for many years."

Eric couldn't help, he tried, but had to release his emotions. Deke saw what was happening and passed a handkerchief to him, just in time for Eric to cover his face.

The doctor stood and patted Eric on the back, "Eric, he'll be just fine. I promise."

Deke knew Eric couldn't speak, so thanked the doctor for him.

"Oh, and you can see him in a few minutes after we get him settled." He looked at Deke, "But just you, Eric, I'm sorry."

"That's okay, doctor, just so Eric can see him." Deke has his arm around Eric, holding him tightly against his chest. The doctor looked at the two for a few seconds, smiled and turned away, sure of what he saw, Eric had someone who would take care of him with love.

In a half hour the nurse came to get Eric to take him to Felix's room.

"Eric, hon," Deke whispered, "don't cry, babe. He needs you to be a little worried but calm as usual. Okay?"

Eric nodded and wiped his eyes and face. Quickly he followed the nurse who had almost disappeared. Outside the room, the nurse said there were a lot of monitors and wires and stuff, but that was mainly precaution. She smiled and asked him to smile too. He tried.

She laughed, "Eric, you are going to have to do better than that." She gave him a little hug.

Eric's first view of Felix was not too good. He looked wan and terribly tired, but did manage a smile on his face. Eric leaned over and kissed him on the lips, "I'm so glad you are going to be all right, uncle."

"Yes, son, I'm feeling a lot better already. I'm sure glad you came to find me."

Eric tried to speak brightly. "Well, what else could I do. You are the key to my fortune. So far we aren't rich yet. Got a long ways to go." He usually was able to tease Felix when necessary.

Felix gave a weak laugh, "Okay, I understand. I must perform like usual."

"The doctor said a couple months and you should be back in form. It's good we only have two concerts coming up in that time. We can reschedule them easily." He leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Now, uncle, you must do what the doctors say, you must, or I'll get Deke to play with me."

Again Felix laughed, louder this time, "You've already been doing that." He gave Eric a leer, a sneaky facet to his face.

Eric was embarrassed, blushing, Felix had never made any reference to his and Deke's lovemaking before. He must be feeling like a new man, or feeling his mortality and that he wouldn't hold back. He'd say what he thought and felt. He loved Eric totally, and Deke, too but not to the same extent. He knew that Deke and Eric loved each other absolutely and entirely. Felix thought they were the best for the other, no question.

"Before you go, Eric, give some thought to playing solo at those two recitals. We have been working on your solo repertoire for months and this would be a chance for you to show off a little." Felix was losing his energy fast, "Just think about it, son, I think you would be fine."

Felix closed his eyes so Eric leaned over again, kissed him again and said, "Felix, I love you, please stay well." Felix's fingers gripped Eric's hand tightly, then relaxed.

Felix only smiled just a little.

Felix's sheet had slipped down so Eric pulled the sheet up over his chest. He looked at Felix body, almost flat under the sheet, except for a good sized hump above his crotch.

'Oh, Felix, have I been blind to your feelings? Is your love for me so much more than I've thought?' Eric gazed once more at Felix's handsome face, now in repose, the worry lines all calmed.

He headed out to the waiting room where Deke waited. He stopped to thank the nurse for letting him see Felix.

"Sorry, Deke, I was so long, but I wanted to show him that we are with him. He has no one else that I know of. At least he's never mentioned any relatives." He turned quickly, "We must get him some flowers, a bright kind to sparkle up his room."

"Sure, Eric, you know, you were only in his room five minutes."

When they passed the Hospital Gift Shop, Eric picked out a large bouquet of brilliant flowers to be taken to Felix. He wrote a small card to him from himself and Deke.

Eric smiled in relief, "I was afraid I'd stayed too long."

"The nurse would have gotten you in a minute anyway. How does he look?"

Deke put his arm around Eric's waist, leading him toward the outside door. "He looks better than I'd have thought. Oh, Deke, hon, it's going to be two months before we can play together again." He opened his passenger door, "He thought I should take the two dates we have in the next two months and do a solo gig." He faced Deke as he was getting behind the wheel. "I don't think I could do that. And the sponsors probably wouldn't accept a recital by me and not two of us." Eric knew that Felix's name drew most of the audience to come to hear them.

Deke started their Lexus SUV and pulled out of the parking lot while he was thinking what to tell Eric. "Love, I think we would have to sound out those sponsors. Tell them that Felix is incapacitated for two months and ask if they would take you as a solo artist. There is no question in my mind that you can play a marvelous recital. They will love you. Don't you think so?"

Eric moved over to Deke's side, his left hand on Deke's right thigh, caressing him.

"Yes, I think with some hard practice I could do a recital, I'm sure. How stunning it would be is debatable?" Eric smiled with hope, "I guess, hon, I'd like to try it while I have the chance." His face saddened, "We don't know how long Felix will be playing well enough. I know I own him everything."

Deke pulled into their parking space at the apartment house. As he got out, he reminded Eric that he was sure Felix would be at the recital, too. He wouldn't let you go 'solo' without him being with you." He pulled on his chin, "I'll have to look them up, but I think the first concert would be at the end of the month and is in Akron. That wouldn't be a long way for him to travel."

Eric squeezed Deke tightly as they embraced in the elevator. "Hon, do you really think I could do it, could play a substantial and musical concert?"

Just as Deke kissed Eric, the elevator stopped to pick up a passenger on the second floor. "Oh I'm sorry," a well dressed, older but beautiful woman, smiling, "I hope I'm not disturbing you." She got on, then took another look at Eric. "Oh my, you're Eric Wright, aren't you?"

Eric joked, "Yes, I know I was this morning. I seemed to have tired out since then."

"My husband and I enjoyed your concert last night, we both loved your performance. You two play so beautifully."

"Thank you, ma'am, I appreciate your kind words. May I introduce my partner, Deke Whittaker?"

She looked at Deke weirdly, "He wasn't playing the other piano, was he?"

"No, that was my piano partner, Felix Mendelssohn. Deke is my family partner. We have the fifth floor front loft."

The puzzle on her face calmed, "Oh, now I understand. I'd love to see your loft, if you have an open house. I know most of the residents would also."

"I'll give that some serious thought, Mrs ..... "

"I'm Marilyn and my husband is James Monroe." She smiled at their unasked question, "No, I'm not related to the original," she laughed, "I would have loved that. I'm afraid neither of us lives up to our famous names." She shook her head, "Oh well, such is life."

"We're happy to meet you, Mrs. Moore," Deke greeted her, "and I agree, we will look seriously into an open house. Oh, this is our floor. We'll be in touch."

Eric and Deke smiled at each other, "She took that very well, didn't she?"

"Yes, Deke, she just faltered a little. Myself, I'd like to see more of her."

Deke snorted.

"Okay dum-dum, you know what I meant. Maybe we could pick up another 'angel'.

"A whole flock of angels would be great. Let's go for that."

They got out of the clothes they had hurriedly put on earlier and showered together in the large shower stall, plenty of room for two, or three. Deke started to play around with Eric's hanger and balls, but Eric said no.

"I need some breakfast, then we can play around, please?" He begged his lover. He laughed and told him, "Now quit that, Sleek Deke, put it down, boy, down." Deke let go.

They finished their shower and wiped each other down with soft bath sheets, managing to touch each other's body on most every square inch. By donning his white, terry robe, Eric could hide his jewels from Deke.

When the two handsome men, one tall, one shorter, one dark, one light, took in some breakfast, traipsed into the bedroom area where they fell asleep while embracing tightly. They were too tired to 'play'.

During the afternoon Deke spent his time talking to the sponsors of the two concerts, one in Akron and one in Columbus at Mershon auditorium on the Ohio State University campus. He almost fell off his chair when the first agreed to have Eric play a solo recital, after a slight reduction in the financial arrangement would be given. He and Eric agreed to that, but Deke would not let Eric play for that little again.

"So, Eric," he called to his love who was practicing on one of his Steinway grands. "You are signed up for one concert at E. J. Thomas auditorium in Akron. The second, at Mershon at Ohio State, is at the end of August Does that sound okay, babe? I haven't gotten hold of those sponsors."

Eric stopped playing. "No, I'm scared to death." He did seem very nervous and unusually unsure of himself. This was his chance to play for the world on his own strengths and abilities. He wondered how he could possibly do it. Felix needed to be at his side to play with him.

Deke understood Eric's musing. "Eric, hon, Felix will be at your side, just not playing a piano with you." Deke crossed the large single room of the loft and hugged Eric, "Even if Felix never could play again with you, he is in your heart, your mind and your love. Don't you see, you will forever have him right with you, his teaching working your fingers and his musical soul merged with yours. Isn't that right?"

Eric choked back tears and just buried his face in Deke's chest, holding on for dear life.

"I know what you are saying, Deke, but I'll have to get through these two concerts with substantial praise and acclaim from the critics. I can't just go halfway."

At that point Deke started undressing Eric, tearing off his sweat shirt and pants, finally his thong. He gave Eric's solid cock a quick kiss while he leaned over. As Eric took off his shoes and socks, Deke divested himself of all his clothes. Pressing their naked bodies together, they moved toward their king-sized bed in the far corner of the loft. The area wasn't walled off, just separated by some screens and a couple of dressers.

The bed was still unmade since their fast escape early in the morning, just right for the loving found in their minds and hearts. By that time their cocks were fully risen, fighting for space between their strong, flat abdomens. They embraced, relaxed against their lover and ..... fell asleep. The stress and strain of the morning with Felix had wiped out much of their strength. They would wake up to the desires and appetites of their sexual hunger.

Eric and Deke had visited Felix around dinner time, pleased to see that he was sitting up and looking much more refreshed. The flowers they sent glowed on the bedside table, lovely red roses and white carnations with green ferns and baby's breath for contrast. Felix gave them his thanks for their beauty and colors, and cheery spprearance.

"Hey, Felix, do you happen to know a Mrs. James Monroe in our building, actually she's a Marilyn?"

Felix thought, "No, can't remember a Marilyn Monroe in your building. I doubt she is a reincarnation of the original." He grinned at his smart assed remark.

"I should have known better than to ask you, Mr. Mendelssohn. You do crack wise!"

Deke, concerned, "Felix, has your doctor been in this afternoon? Do you know any more?"

"No, damn it, and if you know anything, you got to tell me."

Eric agreed, "We haven't heard anything since this morning, but you sure are looking better. I think maybe we could play a concert tomorrow or the next day. How about you?"

Felix smiled broadly, "My sons, it would probably take that long for me to just get out of bed. Maybe by the end of the month?"

"Oh, Felix," Eric was excited, "Deke has gotten me a solo recital, in Akron at the E.J. Thomas auditorium near the University of Akron. That's at the end of this month, which means that you should be up so we can take you with us. It isn't very far. The other will be in Columbus at the Mershon auditorium on the Ohio State Campus. Again I will need you with us. How about that?"

Felix beamed, "Oh, my sons, how wonderful. I'm sure you will be great. As soon as I can get out of here, I will supervise your practicing. You are good, but you do need me nearby. There is an umbilical cord, you know." He smiled again, the inveterate schemer and poked Eric in his belly button..

"Okay, old man," Eric teased, "we'll be here tomorrow when the doctor visits you. By the way you must tell them we are your nephews or we won't get in."

"Well, you could be my sister's kids, you rapscallions." Eric and Deke looked toward the other, thinking, 'So, now do we know he has a sister, or not?'

Deke teased him, too, "Felix, I'm going to bring in a cardboard keyboard for you tomorrow. You must keep those pieces in your head. And, when you are released, you will stay with us so we can take care of you. We will get another bed for you to use. No backtalk," as Felix has started to object, "this is the only way we'll let you leave here."

"Boy, what a bunch of petty martinets here. Just you wait 'til I get out." Felix was shaking his fist at them, still laughing."I'll show you." He settled down, relaxed and lay quiet. The boys thought he must have overdone the moving around.

Deke leaned over Felix, holding his hand in his own, "Now, now, dear uncle, you must stay very calm until your doctor says you can leave. Then, and only then, can you have a tantrum." He smiled and kissed Felix on the forehead.

"That would be much better, Deke, on the lips." He smiled seductively.

Deke kissed him on the lips, "As you say, master."

Eric did the same, "Uncle, we'll see you in the morning and you rest up for our visit." They left and again visited the hospital gift shop where the woman with the name tag of Pat Orneryary sat in her wheelchair dominating the small shop. When they said what they wanted, she pointed to a rack of cards in the corner.

"Ma'am, if we write and address a card, could it be delivered without going through the postal service?"

"Sure, you do the card and I'll see to it." She smiled winningly under her odd red hair.

That evening the two young men had an after-dinner drink, sat on their large sofa, looking out the big window, viewing the towering buildings of Cleveland. They were not that far from public square and could see and sometimes hear events taking place there. They could see the Old Stone Church, directly on Public Square, nearly 200 years old with some of the most beautiful stained glass windows by Tiffany.

Having finished his Drambuie liqueur, Eric made for one of his favorite grand pianos.

"Deke, suggest one of my solo pieces, I'll see if I can remember it."

"Beethoven's 'Pathetique' Sonata."

Eric began to play the difficult piece, from memory, one of Beethoven's finer sonatas and one where some of his more advanced musical ideas came to fruition. He tried to keep himself calm, not knowing if he could do it. The third movement was a scherzo which contained more inventive composition than previously practiced. The final movement was a triumph of sound.

With the final chord Deke stood and moved to Eric's side.

"Do you have any understanding how well you have played?" He shook Eric, "Do you realized that you played that with extraordinary beauty and without an error? Do you realize that I am so proud of you I could cry?" Deke grabbed Eric as he had the first time he'd heard him play, over a year ago, and hugged his younger lover to his chest. "I love you so much, dear heart, that I'm beside myself with adoration."

Eric tried breathing, "Deke, if you'll let me breathe I'll answer you. Whoa, fresh air is nice." He panted a little while pulling himself up Deke's body, wrapping his legs around his lover's waist. Deke was staggering a bit, he wasn't used to carrying Eric around, small though he might be, he was a lively weight.

Deke's hands held Eric' buttocks in his grasp, kneading them with his fingers, testing their meatiness and wealth of muscle in those bubble globes. They held each other in a passionate embrace which should lead to something in a bed, or on a floor.

"Deke, babe, if you keep playing with my butt, I'm going to lose my control. Let me get down and lead you to our love bed which has been without love for a while. Okay?"

Instead, Deke carried his 'man' to the bed and dropped him, quickly falling on top of him, holding him in a rigor of stressed muscular strength.

Holding his head over Eric's, he kissed him, wildly, wetly and madly with fervor. His kisses were returned full force with intense tongue duels.

After exchanging gallons of juices between them, Deke asked Eric to lay quietly while he, his partner and mate, stripped him of his clothing. "Just let me make love to you, Eric, and show you my passion.

By sitting his young spouse up, Deke removed his sweat shirt, revealing the boy's (well, he is just nineteen) torso and arms. Eric isn't a hunk exactly, but his shoulders are wide, just not thick, his biceps are of a good size and clearly defined; his pectorals are solid chunks perch atop his chest, holding two nickle-sized nipples on their edges; his chest is bare, smooth, so clean. Deke could follow an almost invisible path of light hairs from between his pecs to his navel where the trail to his pubes began.

Laying him down again, Deke untied his sweatpants string to loosen the top. He then stood off the bed to remove Eric's heavy socks, then pull the sweatpants down his legs and off his feet.

Eric's narrow waist was muscled, but not well defined, the result of lots of swimming and diving. As Deke exposed further discoveries when the waist band uncovered his blond pubes, sort of straggling all over his crotch, still so light they're almost too faint to be seen.

He thought, 'Aha, Eric-boy, you've been going commando all day, no jock even.'

Finally, he could see the beginning of Eric's shaft, wide and thick, showing more and more until his helmet shaped cock head appeared at the end, swollen, pulsing and softly gleaming. Eric's thighs were thick in proportion to his size, but still defined by the flesh and muscles. His lower legs were also lightly hair covered, but again so light as to be invisible. The calves there were well developed though not too much, they still followed the slender line of his legs.

Deke took time out to remove his own clothing, giving Eric a breather, but again he had to push Eric's hands away from his own passion prong.

Deke took one foot in each hand, holding them in the air, placing the bottom of Eric's feet directly on his chest, caressing them determinedly. One by one he raised a foot to his lips and sucked each toe individually, running his slick tongue between them.

Eric, at this point, was squirming under the torture, no one had ever sucked his toes before. His mouth was open slightly, releasing his deep breaths and low moans, sometimes a sort of growl. His hand kept reaching for his cock, tall and hard between his legs, but Deke kept forcing them from that toy of his.

Deke laid the boy's legs down and crawled on the bed between them until his head was in Eric's upper thighs where he started to lick the smooth, soft skin. He worked away until his tongue was playing with Eric's scrotum, licking, slurping until he could slide a testicle into his warm, wet mouth. No room for two at once, but he alternated sucking them.

He noted that Eric's dick was hovering above his abdomen, slowly dripping his precum just north of his pubes. The cock bounced with his pulse, jumping occasionally as his passion willed. Having reached his goal, Deke slowly slid his lips and tongue down, down his love's cannon, until he felt the pubes on his nose. Eric had a wonderful cock, but not too long or wide so Deke could deep throat him, loving the soft head sliding just a little into his throat.

Gently but firmly Deke turned Eric on his front, being careful to watch his hard spear so it didn't get damaged. 'Heaven forbid,' he thought.

Deke's hands caressed Eric's shoulders and back, fondling those muscles which delighted his passion, his excitement, his sexuality. As he reached Eric's buttocks, those bubble globes which stood out so pertly, so brazenly. He loved them so much that he began placing his kisses all over the firm, yet velvety forms, also sliding his hands over the flow of flesh so his fingers could work the dough-like consistency.

Finally, Deke's fingers wormed their way between those glowing cheeks, hiding in the darkness and the depths until one finger found the spot, the center of Eric's physical universe. It poked a little, then touched the aureole around the tiny slit in his bottom.

Eric now was moaning, hissing with each of Deke's movements, moving his limbs, as if trying to get up or make Deke come to him. He jerked hard when one of Deke's fingers forced it's way just slightly into the anus, but then gave a contented 'ahh' with his next breath.

Eric hadn't felt the best yet. He and Deke had not indulged with anal sex before that time, usually sucking, licking and swallowing had sufficed for their love making, expressing their love with their tool of love in more usual ways.

Previous to knowing Eric, Deke had never been fucked, and only a very few times did he fuck one of his playmates. But Eric had been mentioning the possibility, yet up to then Deke had been able to hold back. He really didn't think Eric was ready enough for the extreme sexual fortitude and passion necessary.

Deke moved up further and pried apart Eric's buttocks, viewing his lover's anus for the first time, practically hairless, only a little bit darker than the hair on his head. But the tiny slit inside the wrinkled flesh around it looked way too small to handle his cock. He leaned down and pressed his face between the buttocks, absorbing the aromas of his 'man', part sweat, part man and part Eric himself. This was his perfect lover, his devoted mate and united companion, with paper or not.

For the first time since Deke had started, Eric spoke, "Deke you are my beloved, more than anything else, I want you to continue, I want you to love me and my body and soul, make love with your cock in my bottom. Please, my treasure and my prize, I love you beyond loving. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

Deke continued worrying the anus with his tongue, striving to stretch it and force it into Eric's rectum, forcing the sphincter apart. He spread as much saliva as he could in the area and into the anus. As he worked at it, Eric pleaded time and again, "Please, Deke, help me!"

Deke flipped Eric onto his back, laying his body on Eric's, pressing his lips on Eric's. Eric was intensely aroused by the taste of his own rear end, he liked it, he really liked it, and it seemed that Deke liked it too. Deke held Eric's whole body to himself, delighting in the flesh, muscles and bones, sliding on his smooth, velvety skin, wishing they could merge their bodies and be 'one'.

Deke got on his knees between Eric's legs. He lifted those legs until Eric's knees were near the younger boy's ears, reaching for a pillow, he placed that under his lower back so that Eric's buttock's were held higher. Deke's tongue continued to lick his anus, slide along from scrotum to his tail bone,.

"Don't move, Eric, stay right there." The older man reached into the bedside table drawer, and retrieved the tube of lube and a condom. He put some lube on his finger and pushed it into his rectum, then more and another finger.

Eric moaned loudly, excitedly, his eroticism rising with his arousal, his whole body reacting to the entrance of a strange object into his rectum. He couldn't believe the wonderful feeling that was invading him from butt to head, tingling and sparkling up his spine, flying through his nerves in shocks of electric sparks.

Deke reached for the lube and the condom.

"Deke, please don't use a condom, I've never been with anyone but you. I assume you have been tested recently. Right?"

Deke's face looked doubtful, "Yes, a year ago and six months ago, nothing."

"And you haven't been with anyone but me. Right?"

"Right again."

"Well, then .... we're okay, matey, okay."

Deke nodded, greased up his cock and threw the condom back. He spread more lube on Eric's ass, introducing more fingers up his flinching butt, receiving moans and growling deep in Eric's chest. Eric was near the limit of his resistance. The tingles rising from his crotch were nearing his nerve centers, his skin was crawling with stings of electric power all over.

"Here it comes, Eric. I'll try to be very careful, take it very slowly. Be sure to scream if you are feeling too much pain. Okay?"

"Hmmm." Eric closed his eyes and slowly moved his head back and forth. "I love you."

Deke placed the tip of his iron-like cock against Eric's pulsing anus, moving it around to spread the lube, sending his own passion sky high when the ass hole touching his swollen head, showing a shining deep red by then.

He watched closely as his cock head was squeezed tightly by the sphincter, pushing in tighter as his cock entered deeper. He could hardly contain himself, he wanted to shove it in all the way in one mammoth push, but was able to hold back.

"How are you doing, Eric? Are you still okay?"

"Yeah, are you all the way in?"

Deke laughed, "No, love, I only have the head in your love tunnel. Just wait, we are taking this very slowly. I don't want you hurt."

Eric was breathing rapidly, short breaths in ragged spurts, his whole body jumping and twisting under Deke's body. He kept his eyes closed, concentrating of the sensations he was feeling from his asshole, filling him with passion and erotic sensations, wishing Deke had pressed into him already.

"Eric, love, I'm going to start pushing my way into your body, you should just feel full. If it does hurt too much, let me know." Deke stretched so he could suck Eric's tongue and lips, at the same time trying to stimulate Eric from both ends of his body. Deke grabbed his shaft to steady his progress into Eric's tender, velvety tunnel walls, sensing their touch on his cock all the way to the bottom.

Eric was screaming softly, down deep in his throat, practically in a state of frantic overload, his senses were so aroused by this invasion of his dark, hidden entrance, his nerves on edge, tingling all the way up to his cerebral cortex. He already felt as if he just had to come or he would burst.

Deke, himself, was quickly reaching that point of no return, his body thrust and plunged into his lover's passion channel, both of them breathing heavily and irregularly, their bodies were twitching and spasming all over. Suddenly, Eric yelled he was cumming, his whole body was shooting from his cock, his muscles tightened and cramped, all around that monster spear which poked in his rear end, his bottom orifice which hadn't admitted anything before, let alone a huge cock.

Deke jerked with Eric's pulse, "Eric, that's it, babe, shoot your love juice between us, let your shots land on your chest and neck." He kept thrusting into Eric's bottom, literally moaning with his whole body, the tightness of Eric's sphincter squeezing his cock, drawing his seed from it's place of origin. As his finish came upon him, he shoved his cock in to the hilt, his blade hitting fully into Eric's rectum where he shot stream after stream of his sacred liquor of life.

Deke fell on top of Eric who wrapped his desiring arms around his back and buttocks, clinging to his lover with a grip of forever. He then turned them onto their sides, still tightly bound, so that he wasn't pressing his substantial weight all on Eric. Both men were breathing heavily, deeply to make up for the air they didn't get during the last five minutes.

Soon they calmed down, gradually recognizing their position and getting their thoughts together. Eric was caressing Deke's tall, well built body, his fingers tending to follow the split of Deke's buttocks, and getting lower and deeper into the moist depths.

"Deke," Eric had found his voice again, his choking throat had cleared. "Deke, I need to make love to you as soon as I'm able. Okay?"

Deke stayed silent, mainly because he was asleep. His exertions making love to Eric had made him drowsy, though he probably wouldn't sleep long. Eric gradually slid from under Deke and let him fall on his stomach in the bed next to him.

Eric slowly slid off the bed on his side, stretching his muscles to relax them from the cramps he'd endured while taking Deke's lance up his ass. Quietly, he padded to the bathroom so he could pee, something he desperately needed to do. Watching the pale yellow stream splashing in the bowl, Eric was dreaming of when Deke had taken him for the first time, back before he had started lessons from Felix. He thought of how he felt when it was over, drained yet so overwhelmed with happiness and elation that he just couldn't sleep. His body had been sapped of all its energy, it felt as if his muscles were mush and his cock had disappeared inside his flesh.

He looked around from the bathroom toward Deke still lying in their bed, adoring his lover in his heart, and had a little twist of eroticism in his crotch. Eric shook his little, soft dick and walked back to the bed. As he walked, he knew what he wanted to do.

Eric kept his eyes on Deke's buttocks, firm globes of sexy flesh split in the middle by a chasm of darkness and promise. He smiled and crept onto the bed until he was between Deke's legs near his knees. By bending over, Eric's head went lower and he breathed in the wonderful aromas rising from that cleft. He balanced himself with his two arms on either side of Deke's body, pushed his tongue into that cleft, sliding from Deke's legs to his tail bone, leaving a trail of his juices dripping into the split.

Eric actually sat on Deke's thighs, carefully and gently, where his hands each lay on one of the cheeks and pulled them apart. When he tried, he found he could force his tongue into the crevice, laying another track of saliva from one end to the other. He could feel the texture of Deke's actual rear hole, the wrinkles and tight edges of the anus.

He sensed the aromas from there, in the center of Deke's sexual world. He smelled the man, a wonderful scent of a man, a little sweaty, exhibiting rare spices of his anal aura, but mostly of his love. Eric continued laving away at the whole area from his balls to his ass hole.

"Oh, my god, ohh man, I'm dying and going to heaven."

Deke had wakened but did not move. "Eric, love, didn't you have enough of a sexual blast just a bit ago. I thought you would be out for hours." He spoke lovingly, and smiled that way too.

Eric didn't answer but lay on top of Deke, forcing his soft tongue between Deke's soft, relaxed buttocks, clutching his lover as best he could from the rear. He kissed Deke's back and neck with the most delicate of touches. "Don't worry, Deke, I couldn't do it even if I could get it up. How about we shower together, babe, and then go to bed to sleep this time?." He grinned, remembering that his cherry ass was busted, he was a real man. And he had a life time ahead for making love with Deke as he just had.

Deke mumbled something with his mouth in the pillow.

"What was that?" Eric inquired. He was so relaxed, it was difficult to create words.

"I need a drink." Deke was waking a bit, "We can shower, but then I want a drink with your butt on my lap." He had turned enough the Eric could see his smirky smile.

"Yes, love, anything for you."

Their drink poured, they sat in a large comfortable chair which would hold them both, Eric in Deke's lap, leaning on his chest, placing little kisses all over his face.

"How does it feel now, Eric? Can you stand it?" Deke had one hand underneath Eric's naked buttocks, testing one finger against his lover's bruised and sore anus.

Eric put his face against Deke's, his lips in the man's ear, "Yes, it is beautiful. After the first little bit I was in an ecstacy of my senses being wrung out and my heart filled with visions of you, my hero."

The two young men embraced each other and wound themselves into a knot of adoration and devotion. They kissed more avidly and lustfully than ever, their relationship had discovered the epiphany of their bodies and souls.

Their phone chirped impatiently, interrupting them in their quiet time together.

Deke said hello like he really didn't mean it.

He listened, covered the phone, then said, "Eric, you better talk to her, It's Marilyn Emm."

Eric sat up, crushing Deke's balls, then answered the call.

"Hello, this is Eric Wright."

"Hi, can I help you?"

He waited, listening with a frown on his forehead.

"I think that would be fine, Mrs .... Okay, Marilyn. What time?"

"Eight PM, that's fine. Just what would the dress be? In other words, how formal?"

Eric looked at Deke as he listened, finally rolling his eyes back up in his head.

"I'm sure we will enjoy that very much, Marilyn, see you then."

"Bye."

Eric sat back on Deke's lap, sliding his buttocks around Deke's still hard shaft..

"What was that?"

He groaned, "Our new friend Marilyn, is having an open house tomorrow night and would like us to attend, if we would please." He scrunched up his face in distaste, "I didn't know what else to say except that we'd love to."

Eric was laying on Deke's chest and wormed his right hand between them down to Deke's hot, hard rod where it was squeezed underneath Eric's buttocks. He lifted himself off Deke so he could pull it up between his thighs. He dribbled saliva on the head, then spread it with his fist.

Deke looked a bit wild, wondering just what was going to happen to his cock. Turning to Eric, he finally smiled and kissed his nose. "It will be fine, hon, we can take 'em all on and win."

"But what will I wear, I don't know. She said 'oh, very casual'."

Deke thought, "That will mean we better not go casual, I'd say up a notch or two from that." He considered their wardrobes and what they might select. "I'd say some sort of light color linen pants with pale jacket over a dress shirt with the collar open. A striped shirt, I'd suggest."

"Well, that fixes you, babe, but what about poor me?"

"Hey, buddy, you have plenty of clothes you haven't worn for a year or two. Even back before you were a star." At that he giggled, "Ah, my hero, a star .... man, am I in love with him?"

Deke stood carrying Eric with him, cuddling him in his strong arms, "Let's get to the bedroom and find something to wear, out of enough clothing to stock a men's store."

Dressed like GQ men, the two were young, hot and sexy as hell. Taking the elevator they ascended to the eighth floor and the Monroe's loft. Eric was anxious to see what they had done with theirs. 'Might be some hints as to what we could do with ours,' he thought.

The decor was pedestrian, nothing that either of them would be likely to copy. The welcome was warm and courteous, James Monroe was tall, bald with some white hair, about 20- 30 years older than Marilyn. Deke's first thought that Marilyn would be coming into her fortune soon. The man was friendly and shook Deke's hand after Eric introduced him as his partner who was also a pianist but not Eric's piano partner.

The loft was filled with 'socially active' couples, well dressed, good looking and completely at home in that place. Most of them probably had a loft in this building. Eric only noticed one male couple, one glance told him they were gay but fighting it. They were talking to two young women, actually twins, who were beautiful, gracious, energetic and had terrifically sexy bodies. He was told their names were Tracy and Laura, no last name or names. They looked a little older than Eric was, maybe Deke's age.

Marilyn, after her hostess duties were over, moved to introduce the girls to Eric and Deke. She told them that Eric played the piano.

Tracy picked that up, "Hey, Eric, what group do you play with?"

He hardly knew what to say, but he tried, "I am a solo concert artist, I play recitals and concerts, sometime with an orchestra, often times without." He smiled, "What groups do you both like?"

"Oh, ya know, Michael Stanley or XYZekes. They's hot."

Eric kept a straight face, "I'm afraid I don't think I know them. Are they from around Cleveland."

The other twin, "Oh yas, they been hot around here for a long time."

Deke injected, "Oh how nice." He included a large smile at both girls. They giggled.

Before they threw up, Marilyn had clinked on a glass to get everyone's attention.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce to you all, Mr. Eric Lowell Wright, a concert pianist who lives in our building with his partner, Mr. Deacon Whittaker. I've asked Eric to play for us and he has consented." She started the applause which did multiply a bit.

Eric didn't mention that she hadn't asked nor had he said he would. Now he had to do it. No choice. He was on to her tricky ways. He found a nice Steinway in the corner which didn't seem to be seriously out of tune after he tried a few notes.

Sitting down at the keyboard, Eric thundered immediately with cascades of notes and chords of intricate harmonies. This etude of Chopin's was one of his very favorites and he gave it all he had, finishing in a flurry of arpeggios all of a rush.

He stood up, gave a slight nod to the few who were clapping, then found Deke, then Marilyn.

"Sorry, Marilyn, I must go, we are expecting company tonight from out of town, a few of the Cleveland Browns. We're putting them up for a couple days. We'll talk to you later. Bye."

Marilyn's eyes widened as she stared at Eric, wondering just what was going on. He hadn't said anything about guests before. 'Well, Marilyn,' she told herself, 'you know those kind of people and how they act. Can't figure them out,' she told herself. She also wondered, 'He did say Cleveland Browns, didn't he? What would he know about them?' She shook her head and turned back to her party.

Deke nodded and said good-bye. They had left the loft before Marilyn had even recognized what Eric had been saying. In the elevator they giggled at Eric's Cleveland Browns.

"Deke, what a stupid thing to have done, go to that open house. I'm really pissed. She shouldn't have asked me to play if she knew no one would like it or even listen. And she should have asked me first. I should have told that my fee for playing is $5000. Piss on her. She's no angel."

"Yeah, babe, don't worry about it. Your fans are legion, and just wait until we do your solo concert in Akron. You will be on top then." Deke leaned over to kiss his shorter partner, laying it on his tender, sparkling lips. Naturally, the door opened at the same time and a well- dressed couple walked on, just where the men needed to get off.

"Maybe they are tired of Marilyn too," Eric snidely whispered.

Eric and Deke smiled, bowed and left the elevator. Their last look in the car, showed the man and woman looking at them a bit dazed. So they waved goodbye.

Ten days later Eric and Deke brought Felix home from the hospital to their apartment. A second bedroom had been blocked off with furniture and tall Chinese panels of rare Asian scenes. They had rented a wheel chair a few days before, Eric and Felix waiting in the lobby for Deke to bring it down.

Felix had a good report, health-wise, so was allowed to stay with the 'nephews'. He was in excellent spirits, just waiting to get back eventually to performing with Eric, and, but first to prepare him for his first solo concert.

Felix had misty eyes when he saw what they had done. Since the ceiling height was 18 feet, he would have lots of light in his 'bedroom' and fresh air. As they pushed him into their loft, he grabbed the wheels suddenly, "Stop! Wait. Boys." Eric and Deacon resented being called 'boys'. He pointed to his cheeks. "I need a kiss on both of these weathered cheeks." He grinned, "That's good. Now boys, I want to be sure you understand that you both will be my boys until you are well past middle aged. So don't get huffy about that little word ..... boys." He tried to push his wheels, "Now, get me to a place where I can get something to eat, that hospital food was for shit, no, worse than shit." He started to rise out of the wheelchair, "Whoa,"Deacon said, "who said you could get out of the wheelchair?"

"Deke," Eric wheedled, "the doctor said he should walk around the loft as much as he wanted, especially if there were pieces of furniture where he could sit when he needed to."

"Nyah," Felix exploded toward Deke, "Deke, now you know, let me up and point me to the chair where I get something to eat." He walked and laughed his way to the dining table.

Eric warned, "Felix, you'll have to wait until I can fix something. We didn't know just when you would be released.?"

"Okay, okay, boys, now I want you to kiss and make up."

"We're not fighting."

"I know, but I love to see you make up. Go ahead." He gave a sexy smile toward them.

Eric looked at Deke who returned the loving glance. They were in the kitchen area, Eric was leaning against the counter when Deke grabbed him in a loving embrace. They didn't mind Felix looking on, they thought it kept him comfortable and satisfied. The two men began to get more excited, playing with their buttocks and cocks and balls. Very gradually and slowly, they walked into their bedroom area, found the bed and lay down. They knew Felix wouldn't intrude on their passionate embraces, their sensational man to man loving.

They did feed Felix a little later.

During the next weeks, hours and hours each day Eric was practicing with his demanding teacher at his side. Felix seemed to be responding to the good food, the rest and the required job of training Eric. Eric was almost beyond needing the teaching abilities of his teacher, but still needed Felix to keep him on the right path to perfection.

The last week of June they prepared clothing, costumes for Eric and the necessary pills and bottles of Felix's medications. Two days prior to the concert they left in a hired limousine for Akron and the Sheraton in Cuyahoga Falls just north, where they had a suite for the three of them. The E. J. Thomas Auditorium had been reserved for Eric for the day before his concert and wasn't far from the hotel where they were staying.

Eric's first look at the auditorium was one of joy and a thrill to be playing in that honored place. The resident Steinway 9' grand piano was on stage, ready for him. Eric had Deke play some pieces while he moved around the huge space to judge the sound in various areas. He did note some sections where the music could not be heard well, but there was nothing he could do about at that point.

The night of the concert the three men traveled by their limousine in time to give Eric a a while to check the piano. He finally asked the auditorium manager how soon they could get the piano technician there that night. He was not happy with some sections of the tuning.

Fortunately they had the man in the building at the moment. Eric showed him what he was concerned about, and the tuner agreed with Eric on each point. The concert would start on time, but Eric was so happy they had checked it. Someone must have been banging on it..

Deke was watching the audience fill up most of the hall by the time to start. He reported to Eric and Felix, who was sitting in his wheel chair just in case. He sat in the wings to watch and hear, he would note anything Eric should work more on.

Considerable applause greeted Eric as he walked on stage, nodding to the audience while adjusting his bench. It had been perfect but Eric played with it a little to show off his demanding need to be perfectly at home.

Eric sat before the piano, studying the keyboard and adjusting his seat to minute movements. As he lay his fingers on the black and white keys, the audience hushed to silence. Following the first number, an etude by Chopin, Eric stood and bowed his response to the hearty, sincere applause. As he sat down again, he realized that he'd forgotten what he was to play next. The more he tried to remembered, the further that name was to him. He played with the piano seat, adjusting just a bit, trying to remember before they caught on to what he was doing.

Finally he had an idea. He looked directly into Felix's eyes in the wings opposite him with a question in his features. Fortunately, Felix realized what had happened. Since the audience couldn't see him, he raise one finger of one hand. He nodded, the raised three fingers of the other hand. It took just a few seconds and Eric had it, Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier Book I, and the Prelude and Fugue No. III, the one with seven sharps in the key signature, C sharp major. With that signal Eric proceeded to play it with a speed that could only be matched by few pianists. The audience loved it, his performance brought out all the resourceful composition of Bach and Eric's easy facility with the keyboard and Bach's work.

From his first notes to the end of the concert Eric led all those listeners through eight long and difficult selections, performing with talented ease, making his work seem so effortless, so effective and emotional, too. As Eric approached the last eight bars of his final piece, the audience started applauding ferociously and demanding 'encore'. By the time he had finished and stood, the listeners were on their feet, presenting the young man, just 19 years old, all the accolades offered to more seasoned performers.

In the wings Felix was clapping as hard as he could. When Eric looked toward him, he clasped his hands, raising them over his head and smiling with moist eyes brightly enjoying the sight of his pupil, his piano partner.

Eric left the stage into the wings, but came back soon leading Felix by the hand, so proud of his mentor and forced him to bow with him, the two bowing low. As soon as the audience spotted Felix, they roared again, thrilled to see him again. Felix left the stage waving to them.

Finally, Eric left after his fifth curtain call, he didn't want to return to play an encore. If they want more, come to his next concert. Felix, Eric and Deke went to the green room where they received many friends and personages. Eric's parents and friends came and gushed over his concert, a number of Felix's friends and colleagues appeared with congratulations, all of them amazed at the young man's fantastic abilities.

Before anyone came into the room, Deke and Eric embraced in loving devotion and in gratitude for the perfect concert. "Eric, baby, you were magnificent, I always hoped that I could be your equal, but that will never happen. I am just so proud to know you, to be your love and your partner and in your life."

"Yes, love, you are that, but more. You are half of me, I'd be nothing without you!" He embraced Deke as hard as he could, so devoted to that man in his life.

By the time they reached the hotel Felix was ready for bed so all three saw to that, tucking him into his large bed in one bedroom. Pills had been taken, all the evening duties completed and the man was nearly asleep. Felix's bedroom was darkened, not brightened by the suite lights.

Eric and Deke soon undressed and headed for their large bed in their bedroom, lying together, each rejoicing in their coming in touch, physically and emotionally.

"Eric, you need to know you are one in a hundred million, one of the real greats in the list of piano soloists, if not on top of the heap." He whispered, "Love, you could go off on your own right now and be extremely successful." He didn't want Felix to hear him, "With a little promotion you could have concert dates everywhere." Felix was in the other bedroom in the suite, but Deke didn't want to take any chance that he would hear him.

Eric embraced Deke, holding tight, emotionally, lovingly, "Dear heart, I realize what you are saying." He also whispered, kissed Deke's perfect ear and said, "But I want to do more two-piano concerts with Felix, I owe him so much, his love, his devotion to me and his unexcelled teaching to bring me to this point." Eric's eyes were moist, his heart full of love and devotion, too. "I want to do that, Deke. Look, I'm just 19 years old, I can have many, many years as a solo performer ahead of me. I want to spend as many as I can with Felix at my side." He looked sadly into Deke's eyes, "I can do the other later. I know our income won't be as much, but we can live very well. Since my parents bought us our loft, we don't need much. Right?"

"Babe, I'm with you. What you want is what I want, we ... are .... together, hon. That's the way of it."

Deke lay on his back with Eric half on top of him, Eric's head on his shoulder, his side, including a huge, hard dick pressing against his thigh. Casually, their hands were caressing the other man in their life, drowsing deeper and farther into sleep. Both of them were weary and worn out by the events of the evening.

Neither of them was prepared for sex, that would come later. However, Eric grabbed his pacifier, Deke's rock hard cock, clutching it desperately and fervently. He would get to play with it the next day.

Even though they put Felix to bed and tucked him in, his hotel bedroom door was open and for a while he couldn't sleep. He was drowsy, too, but he did hear Deke and Eric. Tears came to his eyes as he heard Eric demand to play with Felix as long as he could. He loved that boy so much, wanted to just claim him as his own, but knew he never could. Eric was in love with Deke and that wouldn't change, not is his lifetime.

Felix had never told the 'boys', that when the doctor talked to him just before he let Felix go home, his prognosis for Felix was not as good as the boys believed.

"Mr. Mendelssohn, you have recovered from your recent heart attack. And I do think you will probably be fine. For a while. I don't know how long. If your 'nephews' will make sure you do your rehab, that should help the whole situation." By the way he said nephews, Felix knew he didn't believe the 'nephews' story. He looked seriously at Felix, "However, that is not a cure-all. You have a heart which could go crazy sometime and that would be that. I do know your business, your talents and abilities, and my recommendation would be to live your life as you want. Play as many concerts as you want, anytime. Oh, maybe not as often as you like, but pace yourself, don't get too tired."

"Doctor, how many years are you talking about?"

"I know your professional two-piano partner is just nineteen years old with strength and stamina you had thirty years ago. As long as you feel you can do the concerts up to par, I'd say, go for it. But you will have to be the judge of whether you are capable or not."

Felix smiled, "Oh no, doctor, the critics and audiences will tell me when I'm not playing well enough. Well, I guess I'll be happy as long as I can enjoy our relationship and our playing together. That will be enough, I believe. I will need to retire sometime."

The doctor smiled back, "You are a smart man, the time will come, but I think you will know when it arrives. The best of luck and prayers to God will all help, Felix. Don't hesitate to call or come in whenever you need me. I will see you right away."

They shook hands, giving each other sort of a half hug, but knowing the feeling is there.

The concert in Columbus at the end of July was rapidly approaching and Felix was dithering whether he and Eric should play their two-piano program. He was feeling pretty good, yet not sure he should take on the burden of strenuous practicing.

Finally he decided and thought, 'I know I am jealous of Eric being able to play a concert without me, but he's worked for this and should be able to do it. I will continue saying I can't do it, it's too soon.'

Eric's concert in Columbus at the Ohio State University Mershon Auditorium arrived, he played his best program ever, receiving plaudits from the critics and another standing ovation from the audience. He was beginning to attract media attention all over the country, not just in Ohio. Requests for performances by Eric began to flood into Deke's mailbox.

"Deke, I don't want to do more solo recitals. I want Felix back with me."

"Does Felix know this?"

"Well, of course, Deke, why wouldn't he.... Oh, maybe he doesn't."He felt abashed, sad.

Deke and Eric had been talking in the coffee shop just down the street from their loft. "Did Felix go home to his apartment?"

Deke answered, "Yup, that's where he is. He said he wanted to work on some music."

Eric looked worried, "Is he in a good mood, I hope?" Eric was thinking that HIS Felix had to do the two-piano recitals with him so he must convince him that he is needed desperately.

One half hour later Eric was letting himself into Felix's apartment as quietly as he could. He could hear his mentor practicing some of their two-piano music. 'That's a good sign,' Eric thought, 'at least he is thinking about our concerts together. I don't want to do solo concerts for quite a while.''

Eric walked across the large studio to the two pianos. Felix's piano had been turned so the player faced the large picture window showing the Cleveland skyline. Felix's back was toward the door. Eric slid softly on cat paws to the second piano which was behind the other grand and facing it.

Felix had been playing part of the Golliwogg's Cake Walk when Eric started to lightly play his regular score at the same spot. It did take a while for Felix to realize that Eric was in the room and playing along. This he ignored until they finished holding the last chord. He slowly turned around to smile at his 'wonder boy.'

"You know, Felix, we do need to practice on that one a bit. Especially together." He stood up to give his mentor a kiss on his cheek and sat on the same bench. "Felix, would you please listen to me? I don't want to do any more solo recitals, I just don't want to. I need you with me and playing the two piano concerts."

"Oh, Eric, you don't need me. And besides, I'm not ready, I get too tired."

"Felix, how do you know you get too tired if you play? You haven't done a recital in three months. Please, you are leaving your protege in the lurch. I NEED YOU!" Eric was pleading, worried lines in his forehead, his eyes unhappy and clouded. He was trying to think what he could offer Felix to entice him to play. He had an idea, thinking about Felix's crotch when he was in the hospital. He thought, 'Maybe that's what he wants or needs. I'll see.'

In his softest and most loving tones, Eric asked, "Felix, you know I love you, and I do know you love me." He paused, afraid, "Dear uncle, I would be happy to give my body to you, that much I would do to have you playing with me." He bowed his head against his mentor. He gave a little laugh, "And you do know I like older men."

Felix held Eric's face in his loving hands, "Yes, I love you, son, but not that way. You have no need to offer yourself, I will perform with you on our two-piano recitals. Let's just leave our loving at the present level, nothing more is needed." He kissed Eric on his soft, tender lips, then softly patted his cheek, "When do we start?"

Eric was so relieved. He did love Felix, and would have had sex with him if he'd wanted it. But it would have caused problems between Eric and Deke, he knew that. He also didn't believe Felix when he said he didn't want that kind of love from Eric. Eric knew better and he also knew that he himself would love sex with Felix, he'd known that since they'd first met.

"Okay, right now! Let's see how you do. I'll start the piece and you finish it with me." Felix looked doubtful, but with a spark of life in his eyes again.

Silently, he nodded and turned to place his hands on the keyboard, his right foot on the sostenuto pedal, ready.

Eric played the first measure of his part for Rachmaninoff's Suite in Eb and Felix entered immediately in the second measure on his part. For the rest of the long, four movement composition which they had played frequently on the last year's concerts, the two pianos sounded perfectly together like the matched set of Steinway pianos they were using.

After finishing the Suite, Eric asked Felix to start another of their repertoire. That system continued through a two hour session of their recital music, back and forth, one picking the piece and next the other would pick another. By the end of the two hours both men were sweating profusely under their clothing. At one interval, Eric had stripped off his sweatshirt and t-shirt wiping the sweat of his forehead and chest with the soggy shirt. Felix couldn't help staring at Eric's torso, well muscled and defined, while he continued his playing without pause. Eric was shorter than Deke or Felix, but not stocky, just well fleshed, tanned and healthy-looking flesh. Though Eric was not well tanned, his natural skin was not paper white. Felix loved his protege with his heart and mind, realizing Eric was in love with Deke, but knew also that Eric had room in his heart to accept Felix, too.

"Okay, now, Felix, how do you feel? Truly feel?"

Felix couldn't help smiling broadly at Eric, sending streams of loving thoughts to the young man. He knew he'd do whatever Eric wanted him to do. It was his fate.

"I feel great, Eric, best in years, and I want to play with you at the next recital. When and where is it?"

Eric ran over to hug Felix wildly, "Oh, my uncle, you know we need to play more, right? I feel that we must. I don't know exactly when and where but in four weeks we play again, okay?"

Felix hugged back, "Sure, son, I'm with you.

"You know, Felix, we could use a bit of practice on that before our next concert." Eric snuck in a bit of a dig on Felix, "If you came back to stay with Deke and me, we could play all day and all night! See!"

Felix growled, "Yes, I see, and I know Deke would rightly kick my butt out." He laughed, "We'd better play at my place, my son, but you must live with Deke, got it?"

Eric kidded, "Yes, Daddy, I'll do whatever you say," and he swung them around and around as if they were dancing to a waltz.

At that moment Deke popped into his home to see his lover and teacher whirling around like dervishes from the exotic East. He decided to join the dancers, but lost all his clothes while he did it. It took a while before Eric and Felix noticed a naked man whirling around them as they whirled around the room. Felix was stunned and Eric bent over, laughing as if having a fit.

The room was quiet except for the padding of Deke's bare feet on the hardwood floor.

Felix stood straight, still watching Deke and said, "Well, I can see it's my time to go home. Had a great time, guys, and Eric, I'll see you at my place tomorrow morning by eight o'clock already warmed up and prepared to practice hard." He waved at them, they were already in a clinch, and said "Get a good night's sleep, both of you. Bye." He laughed to himself, 'They'll never get around to that.'

At the corner of E. 57th St. and Seventh Avenue they stood waiting and watching. The busy street in front of Carnegie Hall was in good form, noisy with a constant tune of taxi horns in mock duels. Deke, Eric and Felix stood on the sidewalk, taking in everything going by, pedestrians, jaywalkers and ladies with little dogs.

A while back, as they approached the building, they had asked a young man, "How do we get to Carnegie Hall?"

And he of course replied, "Practice, man, practice!" and they all laughed.

As soon as they found themselves in front of the venerable edifice, the manager stepped outside to welcome them. He also showed them the posters on the front wall, featuring Wright and Mendelssohn, duo-pianists, playing the next night in the Isaac Stern Auditorium at 8 p.m. Their well-known publicity photo was given most of the room, the shot where both of them were leaning against a shining grand smiling at the camera. Both men love the picture of them, it showed their dual persons with a combined shot of superimposed keyboards under their hands.

"Gentlemen, ah, Felix, so good to see you again. And especially because you will be playing on our stage."

They shook hands, "Yes, Alfred, I'm back again. And I want to introduce my partner, Eric Lowell Wright, and our manager, Deacon Whittaker." Hands were shaken all around.

Alfred greeted them, ushering the three men into the presence of the 'Old Lady' as someone called the place. "Come on, we'd better check out the stage and pianos first thing. We've tried to do everything we can for your program."

When they stood on the stage, each had their own thoughts. Deke never thought he'd ever stand there, playing or even just looking around. Eric's heart was pumping two to the bar and yet he was hardly breathing. Carnegie Hall was never in his dreams, never really a hope. But here he was. Felix was thinking that if it weren't for Isaac Stern and his friends, the whole place would have been demolished. He thanked God for Isaac Stern, the genius of the violin.

Alfred left them with their thoughts to check on other matters. He took Deke with him to go over certain matters in the contract. He left a young man to watch over them, helping them as needed.

"Gentlemen, I'm Zak Dubrowski and I'm here to help you as well as I can. Alfred had other arrangements to make."

The handsome young man, slender and not tall, smiling brilliantly as they shook hands.

Eric and Felix headed for the pianos. They each tried a different one, then switched to try the other one. They looked at each other and raised their eyebrows in question? Both shrugged their shoulders and switched again.

"Felix, you decide, it is more important that you have the piano you want than for me." He teased, "You are the oldest and pickiest and most crabby. Right?"

Felix laughed and shook his head, giving up on training his protege, "No, we'll decide tomorrow, after we've play them both a while."

By 10 pm the next evening Eric and Felix had finished their performance, receiving a tumultuous ovation and the usual New York claques showed they were much in favor of their presentation. The two men won over the New York audience which was usually cold to relative newcomers in this center of the musical world.

There could be no question, Eric and Felix had been accepted and adored by their listeners and multiplied their legion of fans by leaps and bounds. The video of their performance would be shown on PBS with their Great Performances series, spreading their fame to the far corners of the country and the world.

Eric and Felix stood together, arms around each other's waists, and bowed deeply to all reaches of the seating area and the standing audience still applauding steadily. After leaving and returning three times, Felix nodded to Eric who nodded back. They returned to their benches to give one encore. "Golliwogg's Cake Walk" by Claude Debussy. The roar following that fairly simple, but jazzy piece must have raised the roof at least a few inches. And it raised Eric's and Felix's feelings of deep devotion to each other and to the audiences they would be playing to for many years. Deke, of course, filled his role as their manager and as partner to Eric at home. They even talked about adopting a child, but realized they were too busy to be good parents. The two men did donate a lot of money and used their free time playing for schools.

Felix was sorry that Eric had given up much of his solo recital career to stay with him. That career returned as Felix needed to cut down the number of concerts he and Eric played together. Therefore Eric was able to attain his rightful place atop the ranks of solo piano concert artists. Many of his CDs won Grammy awards as the arbiter of the classical piano world.

Felix and Eric performed around the world for five more years. As Felix aged, he felt less and less avid about performing. He had completed his purpose of bringing Eric to the attention of the world as one of the very finest pianists. After their recital in Carnegie Hall, just five years of duo-piano concerts followed before Felix begged Eric to branch out further to more solo recitals. They had worked out ten of the most-often played piano concertos that Eric could perform with orchestras, plus another ten that would be available with minimal practicing. Felix continued to coach his pupil and love him without pause. Eric returned that love full measure.

Felix Mendelssohn passed from this world as he turned sixty-nine, Eric had just turned thirty-nine. Felix had been watching the program from London where Eric was playing with the London symphony. As Eric's little finger hit the last note of the concerto, Felix's heart stopped. A proud little smile was traced by Felix's lips as his eyes closed for the last time. Old friends were with him, but it was too late for help.

Eric and Deke managed to race from London to New York City in time for Felix's memorial service, held in the Isaac Stern Auditorium where he had performed so many times during his long life. Eric was asked to give a brief eulogy, though he talked more about the times they had together, playing and learning. He related as many funny stories between them that he could remember. One of those was the time when Felix started a concert in Munich with the wrong piece that Eric didn't have the music for on his piano. Therefore Eric had to play from memory, which he did perfectly, of course.

Toward the end of his eulogy, Eric stopped talking, he could only shake his head slowly and leave the podium his head held high, tears tracing down his face which he didn't try to hide. Deke came from the wings to meet him halfway to wrap his arm around Eric to help his exit.

Deke turned Eric so he could see that the entire auditorium of mourners had silently risen to pay respects to Eric, regarding him as Felix's heir apparent. Eric bowed to the hundreds of Felix's friends standing in front of him and silently waved to them, then left.

Almost everyone knew Eric and Deke were partners, mates and life companions. They were well-known all over the world, considered by the classical music world to be absolutely first class. Eric represented the ultimate in piano performance while Deke had evolved into the epitome of a manager, financial genius and 'good guy' to everyone. He looked out for Eric, devotedly, especially after his parents died. He was fearless in defending Eric's prestige and top standing as a performer.

Eric and Deke still lived in their loft near the center of Cleveland, though they did own a summer cottage on the coast of Maine plus a condo on Hutchinson Island off the Floridian coast near Jensen Beach. The Florida home was to escape the winters in Ohio. The neighboring homes around Eric and Deke's were sought avidly by fans of Eric's to listen to him practice and play at home.

Following Felix's death, Eric completed the engagements that had been scheduled, but with that over, he retired from performing. He would perform once a year with the Cleveland Orchestra playing one of Felix's favorite concertos, notably the Schumann Concerto in A minor. His hair and Deke's were turning greyish, though not so noticeably in Eric's blond curls.

He also worked Deke's fingers practically to nubs so he could play with Eric in a two-piano concert in the Blossom Music Center, summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra. They performed a number of Felix's favorites. Deke did very well, though Eric helped him out in some of the most difficult sections. They were well received.

Eric and Deke lived out their lives in very comfortable circumstances, mostly in Cleveland to utilize the many cultural avenues in that city. Deke's financial acumen had given them a large reserve of money and investments. They both enjoyed having so many of their friends visit occasionally, and those special friends would be invited to intimate evenings of piano and duo-piano performances. When the winters turned bitter, Eric convinced Deke to visit their condo in Florida, but the summers were filled with the scent of blueberries, seafood and salt water on the shore in Maine. Their love never weakened, their devotion never faltered, their bonds remained strong as steel.

Deacon Whittaker died at the age of 78 from heart failure in Florida. He died in Eric's arms after a wonderful meal by their chef, their love once more dedicated to each other. They had nestled, Eric in Deke's lap. Deacon had just remarked, "You know, babe, I don't think I've ever been happier in my whole life." Eric knew immediately when Deke left, his own body felt stripped of half its being.

Eric Lowell Wright passed away one month later of grief and loneliness, bereft of his life's love and partner. He was sixty-seven years old. Both men were cremated, their ashes placed in a special crypt at The Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, Ohio where Felix and Eric had taught for many years..

--- THE END --

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