SG ch. 11

NOTICE:

The contents of this story are purely fictional, and the content of this story includes love between male teens. If this is not what you expected, or it is illegal for you to read this material because of the laws governing your area, then don't read it! This story is copyrighted by the author and may not be reproduced or published elsewhere without the author's permission.

Chapter Eleven: Milestones

Jeez! I couldn't believe it was finally Friday. I was really looking forward to tonight and the coming weekend. We were going to celebrate my upcoming 16th birthday tonight, and then Lance and I were going camping in the desert for the weekend (where we would celebrate my actual birthday on Sunday together in private, if ya know what I mean!).

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, having just hauled myself out of my bed on the living room couch, staggered into the bathroom, and shucked off my boxer briefs in preparation for my morning shower. As I shook the cobwebs out of my still sleepy brain, I studied the person in the mirror gazing drowsily back at me. "Man, do I really look like that?" I chuckled to myself. I rarely spent much time looking at myself in the mirror (I purposely didn't even have one in my own bedroom...I'm sure you'll all spend a while psychoanalyzing that little fact), and I sometimes found it a little surprising when I actually spent the time to really look closely at myself. It always seemed strange to me. It looked so different from the inside looking out.

Maybe it was mostly just due to my new haircut yesterday (kinda like what you might call a `step-cut' instead of my usual `JTT' cut), which was a little shorter than I'd had in a while. I definitely think I look older today, for some reason. It struck me that the person standing in front of me was definitely not a kid anymore. Clearly not an adult yet, but perhaps closer to that than anything else. Then again, I had never in my life really felt like a `kid' on the inside, either. I noticed the darkening shadow above my lip was beginning to get more noticeable, too. I might have to actually start shaving before too long, I thought to myself as I lightly ran my finger across it. The face that peered back at me looked so much older and `more experienced' than I remembered. Not that my face had completely lost the boyish look that drove me nuts (and, I guess, that everyone else found to be so `cute'...gag!), but the eyes...especially the hazel-green eyes staring back at me looked like they had already seen an awful lot. I had to admit it...they looked, um--`wiser'--for lack of a better word.

My attention wandered downwards, and I saw a body that again looked a little unfamiliar to me. When did I actually get `chest muscles'? When did the little muscles in my stomach and upper arms become noticeable? I was used to seeing a pretty flat and unremarkable expanse from my neck down to my belt, broken only by two small pink nipples.

My eyes continued down to the thickening patch of wispy light brown hair above my dick. It was finally starting to look like the usual triangular patch that most other boys sported above their equipment. Jeez...when did my balls start hanging down so far below my dick? And wow, the rest of the ol' equipment down there was looking more impressive all of a sudden too! It may not be any longer than I was used to seeing, but it was looking much fatter. If I had been looking at another boy, I would have thought to myself that he had a really nice dick...pretty fat, and hanging down just far enough over the balls to look like it was the appropriate size. Not too big, and not too small. Just about right.

I smiled to myself, as I turned sideways and looked in the mirror again. That was definitely the best view. Your dick always looks so much longer from that side view. And wow! Cute butt! I could see that it was definitely a little `perkier' than I remembered it being. It used to barely be big enough to keep my pants up...

My curiosity engaged, I stepped on the bathroom floor scale. Shit! 135 pounds? Oh my god...never in my entire life have I pushed the needle on any scale past the 130 lb. mark without jumping up and down on it! Feeling more content with my own body than I remembered in a long time, I turned on the water and had a long hot soak.

After my shower, I returned to my bedroom, and looked for something to wear today. Since the weather seemed to be cooling off, I decided that today might as well be the first day since late spring that my legs have been covered by long pants. I fished out my favorite well-worn pair of baggy blue jeans. Umph! Wow, these are a lot tighter than I remember...I smiled to myself. I think this is what grown-ups affectionately call a `growth spurt'.

I quickly walked over to the place on the wall next to my door where I have secretly (and painfully slowly) tracked my height over the last few years. Shit! I knew it...5'-7"! I had actually grown an inch taller when nobody was looking, not even me.

Soon after I finished getting dressed, I found myself sitting on the front steps waiting for Lance to pick me up. Jeez, I was missing him already. My mom and I had agreed that I would sleep here at home on Monday through Thursday nights. The other three nights, I was able to sleep with my love...sigh. I slept so much better when I was wrapped up in his arms. I needed those few restful days with Lance to make up for the difficulty I had sleeping here on the couch during the week. All in all, it seemed to balance out ok, I guess.

Lance pulled up, flashing me his usual bright smile, and I hopped in beside him. I pulled him silently into a long, tight hug. "Morning babe. Mmmm. I missed you so much. I can't wait until this weekend," I said, as I released my death grip on him.

"Hey there Ricky. Missed you too, babe," he replied. He stole a quick kiss, and we were off to face my last day as a fifteen-year-old high school student. A few weeks had passed, and our lives as the `token gay boy couple' of Temecula High were settling in pretty well. Most of the other students had long since quit staring at us and whispering to each other as we walked by. The menacing looks had mostly disappeared as well, since it was a done deal that Lance was going to play on the golf team, and I would be helping out as well.

I walked across the grass, headed towards the spot where I could see Jeff was sitting under a tree with his back to me. It was our usual lunch spot; safely tucked out of the way from the lunchtime crowds where we could eat and talk without being hassled...well, most of the time, anyway. Jeff barely acknowledged me as I sat down, which is pretty unusual for him. I instantly knew something was wrong, because I could almost always count on him for a heart-warming smile whenever I arrived. He just sat there on the grass cross-legged, staring at his hands in his lap.

"Hey, Jeffy," I began, "What's up with you?"

He turned his head ever so slightly, and looked at me out of the corner of his reddened eyes, which I could just barely see peering out from underneath the curls of his hair that overhung his face. He said nothing. I could tell right away that he'd been crying.

"Hey man, what's the matter? You know you can talk to me, Jeffy."

I put my arm around his shoulder, and pulled him to me in a little hug. Jeff sighed deeply, and leaned his head on my shoulder. As soon as he started to speak, the waterworks totally let loose.

"God, Ricky...it was so messed up..." he sobbed, "He wouldn't even look at me, talk to me, or anything...in front of his friends. He just acted like I wasn't even there."

"Brendan?" I asked.

"Ya. I bumped into him in the hallway before lunch...I wasn't even looking for him, Ricky. Shit! I hate him, Ricky. How could he treat me like that? After we, uh...you know...I just can't believe he would do that. Well, fuck him," he said sadly. I knew Jeff didn't really mean what he was saying, but I could tell that he was deeply hurt.

"Jeff, didn't he already tell you he wanted to keep it real low-key here at school?" I said. "Most of his buddies don't even know you guys are `friends.' And, even though you're not officially `out', I think everyone pretty well suspects you're gay, Jeffy. Clearly he's not feeling like he can deal with that at school right now. But I don't think that means he cares about you any less...don't you see how threatened he is by his own feelings towards you? By the chance that you guys could get outed too? I think you need to have a little patience and understanding, Jeffy. I don't think you're gonna help anything by putting a lot of pressure on him right now. I know you really like him, and I also know that you have a tendency to jump into things too fast sometimes. You remember what I told you? If you push him too far, or too fast, you just might push him right out of your life, Jeff."

"Well, none of that stuff bothered him a bit last night while he was fucking me," he said sadly.

Ouch. Jeff had already told me that their physical relationship was progressing pretty quickly since they had become involved, and I knew how desperate Jeff has been for any kind of physical intimacy he could get from another boy. In spite of his innate shyness, Jeffy was actually one extremely horny gay teenage boy--and he's so sexy to look at, I'm sure Brendan just couldn't say no to him. Hell, sometimes I'm not even sure that I could.

"Jeff, you just need to take it easy on yourself here. I don't really think this is about you...it's about him. He needs some time to understand how he feels about things, and what's really important to him. But, he also needs to understand how his actions affect other people he cares about...like his boyfriend! Let me talk to him, ok? I'll see him at 6th during golf."

"Ok, I guess so Ricky," he said with a little uncertainty in his voice. "It's just...I dunno...I just don't want to make him mad at me or anything. It hurts enough right now, I just don't think I could take that too," he said with a sniff. "I mean, god Ricky; I really, really like him...so much I can't stand it at times. I just don't know how he could treat me like that if he really feels the same way...and it makes me worry that he doesn't really love me like that, and..."

"Hey there..." I said, pulling him into a hug. "Everything will be ok, Jeffy," I said softly. "You'll see." At least, I sure as hell hoped it would. I had to get things patched up between them before tonight, or it would be a real awkward situation at my birthday party.

"So...you're still coming tonight, right?" I asked, searching desperately for a quick change of subject.

"Huh?" he asked. "Tonight?...I don't...OH! Ya, tonight! Duh, Ricky...like I would miss your birthday party! Oh man, I can't believe you're actually turning sixteen. That's like, so grown up, dude...and you don't even shave yet..." he giggled softly to himself.

No, not yet I grinned to myself...but maybe soon. I leaned over and gave him a gentle nudge on the shoulder, as I basked in the glow of his smile. It always makes me feel good when he smiles at me like that.

As I came out of my fifth period class, I joined the masses of flowing students and headed upstream towards the student parking lot to meet Lance. Coming around the corner of the hallway, I spotted Lance about fifty yards downstream. He flashed his trademark smile when he saw me, and struggled through the flow to get to where I stood waiting for him to catch up.

"Hey there Birthday Boy, ya ready to go?" he asked with a grin.

"Yup," I said, as I took his hand in mine, and we waded back into the flow of students and pushed our way upstream again. "I wanna be sure we get there a little early, because I need to talk to Brendan. Jeffy was real upset at lunch today, because Bren kinda ignored him this morning when they bumped into each other between classes. I know he just wants to keep their relationship as quiet as possible, but its killing Jeffy. When Jeff does something, he always jumps in with both feet. He's gonna go crazy if they have to pretend not to know each other all day long at school," I said.

"One other thing that worries me, Lancer, is Brendan. I just get this feeling in my gut that he's maybe bisexual or something. I just don't think he's 100% gay. I'm a little worried, babe. Jeff is a very fragile person. Brendan could totally devastate him if he did something stupid. But, I already told him that if he does anything to hurt Jeffy, he's gonna have to deal with me," I growled to myself.

"Take it easy there, Tiger," Lance chuckled. "Just talk to him, and let him know how Jeff is feeling. I think he'll feel bad enough about it on his own. I reckon they'll make up and be back on track before ya know it. I've seen the way he looks at Jeff when they're together at my house," he said, "and it reminds me exactly of how I feel when I look at you, Ricky."

Jeez. I just had to sit there and give him one of my best `I love you' smiles. No matter what we're talking about, Lance always manages to work one of his little cupid arrows into the conversation; the ones that hit me right in the center of my heart. God, I love it when he does that.

We hopped into Lance's car, and headed for the golf course/driving range to meet the team for practice. I just sat back and enjoyed the warm glow in my heart, as Lance told me about how all the preparations and stuff for the party were taken care of. At my request, we had planned a small gathering at Lance's house, which his parents were more than happy to host. The only people I wanted to invite were the guys from the team (except Brent, of course...duh), my mom, Mr. Bill, Coach C, and their brothers Tim & Tom. Lance and I had been to Timmy & Tommy's home for dinner a couple times at their request (I think it was Tom's way of inconspicuously continuing my `therapy' sessions, and that was ok with me...), and we had all become good friends. Lance's family also had a wonderful tradition for birthdays: they didn't normally exchange gifts (thank god! I always feel so awkward getting gifts from people who are only doing it out of some sense of obligation, but have no idea what to give me, and then I have to sit there and act thankful for some stupid gift I don't need or like that they didn't really want to give me in the first place...ya, I'm a lotta fun at Christmas too, as you might have guessed), but the birthday person did get to choose the guests and the menu for dinner that night. Kinda like the champion's dinner before the Master's golf tournament, where last years winner decides the menu. It was cool. I'm sure they're all gonna love my choice, I smiled to myself.

We pulled into the parking lot at the same time Greg and Brendan Wilson were just getting out of Greg's car.

"Hey Bren," I called over, "Wait a sec...we need to talk."

"I reckon you had a pretty good time tonight, aye Ricky?" Lance asked, wrapping me into a hug from behind as we reached his bedroom to begin getting ready for bed. The last guests from my party had left only a few minutes ago, but we needed to go to bed sooner than usual because we wanted to get an early start on our trip tomorrow. Lance had even packed his car earlier this afternoon. "I don't think I've ever seen you so happy, babe. Your face was just glowing all night. I love it when your eyes sparkle like that. It just makes me wanna eat you up, right on the spot," he smiled.

"It was really cool, Lancer. Everyone had a great time. I hope they all liked the food...I'm sure most of `em had never tried a Chile Relleno burrito before, hah! But, thank you so much for doing that for me. Ya know, I've never really had a party like that before...just for me, with all the people I care about sitting around having fun. It was special, real special to me. Thanks, babe," I said, feeling a little moisture in the corner of my eye, as I leaned my head against his shoulder while we sat together on the edge of his bed.

"You know I would do anything in the world to make you happy, Tiger," he smiled.

"Ya," I sighed gratefully. "I'm sure glad Jeff and Brendan found time to make up before the party," I said, sitting back upright. "He was sooo happy tonight; I don't think his feet ever touched the floor. I don't know exactly what he did, but Brendan sure musta done a good job apologizing to him. Jeffy told me Brendan spent a lot of time on his knees this afternoon, making it up to him," I smirked, giving Lance a knowing look. "And Jeff really hit it off with your dad, too. He told me that Andrew invited him to come out to the campus and visit him in his lab. I think Jeffy just about came in his pants when he told me that," I laughed.

Lance stood, went over to his dresser, and pulled a small box out of the top drawer. As he turned to me, his face got very serious for a moment. "Ricky, I do have one more thing I need to do tonight. This is for you...an early birthday present, I guess you could call it. But, before you open it, I want you to listen to what I have to tell you first, ok?"

I nodded solemnly.

Lance seemed a little lost for words to start. "Well, Ricky...I, uh...I haven't really rehearsed this little speech, but I have been thinking about it for a very long time. There's just so much I want to say--need to say, really; it's a little hard to put it into words, but I'll try my best," he said.

He continued to pace across his bedroom floor in front of me as I sat on the edge of his bed, holding the small nicely wrapped box in my lap. "I just want you to know how much you mean to me, Ricky. I know sometimes you feel like you're just lucky to be here, that you sometimes think you `don't deserve' to be with me. But, you couldn't be farther from the truth, babe," he said, giving me his most heartfelt look. "You do deserve to be with me...Bloody hell, I couldn't live without you, Ricky! You just have no idea," he sighed. "I don't want you to ever think you are somehow unworthy, or unequal in our relationship; and I don't want you to ever doubt my commitment to you."

"Your love and your sexy little smile are what make me who I am every day. You are my life, my happiness. It's your love that gives me the strength in my heart and in my head to do what I need to do every day...on the golf course, and everywhere else. I don't want you to ever think that you need me or rely on me one tiny little bit more than I need you, because it's just simply not true."

He got down on his knees in front of me, and took my hands in his. "Ricky, I love you more than anything in the world. You are truly my other half. I promise myself to you for the rest of my life. I promise to love you, to respect you, and to do anything in my power to make you happy."

He looked me straight in the eyes, and I could see the depth of his love for me in his warm gaze. Tears were running freely down his face, but he was smiling...the smile that he saves only for me. "Ricky, will you have me for your partner in life? You know, as in forever? `Till death do us part? That kinda thing?...Please?"

I just sat there with my mouth hanging slightly open, totally speechless. I was so overwhelmed by his love for me; I couldn't even think of a word to say.

"You can open it now, Ricky," he said softly, as he let go of my hands.

I could hardly see anything through the tears in my own eyes, but I managed to pull off the ribbon and open the box. As I pulled off the lid, I was presented with two identical gold chains, each with a breathtaking gold ring hanging around them. I held one up in front of me, and I could see an intricate design around the band...kind of a geometric design, reminiscent of an Indian pottery pattern or something. It was sooo cool!

I raised my eyes up, and our eyes locked together for a few seconds--then I just flew across the small gap between us and grabbed him as tightly as I possibly could, as I cried my heart out on his shoulder. I must have cried for ten minutes.

Finally, remembering I hadn't said anything during this whole exchange, I lifted my head up and looked into his eyes once again. I gave him a long kiss, and then rested my forehead against his.

"Oh god, Lancer. Thank you...you know I do...yes, yes, YES! I DO!" I said ecstatically, as I let myself fall backwards on to the bed, emotionally and physically spent. Lance crawled up to where I lay, and hovered over me, propping himself up on his hands. I noticed he was now shirtless, as he gave me his trademark grin, and then leaned down and started kissing me with a building passion and urgency.

Shit! It was just way too fuckin' early in the morning to be sitting in the passenger seat of Lance's car, shivering to myself as I was waiting for the heater to kick in, and begging the traffic light to turn green so we could finally be on our way to Anza Borrego Desert State Park. It was barely light enough to tell that sunrise was actually gonna happen some time in the next hour or so. My watch said 5:15 AM. I was really tired from the party last night, but I was sooo excited about our camping trip, I couldn't sleep either. Lance put his hand on my leg while we waited for the light, and gave me a loving squeeze. I turned my head and gave him my best `way-too-goddam-early-in-the-mornin'-to-be-doin-this' smile. He tried to smile back at me as he sipped carefully from his hot coffee. Even at this time of day, my own personal ray of Australian sunshine was always shining brightly. Maybe it was just the coffee.

"Hey there sleepy-head. Why don't you lay back and sleep a little more?" he asked with a smile.

"Ya, right," I chuckled. "Who's gonna tell you where the hell to go? Besides, I can't sleep in the car...never could. Don't worry; I'll be ok after a little while. I'm just not quite the morning person you are there, Mr. Coffee."

"Ok, Ricky," he replied. He occupied himself quietly with his driving for a while.

As we passed out of town into the countryside, the houses became fewer and fewer. The scenery of this part of rural Southern California was my absolute favorite. Soon, I became so engrossed in just watching the view as it passed by, I stopped talking so I could just quietly absorb it all in. I sat there absent-mindedly fingering the chain and ring that was hanging from my neck under my shirt, and I could occasionally see Lance looking at me out of the corner of his eye as he drove, smiling to himself. I noticed myself smiling back at him out of reflex, even though it was a little out of character for me at this time of day...

Lance hadn't gotten the rings inscribed yet, although it was already paid for. He wanted us to decide together what we wanted to put in there. Hmmm...I though to myself for a moment...how about R&L forever? I chuckled to myself, as it occurred to me that would make a great license plate for Lance's car: RNL4EVR. I know! Custom license plates would make a cool Christmas present for Lance...

By 8AM we had arrived at the northwest entrance to the Park, having stopped for a fantastic breakfast at an old roadhouse along the way. I directed Lance to my favorite camping spot. I hated using the large and unruly campgrounds, which were always full of redneck families with their dirt bikes, and screaming kids, etc. If you didn't mind the lack of running water or toilets, you could camp almost anywhere in the Park. Lance followed my directions, turning off the main road at a small barely marked dirt track, which led off towards the mouth of a small canyon. About ¼ mile off the main highway the road ends, and there were some very primitive camping spots lining the circle turn around at the end of the road. I had never even seen anyone else camp here, but there were clearly signs that others had used the area before.

"You're gonna love this spot, Lance. I stayed here once on a campout with a group of docents from the plateau. It's not really on any maps, so most people don't even know what's here. The fellow who took us here the first time was named Walt, so we just call it `Walt's Canyon' now."

I jumped out of the car, grabbed my water bottle and ran around to Lance's side. I gave him a big hug, and grabbed his hand to pull him along behind me.

"Come on Lancer, you gotta see this place. It is so beautiful up here...c'mon!" I said, urging him to follow along quickly. Just past the road's end was the mouth of a small canyon. The floor of the canyon was a dry sandy streambed about ten feet wide, and the sides were carved out of the colorful rocks of the canyon walls. There were countless small shrubs, cacti, ocotillo, yucca, and desert bunchgrasses mixed among the rocky walls of the canyon. It was like the most beautiful desert garden ever planned...yet it wasn't. Just what nature had wrought for her own pleasure, I think. As we hiked up the dry wash, we encountered several places where the bedrock had been worn down to form gorgeous (usually) dry stair-stepped waterfalls carved into the stone. About halfway up the canyon, we stopped to rest. I pointed out to Lance a spot on the canyon walls where the ancient people who had once lived here had made drawings on the dark desert stone called petrographs. Silently, we sat down together holding hands, just listening to the sounds of the desert wildlife. It was warming up nicely as the sun came up high enough to penetrate most of the east-facing canyon. We both took off our shirts to enjoy the sun. I smiled as I noticed the sparkle of gold light that came off the chains hanging around both of our necks

"Isn't this place incredible, Lancer?" I asked.

"Ya, it's pretty amazing, Ricky. I don't reckon we have any place quite like this in Victoria (the Australian state where Melbourne is located, and where Lance grew up...). But what makes it really interesting to me is the local wildlife," he said with a grin, as he leaned over and started kissing my neck, just below my ear. He knows it just makes me crazy when he kisses me there...like instant boner time. As he continued kissing my neck and my shoulders, his hands caressed my chest and wandered down to my straining erection under my shorts. I reached over to unbutton Lance's shorts, and set the monster free. Before long, we were both naked except for our hiking boots and socks.

But, today I wanted to tease Lance a little bit...I wanted him to be so horny later, he would be totally receptive to my secret little plan (No, I'm not telling! You'll just have to keep reading...). So, before we added any new painting to deface the canyon walls, I gathered our clothes up in my arms, and ran laughing up the trail with my own hard-on slapping against my thighs all the way (hmmm...and not a bad feeling either!). After about a hundred yards I reached the base of the steepest dry waterfall, and I turned to watch my smiling lover trudging steadily up the trail towards me, with his massive erection swaying side to side as he walked.

"Lets just stay like this for a while, babe," I suggested with a devilish smile. "We can enjoy a little sun, and I'm sure nobody will see us. If anyone comes up here, you can hear them long before they actually reach you."

"You know me Ricky, I got no problems with that. Just don't go and burn any of your sensitive little parts there, ok?" he giggled.

I smiled wryly back at him to acknowledge his `little' joke, and handed him his clothes to carry. Then, I turned to clamber up the waterfall in front of him, making sure he got a good look from behind me. I'm sure he was really enjoying the view by then, because I could hear him groan softly to himself as he followed. As he reached the top and stood beside me, I could see he was even harder than before, and starting to leak profusely.

"C'mon babe...you gotta see this last part," I said, pulling him along the trail. After about ten more minutes of hiking, we reached the top of the canyon. As we rounded the last corner of the trail, a huge bowl shaped area came into view. The bottom of the bowl was covered with a rich green mixture of rushes, cattails, cottonwoods and fan palms. Around the edges were dense thickets of mesquite. It was one of the most spectacular desert oases I had ever seen.

"Isn't it awesome?" I asked. Lance just nodded silently, as he took in all the beauty surrounding us. I pulled him to me, so our naked chests (and other things) were pressed firmly together. I tilted my head up to him, and he responded with a gentle kiss. I hugged him tightly, as I rested my cheek against his shoulder. I could feel the monster beginning to awaken again down below, so I decided to add a little more fuel to his fire. I only had to tilt my head down a little bit, and I could just barely reach Lances nipple with my tongue. I only had to tease it for a couple seconds, and he was as hard as the rocks lining the canyon walls.

I pulled away from him, and started to put my clothes back on.

"I think I've had enough sun for now, and the bugs are a getting' little crazy right here next to the water," I explained. Lance gave me a curious look, but did the same. I was typically the one who started our sex-play, and I didn't usually stop once I got his `attention,' so to speak. I'm sure he was wondering just what I was up to. I smiled to myself, and took a drink of water.

"Wanna drink of water before we head back down, Lancer?"

We arrived back at Lance's car, and began to set up our little encampment for the weekend. It had warmed up considerably; it was now in the high 80's if not warmer--typical fall desert weather for these parts. Lance and I worked shirtless as we set up our new tent under the partial shade of a large mesquite tree, unrolled our new sleeping pads, and placed our joined sleeping bags on top. Lance had insisted on buying all this cool stuff, since he knew I loved the idea of us car-camping more in the future, and he had some money stashed away (from god knows where...) to pay for it.

Once we had everything set up, we cracked open some cold sodas and had a light lunch with cold fruit, cheese and turkey breast. After we finished eating, we both agreed it was time for a short rest. There was a light desert breeze blowing in through the open mesh of the tent's `windows', and it felt fantastic as it cooled off our sweaty bodies. I decided that it felt so good; I just stripped off the rest of my clothes and flopped down on the `bed' of sleeping bags in the nude. I smiled up at Lance as I lay there on my back, with my slightly swollen dick laying across my left hip. I had to continue my plan to keep him extra horny until tonight.

It was so peaceful and quiet all you could hear was the gentle breeze, and the occasional sound of a raven crackling overhead (if you've ever heard the sound a raven makes, you'll know what I mean...). Having gotten way too little sleep the night before, I quickly dozed off.

An hour or so later, I woke up feeling totally re-charged. I turned my head to see Lance lying on his back beside me with his hands folded behind his head (how he often sleeps...), also nude, and apparently still asleep. As is usual for him, his huge member was in a state of partial arousal as he slept. As quietly as I could, I raised myself up, and leaned over him. As I held myself up with my arms, I softly and slowly ran my tongue along the length of his shaft from the base to the top, spending a little extra time teasing the tip each time I reached the end. Soon, he was totally engorged, with his shaft pointed straight up towards his chin, and the head of his dick suspended just above his navel, dripping his pre-cum straight down into it, forming a little pool. I continued my little torture for at least five minutes before he slowly became aware of what was going on.

"Bloody hell, Ricky. What are you up to there? It feels like my wanger's gotten so bloody hard it's gonna explode any second," he groaned softly, with his eyes still closed.

I climbed up and straddled his hips, pressing our hard members together, while I kissed his chin. I continued to lightly kiss him all over his neck and his shoulders as I slowly and gently brought him down to a lower level of arousal, so we could move on to our next activity for the day.

"You ready to go for a drive, Lancer? We can see a lot of cool stuff on the way over to Borrego Springs, and I know a pretty good Mexican place where we can eat dinner. They also have a really cool visitor's center there, which is built part underground."

He looked up into my eyes, as I hovered above his face. He chuckled to himself as he stroked my hair. "Your eyes are doing that sparkling thing again...I know yer up to something, Tiger. I can always tell when your eyes do that," he smiled.

"I'm just happy, babe. Really happy. But, how could I not be, all alone here with you in such a beautiful place?"

I was able to show Lance a lot more of the incredible desert scenery in the park as we drove the road to Borrego Springs. We stopped many times along the way to explore some of the more interesting roadside attractions. We stuffed ourselves with a good Mexican dinner, and managed to get back to our camping site just as the last light was fading from the sky.

As we crawled into our tent, I pulled him into a big hug. "C'mere Aussie boy. I want to thank you for everything you've done. Today has been the best day of my life. And I'm still so blown away by your little speech last night, and the totally cool rings...oh man, I only know one other way to show you how much I love you, and how much I want to be with you forever too," I said sincerely.

I paused for a moment to savor the warmth in his eyes, as he looked at me intently. "Lancer, I want you to make love to me tonight. I want to feel us together like that. It's really what I want. I want to give myself to you...to us."

He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. "You sure you really want to babe? I couldn't stand the idea of hurting you. I mean, you've got such a tight little bum, and well, uh, you know...it is kinda big, and..."

"Don't worry. I've been preparing for this day a while now. Uh, let's just say that Jeffy's been coaching me, if you can believe that. The boy's a total sex maniac. But, I think I'm ready. I really want us to finally be joined together, babe. I mean, it's the ultimate act of love between two people. And we both agree we're kinda `engaged' now or something like that, right?"

"Ya, Ricky. I reckon we are," he smiled.

"I know you're ready for it, babe," I giggled. "I've been teasing you all day long just to be sure you were extra horny tonight."

"Oh god, Ricky...don't you know it. I've dreamed about this day for a long time. Literally...I've had dreams about how awesome it would be to make love to you, babe. But, I couldn't live with myself if it hurt you. I would never want to make you feel forced into having sex with me. That's why I always try and let you decide when you're ready for it. Bloody hell...I know I'm always ready. You are the sexiest boy I've ever seen Ricky. Most of the time, I have to fight to keep it down whenever I'm around you. Do you have any idea how sexy you are?" he smiled.

I stood up and began undressing myself. Once I was naked, I undressed Lance as well. We snuggled back down on top of the sleeping bags and held each other tightly. Lance grinned as he slid himself across my body, and stopped as he came to rest directly over me, staring intently down into my eyes. I immediately recognized the look of hunger, desire, and unending love I saw there. I'd seen it many times before, and it never failed to give me that wonderful, warm feeling in the center of my chest. It also never failed to give me an instantly and painfully hard erection. I ran my hands lightly up his arms and over his strong shoulders to stroke his back.

Lance gave me a sexy smile, and began slowly kissing me along my jaw, and down to my neck and shoulders, as I sighed once again in pleasure. He moved up and began lightly kissing and nibbling my ears. The sound of his husky breath in my ear as he continued his work made me groan out again. Lance proceeded from there to lightly kiss every little part of my face over and over again, as I lay there in ecstasy with my eyes now closed. Shortly, he moved down and began kissing and nibbling all across my chest and stomach, carefully avoiding my most sensitive places. But, I had a feeling he was saving those for last. He worked his way downward...kissing his way across my hips and all the way down my thighs to the insides of my knees, and back up again only to do the same on my other leg. Shortly, his kisses migrated all the way back up to my neck and shoulders again, where they began to increase in intensity and wetness. His tongue soon began to do that little thing that drives me totally crazy, as it traced little circles on my neck while his lips worked their own different kind of magic. Satisfied that he was finished there, he licked and kissed his way down to my nipples, and slowly began tracing little circles around them with his tongue as I gasped out in pleasure.

"God Lancer...oh god...that's so good...uunnngghhh..." I groaned.

Once he was sure he had finished there, his tongue licked its way slowly down the center of my chest, and teased the five soft little curly hairs around my navel (yes, I've counted; there are exactly five...), occasionally dipping inside just to tease me.

By now my breathing was just one long continuous gasping string of groans and moans; testifying to the intense level of arousal he was slowly driving me towards. I was beginning to thrash around wildly now on the bed beneath him, as his tongue slowly and agonizingly worked its way down through my pubic hair, and grazed slowly across my balls. Suddenly, I nearly reached my limit, and I screamed out loud as he clamped his lips completely over my hardness. My hands quickly found the back of his head, holding him firmly in place as I tried to prevent myself from emptying my load into his mouth, and I tried to remain motionless for a moment on the bed of sleeping bags to let my pending orgasm dissipate.

"Oh shit...that was real close, Lancer. I don't wanna blow too soon." I had to lie there a few moments to catch my breath, while I experienced the slow withdrawal of my almost orgasm. As my eyes fluttered open again, I could immediately see Lance's smiling face hovering inches above mine. I drew him down to me in a tight hug, and I whispered in his ear, "God, that was amazing babe. You almost made me cum so hard, I thought I was gonna pass out for a second. Oh man, I love you so much, Lancer. I still don't know what I ever did to deserve you, but I'm not complaining."

Lance gave me a cockeyed grin. "You still don't get it do you? We both deserve each other. We were meant to be together, Ricky. This is not some kind of accident...this is the way it's supposed to be. Just enjoy it, and be happy babe."

"Ok," I said, "I'm happy. I'll shut up now. But, we're not quite done here yet...not by a long shot."

As I whispered my next request into his ear, I could feel his dick stiffen in anticipation. Lance sat up, and straddled my chest. I grabbed his firm butt with both my hands and pulled him forward, as he wrapped one hand around the base of his huge, thick meat and slowly fed it all the way into my waiting mouth. He put one hand on the back of my head and gently ran his fingers through my hair, as he flexed his hips and slowly began sliding his big snake in and out of my mouth. I looked up and smiled at him with my lips wrapped around his thick shaft. As our eyes connected, he groaned and pulled himself out of my mouth.

"Nnnngghh. I think we better not do that any more, if you want me to last long enough to fuck you, babe," he sighed.

I rummaged around quickly in my bag, and handed him the lube Jeffy had given me. I turned over on my stomach, and got up on my knees, sticking my butt in the air for him while spreading my legs out wide behind me. I folded my arms over each other, and lay my head down across them...waiting for the moment.

Lance very gently and thoroughly massaged me until he thought I was finally ready. Good thing, too. I could hardly stand it any more. "Oh god, Lancer...please put it inside me..." I begged.

I won't lie...it was a little painful at first, as his head made it slowly inside me. But, once I relaxed myself, it was sheer bliss as his huge meat filled me up inside. It was the most amazing thing I had ever felt. I've never had a feeling of such sexual stimulation before that was not centered in my dick. This was different. Way different. With my direction, he slowly and gently slid his big snake in and out of me from behind, as he grabbed my hips with both hands.

"Mmmmm, oh babe, its so incredible to feel you in me."

I shuddered with pleasure each time he slowly pushed back inside. It was the most intense, sexy, erotic...just plain fuckin' awesome (no pun intended...) feeling I had ever experienced. As I could feel a really wonderful feeling slowly beginning somewhere inside me, I begged him to go faster and faster until I could feel his huge nuts slapping against my own.

"Uh...uh...uh...uh...that's it babe...a little faster...Ohhhhhh..."

I felt an orgasm rapidly building way down deep inside me, and I screamed out so loud I think it startled Lance as I violently emptied my soul on to the sleeping bags beneath me. It was by far the most incredible orgasm of my short life.

"OH GOD RICKY," Lance moaned loudly. I'm pretty sure the contractions inside my butt as I was cumming set Lance off into his own knee-buckling orgasm as he slammed into me from behind. I could literally feel his warmth as he flooded my insides. Lance's chest came to rest on my back, as his husky voice whispered his gratitude in my ear. He continued to lay gently atop my back, with his quite hard member still inside me.

"Lancer, you have no idea how good it feels to have you inside me like that. It's just too hard to describe. I feel...I dunno...I just feel `complete' with you inside me like that. It's so awesome...I can feel every inch of you inside there...I can feel your warmth...your huge dick is so hot. Wow. I never knew I could have an orgasm that wasn't like centered in my dick...but I just did, and it was WAY more intense than any other one I've had. I mean, I shot off all over the sleeping bags without even touching myself...but it was way deep inside me...the place I could feel when I came. It was unbelievable."

"Ricky, let me tell ya, its pure heaven feeling myself inside your sexy little butt. It feels like my dick was just made to be inside you, like it just belongs there. It still feels so good inside you, I haven't gone soft yet. In fact, I think he may need another go, if you're up to it," he whispered in my ear.

"I knew you were gonna be good for at least a couple good blasts," I grinned. "Let me turn over on my back, babe. I want you to kiss me while you're fucking me this time." I turned over on my back, wrapped my legs around his hips, and Lance slowly and gently began working us towards another mind-blowing orgasm together. As he slowly pumped his monster into me, it was like he was pumping life back into my spent erection. I was soon feeling an aching hardness between my legs I had never felt before. Oh, man. I think this one is gonna be even better than the first.

Hell, I might be walkin' a little funny tomorrow, but I'm gonna enjoy this night for all it's worth.

I'm not quite sure exactly which woke me up this morning: the feeling of Lance's warm breath tickling my ear, or his gently whispered singing "...happy birthday dear Ricky, happy birthday to you."

As I regained consciousness, I sighed contentedly to myself as I felt his warm body enveloping mine from behind. It was very comforting to feel his hardness nestled snugly in between the cheeks of my butt...right where it usually resided while we slept. I wiggled back, pressing my body into him in an effort to extract every last ounce of that warm cozy feeling I could get.

That done, I rolled over on my back and smiled up at him. He propped up his head on his hand, and grinned back at me. "Thanks babe. You are too sweet sometimes," I said, as ran my hand through his dark wavy hair, and pulled him down to me so I could give him a little kiss on the nose. "Just waking up like this is the best birthday present I could ask for. But last night was truly amazing...like Christmas and birthday all put together. I just don't know if its even possible for words to tell you just how much I love you, Lancer."

Wow. What a fuckin' birthday! (Pun definitely intended this time...). Sure beats the hell out of any other birthday I can remember...