How the River Feels

A gay story: How the River Feels (Before you read this story, please click on my name to go to my author’s page. There is an explanatory note that will help connect my stories. Thanks for reading! – Rob)

One – A Concert to Remember

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. – Victor Hugo

Jack sat in the dim light, reading his program for the evening’s symphony concert. His mind wandered a bit, and he wondered how long it had been since he had attended a concert like this. Maybe it was before he was married? No, he and Karen had gone to a few concerts during their first year of marriage. Then things like his job, the birth of their son, all the things that went into maintaining a comfortable middle-class life in the suburbs – well, things like concerts fell by the wayside. Romantic getaways, concerts and museums, taking a class just for the fun of it: all gone, all merged into a comfortable shade of tan or gray, the kind of life that suited Jack. Or so he thought.

He became aware of movement to his left. A latecomer took the empty seat just as the lights dimmed for the concert to begin. Jack glanced to his left and nodded to the man, who whispered, “Made it just in time.”

The conductor mounted the podium, and the music began. The strains of Verklaerte Nacht swirled around Jack and swept him away. As the passionate music swelled and ebbed, Jack found himself in another world. The tears that had often welled up since his loss ran freely down his cheeks. His heart was wrung and torn by the music, and finally given a measure of peace. As the last gentle phrases faded into silence, Jack felt a shock charge through his body. His left knee had brushed against the knee of the man to his left, and a jolt passed between them, unlike anything Jack had ever known. He looked directly at the stranger, surprised to find the man staring at him, wide-eyed with astonishment.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan pulled into the parking space, damning in his mind all the idiot drivers who had made his trip to downtown Houston a nightmare. He ran to Jones Hall and took the stairs two at a time, slipping into the auditorium just as the usher was closing the door. He quickly found his seat, whispering “Made it just in time” to the man to his right.

This concert would be a real treat for Dan. Three of his favorites were scheduled: Verklaerte Nacht, the “Prelude and Love-Death” from Tristan and Isolde, and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto #2. All three appealed to his romantic side, and he had been looking forward to this concert for some time.

As the sounds of the first piece rose and fell, Dan felt himself responding to the romantic, even erotic, nature of the music. His emotions tensed and calmed, and his body joined in. He realized his cock was swelling with desire, the need that hadn’t been released in several days.

Dan shifted in his seat, glancing to his left. A woman of the society matron type looked primly straight ahead, ignoring the peasants around her. Dan looked to his right and was stunned. The big man was staring into space, tears flowing down his cheeks, his hands gripping the arms of his seat with white knuckles. Dan noticed the gold wedding band on the left hand.

As the music began its final descent into peaceful rest, Dan shifted again in his seat, trying to discreetly adjust the erection that demanded his attention. As he moved, his right knee brushed against the stranger next to him and he felt a shock pass through his body, making his heart race and his cock throb.

What the hell was that? As the music finally died away and the applause began, Dan found himself staring wide-eyed into the face of the tearful man, their eyes speaking a silent conversation of unanswered questions.

~~~~~~~~~~

Under cover of the audience’s thunderous applause, Jack sheepishly apologized for his obvious emotional reaction to the music. “Sorry, I don’t usually get carried away like that.”

“That’s okay,” said Dan. “I’m glad to see someone who really gets involved in the music.”

Jack thought, “If I reacted like that to the first piece, the next one will be pure hell.”

However, he managed to keep some restraint on his emotions. Even so, Jack was overwhelmed by the power and passion of the music, and tears again flowed at his own sense of loss. He glanced to his left and saw the stranger looking at him with a smile and a nod.

As the “Love-Death” faded into silence, Jack wiped his eyes and looked at his feet, trying to compose himself. After the applause died down, Dan stood and held out his hand to Jack.

“Dan Olson. I hope you’re enjoying the concert.”

“Jack Middleton, and yes, I am.” Jack shook Dan’s hand, and they both felt a shock pass between them again, although they said nothing.

“Are you headed to the lobby?” asked Dan.

“Yes, I am. After you,” replied Jack.

As they made their way to the lobby, they bumped into each other a couple of times in the crowd. Both men again felt the jolt or charge pass between them each time they touched.

Finally, they managed to reach an alcove where they could escape the crush and talk without having to raise their voices.

Dan said, “I’ve really been looking forward to this concert. Some of my favorite music. Do you attend regularly?”

“No. This is my first concert in years,” said Jack. “Sorry if I seemed to get so carried away with the music.”

Dan looked at Jack and thought a moment, then said, “Would you like to go for coffee after the concert? Or do you need to get home?”

“No,” replied Jack. “No hurry to get home. The apartment is empty. I’d welcome the company, in fact.”

“Let’s do it then,” said Dan. “There’s the signal for the end of intermission. We’d better head back in. Go ahead, I’ll follow.”

Jack led the way, unaware that Dan’s eyes were fixed on his ass. The thin fabric of his slacks accentuated the movement of those perfect globes as Jack walked. Dan unconsciously registered the fact that Jack was tall, muscular, near Dan’s own age of forty-six, and had a full but neatly trimmed beard. (Dan loved facial hair.) He felt his cock stir again, demanding his attention as he returned to his seat. He managed to adjust his erection as he sat down.

The piano concerto was magnificent. The pianist was superb, and the first and third movements sparkled brilliantly. But the slow, romantic second movement pulled at Dan’s heart and body. He looked to his right and found that Jack was again in another world. His hands gripping the armrests and his tears flowing freely. Jack turned his head and returned Dan’s smile of acknowledgement of his emotional turmoil.

As the concert ended, the two men made their way through the crowd to the parking garage, occasionally bumping into each other and receiving a jolt. They found that they were parked fairly close to each other. They agreed to meet at Agora for an after-concert snack. Jack had heard of it but had never been there.

As he drove down Allen Parkway on his way to Agora, Jack wondered to himself what the hell he was doing. Meeting a total stranger for coffee? And after he had so obviously put his emotions on display? And those shocks! What was that all about?

Jack felt like an invisible whirlpool had captured him and pulled him in. But instead of fighting it, Jack came to the unexpected decision to toss caution to the winds and follow this . . . this whatever it was. No more holding back. He was going to ride this wave to wherever it took him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Two – Coffee and Conversation

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. – Maya Angelou

Dan arrived at Agora first and got a table in an out of the way corner. He wasn’t sure why he did that, but something told him that Jack was a private man. He wanted them to be able to talk freely.

And those jolts, shocks, whatever they were. Dan had never experienced anything like that in his life. He had been with plenty of men, but nothing had ever drawn him toward another man like this. Who was this mysterious man who had pulled Dan into his orbit?

And Jack’s gold wedding band mocked Dan. Dan had lived a very full sexual life, finding a man who attracted him and moving on to another after the wild sex. But this magnetic attraction that pulled him toward a man who was off limits? Dan didn’t know what to think.

Jack came into the coffee house and Dan waved him over to their table. They placed their order for coffee and pastries and then fell silent.

After a few moments, Dan said, “I hope it’s not impertinent, but doesn’t your wife enjoy a good concert?”

A look of deep pain passed over Jack’s face and Dan quickly said, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“No . . . no, it’s all right, Dan,” replied Jack. “I know my emotionalism during the concert must have confused you. You see, my wife died last year.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Jack stood silent, a statue of grief. As he stared down into the grave at Karen’s casket, his mind journeyed back to when they had first met.

It was in high school. Algebra Two. Karen captured Jack’s attention the first day of class. The friendship forged that year grew stronger each day that passed. They both decided to attend the same college, Karen studying chemistry, Jack planning on becoming an accountant.

Then disaster struck during Jack’s junior year. Both of his parents were killed in an plane crash. Being an only child, Jack had no other family, so Karen’s family took him into their hearts and home. Karen was also an only child, and the bond between Jack and Karen grew stronger, so it was only natural for them to get married after college.

They came home to Houston and settled into a quiet life. Sean, their only son, was born during their second year of marriage. Karen’s father owned Western Chemical, a small firm, but one highly respected in the field. She had worked for him for a while, but after Sean’s birth, Karen decided to stay home and raise him, finding fulfillment as a mother and wife.

Karen’s mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and didn’t make it. The loss hit them all very hard, and it was compounded a few years later when Karen’s father succumbed to heart disease. Western Chemical was privately owned, so it passed to Karen after her father’s death.

Then a few years later, Karen was diagnosed with liver cancer herself. The shock of it all, and the memory of how her mother had faced her battle, took a real toll on Karen. She was a fighter, though, but the years of chemo and radiation treatment, the ups and downs of remission and reappearance, were too much. Finally, Karen fell into a rapid decline.

Jack became a ghost of himself throughout all of this. He kept working because that was the only way to keep any sanity or stability in his life. His days became more and more a routine of waking Karen each morning to give her the required medication, getting some breakfast, leaving for work when the home care nurse arrived, calling Karen at lunch, coming home and fixing dinner, spending time with Karen and holding her as she shook with pain until she fell into a drugged sleep.

“Dad. Dad! It’s time to go. Mom isn’t hurting anymore.”

Sean’s voice pierced the fog and called Jack to the present, and he realized that his journey through his life with Karen had taken only a few moments. He shook his head to clear the mental haze and hugged Sean. He realized that he needed to hold himself together for his family. Jack turned and hugged Hannah, Sean’s wife. He knelt and hugged his twin four-year-old grandsons, Cody and Connor. Then he took the hardest steps of his life, away from his lost wife, away from all he had known, into the void of loneliness.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan sat silent, amazed that this handsome man, a man he had just met, had trusted him enough to unburden himself of this story of pain and loss.

Jack also sat silent, his head sunk to his chest and his hands on the table where the coffee and pastries were barely touched. Absently, he touched his wedding ring, caressing it in memory of a life that was gone.

Impulsively, Dan laid his hands on Jack’s hands and asked, “How did you get from that time of pain to sitting in Jones Hall at a Houston Symphony concert?”

Jack gripped Dan’s hands and looked into Dan’s eyes. He saw tears there as Dan entered into Jack’s own sorrow. And there was a fire burning in the depths, something that drew Jack and made his heart beat a bit faster. He said, “It was my son, Sean, who got me out again. He said I had to start living again.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Karen died in January, and as Jack was entering the busiest time of year for accountants, he was able to bury himself in his work. Working with numbers was so much easier than working with people. He continued to see Sean and his family regularly, but even with them he was more distant and aloof.

Jack sold his home and moved into an apartment in Katy. Anything to get away from the memories that haunted him in that house. His life became a routine of work and visits with his family. But Sean and Hannah were becoming more and more concerned about the father they loved so much. Even his grandsons seemed to sense that something was wrong with Grandpa. But Jack repeatedly assured them that he was doing fine. He knew he was lying to himself as much as to them.

A year passed, and Jack marked the anniversary of Karen’s death by drowning himself in his work. Day by dreary day, Jack sank deeper into a life of denial.

One hot June evening, he was surprised by a knock on the door. He opened it to find Sean standing there with an unreadable expression.

“Dad, we need to talk.”

They sat across from each other at the dining table, Jack expectant and Sean struggling to begin.

“Dad, Hannah and I are so worried about you. All you do is work and visit us, but when you’re with us, you’re not really there. Even the boys are asking questions about you.”

“Sean, I know you mean well,” said Jack, “but I’m okay, I’m doing fine. I’ll be all right.”

“But Dad, you need to start living again,” said Sean. “You’re only forty-eight and you have a lot of years ahead of you, years that can be real good for you. Besides,” Sean blushed and continued, “I know that you and Mom had a deep physical love. Don’t you miss that? Hell, I’m all nervous and worked up if I’m away from Hannah for a few days with work.”

Jack was shocked. “Sean! How do you know what went on between me and your mother?”

“Well, let’s just say that you were loud and the walls in the house were thin.” Sean was grinning now. “I’m the same way. I think I’ve scared the boys a couple of times.”

Now Jack was smiling himself, partly at the revelation of Sean’s knowledge, partly in remembrance of the passionate lovemaking with Karen.

“Dad, at least try to get out more and do things. You can’t just keep on barely existing.”

Jack was silent for a moment. “Okay, Sean, I’ll think about it. But I can only promise baby steps.”

~~~~~~~~~~

“So, the first baby step I took, Dan, was to get season tickets for the symphony. It was someplace I could be with people and still be by myself at the same time.”

“And here I am, messing that up for you,” said Dan. He started to pull his hands away, but Jack just gripped them tighter than ever.

“Dan, I don’t know why I told you all of this, but I felt like it was right. Damn it! I know it’s right! This is the first time in years that I haven’t felt like I was sinking into quicksand. And I know that you’ve been feeling these weird shocks or jolts or sparks or whatever they are whenever we’ve touched. I don’t know what’s going on, but I have to follow it to its end.”

“Jack, Jack, I know you’ve started to feel your heart beating again, and I’m glad you feel yourself coming alive. But there’s something you need to know about me. I’m . . . I’m gay.”

Jack was silent for a few moments, then totally amazed them both when he said, “So what?”

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan stormed out of the house.

“I don’t need your fucking money! I don’t need your fucking approval! And I sure as hell don’t fucking need you!”

It was the culmination of years of bitterness and resentment against his father. All the anger and hurt that Dan had internalized finally exploded.

All had been well in Dan’s family when he was a child. Having no siblings, Dan was the center of loving attention from both of his parents. He was a bright student, physically active, especially in swimming, and busy with a circle of neighborhood and school friends.

Then his mother was killed in a car wreck when Dan was nine years old. She had been his angel, his main source of love and affection. His dad fell apart, drowning his grief in his work and in alcohol. He became more and more detached from Dan’s life, eventually becoming verbally and even physically abusive. Dan became an expert at avoiding his father. When he did have to be with his dad, such as at meals, Dan felt lucky if it all happened in silence.

In high school, Dan realized that he was much more interested in the other boys on the swim team than in the cheerleaders. Even though this existed only as a fantasy world for him, Dan finally came to the conclusion that he was gay. It seemed perfectly natural to him, but from some comments he picked up on from his dad, he knew this had to be a carefully guarded secret. Dan made it through high school a virgin, but he knew who he was.

Once he graduated (his dad skipped the ceremony) as valedictorian, Dan headed off to college on a full academic and athletic scholarship. He majored in petroleum engineering, and his swim practices and meets, as well as his academic load, keep him very busy. He found in that activity the ability to forget about his dad. Eventually, even his mother faded from view, all dissolving into a vague sense of loss and sadness.

College life gave Dan freedoms that he had never known, and he took full advantage of it to explore his burgeoning sexuality. His body was firm and muscular, with a swimmer’s broad shoulders, narrow waist, and strong legs. And his nine inches of uncut cock couldn’t easily be kept hidden. When Dan walked across campus, he turned heads, male and female alike. He filled out his jeans fully, front and back.

Dan’s explorations took him to adult video stores and gay bath houses. His cock was in demand, and he had many encounters with men eager to suck his cock or be fucked by such a magnificent piece of manhood. Dan became an expert cocksucker himself, and he gave full rein to his sexual appetite.

When he went home during holidays, he spent his time alone, avoiding his father as much as possible. The drunken verbal abuse from his dad was hard to take, but Dan tried to go his own way. His house became a place to sleep and occasionally eat. It was no longer a real home.

During spring break of his junior year, Dan was back in Houston, still exploring sexually. He walked out of an adult video arcade one day, just having had his cock sucked off by an expert, when he ran into his father, just coming out of a bar, obviously drunk.

“Well, Dan, I see you’re keeping busy. Are you getting any pussy lately?” his father slurred with a malicious smirk.

Embarrassed by the public setting, Dan said quietly, “Dad, this isn’t the time or place for this. I’ll talk to you at home, when you’re sober.”

“You’d better not be playing with other men’s dicks, boy! I won’t have that!” shouted his dad.

Dan just walked away, humiliated and angry.

When he got home, he shut himself in his bedroom, trying to calm down and deal with his anger and frustration. Something had to give. He had to find a way to break free from the abuse. Finally, he headed downstairs to go out for a walk to cool off, hoping his father wouldn’t even remember the drunken confrontation that afternoon.

Preoccupied with his thoughts, Dan almost ran into his dad on the landing of the staircase. The two men glared into each other’s eyes in silence, then Dan started to push past his father.

“Stop!” his dad barked. “What happened today in that video store?”

Dan looked down silently, feeling the anger rising. Then his pride made him strong.

“Dad, I was in there getting my cock sucked off. I like men, I like sucking and fucking with other men. I’m gay, Dad, that’s who I am. I’ve known it for a long time, and if you had given me the time of day after Mom died, I would have told you.”

Silence.

Then, “You have three hours to get out of this house. I won’t have some faggot living under my roof. I’m going out, and you had better be gone when I get back. We’re through!”

Dan was shocked beyond belief. Then he exploded.

“I don’t need your fucking money! I don’t need your fucking approval! And I sure as hell don’t fucking need you!”

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan fell silent. As he told Jack his story, he felt a weight descend on him. He was surprised that Jack hadn’t let go of his hands; in fact, Jack was rubbing his thumbs on the backs of Dan’s hands, almost a caress. He looked up and into Jack’s eyes. He saw there caring and compassion, things he hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

“So, Dan, how did you survive what happened to you?” asked Jack earnestly.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan grabbed a few trash bags and began stuffing all his belongings in them. Most of his possessions were at his college apartment. He owned his car, and he was on a full scholarship that included room and board, so he really didn’t “fucking need” anything from his father.

Except that this cruel rejection left a hole in his heart.

Dan buried his grief and anger in his studies and in his sex life. Always a good student, his academic career took off, even with an exceptionally heavy course load. He consistently made the Dean’s List, receiving praise and high recommendations from his professors. Finally, he graduated summa cum laude and soon had several jobs offers. He took a position with Apex Oil in Houston.

And his sex life skyrocketed. Always popular with many of the men on campus, his reputation spread. After all, who could resist nine inches of hard cock in a mouth or ass? Dan could count on several hookups each week, and his balls were always eagerly drained by other horny men.

But Dan always was a “fuck ’em and move on” kind of man. Never a commitment, just shoot and leave. His body was satisfied, but his heart was scarred. He thought the only way to not be hurt again was to never open his heart to anyone.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jack still held Dan’s hands, and the spark between them had turned into a current. Something was drawing them together, like twin stars that orbit around each other. He didn’t understand it, didn’t know where this was leading him, but something inevitable was happening.

“What happened between college and now, Dan?” asked Jack. “What brought you to tonight?”

Dan felt his hands trembling as he looked into Jack’s eyes. The honest concern he saw there changed something inside him. In a flash, he began to see his whole life in a different light. Where there had been only hardness and bitterness, he saw the first stirrings of life, like a seed starting to grow. He found the courage to continue his tale.

~~~~~~~~~~

As Dan rose through his company, eventually reaching a level where he was a trusted supervisor and contract negotiator, he found himself living a life of luxury and adventure. He traveled worldwide, carrying out assignments successfully. And he loved the sense of newness as he saw famous places, ate new foods, went to concerts and visited museums, and experienced other cultures.

And his sex life was one of constant activity. He loved the anonymous hookups at bath houses and video arcades. Dan loved the feeling of an unseen mouth on his cock and balls through a glory hole. He relished parading naked around a bath house, knowing that all eyes were on him as his hard cock displayed his sexual prowess. He engaged in threesomes, full out orgies, gay sailing cruises. His cock was always busy. In the years between college and age forty-six, he had had so many sexual encounters, perhaps in the thousands, that he should have felt completely satisfied. His body was, but his heart knew better, even though he buried it.

The searing pain of being rejected by his father gradually subsided into a dull ache, one he could usually ignore. Even his grief over his mother’s death receded into the depths of his mind. Day by day, he lived as if he was on top of the world, as if he had it all. And to all outward appearances, he did have it all. Wealthy, successful, handsome, healthy, and sexy beyond belief, he should have been content. Most of the time, he did live as if he was happy and fulfilled. Every now and then, he would wake in the middle of the night with the weight of a sense of sadness. But even that became less frequent as he got older.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan fell silent again, and he felt the current that connected him to Jack.

“Dan,” said Jack quietly, “I haven’t really been touched by anyone for a year and a half. I’ve been a sexual hermit . . . but I think I’m about to cum.”

From the moment their hands had joined, Jack’s cock had begun to harden. Absorbed in telling his story, and then being drawn in by Dan’s narrative, he hadn’t noticed his growing erection. But his cock had become insistent, and his precum made a growing spot on his pants.

Dan became aware of his own hardness. He started to pull his hands away, but Jack held him like a vise. They both began breathing harder and kept their eyes locked on each other’s eyes. The fire burning there increased in intensity as they both grew closer to the moment of exquisite climax.

Jack came first with a quiet groan. He felt his semen gush out of his cock, covering himself with his release. His whole body shook, and he clung to Dan’s hands as if he was drawing life through them.

Dan felt his body tense and then let go as his cock exploded. He had never cum like this, from only the touch of another man’s hands. His semen soaked his underwear and pants, and his hands trembled with his awareness of Jack. What was it about Jack that had raised his desire to such a pitch that he could have such a shattering orgasm without even touching himself?

As they both came down from the mountain of their orgasms and began to relax and breathe normally again, they kept their hands together. Finally, Jack said, “Dan, I don’t understand what just happened. I know I want to see you again, but I need some time to process this.”

“Go ahead and take your time,” said Dan, “but please don’t let it be a long time. I’m confused myself. I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

They exchanged cell numbers and began to stand to leave the restaurant. They suddenly stopped, looking aghast into each other’s faces, and then they sat down, quietly laughing. Being mid-September in Houston, they had both shed their suit jackets before they came into the coffee house. How were they going to get out without drawing attention to the very obvious large wet stains on the fronts of their pants?

Finally, Dan said, “Let’s just go, and screw anyone who has a problem with this.”

They rose and went to the counter to pay, ignoring the smiles and raised eyebrows of other customers who saw the very plain evidence of their pleasure.

~~~~~~~~~~

Three – Restless Night

Colpo di fulmine. The thunderbolt, as Italians call it. When love strikes someone like lightning, so powerful and intense it can’t be denied. It’s beautiful and messy, cracking a chest open and spilling their soul out for the world to see. It turns a person inside out, and there’s no going back from it. Once the thunderbolt hits, your life is irrevocably changed. – J. M. Darhower

Jack had a difficult time driving home. His world had been turned upside down and he was spinning in a mental and emotional tornado that whipped him round and round.

Dan had seized him and turned him inside out. Never had Jack been sexual with another man, had never had even the slightest inclination to do so. But merely from the touch of Dan’s hands on his own, Jack had been driven to an explosive orgasm that had wracked his whole body.

And how had Jack been so foolish to share his most secret pain with a total stranger? But it had felt so right, so natural. Dan’s reaction to Jack’s story had been so full of caring and kindness, even entering into Jack’s grief so deeply.

As he drove down the Westpark Tollway to his apartment in Katy, Jack had a hard time focusing on the road. He managed to get home safely, but still the maelstrom of his emotions pulled him this way and that.

Jack stripped and lay naked on his bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to make sense of what had happened to him. His reaction to Dan was so totally unexpected that Jack had no idea where it had come from.

He had never had any desire for sex with another man, had even been somewhat repulsed by the idea of sex between men. But as he had related his story of grief and loss, somehow the burden had been lightened. He felt his own heart stir and expand with a sense of hope. The curtain of darkness that had fallen on him over the past several years began to lift.

A memory rose unbidden from the depths of his mind, a memory that he had repressed in his pain.

He was in Karen’s hospital room the night she left him alone. Karen was asleep, breathing feebly. Her face was worn but still beautiful despite her suffering.

Five years of ups and downs, hopes raised and dashed, had worn him out, and he looked at Karen with an empty heart. He looked at the monitors that showed him the truth that this was the end. Jack became aware that Karen had opened her eyes and was looking at him. He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned close as she whispered weakly to him.

“Jack, you have to let me go.”

Acceptance finally became reality.

“I know,” murmured Jack, and Karen’s face became radiant. Jack climbed onto the bed and held her close, struggling against the wires and tubes that encumbered her. He kissed her lips and looked into her eyes, filled equally with love and pain.

“Jack, promise me one thing.”

“Anything for you, Karen.”

“Live passionately, Jack. Live passionately.”

Jack nodded, unable to speak. Karen gave him one more loving smile, and then she was gone.

As this memory overtook Jack, his heart broke at last, and he finally, truly, grieved for his dead wife. He turned onto his stomach and buried his face in the pillows. Jack sobbed for hours, until his exhausted body took control and sent him into the blessed oblivion of sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dazed, Dan drove home to his luxury apartment in Uptown, near the Galleria. The miles from downtown passed in a blur. Nothing was steady. The foundations of Dan’s life had been upended and he felt he was on a restless sea. He rode the elevator to the seventeenth floor and went into his apartment as if in a trance.

They say people see their lives in a flash when in great danger. Dan’s life passed before his inner eyes so fast that it took his breath away. But this wasn’t danger. Or was it?

Dan stripped and lay naked on his bed in the dark, searching for answers. His hedonistic lifestyle now seemed to him cheap and squalid. Not that indulging his sexual appetite was wrong. But he had always given only his body, never his heart. Dan now looked at his life as empty and tragic.

But then he met Jack. Feelings Dan had never known now consumed him. Was love at first sight a real thing? He had always dismissed the idea, but now he wasn’t so sure.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, Dan’s thoughts wandered through his life and rested on a memory of his mother. He had just passed his ninth birthday and was in his bedroom doing his homework. Even in fourth grade, he put his schoolwork first.

“Danny, it’s nearly time for supper. Are you about done, my beautiful boy?”

Dan glanced up from his work with a big smile. He loved it when his mom called him her beautiful boy. Knowing he was cherished filled him with gladness and joy. “Only three more math problems, Mom. I got a late start after swim team practice today.”

‘I’m glad you like school, Danny, and I’m glad you’re a busy boy with your swimming and other activities. But please remember that people are more important than things or activities.”

Young Danny looked up at his mother and smiled.

Grown Dan also smiled along with his younger self. Then his heart broke. Heartrending sobs poured from him as the shell he had carefully crafted around himself shattered. He grieved for his mother. He grieved for the lost relationship with his father. And he grieved for a life that appeared so full but was really so empty. It was a sad thing to finally realize at age forty-six that he had been an orphan.

As the sorrow and pain poured out, Dan began to see a new life ahead.

Jack.

He knew Jack was as confused as he was. But a glimmer of hope appeared. He began to yearn for a life that was settled and grounded in love. Commitment to one man. Was that man Jack?

Only time would tell, but Dan hoped that Jack would respond to him and open the door to a new life. Finally finding some calmness in his mind, Dan at last fell asleep. Jack filled his dreams. Not sexual dreams, but dreams of walking hand in hand, talking quietly over a meal, just living day by day.

~~~~~~~~~~

Four – First Date

At first dreams seem impossible, then improbable, then inevitable. – Christopher Reeve

Jack woke, groggy and disoriented. His sleepy mind was confused as he sat up in bed, shaking his head. He met a man at the concert last night, they went for coffee, he felt an unexpected attraction beginning. He couldn’t decide if it was a dream. All the pieces were disorganized and disjointed. He looked at the clock. It was after three in the afternoon. He had slept for more than ten hours.

Then he saw his underwear on the floor, stained and crusted with his semen.

Everything snapped into place as he remembered his earth-shattering orgasm. Dan! Something about the man drew him inevitably closer, but part of him still resisted.

Jack had been a faithful husband to Karen, never even giving a thought to another woman. She was gone, but what happened last night felt almost like a betrayal. It seemed inconceivable to find a sexual attraction to another man, and all his mental and emotional habits rebelled at the thought. But then he recoiled in horror at the thought of life-long loneliness, an empty abyss of nothingness as he lived his days in darkness and despair.

But with a man?

Jack’s mind twisted every which way. Confusing thoughts chased through his brain. But every time he remembered Dan’s tear-filled eyes as Jack expressed his deep anguish of loss and loneliness, everything began to calm and relax. He found that in the center of this wild vortex that whipped him around, there was a place of peace. And it was in the person of a man: Dan. Was love at first sight possible? He hadn’t thought so, but now he became a believer.

Finally, Jack got out of bed, tossed his clothes into the hamper and started the shower. As he waited for the water to warm up, he looked in the mirror at himself, taking inventory. His face still looked younger than his forty-eight years, although there was a bit of gray in his beard and at his temples. Not too bad, he thought, not realizing how many heads, male and female, he had turned over the years. His muscular, hairy chest expanded as he took a deep breath. He ran his big hands over his torso, stopping at his waist, feeling the bit of love handles there. Time to get back into my gym routine, he thought. He turned and looked over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of his butt. Pretty decent, he thought, not realizing that his ass was lethal.

Jack got into the shower, soaped up, and began rubbing his hands all over his strong body. He pulled at his nipples, tugged on his balls, groped his butt, reacquainting himself with his own body, feeling needs that had been neglected for so long, remembering how good it felt to be a man.

Finally, he began stroking his cock to its full eight inches of hardness. Jack’s hips began to thrust forward as he moved closer to his orgasm. At last, with a load moan, his cock erupted, painting the shower walls with six, seven, eight ropes of his cum. He writhed in pleasure, feeling the glorious sensation of celebrating his manhood. The aftershocks of his orgasm made Jack spasm as he slowed his stroking of his dick and his breathing returned to normal.

He was still half hard and a bit confused, so he tried thinking of naked men in general, their hard bodies and stiff cocks. Nothing. But then he thought of Dan. Dan’s compassionate eyes, his handsome face, his hands touching Jack’s hands. Instant erection. As he stroked himself, Jack began to imagine Dan naked, Dan hard, Dan kneeling and taking Jack’s cock into his mouth, Dan’s hands caressing his balls, Dan sucking harder.

Jack cried out as his cock exploded again, his cum hitting the shower walls and running over his hand. He hadn’t cum twice this close together since he was a teenager. Then Jack did something he had never done before. He tasted his own semen. It was unusual, different, but he found he liked it.

Rather perplexed about his smooth acceptance of this unexpected side of his sexuality, Jack got out of the shower and dried off. He walked into his bedroom, his satisfied cock swinging left and right over his huge balls. He pulled on some shorts and a t-shirt, then looked at his phone.

A text message. From Dan.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan woke, feeling strangely refreshed and energetic. His mind wasn’t alert yet, but his body felt young and alive. Bits and pieces of his time with Jack last night ran around his brain but refused to become orderly memories.

He sprang from bed and stepped on his underwear, feeling the dried semen on the fabric. Everything became instantly clear in his mind. He had met Jack at the concert, gone for coffee afterwards, heard a moving tale of grief and loss, and shared his own story of pain and a broken heart.

And then there had been that tremendous orgasm that had completely drained his body.

But even more, every time Dan thought of Jack, everything confusing in his life settled down and became understandable. The mental and emotional storms of his life found a center of peace: Jack. Dan didn’t know what the next steps would be, but he was determined to pursue this new adventure wholeheartedly.

Dan went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. His strong swimmer’s build had been maintained with regular gym workouts and lap swimming. His hairy chest was strong, with large, sensitive nipples. His face was clean-shaven with stubble that added a bit of rakishness to his good looks. He felt his body and finally stopped at his cock, which was beginning to awake under this personal inspection.

He got in the shower and began to lather up and explore his body as he washed. Pretty soon his was fingering his asshole and stroking his cock. As his sexual arousal mounted, he began to think about Jack.

Suddenly, everything came to a halt. His cock deflated and he leaned against the shower wall, breathing heavily.

The memory of Jack’s face, handsome though lined with grief, as he opened his heart to Dan, made his arousal seem cheap and tawdry. He was ashamed of himself, and he decided that he was not going to make Jack the subject of a quick tug and shoot. Jack was worthy of more than that. If Dan wanted to pursue Jack, his mind was going to stay focused. He knew that if Jack responded, the sex would be mind-blowing – eventually.

So, what to do now? Well, why not a dinner date? Dan knew of a romantic Italian restaurant not far from his office in the Energy Corridor. He had often taken clients there for lunch, and he knew the manager would be able to arrange for a table in a more private, out of the way corner. He called the restaurant and made the reservation.

Then he texted Jack.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Hi, Jack, Dan here.”

“Hi, Dan.”

“Did you sleep well?”

“Miserably, but I finally got some sleep. Just got up.”

“I slept like a baby.”

“Good for you.”

“I was hoping you might want to meet this evening for dinner.”

“I really wanted to take some more time to process all this.”

“Oh. :(”

“But I think the sooner we meet, the better. I’m still confused.”

“Hot damn! 🙂 How about 8 this evening?”

“Later than I usually eat, but okay!”

“Is Italian okay?”

“Love it.”

“Great! I’ll text the restaurant address. See you at 8!”

“Okay. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Dan looked up the restaurant address and sent it to Jack. As he put down his phone, he realized that he was trembling with nervousness and had almost stopped breathing. Why did Jack have this effect on him?

Part of it was that Dan was finally opening his soul to someone, and he was fearful of rejection. His heart was on the line, and the chance of having it crushed was a terrifying thing. But he somehow knew that his heart was safe with Jack.

Dan pottered around his apartment to kill time until he needed to get ready to meet Jack. Finally, he shaved and showered and began to dress. He decided on black slacks that cupped his butt and allowed his generous endowment to be in evidence in his crotch. A blue polo that allowed some chest hair to peek out where the top button was left open.

Dan looked in the mirror and saw a man who was confident, in charge, on top of the world. He also saw a man who was beginning to tremble like a teenaged boy on his first date.

“Come on, Dan, get your act together!” he told himself. “You don’t want to look like a fool in front of Jack!”

Finally, his breathing calmed down and he regained some composure.

“Okay, let’s go!”

~~~~~~~~~~

Jack started getting dressed for dinner. He tried on an outfit, then tossed it aside is dissatisfaction, then pulled something else from his closet. A suit and tie? Too formal. Jeans and a polo? Too casual. Black slacks, white shirt, and tie? Too CPA-ish. Finally, he settled on dark gray slacks that fitted his strong legs and butt very well. A nice blue t-shirt that hugged his full chest. A black sport jacket over it all, feeling his strong arms stretch the sleeves. He noticed with satisfaction that the pants gave him a nice bulge in his crotch.

“Sheesh! I’m not trying to seduce him!” He said to himself. “Or am I?”

One last look in the mirror to make sure his hair and beard were tidy, then out the door, into the next leg of his new adventure.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan arrived at the restaurant first. The manager had found a perfect table in a dim corner. There were even candles and a rose!

Then Dan began to sweat. What if this was too forward? What if he was assuming too much about Jack? What if . . .? He began to panic. Maybe he could call Jack and back out. No, that was too rude and stupid. Just as these thoughts were beginning to bring on a meltdown, Jack walked into the restaurant.

Suddenly, Dan was calm. This dangerously handsome man walking toward him should have made him panic and run away. Instead, he was relaxed and self-assured. Whatever it was about Jack that did this to him, Dan found that his world suddenly balanced when he saw Jack.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jack arrived at the restaurant at five before eight. He sat in his car, sweating, gripping the steering wheel, breathing hard. This was too much! Maybe he could back out, maybe he could say his car broke down, maybe . . .

Finally, he slapped himself in the face and said, “Come on, you sorry bastard, just do it!”

He got out of the car and walked unsteadily toward the door. It was all he could do to keep from falling over as he turned the handle and opened the door. He was afraid to speak, feeling his voice would crack if he did. In a hoarse whisper he told the host that he was meeting a friend. Dan must have given a good description of Jack because the host immediately led him to Dan’s table.

The moment he caught sight of Dan, everything changed. Dan seemed to have a magic spell that made Jack calm and confident. What could be more natural for two new friends than to have a quiet dinner together?

Dan stood and shook Jack’s hand. Both of them felt the electric connection again, but now it was a current, a quiet flow of attraction. Almost like a velvet lasso drawing the two men inevitably together.

They ordered their meals and sat silent for a few moments.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan spoke first. “Jack, I’m so glad you agreed to meet me for dinner. I know you wanted some time to think things through, but I hope I’m on the right track with you, and I want to move forward. To be honest, I’ve never done anything like this. But I feel good about us.”

“Dan,” said Jack, “at first, I did think I needed some time, several days, at least, to wrap my mind around this. It’s completely new to me, too, and I feel a bit lost. But I also feel good about us. Honestly, I don’t know why, though. This goes against everything I’ve thought about myself. But when I’m with you, everything is right. I may be racing off a cliff, but I’m determined to move ahead and figure this out. No more hiding myself away, no more hanging onto the past. Karen is gone, and she told me to live passionately. So I’m going at a full gallop, and here we are.”

“You know, Jack,” said Dan, “I find you very attractive, and in the past, I would have had my hands all over a man like you. And you know what you do to me. But that would be disrespectful and dishonest. What I really want is to get to know you and be a real friend. And whatever happens or doesn’t happen between us, I’ll know I’ve met a fine man.”

Jack was silent, feeling unworthy of what Dan had said. But it made sense. Get to know each other and let things go where they will.

“So, Dan, what makes you tick? What are you passionate about?” asked Jack.

“Well, you know I work for Apex Oil, and my job takes me all over the world. I’ve seen the Taj Mahal, Denali, snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef, gone on a photo safari in Kenya, even climbed around at Machu Picchu. And everywhere I go, I try to take in at least one cultural event. A concert or a museum.”

“Quite the cultured gentleman,” observed Jack.

“I’ve visited the Prado in Madrid, attended an opera at the Colon in Buenos Aires, heard the Vienna Philharmonic. I’ve seen Victoria Falls, ridden a camel in Saudi Arabia, visited Petra. But . . .” Dan faltered.

“What’s wrong, Dan?” asked Jack. “It sounds pretty amazing to me.”

“So many times, I’ve seen or heard something wonderful and turned to share it with someone special. But no one was there for me. Friends and acquaintances, to be sure. But nobody there to share my life with. Sometimes I think that with all my living I never learned how to live. Sometimes I feel like I’m half a man. . .”

Dan sat silent with his head sunken to his chest. It seemed to Jack that a light had gone out of Dan’s eyes.

“Well, Dan, maybe that’s about to change,” said Jack.

Dan looked up and saw a gleam in Jack’s eyes that stirred him and gave him hope. He sat up straight and asked, “So, Jack, what makes your heart beat? What makes you tick yourself?”

Jack thought a moment, then said, “My family. They are what I live for. I have an amazing son, Sean. He’s twenty-four and is a professional photographer, a damn good one. He married his high school sweetheart a month after they graduated. Neither one went to college, and Sean’s skills are all self-taught. He and Hannah are a great match, and they have five-year-old twin sons, Cody and Connor, who are smart and active little bugs.”

“Sounds like you have a wonderful family, Jack,” said Dan, silently wishing he had had a family like that growing up.

“They are wonderful. But lately . . .” Jack’s voice fell. “I’ve been so withdrawn that even my grandsons are wondering what’s wrong with me. I know I’ve been wrapped up in grief, but I have to move on and live again. The kind of travel you’ve done sounds wonderful to me.”

Dan hesitantly said, “Well, Jack, do you think you’ll have some time to travel in a few weeks?”

Jack answered, “You’ve given me an idea. But why did you ask about travel time?”

“Well, I’m going to London in a couple of weeks for some contract negotiations, and I have a good bit of vacation time coming to me. So, I thought that maybe you would like to join me for some travel around Europe.”

Jack sat in stunned silence. He couldn’t believe what Dan was asking. He and Karen had rarely traveled, and then only in the United States. Now that she was gone, he couldn’t imagine traveling on his own. But maybe this was the answer.

Jack’s silence worried Dan. Maybe he had been too forward, assuming too much. So, he was wonderfully surprised when Jack said, “I want to take in some shows in the West End while we’re in London, Dan.”

Dan could have danced around the room, his smile threatening to split his face in two. “You’ve got it, Jack. I’m going to be your tour guide for a month! London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, wherever you want to go.”

The conversation went on, making plans for their travels, talking about the future, getting to know each other better.

It was after midnight. They had eaten a delicious meal and then talked about almost anything that came to mind, beginning to weave their lives together. Prudence would have had them take this budding relationship more slowly, but Jack and Dan were on course with destiny. The sparks of attraction had turned into a steady stream.

At last, they left the restaurant and stood in the parking lot, still talking. Both of them had to be at work the next morning and needed to get some rest.

“Jack,” said Dan, “normally I would kiss you goodnight. But I think that would be presumptuous of me, and I don’t want to push too hard.”

“You’re right, Dan,” replied Jack. “But we’ll get there. I know it.”

Dan held out his hand for Jack to shake. But he was surprised when Jack pulled him into a bearhug. They stood there silently, their arms around each other. Both men thought, for different reasons, that it felt so good just to be held like this. And they both were aware of the hardness of desire as their cocks pressed together through their clothes.

At last, Jack released Dan, got into his car, and drove off.

Dan stood silently for a few minutes, looking up at the full moon with tears in his eyes. Then he whooped joyously, did a full cartwheel in the parking lot, jumped into his car, and raced off into the night.

~~~~~~~~~~

Five – Baby Steps, Giant Steps

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lao Tzu

Jack had come to a decision. He was going to sell Western Chemical, and he was going to quit his job. Now, to Jack the Accountant, this amounted to jumping off a bridge without measuring to see if the bungee cord was the right length. But to Jack the Man with a Dream, this was the first step to living again, living passionately.

Western Chemical had been founded and solely owned by his father-in-law, and when he died, Karen had inherited the company. Although Karen held the title of President, the company was really run by a group of five men and women. These Vice-Presidents of this and that were a sharp crew, and all Karen had to do was go to her office once a month and rubber stamp some things.

At Karen’s death, the company came to Jack. And it brought with it the burden of being a constant reminder of his loss. He did his duty, but it was a cheerless task. He liked the leaders, and they supported him both as employees and friends. But they all knew that Jack was bearing a heavy load.

Jack drove to the company headquarters and walked into the administrative offices with an uncharacteristic bounce in his step. He barged unceremoniously into the office of Jerry Davis, the Senior Vice-President. Jerry looked astonished to see Jack there, and actually with a smile on his face.

“Jerry, I’m going to cut to the chase,” said Jack. “I want to sell Western Chemical, and I want it to be quick. I have a good idea of what the company’s worth, and I’ll sell it for half that. That will keep me comfortable for the rest of my life and still leave a sizable inheritance for my son.”

Jerry was speechless. Finally, he managed to say, “Jack, have you lost your mind? This is so sudden, and I really don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes,” answered Jack. “I know you probably think my grief has finally made me go off the deep end. But I’m so sure of this. You know that this company runs very well without me. And you also know that this place has no good memories for me. I know what I’m doing, and I’d like to have it wrapped up in a month or so. Please figure it out and make it happen.”

Jerry was quiet for a couple of minutes, then said, “Okay, Jack, consider it done. I’ll meet with the other leaders today and start the ball rolling. You know, whatever has brought this about, I think you’re right. This is the first smile I’ve seen on your face since your father-in-law died. What happened?”

Jack smiled and thought about Dan. “Let’s just say I’m taking steps to live again. I’m going to Europe in a few weeks for a month or so. It’s time I closed a chapter of my life, Jerry. You five will do very well here without me.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan breezed into his office with a bounce in his step, humming quietly to himself. He didn’t notice the look of surprise on the receptionist’s face. Nor did he see the look of absolute shock on the face of his buddy Ian. He sat down at his desk, pulled out some files, and got to work on the contract he would be negotiating in London.

“All right, Dan, what the hell is going on here?”

Dan looked up to see Ian leaning against the door frame with raised eyebrows and many unspoken questions.

“What do you mean?” asked Dan. “I just came into the office and got to work. You look like you’re part of the Spanish Inquisition, Mr. Torquemada.”

“Dan, you waltzed in here, bouncing, yes bouncing down the hall. And you were humming! Who are you, and what did you do with my buddy Dan?”

Silence, then Dan came to a decision.

“Come in, close the door, sit down, and shut up,” said Dan.

Ian closed the door and sat across the desk from Dan, leaning forward on folded arms and looking expectantly at Dan.

“Ian, I’ve met someone. Someone special. I think I’m falling for him. No, I’m sure I have fallen for him. I’m in uncharted waters, Ian, and frankly, I’m scared. He hits me here,” Dan touched his chest, “he makes me feel again, Ian. I feel like I’ve fallen into deep water, and it would really help me to know you’ve got my back.”

Ian was shocked. He had known Dan for over twenty years, often traveling together on company business. They both had developed a reputation for their hedonistic lifestyles and powerful sex drives. When they traveled, they both found sexual release each night after the day’s business was done. They both were reported to be willing to stick their dicks into just about anyone willing. Except Ian was as straight as straight can be. Sometimes, they even compared notes about their sexual escapades in conversations that sounded like a porn film. Ian couldn’t believe that his randy friend was talking about commitment.

“Are you sure, buddy?” he asked. “I mean, who is it that has made you change so suddenly like this?”

“His name is Jack. Jack Middleton. That’s all I want to say for now. But, Ian, I know this is right. I’m going to London in a couple of weeks, and I’m going to use vacation leave to travel with Jack around Europe for a month or so.”

Ian paused a few moments, the said, “Well, if you’re taking yourself off the market, you’re going to break Robert’s heart.”

Dan grimaced in disgust. Robert was a twenty-something cutie who was a courier for the company. He had set his sights on Dan and was constantly flirting outrageously with a lot of innuendo. Dan usually just rolled his eyes and ignored him. But lately, the flirtation had turned into something more like stalking. Still, Dan just dismissed the subject with a snort.

“Ian, my whole life has changed. The fast living I’ve had for years now is over.”

Ian looked skeptical. “I’ll believe the old Dan is gone when I see it.”

Dan scowled. “Ian, you know the way I’ve lived for years. But I think now that I’ve missed the boat, that I’ve just been existing. Not having someone to fully share my life with. Sometimes I think that there’s a hole in me that needs to be filled. Yes, Jack turns me on in a big way. But I couldn’t even bring myself to jack off thinking about him. He’s too special, and I can’t miss this chance for happiness. I’ve been so lonely.” Dan’s voice trailed off and he sank his head onto his desk.

Ian was worried. He had never seen his friend like this. But something told him that this was real. He laid his hand on Dan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, buddy, I’m here for you. And whatever happens, I’ll always be here for you.”

Dan raised his head with a feeble smile. “Thanks, Ian, that means a lot to me.”

Ian straightened up and cleared his throat. “We’d better get our asses back to work. And don’t forget that meeting with the new client at 1:30 this afternoon!”

~~~~~~~~~~

Jack was late to his accountant’s office. His boss, Bill Landstrom, was none too happy with Jack’s tardiness and looked pretty upset when Jack came into Bill’s office.

“Bill, I know you’re upset about my being late,” said Jack. “And I know you need me to start training the new hires today. But I have bigger news. I’m quitting my job here. This is my two weeks’ notice.”

Bill was flabbergasted. “But . . . but Jack, why are you doing this to me? I need you here. You’re my best employee, and we’ve got to get the new hires trained. I’m relying on you!”

“I’m sorry, Bill, but I’ve made up my mind. You know what I’ve been through the past several years, and you’ve been a good friend through it all. I’ve never properly thanked you for that, but I’m starting a new chapter of my life. I’m selling Western Chemical, too. In fact, that’s why I was late today.”

Bill saw the inflexibility on Jack’s face and knew this was for good. But he also saw something else there: a look of hope that he hadn’t seen in Jack for many years. Bill sighed, “Oh well, Jack, I can see that you’ve made up your mind. You have my permission to leave, as if you needed that. And if you ever change your mind, you’ll always be welcome here. But may I ask, what happened to bring this about?”

Jack smiled and said, “I’d rather not talk about it now, Bill, but I know I’m doing the right thing. I’m moving on and not looking back. I’ll help with the training, and I’ll make sure I leave everything in order for you.”

They shook hands, and as he left Bill’s office, Jack began to get nervous. He still had to tell Sean about Dan!

~~~~~~~~~~

Jack pulled into Sean’s driveway and turned off the engine. He sat there, gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles, his head resting on his hands, trying to calm his racing heart. He had called Sean at lunch and asked him to stay home that evening so they could talk. Sean and Hannah spent most Monday evenings visiting her parents in Clear Lake, but Sean stayed home alone to meet with his dad.

Sean heard Jack’s arrival and walked out onto the porch, trying to look encouraging. He saw Jack sitting in his car and began to worry. There was obviously something big on Jack’s mind.

Finally, Jack got out of the car and mounted the steps to the porch. He silently hugged Sean to his heart.

“Okay, Dad, I’m ready for whatever you want to tell me.”

They went inside and sat in chairs on either side of the fireplace.

Jack began slowly. “Sean, I’ve been selfish, lost in my own pain and grief, not even thinking about how you lost your mother. I’m sorry, but I haven’t thought clearly for several years. You got me to start thinking and feeling again, and I promised baby steps. But I’ve decided to take real giant steps.”

“What do you have in mind, Dad?” asked Sean.

“I’m selling Western Chemical, quitting my job, and going to Europe for a month,” said Jack.

Sean was stunned. Had his dad’s grief finally made him go crazy? No, the man sitting across from him was plainly in his right mind, obviously a bit uncertain of the future but still in control. Sean knew his dad was not a man who made rash decisions.

“Are you sure, Dad? Is this what you really want?”

Jack nodded and smiled, and the it hit Sean.

“You’ve met someone!” Sean practically shouted as he jumped to his feet. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

Jack said nothing, but he blushed and lowered his eyes.

“Okay, Dad. Tell me. What’s her name?”

“Dan.”

“Dan? Short for Danielle?”

Jack raised his head and looked Sean straight in his eyes.

“No, Sean. His name is Dan.”

Silence.

“A man, Dad? You’re interested in another man?”

Jack began to shake… He wanted to have never seen the look on his son;’s face. He felt sick to his stomach and wanted to run from the house, run away from himself. He couldn’t speak.

Sean looked at the trembling man before him, and for the first time in his life, he saw his dad as someone fragile, someone who could be broken. Jack was Sean’s hero, his rock. He knew that if all the world collapsed around him, his dad would still be there for him.

Jack sat still, unable to move or even form a coherent thought. So, he was surprised when he finally looked up to see through his tears, Sean kneeling in front of him, crying himself as he took Jack’s hands.

“Dad, I don’t get it. I don’t pretend to understand it. But if this makes you happy, I’ll find a way to deal with it.”

“Sean, I don’t want you to just deal with it.” Jack wiped his eyes and thought a moment, then he said, “Do you remember the time we visited the Jenkins’ ranch? You wanted to see the horses up close, so you climbed the fence into the paddock. But one of the horses didn’t like strangers and charged at you. I’ve never seen anyone run so fast! You scrambled up the fence in the nick of time and threw yourself into my arms. How did you know that I would catch you?”

“I don’t know, Dad. I just knew.”

“You probably have no memory of this, you were so young. One time, I took you to the neighborhood swimming pool. I was trying to get you to jump in from the side, but you were afraid. I promised you that I would catch you. It took almost thirty minutes, but you finally jumped in, and I caught you. After that, you always trusted me. I know this is big, but I’m asking you to trust me about this. I don’t understand it myself, and I’m scared to death. But as sure as I know I love you and would never let anything pull us apart, I know that this is right. I need Dan, and I think he needs me.”

“Dad, I trust you, you know that. I guess it’s just the shock. I don’t understand this, but I understand you. It’ll just take some getting used to. . . In fact, if he hurts you, I’ll cut off his dick and use it for fish bait!”

Jack had to laugh at that. And he now knew that Sean would be all right. “He’s a great guy, Son. I know he’ll never hurt me. Don’t plan on that fishing trip any time soon!”

They both laughed and Sean hugged his dad tightly, reassuring Jack of his love.

“So, Dad, when do I get to meet Dan?”

Jack hadn’t thought that far yet. “I’m not sure, Son. I’ll set up a time to have dinner at my apartment so you two can get acquainted, maybe next Monday?”

~~~~~~~~~~

After Jack left, Sean sat and thought. His world had just been upended.

A man! His dad was interested in a man! Nothing could have prepared him for this. Sean didn’t even care about Jack quitting his job or selling Western Chemical. Those things at least made sense. But a man? Sean knew his dad had been a loyal and devoted husband to his mom, knew that Jack had been sexually straight as an arrow. And he knew his dad could be pretty rowdy in bed. What would it be li- . . . Nope! Better stop that train of thought.

Round and round went Sean’s mind. He wasn’t prejudiced. He often worked with gay men, and that didn’t bother him. One of Hannah’s brothers was gay. A gay brother-in-law didn’t bother him. But this! This hit too close to home. His dad was interested in a man!

A memory came to Sean. It had been at a family gathering a couple of years ago. Keith, Hannah’s gay brother, had said, “You know, Sean, everyone has their other half out there, somewhere. And when they meet, the looks, brains, even the sex of that person don’t matter. What matters is that the two halves are now whole.”

That made sense, but Sean was still wrestling with all this when Hannah and the boys came home to find Sean sitting in a dark living room.

“Sean!” exclaimed Hannah. “What’s the matter? Is something wrong with Dad?”

Sean called his sons over and hugged them before sending them upstairs to get ready for bed, promising to be up soon to tuck them in.

Hannah sat on Sean’s lap and cupped his face in her hands. “What’s going on, babe?”

Sean sighed. “Dad’s moving on, Hannah. He’s selling Western Chemical and quitting his job. He’s going to Europe for a month or so. . . And he’s met someone.”

“We’ll, that’s what you were hoping for, isn’t it?” Hannah said, reasonably enough.

“It’s a man, Hannah, a man. He’s interested in a man. His name is Dan. That’s all I know.”

Hannah thought for a moment, then said “Sean, who’s to say that people can’t change, that they don’t always find that they love the kind of person everyone else expects? I understand what you’re feeling, to some extent. I was the first person Keith told that he is gay. He was too terrified to tell Mom and Pop. Why do we have to define people and put labels on them? If Dan makes Dad happy, then we should be supportive. Besides, if it were a woman, don’t you think you would have some idea that Dad was replacing your mom? This way, it will never step on your memories of Mom. After all, he’s still your dad, and you’re still his son.”

Sean smiled and began to relax. Trust Hannah to cut to the heart of the matter. He kissed her gently to thank her, but she deepened the kiss with passion. Sean forgot about his father in his need for his wife. His cock swelled as he felt Hannah’s full breasts against his chest. He ground his manhood into her, feeling the heat of sexual desire growing. Finally, he broke the kiss, breathing hard.

“I’ve got to get the boys to bed,” he said. “It won’t take long, and then I’ll be with you.”

Hannah smiled seductively and squeezed Sean’s crotch as she stood up. “I’ll be ready for you.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan sat in the meeting, his mind wandering, unable to focus. He was glad he wasn’t really involved much with this new client.

As the meeting broke up, Mr. Pendergrass, his boss, called him over. “Where were you wool-gathering today, Dan? It’s apparent your mind wasn’t really with us.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Pendergrass. I’ve been distracted recently.”

His boss looked at him keenly, said, “Dan, I think you need some time off. You’ve been really busy with company business for several months now. A change will do you good.”

“Thank you, sir. In fact, I was thinking of using my vacation time after the contract negotiations in London. Do some traveling.”

“I think that’s a grand idea, Dan. Send the paperwork to my secretary and I’ll sign my approval.’

“Thank you, sir. I’ll do that today.” Dan wondered what Mr. Pendergrass would say if he knew the real reason Dan wanted the time off!

~~~~~~~~~~

Jack was nervous as he prepared dinner. It was Monday, a week after he broke his news to Sean. During that week, he and Dan had seen in other in person only once over lunch, although they had texted and talked on the phone every night. Tonight was the big night, when Sean and Dan were to meet for the first time.

Jack had told Sean more about Dan, and a bit about how they had met. He was confident in his attraction to Dan, but he still had to deal with Sean’s reaction. It was one thing for Sean to say he would support his father. It was another thing to actually meet the person. Sean loved his father deeply and was very protective of Jack.

Sean arrived early and helped by setting the table and opening a bottle of wine. The conversation was small talk, both of them obviously nervous about this meeting. Jack nearly jumped out of his skin when the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, Sean looked at Dan with a suspicious expression and stiffly shook his hand. Dan went to Jack and gave him a big bearhug. That calmed them both a little, but they were still on edge, all three of them.

“Dad, how much longer until dinner is ready? Dan and I can get better acquainted while we wait.”

“About twenty minutes,” answered Jack, trying to keep his voice steady.

Sean led Dan out onto the balcony. He was all business now. They both leaned against the railing, and Sean said, “So, Dan, I hear you have designs on my dad. Fill me in.”

Dan was startled at this abrupt beginning. “Sean, I wouldn’t call it having designs on Jack. I know about your loss of your mom, and I know how much your dad means to you. I’m not trying to take her place in your life, or come between you and your dad. When Jack and I first met, I told him that I’m gay, and if he had backed off, I would have honored that. But he didn’t.”

Sean’s expression softened a bit at that.

“I want you to know things about me from my own mouth, not from anyone else,” said Dan. He proceeded to give Sean a quick overview of his life: his broken family, the way he buried his pain in sexual promiscuity, the hedonistic lifestyle, the many men he had been with. “I’ve never had a real home. Someone whom I feel whole with. Someone to really love and grow old with. I think, I hope, that this could be with Jack.”

Dan fell silent, his chest heaving, and his eyes filled with tears, partly because of his frank appraisal of his life, partly because of the realization that he truly did love Jack.

Sean smiled at Dan. “Just go slow with Dad. Please. He’s been hurt so badly, and I worry about what might happen if he’s hurt again.”

Dan had apparently passed the test. They shook hands warmly.

“Dinner’s ready,” called Jack. He looked out towards the balcony and saw Sean and Dan smiling and shaking hands. He realized then how much he had been sweating and shaking. But it looked like all would be well.

Sean came in and caught his dad in a strong embrace. He whispered in Jack’s ear, “It’s going to be all right, Dad. And I don’t think I’ll need to take that fishing trip.”

They both burst into laughter at that, telling a bewildered Dan that it was a private family joke.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jack moved his hips, thrusting his hard cock into Karen’s warmth. Her soft moans were music to his ears. Jack knew exactly how to give her pleasure. He bent his head to gently suck on her nipples and kiss her neck. He moved his hips from side to side to enter her from different angles, giving them both exquisite feelings from the friction.

As they both mounted ever closer to their orgasms, Jack picked up the pace and thrust deeper and faster into Karen. Finally, with a cry, Karen climaxed and clenched her muscles around Jack’s cock as she experienced the tremors of sexual fulfillment. That was enough to push Jack over the edge, and with a loud shout, he came and shot his cum into her, each volley evidence of his love for her. He lay on top of Karen as his cock softened and slipped out of her.

“Jack, you need to move on. Dan is the right one for you.” She looked over his shoulder and he turned his head to see Dan standing there, naked and erect.

Karen faded from view and Jack reached out his hand to Dan and lay there as Dan laid his body on top of Jack. Their cocks were hard as steel as they rubbed together, grinding their erections faster and faster as they climbed to their orgasms. Finally, both of them cried out as they both came, shooting their loads of cum between them.

Just as the dream faded, Jack heard Karen’s words echo softly and gently in his mind. “Live passionately, Jack.” He felt the warm wetness of his semen on his chest as he awoke.

~~~~~~~~~~

Six – London

What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined to strengthen each other, to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.” — George Eliot

Dan came into the hotel suite, set his briefcase on the desk, loosened his tie, and flopped on the sofa with a great sigh. Finally. The grueling, four day long meetings were over, and the contract was in its final form. Everyone seemed satisfied, although it would take two or three months for the contract to be approved and signed by all parties.

He went into the bedroom, stripped naked, and stretched out on the luxurious king bed. He tried to relax his tense muscles and clear his mind so he could get some sleep. But after tossing and turning for a while, he finally figured out his problem. He missed Jack.

Dan thought back over the week and a half before he had flown to London. He and Jack had had little time to meet in person since both of them had been swamped with work, Jack training new hires and Dan preparing for the London meetings. Although they talked on the phone every night for a couple of hours, they had had lunch twice and dinner once. That dinner date was memorable.

They had gone to Jack’s favorite barbecue joint, a casual and rather noisy place. During the meal, Jack teased Dan with a little foot play under the table. He told Dan about what he would like to do to him when he had the opportunity. His descriptions were so detailed that Dan was hard as a rock and panting. He looked down at his crotch, thankful that it was out of sight. The almost desperate look on his face was compounded when Jack looked him in the eyes, glanced down at his own crotch. and just smiled. They both decided they had better behave. This was not the place for a repeat of their coffee house orgasms.

After dinner, they carried their conversation to the parking lot. Dan leaned against Jack’s car, Jack stood in front of him, their bodies dangerously close, their hands joined with entwined fingers.

Then it happened.

Neither one ever knew who made the first move. They leaned closer and their lips brushed together. Dan felt the tip of Jack’s tongue touch his lips, seeking entrance. He opened his mouth as their lips crashed together, their tongues dancing a furious tango.

They kept their hands joined at their sides, knowing they if they gave them freedom to move, they would soon be in big trouble, unable to stop. Their chests labored with heavy breathing as they kissed, oblivious to the world around them. Not that they would have cared what anyone thought.

Finally, they broke the kiss and leaned their heads together with heaving chests, eyes closed and lips smiling. After a few moments of silence, Dan looked into Jack’s rich brown eyes, shining with delight. “I leave for London tomorrow. Damn it! I’m missing you already, babe.”

Jack’s eyes widened at the endearment which had fallen so easily from Dan’s lips.

“Dan, consider that your goodbye kiss. I’ll be there the day after you finish your meetings, and then we’ll be together all the time for a month. I know we’ll be making up for lost time.”

Dan smiled as he remembered that date, then he realized he had been stroking his cock and rubbing his hairy chest while he had been reminiscing. His precum was flowing freely as his foreskin was covering and uncovering his cockhead as he stroked.

He thought of Jack’s handsome face, his strong body, and that perfect ass that he would follow to the ends of the earth. And his kisses! Jack’s kisses! They alternately sucked his soul out of him and then sent it crashing back into him with a rush of life-giving love. Dan could live on those kisses!

With rapidly mounting arousal, Dan stroked faster and tugged his ball sack as he approached his orgasm. With a shout, Dan pushed himself over the edge and his cock exploded. Ropes of cum shot out with such force that he hit himself in the face. It was on the headboard. Even the wall got some.

Finally satisfied, Dan relaxed and fell asleep, not caring about the semen covering his belly and chest.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jack looked out the window as the airplane taxied to the gate at Heathrow. The long flight was tiring, and he was grateful for the comfortable first class seat. The new adventure ahead made his heart race as he thought of seeing Dan soon and spending the next month traveling with him.

The many hours in the air from Houston had given him much time to just think. To his own surprise, his mind had taken him back, not forwards. He thought of his boyhood. Being an only child in a loving family, with few other children in the neighborhood, he was often alone. Jack plunged into reading. His favorite books showed his adventurous side: Tom Sawyer, Robinson Crusoe, Robin Hood. He read books about travel and geography, visiting exotic places in his mind. Others may have thought him a lonely boy. To himself, his life was filled with color and adventure, full of color and beauty.

This love of beauty led him to music and art. He listened and read, and his record collection steadily grew with albums exhibiting his eclectic tastes. Books of great art prints began to fill his shelves. And he developed a love of poetry shared by few other boys. He understood great music and art, even though he couldn’t carry a tune or do more than doodle with a pencil.

Then Jack met Karen. Algebra Two, a boring math class to most students, suddenly became the most interesting place to be. The art lover in him responded instantly the first time he saw her. The attraction was immediate and mutual, and their friendship deepened over the next few years. It was not sexual at first, not until their senior year. The first time Jack kissed Karen lit a fire in his body that burned hotter each day, through graduation and into college. Even so, they remained virgins until they were married.

Married life suited Jack. Being a husband, and then a father, filled his heart with joy and happiness. Even through the difficult times, his family was his anchor. As Sean grew, he became Jack’s playmate and alter ego. They developed a strong, unbreakable father-son relationship of a kind rarely seen.

What had become of Jack’s love of beauty and adventure? They had become embodied in Karen. As long as he had her, all the rest faded into insignificance, and he was content. Their deep love for each other was a source of strength and support, through good times and bad. Their wedding vows were real. They both took the words seriously and were faithful partners in whatever life threw their way.

They made love twice a week, often more. The sex was loud, joyous, and volcanic. Jack’s body was completely fulfilled and satisfied as they loved each other. They learned how to pleasure each other. Jack never gave a thought to any other woman. Karen completely fulfilled him, heart, mind, and body.

Then she was gone. Jack’s life of outward ordinariness and inward color had darkened to a somber, ashen gray during the years of Karen’s illness and death. Had it not been for Sean, his rock of love and support, Jack might not have made it through.

And then he met Dan. There was something about the man, his travels and love of music and art, that stirred up the sense of adventure that had lain dormant for many years. The attraction was unexpectedly sexual, to be sure, but there was so much more. Inside Jack was a mischievous little boy who longed for adventure, who desperately wanted to escape the narrow box he lived in.

Jack had no idea that he drew Dan in a different, almost opposite way. Dan had begun to long for the settled life Jack had led. Inside Dan was a little wounded boy, scarred by pain and loss, angry at his suffering. A little boy who had forgotten what it was to be loved.

When Dan met Jack, the sexual attraction was instantaneous. After all, what gay man wouldn’t be turned on by Jack’s sexy body. But there was so much more. He loved this man who was grounded, confident, rooted in love for his family and with great strength of character. Jack’s rugged good looks, his tall, muscular body, the hairy arms and full beard, made him look like a rugged outdoorsman, like a lumberjack. But his appearance hid the gentle heart within, the kind, caring man who mourned the loss of his mate, and who loved his son with a love Dan didn’t know was possible.

Dan found in Jack the hope of fulfillment. A partner to share life with. Someone who would always be there for him. The same man in his bed every night. And a home that was more than an address for mail.

~~~~~~~~~~

After Jack deplaned, he texted Dan to let him know he had arrived safely. He collected his luggage and got into a taxi to head to the hotel. It was the Mandarin Oriental, right across from Hyde Park. Jack had nearly fainted when he saw how expensive it was. The accountant in him rose in rebellion, but Adventurous Jack put down the insurrection. Having sold Western Chemical, Jack was now independently wealthy. Let the fun begin!

Even so, he was taken aback by the luxury surrounding him at the hotel. He walked through the suite, admiring the décor, the view, the opulence visible at every turn.

There were small signs of Dan everywhere: an empty coffee cup, a discarded newspaper, the TV remote on the sofa. He went to the bedroom to unpack. As he opened the closet to hang up his clothes, he was overwhelmed by the smell of Dan. The cologne, the body wash, the hair product, and under it all, the strong, masculine scent of Dan himself. With so many things on his mind, Jack hadn’t realized how completely Dan had captured all his senses.

In the bathroom, there was a luxurious robe hanging on a hook. Jack took it down and stroked the soft fabric, imagining Dan’s naked body wrapped in its folds. His cock sprang quickly to attention with desire for Dan. Jack buried his face in the rich fabric, inhaling deeply the aroma of Dan. There was a fire burning in Jack’s brain now, one that could only be quenched by Dan.

Fatigue finally set in. Leaving the rest of the unpacking for later, Jack stripped to his underwear and lay on the bed. He snuggled with the soft robe, resting his head on it, pulling it close to his hairy chest, trapping it between his strong legs, his hardness pressing into the robe’s softness. He was soon asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan came into the suite and set his briefcase on the desk. He knew Jack was there. He quietly went to the bedroom. In the silence, he could hear a soft snore, and as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he could make out Jack’s form, lying on the bed. What was that thing he was cuddling with? Dan’s robe!

Something about that scene burned itself into Dan’s mind. Apparently, Jack needed Dan as much as Dan needed Jack. In that moment, Dan fell helplessly head over heels in love with Jack. He silently handed Jack his heart, vowing to be the man Jack deserved.

They had planned on going out on the town that evening. Those plans faded away. All that mattered now was that Dan was with the man he loved. Stripping to his underwear, with a throbbing cock, he spooned up behind Jack, reaching over and burying his hand in the rich fur on Jack’s chest. His erection pressed into Jack’s butt, and he kissed the back of Jack’s neck. Jack stirred a bit, then settled into deeper slumber. The desire of Dan’s heart won out over the desire of his cock. With tears filling his eyes, Dan cuddled with Jack and quickly fell asleep, completely content.

Dan’s heart was full and satisfied just to be with his love.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan woke with a tickle on his nose. As he became aware of himself, he realized that the tickle was from Jack’s chest hair. Jack was lying on his back with Dan snuggled up with his head on Jack’s chest. He heard Jack’s heartbeat and felt his gentle breathing. Dan also became aware that his hand was resting on Jack’s crotch, feeling the warm and throbbing erection there. Embarrassed, he started to pull his hand away, but Jack laid his hand on Dan’s.

“Don’t, babe. Leave it there.”

Dan hadn’t been aware that Jack was awake. He started to slip his hand into Jack’s underwear, but Jack stopped him.

“Not yet, sweetheart. I want us to be fully awake and aware first. It’s mid-afternoon now. You know, I could lie here happy for days on end,” said Jack. They both just lay still for a while, content to just feel each other breathe. Eventually, Jack disentangled himself from Dan’s embrace and got out of bed. He stood and stretched, then he realized Dan was staring at him.

Until this moment, Dan had seen Jack clearly only when they were fully clothed. The man he saw before him took his breath away. The full, muscular chest. The narrow waist. The strong arms and legs. Jack’s chest, belly, arms, and legs were covered with a glorious pelt of fur. The tight underwear did nothing to hide the pulsing erection or huge balls straining the fabric. Jack’s arousal was fully evident. And the fire in his eyes filled Dan with desire.

“All right, then. I’ll be a good boy and wait,” said Dan in a voice husky with sexual heat.

Jack replied, “I don’t want you to be good. And you’re definitely not a boy!” He smiled seductively. “You go start the shower while I order some food.”

Dan went to the bathroom and started the water running while Jack called room service.

The shower took longer than was necessary for cleanliness, because their hands were all over each other. Touching, caressing, groping, rubbing. Jack leaned his head down to kiss Dan, and Dan reached around and finally held in his hands the object of his lust, the round mounds of Jack’s perfect ass.

As they kissed, they were constantly rubbing their erections together, pushing themselves closer and closer to the inevitable climax. With a shout, Jack erupted, his cock shooting rope after rope of hot cum between their chests. Dan bellowed and came himself, his first volley of cum hitting them both in the face, the rest mixing with Jack’s semen into a wet sheen that the water washed away.

Jack finally turned off the water and gave Dan a smack on the ass. “Let’s eat. I’m starved!” They dried off with the fluffy towels and wrapped their naked bodies in the soft, luxurious robes. The food soon arrived, and they sat down to a meal fit for kings.

Dan was a teaser. He would take a bite of the omelet and seductively lick his fork while looking into Jack’s eyes. Jack retaliated by taking a bite of the pan au chocolat and sucking the gooey, sweet filling off his fingers. Dan groaned and lifted his leg under the table to rest his foot in Jack’s crotch and rub the big balls with his toes. It was Jack’s turn to groan.

Finally, the meal was over. Dan stood and held out his hand to Jack, inviting him to the bedroom to make love. Jack took Dan’s hand and they moved to the bed. Dan untied Jack’s robe and slipped it off. Then he laid his hand on Jack’s chest and gently pushed him to the bed. Jack looked at him with burning eyes and nodded, giving Dan permission to explore. Then Dan took off his own robe and began his conquest of Jack’s body.

Both of their cocks were rampant and dripping precum as Dan lifted Jack’s left foot and began to massage it. To his own surprise, he began to lick and suck Jack’s toes. Jack’s groan of pleasure was music to Dan’s ears. He slowly moved up Jack’s leg, massaging, licking, sucking, kissing, until he felt Jack’s cock against his face as he kissed Jack’s thigh.

Laying Jack’s left leg down, Dan repeated the process on the right leg. By this time, Jack was panting, moaning and groaning, and beginning to sweat. Dan moved up and straddled Jack’s pelvis, their dripping cocks lying side by side. He ran his fingers through Jack’s chest hair and tweaked his nipples, causing Jack to yelp in surprised pleasure.

Unable to resist, Dan leaned forward and kissed Jack, their tongues furiously lashing as they explored each other’s mouths. Dan broke the kiss and rested his forehead on Jack’s and said, “Jack, I love you.”

Jack’s eyes widened when he heard that. His heart leapt at the thought that here was the love to heal his heart, to give him life after all of his grief and loss. With tears streaming down his face, he cupped Dan’s face with both hands and whispered, “Dan, I love you, too.”

Dan’s face was beaming with joy as he moved off of Jack and had him turn over onto his stomach. He straddled the narrow waist and began to massage Jack’s strong back and shoulder muscles. Jack sighed and moaned as Dan’s hands worked their magic on his body. Dan leaned forward and laid his body full on Jack’s, his cock resting in the crack of Jack’s ass. He caressed Jack’s hair and ears.

Dan climbed off Jack, went to the foot of the bed, and began working on Jack’s legs again. He massaged his feet, rubbing his thumbs on the insteps and arches. He worked his way up Jack’s legs, moving from one leg to the other, kissing, sucking, giving gentle bites that he soothed with his tongue. He lifted Jack’s hips so he could have full access to Jack’s balls in their hairy pouch.

Finally, he placed his hands on Jack’s butt, admiring, even worshiping, those mounded globes of muscular flesh. He massaged Jack’s ass with strong hands, then he grabbed the ass cheeks, pulled them apart, and dived in with his tongue, exploring Jack’s hole with expert technique.

Jack howled his pleasure. He had never had his ass eaten, and the sensation of Dan’s tongue in his ass hole was something from another world. He thrashed around and moaned and groaned, and he pushed his ass back onto Dan’s tongue.

Dan slowly inserted his thick middle finger into Jack’s ass hole. Jack gasped at the unexpected invasion. Dan moved his finger in a circular motion that had Jack panting with pleasure. Then Dan found Jack’s prostate, and Jack came unglued.

He pushed back onto Dan’s finger as Dan stroked and drummed on Jack’s sensitive gland. Then Dan pressed on the prostate and Jack exploded. He buried his face in the pillow and screamed as his orgasm overtook him. He felt like all his senses flew out of his body and then crashed back into him, centered on his cock and balls. He felt the wet warmth of his release under him as he soaked the sheets. All of his muscles tensed and then relaxed.

As Jack came down from his orgasmic euphoria, Dan climbed up on Jack’s body and lay there, his face resting against Jack’s.

“Ready for round two?” he asked.

Jack groaned. “You’re going to kill me! But I’ll go with a smile!”

Jack was as limp as a wet rag, so Dan had to help the poor man turn over. They moved over to a dry spot on the bed, and Dan began his task of taking Jack up the hill to another orgasm.

He began with a kiss, gentle at first, then deepening as Jack opened his mouth and invited Dan to explore. As they kissed Dan used his hands to explore Jack’s body, rubbing his chest and sides, reaching down to stroke his cock. He worked his way down Jack’s torso, kissing, biting, licking, sucking. Finally, he knew that Jack was ready for the main event.

Dan held Jack’s cock in one hand and then engulfed it to the root in his mouth in one fell swoop. Jack momentarily blacked out from the overwhelming sensations radiating from his cock. When he recovered, he thrust his hips upward, trying to give himself fully to Dan. Dan tugged on Jack’s balls and used his other hand to stroke the thick shaft as his mouth was sucking and licking the head.

Jack was breathing faster and faster as he approached the point of no return. Finally, with a wild roar, Jack exploded and shot rope after rope of cum into Dan’s mouth. Dan continued sucking, taking in all of Jack’s essence, tasting the sweet and salty flavor of his lover. When Jack finally went limp again, exhausted by his orgasm, Dan crawled up and kissed him, sharing Jack’s semen. They passed it back and forth a few times before they both swallowed.

Dan lay next to Jack and lazily swirled his fingers in Jack’s chest hair. Jack’s breathing began to slow and return to normal. He looked into Dan’s face with orgasm-glazed eyes and murmured, “Dan, I love you.”

Then he fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

About an hour later, Jack woke. Dan lay next to him with his head resting on Jack’s belly, just inches from his cock.

“Hello, sleepyhead,” said Dan. “I was about to wake you in a more interesting manner.”

“I’m sorry I conked out on you like that,” said Jack apologetically. “But I couldn’t help it.”

“That’s okay, babe. I’ve just been enjoying watching you sleep,” replied Dan.

Jack sat up with a gleam in his eyes. “It’s your turn, Dan. I’m going to show you what a good student I am!”

Hu kissed Dam gently and had him lie back against the pillows. Jack kissed his way down Dan’s body. He kissed Dan’s neck and shoulders. Jack licked and sucked each nipple. He licked Dan’s belly and swirled his tongue in Dan’s navel. With a mischievous grin, he gave a quick lick from Dan’s balls to his cockhead, picking up a small taste of Dan’s precum. Dan closed his eyes and moaned.

Jack licked, sucked, and kissed his way down Dan’s legs and feet. Then, to Dam’s surprise, Jack climbed off the bed and stood there with a puzzled expression.

Jack was wrestling with a question that had been lurking in the back of his mind. All his life, he had been straight. He never had had any thoughts of sexual desire for a man, never had even experimented that way in his youth. Until he met Dan, the thought had never arisen. Was he homosexual? Bisexual? Heterosexual with a twist? Where had this come from?

Suddenly, Jack decided: Screw the labels! He was Dan-sexual! The naked man on the bed lit up his heart like a bonfire and filled Jack with desire. Dan’s body didn’t arouse him because he was attracted to men’s cocks. No, Dan’s cock and balls aroused him because they belonged to Dan. All became clear: Jack loved Dan, and Dan loved Jack. Nothing else mattered.

Dan was surprised when he opened his eyes to see Jack just standing at the foot of the bed, looking confused. Jack was obviously working something out in his head. Then it came to him. This was Jack’s first time making love to a man. He was in uncharted waters, figuring out his desire for Dan.

Dan knew when the change happened. He saw Jack’s face clear of any confusion, and they looked in each other’s eyes, seeing the love and desire burning there. Jack continued where he had left off.

He picked up Dan’s feet and rested them against his chest. Dan squirmed as the beautiful fur tickled the soles of his feet. Then Jack raised the feet to his mouth and began licking and sucking Dan’s toes, massaging the rest of the feet with his strong hands. Dan sighed in complete bliss.

Jack lay Dan’s legs down gently and began massaging the muscles, tired from all the exhausting meetings. When he got to Dan’s cock, he sucked on the head, swirling his tongue around under Dan’s foreskin, tasting the sweet precum that gave evidence of Dan’s arousal. His other hand caressed Dan’s balls, gently tugging on them.

Jack released Dan’s cock and slid up his body, their chest hair tangling. He captured Dan’s mouth in a kiss that had his whole soul in it. As their tongues danced, Jack felt their cocks rubbing together. He lifted his head and looked into Dan’s eyes, surprised to see tears.

All through Jack’s ministrations, Dan was filled with overpowering emotions. Although he had been with many men, never had anyone truly made love to him. He had had men who knew how to push the right sexual buttons, but no man had ever reached his heart. The armor Dan had built around his heart, vowing to never be hurt again, was impervious. But then along came Jack, who blew it to pieces. The old Dan was slowly burning away, and out of the ashes, phoenix-like, a new Dan was emerging. A man who desired a lasting relationship, who wanted to build a life on solid ground, who risked hurt by opening his heart to love.

Jack dimly guessed the turmoil in Dan’s mind, and he kissed away Dan’s tears, whispering “I love you!” with every touch of his lips. He lifted up on his elbow and just looked at Dan. He softly traced the upper lip where Dan was beginning a mustache. Dan wondered what was going through Jack’s mind and looked at Jack with a quizzical expression.

“Why are you just staring at me, Jack?”

“Because you’re so beautiful, and because you’re mine,” replied Jack.

Dan was surprised and elated. Many men had called him sexy, hot, handsome. But nobody had ever called him beautiful, not since his mother died. It filled his heart with joy and gladness.

‘Ready?” asked Jack with shining eyes.

Dan smiled and nodded.

“Let’s go!” answered Jack.

He lifted off of Dan and knelt between his legs. Holding the base of Dan’s cock, he slowly began his descent, taking every inch of Dan’s erection into his mouth. He relaxed his throat muscles, breathing through his nose, and soon felt Dan’s pubic hair tickle his nose. Jack was exultant that he was able to take all of Dan’s towering erection! He reached up and gently twisted Dan’s nipples and was rewarded with another volley of precum.

Jack lifted off Dan’s cock and began licking up and down the shaft, paying special attention to that extra-sensitive frenulum just below the cockhead. Dan was writhing in pleasure, and he gave a grunt of disappointment when Jack stopped.

“Don’t worry, babe. I’m not done yet. Not by a long shot! Turn over.”

Dan rolled over and Jack straddled his waist, sitting on his firm butt, and began to massage Dan’s back and aching shoulders. Jack’s huge hands felt so good to Dan. After a while, Jack stretched his big body on Dan’s and laid his face next to Dan’s. He could feel the smile and hear the sigh as he whispered, “I love you!” Then he gave a quick lick to Dan’s ear and lifted off so he could kneel between Dan’s legs. He used his knees to nudge the legs further apart and ran his fingers over Dan’s ball sack. Dan hissed in pleasure.

Then Jack rested his big hands on Dan’s butt, feeling the strong muscles, massaging the beautiful mounds of flesh. Then he pulled the cheeks apart and leaned in to smell his lover. The heady, musky aroma of Dan, mingled with sweat and heat, shot into Jack’s brain. He buried his face in Dan’s ass and began to probe the inviting hole with his tongue. He licked around and over Dan’s asshole and began to tongue fuck it, remembering how Dan had done the same to him.

Then Jack slowly slipped his forefinger into Dan, moving it around in a circular manner as it slid in deeper and deeper. Then Jack felt for Dan’s prostate, and when he began to rub and caress it, Dan writhed and moaned, his precum streaming out under his belly.

Not taking his finger out of Dan’s ass, Jack turned him over and began to suck his cock. Between the sensations of Jack’s mouth on his cock, and one hand tugging his balls and the other stroking his prostate, Dan wasn’t going to last long. He grabbed Jack’s head and held it as he began to fuck his mouth with furious thrusts of his hips.

With a shout that was surely heard up and down the hallway, Dan exploded. His cock shot out ropes of cum into Jack’s hungry mouth, his hips still thrusting and Jack’s hands still working on his balls and prostate.

With one final thrust of his hips, Dan collapsed, unable to move. Jack pulled off his cock and slipped his finger out of Dan’s ass. He lay on top of Dan and kissed him, sharing the load of sweet and salty semen. They passed it back and forth as their tongues danced a slow dance of love. Then they swallowed.

Jack and Dan looked into each other’s eyes with love and tenderness. Then Jack rolled off of Dan and cuddled at his side, throwing one arm over Dan and entwining their legs together. Dan rested one arm on Jack’s arm and stroked his hair with the other.

Their breathing slowed and they were soon asleep in each other’s arms. The sleep of total surrender and peace. The sleep of those who know they are loved.

~~~~~~~~~~

Seven – Travels Together

Will you give me yourself? Will you come to travel with me? Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?” – Walt Whitman

Jack stood at the rail of the ferry. The cold October sea wind whipped at his hair. He had let it grow out for a while now, and his usually trim beard was getting a bit shaggy. It gave him a more relaxed, less formal look that still attracted Dan.

Dan silently slipped up beside Jack and put his arm around Jack’s waist. Jack put his arm around Dan and leaned in for a kiss. No words were spoken. No words were needed. They spoke a silent language of the heart, and a touch or a kiss said all that needed to be said.

They were the only passengers foolish enough to brave the cold. But Jack had wanted to see the English Channel slip by. The famous White Cliffs of Dover had receded to a white line on the western horizon. It was not clear enough to see France yet, but they stayed on deck. In the chilly weather, their shared warmth was all they needed.

~~~~~~~~~~

During the past five days in London, they had done all the touristy things. Shopping at Harrod’s, touring the Tower of London, even a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city. They rode through Hyde Park, past Buckingham Palace, through Trafalgar Square. The driver had provided them with a blanket against the cool air. At the end of the ride, the driver said goodbye with a knowing grin. Their activities beneath the blanket had not gone unnoticed.

There was Don Giovanni at Covent Garden. Phantom of the Opera and Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap in the West End. Hearing the booming toll of Big Ben as the toured Westminster Palace, the home of Parliament.

All this was old hat to Dan, who had been to London many times. But as Jack excitedly pulled him along or pointed out some new thing with glee, Dan began to see things with different eyes. His heart, so calloused by pain and bitterness, was softening. By seeing things through the eyes of the man he loved, the world took on a fresh, new look. And the old Dan was slowly but steadily burning to ashes, and the new Dan, the man with a tender, loving heart, was rising from the ashes.

And each night, exhausted from the day’s adventures, they crawled into bed, tired but happy, and they were soon asleep in each other’s arms. But during the night, one of them would wake and begin exploring his lover’s naked body. Soon, they would be caressing and stroking. It was not long before they were asleep again, lulled by the warm aroma of sex, and with the taste of semen on their tongues.

~~~~~~~~~~

At first, they had thought of taking the direct train to Paris through the “Chunnel” under the English Channel. But the traditional route of train-ferry-train seemed more romantic.

They had had an early breakfast in their room before they checked out of the hotel and headed to Victoria Station for the boat train. As they rolled along in their private train compartment, they looked out to see the scenery of Kent go by, the fields mostly harvested and bare by now, with hints of colder weather to come on the land.

They arrived at Dover early and were greeted by the salt tang of the sea in the air. Jack’s mind was transported back to his boyhood play of pirates. But now he was on a real adventure with the man who had stolen his heart.

They had enough time to briefly tour Dover Castle, with its tunnels hidden beneath the old pile of masonry. Then they boarded the ferry to Calais. Jack was so excited to be on his adventure with Dan. And his excitement was contagious. Dan began to be caught up in the sheer fun of it all. No more being blasé about the world. There was beauty and excitement all around him, now that love had opened his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~

The TGV (Train Grand Vitesse) pulled out of Calais and headed south for Paris. They sat in the mostly empty first-class car.

Jack suddenly said, “What’s your middle name, Dan?”

“What?”

“Your middle name. What is it?”

“Uh . . . Andrew. . . Andrew. I don’t like it.”

“Why not?”

“It’s my dad’s name. I only use it on official stuff. I’ve tried to put all that behind me.”

“But your name belongs to you. . . In fact, I hereby decree that your name, Daniel Andrew Olson, belongs only to you.”

“That’s so silly!” But Dan had to smile when he saw the gleam in Jack’s eyes. Another part of Dan was being renewed.

“And what’s your full name, O Wise One?”

“Jackson Montgomery Roger Middleton. . . Yeah, I know. It sounds like an old Confederate general. So, what’s your favorite dessert?”

“You’ve seen me eat enough cherry pie, so you ought to know.”

“True. Okay, favorite movie?”

“You’ll laugh.”

“No, I won’t.”

“Yes, you will.”

“I promise!”

“Okay . . . Babe.”

“The one about the pig?”

“Yes. And cut that smile. I know you want to laugh. Your favorite movie?”

“I like movies nobody seems to have seen. . . I think it would be Harold and Maude. About an unlikely couple.”

“Like us?”

“No. He’s eighteen and she’s almost seventy. But in a way, they are like us. An unexpected pairing of two people. . . Anyway, who would you want to sit next to on a ten hour flight?”

“Besides you?” Dan gave a quick squeeze to Jack’s crotch.

Jack swatted Dan hand. “Yes, besides me, smart ass!”

“I think it would be Mark Twain. I like his characters and his quirky sense of humor. What about you, Jackson Montgomery Roger? If you could tear yourself away from me, that is.”

“I’d say Beethoven, but he wouldn’t be much of a conversationalist. I think . . . Gandhi. What an amazing man, how he changed the world.”

“That’s so true. Okay, what part of you do you think I like the best?”

“My butt, you grab it often enough.”

“Nope.”

“My chest hair? My arms? Legs? Dick and balls?”

Dan shook his head at each suggestion. “No, your eyes. I see in them a beautiful man, a man a great character and strength, a man who loves me.”

Jack was deeply moved by Dan’s answer. Then he said, “What part of you do you think I like best, Dan?”

Dan shook his head.

Jack laid his hand on Dan’s chest. “Your heart. So full of the love you have to give, that you give to me every day.” He bent forward to gently kiss Dan.

The two men leaned back in their seats, turned toward each other, holding hands, and carrying on a silent conversation of their hearts.

France flew by, unseen by the two lovers.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sean opened his laptop and sighed when he saw the email notification. Another travel update from his dad.

It had been about a month since Jack’s big revelation about Dan. Sean and Hannah were beginning to adjust to the new reality. It was like learning to walk all over again.

Sean thought back about his mom and dad, the family times together as he was growing up. It was the three of them, doing things together, eating meals, going to the park, visiting his grandparents.

Then there had been the losses: losing his grandparents one at a time. Then his mother’s illness and death. Through it all, Jack had been Sean’s rock, his anchor, the one he could always count on. From the start of Karen’s decline into helplessness, it had been the two of them, Jack and Sean, leaning on each other.

Then Dan entered the scene. Sean liked him, and he was glad to see his dad moving on from the paralysis of grief. Sean was even beginning to accept his father’s attraction to another man. But it was all so new, and he was worried that at some point, Dan would move on. Sean knew about Dan’s past, his wild and sensuous lifestyle. He was afraid that Dan would return to that, leaving Jack devastated in the wake of Dan’s passing.

Most of Jack’s email updates were short on information and long on photos. Being a professional photographer, most of the photos were of little interest. A picture of the fancy hotel lobby. Another castle. A blurry photo of the landscape from a train window. He had saved a few files and discarded most.

Sean looked at the latest email, with its photo attachment. “View of Paris.” Big deal.

He opened the attachment and stared at the picture. It took his breath away. There were the lights of Paris below. Obviously from the Eiffel Tower. There were the remains of a lovely sunset in the background.

But all he could see were the two men. Jack and Dan. Both were handsome, strong, poised. Truly photo worthy. But what struck Sean were their eyes. Being a photographer, Sean was a good judge of character. He learned to look into people’s eyes, to see to the depths of who they were.

Dan’s eyes were bright, sparkling with joy and happiness. Where before there had been closed shutters, there were now open windows of truth and faithfulness. This was a new man.

And his dad! The transformation was unbelievable. The lines of sorrow and pain were erased. The spark of living had returned. The father Sean adored was back. The man who had taught him to ride a bike. Who went to Sean’s soccer games. Who ran up and wrapped his arms around Sean at his graduation. Who had been his best man when he married Hannah.

With eyes streaming with tears, Sean stared at the photo. Whatever life had in store for Jack and Dan, Sean felt sure it was good and would last.

Sean saved the photo and began to enlarge on an idea that had popped into his head.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dan found that seeing the world with Jack opened his eyes to beauty. How had he ever become so calloused about the wonderful things he had experienced?

In Paris, the Louvre was more than a collection of artworks. It was an expression of the human spirit in its many varied forms. The crowds in the city were not an annoyance. They exemplified the bustle and activity of people, the energy of living.

In Amsterdam, they visited the Van Gogh Museum and attended a concert at the Concertgebouw. They were glad they had brought their tuxes. And the music filled their hearts and minds and let them soar above everyday living to higher planes of understanding.

Berlin was next. They shopped in the fashionable modern district and visited the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a reminder of war and suffering. Visiting the site of the former Berlin Wall, they thought about how determined people triumphed over tyranny. And the concert of Beethoven and Brahms symphonies by the Berlin Philharmonic was superb.

Prague lived up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. They toured Prague Castle and were fascinated by the city’s fifteenth century astronomical clock.

The high speed trains that whisked them from city to city left little time for conversation while traveling. But each night, as they lay in bed after the day’s activities, they made love to each other, learning more about each other’s heart, mind, and body.

Dan loved to explore Jack’s masculine body. The strong muscles of his arms and legs, the full chest, the slim waist. Dan was a little over six feet tall, but Jack had three or four inches on him. And Dan really loved Jack’s body hair. His arms and legs, his belly and chest. Dan loved to just run his fingers through the hair of his furry lover.

Jack’s face was handsome. The full lips, the shapely nose, the full beard. All combined to make Jack a fine specimen of a man. And his eyes! Jack’s eyes were a window into the soul of a man who loved deeply, who was confident in his identity, who strode through life with assurance.

Dan loved to kiss, suck, bite, and lick all over Jack’s body, finding the most sensitive spots and marking them in his mind. His earlobes, the sensitive spot just below the collarbone, his nipples, especially the left one, the tender spot between his ball sack and his thigh, the inside of his thighs, the arches of his feet. All of this became a map to Dan as he explored Jack.

And his cock and balls drew Dan like a magnet. Dan knew exactly how to make love to Jack’s cock and balls. His hands, tongue, and lips tortured Jack with the exquisite thrill of being pushed to the edge of orgasm and then being made to wait. Jack loved to have Dan lick and suck his balls, taking them one at a time into his mouth and caressing them with his tongue. Then taking both into his mouth and giving a slight tug that drove Jack wild.

Dan would lick up and down Jack’s shaft, pausing to taste and savor the sweet precum that flowed freely. Then he would slip a finger into Jack’s ass, doing wonderful things to his prostate. Before long, Jack would cry out as he exploded into Dan’s eager mouth, shooting the evidence of his love into Dan, who would hold it in his mouth to share with Jack.

They would kiss, letting Jack’s semen pass freely between them as their lips and tongues were joined in a celebration of love. Finally, they would swallow Jack’s cum, taking his essence into their bodies.

Jack loved it when Dan played with his ass, and the sexual earthquakes from his prostate were shattering. But Dan didn’t try to fuck Jack. He knew it would come, but Jack wasn’t quite ready for that final surrender yet.

Jack learned much from Dan and became an expert in his favorite subject: Dan. He would explore Dan’s body with his hands and mouth, stroking, rubbing, caressing, finding the spots that drove Dan insane. Dan’s ears, his Adam’s apple, armpits, both nipples, his navel, the backs of his thighs, his toes. This knowledge became a treasure map for Jack to follow, with X-es marking the spots where wonderful things were hidden.

Dan’s cock became Jack’s favorite toy. He would stroke up and down on the shaft, licking and sucking. Being circumcised himself, Jack was fascinated with Dan’s foreskin. He would spend time just covering and uncovering the head. Then he would swirl his tongue around between Dan’s foreskin and cockhead, tasting the lovely precum. He would lick and suck on Dan’s balls, knowing that they were such a sensitive part of a man.

Jack would be so preoccupied with Dan’s cock and balls that he was almost oblivious to Dan’s thrashing and writhing in pleasure as he steadily moved toward his orgasm. Jack would massage Dan’s prostate, stroking and tapping, until Dan could no longer take it. With a roar, Dan would erupt into Jack’s mouth, thrusting his hips and moaning as his orgasm took him. Finally, he would relax into blissful rest as Jack lay on top of him and they lazily, lovingly kissed and shared Dan’s cum with each other.

Their exploration of the treasures of the cities they visited was mirrored by their exploration of each other. Not just their bodies. They shared their hearts and souls, hopes and dreams, thoughts and feelings. Each day, their lives became more intertwined.

Jack found in Dan a guide to adventure. The exciting dreams of boyhood were being realized in a way Jack would never have expected. But Dan had pried open the box that Jack had lived in and helped the adventurous boy/man inside find a wide open world of newness. Dan was helping Jack to live passionately.

Jack didn’t really understand yet that what Dan was drawn to in him was a corollary, almost a polar opposite quality in Jack. Dan saw Jack as a man who knew who he was, who took his place in the world confidently. His obvious physical strength was balanced by his tender heart. Dan saw a man who mourned the loss of his mate, and who loved his son with a depth that Dan didn’t know was possible. His own life experiences had left him wounded and hardened. Now Dan saw the possibility of a life that was settled, secure in his relationship with the man he loved.

The journey around Europe was a reflection of their journey, the exploration of their love for each other.

~~~~~~~~~~

Eight – Vienna

Surrender is faith that the power of Love can accomplish anything even when you cannot foresee the outcome. – Deepak Chopra

Jack and Dan walked down the famous Kaertnerstrasse in the heart of old Vienna. They were staying at the Opera Suites, a small family owned bed and breakfast which fully justified its name. They could look out the bay window of their luxurious third floor suite and have a perfect view of the Vienna State Opera House.

They had explored the area around St. Stephen’s cathedral, with its distinctive colorful roof. They even managed to hear a mini concert by the Vienna Boy Choir.

After a tasty lunch at Café Frauenhuber, the oldest coffee house in a city full of coffee houses (Beethoven had been a regular there), they were sauntering back to their hotel. Hand in hand, they were enjoying the cool but sunny autumn weather when Jack suddenly stopped with his jaw dropped and eyes wide. They were looking at a sign advertising that evening’s performance at the Opera. Tristan and Isolde. Jack turned to Dan and asked, “Do you think we can get standing room tickets for tonight? I think they go on sale about an hour ahead of curtain time.”

“Let’s ask the concierge,” replied Dan. “He’ll probably know.”

Towing Dan by the hand, Jack practically ran back to the hotel and to the concierge desk.

“Do you know how to get tickets for the opera tonight?” he breathlessly asked.

“Let me see, Herr Middleton, if I can find the information,” said the man. He rummaged around under the counter for a few moments. “Aha! Here it is!” he exclaimed triumphantly. He stood up and held out an envelope with Jack’s name on it.

Puzzled, Jack tore open the envelope and pulled out two tickets for that night’s performance. He turned to Dan, who was watching everything, trying to keep from bursting out in laughter.

“I called the hotel from London to see about tickets,” he explained. “They have a private box that they sometimes allow guests to use. When I found out which opera was on tonight, I practically begged. So, break out the tux again. We’re going to the opera tonight!”

Jack threw his arms around Dan and kissed him. The concierge was beaming at them. “Thank you, babe!” exclaimed Jack. “This is perfect. I love you!”

They went to their room to get ready. After a light snack, they showered separately so they wouldn’t get distracted and be late. They put on their tuxedos, looking in the mirror together to tie their bow ties and smooth out their jackets. They gave each other a wolf whistle.

“Time for the show!” said Dan as he kissed Jack’s cheek, and then they were off.

~~~~~~~~~~

Walking through the foyer of the Vienna State Opera House was like walking back in time to an age of opulence and beauty. They could imagine running into any of the great musicians of Vienna’s past. Their box was just above the orchestra level and near the center, so they had a perfect view with a perfect balance of voices and instruments.

The lights dimmed, the conductor took his place, and the heartrending strains of the Prelude began. Both men were caught up in the music, and unconsciously their hands met, and their fingers intertwined. They sat still throughout the first act, pulled into the action by the excellent performance of such great music.