Just the morning break I needed boy. Thanks for coming upstairs. You can go back to the mail room now. 
“Always- happy- to- deliver- my package- to you. Wait, no. I mean – nnghgghh oh my god, feels so good. A package. To you. Not my. Or something. Oh, fuck it’s so deep, it feels like your dick is ten inches long! Keep it up I’m gonna cum!”
Mickey pulls his sunglasses down to get an unfiltered view. The wind’s blown a magazine off the table and John’s trying to squat down to pick it up, but he’s struggling to reach the magazine because his beefy thighs and thick calves are expanding and bulging the lower he goes. What a beautiful spectacle of male beauty. John’s Speedo is struggling to contain the density of his cakes and the sag of his balls. “Good lord,” Mickey mutters under his breath. He has no doubt that John’s solid belly is also getting in the way in the front. John grunts in frustration. Using a chair for assistance, he stands back up and considers the magazine. It’s pages are being mussed by the wind. John bends over his time instead of squatting, and Mickey has not closed his mouth in minutes. John still can’t reach the patio – so he spreads his feet so his legs are making an A shape, and with considerable groaning, John pinches some pages moving in the breeze and pulls up the magazine. He shuffles back upright and tosses the magazine on the table, and sets his phone down on it with an indignant thud.
Mickey applauds. John turns around. “You enjoy watching that?” “Very much. You should have charged for tickets.” John flips him off. Mickey laughs. “Hey Daddy can you grab me a sparkling vodka thing please?” “Sure thing, babe. I want a Diet Coke anyway.” He disappears back into the house.
Mickey splashes some water on himself from the pool and fans himself with his hand. He now has a full understanding for why it feels like he’s being fucked by a train when they’re in bed together. Getting John’s number instead of writing him off as a one-night stand was a “no duh” moment. Mickey hoped John gave him one of those power fucks before he left today. God, did he love feeling tender and drained from it afterward.
“How much longer until dinner, boy?” Dan hollered. “Ten minutes until plates on the table, Sir.” “Good. Fucking starving.” Dan took a sip of beer and burped. Brett knew that statement was rhetorical. Dan wasn’t much for conversation. Dan was a simple man. He wanted his eggs at breakfast, he wanted to go to work and dig holes with his machines, and he wanted to come home to dinner and beer. Dan didn’t see the point of finding a wife. He didn’t want an equal relationship; he wanted someone to take care of him as the man of the house. Brett understood his position in the house. He kept Dan fed, kept his house clean, got the sweat stains out of his shirts, and serviced his cock without complaint. Dan didn’t understand why every bachelor didn’t keep a bottom like Brett at home and under their thumb – it was where they wanted to be anyway.
“Five minutes, Sir.” Dan muted the TV, set the bottle on the table, and got up with a groan. He wandered into the bathroom so he could wash his hands. “What’s for dinner, boy?” he called out. “Roast chicken, squash, buttered rice, strawberry shortcake.” “I feel like you’re trying to get me to eat healthier.” “You work hard Sir, and you burn a lot of calories. A rabbit meal isn’t gonna cut it. Your dinners are designed to be filling, but you also need nutrients that come from things like vegetables. Your doctor was pleased with your blood pressure last time, wasn’t he?” “He was. But that could just be from how you to reduce my stress,” Dan responded. Brett tried not to smile. “May be so. Then that must be continued as well. I shall suck your cock as you eat dessert if it’d help.” “It would help. Would put me in a right mood before bed.” “Of course, Sir. Dinner’s ready and table’s set. Another beer or iced tea?” “Is it the different stuff you got at the store?” Brett looked confused. “Oh. I put some orange peel in the tea when I made it.” “Huh. Yeah. I liked that. Sweet tea is fine. Already had a beer.” “Yes Sir. Happy to serve you Sir.” “That’s what I like to hear. I’m too tired to punish you anyway, so I’m glad I rarely have to do it.” “Thank you Sir!
“I have your tea Sir.” “Oh, thank you Tobias. Set it on the counter.” Tobias did so without spilling a drop. He stood by with his hands behind his back and waited the next order. Andrej glanced around the room. “Where are my clothes to put on after my shower, boy?” Tobias kept a straight face. “I’ve decided they’re not needed Sir. You are dressed enough.” Andrej stared at him incredulously. Tobias dissolved into giggles. “Please indulge my fantasy for one more second Sir. I love how you look in your underwear.” “You’re lucky I like to be flattered, or I should be spanking you for your cheekiness.” “Thank you for indulging me Sir. Your face was quite amusing. I shall fetch your clothes Sir.” He bowed his head and disappeared into the full closet. “You’re welcome,” Andrej said dryly. He sipped his tea. “Mn. Nice.” He got an idea.
When Tobias reappeared in the bathroom, he was so astonished that he dropped the pants he was holding. “Sir, you’re naked! Not that I’m complaining…” Andrej kicked his underwear over with his foot. “If you like me in my underwear so much, you can dress me from the bottom up.” “That’s a fitting punishment for my misbehavior, Sir,” Tobias said with a smile as he hung the clothes on a hook. “A good houseboy knows his place.” Andrej wagged a finger. “Of course Sir, thank you for the reminder.” Tobias picked up the warm underwear and held them against his chest. “God I love these. Alright, Sir, time to get dressed!”
Raine adjusted his tie and watched the lad sleep. The way his butt cheek was peeping out of the blankets was like a fresh loaf of bread, and Raine rather wanted to smack it. But it contradicted his desire to watch the boy sleep.
For this business trip, he’d finally indulged in one of those services where you show up in your hotel room and there’s a beautiful boy of your specifications waiting for you. Raine had low expectations, but now he was thinking of getting a subscription. What a fine specimen this one was – what was his name? Matt He’d had some training, that’s for sure. And stamina. Something about New York lads, they had so much spirit.
Raine lamented that Matt wouldn’t here when he got back. He took a last look, picked up his briefcase, and put his hand on the door knob.
“Are you leaving?” Raine paused with the door open an inch and looked over his shoulder. “Oh you’re awake. Sadly, yes. I have a meeting. Stay as long as you’d like, order room service. Use the spa. Whatever you’d like. You earned it last night.” Matt lifted his head. “Mnnf. I appreciate that, but shame I don’t have time to suck you off again this morning.” Raine sighed in regret. “Are you free tonight?” “I have another appointment, but it’s late. I’m actually going to a baseball game tonight, if you want to come with me.” Raine raises an eyebrow. “The Mets game?” “Yeah.” He began to chuckle. “My clients are taking us there tonight. They have a box.” Matt grinned. “Shall we randomly run into each-other and misbehave?” “I quite like you New York boys.” Raine put his foot in the door, set down the briefcase, and pull out a business card. He set it on the desk near the door. “Text me. And if you want to be paid for your time, that can be arranged.” “Ohhhh no I love this kind of shit, I’m doing this for free.” Raine raised an eyebrow. “You are trouble, I can tell. I need to get going Matt. Enjoy your morning.” “I will, even though my mouth is empty.” Matt blew Raine a kiss. Raine could not believe that such dirty words came out such cherubic lips on an angelic face. It was hard to leave him behind.
He was right about Matt being trouble though. Raine checked his phone during a break in the meeting, and discovered Matt had been sending him photos of him masturbating on the hotel sheets. Raine had trouble explaining to his co-workers why he was smirking in a meeting about finance.
“Hey Jinx, you made good time.” “Hello Master Schwinn. Yeah I was worried the roads would be too wet, but they dried pretty well.” “That’s good to hear. Like your outfit by the way, the red laces are a nice touch.” He straightens up. “Thank you Sir! Leather is so great for riding – keeps me safe, warm, and looking cool as fuck.” I chuckle. I turn to call over my shoulder. “Boy, Jinx is here!” “Coming! Just finishing up packing.” I turn back to Jinx. “You want something to drink?” “No thank you, I got some water on the bike.” He sets his helmet on my wicker chair, then takes out a cigarette and lights it out of habit. Jinx glances up at at me but soon sheepishly averts his eyes. “I’m down to two a day, Sir, I swear.” “From a pack?” I nod. “Yes Sir.” I nod again. “Well that’s good progress. Good job, boy.” “I’m really trying. I know Fitz just got over the bronchitis, so I don’t want to irritate his lungs. Just, ya know, under a lot of stress.” He sighs. I nod as a habit. “Yes. I am stressed out too. But I think everything is going to be ok. Once we get Fitz out of this city, I’ll feel a lot better.” Jinx turns his head to blow the smoke away. "I’ll feel better too. I promise you Sir, I’ll look out for him. I’ll take care of him. Not a lot of money being in uni at all, but with the donations, we’ll be ok.” I can’t help but smile. “You’re going to grow into such a great Dom, Jinx. Your compassion is going to be your secret to connecting with your boys. They will be butter in your hands. I can’t wait to see it.” That makes Jinx turn pink. “Oh Sir, I can’t call myself a Dom. I know hardly anything.” “You’ll grow into it,” I assure him. “It’s part of you.” Before Jinx can stammer a reply, Fitz shows up and sets his bag down. “Thank you for waiting. My stupid dildo turned on at the bottom of my bag, and I had to empty everything to turn it off.” That makes Jinx giggle and he puts out the cigarette. “You poor thing, as if you aren’t having a hard enough time.” They hug and share a kiss. “Well, yeah, but I’m hoping it’s gonna get easier now.” Fitz smiles at Jinx. “Aw, you two are such a cute pair. I’m taking a photo.” I snap a quick shot with my phone. “I’m going to miss you both.” “I’m sad to leave you Sir, but I’m excited for the future,” Fitz says. “I think that’s fair. I’m sad to not have you bouncing around my house anymore, singing pop songs in your underwear.” That makes him groan and I chuckle as I pick up Fitz’s bag. “Let’s get this on your bike, Jinx. You two have a long trip ahead of you.” “That we do.” Jinx glances up. “Hope the rain keeps away.” “If it’s raining, I don’t want you riding at night ok? Call me, I’ll get you a hotel room.” “Yes Sir,” Jinx says.
We walk down to the driveway. Jinx ties the bag on. We stand there looking at each-other. Now I want a cigarette. Crap. Fitz’s lower lip trembles. He throws himself at me for a hug. I crush him in my arms , and I can hear the leather creak underneath. “Be safe, boy. Take care of yourself, and don’t drive Jinx crazy too much. If you feel your safety has been compromised, you can call me any time.” “Yes sir. I’ll be a good boy.” He sniffles. Jinx passes him the other helmet and rubs his back. “If all goes well, you can come back here with me next summer when I visit my folks ok?” “A whole year,” Fitz whispers. “I can find a reason to come up before then. By Christmas for sure. It won’t be a year.” Fitz looks relieved. He puts the helmet on. Jinx checks the fit. “God you look good in full kit. I’m going to be riding half hard the whole time.” “Only half?” Fitz teases. Jinx slaps his own thigh. “You see how tight these are? No room for an erection to go!” That breaks the somber mode into a lighter one, and Fitz goes onto the bike without complaint. “Maybe when we stop for dinner, I can slide my hand in there and make you more comfortable, Sir?” “Oh I would like that.” I bite my lip, smothering a smile. I don’t think Jinx realized Fitz had called him Sir. They were so cute. I seriously loved them. “Alright you two, off you go.”
We exchange our good-byes, and I wave them off until they were finally gone and the sound of the bike fades. I exhale a loud sigh. I so wish I could have kept Fitz and trained him as my own sub, but it is not meant to be. Jinx will continue his training out there, with the local chapter of our club out there supporting them. Fitz has a whole family waiting for him. It’s enough to make a bear cry.
I wipe my eyes and walk back up to the front of my house. The half smoked cigarette is still there on the porch floor. I re-light it with a match, sit in the chair, and smoke the rest of it as the sun comes out through the clouds.
__________________________ Captions are fictional.
Tommy checked his neck. No hickey evident. Or at least, it wouldn’t show up for a while. He washed his mouth out in the sink and splashed water over his face. He had go take another client named Mr. Montoya in an hour, and then after that he had his weekly fuck with the Luke the Lacrosse Jock who was a year above in college. Since Tommy was driving, he decided he could get away with not changing before he went over to Mr. Montoya’s house – not like he had the time to change anyway, and he had a feeling the torn jeans would get Mr. Montoya excited. He liked the narrative of Tommy being a horny university co-ed flitting around the neighborhood and college campus with the energy of a hummingbird seeking a different kind of nectar.
Tommy dried his face. He liked these jeans, but had a feeling they couldn’t be saved. Maybe Luke had an extra pair. They were almost the same height, and Luke had been getting bulked up lately and his thighs were getting solid. No way denim could contain those tree trunks. Tommy decided not to stress about his pants. The pocket was still intact, and it held the cash he earned just the same. He applied some moisturizer he found on the counter to his face and left the bathroom.
Mr. Royce met him in the hallway. “Cleaned up?” “Yes sir.” “Sorry again against your jeans. Little embarrassed about that. You turn me into an animal. Which at my age, is not that frequent.” Tommy grinned. “I enjoy your enthusiasm. Makes me feel sexy.” Mr. Royce cupped Tommy’s exposed buttcheck. “You are sexy. It’s so effortless though, it drives me crazy how you don’t have to try.” “Oh I definitely try in bed though. You get out what you put in, in my opinion. What’s the law – for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction?” Mr. Royce laughed. “Well that’s not the normal way my students retain and apply the knowledge I give them, but hey, you’re retaining it. So I’m pleased to hear that.”
Tommy beamed under the praise. “Well how could I not pay attention? My physics teacher is a stud who has a great cock. But with all that talk of mass and thrust and friction, I think you’re just unaware how horny physics is.” Mr. Royce laughed harder “God you’re too much. You’re making my stomach hurt.” “Sorry, sorry. Just really absorbing my lessons you know?” Tommy said. “You’re absorbing something, that’s for sure.” “For sure. I’ll get going though, stop driving you nuts. I’ll see you in class on Tuesday?” “Sure thing. There’s gonna be a pop quiz by the way, but I think you’ve studied enough.” Tommy shook his butt a little. “I’ll put this in a chair and hit the books anyway. Teacher would be so disappointed in me if I failed his class.” “You didn’t agree to sleep with me just to pass?” Tommy scoffed. “No. I want to pass on my own merit. I want to be a modern twink – dumb face, big ass, smart brain.”
Mr. Royce covered his face with his hand as his chest heaved with amusement. “Oh god, I can’t stop laughing. You have to go, my eyes are watering. Go on, I want to see walk to your car with your pants torn like that. Go on you trouble maker, go.”
Tommy put his bag on his shoulder and giggled as he was playfully pushed out the door. “Alright, alright. Bye Mr. Royce! See you Tuesday! Thanks for the tutoring!”
__________________________ Captions are fictional.
Glen crossed a chore off the list. He puffed out his cheeks. He walked around the room. He looked at the portraits and art on the wall. He paced around. He did some stretches and some squats. Glen sat in an arm chair. He stared out into the room. He puffed out his cheeks again. “Yeah, no.”
Glen got up and picked up his phone. He dialed a number. “Hey Sam. Yeah. I can’t. I can’t do this. I’m too horny to do anything. Where’s the key?” Sam began to chuckle. “Cracked huh.” “Where is it.” Glen whimpered. “Are you in physical pain or feel any numbness?” “Uh. No.” “You’re fine.” Sam replied. “Did you get anything done today?” “Yeah. Most. Just too distracted to do the rest.” “I told you this would be a learning process. This part is mind over matter. I’ll be home in a couple hours. Get your work done.” “But – but you said I could get unlocked from this chastity thing if I wanted!” “Well, yes. If you are demanding it, I won’t deny you the location of the key. But I sense you will regret this. You’re having a moment of weakness. You told me you were a tough guy, you could get past this. You just want to jerk off, but nothing bad will happen if you don’t, except I think you’ll feel disappointed at yourself when you’re done. Mind over matter, Glen. You can make it until I get home, then we’ll have some fun ok?” Glen paced around the apartment. “But how can I get anything done when I’m this horny now?” “Sit on a bag of peas. Or you know, you could get brave and play with that toy I got you.” “That is never going to fit up me,” Glen insisted. Sam snorted. “It’s almost the same size as me hard. You know that right?” “No way. That’s no true.” “It is, that’s why I bought it, you silly boy. Well, even if it scares you, sit on some peas or take a cold shower and cool off. Funnel those hormones into something productive ok?” “You really think I can do this?” “What? Yes, Glen. I do. I have to go. You’ll be ok.” Glen sighed. “Fine. Until you get home. Love you.” “Love you, bye.” “Bye.”
Glen hung up the phone. HIs cock was pulsing in the steel prison. “How in the fuck did he talk me out of that? Goddammit, there better be peas in his fridge.” Glen stomped over to the kitchen and pulled open the freezer door. “Well, at least there’s peas and – oooo Fudgesicles!”
Jesse slid the pillow cases back on the pillows and tossed them onto the bench. Unsatisfied, he fluffed and adjusted them. They hadn’t need to be washed really, but Jake had dripped yogurt all over them. Jesse studied his work and arched his back with his hands on his hips. He sat down with a sigh and leaned against the pillows. The warm sun felt nice on his face, so Jesse closed his eyes. He brought his socked feet up onto the bench and let his body relax.
The next thing he knew, Jess was being gently shaken awake. “Jess.” “Mnnn. Wha?” Jesse’s butt was numb and his body was too warm, but moving seemed impossible. “The school bus is gonna be here any minute. I figured you’d rather me wake you up then a bunch of screaming kids.” Jesse’s dropped his lead feet to the ground and swung himself upright. “The bus? Is it that late?” Jesse blearily looked at his wristwatch and rubbed his eyes; his contacts felt dry. “Oh my god it can’t be that late. I have so much to do today. How could I fall asleep?” “Because you needed the rest. I think you still do. Come on, go lie down. I’ll wake you up for dinner.” “No I can make dinner.” Jess yawned so much his voice cracked. “We’ll be ok without you. Come on.” Luke helped Jess go vertical and walked him down the hall to their bedroom. Jess slumped on the bed like a dead weight. Luke pulled off his socks and began to undo his belt. “I like where this is going,” Jesse joked. “Even if you smell like horses.” “Get some energy up later, then we can do something about it. I’ll have showered by then.” Luke bent over to steal a quick kiss and then stole the belt. “I wouldn’t even care if you didn’t. Man, my contacts are super dry.” Luke walked over to the dresser; Jesse’s grandfather had carved it. He located a pair of soft cotton pants and threw them toward Jesse. “Put these on, I’ll get your contact lens case.”
Jesse yawned again and struggled to change out of his jeans. Luke was relieved his husband went to bed without a fight. By the time he closed the door, the bus had dropped the kids off. Luke came downstairs to a hurricane of dogs and backpacks and shoes and ponytails needing to be fixed and demands for snacks.
Not even two years married, they were juggling raising their adopted daughter Nancy with the needs of getting their farm started. Then, Covid hit. Luke’s brother and sister in law both died; the couple were against the vaccines. They were also against gay people and “groomers”. But despite the size of the Reynolds family, only Luke offered to take all three of their kids. Overnight, a family of three began a family of six. Although intimidated, Luke was buoyed by seeing Jesse so happy. He’d always wanted a large family and gave up that dream when he realized he would be seeking a husband instead of a wife.
Having four kids under eight years old in one house though was like living through a tornado every day. The work of the farm never ceased. The first snow had just fallen. There were a lot of worries. About the crops. About horses. About food. About income. But Luke didn’t stress. He took it one thing at a time. They were all together, and that’s what mattered.
Luke reminded the children to put away their coats and shoes properly. He pulled out some beans, rice, cheese, and tortillas, and let them make some burritos to fill them up before being sent out for their evening chores. Darkness was coming earlier and earlier now, and and Luke wanted them to get used to doing the winter chores before it got dark.
Jesse came downstairs after Elsie and Troy had been put to bed, but before Nancy and Jake. He was promptly rushed for hugs and peppered with questions about why he went to sleep so early. Luke extracted his husband from the clutches of the two older children and shoved a bowl of soup and bread in front of Jess. “Energy for later?” he winked. “Oh yes. Thank you. I will need this.” Jesse devoured it, despite the steam constantly fogging up his glasses.
An hour later, the house lights on the first floor were turned off. The couple were both tired and sore from work, but the urges and needs left neglected demanded attention. Jesse pulled Luke down to the bed and on top of him. Luke’s bathrobe fell away. Jesse wiggled out of his pajama pants and parted his knees to welcome Luke between him. Luke grabbed a pillow and stuck it under Jesse’s butt, which was sculpted from having spent so many years in a saddle. Luke rocked against Jesse until he seriously considered just spending himself there and then, but instead reached for the lube to give Jesse what he wanted. Once prepared, Luke pushed the man’s legs back and moved to be inside him without hesitation. He was glad he postponed climaxing earlier. Jesse’s body was hungry for him and it felt like heaven. It didn’t take long at all until the bed creaked and they cried out together through clenched teeth.
Jesse had been so lost in feeling the waves of utter ecstasy
as Luke moved that he couldn’t feel the bed below him. He had no trouble falling back asleep afterwards.
Jesse woke up before dawn. Invigorated, he lifted some weights, showered, and let the dogs out. He settled in the kitchen to make breakfast muffins and start food prep for the next few days. Jesse had taken the first batch out when he heard footsteps on the stairs. “Daddy? “Yes sweetheart?” “Oh hi Daddy. Good morning.” “Good morning, Nancy. You’re up early.” “I needed to pee. And something smells really good.” Jesse smiled. “Made some super good muffins this morning. Pumpkin apple oatmeal with cinnamon and brown sugar.” “Can I have one?” “In a minute, once they’re cool. Would you like some tea?” She nodded. Jesse was determined to teach their children better habits than chugging soda when you’re thirsty. Jesse turned to start a pot of it, and also set the coffee maker for Luke. Nancy pulled herself on a bar stool. At seven years old, it wasn’t too hard for her. “Daddy?” “Yes love?” She wrapped a strand of hair around her finger. “There were some strange noises coming from your room last night. What were you doing in there?” Nancy tilted her head. “Daddy why is your face so red?”
“Sweetheart, why were you awake?” “I was reading my Dinotopia book and was looking at the pictures.” “That’s not something you were supposed to be hearing, and I’m sorry we bothered you. I was having private time with your father, I’ll explain it when you’re older.” Nancy considered this. “Were you having sex?” Jesse spilled coffee grounds all over the counter. “Nancy Lane, how do you know about that?” She giggled. “I know about that stuff. I’m a big girl. I saw Buster do sex to Penny in the paddock this spring. Papa said that’s how Starlight was made. Buster made a lot of weird noises too.” Nancy made an “ew” face and whispered. “I could see his thing.” Jesse ran his hand over his face. “I am going to murder my husband. Sweetheart, please don’t think about Papa and I having sex and definitely don’t think about horses having sex, ok? It’s not right at your age.” “I won’t. I don’t want to. It’s gross. I just want to know – I’m not going to have another baby brother or sister right?” Jesse snorted. “No. Definitely not.” “Oh, good. I know I wanted someone to play with, but maybe I shouldn’t have asked so much. It’s already noisy with three. If I had FOUR siblings, it’d be SO much noise!” She pressed her palms to her cheeks. Jesse snickered. She really was an exasperated 40 year old New Yorker trapped in a 7 year old girl’s body. “You’ll grow to appreciate having lots of siblings. Although, it’s nice and quiet in here now isn’t it?” Nancy’s gaze drifted to the first rays of dawn light emerging outside the big bay window of the living room. “Yeah.” She put her head down on her folded arms on the counter. “It’s nice.” Jesse smiled. He passed her a cup of tea and gave her a fresh, warm muffin spread with butter. Eventually Luke came downstairs with Troy, freshly changed and sleepy. Luke kissed Nancy; he put Troy in his high chair and came around to hug Jesse from the back. “Hey gorgeous. Sleep well?” “Like a rock.” Jesse subtly pushed his butt against Luke. Luke nuzzled him. “Did you make muffins?” “I did.” “Papa!” “Yes baby?” Luke replied. “Daddy is mad you told me what sex is. I heard you guys last night while I was reading Dinotopia. You sounded like Buster.” She dissolved into giggles. “Oh dear lord.” Jesse groaned with embarrassment. It didn’t help that he could feel Luke’s entire body shaking with laughter against him. “Sweetheart, please go get ready for school.”
Adam needed this moment of refrain. His heart was racing too fast, his emotions too unstable. Tears were on the verge of spilling out, and his pits were damp so he was definitely sweating in the fall chill. Adam closed his eyes and the voices fell away until he only hear Charlie breathing and smell his cologne. And thank God, it was a different cologne than his usual fall choice because that had a fun way of turning him on no matter where they were.
Charlie didn’t used to wear cologne when they met at summer camp. He wore Axe body spray and always smelled of sweat and Doritos.
Prior to summer camp, Charlie had spent two weeks with relatives in Israel and spent the entirety of the
camp insisting he be called Akiba instead of Charlie to sound more Israeli, because he was 14 and gangly and hugely insecure. As it goes at that age, insecurity is often projected as being mean, and when Adam had told him that was dumb because he was a white kid from suburban Oklahoma, it started a rivalry. That turned into a prank war. That resulted in Adam punching Charlie in the dining hall for being a little shit. Calls to parents followed.
Every year they wouldn’t see each-other until the big NFTY Jewish group retreat at the same camp in the winter, where friends kept them apart. Then not again until the long weeks of summer camp in the Texas heat, where they were constantly in trouble for pranks and senseless teenage violence and garden variety idiocy.
Until a funny thing began happening the last year, the year they were both 17, when Charlie sensed someone was looking at him during Sunday service. He glanced around until he saw Adam. Adam was looking at him in a deep, intense way, and Charlie didn’t understand why it made him feel so strange. A few days later, one of their fights resulted in them making out behind the aforementioned dining hall. That didn’t happen in the Torah.
Adam was so helpless in college, he thought he was doing just fine, until Charlie transferred from community college to his university in his junior year; and the moment Charlie was back in his arms Adam realized he was only pretending be fine until that moment.
“Hey,” Adam whispered. Charlie startled and opened his wet eyes. “Yeah?” “During the reception, you want to punch me to make it even?” Charlie looked astonished. “How did you know I was thinking about camp?” Adam began to giggle from the look on Charlie’s face, and soon his shoulders were rolling from laughter. Tears leaked from his eyes and he brushed them away. “Cause it was the beginning. We were both such little shits weren’t we?” “We really were.” Charlie agreed with a soft smile. “We’re gonna send our kids to that camp right?” “Oh, absolutely.” They locked eyes. “What do you say we break the damn glass and finish getting married?” Adam asked. Charlie chuffed air through his nose. “What, are you in a hurry to take me behind the catering hall and check to see if I’m circumcised again?” Adam burst out laughing, startling the rabbi. He was blushing ferociously. “Oi vey. What would the counselors say if they saw us now?” “Hm, that I’m one lucky boy?” Charlie kissed him. “Come on, let’s go break this glass.” Adam smiled and took his hand. “Let’s.”
____________________ Captions are fictional. Beautiful couple.
