A ROCKY ROAD
CHAPTER FOUR
TJ spent his summer days volunteering at a Food Bank and at Meals-on-Wheels, which he found alternately disturbing and rewarding. He found the clients to be, for the most part, fine people but because of a lack of education, debilitating infirmities, simple economic hardship, and, sadly, no family support, they were reduced to dependence on welfare or charitable handouts. He ached when he thought of their plight. However, he was pleased to be able to help them.
Neil kept busy through the week with his summer session classes although time was reserved each evening for talking to TJ by phone.
Weekends were the highlight of both teens' week. Typically, they were together from Friday evening until late Sunday. During that time, they were inseparable, swimming in TJ's pool -- with TJ's coaching, Neil became a competent swimmer -- playing tennis, or just "hanging out." They spent hours listening to classical music, a significant part of Neil's life. TJ wanted to learn more about it so he could share one more interest with his lover.
Their son's emergent interest in fine music was extraordinarily pleasing to TJ's parents. Their admiration of Neil only increased through the summer and they were delighted that TJ had ("finally" as his father once remarked) found a best friend. From all indications, they did not suspect the true depth of the teens' feelings for each other. The lovers had learned an important lesson when they carelessly spoke of their relationship and Neil's father overheard their conversation.
There were precious periods of time on weekends when the teens could be alone. If TJ spent the weekend with Neil, they had more than enough private time to intimately and passionately express their love. If Neil spent the weekend at TJ's home, there were few opportunities except at night when they could caress, kiss, fondle, and bring each other to a fulfilling climax. Still, there were those occasions when TJ's parents would be gone during the day. If Isabel were in the house, she would let the boys know, in her customary, discrete way, that they would not be disturbed.
In late July, TJ's mother convinced her husband to take a vacation. Because of his demanding schedule at work, they had not had a vacation for years. After considerable discussion, they decided to fly to Seattle where their eldest daughter was now living with her husband and three small children. After a few days visit there, they would take an Alaskan cruise before returning home.
Mr. Ryerson initially resisted the idea. He worried about delegating several important projects to his staff but his wife's persistent and enthusiastic persuasion began to erode his objections. His resistance finally crumbled in the bedroom when his wife adroitly engaged him in romantic and erotic foreplay until his arousal peaked.
"This is just as wonderful as it was on our honeymoon," she gushed. "You're still the most handsome man I know."
"Ummm," he mumbled as he paused from suckling on her breast. "And you're still beautiful."
Moments later, he moved down to her pubes and began licking the fleshy folds of her labia. He was hesitant to do that when they were first married but had tried it and found that she liked it. He still didn't enjoy it but it pleased her so he continued the practice in order to make her happy and much more responsive when he penetrated her.
His wife knew, of course, that he would be increasingly eager to proceed to intercourse and waited for his urge to become irresistible. The moment came. He moved up, kissed his wife, and used one hand to guide his cock into her.
When he was firmly implanted and about to begin fucking in earnest, he heard his wife moan with pleasure. That pleased him. But then he heard her say, "It's wonderful being with you like this. It will be even more wonderful on our cruise." Before her husband could object to her assumption that the cruise was a certainty, she kissed him passionately and rotated her hips under him to stimulate his raging erection as if to beg for him to resume the sexual coupling.
Her scheme did not carry a guarantee of success and her comment was, of course, very transparent. However, her execution of the plan, especially in the timing, was flawless. She had trapped her normally rational and excessively pragmatic husband at the point of maximum vulnerability. His animal instincts, his intense need to copulate, and his genuine desire to please his wife had made him completely vulnerable.
They both achieved orgasm.
After returning from the bathroom to dispose of the condom and wash his flaccid, cum-soaked cock, Tom Ryerson crawled into bed and cuddled with his wife. "That was not fair," he began. "You tricked me into an implicit agreement to take a vacation."
"Are you angry," she asked with a seductive smile.
"No. It's clear to me how much you want to go on a cruise. Because I love you, I want to take you. I must admit, however, that the prospect of getting away together appeals to me. It could be the second honeymoon we never had."
"Yes," she replied, recalling that the unexpected pregnancy with TJ had scuttled their plans for a week in Europe after her scheduled concert tour. "But now that TJ is grown, we can get away together."
"He's not grown yet!" Mr. Ryerson said. "He's still a teenager."
"Yes," his wife replied. "But he's a very mature teenager, especially since he met Neil. And Isabel will be here to watch out for him."
Mrs. Ryerson spent the next day coordinating schedules with her daughter in Seattle and with Isabel. A visit to the travel agency secured tickets for a seven-day Alaskan cruise in late August including plane reservations. She telephoned her husband with the dates and he made arrangements for vacation time. That evening, over dinner, she broke the news to TJ who was genuinely happy for them.
"Will you be all right here with Isabel?" Mr. Ryerson asked. "Will you be a good boy for her while we're gone?"
"Tom!" Mrs. Ryerson nearly exploded. "TJ is not a boy! He's sixteen! Of course he'll be all right."
"Sorry," Mr. Ryerson said contritely. Turning to his son, he said, "I apologize, TJ. Sometimes I forget that my little boy has become a young man ... and, I might add, a young man that I love and am very proud of."
"Thanks, Dad. I hope I will always deserve your respect," TJ said while thinking of his father's inevitable disappointment and anger when he learned he had a gay son.
TJ was ecstatic when he phoned Neil that evening with news that his parents would be gone for almost two weeks. "That will give us a chance to be together during the week!" he enthused.
"Maybe ... Maybe not," Neil said cautiously. "You know I have a lot of homework to do in the evening. We've talked about that before. Maybe we'll have to be content with weekends together."
"Right. I'm sorry. I forgot. I just miss you so much during the week. I wish we could be together every day."
"We will ... in time," Neil said, hoping to reassure his boyfriend and implicitly reinforce their resolve to be patient.
When the day of his parents' departure came, TJ would be working, delivering meals, so they had to say their goodbyes the evening before. Before going to bed, he called Neil.
"I've got a load of studying to do," Neil said. "I'll probably pull an all-nighter tomorrow night. Would it be all right with you to come at noon instead of ten?"
"Of course, Neil. I know you have to study and you need sleep."
"I may be asleep when you come over on Saturday so I'll leave my door unlocked. Just come on in and crawl into bed with me. I love waking up to find a handsome, naked body next to me."
"I'll be there about noon on Saturday," TJ replied. "That should give you time to get some sleep. I can't wait to snuggle up to you in bed."
TJ was up at eight Saturday morning and wanted to go see his lover immediately but he had to wait because he promised to let Neil sleep late. Waiting was torture but joining Neil in bed would make the rest of the day wonderful.
He had no way of knowing that an hour earlier, at seven, in a condo on Park Avenue in New York, someone was setting out on a collision course with him.
Cory had convinced his parents that he needed to drive to Washington for an appointment with the registrar on campus to resolve a problem with his fall semester schedule. "No," he lied, "It can't be resolved by phone." They finally agreed after extracting a promise to drive carefully. The truth was that Cory had a compelling need to talk to Neil. He was the one person who might help. He had helped before. He had been critical -- cruel, perhaps -- but, as Cory reflected on Neil's comments, they were justified. Cory, after days of agonizing exploration of his attitude, his behavior, and his compulsion to find sex at whatever the cost, came to a painful realization: his selfish lust had been the cause of his problems.
Neil had told him that several times but Cory finally acknowledged how right Neil had been. Neil also suggested, even demanded, that Cory learn to think of others and seek a meaningful rapport with a man before foolishly soliciting a fleeting sexual experience. Yes! Neil had been right! Perhaps he would be willing to give him some advice on how to live a safe and satisfying gay life.
With light traffic on early Saturday morning, Cory arrived at Neil's dorm room at half past ten.
Cory knocked on Neil's door, hoping that he was inside, and hoping that his unexpected visit wouldn't be too upsetting. There was no answer to his knock. Recalling that Neil often left his door unlocked when he was in the room and thinking that he might be asleep, Cory tried the door handle, opened the door and looked into the room. Just as he thought, Neil was there, asleep on his bed.
Cory entered the room and quietly closed the door. He stared at Neil for a few moments, debating whether to wake him. The sight of Neil's exposed bare chest and stomach, however, began to awaken the demons in Cory's soul. He wondered what other stunning sights might be concealed beneath the sheet that rested alluringly across his hips and legs. The demons of lust were soon battling with the rationality of Cory's mind.
He walked over to stand beside the bed. Neil's chest rose and fell faintly with each breath. To Cory, who craved sexual satisfaction but got so little of it, it was an overwhelming vision of youthful masculinity. But the sheet was covering the most interesting part of Neil's handsome physique. Did he dare sneak a peek at the treasure that lay under the sheet? `What would be the harm in that?' he rationalized to himself.
Succumbing to the temptation, Cory carefully pulled the sheet down to reveal Neil's completely naked body. His impressive cock was lying peacefully across one thigh. It was beautiful! A meaty tube of manhood that was thick and long but not grotesquely so. The neatly trimmed pubic bush and hefty ball sac added to the allure. He stared at it for several minutes as his own cock began to inflate.
Did he dare touch it? "Yes!" cried the demons but he paused to think. After all, he thought, I came here for help with my uncontrolled craving for sex. Now is not the time to back away from getting the help I need.
However, the image of Neil's cock amplified the demons' demand for sexual stimulation.
Compromising between the two conflicting voices in his head, Cory proceeded very carefully. He fondled Neil's cock. It launched him into a veritable frenzy of desire. The longer he did it, the more he wanted to. The original reason for the long drive to Washington--to seek his friend's advice on how to control his demons and find genuine companionship-- had been replaced by overwhelming animalistic lust. Only a vestige of reason allowed him to proceed cautiously so as not to wake the sleeping beauty.
Eventually, the flaccid tube of flesh began to swell, which only fueled Cory's lust and caused his own cock to stiffen into a hardened, throbbing rod. The singular purpose of sexual gratification now ruled his behavior. And yet, to achieve that goal, he knew he would have to proceed cautiously.
To maximize his own arousal, he quickly stripped off his shirt, removed his trousers and boxers, and dropped his clothing in a pile on the floor. It was a patently foolish thing to do, one might even say pathological. However, his lust was seizing control of his thinking and being naked only amplified the thrill. Explaining his actions if Neil awoke and saw him naked became only a very minor consideration.
He knelt down beside the bed. He dropped his head to within an inch of Neil's crotch and indulged himself by sniffing the musky, masculine aroma. It completely erased all thoughts of his original purpose for visiting Neil. He resumed his fondling of the irresistible cock with one hand while unconsciously stroking himself with the other.
Very soon, Cory found himself on the brink of orgasm, which destroyed whatever small amount of propriety remained in his thoughts. Just for pure sexual satisfaction, he stood and sprayed Neil's crotch with several blasts of hot cum. It was one of the most erotic climaxes he had ever had. His legs gave way and he sank again to his knees.
When the euphoria of his orgasm subsided, the sight of his cum all over Neil's cock, balls, and pubic hair revealed to him the idiocy of what he had done.
He had forgotten that the door was not locked, a mistake that would cost him dearly.
TJ, growing increasingly impatient, had decided to drive to campus and arrive before the promised time of noon. He planned to wait in Neil's room, reading and admiring his handsome, sleeping lover. There was a chance, he reasoned, that Neil would awaken before noon and that would give them more precious time together.
Just as Cory was at the height of his orgasm, TJ was parking his car and thinking, `Only a few more minutes and I'll be with the man I love more than life itself.' He checked his watch: five minutes to eleven. He wondered if Neil would be awake. If not, should he wake him or let him sleep?
Cory, meanwhile, was transfixed by the sight of Neil's cum- spattered cock, balls, and pubic hair. Too late, he realized that Neil would eventually awaken, find the mess, and wonder what happened. I'll clean him up,' Cory thought. Yes! What a thrill it would be to lick my cum off his magnificent cock!' He bent down to begin licking up his cum.
At that moment, TJ was climbing the stairs to the third floor of the dormitory hall.
Suddenly, Cory felt Neil's hand on the back of his head. He panicked and froze in place. He glanced up at Neil's face only to find his eyes were still closed. There would hardly be enough time to grab his clothes and run for the door without Neil seeing who had molested him.
Then he heard a muffled, sleepy voice say, "Don't stop, TJ. It feels wonderful."
Did he say TJ? Yes! Suspicions confirmed! Neil and TJ were gay lovers!
His panic over the prospect of being caught and the unexpected revelation prevented him from hearing the door open or seeing who stood there in utter astonishment.
TJ stood in the open doorway, paralyzed by total disbelief. The sight was incomprehensible! Neil was naked on the bed. A naked teen--TJ could only see his back and didn't recognize him--was kneeling beside the bed with his face buried in Neil's crotch. The unknown teen was licking up cum. Worst of all, Neil was smiling -- obviously enjoying the treatment he was receiving! TJ shook his head and blinked repeatedly but the horrifying image did not go away. The love of his life was engaged in oral sex with someone else! As much as he wanted not to believe it, he had to.
TJ slammed the door shut and ran for the stairway.
The slamming door instantly seized both Neil's and Cory's attention. Neil sat up, expecting to see TJ but was shocked to see it was Cory. "WHAT THE..." he screamed. "You filthy BASTARD! What the fuck are you doing?"
Neil then saw the remaining cum in his crotch, knew it was not his own. His confusion instantly turned into rage. He hit Cory brutally in the face with his fist, which sent the intruder tumbling backward. Neil jumped out of bed, straddled Cory's chest and pinned his arms to the floor with his knees. He delivered several more blows to both sides of Cory's face while cursing him loudly.
Cory's nose and lips were bleeding. He was whimpering piteously. But he was spared further punches when Neil's anger dissipated. Neil stood and screamed, "Get the fuck out of my room!"
Cory just curled up into a fetal position and sobbed.
"OUT! NOW!" Neil loudly commanded but Cory didn't move. That restored some of Neil's anger and disgust for Cory. He grabbed the pathetic teen by the ankles and dragged him into the hallway. He slammed the door and locked it.
Cory laid on the hallway floor bleeding and sobbing for several minutes until he was finally able to regain his composure and realize that he was naked. He stood and knocked on the door, hoping to retrieve his clothes.
He heard Neil's booming voice, "Get lost, asshole! I never want to see you again!"
"My clothes!" Cory yelled through the closed door.
Several awkward moments of silence passed with no response from inside the room. Cory, in pain, humiliated, and desperate, pleaded, "Please, Neil. I need my clothes."
"I'll throw them out the window! Get lost, asshole!"
"NO!" Cory screamed as he visualized the embarrassment of going outside to gather up his clothes. Then, in a rare flash of inspiration, he added, "I know about you and TJ. You're both fags like me. Give me my clothes or the world will know your secret."
Agonizing moments of silence followed before the door opened. Neil was now wearing a bathrobe and he threw the clothes in Cory's face.
"Before you think about blackmailing me, slime bag, give some thought to how your homophobic parents will react when they learn they have a queer son. What will they say about all the trouble you've gotten into because of your selfish lust. What will they say about your getting beaten up because you propositioned Brad ... or the trouble in the gay bar ... or hooking up with a sexual predator at the water park? Before you threaten me, think about what it will cost you. Now get your sorry ass out of my sight! Get out of my life! If you so much as speak to me again, I'll give you reason to regret it!"
Neil slammed and locked the door, leaving Cory bleeding and desolate in the hall.
TJ had run down the stairs and across campus to his car. He was so distressed by what he saw that he could hardly unlock the driver's side door and get behind the wheel. Then, the enormity of the situation engulfed him. He sobbed bitterly for twenty minutes The inconceivable vision of his lover having sex with someone else was seared into his memory.
His emotional upheaval finally diminished to the point that he could think. He knew he was in no condition to drive so he sat there trying, vainly, to make sense of the situation. What he saw was unmistakable. It was the why of it that made no sense. The betrayal, however, distorted his reasoning. Neil had declined the opportunity to visit TJ during TJ's parents' vacation. He had asked him not to come until noon so he must have reserved the morning for a tryst with ... with who? Neil had said his first partner walked out on him. Was it because Neil had been unfaithful? Neil had seduced him the day after they first met. Was it just another conquest? They enjoyed each other's company on weekends and engaged in really hot sex but what was Neil doing through the week? Was he really committed to a monogamous relationship or was he lying when he said he was?
Half an hour's agonizing thought left most of the questions unanswered but one fact was clear: Neil had betrayed him by having sex with someone else. As a consequence, the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to him, a loving relationship, had been destroyed. His dream-come-true had suddenly, tragically, become a nightmare.
TJ's shock and disappointment morphed to anger, which was neither healthy nor justified but it restored enough composure for him to drive home. On the way, his cell phone rang. He looked at the display and saw it was a call from Neil. He was too upset and angry with his FORMER lover to answer the call. He switched off his phone.
Neil cleaned up Cory's blood from the floor and showered to get rid of the thoroughly offensive vestiges of cum on his body. He returned to his room, hoping to find TJ waiting there for him but he wasn't. It was well past noon; TJ was late. He called TJ only to hear, `The person you are calling is unavailable.' He left a voice-mail, "Hi. It's Neil. I hope you're on the way over. I miss you and can't wait to see you. I love you."
He then called the Ryerson's home phone only to get their answering machine. He left another message, "TJ, this is Neil. Please call me." He almost ended the message with an `I love you' but didn't because he didn't know who might retrieve the message.
TJ arrived at the empty house (Isabel was away for the weekend), ignoring the flashing light on the answering machine. He went immediately to his room, and fell into bed where he cried himself to sleep.
Neil repeatedly tried to call TJ every 20 or 30 minutes without leaving a voice mail until the fourth try, "Hi. Please call me, love. I'm getting worried about you." He tried the home phone again, with no answer, and hung up.
TJ woke up when he heard the house phone ring and went downstairs for something to eat. On the way to the kitchen, he pressed play' on the answering machine, heard Neil's message, and thought, Why should I call you? Haven't you had enough sex today?' He punched the `delete' button angrily.
While he was eating, he idly checked his voice-mail. There were two messages from Neil. He deleted both without even listening to them. Fifteen minutes later, his cell phone rang. He expected the call to be from Neil and was prepared to let it ring but it was from Isabel so he pressed `talk.'
"TJ, honey. Are you all right? Neil says you're late and he can't reach you."
"I'm fine, Isabel. I'm home. Just a change of plans."
"You're at home? I can come back if you need anything."
"That's not necessary. I'm fine. I really am. I'll be okay here. It's not like I'm a little boy and need a baby sitter. Enjoy your weekend and don't worry about me. Okay?"
"Well, if you're sure. But call me if you need anything. Will you promise me that?"
"I promise."
"And call Neil! He tried to hide it but I could tell he was upset."
"I will. Sorry about the confusion. I hope we didn't upset you."
Now TJ faced a dilemma. He had promised Isabel that he would call Neil but the last thing he wanted to do at the moment was to talk to his former lover who had betrayed him.
To be continued