A Wishful Miracle

A Wishful Miracle Chapter 2

"Can you check on the pies for me bud?" Jermaine asked his housemate Lee as he continued mixing batter for more cakes.

"Sure." Lee grabbed the mitts from the counter and covered his hands then pulled several racks from the oven. "They're not quite done yet. They should be ready in another ten minutes."

Jermaine nodded that he heard him as he prepared the pans to bake a couple of cakes. It was that time of the year and he was once again making a few desserts for the shelter's annual Christmas dinner. Only this year he wasn't making them alone. In appreciation for all that Jermaine had done for him; his ward Lee, offered his assistance, which he gratefully accepted. Ever since the previous Christmas, when Jermaine had taken him in, both boys' lives had been enriched beyond their imagination and made it a special time and the start of a new tradition for them. As they continued on with their task, both boys reminisced on when they first met, merely one year ago.

***Flashback***

It was Christmas time and Jermaine Clarkson was helping out with serving dinner to the homeless at the local shelter where he sometimes volunteers in his spare time. He was eating his dinner when a young teen walked in looking disheveled. The kid looked familiar to him, so he turned to his table companion to inquire some information about him. The director of the shelter explained that the kid's name was Lee Markesan and he had been there for about a week after being thrown out by his parents. The director stated that he didn't know what the fight was about, just that it was major. Jermaine had his suspicions as to what it may have been and decided to see if there was anything he could do to help.

He waited until Lee got up to throw away his trash before approaching him. Lee recognized him right away and became wary. He'd never expected to see anyone there from school, and it had him feeling a bit cautious. Jermaine introduced himself and offered a handshake in politeness. A second later Lee returned the greeting and shook the offered hand. Jermaine's friendly personality set his mind at ease and made Lee feel comfortable to talk. Soon they were sitting at a table with their dessert and getting to know one another.

Jermaine confirmed his living situation due to the death of his parents and his abrupt transition from childhood into adulthood. He then explained to Lee about his volunteer work at the shelter every holidays and alternate weekends. "Volunteering here makes me feel like I'm around family and helps me not feel alone through the holidays; therefore keeping me from drifting into depression during those rough times."

Lee then explained his own situation. He told Jermaine about how he got caught by his parents engaging in a sixty-nine with a friend of his, how his father went ballistic and called him all kinds of derogatory names while his mother and friend just stood there listening, how his friend blamed him for it all, even though that wasn't their first time doing it, how his father tried beating him until he realized that his son wasn't completely defenseless, and how the person whom he thought would always have his back, just stood there portraying to be the victim as his father told him to leave and never come back.

"I don't know why they came home early when they were supposed to be out with their friends all day but they did. To top it all off, my friend had the nerve to call me the next day trying to apologize and wanting me to come over. Can you believe the fucker had the nerve to call me after everything that he watched happen and not owning up to his part in it?" The last part was said with a lot of hostility.

After that, Jermaine offered Lee a place to stay, which he gratefully accepted. It took some time and effort, but eventually Jermaine's lawyers got Lee's parents to sign over their parental rights and Lee officially became his ward. However, Mr. and Mrs. Markesan didn't get off totally easy. The lawyers made sure that Jermaine got support for Lee and that his college education was taken care of, not that he needed the money. He was completely willing and able to take care of Lee without their assistance, but his lawyers insisted on the parents putting in their share for his upbringing since it was their responsibility to see to his wellbeing until he could do it on his own.

***End Flashback***

Once the pies were done, Lee took them out of the oven and set them on a cooling rack, then Jermaine put the cakes in. They then prepared a variety of dough for several types of Christmas cookies that they would bake the next day when Brad and Andre came over. Thinking of Brad had Lee wondering about something that he wanted to get Jermaine's opinion on.

"Can I ask you a question?" After getting a nod from Jermaine, he thought a moment on how to phrase his question. "Is it true what they say? That it hurts the first time you...?"

Jermaine looked at him confused until he realized what Lee was asking. "I'm probably not the right person you should ask since I only bottomed a few times. Dré enjoys that position too much and rarely wants to top, but the answer to your question is yes. It can hurt if you don't know what you're doing. It takes a lot of preparation to avoid injuries, which is why most people engage in foreplay before intercourse. The hole needs to be stretched enough to accept entrance of the organ and make it pleasurable for both individuals."

They finished with the first batch of dough and covered it with plastic wrap and set it aside then started on another. "How do you prepare someone for penetration?"

"There're several ways that you can do it but my favorite is rimming." Lee looked confused so Jermaine explained what that was. "It can be very pleasurable for both giver and receiver if done properly. Dré enjoys it because it always makes him orgasm without him even touching himself. I love knowing that I'm giving him that pleasure and satisfying his needs. It makes me happy that I'm making him happy. Are you asking because you have decided to take that final step with Brad?"

"I'm thinking about it." Lee answered. "Since we're both virgins in that regard, we've decided to get some advice from you and Andre. I really want to give myself to him completely, but I'm afraid that it will hurt. I'm also worried that I won't satisfy him. I don't want to disappoint him by not being good enough."

"If he truly loves you like I know he does, then there's nothing you can do that will disappoint him. Just do what you feel comfortable with and the rest will take care of itself. Agonizing over it will only discourage you from enjoying the experience and spoil the moment."

Lee smiled at Jermaine in appreciation. "Thanks. I knew you were the right person to come to about this. You said everything that I needed to hear and more and really set my mind at ease. I'm glad I have a big brother like you to help me out."

Jermaine caught the term of endearment and returned Lee's smile. No words needed to be said because his smile said it all. He was glad to have Lee as a little brother even though they weren't related. The two had bonded as tight as two brothers could be and nothing could ever break the closeness that they share.

At the Reynolds' house, Brad and Andre were engaged in a similar conversation while baking brownies and cupcakes. Brad knew that he could have gone to his parents with his inquiries, but instead he opted to ask his favorite cousin. Due to the closeness of their relationship and the subject of the conversation, he felt more comfortable discussing it with him, rather than going to his parents. He explained as best as he could with Andre only interrupting when he needed something clarified. Once Andre understood what Brad was asking, he gave him some instructions on techniques and preparations that would satisfy both individual's desires.

Brad handed Andre the pans that he had just floured with a questioning look. Seeing the expression on his face, Andre raised an eyebrow. "How... what..." He paused to take a deep breath to calm himself before continuing. "I don't think I can last as long as Jermaine did, but what did he do on Christmas to last that long?"

Andre couldn't stop his face from turning cherry red. His hole still twitches every time he remembers that spectacular night and the morning after. It had him functioning very gingerly which had the two younger boys teasing him about it mercilessly, but he took it all in strides. After all, it was the best Christmas that he ever had in more ways than one, and nothing could take that away from him.

Once he had his blush muscles under control, he poured the batter into the pan. "It's not so much as to what he did, but how he did it." He then told his cousin how Jermaine first pleasured him orally to completion that took care of any unexpected pre-ejaculation that might have occurred. How he prepared him for the penetration as he was coming down from his orgasm which kept his libido heightened and the stimulations ongoing. Finally, he explained how Jermaine alternated between fast and slow, and long and short strokes, keeping them on the edge and prolonging the pleasuring of their coupling until neither one could hold out any longer.

After Brad took the cupcakes out of the oven, Andre put the brownies in. "It depends on a person's stamina I guess." He speculated. "Some people can last longer than others, while some are just looking for a quick relief. It doesn't matter if their partner gets any pleasure from it, as long as they get what they're after." He then fixated his cousin with a stern look. "Fortunately, I have a partner who cares that I'm satisfied just as much as he is."

Brad smiled and nodded. "That's why Lee and I wanted to talk to you and Jermaine about this. We knew that you would understand and give us some advice on how to make it pleasurable for us both."

Andre stood beside Brad at the counter and helped him frost the cupcakes. "That's because we care about you both and want you to be happy and safe."

"We know and care about you guys too. You're the closest thing to a brother as we're going to get plus we look up to you both. You guys are our role models." He put down the spatula then grabbed Andre into a bear hug which Andre returned with lots of affection. They held the embrace for several minutes before letting go and returning to their task at hand.

If anyone were looking at either residence, they would have sworn that all of the bright Christmas lights were the cause of the glow, but essentially, it was all in the eyes of the beholder. The love and serenity coming from the ether surrounding both houses were actually shining on them that created the glow.

Once they were finished for the night, they all headed for bed. Tomorrow was going to be another busy day for them all.

The next day after school Andre and Brad followed Jermaine and Lee to their house. After a brief discussion, they decided to have a snack before starting on their tasks. They began with decorating inside of the house to finish that display. Next was the eight-foot tree which turned out to be a beautiful demonstration complete with four new ornaments that Jermaine had specially made for each of them. Brad and Lee wanted to go a little old-fashioned; so they also strung popcorn and cranberries to hang on the tree as well. Finally, Jermaine put the angel that his mother had bought when he was a baby on top. Using her imagination and creative talents, Mrs. Clarkson had it specially made to resemble her son as he will look fully grown. Afterwards, they took a short break to admire their progress before assembling the train set that included some recently purchased parts. At Jermaine's insistence, each boy had added their own memento to the set, which they were happy to do. Jermaine's contribution was two new train cars; Andre's expanded the railroad tracks, including lights and signs; Lee added new villages and hospitals; and Brad contributed additional props such as trees and bushes and small businesses. Jermaine had even helped them with the research and shopping. By the time they were finished decorating, they had a stunning showcase of colored lights and sounds that gave off a festive holiday atmosphere.

They admired their work for a few minutes to double check that everything was fully assembled and they hadn't forgotten anything. Once they were sure, Brad and Andre assisted Lee and Jermaine with putting their gifts under the tree and turning on the train and lights. The new additions made the display more beautiful and elegant than the previous year's showcase.

Everyone was starting to get hungry so they headed to the kitchen to make dinner. As Jermaine got out the ingredients for a meatloaf, he commandeered Lee into making a shrimp salad, Andre some mashed potatoes along with broccoli and cheddar cheese, and Brad a cherry cobbler and whip cream for dessert. An hour later they were sitting down to a delicious meal with the dessert baking in the oven.

Conversation was cheerful and camaraderie. All four boys love when they were all together like this, especially Lee and Jermaine. It gave them the feeling of being part of a family again which they both relished in. They always enjoy spending time together as brothers but the addition of Brad and Andre made their family more complete and enjoyable. They treasured every moment that they have together while secretly wishing for many more in the future.

When they were done eating, they started on their next task. Lee and Brad prepared the cookies to go into the oven while Jermaine and Andre made more dough. They continued talking about mundane things as they worked together in creating some delicious treats to make the less fortunate holidays joyful and enjoying one another's company in doing so. Although the tradition started with Jermaine, it had become a special time for them all. It was during the holidays that they had bonded closer with their partner and friends and they wanted to give others a happy holiday to enjoy.

They worked together as a well-oiled machine and were soon filling up containers. Jermaine was the best cook of them all but the other three had improved significantly and their skills were almost as good as his. The most complicated desserts like the fruitcakes and fruitcake cookies were left for him to make while the others helped with the rest. Around midnight they figured that they had made enough, stored the containers in the walk-in freezer with the other desserts, cleaned the kitchen, and headed to bed.

Saturday morning all four boys woke up fully energized for a day of shopping. Jermaine had implored his friends into helping him find Christmas gifts for his employees. Each one will be given a gift at the company's annual Christmas party before departing for the holidays. This year Jermaine decided to do something different from previous events. Instead of having it fully catered, he decided to have the caterers cook the main meal while he and the boys provide the appetizers, desserts, and drinks. He had already put in several orders at multiple bakeries with guarantees to have them ready on schedule as well as preparing some of their own.

After a scrumptious breakfast of apple-cinnamon pancakes, sausages, eggs, and hash browns made by Jermaine, they headed out for their excursion. Because of the load they'll have, and wanting to give the two younger boys some experience in driving, the older boys decided to take more than one vehicle. Lee drove Jermaine's while Brad drove Andre's. At some time during their outing, they will switch drivers because the older boys didn't think they were ready to drive with a vehicle that was fully loaded.

They arrived at the mall and found two empty adjoining spaces to

Park. They then gathered around the vehicles to discuss when and where to meet up so they could grab something for lunch. Each couple was going their separate ways for the morning but would shop together in the afternoon. This way each couple would have some alone time as well as some family time. Once they had made their decision, Jermaine handed them all a list of names plus plenty of cash to cover any cost, then they headed inside to begin their splurge.

Getting some alone time with their boyfriend wasn't the only reason why the boys wanted to split into couples though! That was something that they could get at any house and at any time. No, they wanted to compare notes with their partner regarding the conversation that each have had with their buddy two days before. That went double for the two young ones.

With their morning shopping done; Brad and Lee headed to the food court to meet up with Jermaine and Andre. They had just sat down to wait when someone approached their table. They looked up to see two faces glaring down at them with contempt.

"Well, look what we have here. It looks like we ran into a couple of perverted queers!" Lee's mother, Melisa Markesan, spat loud enough for anyone in close proximity to hear. "What brings you two faggots to the mall?"

Lee sighed and rolled his eyes exasperatingly. "Listen lady, we don't have to answer to you, so why don't you take your homophobic bullshit and go bitch somewhere else!" He spat back with derision dripping from every word. "And, I do mean that quite literally."

That stopped Melisa Markesan's rampage completely. No one, especially her son, had ever spoken to her in that manner before. Lee spoke with such contempt and disrespect that she was left totally speechless. Her attempt at embarrassing her son regarding his homosexuality had completely backfired on her and she didn't see a way out of it. Her cheeks were burning with anger and embarrassment from all of the eyes on them caused by her own intention and no remarks were forthcoming. Her husband Darryl noticed it as well and tried diverting the attention back on their son.

"You don't speak to..." was all that he got out before being abruptly cut off. "I'd keep quiet if I was you old man." Brad spat with so much venom and fire in his eyes that Mr. Markesan took a step back. "How dare you speak to me that way!? You need to learn how to respect your elders."

"I respect my elders when they deserve my respect." Brad retorted which made him even angrier. "I suggest you keep your mouth shut before I..."

Slowly, Brad rose from his chair ready to throw down if need be. "Or you'll do what?" The malice in his eyes was plainly clear to see. "What's your punk ass going to do? Because I'm one hundred percent sure that I can mop your sorry ass all over this floor."

That did it for Darryl Markesan. His temper boiled over and he drew back his arm. But before he could throw the punch, he was groaning in agony with his arm twisted behind his back and his wrist half way up to his shoulders. No one saw Jermaine and Andre come up from behind until he had Darryl fully subdued. He tried to get free but it was ineffective. Jermaine had a tight hold of him and his attempts to escape were just aggravating the pain. Regaining her composure, Melisa took a step towards them to help out her husband when she was blocked by a smirking Andre, daring her to interfere.

Mr. Markesan demanded to be released but Jermaine just ignored him. "What's seems to be the problem here guys?"

"Just the same old, same old." Lee sighed tiredly. "They created a scene by spewing their homophobic bullshit once again. I guessed they had expected us to run from embarrassment; but instead we stood up to them which made them mad. Daddy dearest here was about to take a swing at Brad for telling him off when you guys came along."

Jermaine nodded and forced Darryl down onto a chair. "Sit here and don't move." He ordered then turned to Lee. "Place another chair next to him." Lee nodded and grabbed another chair from the nearest table. Andre pointed to it and Melisa yielded to the unspoken command. He and Jermaine sat across the table from the two adults with Lee and Brad on either side of them. "Now I'm going to talk; and you're going to listen!" Jermaine asserted with a serious tone.

Mr. Markesan started to lean forward to butt heads with the young man who he thought should be submitting to orders and not demanding them, but a stern look from Jermaine disabused him of that idea. "Now, here's how it's going to be from now on. You're going to mind your own business and leave Lee and Brad alone. If I ever see or hear of you harassing them again, then I'll make your lives a living hell. We all know that I have the connections and resources to do so, so don't try my patience."

There was no doubt to anyone that Jermaine was demanding and not asking. Mr. Markesan, however, was heathen and wanted to assert his authority over the teen. "Now listen here, I don't care how much money you have, nor do I care about your connections, we don't take orders from a snot-nose punk like you. I suggest you watch your attitude before I show you who the boss is and put you in your place."

Jermaine didn't even bat an eye to that. "If you think you can stomp with the big dogs' old man; then hit me with your best shot, because I can guarantee that I will take you down and come out on top."

Mr. Markesan jumped from his chair with rage written all over his face. "We'll see about that!" He declared then stomped off, leaving his wife behind. Not being able to intimidate the young teen who he felt was beneath him had him fuming but his little outburst just made Jermaine smile in satisfaction. He then told the wife to heed his warning because they wouldn't be getting another one. Mrs. Markesan just got up and left without saying a word. She wanted to smack the kid for being disrespectful but didn't dare to try. She knew that wouldn't accomplish anything except make things worse for them both. There was no doubt in her mind that the kid could and would follow through with his threat.

The boys had a good laugh over the Markesan's' immature departure. Once they had gotten themselves under control, they went by couples to get their food while the other watched their bags.

When they had finished eating, Jermaine took Brad aside for a private chat. He asked if he could keep Andre busy while he and Lee shopped for Andre's gift to which Brad agreed. He asked how long he would need and Jermaine told him about an hour. That was fine with Brad because he needed to buy a gift for Lee as well. They then chose where to meet up to finish their shopping together. Once they had it all worked out, they returned to the table completely unaware that Andre also had the same discussion with Lee.

After throwing away their trash, the younger boys went to use the men's room while the older ones stayed back to watch their bags. They then switched places before once again separating except this time in different pairs. Neither Andre or Jermaine noticed the looks that passed between their younger companions when they departed from each other.

Jermaine knew that it wasn't going to take long to buy Andre's gift because he had already decided on what to get him. He only suggested that much time just in case Lee wanted to buy Brad's gift as well. It didn't take him long to find the small store where he had bought Andre's gift the previous year.

When Jermaine came in, the owner's eyes lit up. He'd remembered him and had hoped to see him again this year. He felt privileged and overjoyed to help the two young love birds select the perfect gift for their special friend and was hoping that he could do it again. He and Jermaine shook hands then Jermaine introduced him to Lee. The owner shook his hand as well and asked what he could do for them.

"I want to buy a special custom made gift and you're the only one who can do it for me." He then told him what he was looking for and how soon he wanted it. "Do you think you can do that?"

"I'm positive we can. I'll fast-track the order so it'll be ready on time." He assured Jermaine and handed him an order form. "Just fill out this form and I'll take care of the rest. Be sure to give a precise description of the design so you'll get what you're looking for."

Jermaine thanked him and filled out the form as the owner turned to assist another customer. Before he could walk away though, Lee stopped him and requested a form for himself. He heard what Jermaine was getting his boyfriend and decided to do something similar for Brad. They had just finished filling them out when the owner returned. They handed him back the forms and he read them over to make sure that it was completed to their specifications.

"Everything seems to be in order. I'll give you a call when they arrive so we can get your opinion on them before we wrap them. The satisfaction of my customers is important to me and good for my business. I like seeing them leave happy that they got what they were looking for."

Jermaine smiled as he nodded in appreciation. The owner returned the smile as he thanked them for their business. They returned the sentiment and left the stop in search of their boyfriends. Oblivious to what Lee was doing, Jermaine never saw him pull out his phone to text Brad and knew exactly where they were. Now it was Brad's turn; and for him to figure out a way to keep Jermaine occupied. Fortunately, luck came his way when they bumped into Jason and Jennifer who were also doing some shopping.

"Hey guys, what are you doing here?" Jermaine asked them.

Jason explained that they were looking for a gift for his boyfriend Chris but were having no luck in finding it. "We've been all over this mall and can't find it anywhere. I'm beginning to think that he saw it somewhere else and not here."

Lee saw this as his opportunity to stall Jermaine and acted upon it. He suggested that he and Jermaine help them in finding the store since they were almost done with their own shopping. "We'll probably catch up with Brad and Andre somewhere if we keep walking around. We can kill two birds with one stone."

Jermaine couldn't see any reason to say no, so he reluctantly agreed. He really didn't want to help them because he was getting annoyed with Jennifer constantly flirting with him. She still has the crazy notion of hooking him for herself, even though he and Andre had announced their relationship several months ago. He sighed exasperatingly as they went in search of the store while also keeping a lookout for Brad and Andre. After a half an hour of walking around the mall, they decided to give up. None of them had spotted it anywhere and they were tired of looking. However, at some point in their search, they did catch up with the two boys.

Jermaine could see that Andre wasn't happy to see them with Jennifer and her hanging all over him. He quickly told the twins that they'll see them later because they still have some shopping to finish and he wanted to avoid any conflict between the two. Both brother and sister thanked him and Lee for their help and wished them all happy holidays. Jennifer also gave Jermaine a kiss on the cheek knowing that it would get under Andre's skin. Before anything more could escalate, Jason said goodbye as he dragged his sister away with Jermaine doing the same with a furious Andre.

When they were done with their shopping, they headed back home while making a stop at Subway for some sandwiches, chips, and drinks.

After they had finished eating, they spent time wrapping then putting the gifts away in the attic until it was time for the party. Tomorrow they will finish the rest of the shopping and wrapping so they could be done with it. That way they would have the week to take care of any last minute details and not have to rush to get it done. None of them were tired as of yet, so they popped in a DVD and made some munchies to nibble on. An hour and a half later they were finally getting sleepy but only had fifteen or twenty minutes of the movie left so they decided to finish it. Afterwards, they tidied up then headed to bed.

The week passed slowly, but soon Friday had arrived. The boys got permission to leave school early so they could assist Jermaine in setting up for the corporate Christmas party. After stopping at the house for the items they had made and purchased throughout the week, they headed to Clarkson Industry. On their way, they'll stop at the bakeries to pick up the desserts and hope that it will all be ready on time like Jermaine was promised. Lucky for them, it was all packed and ready to go by the time they had arrived; so they wasted no time in loading them onto the vehicles while Jermaine paid the bill. They were all happy that Jermaine and Andre left their vehicles at the house and used the cargo van because by the time they were finished both vehicles were fully packed. Their last stop was to purchase ice to chill the drinks.

When they got close to Clarkson Industry, Jermaine called his head of security Keith Dawson, for help in unloading the boxes. He and several of his men were waiting for them at the door when they arrived and they immediately went to work. With their assistance, the vans were quickly unloaded and they were setting everything up. Soon the conference room was fully decorated, the tables loaded with assorted drinks and refreshments, the gifts placed tidily under the tree, and the DJ stand set up and ready to begin playing the music with ten minutes left to spare. At the appointed time, Jermaine gave him the signal then all four boys gathered at the door to welcome their guests. They remained there until everyone had arrived, plus an extra twenty minutes in case of late comers, as the party got on the way.

Throughout the festivity neither Andre, Brad, nor Lee left Jermaine's side except to use the restroom. From time to time, employees and/or their families complimented Jermaine on the great job he had done in planning and implementing the festivity, however; he wasn't the kind of person who hogged all of the credit. Gesturing to the three boys, he informed everyone that he couldn't have pulled it off without their assistance and was thankful for their help. His gratitude proved that all three boys' blush mechanism works as they too received their share of compliments. After mingling a little longer, all four boys began to get hungry so they headed to the refreshment tables to make themselves a plate of food then found a place to sit. A few minutes later they were joined by Keith and his family.

"You guys really outdid yourselves on this party." Keith commended them and his wife Joanne agreed. "Everyone else seem to think so too. They're just totally gaga over it. I love how you decorated the tree and neatly placed the gifts under it."

All four boys thanked him for his kind words. "You guys deserve it," Jermaine added in. "You work hard all year and this is one of my ways to show my appreciation. It's also a tradition that my father loved to do; I'm just continuing with the tradition in remembrance of him. Besides, Christmas is my favorite holiday and I like throwing parties."

Keith smiled at Jermaine as he reminisced on those fond memories. It always warmed his heart to see that little boy at the holiday parties running around and playing with the other kids without a care in the world; enjoying life and just being kids. Now with the demise of his parents, he has responsibilities that no teen should have at this point in life. It made him proud of how Jermaine coped with it all and still remained that carefree boy.

Once everyone had their filled of the delicious delicacies, Jermaine approached the DJ's table. Because of their earlier conversation, he already knew why Jermaine was there, so he just handed him the microphone as he lowered the volume of the music. That got everyone's attention focused on Jermaine.

"Thank you all for coming." He paused at the applauds from the party-goers. "I like to take this time to thank you all for the hard work, long hours, and dedication that you have given the business throughout the years, and especially for the loyalty that you had shown me during my time of need. You have made Clarkson Industry thrive and prosper and it continues to go strong. I know my father is looking down upon us with a proud smile on his face. Please enjoy the party and don't forget to get your gift from under the tree before you leave. Once again, thank you all and enjoy yourselves."

He received another round of applause from the audience, especially those with tears falling from their eyes. After handing the microphone back to the DJ, he returned to his seat where he received admirations from his table companions on his speech which touched them greatly. They knew that it wasn't any rehearsed words because they could see his emotions when he spoke. It came from his heart and he meant every word.

Around seven o'clock the party started to wind down with plenty of food and drinks still remaining. Jermaine offered them to his guests to take home and also reminded them not to forget their gifts. Those who didn't feel like cooking accepted and began to fill carry-out boxes with enough to feed their family for the night and possibly the next night as well. By the time everyone had departed, there were still plenty of both left-over to last the boys two or three more days. Andre and Lee, along with Joanne, boxed it all up while Jermaine and Brad, with help from Keith and his kids, tidied up the conference room. When the family were about to head home themselves, Jermaine and Andre made sure that they too had their own carry-out boxes and their gifts.

After the vans were loaded up, Jermaine set the security alarm and locked up the building, and then they headed home. They let Brad and Lee drive once again to give them more experience but stayed on alert just in case of any unforeseen tragedies. Fortunately, they arrived there safely and put everything away before flopping down in the living room to watch some television. Before they even knew it, they were all sound asleep.

A couple of hours later they woke to the growling of their empty stomachs. They headed to the kitchen to fix a plate of food and drink to satisfy their ravenous appetites. Once they had what they wanted to eat, they sat down at the kitchen table. Jermaine turned on the television and found a movie to watch while they ate. Afterwards, they put the dishes in the dishwasher, locked up and set the alarm, turned off all of the lights, then headed to bed. Tomorrow will be a day to relax, but Sunday will be another busy one and they needed their rest.

Sunday morning all four boys were up bright and early. There were still four desserts that needed to be baked, but unlike the others, these will be somewhat different. They'll be four single ones; much like a tart but a little bigger. Two will be chocolate cheesecake with luscious strawberries and the other two will be lemon meringue pies with chocolate sprinkles. The crust of all four desserts will be made from vanilla wafers. In commemoration of when and where he and lee had first met, Jermaine wanted them freshly baked. The other three will be his assistant bakers as their contribution to the celebration.

This morning Jermaine went out of his way to make eggs benedict, hash browns, sausages, and bacon for breakfast. He always made delicious meals but this one he took special care in because he wanted it to be perfect for his little brother and housemate. Lee needed to feel love and wanted, and Jermaine was going to see that he does. After they had consumed every succulent morsel without a crumb being left-over, they got right to work. Jermaine assigned Brad and Lee to making the dough while he and Andre made the fillings. The TV was turned on to a music video channel with the volume low so it wouldn't inhibit them from hearing one another.

After putting the pans in the oven, they tidied up a little before looking for something to make for lunch. There were still some things left over from the party on Friday so they decided to finish them off before they started to spoil. They were nearly done eating when the oven timer went off so Jermaine got up to check on the pastries which were done to perfection. He took them out to cool while he finished eating before adding the final touch then boxed them up. They then went back to bed for a short nap to recuperate their strength and energy for the evening's festivity.

Around four-thirty they were awakened by the blaring of their alarm clock. All four were glad that they had set it because they wouldn't have gotten up otherwise. The shelter's doors are scheduled to open at six o'clock and they needed to be there early to help with setting up. None of them had realized how tired they actually were until now; and that realization was very jaunting. They loaded the vans then took a quick shower to freshen up before heading off to the shelter.

They arrived fifteen minutes ahead of schedule and started unloading. The director saw them coming and asked a few of the other volunteers to help them out. He knew of Jermaine's generosity and his love for cooking and guessed correctly that he'd brought several containers of desserts. Everyone loves his yummy treats and could never wait until the next occasion to partake in his smorgasbord of delicious confections.

Similar to last year's affair, the table and refrigerator were overflowing with containers. The four individual desserts were kept separately from the others so everyone would know that they weren't any of the choices. The volunteers and director were informed as well so there wouldn't be any mishaps.

Promptly at six the volunteers manned their stations as the director unlocked the doors. As each person came in, he welcomed them and wished them a Merry Christmas, and told them to enjoy the wonderful feast. Each person grabbed a tray and utensils then proceeded down the line to get what they wanted to eat then found a place to sit. For the next hour, it was nonstop serving until the last person had received their dinner that the volunteers were able to take a break. After making a plate for themselves, they scattered around the various tables to have their meal and socialize with the itinerants. After the boys got theirs, they found a table with enough room to accommodate them all. Many of the homeless that were sitting there recognized Jermaine and Lee from the previous year and said hello. Both boys returned the greeting then introduced Andre and Brad to them as their respective boyfriends.

During a conversation with the director of the shelter, Jermaine abruptly stopped in mid speech which got the director wondering what had caught his attention. He looked in the same direction as Jermaine and saw two young teen boys standing nervously at the door. He got the attention of one of the volunteers nearest to the door and gestured over to them. He then looked back at Jermaine and shook his head while thinking to himself, `here we go again.' Lee had been following the interaction between the two and smiled in a Deja vu expression.

The volunteer helped the two boys to make a plate and obtain a drink then escorted them to a table. She sat and talked with them without being overt to her true intentions which were to find out why they were on the streets. Her friendly but motherly demeanor soon had them feeling comfortable enough to tell her their story.

***Flashback: Michael's Story***

It was during fourth period on Thursday when a mishap occurred at school. The furnace suddenly malfunctioned which resulted in the building getting colder by the minute. Due to the outside temperature, and no heat coming through the ventilation system, the principle called an early dismissal and for school to be closed until repairs could be made. Robert and I were happy with that announcement because it meant that we would have some one-on-one time alone before my parents and little brother would be home.

We rushed to my house and up to my room not wanting to waste any time. Unknown to us both, my mom was home lying down recovering from a migraine and heard us. It had her wondering what I was doing home early from school so she headed to my room to ask. Unfortunately for her, she found out more than she wanted to know.

Not bothering with knocking, she walked in and suddenly came to a screeching halt. She found us lying on the bed with me on top of my best friend. We both were shirtless and engaged in a steamy make-out session and were mutually enjoying the act. Being too engrossed in pleasuring one another, neither of us was aware of her presence. "What the hell is going on here?"

Surprised by the interruption, we swiftly broke apart and looked up with trepidation. The anger and disgust was clearly shown on her face and it had us terrified at being caught. Our secret was now out with no chance of denying or shielding it, nor did she give us the opportunity. "I think you should leave now Robert and never come back. You're no longer welcome in this house or around my son."

Robert looked over at me with hope that I would say something to defend our relationship, but I was too shocked to speak or move. He got up and put on his shirt, gave me an apologetic look, then quickly ran out of the house, leaving me alone with my mother who continued to stare at me with anger and disgust. "You are to stay in here until your father gets home, do I make myself clear?"

I just nodded my acceptance of her order knowing exactly what that meant. Mom had always embellished the situations with dad in order to get her way. She'd always made things seem worse than they really were, just to suit her own purposes, and dad had always taken her side without even giving me a chance to explain, so there was nothing for me to do but accept my fate. I knew what my parents' views on homosexuality were and waited for the explosion to occur.

Dad arrived home at his usual time and mom gave him her side of the story. I could hear them talking downstairs but couldn't make out what they were saying. It didn't matter anyway, nothing I could say or do would deter me from my father's wrath or my mother from getting her way. Ten minutes later I heard my dad coming up the stairs and resigned myself to deal with whatever may happen.

As I suspected, my dad had taken my mom's side which was clearly shown on his face and in his posture when he walked into my bedroom. "Your mother told me what went on this afternoon." He bellowed angrily. "What the hell possessed you into bringing that shit into this house? We didn't raise you to be some kind of queer who goes around sucking cock and getting fucked in the ass by every faggot he sees, nor will we allow it. You're no longer permitted to hang around with that disgusting boy or any other degenerates. That despicable behavior won't be tolerated in this house and I forbid you to carry on with it, is that understood?"

"Yes sir," I answered sarcastically, "but that won't change who I am Dad. I'm gay and it's time that I admit it to everyone including myself." Just then my dad tried to cut me off but I wouldn't let him. "No! This time I'm going to have my say and you're going to listen." I spoke with such strength and force that it surprised my dad into snapping his mouth shut. "Homosexuality isn't some kind of horrible disease that you and mom make it out to be. We're no different from heterosexuals except for whom we love. I have the same needs and wants as you and mom, only I want to share them with a boy, not a girl. I have no interest in girls other than being friends and acquaintances. They just don't do it for me.

I don't go around "sucking cock or getting fucked in the ass by every queer I see" as you so derogatorily put it. I'm not a whore! There's only one person who I want to be with and I hope he still wants to be with me. You can stop Robert from coming to the house; but you can't stop us from seeing and loving each other because I won't allow it. It's time I start living my life for me and not for you."

Dad's face turned red with rage at my outright defiance. By the time I had finished voicing my feelings, his face was scarlet. "Listen boy, you'll do as we say and that's that. We're your parents and we know what's best for you. I don't want to hear any more of that queer talk or I'll..."

"Or you'll do what?" I interrupted him. "We both know that I won't hesitate in having you arrested for child abuse if you hit me. We also know that I'll serve my punishment and carry on with my life regardless of what you say. Your lectures never worked before and they certainly won't work now either. You and mom always believe you know what's best for me but that's complete bullshit. How can you know what's best for me when you never took the time to even get to know me?"

Now dad's rage had reached a boiling point. "Fine, you want to carry on with this faggoty shit, then you do it somewhere else. You have five minutes to gather your shit and get the hell out of my house. I don't give a damn where you go or how you'll survive. You can sell your ass out there on the street for all I care!"

To my dad's astonishment, a devilish smile crossed my face. "I'd figured that would probably be your decision."

Going to my closet, I pulled out a large duffle bag along with my backpack that I had placed in there earlier. I used the time while waiting for my dad to come home to pack everything that I wanted to take with me. I'd hoped that it wouldn't come to this, but I prepared myself just in case it did. I knew that I wouldn't be given much time to pack and I wanted to be sure that I wasn't leaving anything behind. I threw the bags over my shoulders and walked past my stunned father out of the room. When I got downstairs, my mother started demanding that I return to my room, but I just ignored her and walked out of the house. I didn't know where I would go but I thought that anywhere would be better than where I was coming from.

***End Flashback***

By the time Michael had finished telling his story, he and Robert were nearly done with eating. The volunteer let them finish while she dissected everything that she had been told. She then escorted them up front to throw away their trash and to grab something from the dessert table. Michael chose a slice of orange meringue pie while Robert decided on some of the berry cobbler with whipped cream. Once they had returned to their seats, she waited patiently to hear the rest of their story. After taking a few bites of his cobbler, Robert began telling his side.

***Flashback: Robert's Story***

After being thrown out by Mrs. Brooks, I ran home fearing the worst. I didn't know if it was from leaving Michael to fight his mother alone or from terror that my parents would also find out. I knew that Mr. and/or Mrs. Brooks wouldn't hesitate to snitch on me. They would tell my parents everything and would probably embellish most of it.

Fortunately, no one was home so I had some time to figure out how to explain it to them. Unlike Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, my parents always listen to my side before making any decision, but they agree with the Brooks regarding homosexuality. I knew it wasn't going to be a rational discussion; so, I too, prepared for the worst.

Later that day the inevitable occurred. I had just returned to my room after clearing the table from dinner when the phone rang and my father answered it. I knew it had to be Michael's mom or dad which was confirmed when I heard Mr. Brooks' name. Mr. Brooks must have not embellished or told him much because ten minutes later he came up to my room pissed off like no other. I could tell right away that the discussion was going to be one-sided and he wasn't going to let me explain anything. His statement, which was more like a question than a statement, proved my assumption to be correct.

"How dare you bring shame to the family name?" He roared and continued without giving me a chance to reply. "I've worked too hard in upholding the respectability of the Landon name to have you tarnish it with some inexcusable and hideous act. I don't care how you do it, but you will give up that homosexual lifestyle immediately. No son of mine will be known as the town's fag and ruin that respectability! "

Obviously there was no talking sensibly with him so I just said what was on my mind. "On the contrary Dad; I'm neither tarnishing or disrespecting the Landon's name, or any other name for that matter, by being who I am. Homosexuality isn't an inexcusable or hideous act that I should be ashamed of. It's a beautiful and loving relationship between two people who happen to be of the same sex. We want and deserve the same opportunity in life as any heterosexual, with the only difference being that we don't want it with the opposite sex.

You and mom always said that you want me to grow up to be happy and start a family of my own, but you meant the kind of family that you want me to have, and not the kind that I want. Don't get me wrong; I do want a family, just not the conventional kind. I have no interest in girls other than being friends with them because they don't do anything for me sexually. I'm gay and that's all there is to it. I'm not going to pretend that I'm not just to make others happy, and that includes you and mom."

He looked at me like I was the devil reincarnated. "Listen boy, you'll do as I say and won't give me any lip! I won't have any more of that inappropriate queer talk or shit going on and that's final. You will grow to be a decent, respectable, and proper human being. Not some delinquent abomination with no morals. If you want to live that way, then you do it out there on the streets, because I won't have it in my house. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly clear." I answered. He smirked at me triumphantly, which turned to a frown when I went to the closet and pulled out my duffle bag and backpack. "What are you doing?"

I looked him straight in the eyes as I responded. "What does it look like? You said that you didn't want any queer lifestyle in your house, so there's only one thing that I can do." Throwing the bags over my shoulders, I headed towards the bedroom door. "I hope you and mom will be happy with no interaction with your child or grandchildren as you grow old." I added as I passed him on my way out.

Likewise with Michael's mom, mine also tried to stop me as well, but I ignored her and continued walking out. I too had nowhere to go but thought that anywhere would be better. I figured that Michael had been given the same ultimatum and should be somewhere out there as well. I knew I had to find him so I pulled out my cell phone and sent him a text, hoping that he had taken his with him. Fortunately he did, we met up, and had never parted.

***End Flashback***

"For the past two nights we've slept on park benches and used mall bathrooms to clean up as best we could." Said Michael. "This afternoon I'd remembered hearing some kids from school talking about the shelter's annual Christmas dinner and a student from one of the neighboring high schools who volunteers here. I suggested to Robert that we check it out, and here we are."

"Would you guys like to meet that high school student?" The volunteer asked with a smile.

"You mean he's actually here tonight?" He replied with a question of his own.

"Yes, he's right over there." She pointed to the table where the boys were sitting. "Jermaine volunteers for all of our holiday dinners and is a terrific cook. He's actually the one who makes all of the delicious desserts you see here tonight."

The two boys looked at each other for a moment, and then nodded in agreement. She waited until they had finished eating their dessert and thrown away their trash before leading them over to the boys' table.

"Michael and Robert, I like for you to meet Jermaine Clarkson, Andre Reynolds, his cousin Brad Reynolds, and Lee Markesan." She pointed at each boy as she made the introduction. "Boys, these are Michael Brooks and Robert Landon." She pointed again.

All of the boys bumped fists in greeting. Jermaine gestured for them to sit and they joined the group. However, the volunteer passed on the invitation because there were others that she wanted to visit with before she leaves. She looked straight at Jermaine when she said that, clearly indicating a hidden message behind it. He picked up on the meaning and gave her a slight nod of understanding that only Andre caught. Michael and Robert thanked her for taking the time in making them feel welcome and for listening to their stories. After giving them a grandmotherly hug and wishing them well, she left them alone to talk with the boys.

For about an hour the boys hung out, got to know one another, and just generally acted like teenagers. From time to time Jermaine, Andre, Lee, and Brad gave their spouse surreptitious glances whenever Michael and/or Robert mentioned something they enjoy watching, reading, or playing. It gave them some ideas that would be useful for what they have in mind. The director just looked on and shaking his head in amazement at how fast the boys were bonding; but what did he expect, with someone like Jermaine Clarkson involved? The guy has a big heart and it looks like he now has three conspirators in cahoots with him. He wish that there were more people like them, then maybe the world would be a better place.

The more they talked, the more Jermaine felt like he was making the right decision. When there was a break in the conversation, he asked his question. "How would you guys like to spend Christmas at our house?" Seeing the hesitation on their faces, he quickly added. "Before you try to come up with any excuse, let me assure you that you won't be a burden or an inconvenience. We have plenty of room, we can afford two more mouths to feed and clothe, and we'll love having you around. Just say yes and you'll have a warm place to enjoy the holidays."

Seeing them still hesitating, Lee spoke up. "Guys, Jermaine's not lying. He made the same offer to me last Christmas and I've been there ever since. All he asks is for you to keep your room clean, go to school, and help out with some of the chores. You're not going to find a better deal than that anywhere else, so what do you have to lose?"

The two boys looked around the table contemplating Jermaine's offer when their eyes landed on the director of the shelter. "It's up to you boys, but I think Lee's right. You won't find a better offer without some kind of stipulations attached to it somewhere else. Jermaine's giving you an opportunity for a place to live, a chance to finish school and perhaps go to college, then go on to better things in life. If you're worried about how to pay him back, then do that by making something of yourselves and paying it forward. That will be the best payment you can give him."

Michael and Robert were still a little uncertain but they decided to accept the offer. Jermaine guaranteed them great holidays with the other three promising the same. However, he could still see some indecision on their faces and vowed not to disappoint them. He has the money, time, and motivation to pull it off, and nothing was going to stand in his way. After another thirty minutes, he announced that it was time to go. He has some errands to run and he didn't want to rush through them. With help from some of the other volunteers, they loaded the empty containers into the vans and were soon on their way home.

While Jermaine and Andre unloaded the vehicles, Lee and Brad showed Michael and Robert the rooms that were available. They picked the one that was Lee's before he moved into Jermaine's old one after he and Andre took over the master suite. Lee and Brad then left them to unpack and went to help Jermaine and Andre finish unloading the vans. They knew that Jermaine wanted to talk to them about the two boys and Christmas Day. While they worked, the four discussed Jermaine's plans and what role each would play. Andre, Lee, and Brad also threw in their own suggestions which Jermaine took into consideration. After fifteen minutes of planning, they finally settled on one that was acceptable to all four.

They finished the unloading then Lee and Brad went back inside while Jermaine and Andre took off. While Lee pulled out the vegetables to make stuffing for the turkey, Brad went to ask Michael and Robert for their help with chopping them up. Lee also set out the ingredients for the biscuits which Jermaine would prepare and freeze when he and Andre return. They wanted to take some of the preparations for Christmas dinner off of his hands so he wouldn't be overloaded with cooking. Meanwhile, Jermaine and Andre ran the errands which were actually a cover-up for their true excursions. They went from store to store purchasing the perfect assortments that will assure delightful smiles come Christmas morning. By the time they were finished, the back of the SUV was jammed with bags of wrapped packages. They even stopped off at the grocery store on their way home for several items to assure that their cover-up would be believable.

When they arrived, they brought in the grocery bags but kept the bags with the packages in the car. They put the items away then Jermaine prepared the biscuits to freeze while Andre put the ham along with a pot of water for some noodles on the stove to boil. The noodles were for the baked macaroni and cheese plus a bowl of macaroni salad. After putting the biscuits in the freezer, Jermaine prepared the baked macaroni and cheese to put into the oven while Andre prepared the baked beans. Afterwards, Jermaine glazed the ham and put that into the oven as well. Both dishes would be precooked tonight to conserve time on Christmas Day for other dishes. However, the ham will be fully cooked, cut, and wrapped, ready to be served. Likewise, the turkey will be stuffed and seasoned, but not precooked. Jermaine was glad that he had gotten up early yesterday morning to take it and the ham out of the freezer.

Once those dishes were prepared and put away, they cleaned up and headed for bed. Some time during the night, Jermaine and Andre got up to put the packages from the SUV under the tree then went back to bed.

Christmas morning, Jermaine, Andre, Lee, and Brad woke with big smiles on their faces. This was their first Christmas waking up together and they felt like a family who were adding two more members to the brood. Hopefully this was the start of their own tradition as they had done with Thanksgiving. The four older boys couldn't wait to see the looks on their respective spouses' face when they received their gift and understand the significance behind it. They also couldn't wait to see the look on Michael and Robert's face when they receive gifts of their own. Little did they know that the true meaning lay within the surprise that they'll all receive when the time was right. Dressed only in their boxers, they headed to the kitchen to make Christmas breakfast, which was another tradition they were starting. Not long after, they were joined by the two newest members. As usual, Jermaine did most of the cooking with Andre as his assistant. Lee and Brad along with Michael and Robert set the table and helped out wherever it was needed. Soon all six were sitting down to a delicious meal of French toast stuffed with raspberries with real maple syrup, hash browns, sausages, bacon, and omelets with ham, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and cheese. Milk and/or orange juice were their choice of beverages. Conversation was jovial with a camaraderie atmosphere that they all rejoiced in.

After clearing the table, they went into the living room to exchange gifts with enthusiasm and anticipation. Michael and Robert followed along even though their hearts weren't set on watching the occurrence. As head of the household, Jermaine handed everyone their gifts, including the two newest boys, which came as a shock to them both. They weren't expecting it; however, it did put smiles on their surprised and happy faces. They all began tearing into them like little four-year-olds in a candy store. They all were happy with what they'd received, although Michael and Robert were especially happy with their Play Station 3. After leaving home, they thought it would be a long time before they would have the chance to play one again, but here they were in possession of another one and they couldn't wait to play.

Finally, it was time for the four special gifts to be presented. Jermaine, Andre, Lee, and Brad handed their partner a small gift which they all simultaneously unwrapped. With speculating grins, they opened the jewelry box that contained a solid gold locket. In the center of the locket was the engraving of a plus sign creating the appearance of a four-sectional design with the horizontal section being double lined. Andre's has the letters JC in the upper left section and AR on the right. The lower sections have the letters LO on the left and VE on the right. When you put it all together, it reads (JC +AR=LOVE.) The other three lockets have the same design except with a different inscription. Jermaine's read (AR+JC=LOVE); Lee's read (LM+BR=LOVE); and Brad's read (BR+LM=LOVE). All four boys were surprised but ecstatic that they had the same idea for a gift for their bonded-mate. After all, they do think alike most of the time.

After picking up the scattered papers, Jermaine and Lee headed to the kitchen to make a quick lunch of spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread, during which Jermaine also prepared several trays of hors d'oeuvres for their guests to nibble on throughout the day. When they were done eating, the boys cleared the table while Jermaine got started on cooking. He put the turkey in the oven then made a bowl of fruit salad and put it in the refrigerator. Then, with help from Andre, he peeled and cut ten pounds of potatoes and separated them into two halves, and put one pot on to boil. He then got out some of the left-over cookie doughs and put those in the second oven to bake. He now had a resting period so he played a few hands of UNO with the boys while keeping his eyes on the timer.

When the potatoes were done, he drained the water and set it aside to cool. He did the same with the cookies before making a second batch. Once the potatoes were sufficiently cooled, he added them to the left-over onions, green peppers, and celery along with some mayonnaise, relish, and a little mustard to make a bowl of potato salad. That left Andre to set out the cookies, hors d'oeuvres, punch, and other refreshments while Lee and Brad welcomed their guests. Michael and Robert just pitched in wherever it was needed.

First to arrive was Andre's parents carrying a couple of trays of finger sandwiches, next was Brad's parents with his mother carrying a large pan of peach cobbler and his father a smaller pan of a berry one, followed by Mary Stevens and her husband George, the Dawsons, and finally Andre's brother and his girlfriend. An hour later everyone who was invited had arrived, mingling with one another, and rejoicing in the festivity. Like any gracious guest would do, they all stopped in the kitchen to greet Jermaine and offer their assistance to which he politely declined. He had everything under control and wanted them to enjoy themselves without the hassle of culinary duty. This was the first holiday dinner he had hosted since his parents' demise and he was determined to make it a success in honor of their memories.

Balancing double duty of food preparations and hosting kept him very busy but he never complained. Not even being on his feet for hours could dampen his mood or give him regrets of catering the affair. It had been a long time since the house felt so lively and he was enjoying every moment of it. He was nearly close to exhaustion by the time everything was ready but he didn't let it show. However, Andre noticed and gave more of his assistance to lessen the drain on him.

Ten minutes before everything was done, Jermaine called Lee, Brad, Michael, and Robert in to set the dining room table. Promptly at six o'clock, he called everyone to the table then he, Andre, Andre's mom and aunt, and Mary started bringing the food in from the kitchen. Everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as the table was overloaded with large pans, platters, and bowls of food. There was turkey, honey-mustard ham, mashed potatoes, potato salad, broccoli and cauliflower smothered with cheddar-cheese, oyster stuffing, baked beans, baked macaroni and cheese, canned yams with marshmallows, biscuits, cornbread, giblet gravy, and cranberry sauce with and without cranberries. Drinks consisted of regular, pink, and strawberry lemonade, raspberry, sweetened and unsweetened ice tea, strawberry and chocolate milk, and fruit punch. Jermaine made sure he had enough to feed an army or eight adults, two teens on the verge of adulthood, six teens, and two young children. For sure no one would leave hungry.

Since Jermaine wasn't religious, he requested Andre's father to bless the food. Mr. Reynolds happily obliged then Jermaine carved the turkey. As he did that, the other dishes were passed around the table for everyone to get their share. Some opted for ham, some preferred turkey, and the rest took a portion of both. However, everyone got what and as much as they wanted. The moans and smiles of delight that came from everyone after their first bite had Jermaine smiling in appreciation. He'd accomplished one of his goals and he'd reached the reward. That was one worry off of his mind and he felt good about it. He just hopes that the rest of the party would go as well.

For over two hours everyone feasted on the wonderful cuisines, conversed with one another, joked around, and basically enjoyed the camaraderie. They got to know one another; and in some cases, formed new friendships. Jermaine's anxiety that something might go wrong also evaporated and he was able to relax and relish in the festive atmosphere. Andre, Lee, and Brad noticed it and it helped to ease their own tension. Jermaine was still trying to get back into the holiday spirit without his parents and they wanted his big day to be a total success.

Once everyone had their filled, they adjourned to the living room to watch a couple of Charlie Brown Christmas specials on television. They decided to hold off on dessert to let their food digest before satisfying the craving of their sweet tooth. They all had stuffed themselves so full that no one had any room for another bite, much less for any tempting indulgences that were sure to be offered. After all, there wasn't a person there who didn't know about Jermaine's talent with bakery and pastry delicacies that no one could resist the urge to partake in. It was during intermission between movies when everyone got up to get their dessert and something to drink.

As suspected, there were many items to choose from. Beside the cobblers that Brad's parents brought, there were Jermaine's chocolate cheesecakes with luscious blackberry or strawberry, orange and lemon meringue pies, and a German tort with raspberry jam. They had their choice to have it with or without chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla ice cream.

When the second movie was over, the guests were ready to head home. They all helped with putting the house back in order including putting the leftovers away. Before they left, Jermaine handed each family some carryout containers to take home. Some tried to decline the offer but Jermaine insisted on it. He assured them that there was plenty left over to last the boys another day or two, so it would be no trouble for them to have some. That did the trick and they graciously thanked him as they accepted the containers. One by one, everyone thanked the boys for a fabulous day, wished them a good night, and headed out to their cars. The boys then locked up and set the alarm then headed for bed However, not every couple went to sleep right away.

Jermaine and Andre celebrated his successful dinner party in their usual way with Andre accepting Jermaine's pleasure stick to both of their enjoyment. Michael and Robert satisfied each other orally before cuddling up. However, Lee and Brad took the final step in their relationship by pleasuring the other at the ultimate level.

Slowly, they undressed one another to complete nakedness while playing tonsil hockey. They separated long enough to relieve the other of his shirt before resuming their kiss. They continued as Brad lifted him up and Lee wrapped his arms and legs around Brad to steady himself. He then carried Lee over and laid him on the bed. He then lay on top of him still kissing him passionately and sensuously while gently massaging every contour of his upper body. Lee emulated every stimulation that he was receiving with equal ambition. They rolled back and forth, switching from top to bottom, ending up with Lee on top. After several more minutes of tongue of war, Lee kissed his way down Brad's body, stopping for a few minutes to give his nipples some attention before continuing on to his main objective. Once he reached it, he licked from base to tip and back to base again. He did that several times to get it wet before taking it into his mouth. He slowly worked his way down until he had taken all eight inches down his throat where he moaned with delight that sent shivers through Brad's whole being from the stimulating vibrations. He held there before slowly working his way up then back down as he began giving his lover a sensuous blow-job like he had never received before.

"Oh baby, that feels so good. Please don't stop." Brad moaned as he lovingly ran his fingers through Lee's hair. "Mmmm, mmmm."

Lee had no intention of stopping. In fact, he sped up his pace a little, further heightening Brad's excitement for what was to come. However, Brad had no intention of neglecting his partner from being pleasured as well. He swiftly flipped them into a sixty-nine position with him on top then went straight for his intended target. He licked, nibbled, and probed the soft tissue surrounding the entrance to Lee's inner sanctum with his tongue, moistening it for his throbbing phallus before introducing one, two, and then three fingers to open him up for entry. Both boys were now moaning in delight as they continued their oral expertise. When he thought Lee was stretched enough to lessen and/or prevent any pain, Brad reached into the nightstand for the lubricant. He simultaneously slathered Lee's hole and his cock with a copious amount of the slippery substance for easier penetration.

Once they were well lubricated, Brad lifted Lee's legs over his shoulders and positioned his cock at Lee's entrance and waited for Lee's signal that he was ready. Lee took a deep breath to calm his nerves then nodded his eagerness and Brad began the penetration. It took two or three tries before his mushroom head finally popped through the ring. Once it had, he paused to give Lee time to adjust to his size and goods. Although Brad isn't nearly as big as Jermaine, he still has an ample sized package, and the last thing he wanted to do was cause his boyfriend any harm and/or agony. It took five minutes for the pain to subside then Lee gave him the signal to continue.

Slowly, Brad inched his way forward until his pelvis was pressed against Lee's butt cheeks. He paused and waited once again to give Lee time to adjust to being fully stuffed.

"Okay, you can begin now." Lee announced after another five minutes of waiting for the pain to subside. "Go slowly at first because there still a little pain. Plus, I want to make this last as long as possible before we both shoot our loads."

"So do I." Brad complied. He slowly and gently withdrew to the tip then pushed back in at the same pace. He did that several times until the expression on Lee's face changed from pain to pleasure. "Oh God, you're so tight! You feel so good wrapped around my dick."

"And you feel so good inside me. Go a little faster now."

Hearing Lee's encouragement, Brad increased his thrust. He made sure to hit Lee's prostate with every inward thrust to maximize his lover's pleasure. Lee responded by clinching his anal muscles on every outward thrust for the same purpose. He pulled Brad down and locked their lips together. Once again they battled tongues as their hands roamed over one another's torsos. They pinched, rubbed, and twisted each other's nipples to complete hardness. Brad switched from kissing Lee's lips to sucking on his neck to leave his mark for everyone to see.

Fifteen minutes later they switched into a doggie style position and Brad pounded Lee's ass with gusto. Their moans started to get louder but they didn't care. They were too busy enjoying themselves to be concern with who could or couldn't hear them so it never crossed their minds to lower their voices. Every time Brad pushed forward, Lee pushed back to get every inch up his anal canal. "Oh hell yes. Fuck me Brad, fuck me good."

"Your wish is my command." Brad's responded as he obliged. He increased his thrusts that elicited louder moans of gratification from his partner. Lee lowered his upper body to the bed which changed the angle of Brad's thrusts. Now he was hitting Lee's prostate on every inward and outward thrust that had Lee's body quivering with erotic sensations.

After twenty minutes in that position, Lee's knees started to get weak, causing him to fall flat on the bed. He spread his legs and elevated his ass to continue matching Brad thrust for thrust in total ecstasy and submission. Brad accepted his admission of defeat and completely dominated his willing partner. He lowered his body on top of Lee and placed both hands by his head as his thrusting grew more vigorous and intense. Both boys were glistening with sweat as their escapade of love was reaching its crescendo although the performance wasn't quite over yet. Brad alternated from fast to slow, rough to gentle and energetic to lethargic without breaking his stride. He was doing his best to prolong the exquisite action for as long as possible.

They remained in that position for thirty minutes before Brad rolled them to their sides. He lifted Lee's upper leg for better access and resumed his thrusting. "Oh god, oh Brad, oh god!" Lee chanted as he reached down to stroke his cock. Brad saw what he was doing and instantly shoved his hand away. "Don't touch yourself. I want to fuck the cum out of you hands free."

Lee willingly obliged and never touched his cock again. Although both boys liked that position, it wasn't nearly as satisfying as the others, so after tem minutes, they switched again. Unexpectedly, Lee decided to take control. He rolled them over so that he was on top of Brad and sat up on his knees facing him with his hands on Brad's chest. Brad gripped his waist tightly to keep him from falling off. He slowly rose up until only the head was left inside then slowly sank back down to the base. After a couple more times of that, he gradually increased his speed until he was bouncing up and down at a rapid pace, bringing them closer to fruition. Brad met every motion of Lee's downward thrust with an upward thrust of his own. Soon they were moving in a synchronized rhythm to the magical kingdom of gratification.

After approximately an hour and fifteen minutes of nonstop action, they were approaching the gates of nirvana. Both boys were now constantly chanting and breathing heavily with their bodies drenched in sweat. It only took another five or six more thrusts to arrive and the gates open to allow them entry. Lee was the first to blow his load with his first shot hitting the headboard and the rest covering Brad from head to crotch with his copious baby makers. Seconds later Brad followed as he filled Lee's rectum to over flowing with his generous offering. Once they were completely drained and empty, Lee collapsed on top of Brad totally exhausted. Brad wrapped his arms around Lee as he too lay there recovering from his exertion.

Gradually, the boys came down from their high but were still too weak and tired to move a muscle. Without even realizing it, they were drifting off to sleep with the echo of Jermaine and Andre's celebration still going on in the background. Tomorrow will have some very tired boys at the breakfast table.

***The End***

© 2017-2018 by Romeo

Happy holidays guys and gals! I hoped you liked reading this as much as I did writing it. Please let me know what you think at {romeo1.jacobmillertex@gmail.com} thanks!