Ambush

The following fictional story deals with sex among males. If you are offended by such material, are too young, or reside in an area where it is not allowed, depart. Though not observed in this story, care enough about yourself and humankind to practice safe sex.

The author retains all rights. No reproductions or links to other sites are allowed without the author's consent.

EvanBradley33@Yahoo.com

Chapter 33 Primal Moments

(From the ambush at the end of Chapter 32)

As Troy and Evan began recovering from their orgasmic highs, Troy removed the bonds from Evan's wrists and massaged them and his arms. Then he lifted Evan onto the tips of toes into a hot kiss, underscoring everything he'd communicated when he was making love. Evan gave it right back to him, stroking his back and ass. For a moment, Evan allowed himself to sink totally into Troy's good will, his love, his care and concern. It was one of those primal moments. Evan knew Troy felt something comparable although he might not verbalize it the same way. Jeremy and Kenny were embracing and kissing. Cody had unbound Ron and then pressed his body against Ron while he nuzzled his face into Ron's neck. Ron flung his arms around Cody, pulling him close against his hairy body. Cody looked like a pliant devotee ready to give himself to his champion. Ron was running his hands up and down Cody's limbs, caressing him. His hand slid down over Cody's ass, pushing a finger into his chute, leading him to gasp, grip Ron tightly, and lean up for a kiss.

Evan had frozen, watching Ron and Cody's behavior, blocking everything else out. Oddly, he didn't feel jealous; he was afraid. He glanced up at Troy, who was studying Ron and Cody through narrowed eyes. Evan couldn't read his face. A glance down at Jeremy and Kenny, still sitting under the parallel bars, revealed that they were studying everyone, aware of undercurrents, trying to interpret them.

Had Evan glimpsed Ron in the grip of such strong emotions when they were making love? He shook his head as though to clear away fog so that he could answer his own question. Suddenly Ron looked over at Jeremy. "Let the Lions claim the candidates for the Pride." He immediately turned back to Cody, pulling him into his muscular, hairy body and another passionate kiss. Slowly he knelt, pulling Cody to the mat with him.

Jeremy gave Kenny a peck on the lips and then arose, slowly walking up to Troy. What a magnificent pair they were! Equally matched in height. Slowly a smile was born on Jeremy's face, matched by a twin on Troy's face. Kenny slowly arose, walking to Evan, sliding an arm over his shoulder, both watching Jeremy lead Troy over to a mat.

"Study them with your 'artist's eyes'" Evan suggested to Kenny.

Kenny shifted his perceptual field. New realities presented themselves. His alliance with Jeremy and Evan and Jeremy's constant love and devotion had allowed him to realize more inner strength. He intuited that Troy and Jeremy had become mirrors for each other with Susan, Evan, and himself positioning the mirrors so as to disclose undreamt facets to the two young men. As a consequence of Jeremy's claiming Troy, a powerful bond would exist between the two. When Kenny looked at Ron and Cody, he frowned. So much turgid emotion, raw, unrefined and unformulated! Some of it was in conflict, some of it merging, shooting sparks. Kenny looked away, taking a deep breath.

Jeremy embraced Troy, kissing him lovingly. He whispered "Bro," kissed Troy again, running his hands over his wide shoulders, down his muscular arms. "Bro," he whispered as he slid his hands over Troy's ass, brushing his lips softly, seductively over Troy's. "Bro, you've always been special to me; you always will be. I may be a Lion, but you are one of my heroes, one of my ideal men. When I claim you, you will join Ron and me as a Lion."

Troy whispered "Bro" back before they locked in a hot embrace and kiss, slowly lowering themselves to the mat. It was a major turn-on watching the muscles in their legs strain during their slow descent to the mat. Anyone watching their ass cheeks as they dimpled and the muscles there flexed would have experienced meltdown.

Kenny and Evan turned together toward Ron and Cody. Ron had begun those long leonine licks of his. Once he'd bathed Cody's pecs, Ron began nibbling on Cody's nipples vigorously enough to remind Cody of the aggressive treatment he'd given Ron during the ambush. Cody had briefly moaned, but when Ron moved down to attack Cody's cock and balls, the moans turned to whimpers.

In a whisper, Kenny suggested, "Let's serve our men the way you and Jeremy did when Ron claimed me. You take your man and I'll take mine." He immediately moved toward Jeremy, who was by now rimming Troy, who had his eyes tightly closed, breathing rapidly at the thorough licking Jeremy had given him. His pecs, pits, abs, pubic bush, cock and balls glistened from his Lion's bath.

Ron must have looked up to check out how far along Jeremy was because he was now rimming Cody - with obvious satisfaction. Cody was rolling his head back and forth, reaching out slowly as though trying to capture Ron's shoulders.

As Jeremy nudged the head of his cock into Troy, Kenny began butterfly caresses over Jeremy's back and ass. Jeremy slowly turned as Kenny leaned toward him, kissing him as Jeremy sank into Troy. Troy's eyes were mere slits, but he was watching Jeremy and Kenny kiss. Then Kenny leaned around Jeremy to give Troy a kiss, which he eagerly leaned up to accept and return with equal fervor.

Evan walked hesitantly over and knelt behind Ron, who was sinking his cock into Cody's chute. Cody was softly moaning, asking for more, for Ron to plunge deeper. Like Kenny, Evan knelt, running his fingertips lightly over Ron's lower back, licking and nipping along the inner curved edges of Ron's crack. His musk almost robbed Evan of breath. He hoped Ron would acknowledge his presence as Jeremy had Kenny's, wishing he could kiss Cody. Ron had to know Evan was there, but he focused exclusively on Cody. Evan would run his tongue from the back of Ron's balls across his perineum, over his hole, and up to the top of his crack and then up his spine. He moved underneath Ron and nibbled at Cody's ass, hearing the volume of moaning pick up. Evan grabbed Ron's bag in his teeth, pulling it back and down, then up through his crack and spine again with his tongue.

Troy, Cody, and Kenny were all moaning. Worry kept Evan silent, hearing nothing but hard breathing from Ron and moans and whimpers from Cody. When Evan went back to Ron's balls, they had pulled up tight against his cock. He was going to blow. Cody's whimpers of delight signaled that he too was near an orgasm. When Ron rammed into Cody, Evan pushed his tongue into Ron's hole, earning a surprised, loud grunt from him. Ron stopped moving to kiss Cody. Jeremy, Troy, and Kenny had all climaxed. Evan was the only one who hadn't.

Evan sat back on the mat, expecting Ron to turn toward him. He didn't. He continued to move slowly in Cody, who was gently hunching his ass back on Ron. The other guys were caught up in a post-coital stupor. Clearly, Ron wasn't done with Cody. He was going to make it a double claim! Evan slowly arose, walked over to his clothes, and dressed. When he'd slid his shirt over his head, all three of the other guys were riveted on Ron and Cody. Evan stepped into his loafers and walked out of the exercise room to his car.

Driving home, numb all the way, Evan didn't know what had happened. It was something beyond what anyone else expected. Something had been brewing between Cody and Ron. There clearly was no room for him with Ron and Cody. He couldn't help thinking that there might never be a place for him in Ron's life from now on. It felt just as it did when he had detected the possibility that Tim was dumping him. He tried to play off the ambush against the claiming, but they didn't connect even though the same players were involved. The two claimings started much alike, but after that, what Ron was doing to Cody had nothing to do with Jeremy and Troy.

Evan pulled in the driveway, locked the car, walked to the door, letting himself in. He walked into his bedroom, closing the door, pulling off his clothes and walking to the shower. After he'd dried himself off, he pulled on some boxers and crawled under the sheet on his bed. He wouldn't allow himself to question or think, for then he'd have to try to interpret and analyze. He just wanted to go to sleep - pure escape.

Like the others, Jeremy hadn't noticed when Evan left. They were astounded that Cody and Ron launched an even more intensive second round. Jeremy heard Troy's breath catch as Ron's lovemaking - for that's what it clearly seemed to be - became fevered. Cody was not a passive partner this time, for he'd leaned up, clasping Ron's head, kissing him, licking his ears and neck, running his hands up and down Ron's muscled arms, hunching his ass back on Ron's cock. Jeremy cast a side-glance at Troy to see how he was reacting. Troy's mouth was set in a firm line. Troy pulled away a little roughly and walked over to his clothes, yanking them on in anger. Jeremy caught Kenny's eye and nodded toward their clothes. They both arose soundlessly, walked over to their clothes, and began to dress. Ron and Cody were working hard for a joint climax as their groans and fast breathing announced.

Troy walked out, still pulling on his shirt. Kenny and Jeremy followed almost upon his heels. Troy was already driving his car out of the parking lot when they left the building. "What shall we do?" Kenny asked.

"You want to go get something to drink?" Jeremy asked, his brow furrowed. "I need to think, and I need your help."

"Evan?" Kenny asked.

"Yeah," Jeremy spoke softly. "Troy too."

Ron and Cody had cum three times before they began to reintegrate with their surroundings. Reason began to assert itself when Ron heard Cody ask, "Hey . . . where is everyone?" Only then did they look around, discovering themselves alone. It took Ron a few seconds to take in the significance of the emptiness and silence around them. 'Oh shit! I've screwed up,' he thought. He wouldn't voice that sentiment aloud out of concern for Cody. He soon learned he wouldn't have to.

"Damn!" Cody exclaimed. "What came over us, Dad? I think we're in trouble."

"Dunno," Ron mumbled. "How much trouble, do you think?"

"Troy's gone. . . . Never said a word to me. Shit! I've tuned him out ever since Evan arrived. He'll think I was just waiting for a chance like this to pay him back for shutting me out after his winning shot at the ballgame. Damn!" he cursed vehemently. "Double damn!" he pulled away from Ron walking some distance away, running his fingers through his sweaty hair. He started walking around in circle, gesturing with a hand as though he were addressing someone. Ron knew it was Troy. He didn't have much trouble imagining the dialogue. It would be just as tough to negotiate as the dialogue he'd have to initiate with Evan. He suddenly realized that he'd never seen Cody so agitated. His cool facade was gone. Ron felt sick, realizing that Evan thought he was seeing a reprise of the death of his relationship with Tim. He was angry that one good turn for Cody had produced painful consequences for Evan and Troy. . . . It was a result of the ambush. Evan and he had walked into a situation that initially excited them, but they were also unprepared for it and some of its ramifications.

"Cody. . . . Cody . . . Cody! Ron exclaimed. Only then did Cody come to, realizing that Ron was addressing him. "Come over here and sit down. We've got to talk."

"I want to talk," Cody said, "but not here. I've got to get out of here."

"Where?" Ron asked.

"Don't you have a place?"

Ron thought a minute. Of course, they could go back to his apartment. Why did he feel vaguely uncomfortable about that? It couldn't be what would happen there. Not much more could happen between him and Cody than what had already occurred. A vague sense of unease told him they shouldn't go to his place. Evan had asked more than once since Ron had arrived in town to visit his apartment, but he'd kept putting Evan off - he always suggested that they go to Evan's home. Evan had started complaining, initially playfully but recently more seriously. Still Evan always acquiesced to his request.

"Well?" Cody asked.

"Okay. My place it is."

When Jeremy and Kenny passed the first fast-food establishment, Jeremy pulled in, parked, and the two alighted, walking inside and ordering Cokes and fries. They easily found a table to themselves that late at night. After they'd settled into a booth and had a sip of their Cokes, Jeremy asked, "What the hell happened back there? Everything was moving along just as we'd planned and then all of a sudden it careened out of control!"

Kenny knew how upset Jeremy was for two men who were important to him: Troy and Evan. Kenny was upset by Ron's behavior, the man who was his father-in-law's lover and, supposedly, his dad too. Kenny knew he wasn't going to come up with any answers for Jeremy. He understood that his man was in "talk mode," requiring a sympathetic ear, for he was going to work through into some kind of resolution, some kind of action to try to move relationships back on track. Kenny's job as Lover Cub was to support his Lion in that effort. It's why he loved Jeremy, his strength, his caring.

He remembered that as soon as Jeremy was freed from worrying about his everyday existence and family problems, he began to open himself to others, making their welfare his concern. It's what literally brought Kenny to Jeremy's bed when Robert had shunned him. Oh yeah, ever since that early meeting months ago when he'd given Jeremy the sketch he'd done of him, Kenny found himself thinking more often about Jeremy. So Kenny knew that morning in Evan's kitchen that Jeremy was going to possess him the way Robert had. He never imagined how much better it was going to be, a reminder that "it's always darkest before dawn." What he had with Jeremy was so much better than what he had had with Robert. He felt constantly how central he was to Jeremy's every heartbeat, every breath. He was now a larger person than he'd been with Robert. He wondered if Jeremy had known back in Evan's kitchen that Kenny wanted it, wanted to belong to Jeremy, wanted Jeremy's innate goodness and strength and kindness.

Jeremy began, "I want to do something to help, Kenny. I just don't know what. These are our brothers. I hate it when they're caught up in hurt and unhappiness." Jeremy grabbed some french fries, which he stuffed in his mouth, chewing and thinking. "I can't imagine what was in Ron's mind. I mean - at least Tim kept it out of Evan's face. But here Ron is rubbing it into Troy's and Evan's faces. I might have expected Cody not to catch on."

He took a drink of his Coke and then half-heartedly sampled more of his french fries. He stared at Kenny. I don't think either Ron or Cody meant to hurt Evan or Troy. . . . Do you?"

"No. Ron loves Evan. He came after Evan. I think he'll be as puzzled as any of us about what happened with them. Cody is attracted to Evan's strength and intelligence and honesty about his feelings for Cody. Cody doesn't want to admit it, but he wouldn't want to lose what Evan gives him."

Jeremy studied Kenny silently, playing his comments off against his observations. He slowly started shaking his head in the affirmative. "Yeah, you're right." The pace of his head-shaking picked up a bit. "So what happened tonight between Ron and Cody took everyone by surprise. They couldn't have planned it. All that verbal jousting between them that we've heard the past few weeks means those feelings we saw them acting out tonight were right there simmering under the surface because it took nothing at all to set them boiling."

They looked into each other's eyes. "What did your eyes tell you when you looked at them with your 'X-ray vision?'"

Kenny giggled. "X-ray vision? I'm not Clark Kent." They both chuckled.

"Clark Kent doesn't have your sexy, hairy pits; that thick bush around that fat cock; your poochy ass that melts my insides when I see it and sink my hungry cock into it," Jeremy boasted.

"You'd better be careful, or I'll pull you right up here on top of this table and sit on your long, hard dick!"

They were both getting horned up. "Back to the issue at hand," Jeremy stated, swiping the back of his hand across his forehead.

"I mostly was looking at Troy and you. I realized that you are both Lions. Some kind of strength is shared by you two. It isn't, say, the same color, but it's the same shape. Susan, Evan, and I can direct and shape it, but it's a special bond between you and Troy. How did it feel when you were claiming him?"

"It was like we merged somehow, like what he was feeling flowed into me and what I was feeling flowed into him. It was intense. The same as when Ron claimed us." He looked up at Kenny to see if his honesty had hurt, but he saw only love shining forth from those dark eyes. "When you joined Troy and me, I felt a shift in the current. It flowed around and through you. I wonder if Troy felt it too. When you two kissed, I felt its energy spike. I wonder if Evan felt anything like that," he expressed as he raised his eyebrows at Kenny.

"I don't think so. Ron and Cody were too wrapped up in each other."

"So what did you see when you looked at them?" He saw Kenny's eyes darken and his brow wrinkle a bit.

Kenny swallowed. "I couldn't look long. I saw all this emotion swirling around. It was dark, billowy, sparks in it. I couldn't identify what it was, but it had both of them in its grip. It frightened me for them, so I quit looking." Kenny's head had sunk down as he confessed his reaction.

Jeremy reached over, gently placing two fingers of his right hand under that shapely chin, lifting it slowly so that their eyes met. "No need to feel guilty, Lover. You were just seeing what was there."

They sat in silence for three or four minutes, both minds turned to puzzling over what they could do. "Troy has Susan," Jeremy finally spoke, so he'll have a refuge, someone with whom to mull over what has happened. He'll tell Susan too, and she'll help him. Unless my judgment is totally rotten, Ron and Cody will talk some about what happened to them, so they'll have each other to begin to work toward some understanding."

He looked at Kenny. "That leaves Evan," Kenny said softly. "Will he allow us to help him?"

Jeremy frowned. "You know what he's thinking. You've seen his stony face when he's facing something bad. When we get home, his bedroom door will be closed, and he'll be dead to the world."

"What can we do for him?" Kenny asked.

They studied each other. "I think the direct approach won't work this time," Jeremy observed. "If we try to talk to him, he'll tune us out. I think Evan's help needs to come from Ron and Cody."

Kenny's eyebrows arched in doubt. "You think we can get those three together?"

A rascally grin seized Jeremy's face. "The two of us together can."

"How?"

Jeremy thought for a bit. "You have to go to Ron and tell him he has to come to our place. Kenny," here he looked forcefully at his lover, "don't invite him. Demand that he go to Evan's. Make it clear that you won't take 'no' for an answer. For Evan's benefit it should be soon. Like tomorrow or the next night."

"We have our family dinner the next night, remember?"

"Okay. Tomorrow night. I'm going to do the same with Cody."

"Any particular reason you assigned me to Ron and you to Cody?"

"Ron and you really haven't had a face-down. I know how he feels about you. He'll listen to you, and given what occurred this evening, he won't want to hurt anyone else. By the way, if he is reluctant, look like your feelings are hurt."

Kenny laughed. "You're diabolical."

Jeremy grinned seductively. "How do you think I captured you, my Cub? The first step I took toward being strong and present was to claim you when we brought you home from that sleazy bar. I held you a good part of the night, feeling your warm body against mine, smelling your scent, caressing your body. You didn't know it, but I did."

Kenny's eyes had grown large. "I didn't know. . . .I love you, Jeremy. . . . So why you and Cody?"

"For some reason I haven't analyzed, Cody has begun to turn to me in little ways. Remember that he's the one who wanted his hair cut like mine. Asked about Rafe. There have been other little gestures that tell me he wants something deeper between us."

"Sex?"

"Not that so much although he wouldn't turn that down. You know Cody's a randy beast. Always ready to whip that dick out or turn that ass up." Kenny giggled at the images of Cody Jeremy had conjured. "I have detected it in little questions he's asked me, usually about Troy. I think it has something to do with his sensing a bond between Troy and me. By drawing closer to me, he draws closer to Troy. No matter what happened tonight, I know Cody is in love with Troy." Jeremy thought a moment. "Sad thing is that I don't think Troy recognizes how deep Cody's feelings for him are."

"Does Susan?"

Jeremy smiled. "Of course - you can't hide anything from our beautiful sister." They both smiled, reveling in their feelings for Susan, which they knew she reciprocated.

"Hey!" Jeremy suddenly exclaimed, a smile seizing his face. "One good thing that could come out of this is that Troy may recognize that he has two lovers, Susan and Cody. That's not a bad thing."

Kenny nodded in agreement. "And Troy could handle it, letting them both know that one wasn't losing out to the other, that there would be no reason for jealousy. Wow! I just flashed on this image of the three of them in bed together. Wouldn't that be hot?"

They both laughed, Jeremy wagging his eyebrows at Kenny. "I'm going to have to watch you, Cub. I think I'm beginning to detect a kinky twist in your personality. You might try to make it a five-way."

Kenny giggled, blushing. "Okay, we get them together. Then what happens?"

"We have to trust that when they are together, they'll begin talking to each other. Ron and Cody will have talked before we all get together. So Ron will step in and begin to move things along. We both know Evan will say nothing."

"Because he thinks it's the Tim deal all over again?"

"Yeah. He's not hard to figure out on that point."

"Are we going to ask Troy to be there too? Susan?"

Jeremy frowned, concentrating. "I don't think so. I think that would be too many people. I think we need to get these people linked again in stages. If we can get the four guys back together again, we then bring Troy in. My gut tells me that's the best strategy to pursue."

"It's a plan!" Kenny responded. "So we get them together at your place tomorrow evening?"

"Yeah. If that won't work, we'll figure something else out." Jeremy reached across the table, lacing his fingers into those of his hot little lover, who smiled back. "Evan's door will be closed. Want to spend the night."

"Evan won't care."

"Yeah, but it makes it more exciting - like I'm sneaking you into the dorm."

Kenny giggled. "Get me into your bed as fast as you can, Stud." They shot out of the restaurant.

Since Cody had ridden to the school with Troy, he climbed in Ron's car, and they rode silently to Ron's apartment. On the way, Ron wondered what was in his mind that led him to immerse himself so completely in claiming Cody? The same might be asked of Cody. Something powerful pulled them together. What the hell was it? It blocked Evan from his mind and Troy from Cody's. . . . Could only be a need demanding fulfillment. What need?. . . He loved Evan. He was almost certain Cody needed Troy at least as a brother but probably more. The need that drove him and Cody superseded the need for Evan and Troy. What was it? Would it always be so powerful? Would their other relationships always have to give way to this need? Their respective relationships with Evan and Troy would be doomed if that were the case. Or was it a need that had to be satisfied prior to Evan and Troy, such that the need for them would once again be paramount when this need had been satisfied?

Because they had reached Ron's building, they alighted from the car, entered the front doors, and climbed the stairs to Ron's apartment. Once inside, Ron told Cody he'd get them some juice. Cody pulled off his jacket and flopped down on the curved sectional sofa, staring at his feet.

When Ron had handed Cody his drink, he sat down on the sofa. "Cody, what were you feeling when we were having sex?"

Cody stared at him for a bit, remembering. "Terrific. It didn't feel only like we were only having sex. It was more than that."

"Was it the same or a different feeling when you and Troy have had sex?"

"Again, we don't just have sex. We have more. Well . . . I do anyway." He thought for a bit. "What I was feeling with and for you was different from what I feel with Troy."

"What do you feel with Troy?"

"I love him. I belong to him. He belongs to me. We complete each other, like the Ying and Yang."

"Are you attracted to him as a brother or a lover?"

Cody sighed for a minute, looking away. "I regard him as a lover; I think he regards me as a brother." He paused. "I want to be more to him, but I just haven't seen any signs that that's the case. I think Evan means more to him than I do."

Ron decided to let the last remark slide for a bit. "But you didn't regard me as a lover?"

Cody was thinking harder, recovering past moments. Ron wasn't certain he was ever going to answer. "No, not as a lover."

"As what then?"

Cody thought longer this time. "I can't find the words to match my feelings."

To move things along, Ron made a request: "Tell me about your dad?"

"Huh?"

"Describe your dad to me."

"What's that got to do with this?"

"Just humor me, okay?"

Cody sighed, looking back down at his feet. "It may sound mean, but there's not much to describe." Ron waited, knowing that Cody would eventually move fully into the request. "My dad's just been there. He's Dad. That's it."

"Don't you guys do things together?"

"No."

"I wonder why not?" Cody stared at him. "Please, Cody. Did your dad play games with you when you were little?"

"No."

"Since you're so good at basketball, he must have taught you the game."

"No."

"To fish? Hunt? Drive?"

"No. None of that."

"Why not, do you think?"

Ron remained silent for a long while, indicating that he wouldn't speak again until Cody replied. "All my uncles except one are like that. My Granddad's like that. . . . now that I think about it. I guess that means he didn't do those things with my dad either."

"Does your dad tell you stories about when he was young? Tell you about his life?"

"Not really. I don't think he had much of a life."

"What does he spend his time doing?" Ron asked, trying to filter frustration out of his tone.

"Working, working, working, reading, watching TV."

"Reading what? Watching what?"

"Reading westerns and watching sports."

"You don't read westerns or watch sports with him?"

"No. I don't think he'd welcome it."

Ron's intuition that started him down this line of questioning had grown stronger. "Do you remember what you called me when we were shocked to discover ourselves alone?"

More thought. "Oh," he exclaimed, a little surprised. "I called you 'Dad.' I wonder why I did that?"

"You tell me. Answer your own question, Cody. It's time."

"What? You're telling me that I wanted you as my dad. I've got a dad who's not worth a lot in the 'dad' department. Why do I need another? Besides, I used to tease you about being an old man."

"Ye-e-e-e-e-s," Ron slowly stated.

"Aw, come on. You mean 'old man' as in 'dad?' That answer is too pat."

Silence ensued for a time. "How did you feel when Evan adopted Jeremy?"

"Well I'm not jealous of Jeremy if that's what you believe. I was happy for them. What else do you want me to say?"

Ron decided it was time for another tack. "Want to know what I felt with you this evening?" Cody suddenly became wary, his eyes narrowing. Ron could almost see his body subtly adjust as though to receive a blow. Ron forced himself to go deep down, down, down, down inside his feelings. There he discovered that his feelings for Evan were different from his feelings for Cody. They weren't the same at all. Love - yes, but not the same kind of love. He loved Cody. However, he was IN love with Evan. That was it! Cody had called him "Dad." He knew how he loved Cody. Now how could they make this clear to Evan and Troy?

The next morning before class, a somber Evan was lining up stacks of handouts he'd gotten back from the Copy Center for his classes that day. He still felt bruised and subdued from the disclosures that he'd shared with Alan Frazier and even more from those of last night's ambushes and claimings. The death of too many things in such a short time? He actively avoided visiting that part of his history. Instead, he revisited the intuition he'd had driving to school that morning.

He'd arisen on autopilot, feeling nothing, trying to shut out memories that pounded on the door of his consciousness that he had determined not to let in, for they would crush him with past defeats. While he'd been sitting at a stoplight, he'd suddenly realized that it would be precipitous to imagine that what had happened last night necessarily meant that he was going to experience another break-up like the one with Tim. Circumstances definitely didn't look good, but he wouldn't allow himself to rush to judgment, to imagine that Ron had found something better in Cody. He'd just wait - remain in idle, so to speak, like his car was idling at the stoplight. It wasn't his responsibility to make it all work out for everyone. It had started with Ron and Cody, so they had to have an opportunity to come to terms with it themselves before dealing with others. He immediately felt a ratcheting down of his internal state - less tension, stress, worry. He'd just wait. 'I think you are growing up,' he heard that smart-ass voice opine.

Evan occasionally looked up to observe students entering the classroom and interacting. It was usually one of the more enjoyable moments of the day. They didn't have a clue about the parental dynamic that imbued this important activity for Evan. He detected whatever mood had this or that student in its grasp, and he could often gauge what dynamics would play out in the classroom that day. Still, he knew he'd have to push himself in class to approach anything close to being an engaging teacher this day.

Troy and Susan had entered, Troy looking as grave as a judge. He wondered if it had anything to do with Ron and Cody's pronounced preference for each other last night. Susan scanned Evan's face, reading the signs she saw there with no emotional reaction on her own part. Evan wished wistfully for a sign from her, something telling him he was still worth something to someone. There it was! A smile. Twinkling eyes. Kenny arose from his desk and walked over to Susan's desk. He slid an arm around Susan's waist. 'Well, that little caballero is becoming quite the charmer,' Evan thought.

"Hey, Little Brother," he heard Susan greet Kenny.

"Hey, Sis," Kenny responded with a smile that Evan noticed was becoming powerful enough to catch others' attention - Kenny's version of Troy's dimples. Kenny slid another arm around Troy. "Hey, Big Bro."

"Li'l Bro," Troy replied, looping an arm around Kenny and pulling him into a hug that lasted longer than usual. One brother comforting another? Troy wasn't smiling, however.

After the bell and checking the roll, Evan started the students into group work over a short story in which the students were to identify elements of foreshadowing and then link those to possible themes in the short story, all with an eye toward students' understanding where an author was leading them. Evan couldn't help wondering if he'd missed any foreshadowing of what had happened last night between Ron and Cody. He certainly had been blind to any with Tim. The larger goal was to understand when one was being led and the possible goals of someone's leading them. It was a productive class period, with almost all of the students speaking at some point about what they perceived and their reaction to these dynamics.

Then there was Tony Francini. Since Jeremy's reception, Tony had been watchful of Evan. Evan supposed Tony was trying to assess how ticked off he was about Tony's blurting out to Jared and Valerie that Evan had had romantic dinners in the alcove at Francini's restaurant. It was the very reason Evan had known he wouldn't show up with Alan at Francini's. A flash of insight told him that Angela, Tony's girlfriend, who'd overheard Evan's remark that Francini's would not be a good place for a serious discussion, would never tell Tony what she'd heard. She'd protect him from any bad feelings. Probably LeKeisha had told Tony about Evan's remark. In any case, Tony was especially active in the class discussion - in an attempt to redeem himself, Evan thought. Tony's contributions in class were more likely to be those of a court jester, but today he was being quite the scholar. Evan was impressed, knowing that he would have to acknowledge that and encourage more of it.

Beth Walker had pointed to the narrator's shifting readers' attention to a stained glass window near where a character in the story, a European veteran of World War II, was sitting in a church. The stained-glass window depicted the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Evan had asked Greg Dunwoodie to share his impression of what that juxtaposition of character and image told readers. He just shook his head no. Ordinarily, that was a challenge for Evan, leading to more focused questions to draw a student into the discussion. Evan would not usually allow any student to opt out of class deliberations. But he knew that Greg had to be handled differently since he and Ross had broken up. Tony jumped in to point out the link with the central character's looking up and studying the window, experiencing intense loneliness in the face of an immutable, desperate future.

"An astute, scholarly observation, Mr. Francini, and somewhat out of character for you. We are indebted to you for your insight. May we encourage you to lead us more often down these lines of thought?"

"Huh?" Tony responded dumbly. Giggles fluttered around the room. He had understood every nuance of Evan's remarks. He was bringing the jester back into class discussion. No way was he going to be caught being complimented for being a highbrow. No way would he allow anyone to take him seriously.

Evan knew how to trump him. He looked Tony right in the eyes. "Thank you, Tony. Thank you for sharing your gift of intelligence with us, a light you've kept buried under a bushel." Tony colored, the first time Evan could remember seeing his face infused with red. "But watch him, guys," Evan warned the class. "Don't allow him to sell you a used car or a time-share on Mars, a planet he often frequents." The laughter was uproarious. In that moment, when Tony and Evan looked at each other, they merged - perfect buddies. Both Tony and Evan turned at the same time to include Angela, who beamed at her man, Tony.

Just before dismissing the class, Evan asked Paul Hartford and Beth to chat with him for a moment. Out of the corner of his eye, Evan saw Tony pause in putting his notebook and textbook back in his book bag. When Beth and Paul arrived together at Evan's desk, he mentioned quietly that at Jeremy's adoption reception, he had clumsily caused Greg to divulge his break-up with Ross Brownlee. Evan sketched their brief conversation, asking if they were aware of these events. The concern was immediate on both their faces. "I knew something had been wrong for a long time," Beth answered, looking over at Paul, "but we're still getting to know each other. I didn't want to pry."

"I'd hoped he'd tell us what was wrong," Paul added. "But he never did. I even dropped hints, inviting him to talk about Ross, but he wouldn't. I never imagined something this bad had happened."

"I think he needs some close friends now," Evan explained. He's beating up on himself instead of blaming Fate. Anything you guys could do to help him would be marvelous. I'm only telling you this because I didn't think you knew. As you noticed in class today, he was one of the few who just didn't engage in our discussion. That's not Greg. He's capable of assuming a productive role, but he's just shut down. Who can blame him? I'd like to figure out how to invite that Greg back into the classroom, not to mention our lives. Maybe you guys could give some advice."

"We'll invite him out with us this weekend," Beth commented.

"We'll make certain he goes with us too," Paul added. "Maybe we can go clubbing where there will be some men that will at least get him looking again," he said, looking at Beth to confirm what he'd suggested. Beth nodded her agreement.

Evan thanked them, telling them that he'd be eager to hear their take on circumstances in Greg's life.

After Cody left his apartment last night, Ron had resolved to seek Evan out at his first opportunity at school to see if they could go out to dinner to talk, but he'd been cornered immediately with students needing help with their spring semester lab projects. Then Mary Ellen Branson, the head of the Science Department, suddenly called a meeting for after classes, so it appeared that he wouldn't connect with Evan any time soon. In one sense, he was relieved because he still hadn't figured out how to present convincingly what he and Cody had discovered. In another sense, he knew that the more time that elapsed between Evan's and his talking, the more Evan would convince himself that it was over for them.

Troy had been distant in class this morning, arriving right at the bell and hustling out of the room after class. He'd refused to make eye contact with Ron. The unmistakable conclusion? Troy was angry with Cody and him. Who could blame Troy? Ron still couldn't quite believe that they had so completely tuned everything and everyone out. It bothered Ron deeply that he'd been controlled by a force he couldn't even name at the time of the claiming. His analytical mind balked at the very idea. He was glad that Cody and he had returned to his apartment to talk. It had allowed them to fumble their way to understanding what they had felt toward each other and what had happened with them. They now understood it completely. Yet their account of the claimings seemed a pathetic defense. Of course, it wasn't. But could they, for the good of all, lead the others to the same understanding?

After Chem Lab, Ron called Byron Okata up to his desk.

"Did I do something wrong?" Byron asked, a little apprehensively.

"Do you know Sherry Westbrook?" Ron asked, smiling to reassure Byron.

"I know who she is. A freshman, blond, cute, petite."

Ron's smile widened. Shy as he was, Byron wasn't missing some of the more important points around him.

"Yes. She's in my General Science class. She's having some problems with lab work. I wanted to suggest to her that you might be willing to tutor her, but I wanted to talk to you first." Ron nearly laughed out loud as he saw Byron lurch ever so slightly. "I have enough students in my classes who need a little one-on-one that I'm going to fall behind soon if I don't have some help. That's why I'm turning to you. We both know that you're attuned to lab work. You're beginning to develop a mindset and talent for it. Perhaps you're too busy?"

"When would I tutor her? If it's for a lab, wouldn't we have to be in here?"

"You two would work that out. I could arrange for you two to meet in here if you both had the same free period and there's no class in here. Or you could meet here right after school. I usually stay late setting up the next day's labs, trying to get ahead of classroom studies for the next day, or grading lab reports or tests. I think we could work around any problems that might exist."

Byron's eyes grew wider. Ron choked back a laugh, which came out sounding rather like a suppressed belch. He knew Byron's synapses were shooting a lot of energy to his sexual system. Little beads of sweat appeared just above his upper lip. Ron knew Byron's cock was growing hard.

However, Byron answered casually, "I guess I could spare a little time. I work at my parents' business sometimes after school, but I could probably stay a little later some afternoons after school to help out a fellow student."

Ron was certain Byron's parents would forbid him to come to work if they knew he was interested in a young woman. "If you could talk to Sherry and get back to me tomorrow or the next day, we could make this happen. Sherry isn't lacking in intelligence; she just needs some help. She's a little, overwhelmed freshman right now. She doesn't believe in herself very much. Wants to go to nursing school, so she knows she has to complete the entire science sequence. But I notice her looking awfully defeated. I bet you could show her that she can actually develop a mind for science. She just needs someone to believe in her, coach her, give her some tips and suggestions. I know you're the man."

Finally, at last, a smile quirked at the corners of Byron's mouth. 'Wow,' thought Ron, 'this guy is hard to move!'

"Okay, I'll talk to Sherry. You'll hear from us."

"Just remember, Byron - you're not only helping her with learning. You're helping her believe in herself. Think you can accomplish those two objectives?"

"I can do that."

As Byron turned to leave, Ron checked the front of Byron's Dockers. Yeah, there was a bulge there. Byron was on the prowl! When Byron was out the door and well down the hall, Ron laughed with glee. He wanted this to work out for Byron and Sherry academically and socially.

He hoped Evan would approve. Now why did he need Evan's approval for linking up two students? He mulled that question a bit. It wasn't Evan's approval he wanted. Whoa! After last night, he hoped to regain the level of approval he had enjoyed previously. Before the ambush, Evan was holding back because he was half expecting Ron to bolt to someone else. There was no question then that he'd messed things up while he was claiming Cody. It actually hurt inside when he thought about what Evan was thinking after the claimings. But Ron knew that persistence would open Evan up, as he would open up to Evan. Then they would be so close they could think together without words.

He wanted Evan to see that he was just as devoted to students, that this was an inclination they shared. The only question now was deciding to tell Evan or letting him find out on his own. He mulled that over too. Better to let him find out, especially since events after the ambush. Ron had linked Byron and Sherry for an academic reason first. Telling Evan outright might suggest a different motive. Yeah, better to let Evan find it out. Besides, it would be interesting to see what barb Evan might send his way. Gee, if it started verbal fisticuffs, Ron would have to carry Evan off to subjugate him with sex. He could hardly wait for that to happen again.

He'd busied himself with paperwork at his desk when he sensed he wasn't alone. He looked up, smiling to see Kenny standing just a few feet from his desk, a little tentative but grinning. He arose, holding out his arms, into which Kenny shot. Oh, how good it felt to embrace this sweet Cub, especially in light of the load of apprehension he'd been carrying all day. He liked enclosing bodies smaller than his in his arms. Had to be something primal.

"Dad," Kenny whispered.

"Son," he whispered back. They stood like that, hugging each other for at least half a minute. Then they pulled back together. "How's Evan?" Kenny shrugged his shoulders. "You were in class with him this morning, right?"

"Yes. He was very quiet. Not his usual energetic self. Well, he zinged Tony Francini once - kind of like he used to zing Jeremy."

"Oh?" Ron asked, feeling a glimmer of hope. "He wasn't super down?"

"I don't know what he was feeling, but he wasn't like he was after he found out about Tim if that's what you mean."

Maybe there was a chance! Maybe Evan would listen if he could explain what he and Cody had discovered. "How bad was it last night for Troy and Evan, do you think?"

Kenny looked him squarely in the eyes. "Really bad," he spoke with some vinegar.

"Tell me what I didn't catch last night."

"Did you see me making it good for Jeremy and Cody when their claiming was going on?" Ron shook his head slowly in the negative. "But you were imitating every move Jeremy made in claiming Troy."

"I glanced over at the beginning. But I was so absorbed in Cody that I forgot everything else."

"You didn't know that Evan followed my lead and made love to you from the back, licking you and nibbling on you and eating your ass?"

Ron suddenly felt something cold around his heart. "You guys had a three-way then?"

"No, it was a claiming, but Jeremy acknowledged me by kissing me, and then Troy and I kissed too."

"Evan saw this?"

Kenny answered a little impatiently, "Yes. He watched us, and he tried to participate with Cody and you. But you guys ignored him."

Ron's face set. He felt the pain to his core. He hoped it was greater than what Evan had felt. He spoke in a quiet monotone, "At what point did he leave?"

"You guys had cum once, but you started up again. It was clear that you didn't even know Evan was there," Kenny said accusatorially. "You shut him out. You aren't going to ask me if it hurt him, are you? Because you know it did. He got up, dressed, and left without looking back at anyone. When the three of us realized what was happening with you two, Troy followed Evan. He was mad. Jeremy and I followed Troy. When we got home last night, Evan was in his bedroom with the door shut."

"I didn't know he was with Cody and me," Ron nearly whispered, looking at the floor. "That's bad. How do I nullify the message my behavior sent Evan?" he looked at Kenny.

"Actually, that's why I'm here," Kenny remarked. "Could you come to Evan's home this evening? Jeremy and I think it would do all of us good to talk about what happened last night."

"Cody will be there too?"

"Yes, Jeremy is asking him right now."

"You've got a date hotshot. What time?"

Jeremy had to wait until lunch to connect with Cody. He was sitting alone in a corner of the cafeteria, picking at his food. He didn't smile when Jeremy walked over, putting his tray on the table and sitting down. "Hi Cody."

"Jeremy. . . .You here to bawl me out?"

"Do you need bawling out?"

Cody snorted with contempt. "Well, at least you're talking to me. That's more than I can say for Troy."

"You tried to talk to him this morning?"

"Tried and failed. . . . Shut me out. . . . Course, you'll remind me that that's what Ron and I did to all of you last night."

"I'm sorry, Cody. I know how important Troy is to you."

"It's not big deal."

"Cody, you're in love with Troy. It's one of the biggest deals in your life."

Jeremy was amazed upon seeing tears spring to Cody's eyes. He'd never seen Cody cry before. Cody's head dropped forward, allowing his hair to fall down, hiding his face. Jeremy slid his hand over Cody's, squeezing it. "Doesn't have to be this way, Cody."

He was silent, finally sniffling before raising his head, his eyes glittering. "I wonder now if I threw myself into making love with Ron to punish Troy for not being in love with me. For shutting me out after the winning basket at the ballgame. I've been frustrated that Troy doesn't recognize that I'm in love with him. But I don't think that was my motive."

"Let's find out. Kenny and I want you to come to my place tonight Ron and Evan will be there with us. We can get this issue resolved among you two and Evan. Then you will be on stronger footing to approach Troy. You will have talked your way through it once, so you'll have answers for Troy. How about it?"

Cody stared at Jeremy.

"Come on, Bro. You aren't walking into an armed camp. Everyone there loves you, including Evan. You know that."

Are you kidding?" he laughed sarcastically. "Evan has to be hating me right now. Whatever he thinks he saw, he just got up and walked out. He didn't even say anything to you."

"I think he dressed first, Jeremy stated, smiling. Irritated by the reply, Cody frowned.

"You are special to Evan, Cody. Ever since he broke up that fight between Jarod Paine and you, he's felt connected to you. I know because he asked me questions about you. You astonished him when you went to bed with him right there with your date and the other kids in the sunroom. He thought he was dreaming all that. You see, don't you, that he wasn't disturbed to dream that you were conquering him in sex? He'd had plenty of fantasies about you before that, so a dream in which you made love to him was plausible."

Cody stared at Jeremy. A soft "oh" was his response.

"When you wanted him to fuck you, it blew his mind. He never imagined he was that important to you. He copped your cherry, Cody. You will forever be special to him."

"Special enough for him to understand?"

"Understand what?"

"What Ron and I discovered last night when we talked about our behavior."

"I think we can make that happen. We love you. We just want to help. Come over tonight. Please? Have you a better option?"

Cody sighed. "What time?"

It was the second day after the ambush. Evan had managed to shut his memories down and to focus on his classes. He was proud of his control, for it was a struggle. He lived so much in his mind that it even felt a little foreign to keep the issues from the claimings at bay. He thought it strange that Jeremy had said so little about it. Maybe it was due to Jeremy's and Kenny's stumbling into the kitchen the morning after, clad only in their briefs, which Evan was willing to bet had just been pulled on. They both wandered over to hug and kiss him, smelling like a brothel. "Hm-m-m-m-m. It smells as though the Lion and the Cub have been mating." Jeremy snorted out a little laugh. Kenny blushed.

"We were acting out a scenario in which a son sneaks a lover past the parents' bedroom late at night for a carnal romp," Jeremy explained, ending with a leer.

"Ou-u-u-u-u-u," Evan voiced. "I don't want to hear anymore. You'll horn me up when I'm all ready for school." Both the boys had snickered.

That was hours ago. Evan wondered what they had planned for the evening. He had a vague sense that there were several tasks in which he ought to be engaging, but he allowed his mind to turn from that. This would be a good evening to lose himself in grading. Jeremy wasn't home. Perhaps he was at work. So after soup and a sandwich and a glance at the evening newspaper, Evan settled in the study to tackle a set of essays. He hadn't completed grading many when he heard Jeremy and Kenny arrive home. They didn't come down the hall to Jeremy's room as Evan had expected. Must have settled in the sunroom.

After only a short time, he heard a knock on the front door. He decided to let the boys get it. "Hey Ron," he heard Jeremy greet the unexpected visitor. Evan's shoulders slumped. Was he ready for this? Well, he guessed he'd have to be. Jeremy stuck his head in the door of the study. "Dad, Ron's here. Would you please come out to talk with us?" Just then another knock sounded on the front door. 'Oh no,' Evan thought, 'this discussion can't occur with others present.' Suddenly he realized that that might not be a bad thing. He could just sit and say nothing. He arose and left the study.

As he stepped into the living room, he was surprised to see Cody. 'Oh,' he thought, his mind working more slowly than usual. Jeremy and Kenny had engineered this. Okay. They were assuming leadership to try to resolve issues for the welfare of the group. He immediately felt a pain in his gut. He hoped desperately that no disclosure like that about Tim and Alan would come forth.

"Hey Cody, come on in the sunroom. Ron's there. Here's Dad."

Evan nodded at Cody, who nodded back. Evan followed Jeremy and Cody to the sunroom. He caught Ron's gaze scanning him. Evan felt his confidence diminish. He was just about to step down into the sunroom when another knock sounded at the front door. He looked questioningly at Jeremy, who had a puzzled look on his face.

Evan turned and walked to the front door. When he opened the door, Troy was standing there with a suitcase in his hand, a faint smile on his face. "Is there any room in the inn, the inn that takes in guys who've been kicked out of their homes?"

"Troy, I'm sorry," Evan replied. "You always have a place here. Come in." As Troy started to step inside, Evan took the suitcase from his hand, for he knew that when this visitor spotted Cody, he might turn right around and walk out.

Troy suddenly spied Cody and Ron. As I expected, he started to turn away. Kenny, who had anticipated what Troy might do, shot out of the sunroom, throwing his arms around Troy and burying his face between Troy's pecs, blocking a departure. His sudden hug made Troy lean down and hug him back, but he was confused too. Catching onto the quick interplay, Jeremy arose and strode forcefully over to Troy and clapped his arms about him as he too flattened his body against Troy with the soft greeting, "Bro."

(To be continued.)

Sorry for the delay, folks. More travel, including a conference in San Francisco. That was fun!