Berto's Roses
By Ben
Part IL
When I awoke to the early morning sunshine streaming in the windows, I felt a warm body next to me and felt an arm lying across my chest. I looked down and saw the top of Berto's head, his hair going in twenty different directions, was also on my chest. His bare shoulder and chest were all that was visible to me as the sheet covered us from the waist down.
It was a good thing it was there, too. I looked beyond the sweet sleeping face and saw, to my horror, that my morning erection was at full mast and making a tent out of the sheet. What was I to do? I tried to "will it away", but that didn't work at all. If I moved I was sure to wake Berto, and the direction his face was pointed, he would be sure to see it as soon as he opened his eyes.
I didn't even think about it last night when I went to bed. I just crawled in naked as I always did. I wasn't expecting company, and certainly not Berto, to be there in the morning. Maybe he would move in his sleep and not see it when finally woke up. For the moment, I was just savoring the feeling of Berto's smooth, young body next to mine. I could not resist and picked up my head far enough to kiss his hair and gave him a gentle hug.
"What is that, Senor Ben? Did you do that?" I heard him speak.
"Oh my God!" I thought to myself. I didn't know if he meant the kiss or my hard on. I decided to play ignorant. I have always been pretty good at that. "uhhh...What is what, Berto?"
Berto raise his brown-skinned arm and pointed, his hand hovering an inch above the pinnacle of my sheet- covered erection. I looked and saw that he was pointing beyond my embarrassment toward the painting I had done of him yesterday.
"Oh, the painting. Yes, I painted that yesterday. Do you like it?"
I answer, Berto sat straight up in the bed and gazed awhile longer, then he slowly pulled the sheet away, stood on the floor and walked over to the easel which held the painting. He looked at every square inch of it. He reached up and touched it in several places, always looking at his fingers afterward to make sure he hadn't smudged it in any way.
I had used acrylics so it was completely dry. I watched Berto as he closely inspected the portrait. He was wearing only a pair of "tighty-whities" that fit his ass perfectly and contrasted with his smooth tanned skin. His body, standing in front of the painting of him, made a breathtaking picture. I wanted to capture this with my camera, but I was still naked and I didn't want to disturb him. I would just have to settle for a mental picture this time.
"Senor Ben?" He slowly turned toward me, revealing his own tent in his white underwear. He was completely oblivious to this condition.
"Yes, Berto?"
"Could you do another painting for me?"
"Another painting like this one, Berto?"
"Oh, no. Not like this one. It is beautiful, and I like it very much, but could you paint one of Mama for me?" His eyes were pleading and tear-filled. I would have cut my arm off, if he had asked me to do it.
"Yes, Berto. Of course, I can. I would be honored to do it for you. Would you like to look at my photos and pick out the one you want for me to paint?" Berto's eyes cleared up a bit and he nodded, but didn't smile. Oh how I missed his smile! It lit up the whole room. I supposed, right then, he had very little to smile about. "May I do that later? I need to use the bathroom and get dressed." He explained as he looked down at himself with his erection pushing out the front of his underwear.
"Yes, anytime you want to, Berto. You may use my bathroom if you like."
"Gracias, Senor Ben." He walked over to me and we shared a tender hug. He looked up and said, "The painting you did of me is very beautiful, the roses look so real. How do you do that?
I choked down the lump in my throat and managed a reply. "It seems that I am able to capture on canvas that which I love, Berto."
He looked into my eyes for a few seconds, thinking about what I had just said. Then he nodded and turned toward the bathroom in the corner of the studio. Pausing with his hand on the doorknob, he said, "Senor Ben?"
"Yes Berto?"
He turned his sweet, sad face to me and said, "I love you, too." He opened the bathroom door and I watched as he made his way inside and closed the door behind him.
I had tears in my own eyes. I took the opportunity to get out of bed and quickly slip on my pants and T- shirt. I didn't see any of Berto's clothes and assumed he had come to room my room in just his briefs. I found my robe and, as Berto exited the bathroom, I offered it to him to wear on his way to get dressed.
"Berto, we need to go see your aunt and Carlos. I don't know if the have been told what has happened. Do you want to go with Ricky and me?"
"Si, I will go with you. I want to see them, too. I will get dressed and be ready when you are."
"Okay, take your time. I don't even know if Ricky is awake yet." I walked with him across the carport and into the kitchen. The air had just a hint of autumn. Not cold, but cooler and fresh. We stepped inside and saw Carla at the stove busily cooking breakfast. The table was set for four people.
Carla gave Berto a hug and a kiss on his forehead, and spoke softly to him in Spanish. He nodded and they hugged again. then he continued up to his room. Carla watched him go then turned to me. "He seems much better today. I think he will be alright."
"I think, too." I nodded. "Something smells wonderful, Carla. You are simply amazing." I hugged her from behind and kissed the top of her shiny, thick black hair. "Is Ricky awake yet?"
"Si, he was talking on the telephone when I passed his room this morning. I did not stop and talk to him, though."
"I'll go and check on him. You are the sweetest girl, Carla." I gave her another hug and kiss before turning toward my old bedroom, where Ricky had spent the night. Just as I was about to walk out of the kitchen, the telephone rang. I answered it, "Hello?"
"Ben?" I heard a voice, dripping with a Southern accent.
"This is he." I managed. Though the voice was familiar, I couldn't quite place it.
"This is Randy. Randy Miller. Me and Wade are at the little ol' airport ya'll have here. There ain't no taxi or nothin' for us to get over to your place..."
Holy shit! Randy and Wade were here! The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Of course they were here. This was the day they were supposed to come. It had completely slipped my mind in all that had happened in the past two days.
"Ben? You still there?" Randy asked.
"Uh, yes...Randy, I'm sorry. There has been a lot going on here the past few days. Tell you what. Make yourselves as comfortable as you can and I'll be there as soon as I can to pick you up, okay?"
I turned to Carla, who had overheard the conversation. "Can you fit in two more for breakfast?" She nodded and I explained to her that Randy and Wade had made plans to come here after they graduated from college. The plans had been made a long time ago, before the plane crash and before the party. It never occurred to me to contact them and cancel.
I grabbed my car keys and headed out the door. I realized the limousine was blocking my car and the truck. I headed back in to find Ricky, so I could get it moved. I found him in the shower. In spite of all the circumstances and current events, I still had to admire his physique. He was one hot looking man!
"Ricky..." I shouted above the noise of the running water.
Turning to face me, Ricky shut off the shower, opened the glass door and grabbed a towel to wipe his face. "Good morning, Ben. What's the matter?"
I explained the whole situation with Randy and Wade to him while he dried himself. Nodding his understanding, he suggested, "Why don't you have Paco drive the limo to pick them up? "
"Well, thanks, that's very generous of you Ricky, but I really think I should go and get them. I can explain everything to them on the way back."
"Then you can go with Paco." Ricky decided. He turned, wrapping the towel around his trim waist and left to find his driver. Returning with Paco in tow, Ricky rattled off instructions to him in Spanish. Paco nodded and headed for the carport.
Ricky looked at me. "He knows the way to the airport, which is a good thing since you cannot speak Spanish to tell him. Carla and I will make sure they have a room ready when you get back. Will they sleep together or separately?"
"I think they are pretty much a couple. One room should be fine. Thank you so much for this, Ricky. I'll be back in just a bit. Berto is getting dressed and has told me he wants to go with you when you talk to his aunt and cousin."
"He is doing better, then/" Ricky asked, concerned.
"He seems to be much better, yes. See you in a while." I kissed Ricky and hugged his amazing body, then I turned and walked out the limousine. Paco touched his livery cap and held my door open. I climbed into the wide, leather rear seat. The space was cavernous and I had never ridden in so grand an automobile. The ride was smooth and short. The big car rode over the potholes and bumps and I never felt them.
Paco stopped the car in front of the tiny building at the airstrip and hopped out quickly to open my door. I walked inside and found Randy and Wade sitting on the floor, playing a card game. They saw me coming and scrambled to their feet.
"Ben!" They shouted in unison, and gripped me in a double bear hug. "It's so good to see you!" Wade released me and got a good look at my face. "What's the matter, man? Is something wrong?"
"I'll explain in the car. It's good to see you guys too. C'mon, where's your stuff?" They indicated a pile of duffel bags and gym bags as well as a large cardboard box.
"I hope you brought a big car for all of this shit..." Randy began, the fell silent when he saw the huge, shiny black Mercedes. "Gawd damn, Ben! What kinda place have you got yourself down here?"
In spite of everything, I had to laugh at their expressions. "Guys. It's not my car. " I said as Paco began stuffing their luggage into the truck. The box he put into the passenger compartment. I looked like a coffee table between the two facing bench seats. Looking at Paco in disbelief as he held the door for them to enter, Wade gave a low whistle.
"Shit, now this is somethin'!" Wade said as he sat down in the forward seat and began exploring the interior. Randy sat next to me in the rear seat and stared open-mouthed at the luxury which surrounded him. Once we were on our way to the casa. I explained the car, the plane crash, and all that had happened.
"Gosh, Ben, we're awful sorry. If we'd known, we woulda made better plans." Offered Randy. "You gotta let us help out somehow. Wade here has been running a motel for couple of years, now and I went to school for Culinary Arts, so I know my way around a kitchen. My mama taught me a lot, too."
"I appreciate that guys, but you came here for a vacation. Thing will calm down in a while. Everything is just kind of up in the air right now." I winced at my poor choice of words. The limo pulled into the adobe wall and I noticed Nathan's Jaguar in the carport.
"Are all of your friends rich?" Randy asked as we filed out of the opened rear door. I thanked Paco and we all headed inside via the kitchen door. I noticed that Carla had move breakfast onto the bigger table in the sunroom and had set everything up buffet style. I was surprised by the amount of food she had prepared. I didn't know we had so much stuff in the kitchen.
Since I was the only one who knew everybody, I made the introductions. Despite the solemn occasion, we had a great meat and everybody seemed to be doing okay. I noted with some surprise how well Nathan had withstood the loss of Mack. I guess I just didn't understand the relationship the two lawyers had together.
After breakfast I gave Randy and Wade the grand tour of the casa. They both were excited about the prospect this cozy house had as a bed and breakfast. I wasn't so sure about the future, as I didn't know how I had to deal with Bob's daughter. When Nathan and I had a chance to talk later. I would know more.
Randy and Wade insisted that they be allowed to take care of the clean up after breakfast so that Carla could accompany Berto and Ricky to Manuella's sister's house. Her feminine strength would come in handy when the news of Manuella's death was presented to them. Nathan and I took the opportunity to head to Bob's office and he began telling me about Bob's estate.
"Bob had three very substantial life insurance policies. Two of which he had n existence before he was diagnosed with cancer. One is a mortgage insurance, so now the casa will be paid off free and clear. It is still part of the estate and Bob's daughter has a claim to at least part of it."
"The second policy he had in effect before his illness was a half-million dollar policy naming his daughter as the sole beneficiary. That's hers and that's what he wanted. She'll be getting a check from the insurance carrier later this afternoon. I doubt the little bitch will be grateful to him, but she'll happily accept the money, anyway."
"The third policy went into effect just three days ago after Bob's doctor pronounced the success of his cancer treatment and the likelihood of full recovery was ensured. It is a one million dollar policy and you are named as sole beneficiary."
I gasped. "What? Are you sure?" Why would he leave me a million dollar policy?"
Nathan answered, "According to his will, Bob wanted you, his partner to retain sole ownership of the bed and breakfast. He also knew that his daughter could prove very hard to deal with. It was his thinking that you could use a portion of the money to pay her off or fight her legally for the casa."
"Wow, I am completely blow away." I said. "I never expected any of this."
"Do you want me to deal with Haley? I can be pretty persuasive when I need to be. I have gotten wind of some shady dealings she and her idiot husband have been mixed up in and I am, pretty sure she I can get her to come around to our way of thinking."
"Thanks, Nathan I appreciate that. I don't know what all I owe you for all of this, but you just let me know and I'll gladly pay it."
"As a matter of fact, all fees have already been paid. Bob took care of that as well. But I would like to propose a limited partnership with you. Perhaps letting me buy into twenty percent of your business. I'll even throw in all of your legal work in the future."
I was overwhelmed. "You've got a deal Nathan. Welcome to the bed and breakfast business. I'm not sure where we are going with it just yet, but I know a couple of guys I can call on to help me out."
Thing are going to get better. More surprises to come. Please keep reading and write to me at ben_sc@hotmail.com. If you haven't read any of my other stories, check them out under the "Authors" link. Look for "Lyle Benton".