Berto's Roses
By Ben
Part LIII
Well. It was finally over. With the end of a very long emotional day came some closure of the events of the previous week. The memorial service had been simple but nicely done. Padre Umberto, an extremely handsome man, spoke of Manuella, Bob and Don Chavez as if they were all personal friends and parishioners. Berto translated quietly for me and I was able to pick up a few words on my own.
Manuella's sister insisted that I sit with the families of those lost in the plane crash at the front of the small candlelit chapel. Manuella's Portrait had been beautifully framed by Carlos and stood beside a large photo of the Don and a somewhat smaller one of Bob. Nobody found it conspicuous that there was neither a photo nor mention of Mack during the service. I found out later that this was due to a request by Nathan.
There was a large gathering of locals at the casa. Randy, Carla and Berto's "Tia" made sure that everyone was well fed. Everyone laughed and remembered anecdotes about each of the departed as their lives were celebrated. Things wound down just before midnight and Ricky made sure that everybody was returned home in his limousine.
Jose, looking sore and tired, spent the evening on a couch in the sunroom. His face, still handsome and unmarked from the crash seemed deeply troubled, and he didn't talk much. The nurse that Ricky had hired from Mexico City accompanied Jose from the hospital. I was surprised to see that it was a very nice-looking young man with a friendly disposition.
I helped him to get Jose in bed after the guests had gone. Every movement seemed painful for Jose and I hated to see him hurt so. Despite what he had been through, he apologized for being so much trouble. I told him to relax, get some rest and let himself heal. We kissed good night and I left him in the care of his nurse. I helped to straighten up and sat with Carla, Nathan and Berto in front of the fireplace for awhile.
"I will be returning to San Augustin in the morning. Nathan has graciously offered to take me there." Said Carla. "I have many things to tend to and I must get back to university as well."
With her remark came the sudden realization that Berto, too, would have to return to school. I was saddened, to my soul, by this thought. I had grown used to holding him at night. I loved waking up snuggled up to him in the morning. I adored feeling his firm, warm young body as he slept peacefully.
That morning I had even grown bold enough to explore, carefully, Berto's body as he slept. I touched his chest and his flat belly, letting my hand drift downward and briefly grasping his erect cock. I cupped his perfect ass cheek in my palm, taking care not to wake him.
My feelings for Berto had grown stronger those past few days and I didn't want him to leave, though I knew that he must. I knew that his mother would want him to complete his education, despite everything that had happened, and I had made a posthumous pledge to her that I would take care of him.
I turned to Berto and said. "I guess that means you should be going back too. Would you like to go back with Nathan and Carla, or do you want me to take you back on Monday?"
Berto looked stricken. Apparently, he hadn't thought about his return to school, either. "Um, if it is okay, I would like for you to take me back later, Senor Ben. I don't think I am ready to think about my studies yet."
My heart soared. "Ok, but I don't want you to fall behind." I said.
We all sat, silent and contented gazing into to flames. My eyes drifted upward to the portrait of Manuella that we hung above the fireplace when we returned from the chapel. It fit the room very well, and Carlos had made the frame so that it matched the woodwork in the room as well. Since he built the room, I guess it was easy for him to do so. After awhile, I began to grow sleepy. I roused myself, told the others "good-night" and headed for the studio.
I brushed my teeth then shed my clothes and slid between the sheets. The evening was cool and I had not thought of heating the studio, so the bedclothes had an invigorating chill to them. I stretched out with a long sigh, relaxing myself after the hectic events of the past few days. I was beginning to drift off when I heard the door to the studio open and somebody entered.
I knew from the sound of his movements that it was Berto. He quietly undressed and crawled into bed with me. He was shivering, slightly, and pressed his body to me for warmth. I put my arms around him and asked, "How are you doing, Berto?"
He turned his head so he could face me and replied, "I am very well, now. It seems that all of this is over. I will miss Mama much, but I no there is nothing more I can do but remember her."
"We will always do that." I assured him.
After a few moments of silence Berto asked, "Senor Ben? Do you remember when I told you that there was something else that I wanted to talk to you about? Something that Randy had talked to me about?"
"Uh, yeah. I remember. Do you want to talk tonight or after we get some sleep? I suggested.
"If it is okay, I would prefer to talk to you now." Berto answered as he turned his body around and faced me.
Seeing no way out of it, I said, "Okay. I'm listening." I gave him my full attention.
In the moonlight that shone through the large windows, I could see Berto's dark eyes looking down a bit. Then he spoke: "I asked Randy about what I had seen when I accidentally walked in on him and Wade. Do you remember?"
"Yes, I remember. Please go on." I encouraged him.
"I asked him if he liked what Wade was doing to him. Wade was pushing his...pinga...his...uh...dick into Randy's hole. Do you know what I mean?" He looked up into my eyes.
"Yes I know what you mean. What did he tell you?" I asked.
"He said he liked it very much, especially when Wade kissed him as he pushed inside him."
"Um-hmm." I said. "Is that the first time you knew about two men doing that, Berto?
"Oh, no, Senor Ben. I knew that some men did such things before. I just didn't have anybody to talk to about it before."
"I see. And Randy was willing to talked to you about it?"
"Si, he was very helpful."
"I'm glad." I said simply.
"Senor Ben? Do you think Randy and Wade are in love, like Enrique and Jose are?
"I think they could be. They have just recently discovered their feelings about each other, so it's a little new for them." I answered.
Berto was quiet for a bit, then he asked. "When you kissed Raul, in the kitchen, did you love him?"
A pain stabbed through my heart. I had hurt Berto and it tore me apart. I sat up and turned toward him, fully. "No, Berto I am not in love with Raul, and he is not in love with me. I met him at the fiesta in Matzatlan and he wanted me to...to...experiment with him. He wanted to know what it was like to make love with a man."
"And did you do this with him, Senor Ben?" Berto asked me, sitting up also and looking at me eye-to-eye.
I couldn't lie to him. "Yes I did, Berto. But I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't know you knew him when I was with him, then. I was very surprised when he showed up at the party here. I didn't know you had feelings for him. I am so sorry, Berto. Will you forgive me?"
Berto's forehead wrinkled in a question. Then he simply said. "No."
My heart sank. "Oh God!" I thought. He hates me all over again. "No? Please Berto, please don't be angry with me. When you left the party that night I thought I would die because you were mad at me. Please don't do that again." I pleaded.
Berto's eyes began to pool with tears. "I meant no, I do not have feelings for Raul. I was not angry at you, Senor Ben. I was jealous."
I was confused. "But you just said you didn't have feelings for Raul..." I started.
"It is YOU that I have feelings for, Senor Ben. I wanted you to be kissing ME." Berto looked down as a tear spilled down his cheek.
I was speechless. Had I heard right? "Wha...but...I...really?" I stammered.
Berto looked up at me and then closed his eyes, forcing more tears down his face. He tried to speak but a tiny squeak came out, instead. He nodded his head up and down.
I had tears of my own and a large, hard lump in my throat. My heart was pounding. I was ready to explode.
Berto spoke first. "I know you do not feel the same about me, Senor Ben, but I love you. I have for a long time."
I held him by the shoulders and kissed his tears away. "Oh, Berto! I DO love you!"
"Si, si. But not the way I love you. You think of me as a nino. I want to be your lover, like Randy and Wade; like Enrique and Jose." He explained.
"Berto, I have loved you for a long time, too. I never let you know because you are so much younger than me. I didn't think it was possible for you to have feelings for me like that."
In answer Berto took my face in both of his long, slender hands and pressed his mouth on mine. His lips were warm and tender, just as I dreamed they would be. My head was swimming. Was I dreaming again? Could this be real?
My arms encircled Berto and I returned his kiss with fervor. He opened his mouth to me and my tongue touched his as it responded to me. He ran his fingers through my hair as my hands roamed his back and chest. "Slow down!" My mind screamed. "Take this slowly. He's an inexperienced young kid. Let things evolve naturally. Don't rush it. Go at HIS pace." My heart was singing, "Oh yes! He loves me too! This beautiful, sweet young Latino actually loves me!" I couldn't believe it. After all this time; after all that had happened, this seemed too good to be true.
We lay back on the bed and our bodies entwined as we continued to kiss. My cock was as stiff as a board as it tented my briefs and pressed into Berto's leg. I could feel Berto's bare hard cock rub against my lower belly, leaving slick pre-cum on me. I just kissed him and held him and touched him. I never wanted it to end. I needed nothing else in life. I had it all.
After awhile, we came down from our reverie a bit. I broke the kiss and looked into his brilliant, smiling face. "Berto, are you sure?"
"Si, Senor Ben, I am sure." He answered, a little out of breath.
"Then, you'd better quit calling me `Senor Ben'. Please just call me Ben." I said.
"Si, Ben. I am very sure." Berto said, and our lips came together again.
At long last, huh guys? I don't know about you, but I was beginning to think these guys would ever get together. Never fear. This is NOT the end of the story! Write to me at ben_sc@hotmail.com. Check out my other stories, under the "Authors" link. Look for "Lyle Benton".