Breach of Contract

Breach of Contract

CHAPTER 6: A New Contract

When Ian returned, he asked Matt to sit down again and offered him a cookie. They sat for a while sipping tea and eating cookies, finally Ian made a decision, picked up his iPad and tapped the screen. A second later, Matt's phone chimed to let him know he had a message. Ian said, "I just sent you a rental agreement, please read it, and if it is acceptable sign it." Ian then got up from the table and walked into the bedroom.

Matt opened the document he'd just been sent. It was a rental/roommate agreement. It stated that for a period of one year, Matt would pay $700 per month for a room and access to the common spaces of Ian's house. It stated that Matt would be responsible for half the monthly grocery and liquor bills. Then in addition to rights and responsibilities of each party it stated that Matt could borrow up to $10,000 from Ian at the same rate Ian paid for his personal line of credit. Finally, Matt could defer all payments for one year, and he had an option to extend the lease for another year, provided all rents and loans were current at the time of the extension.

Matt read the rental agreement three times and couldn't believe the generous terms he was being offered. He had looked up Ian's house and found out it had been written about in architectural and design magazines, Matt knew he was getting a hell of a deal. Matt electronically signed the document and returned it to Ian.

A few minutes later Matt received a copy with Ian's signature. Then Ian returned to the main room. Matt said, "That was an amazingly generous rental agreement."

"You say that now, but did you see you are responsible for cooking four nights a week, and I am only responsible two nights?"

"Yes, and FYI I like to cook. However, I did wonder about day seven."

"We have to have at least one night eating out each week, otherwise I lose cred with my foodie friends."

Matt smiled and said, "I get it."

"So, I am sure as the good lawyer you are, you are wondering why I have offered you these terms at this time."

Matt nodded.

Ian tapped an app on his iPad and asked, "Is it okay if I audio record our conversation?" Matt said.

"Provided I receive an unedited copy, yes." Ian and Matt both smiled.

Ian continued, "Because I do not want what I am about to propose considered as quid pro quo for sex, my offer of a place to live while you get back on your feet is now in the form of a binding contract, so no matter how you respond to my proposal, it will not affect that offer. Do you agree?"

"I agree," Matt said, and his cock twitched in anticipation.

"What I am proposing is a non-exclusionary, non-binding, consensual sexual relationship. To wit, either of us may propose a sexual activity and the other may accept, amend, reject, or offer a counter to said proposal. Do you agree?"

"I agree," Matt said with a smile.

"I propose the offer of, or acceptance of a sexual proposal shall not imply any offer of emotional, legal, or domestic relationship."

"I agree."

"I propose that any acts of kindness, generosity, or compassion outside of an agreed upon sexual encounter shall not be interpreted as giving significance to, or in compensation for, said sexual act."

"I agree."

"I agree that any enjoyment, pleasure, or satisfaction gained from any sexual activity between the parties shall be subject to confidentiality."

"I agree."

"I, Ian Coburn agree to the terms and conditions of the Coburn/Harris sexual relations agreement."

"I, Matt Harris agree to the terms and conditions of the Coburn/Harris sexual relations agreement... You know that is totally worthless in a court of law? Right?"

"Yes, I know." Ian said, "So, is your word totally worthless without the force of law?"

Matt looked down and didn't say anything, so Ian stood up, stepped closer, then bent down and gave Matt a kiss on the cheek, then said. "Matthew Harris, I would really like to fuck your brains out."

Matt smiled, and said "Ian Coburn, I would really like you to fuck my brains out."

For the next hour and a half, Ian gave everything he had, and Matt took everything that Ian gave. Ian was drained, Matt was full, and the bed was a sticky, musky, sweaty mess. Matt said, "Whew, I think it's time for some fresh sheets."

Ian laughed and said, "Yeah, I feel and smell like a pig. I need a shower, and I bet you do too."

"For sure," Matt replied, "I can't remember ever cumming three times in one session before. I thought that was something that only happened in porn."

"Well, don't expect that every time. I think I sprained my penis."

"Poor baby," Matt said with false sympathy. "You want me to rub it and make it better."

Ian laughed, "I don't think a penis massage will help." Ian looked at his watch and said, "It's 5:30. The play starts at 7:00. Do you want to eat before or after?"

"Personally," Matt said, "I'd rather wait until after the play. I hate eating in a rush."

"I agree. We can grab a snack to hold us over. So, do you want the first or second shower?"

Matt said, "How about we take a shower together?"

"Because that shower is almost too small for one of us, let alone both of us. How about we save that until we get back to Chicago. My house has an amazing shower in the master ensuite."

"Cool. Then I'll go take my shower first," Matt said.

While Matt showered, Ian lied in bed giving his mind time to wander. Soon Grudge was back at it twisting every comment into self-doubt and bitterness. Finally, Hope made an appearance, saying, "Fuck off, Grudge. Stop trying to keep Ian miserable and lonely."

"He's going to get hurt again. Just you watch. People can't be trusted."

"Neither can cranky, bitter voices in your head," Hope said. "Look Ian, it's true, there is a chance you may get hurt again if you get into a relationship; however, it's an absolute certainty that you will never be happy if you remain alone. So, suck it up, put on your big boy pants, and have the courage to give life a fair shot."

When Ian was in undergraduate school, he was concerned about the constant inner dialogue he had when his mind wasn't working on a task, solving a problem, or actively communicating. He decided to ask the University's mental health services if there was a problem, if he was schizophrenic, or something. They assured him that he was just one of those people whose inner monologue had become a dialogue, and sometimes a very loud conversation. Ian was actually recruited to participate in a study by the psychology department. The payment he got for participating in the study was a good supplemental contribution to his beer fund.

Ian's mental ramble was ended when Matt stepped out of the bathroom to finish drying off. Matt was vigorously rubbing his head with the towel and didn't notice Ian heading for the bathroom. Just as he passed Matt, Ian grabbed his swinging balls, and said, "I asked you if you were taking advantage of me, but you didn't ask if I was going to take advantage of you."

Matt stopped drying his hair, looked at Ian, smiled, and said, "Oh, I'm counting on that."

"You fucker. You have so gotten back under my skin. But so help me, if you betray me, I'll cut these off and feed them to the dogs."

Matt gave Ian a kiss and said, "My balls, my cock, my ass, and any other part of me, is yours to do with what you want."

Ian gave Matt's balls a gentle squeeze, and said, "Let's not go throwing out the 13th Amendment (which abolished slavery) just yet." Then Ian stepped into the bathroom and closed the door.

Matt couldn't resist smiling and giving a little fist pump.

For being a cold wet night, Fisherman's Hall had a decent crowd. After purchasing their tickets, they were trying to figure out where their seats were. Jeremiah walked up in full drag, and said, "Let me help you guys."

"Jeremiah?" Matt said, "I didn't recognize you. You are looking stunning."

"Now, with bull like that, I know you are an attorney; however, as Mae West once said, `Flattery will get you everywhere.' Now follow me."

There are no guarantees what a community theater performance will be like. Most of the time the audience is lucky if it just doesn't suck; however, in this instance, Ian was impressed with the show. He also was very curious about the play, "The Drag." Although the play was written in 1927, Ian was surprised that its themes of conversion therapy and gender-identity seemed amazingly contemporary. Of course Ian, like the rest of the crowd, laughed at the scandalous one-liners Mae West was famous for.

The third act opened with a drag ball, and Jeremiah and Darrel were two of the dancers. The period setting, elaborate costumes, and wild partying, made Ian think that if the play were being performed today it might be billed as The Gay Gatsby.

After the play, all of the cast came out to mingle with the audience, and Ian and Matt made a point of thanking Jeremiah for telling them about the play. Jeremiah also noticed that Ian and Matt seemed different than they had in the morning. He had noticed that both men were casual touching each other and that they seemed to look at each other differently.

Finally, Jeremiah couldn't resist and asked, "Did something change since this morning? You both seem... I don't know ... jaunty."

Ian and Matt both laughed, and Ian said, "I don't think I have ever been called jaunty before."

"Me neither," Matt said, "but I like it. It sounds nautical...you know, jaunty sailors."

"Just ignore him," Ian said. "However, this morning you thought we were a couple and we told you we weren't, welllll... we kinda got a bit more coupled this afternoon...Fuck, I don't know why I just said that."

Jeremiah laughed and said, "Because when we are fuckin' jaunty, or jaunty fuckin', we just want to share our happiness."

Ian smiled and nodded, and said, "Thanks again, now we need to go get something to eat."

When they got to the restaurant and had ordered, Ian said, "I am so sorry I embarrassed you. I can't believe I basically announce that we spent the afternoon.... Well, being jaunty."

Matt smiled and said. "You didn't announce anything, you told Jeremiah, who, by the way, was very happy for us. Besides, if you hadn't beaten me to it, this conversation would be flipped right now."

"Thank you, but I do think that should be a warning. We are very caught up right now and vulnerable to making stupid choices."

Matt looked at Ian and asked, "Am I one of your stupid choices?"

Ian thought for a moment then said, "Probably, but if so, you are a stupid choice I am making knowing the risks. It's like the first time I went skydiving...."

"Wait, you went skydiving? Mr. play-it-safe, prepare for every possible failure, Coburn."

"Yes, Mr. Damn-the-torpedos Harris. I went skydiving. During my first annual performance review at Preston, Robb, and Moore. Vance Moore said `risk analysis is smart; risk aversion is crippling.' He'd noticed that I spent too much time and effort mitigating failure, and not enough going for the win. He then set me up with this psychologist who helped me realign my thinking about risk. In addition to being a therapist, Dr. Marion was also a skydiver and on our last session he asked me if I wanted to go skydiving. At that point it was fish or cut bait. So, the next Saturday, I ended up strapped to a skydiving instructor and jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. The minute my feet touched the ground, I was hooked, signed up to get licensed for solo jumps, and joined a group."

"Wow, I would have never imagined you doing something like skydiving."

"I know, Dr. Marion, Ted, really helped me realign my approach to risk, we also ended up becoming friends when I joined his skydiving club. Frankly without Vance and Ted, I would have never taken the risk to get into real estate and property redevelopment with Heather. And, I for sure know I wouldn't be talking to you right now, because for every reason I have for trying again with you, I have a dozen reasons it's a bad idea."

"It looks like I have a couple of people to thank."

When their food came, the conversation turned to their plans for the next day.

"The weather is supposed to be much better tomorrow," Matt said.

"Good, I was thinking after we load up the car and check out, we could do some trails." Ian said.

"That sounds like a plan. When were you planning to head back to Boston?"

"I was thinking about 1:30. If we get up and finish up the breakfast supplies, then hike for a couple of hours, we can hit the road. We can grab something along the way to eat, then when we get to Boston we can check in, get cleaned up, and go out to eat. I was planning to eat at Legal Sea Foods if that's okay with you. When my parents would come to Boston for a visit, that's where we would always go on their last night."

"Aw, that's so sweet," Matt said.

"Asshole," Ian said with a smile.

"Of course, Legal Sea Foods is okay. Besides, beggars can't be picky."

"Stop that right now. You are not a beggar. First of all, this is not charity. Second, you have other options than coming to Chicago with me. I just like to think you are choosing the best offer."

"You know I am," Matt said with a smile.

"I hate to ask, but have you contacted Ellen to let her know you are coming to see the kids and get your stuff?"

"I have," Matt said. "I did it in true cowardly manner. I sent her a text. I know she got it, because my phone has been vibrating constantly since I sent it right before the play started."

"Have you read any of them? "

"Nope," Matt said, "They don't own me any longer, so I am letting them stew....Plus, we may need to be somewhere where you can hold me when I read them."

When Ian and Matt got back to the rental, Ian asked, "Whiskey or beer?"

"Whiskey."

Ian grabbed a bottle and a couple of glasses, then took Matt's hand and they walked into the bedroom. Ian stripped off Matt's clothes, and then his own. He poured each of them a drink, lifted his glass and said, "Alea iacta est, the die has been cast."

They both downed their drinks.

Then Ian said, you are fucking me tonight, so while you read your texts, l am going to get ready." He handed Matt the bottle and added, "Don't get too far ahead of me."

Matt climbed onto the bed, poured another drink, and said, "Let's see what the Wicked Bitch of the West has to say."

When Ian finally returned, Matt looked like he'd been emotionally flogged. Matt handed his phone to Ian to read.

Matt: "Ellen, I will be arriving in Denver on Friday to see the children and arrange for my personal items to be shipped to Chicago. I met Ian Coburn at the reunion and he has invited me to stay with him while I look for a position in Chicago."

Ellen: What the fuck. You are being transferred to Amarillo. Daddy, expects you there in less than a week."

Ellen: "Why are you coming to Denver? Is Ian coming with you?"

Ellen: "Why aren't you replying?"

Ellen: "Asshole, I'm calling Daddy!"

P Norris: [Patterson Norris was Ellen's father]: "Matt what the hell are you trying to pull? You will go to Amarillo and take the position we have offered you."

Ellen: "You'd better do what Daddy says, or your law career is done."

P Norris: "Damn it Harris. If you don't reply to this message by midnight, you won't even be able to represent drunks in traffic court when I am through with you!"

P Norris: "Harris, you have just royally fuck yourself!"

Ian handed Matt his phone, then asked, "So how many whiskeys have you had?"

"Two."

Ian grabbed the bottle and said, "We can both use another."

Ian and Matt sat quietly sipping whiskey, then Ian said, "Well, have you considered a career as a houseboy?"

Matt let out a sad laugh, "I think I am a bit old for that."

"I don't know, for a 1980 Model your ass has remarkably few miles."

Now Matt's laugh was more honest, "I guess that's true, and for that matter, my cock has very little wear."

"Well, I plan to take it for a test drive tonight."

Matt was leaning back on the headboard. Ian straddled him and started kissing. Matt responded eagerly. When he was aroused, nothing could distract him. Ian used to kid him that if there were an earthquake while they were having sex, and the roof started to collapse, Matt's final prayer would be for one more minute.

"So buddy, are you ready to fuck my ass?" Ian whispered.

Matt nodded.

Ian bent down and licked Matt's left nipple. Ian remembered that for some reason Matt's left nipple was far more sensitive than his right. So as Ian worked on the nipple, Matt rubbed the soft underside of his cock against Ian's. Soon both of the men were extremely hard and precum was making them increasingly slippery.

Ian said, "Do you know what I want?"

"To have your ass rimmed."

"How did you know that?"

"The same way you knew about my left nipple." Matt rolled Ian face down onto the bed. Then he kissed the back of Ian's neck. He kissed Ian's shoulders, then he licked his way down Ian's spine. When he got to the small of Ian's back he rubbed his cheeks in the hollow, before continuing. Matt spread Ian's cheeks and admired the tight pink ring. Matt lightly touched it with the tip of his tongue and Ian softly moaned. Matt teased Ian with the lightest of licks and warm breaths of air. "That is sooo gooood," Ian said when Matt finally buried his tongue in the soft hole. Matt was extraordinarily attentive, and soon Ian was totally euphoric.

It wasn't long before Matt replaced his tongue with his cock, and when he pushed, he entered Ian with little resistance. Matt slowly filled Ian with a satisfyingly thick phallus. When Matt was fully embedded in Ian, he whispered in Ian's ear, "Is this what you want?"

"More than I even knew," Ian responded.

"I am going to start slow. When you want more, let me know." Matt's cock moved in and out giving Ian's p-spot the most sensual massage. Matt had always been an attentive lover, but that night he was better than Ian remembered. Ian was totally under his spell.

"A little faster," Ian said, and Matt shifted gears like a fine auto. Again, Ian was in a state of sexual, perhaps spiritual, bliss. Three times Ian asked Matt to go to the next gear, and three times it produced a new level of arousal. Finally, Ian said, "I need to cum."

Matt rolled Ian onto his back and began to push him closer and closer to the edge. "Oooohhh fuuuuuccccck, Ian screamed as he shot volley after volley of cum onto the black hair that covered his chest. The contrast of pearls of cum on a cloud of charcoal was so hot that Matt responded by dumping a huge load into his condom, as Ian's tight hole milked every last drop of cum.

Ian pulled Matt down so he could kiss him. Then he said, "I am such a sucker."

"Why do you say that?"

"Before I left Chicago, I promised myself, that if I saw you at the reunion, I wouldn't give you one thought. I had every intention of being as bitter and unforgiving as Bloody Mary was of those who wronged her and her mother. However, even that first night, while ranting how much I hated you, I knew I couldn't be near you without wanting you. It was like you blew on a smoldering ember and a flame was rekindled."

Matt kissed Ian and said, "This is why I love you?"

"What?"

"Everything, even getting fucked, is an occasion for you to make a speech."

"I suppose I am a bit dramatic," Ian said with a smile. "So, are you ready for round two?"

"Seriously, you want another go. I am so tired I could fall asleep while cumming."

"Now that is impossible," Ian said. "However, I am totally fine with getting some sleep. I just didn't want to be the one to throw in the towel."

Matt slipped off of Ian then pulled him close into a cuddle, "You are still competitive as ever, but even when I lose to you, I feel like I won."

The next morning, Ian and Matt got up early, had breakfast, packed the car, and headed out to do some hiking. Matt started to check his messages before they hit the trails, but Ian grabbed his phone and said, "Nope, there is plenty of time for you to do that on the way back to Boston. This morning we are going to enjoy nature and clear our heads."

Ian decided they would hike the Beech Forest Trail. According to the National Park Service website, it was one of the easier trails in the area and only a one mile loop. Had he been alone he would have taken one of the coastal trails where deep sand made hiking harder, but since he wasn't sure what Matt was up for, he decided to take it easy.

The Beech Forest Trail was more sheltered and had far less soft sand. It was also a very good trail for bird watching. Along much of the way the trail ran beside Beech Forest Pond. The pond was fairly large, but shallow, making it a wonderful duck pond. The entire hike, they saw no one else on the trail, and Ian even contemplated some alfresco play, but in the end thought better of it and settled for handholding and an occasional kiss. Ian also took a number of selfies alone and with Matt. He posted the solo pics to his social media, but decided it wasn't time to post pictures of him and Matt together, even if they were just pics of two friends. There was no need to give Ellen or her father any ammunition.

They completed the hike in a little over an hour and decided it was time to head to Boston. However, before leaving Provincetown they had to stop for coffee and lemon poppyseed scones at Joe Coffee.

About twenty minutes outside of Provincetown, Ian finally decided to give Matt back his phone. Ian knew Ellen and her father were going mad blowing up Matt's phone because it had been buzzing in his pocket since 10 a.m. Eastern time, 8 a.m. Mountain time.

"Fuck," Matt said, "there are 17 messages from Ellen and 10 from her father since I last checked."

Matt read the messages without saying anything. When he finished, he sat quietly for a few minutes then said, "I think I kicked a hornet's nest. They have rescinded their settlement offer and said I will get their new offer when I get to Denver. Also, Patterson, her father, told me that I'm fired and can kiss any hope of getting a position at a decent law office goodbye."

After giving Matt a few minutes to settle himself, Ian said, "Tell me about your wedding."

"Most people don't know this," Matt said, "but Ellen was so concerned about appearances, we were actually married in April rather than May. Ellen found out she was pregnant just after Spring Break and was frantic. So I told her I'd marry her and take care of her and the baby. She insisted that we have a civil ceremony, so we could claim an extra month between our wedding and Bobby's birthday."

"It was a dumb idea because her mother went ballistic. She insisted that her daughter was going to have a traditional wedding like every other important girl in Denver. So, we had the ceremony in Massachusetts, and then a big reception at the Denver Country Club."

The wedding was at Loeb House on Harvard's campus. The place could only hold 180, maybe 200 people, and they had it in the middle of the week. So, it was a small wedding, which was fine with me. As long as my parents were there, I didn't care. Most of the people in attendance were her family and her friends. I wanted to invite you, even though I knew you wouldn't come, but she wouldn't even let me do that. I think the entire reason for having the wedding in Cambridge was so they could fudge the time between our wedding and when Bobby was born. However, I don't think anyone was fooled about why we got married so quickly, but no one in Denver was going to publicly cross Ellen or her mother Irene Norris."

"When did you sign the prenup?"

"Ellen's brother-in-law threw me a bachelor party the night before our wedding. He reserved a private room at one of the bars near campus. He's an attorney at the firm, and he had a copy of the prenup for me to sign when he picked me up for the party. I knew her father was insisting on a prenup. I'd talked with Ellen about it, and I really didn't think it was that big of a deal."

"Did Ellen's father know about your civil wedding?" Ian asked.

"Not until the next year when Ellen and I celebrated our first anniversary on April 10, rather than May 20. boy, did he ever blow up."

Ian just smiled.

I hope you enjoy "Breach of Contract."

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