Robert removed Josh's seat belt and shook his lover awake long enough to get him out of the car and upstairs to the bedroom. Outside the room Aidan waited for Robert to come out. When he did finally show up he was carrying all of Josh's clothes including the boxers he had been wearing.
"Where did you take him? his clothes smell like they have spent the week in a cigar shop?"
"Just the usual bars and clubs," Aidan replied.
"I guess I've forgotten how they can be," Robert sighed, thinking back to his wild youth.
"You still have quit the reputation in the baths," Aidan said, thinking Robert would like the joke.
"Aidan?" Robert said his voice suddenly becoming stern.
"Yes? " Aidan asked, nervous. While he was more athletic than Robert, Robert's age and deeper voice gave him an air of authority about him.
"I am fine with you taking Josh to the bar and clubs but I never want to hear that you took him to a bath or swinger's club. Am I making myself clear."
"I don't think Josh would ever want to go to those sort of places let alone be active in them."
"Yes? I know. The reason for me asking is that Josh knows very well that I used to go to the baths. What he does not have a clear idea of is what really goes on in those sort of places. I would rather him not know."
"I understand? was the baths why you two broke up? All I would hear from Andrew was that you were such a slut."
"I was a slut," Robert agreed. "But it is not uncommon for gay men to act out that way. For me sex was just sex? it had nothing to do with love. I loved Josh but I did not see why it should have interfered with my fun. Since Josh didn't seem to have a problem with me having fun I thought it was ok. It was not ok though. I always worried that Josh would leave me for someone else. I didn't feel like I deserved Josh. When I contracted syphilis I felt is was a sign but instead of taking it as a warning I took it to mean that Josh would be better off without me. The truth though is that from the day we first met, Josh has needed me and I needed him. I give him the sense of security and love he requires and I get the love and family ever orphaned child dreams of.
"Then why are you so open to me taking Josh out on 'dates'?" Aidan asked overwhelmed by the deep love Robert was expressing for Josh.
"Because my Josh is still lonely. He has me, his family, and his co-workers but no real independent friends. As his lover there are just some things he can't tell me. The same goes for his family. Josh is close to Glenn and Kyle at work but Josh has always kept a level of professionalism with them."
"Why me then?"
"Well first, while you are 13 years younger than Josh, I am guessing you have more street smarts about you than Josh can ever have."
"He is a little naïve," Aidan agreed chuckling softly.
"He grew up on a farm and went to college practically already married to his ex-wife Terry," Robert agreed, laughing as well. "Josh didn't go to bars in college, didn't experiment with drugs, he is basically as vanilla as they come.
"Still? why me?"
"Because Josh and I will be moving in a year? either down to Florida or west to California. Los Angles, San Diego, and Miami are not Kansas City. I should know? I lived several years in San Diego. The weather will be warmer but Josh will have to get used to a different sort of people? a much colder people sadly to say."
"Josh is a pretty smart guy? I think he knows that."
"Yes? it will still depress Josh though and that is my main worry."
"How bad is Josh's depression? Andrew and I talked about it a few times."
"It is very hard to tell. Josh is a master of hiding how he really feels? even from me. I can usually tell if he is feeling bad. I just can never be sure how bad he is really feeling."
"Do you know the reason for it?"
"Well, at first I thought it had to only do with his struggle with being gay but after he and I got over a few bumps it was no longer a problem. Still though Josh will get sad every now and then. No? the real reason I think Josh gets depressed is that he HAS to have people like him. He tears himself up inside when he thinks someone hates him. The sad part though is that Josh automatically assumes that everyone hates him from the get go. Only after he moves heaven and earth to prove to someone that he is a good person does he relax and believe the person likes him. That is why I want Josh to have more friends. He needs to be shown that he does not have to prove himself in order for people to like him."
"It just helps that I am in training to become a psychiatrist?"
"Yes? and that you are attracted to him. Of course I don't want you to take Josh on as a patient? just a friend."
"You do know that I want to fuck his ass," Aidansaid, getting straight to the point.
"Yes? I also know that you are most likely infected with AIDS and will, therefore, show some restraint."
"You do know that your boyfriend has a lot of admirers."
"My fiancé? soon to be husband," Robert corrected. "Yes? I do know that there are not a few men who would like to get into his pants, let alone is wallet. I don't think Josh realizes what a catch he really is which is all part of his charm.
"Well he got a little taste of both?" Aidansaid before explaining what happened at the gym and bar.
"Good, I see you are looking out for him then. Just make sure you never leave his side. We players can be like piranha when a piece of hot ass comes into the room." Robert chuckled.
"You're telling me? the moment I saw Josh I wanted to see what was underneath those nice pants of his."
"Just remember? you can look, but no touching? unless Josh makes the first move."
Aidan sighed. "Well then, that will never happen."
"Not unless Josh falls in love with you. You see, Josh is much more serious about sex than I have ever been. It has never been about fun or pleasure? it has only been about love. Not surprisingly Josh has had a much more restricted sex life than most guys, gay or straight. Josh will only have sex with people he is in love with. So far there has only been two people? Andrew and me.
"But I thought you said that you didn't want me to fool around with Josh?" Aidan asked confused.
"I don't? but there is a lot more to love making than fucking and sucking? maybe one day Josh will teach you that.
"He is already teaching me how to act laid back," Aidan agreed.
"Well good night." Robert yawned seeing that is was nearly three in the morning.
"Good night." Aidan grinned, heading for the basement stairs.
Soon Robert was stripped down naked and spooned up behind Josh. As he nuzzled his face against the back of Josh's hair, Robert sort of wished he had made Josh shower before putting him to bed. His hair still had the smell of burnt tobacco about it. As Robert had gone to bed plenty of times, smelling like a bar, this should not have bothered him, but it did. He was getting old and he hated it. Part of him was happy being a mature adult with Josh by his side, but another part of him? the old part of his personality missed the wild excitement of his youth. He missed going into a bar and being able to pick out any guy he wanted to take back home for a quick fuck. Robert just did not understand why he had such a problem with monogamy. Back when he was with Dan? he still messed around with other guys. The three months he had been back with Josh had been the longest he had ever gone in having only one sex partner. Robert knew his love for Josh would keep him from cheating on him again, he just didn't want to make that kind of sacrifice unless he had no other choice. It was the challenge? the trick of being able to seduce any guy in the world that Robert got a thrill from, one which Robert could not get from a committed lover. Robert knew that one day? a day fast approaching, he would no longer be able to play the game. He still looked younger than his 47 years but when he got into his fifties and sixties he was sure that no college student hunk would give him a second look unless he paid him to. Robert knew he should just accept it as a part of life but the fighter inside didn't want to give up. In a way? his desire to cheat on Josh was Robert's way of proving that he deserved Josh, that Josh was not just pitying him, that he was still as sexual desirable as Josh was.
That might have been the hardest thing Robert was now dealing with being back with Josh. When he and Josh had first started dating, it was Robert who had been considered the lead man and Josh the lucky one. Now though, 13 years later, Josh was the one considered the prime catch and most desirable man in Kansas City. In a way Robert felt he had been dropped to the role of supportive spouse. It was not a role Robert was used to having.
Underneath the mattress was Robert's little black book, something that he had not opened in a long time. As he tried to fall asleep Robert could almost feel it burning against his stomach, calling out to him for one more go.
At one end of the room was Philip, a wide grin on his face. On the other end was Galen struggling with both nervousness and excitement.
"Where's Nathan?" Galen asked? hoping to not be alone with Philip's predatory look.
"He's with David."
"Where is David then?"
"With Nathan," Philip continued to tease.
"Why won't you tell me where they are?" Galen almost pouted.
Philip walked over to the door and opened it. "Trust me, the last thing they want is for you to walk in on them but if you really want to see them they are in one of the offices."
Now understanding that Nathan and David had to be deep in some private time Galen gave up trying to escape Philip's constant gaze. "Now what?"
"Now we just talk? Tell me? why do you think you might be gay?" Philip grinned as he made himself comfortable.
"I don't know if I am gay? It's just I sort of feel left out."
"Left out!" Philip laughed. "I never heard that reasoning before."
"Well, it's just that all my friends have turned out gay."
"You mean David and Nate?"
"Yes? I mean I used to live here, back when my parents' divorce was too much for me. I don't know? I just wonder why none of them ever tried to hit on me."
"How would you have reacted to them hitting on you?"
"Well, back then I might have become angry, but now that I have had some time to think about it I would really feel flattered," Galen was a little embarrassed to admit.
"Ok? answer me this? when you have a wet dream, what did you dream about?"
"Girls, of course."
"Never guys?" Philip pressed, as he leaned over closer to Galen.
"Ok? after David and Nathan came out I have had a few dreams about them? nothing really sexual mind you."
"What happened in them then?" Philip grinned, moving his chair even closer to Galen.
"Well? I would dream that we were in the gym showers together, all naked and suds up. Then all of the sudden I can't see neither David nor Nathan and for some reason I panic. I go looking for them but slide and fall on the wet tiled floor. That's when it happens? a guy I have never seen before. He helps be back up and leads be silently to where David and Nathan are? both of them still naked but now with their arms together. The imaginary man stands behind me his arms around my waist."
"Your naked waist?" Philip grinned.
"Yes?" Galen blushed.
"So how did Galen Jr. respond?"
Galen lowered his head down as if ashamed. "Well? uhm? it became hard."
"Like now?" Philip smiled as he reached over to Galen's lap and gave the growing mound there a squeeze.
"Hey!" Galen rolled his seat away.
"Sorry?" Philip said now blushing as well.
There was a long silence before Philip cleared his throat and stood up. "Come with me? I want to do an experiment."
"You are not going to try and get me with my clothes off?"
"No? I promise I won't even touch you? deal?"
Galen remained wary "Ok?"
Philip took a DVD case from next to his computer and led Galen downstairs to the den where the largest tv in the house was.
"Have a seat?" Philip grinned pointing to the sofa while he went over to the DVD player and loaded it up with three disks from the case.
"What are we going to watch? a gay sex ed tape?" Galen laughed.
"Sort of? it is all part of uncle Robert's collection," Philip said as he took a seat next to Galen on the sofa.
"Collection of what?"
"You'll see." Philip grinned as he pushed the play button.
On the large screen popped up three men, all naked, with one in the middle sucking the cock of one man while being fucked from behind.
Galen jumped out of his seat. "What!"
Philip burst into laughter pushing the pause button right in the middle of the action. "Which one is you?"
Galen, keeping his eyes down on the floor did not understand the question. "What do you mean?"
"Which one of those guys is you?"
Galen, his face beet red with embarrassment but slowly his head went up to look at the tv.
"Well." Philip grinned when Galen didn't come up with a response right away.
"None of them."
"Pick one."
"Sorry I don't like what any of them are doing," Galen insisted.
"Ok? how about this?" Philip sighed as he pushed a button on the DVD control.
The next scene to pop up was a volleyball game between four guys dressed up in swimsuits. This time Galen's eyes did not leave the soft glow of the television. He even smiled a little when he saw all four men hug each other when the game was over.
"So which guy are you?" Philip asked again, freezing the movie right at the point where the men were racing to the showers.
"The short blond one," Galen said as pretty quickly.
"Why him?" Philip asked.
"Well he is not the best looking, nor the best volleyball player but?"
"But?" Philip grinned as he moved in closer on Galen.
"Well he acts like the tag along? that is how I feel I am."
"Do you hate being the tag along?"
"Hell no? it is sort of like being pampered."
"And you enjoy that?"
"You better believe I do? with Nathan and David I never have to worry about what to do. All I ever have to do is show up."
"So you don't like planning the evening."
"Hell no? I hate doing that sort of stuff."
"So in reality you've been dating guys for several years." Philip laughed.
"I don't know if I would call it dating. I always pay my own way."
"But David and Nathan do pick you up don't they."
"Yes?"
"They are the ones to pick the restaurants, the clubs, and so forth."
"Yes?" Galen replied feeling a little more nervous.
"So I think I can say that you have been dating them."
"No? we usually had girls with us."
"But now you know that both David and Nate are gay? so they won't be bringing any girls with them? as dates that is. Will you?"
"Well that would be a little awkward," Galen admitted.
Philip shifted closer to Galen so their shoulders were touching. He then rested a hand on Galen's thigh. This time Galen didn't push away. "Tell me? if given the choice of dating the girl of your dreams or hanging out with Nate and David what would you pick?"
"Ummmm," Galen said, not sure if he wanted to answer that question.
"Come on? tell me? what do you want more, a kiss from a girl or a hug from Nate?"
"Ummmmmm," Galen said, hanging his head in shame.
"I'm not trying to prove to you that you are gay? you might be bi or even straight. What I want you to be able to do is admit that you have some pretty powerful feelings for David and Nate."
On hearing those words Galen burst into tears? "I just love them so much."
"I know? I love them also? they are a pretty amazing pair," Philip agreed wrapping an arm around Galen's waist to comfort him.
Galen responded by resting his head on Philip's shoulder. "Do you think I'm messed up because I want to sleep with my best friend."
"I can't say? I never had a "best friend" to fall in love with."
"But you and Nathan?"
"We are now best friends but I really was perusing him as a lover more than as a friend."
"But David?" Galen said knowingly.
"Yes David? I really can't compete with him. It is sort of my fault? if I never started dating Nate then David and Nate would never have become a couple. It sort of pushed David into telling Nathan his true feelings.
"So those two will be a couple even though David will be going to jail?" Galen asked concerned.
"Well I'm not going to take advantage of the situation and steal Nathan away? David might really kill someone if that happened."
"So what are you? a buttbuddy."
"Sort of? but not as often as in the beginning. The two of them need some private time."
"So you are not seeing anyone?"
"Nope? completely single." Philip grinned, giving Galen's thigh a healthy squeeze.
"I'm not sure I'm really ready for anything serious."
"Neither was Nate." Philip grinned, moving his lips closer to Galen's.
"Knowing him, he was pretty helpless in bed." Galen laughed.
"Not really? a good seduction can be a lot of fun," Philip said as he wrapped an arm around the back of Galen's neck, pulling his face closer so Philip's nose brushed against Galen's cheek. Soon both boys were spread out on the sofa, Philip on top of Galen, his hands already slipped under Galen's shirt, running his hands down the other's abs. Then to Philip's surprise Galen pressed his lips hard against Philip's mouth, letting his tongue slip out and wetting both of their lips.
As soon as their lips parted Philip had a wide grin on his face. "Let's go back upstairs."
""Yeah? that might be a good idea," Galen agreed, his breathing heavy and his heart beating like a rabbit.
"You go upstairs? I just need to get something out of the kitchen."
"What are you going to get?"
"You'll see." Philip smiled wickedly.
After adjusting the bulge in his pants, Galen left for the upstairs bedroom. Philip, with a satisfied smile on his face went to the fridge and filled a bowl with ice cubes. He also took out the left over can of whipping cream from Thanksgiving dinner. With his load, he hummed a merry tune making his way back to the bedroom, his hard-on leading the way.
One week later?
The prefab house looked a little out of place in the backyard of the two-story redbrick home but it was the quickest solution to the space problem. Today, though, the blood tests Oliver, Aidan and Justin had done were due back. While Josh was in control of the main house, Jeremy took on the role of running the smaller house. He took on this role first by giving the three newcomers a day at the spa, styling their hair himself. The next morning though he woke all of them up six in the morning giving them a list chores to Oliver and Justin while making sure Aidan understood he was expected to come straight home from the hospital he was training at.
Oliver? used to maids and pampering was most resistant to any work that he was not being paid for. Jeremy only had to call on his hunky boyfriend, Jeff, to wrestle Oliver for about a half hour before Oliver finally relented. Then once the chores were done, Josh came over to drive all of them to the hospital where Aidan was already receiving the results of the tests.
When they came into the office, Aidan was sitting in a chair, his face red and wet with tears. On seeing Josh enter he got up and ran over to him, hugging Josh tightly. "I'm clean!"
"Then why are you crying?"
"I don't deserve to be!"
Josh wrapped his arms around Aidan and rocked him in his arms. "How can you say that."
"Because of all the sex I have had? I was so sure that my life was over? but now? What am I going to do?"
"Live life to the fullest. Become a doctor, find yourself a man you want to spend the rest of your life with, adopt a few kids."
Aidan had to bite his tongue to not tell Josh that he had found someone he wanted to spend the rest of his life with? Josh himself. He did not know why he was falling so hard for the older man. Josh was both mature yet still had an innocence about him. He was both fatherly and like a brother. He represented all what he had wanted from his birth family? an understanding and forgiving father, a cool brother who would go out on the town with him, a guy who would mother him unlike like his mother who spent most of her time either drinking or recovering from it.
"I? I?" Aidan struggled to say.
"Yes Aidan?" Josh said as he continued to rock him.
Aidan wanted to say? I love you, but held back. "I'll be ok."
"Ok? here's hoping everything turns out well for everyone else," Josh said as he led both of them to a seat.
Unfortunately there was no good news. Justin, who went back first came out crying, running over to Andrew. "I got it."
"I'm sorry, hon," Andrew said sincerely.
"What am I going to do now?"
"I am going to give you this and then you will have to make a choice," Andrew said taking out a jewel box.
"What is this? ? This is an engagement ring."
"Yes?"
"But why?"
"Well I like you? you like me? we both are HIV positive," Andrew said, trying to put a spin on things.
"So if I didn't have "it" then you would not have offered me this ring?"
"That would not have been fair to you."
"I'm sorry, Andrew, but I need to think about this. It is not just that I will have to watch you being sick but you having to see me get sick as well."
"That is why I think it would be a good idea? We would understand what both of us are dealing with."
"Yes? but who will take care of us when we are both sick?"
"Well?" Andrew said, turning to look at Josh comforting Aidan.
"Would that be fair to your ex? expecting him to take care of us and watch us one day die?"
"Hmm?"
"Come on, Andrew, we have to be real about this? I've heard about all the side effects the meds can have. Do you think Josh would want to watch us throwing up or dealing with the runs. Do you think Josh will want to deal with all that?"
"Justin?" Andrew sighed. Things were not going the way he had hoped for.
"I think I can make that choice for myself, Justin," Josh spoke up, leaving Aidan's side.
"But why would you want to take care of us? I mean Andrew left you for me? sort of. I'm nothing more than an adulterer? a slut? that is why I got 'it'. I'm being punished."
"Never say that!" Andrew shouted as he hugged Justin closer. "This is my fault. I was the one to sleep with Vale before sleeping with you. It is my fault for not using protection in both cases. I'm? I'm just trying?"
"You are trying to get my forgiveness?" Justin asked.
"Yes."
"Then just ask for it? don't go about giving me a ring, ask Josh to take care of us and expect me to be ok with it all."
"What do you want then?" Andrew asked concerned.
"I want it to just be us? You and I taking care of each other. I don't want to Josh to come in the middle between us."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean? I know that things between you and Josh are over romantically but I can see you still love him. I don't want to worry about jealousy."
"Ok? but you have to understand that Josh and I share a son together. I was wrong to force Greg to pick between me and Josh. How can my son be with both of the men he sees as fathers if I force him to choose where he wants to live again."
"I don't know? I guess it makes me pretty selfish."
"No? you just deserve someone who can commit everything to you."
"As I said? I'm selfish," Justin pouted as he rested his head on Andrew's chest.
"It's ok? I don't mind you being possessive of me, but I would like you to be friends with Josh and Greg."
"Well, I just better not find you in their bed." Justin giggled.
Well, now that that is taken cared of?" Josh smiled, looking at Aidan, who had an almost boyish smile on his face.
When Josh waved Aidan over, the man jumped out of his seat and went over to hug him. Josh could tell that the nature of Aidan's hugs was changing. They were becoming tighter, more exploring and emotional. Josh could not help but respond by melting into Aidan's arms.
Everyone seemed to notice the closeness the two men were expressing, Justin smiling widely while Andrew looked worried. He had known Josh was lonely, he had just not thought Josh would had tried to fill that loneliness with Aidan. Andrew also knew that Robert had predicted this would happen. Just as Andrew knew, Robert had known something was missing in Josh's life? a friend, a deep friend. Andrew was just not sure a younger man like Aidan could meet Josh's needs.
Just at that moment Oliver came running out into the waiting room. "I'm clean! Fuck all of you! Fuck your little family!"
Aidan, his eyes suddenly filled with anger, went over to Oliver and decked him. "You didn't seem to mind having a roof over your head when no one was willing to take you in."
"Hey? but I now have a letter from the doc? I'm clean. You don't even need to take me back to the house. There is a bar I know close by, by the end of the day I'll have a place to stay."
"You mean another man to leech off of," Justin spoke up.
"Hey, it gets the bills paid. Not all of us can be doctors and I don't see you, Justin, doing anything to earn your keep other than lay on your back."
"I plan to train Justin to be a paralegal so he can work with me at the office," Andrew replied.
"Oh? becoming a man about town," Oliver smirked. "You go play office boy. Just remember the only thing you have of value is you're a?" Oliver was shouting at Justin right when Andrew's fist came in contact with his jaw sending Oliver down for the count.
"Well, that was interesting," Josh sighed, instinctively wrapping an arm around Aidan for reason he did not yet understand.
"Should we stay here till he wakes up?" Justin asked worried that he had caused Andrew to lose his temper.
"No? at least I have no intention of staying."