You know the drill: The story below is a work of fiction, set in the format of reality. Any resemblances to real people, alive or in the hereafter, is entirely coincidental in nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon persons, of continents or islands, in countries, counties, cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods, streets, cul-de-sacs, nor governmental or non-governmental areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then why are you here? Seriously, if guy-to-guy sex stuff makes you barf or is going to screw up your mind, you should not read this story. Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age, in most states and countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by law. Check with your local laws regarding such.
% Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction. In real life, use protection.
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DECEMBER tis the season to be merry wriTten by T. Chase McPhee
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two
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While Brendan and Jean-Claude hung out in the car, Kevin ran inside to fetch Emre.
"So, you're quite the businessman now, eh Tariq?" Brendan makes light chat with their backseat passenger.
Before thinking of himself, Tariq inflates an afterthought of this morning's words of wisdom bestowed upon him by Brendan, "I got to thinking about what you said this morning, Brendan. I've really got to think about what is important."
"Oh, so then I wasn't just blowing around a bunch of hot air?"
Jean-Claude smiled. If it were only himself and Brendan in the car he would make some mischief out of rearranging his thoughts and words.
"I'm going to make this job work, but I'm too going to make sure I keep up with school. Rosario says there's good money for me to make if I get a college degree in business management."
Good Tariq was thinking ahead, but Jean-Claude wondered how high Rosario was being put on a pedestal and where did Dario now fit into all of this? "Sounds like you have a good boss." And to interject thought on Tariq's part, "I bet you can't wait to give Dario the good news, huh?"
"Oh right," Tariq replies. Then it was like panic flooding his brain. Right away, thoughts of him and Rosario kissing in the hallway, gave him a feeling of betrayal whereas Dario is concerned.
Noticing the dead silence, Brendan says, "I bet Dario will be as proud of you as we are Tariq!"
"Um... yeah. I can't wait to tell him." There was little emotion in his statement, Tariq pushing his feelings out, along with trying to make it a convincing thought of excited news coming his way, in the delivering.
"Hey! Small world!" Jean-Claude announces, his arm to the right, finger pointing across the car, his wrists almost under Brendan's chin, showing he's spotted Dario.
"Looks like he's spotted 'us'!" Brendan says, almost locking eyes with Dario.
Inspecting the street for back-and-forth traffic, Dario breaks eye contact, but it right back on target after clearing the street crossing. And even though he wasn't seeking, Dario asks through Brendan's open window, "Hey, mind giving me a lift?"
It was a pick-up line, but who cares. It got him picked up and placed in the back seat!
"I dropped by your house," he meant Jean-Claude's unit at the condominums, "but you weren't at home. Obviously!"
Jean-Claude noticed the peck on the cheek. Because Brendan wasn't in view, via the rearview mirror, he didn't catch it. But one thing they both noticed, Tariq wasn't his usual, bubbly self, like when he was telling about his new job, but rather subdued.
"So, what have you been up to?" Dario showed more excited attitude. "How's the new job?" He meant the one at the florist, unaware it was a one-shot deal for Tariq.
Brendan quips, "Maybe I better go see what happened to Kevin and Emre." He bolts for the door.
'Great,' Jean-Claude thought to himself, 'sure, take off and leave me as arbitrator, you traitor!' He even watched, his lover rubbing it in, a toothy smile on his face and a grand waving, Brendan mouthing, 'have fun'. Jean-Claude gave him a sneer. He was sort of listening, wanted to give them their privacy, but a few inches of airspace didn't do much to muffle their conversation. As far as he could deduce, they had gotten as far as Tariq telling Dario the job at the florist was a one-day affair.
Next thing, which brought Jean-Claude back into the listening realm of the conversation, he hears Dario exclaim, "Anarkali Cafe? Did you happen to meet Rosario Chasse?"
'Uh-oh,' Jean-Claude thought to himself, the dude Tariq raved about.
"He hired me," Tariq replied, but also showed an interest, as did Jean-Claude on what connection the two had.
"Very nice guy, isn't he?"
"I would say so," Tariq replies, treading softly on the subject. But then, as Jean-Claude wanted to know too, "How do you know him?"
"Well," Dario gently told the story, "before I got to know you, I happened to be eating there and Rosario was my waiter. He's like 'everything' when they are low on help. Anyway, we got to talking and decided to date, which we did. After about a month he started dating this other guy and between the two of us he liked the other guy more."
"Weren't you mad at him?" Tariq asks.
"No, not really."
"I'd be mad as hell!"
Tariq and Dario both switched their attention to the front of the car.
"Oop! Sorry guys. I didn't mean to listen in," Jean-Claude apologized. "Um, maybe I should go see what's keeping Brendan."
They waited til they heard the door slam shut, Dario saying, "I might have had the same feelings as J-C, but then again, why waste time on a guy who really doesn't have an interest in me. Like you and me, I think it's totally different, huh?"
Tariq didn't say a word. He was totally lost for any thoughts as a followup, not being well-versed at developing a relationship in the first place.
The enthusiasm seemed to drain out of Dario, him saying, "Um, did something like happen while you were there?"
"No, I'm just tired." Tariq replies, thinking Dario means something between him and Rosario.
"Of course you are," Dario replies. And without Jean-Claude there to oversee them, Dario caresses Tariq. "You've put in a full day of school and then straight to work? Why don't we grab something to eat and...."
It had begun to eat away at him while Rosario held him and he felt like hell, would probably still feel the same way unless he took the responsibility to say, "Dario, I'm not really tired."
"You're not? Well are you hungry?" Dario replies, all spirited up.
"Dario, Rosario kissed me today at the restaurant, rather I kissed him... we both kissed each other."
"What?" Dario replies, like in a daze.
Logic, from out of nowhere came to Tariq, him explaining, "Look Dario, we met like yesterday and I like you very much. You're very sweet. Today I meet Rosario and I think he is very sweet to. I like him. I like you both." And to tie things up in a neat little package, but to provoke thought, "It is alright to like two guys isn't it?"
Dario fell back in the corner pocket of the opposing door and seat. "Wow!"
"I was hoping you could understand."
"I do... I do... I mean I'm just trying to figure this out..." and sitting up, "I think it's kind of cool."
"You do?" It wasn't at all what Tariq was expecting.
In fact he didn't know what to expect, but when Dario says, "Don't you see?"
"No," Tariq answers frankly, really totally in a blur.
"You get both Rosario and me and I get you and Rosario, which leaves only one unsolved part of this equation..."
Tariq was still trying to figure out the odds as they stood.
"We've got to get over to the cafe before it closes and see what Rosario thinks about all this."
"I don't get it," Tariq replies, not sure he's figured out the equation.
"You, Rosario and me. The three of us together. What do you think?"
Tariq didn't know what he thought and for now could buy time, with the rest of the gang returning to the car. For now Dario kept his cool. Also, with Emre shooting his mouth off to his big brother about the great gains in the proposed open shopping mall for the city, plus the indoor landscaping for the student center at the new high school, it completely overtook any thoughts preceeding it.
They decided on going out to eat, but Dario declined, stating, "I've got some important business to attend to."
Somehow Tariq figured his business entailed catching up with Rosario, but for now he wasn't in the position to make any decisions and too, he wanted to share in Emre's excitement. Fortunately, because of all the talk about Emre's accomplishments, Tariq could remain silent, thinking over what's transpired. For now he wasn't making any conclusions, but instead his mind was speculating on what 'could' happen when Dario catches up with Rosario.
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"Welcome Ballintine's newest star, Gazilla!"
Already spiked up on a few drinks, Gazi sways in to the music, dancing into the private party like a rap star, swaying his shoulders, torso pulsing, hands making 'digs', his cock and balls swinging freely. But he wasn't alone, the strobe lights making it easy to catch momentary glimpses of other male anatomy, all to the tune of some electronic remix.
Off in a corner, Gregg Ballintine, founder and director, overseer of all which goes on at Ballintine Studios, talks with Terry Leabu, public relations and director at Dungeon Lair Studios.
Leabu's first observation is, "Those balls could make him a fortune alone!"
"He's not for sale, Terry," Gregg makes it explicit.
"Did I say anything about...."
"I know what you're thinking Terry, when your first admiration is for a guy's balls?"
"Yeah, okay. So I was thinking about it, but at least don't turn me down before Lair makes an offer?"
"Sure!" Gregg says in good humor. "Make all the offers you want, but Gazi is still not in the 'for sale pool'!"
"Damn shame. Those balls are worth lots of loot."
"I know," Gregg replies cheerfully, "but not in the same sense 'you' mean them for!"
In total abandon, the two stood there watching Gazi, or 'Gazilla', his new given name, reason, the same one crossing Gregg's and Terry's minds, him up there on the stage, doing some leud dancing with a quartet of hot, nude men, Gazi's lower anatomy swinging as freely as the other boys, a mix of Ballintine and Lair studios.
"So, has he got a tight ass?"
"We didn't get around to that yet," Gregg replies.
"Tonight could be the lucky night, Gregg," he puts a hand on his pals shoulder. "Mind if I stick around and watch?"
Terry wasn't popping a surprise question. On occasion Gregg allowed a few guys to stand backstage on one of the sets, for the purpose of free, live porno.
"Not this time, Terry."
At that, Terry feeling totally unsuccessful at both 'buying out' Gazi's contact and failure to get in some free porn to jack off with tonight, says, "Well I can see I'm not going to get anywhere with you tonight Gregg. Have a good one!"
Affectionately the two men hugged, kissing on the cheek, Terry strolling away into the crowd. Gregg didn't feel a bit sorry for him. He figured Terry would strike it up with some guy, take him home and have some fun and maybe the 'lucky' guy would be playing a bit part or major role in the Dungeon Lair production. As for himself, he would let Gazi dance out the night and have fun 'mingling' with the boys before he collected him and took him home. He just pictured it, Gazi all tuckered out and himself providing some 'first aid'!
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"Looks like a nice place," Brendan says as the bunch descend upon Bistro Novius, in the heart of Asbury Park.
Emre, ever-conscious of cost, picks up a menu for a preveiw, his attention towards looking for a dollar sign. "Jean-Claude?"
"What Emre?"
"The menu."
"What about it?"
"It has no prices. How do you know how much it costs?"
Any other time, Jean-Claude would have to go into detail, but because they were dining in his honor, he relays, "This is your night out on the town, which means the dinner is on me..."
"And me?" Brendan cuts in on Jean-Claude's action.
Repairing his statement, Jean-Claude renders, "Correction... the dinner's on him!"
Brendan weasels out, "Now you know if I even made half the dough you made I wouldn't be able to afford to pay for us all... well, no... I lied.. if I put it on my credit card I might have it paid off by Easter!"
"Relax," Jean-Claude tells his partner.
But the two knew they were bs'ing each other!
Winding it up, Jean-Claude says, "Just go with what you want to order Emre and," he jokes, "I better not find you skimping!"
Sarcastically, Emre replies, "I will order everything on the menu!"
"If you can eat it, be my guest!"
Kevin begins to explain to Emre the concept of these styrofoam containers they give you when you order more than you can eat.
Brendan told Jean-Claude his big credit card bill would be his own fault! Whatever the outcome, Jean-Claude said Brendan was paying half. Instead of getting mad, they got merry and shared a kiss, chocking it up to, "At least we'll be in the red together!"
Kevin asks, "So what are you into having Tariq?" And since most of the chatter this afternoon, into the evening had been about Emre, he asks, "Hey everbody, you know Tariq's got a new job at Anarkali Cafe?"
It was meant to delight Tariq, drawing all the congratulatory remarks away from his older brother, but backfired when Tariq reports, "Tomorrow I'm going to quit."
"Quit? But you just started," Brendan makes comment.
"It's not working out. I'll find a different job."
It was probably a race, whether Jean-Claude or Brendan had fit the pieces together, solving the puzzle of why Tariq was in a hurry to make his exit from the cafe's employ. However, with Brendan nudging Jean-Claude's arm, it fell upon him to ask, "So, what brings you to this conclusion?"
"Huh?" Tariq asks.
"Why, since you seemed very happy working there, you suddenly decide to up and quit?"
"It's just not going to work out," is all they could get out of Tariq.
Emre tried prying, "There must be a reason?"
"Can everybody just shut up about it?" He tore from the table, headed towards the front of the restaurant and exited.
"Somebody better go after him," Brendan said, looking towards Jean-Claude.
In fact all eyes were on him, Emre even making excuse, "He will not listen to me."
"I'm with Emre," Kevin says.
"I guess it leaves only one person left." Folding his napkin neatly, Jean-Claude got out of his chair and walked towards the front door. Outside he cased the area, mostly fragments of sand, fir trees and a rectangular parking lot. Looking towards his own vehicle, there was Tariq, arms folded across chest as he leaned his back against the side. "Um, thanks for cleaning my car."
Tariq neither thought it cute, nor gave any reaction.
Cutting right to it, Jean-Claude asks, "Does your decision to quit before you've gotten started have to do with Dario and Rosario?" He knew it did, but figures it should come from the one whom it is affected by it.
"I don't get it," Tariq starts opening up.
"About?"
"Dario. Before today he was so much into starting something with me. I felt great about it. But then I met Rosario and felt taken in by him, but at the same time when Dario finds out about me and Rosario, it seems he wants a piece of him too. Then he says something about him and me and Rosario getting together. I don't know what... I don't know about this, that's all."
"Well," Jean-Claude says, leaning next to Tariq and staring up at the sky, "there's something about 'three' you should know and it's not coming from some text book, but rather from two different friends I've had whom have thought it would be cool having a relationship of threesomes. They both wound up in failures. In one, the third guy was left out most of the time, in case point, my friend, but in the other one, my friend became close to guy number one and the man 'out' was not him, but he still felt very bad about the threeway relationship breaking up in the way it did. Moral of the story, as I see it, is when it comes to a three-man relationship, there are no winners. Get what I mean?"
"Sort of," Tariq replies. "Maybe three doesn't work, but the thing that was getting me is right away Dario, who I thought was really into me, turns out he wants more than me. Know what I mean?"
"You're not 'enough' for him. Tell you the truth, if the same thing happened, where Brendan decided on seeing another man, that would be it for us." Saying it caused a little lull in his chest for a second, but then Jean-Claude realizes, 'Nah, ain't never gonna happen'! But then, refocusing on Tariq's dilemma, "Want some advice?"
"I sure could use some."
Putting his arm around Tariq's shoulder, like a father to son, he says, "I wouldn't give up the job, but I'd give up all attachments with Rosario. As for Dario, if you think he has his eyes set on someone else and it's not how 'you' want the relationship to go, then I think it's a good time to bow out. Better to get things clear from the beginning, than to let things go and eventually somebody gets hurt. Hm?"
He mulled it over for a moment, telling Jean-Claude, "I think I want to move on. What I didn't mention is I think Dario was going to try to hook up with Rosario tonight. Even if he doesn't, my thoughts are he 'wanted to' and another thing, he had a choice to go to dinner with all of us tonight and he picked Rosario over me. So, I guess what you say, the third guy left out... it's me!"
"You know we'll never leave you out, so why don't you come back inside when you're ready?"
With Jean-Claude's gripping arms around him, Tariq replies, "I'm ready."
"Good. I think you're making the right decision."
"I think even if Dario and Rosario don't get together... I'm not going to want to date Dario."
"It's your call," Jean-Claude says as the two serpentine around cars, to the front of the Bistro.
"Yeah, I feel good about it."
"Good. I'm glad you are doing so. Now, let's wipe that frown off and go back inside and celebrate your brother's success and also yours?"
"Mine?"
"Yep. Another monumental hurdle you've mastered, passing from teenhood to adulthood!"
It made the eighteen year old feel good. Not only the words of wisdom, but exemplifying father figure, something Tariq was missing out on and glad to have Jean-Claude sub for the father he didn't know.
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"Had enough?" Gregg Ballintine asks Gazi, catching up with him at the bar.
"One more drink," and as Gazi looks towards the stage, "another dance?"
One track syncing into the next, Gazi took a gulp of his drink and headed back to the stage, Gregg yelling, "Don't get too tired out!" But he had a feeling Gazi would be able to take a lot more for him to wind down all that energy. Then again, he knew the atmosphere of the place and looking around confirmed his intuition, the music pumping out of the speakers, the low lighting pulsed with shooting rays of iridescent colors, the drinks keeping the everyone on edge, and the greatest influence, all those hot boys dancing their asses off, a very few still in muscle shirts, most shirtless, some top and bottomless. Oh and that one who just caught his eye, blond, moderate length hair, but scraggily from sweat, the gleaming bod from shoulders down to... jock strap which only served purpose to hold the bulging goods. Gregg prayed for them to pop out from his jumping about, but no such luck. 'Oh well...'
"Ready to go?" Gazi came from behind and almost made Gregg spill his drink.
"Sure."
"We take him home too?"
"Who?" Gregg asks.
"Jason in the jock strap?"
Surprised, Gregg asks, "You know him?"
Disregarding Gregg, Gazi goes over to Jason, latches onto his arm and says, "C'mon. Let's go!" Then, coming back to Gregg, Gazi says, "It's okay for Jason to come with us, right?"
Gregg smiles. What was he to do? Leave this blond beauty there all night and maybe he wouldn't find his way home anyway? So the three walked out of the club, Gregg's limo waiting there for them to return for the past five hours, the chaffeur opening his door, walking to the back, opening the door, ushering the three in, closing the door, getting back in the car, keying the ignition and heading off for the Ballintine mansion, except Ballintine called the shots, changing location, "To the beach house in Longport, Marek."
"Yes, sir," Marek replies, a short glance through the rearview mirror to the back seat, taking in both faces, then zipping up the window between. He knew the protocol, knowing it special for any guy whom Mr. Ballintine decided to bring back to his residence, instead of a studio fling.
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Copyright 2009 T. Chase McPhee
`'December Lullaby - DECEMBER tis the season to be merry' may not be sold, nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the author.
The more you stretch, the more you can fit in... 'spread' happiness! TCMcP.....