Exposed: Chapter 23
The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed to fly by, and the day James dreaded was upon him. It was two in the morning and James was sitting in the office of Pierce International Charters. He was headed to Switzerland to see his father for the first time since the company shake-up and James learned of his father's brain tumor.
Initially, James told Brock he didn't need to come alone. James said Brock should spend that time with his family. James said he would meet with his father, settle things then fly home. No big deal. However as they got closer to leaving Millbrook for the holidays, James began to withdraw and became increasingly morose. Finally, Brock said, "Look, Babe, this is one of those times I am going to piss you off because I love you. I am going with you to Switzerland, and the only way you are going to prevent that is for you to have the crew throw me off the plane."
"It's my plane, you do know I can have that done?" James said.
"I know, but you won't... will you?"
"No, at least not until we are over the Atlantic," James said, with half a smile, which was the best Brock had seen in two days. "You're right," James said as he put his arms around Brock's neck and kissed him. "I really don't want to do this alone. I just don't want to make you start the Holidays on a downer."
"So, you don't think I will spend all that time worrying about how you're doing and feeling guilty for not being with you. Come on, it will be a lot better for me to be with you, and do what I can for you."
"Well, if you put it that way..."
James' thoughts were interrupted by the pilot who put his head into the office and said, Mr. Pierce, they have finished refueling the plane and we should be ready to board in about 15 minutes. Where is Mr. Champlain?"
"He is on a quest for coffee."
"The steward is making fresh coffee and will serve it as soon as we are in flight. Also, he will have a variety of breakfast options when you are ready."
"Thanks," James said, "I guess I'm not used to flying on a private plane."
The pilot laughed, and said, "It is a bit different. By the way, Axella sent over a list of your favorite snacks and drinks, but she didn't have one for Brock. If you give the steward one for him, he will make sure we have those aboard for the return flight."
James laughed and said, "He's not picky. I haven't seen anything sweet and salty he won't eat, and bubbly he won't drink."
When Brock returned he had two cups of coffee from a vending machine down the hall. "This is all I could find," he said. "Frankly, it is terrible."
James laughed and told him the steward would have coffee ready on the plane, and Brock looked at the two cups he was holding and then poured them into a potted plant on the window sill. "I hope I didn't just poison it," he said.
It wasn't long before a young man wearing a blazer with a Pierce International Charter name badge came into the office and introduced himself. "My name is Josh and I will be the steward on your flight. I want to start by apologizing for there being no coffee in the office and passenger lounge. Normally there would be but we did not anticipate any waiting time between your arrival and our departure."
James smiled and said, "Don't give it another thought. I hope there never comes a day when a thirty-minute wait to board a private jet and the lack of coffee at two in the morning is a reason for me to throw a fit."
"Thank you, sir."
"Okay, this sir stuff will have to end. I am a high school kid."
"Sir, the company regulations say..."
"They keep telling me I run this company, so if I want to be called James instead of Sir, I can change those regulations, at least as it pertains to me, and my boyfriend Brock Champlain."
Brock extended his hand and said, `Glad to meet you, Josh."
Likewise...Brock."
"Look, Brock, I made my first executive decision." James then turned to Josh and said, "I hope it doesn't bother you that Brock and I are boyfriends."
"Not at all. ... I just got the signal that your luggage is loaded and the plane is ready to depart whenever you are."
"Then let's do it," James said, and they headed for the plane.
When they were on board, Brock couldn't help but say "Wow."
"I agree," Josh said, "This is an amazing plane and you are its first passengers. It was delivered just last week. Let me give you a quick tour before we lift off. There was a full-service galley and lavatory at the front. Next was a conference room, then a dining area, followed by a lounge with a large TV and sofa. At the back of the plane was a master bedroom with a king-size bed. The master also had an ensuite with a shower.
When James and Brock saw the bed, they both immediately knew there would be two new members of the mile-high club. Josh tried hard not to smile when he told them they had to be in an upright position for takeoff and landing, and his seat was at the front of the plane in the galley.
Once in the air, Josh served coffee and asked whether either wanted something to eat.
"Do you happen to have anything like donuts?" Brock asked.
"Yes, we do. Mr. Pierce Sr. made it a policy that no Pierce International Charter leaves the ground without at least two dozen donuts on board."
James had to smile, and say, "My father loves donuts. There wouldn't happen to be any maple-glazed donuts?"
"Yes, there are. When I was training for this job, I was told that they are your father's favorite and are part of the standard order."
James and Brock each asked for a maple-glaze donut in honor of James Pierce Sr."
James and Brock decided they would save the master bedroom for the return flight, so they watched TV, surfed the internet, and slept in the incredibly soft leather reclining seats in the main cabin.
The flight took eight hours and with the change in time zone, they landed at four in the afternoon Zurich time. Axella had arranged for a car and driver for them while in Zurich as well as a hotel room. When Axella asked James what kind of hotel he wanted, his response was, something unique and fun. So she booked him in the loft of the Hotel Felix. When James presented his ID and Pierce Corporate Credit Card, an American Express Black Card, the young woman at the desk looked stunned and called her manager. When he arrived, he was equally unsure of what to do. Then their driver, who'd been standing off to the side stepped up, showed the manager his ID and a document, had a short conversation in German, and the manager smiled, ran the card, and apologized to James for any misunderstanding.
After the check-in was complete, James turned to the driver and said let's grab some coffee. When they were seated in the coffee shop. James said, "So, I'm guessing that you are more than just driving us around town."
"Sorry," the driver said, "I was hoping to be as inconspicuous as possible. My name is Hans, and I work for Pierce International, EU."
"When you say you work for Pierce International, is that the security firm that PI hires to take care of me?"
"Yes, Mr. Pierce."
"Well, Hans, My name is James, and this is my boyfriend Brock." Hans smiled and said he was pleased to meet them officially.
"Are you staying in the hotel as well?" James asked.
"Yes, room 116."
"I see no reason to keep this driver charade going. It will be a lot easier for you if you are our chaperone/tour guide, don't you think?"
"Yes. I think so." Hans said. Hans was 40ish, handsome, and could easily pass for a teacher and coach at Mill Brook.
"Good," James said, " I would like to get some Christmas presents before I go to see my father tomorrow. Maybe we can do that when we go out for supper, or in the morning?"
"Either of those would be fine," Hans said.
The loft was on the top floor of the Felix and the ceilings and exposed beans sloped with the pitch of the roof and the windows were set in dormers. There was a seating area with a comfy couch for watching TV. The headboard of the bed was a wall that ran from the floor to the ceiling, behind it was the open bathroom with a freestanding tub and separate rain shower.
"This is so fucking sexy," Brock said walking around the loft and taking it all in. "Best of all it's cozy. It's not some huge pretentious suite with a bunch of antique furniture."
"Oh, so you like cozy? Maybe we should just say fuck it. Give away my inheritance and build ourselves a tiny cabin in the woods."
"That sounds fantastic. Let's do it!"
"No, we have responsibilities."
"We? Who is this we you speak of?"
"You and me buddy. You became part of the `we' when you made me fall in love with you." James said and then kissed Brock.
"Oh, Okay, but I don't understand why we can't have a cabin?"
"We can. Well, actually we do, at least I think we do. My mother's parent owned a cabin up in the Catskills. I think mom kept it and some agent manages and rents it for her. She was always a city person and so after my grandfather passed away, we rarely went to it. I can ask her about it. I'm sure we could go there for a weekend if you want."
"Is it cozy, or is it another mansion?"
"It's very cozy. My mom's family has money, but not the kind of money and ego my father's family has."
The boys unpacked their suitcases and then decided it was time to eat. On the recommendation of Hans, the boys decided to try the Restaurant Brasserie Johanniter just down the street from the Felix. While Hans went with them he sat at a different table so he could keep an eye out for anyone showing unusual interest in the boys.
The Restaurant Brasserie Johanniter served Swiss food, which due to the cultural connection with its neighbors was a pleasant mashup of German, French, and Italian cuisines. Brock immediately saw what he wanted as they were shown to their table. When the waiter came to take their orders, Brock nodded toward a gentleman at a nearby table and said, "I would like what that gentleman is having."
The waiter said, "The Veal escalopes with onion sauce, and Roesti potatoes." Escalapes is a French term; however, the dish resembles German Veal Schnitzel or American Country Fried steak. James ordered the Roesti potatoes with bacon and cheese. Reosti potatoes are potato pancakes that originated in the Bern area of Switzerland. Although a `peasant food' the restaurant had elevated the dish to fine dining.
While they ate Brock gently tried to gauge how James was feeling. "When are you planning to visit your father?"
"I contacted Courtney, and she said if we didn't know he had the tumor, we wouldn't think he had a life-threatening condition. The tumor hasn't yet affected his cognitive or communication function. He is physically fit although the drugs are using making him tired. So far, they are managing his personality changes with therapy and drugs. She suggested I join them for lunch tomorrow."
"Would you like me to go with you?"
"If you don't mind, I think I would. I would like my father to meet you, and I would like you to meet my father while he is still, for good and for bad, the man I grew up with."
Brock nodded.
Changing the subject before he became emotional, James asked what do you want to do after supper?"
"I need to get some exercise. Maybe we can walk around the area and do a little window shopping."
"That sounds good."
After dinner, James and Brock were having a good time looking in shop windows when suddenly they heard a disturbance and looked back. They saw Hans pushing a struggling boy against a wall and it looked like he was about to snap the kid's arm. When Hans released the boy, he ran off. Then Hans walked up and gave James back his wallet. "How?" James asked.
"The old woman you opened the door for was a distraction. When you stepped back to let her in. You backed against her friend, and he took your wallet. Like most Americans, you carry your wallet in your back pocket. I would suggest carrying it in your front pocket."
"Thank you, Hans," James said. "I would hate to have to call Axella to report that I had lost my corporate credit cards on my first trip."
"Not as much as I would hate having to report that I let it happen," Hans said.
The incident put a damper on walking around the city at night, and so it was back to The Felix. Before going up to their room, James reminded Hans that he wanted to do some Christmas shopping for his father and Courtney before going to the hospital.
"Are you looking for anything in particular?" Hans asked.
"I was thinking of getting my father a bottle of bourbon, but..."
"But, you aren't old enough?"
James smiled, and Hans took a deep breath, and said, "I'll buy it for you to give to your father."
"Thank you," James said, "My father also likes nuts and I thought chocolates would be appropriate for Courtney. Neither needs me to buy them anything, but it's Christmas."
"What time do you want to get started in the morning," Hans asked.
"I was thinking we could meet up in the lobby at 8 o'clock for breakfast, and go from there. Brock and I will rely on your recommendation on where to go shopping."
"That works for me," Hans said. "Okay, are you guys in for the evening?"
"Yes," James said, "We are in for the evening."
When James and Brock got up to the room. James said, "I really need you tonight."
Brock smiled, kissed, him, and said, "I am here for anything you need."
James smiled and began unbuttoning Brock's shirt. When the last button was undone, James slowly pushed open Brock's shirt to expose a sight of which James would never tire. Brock's chest was beautiful. It was as if a Rennaisance Master had chiseled it from marble. His pecs were large and round, and the cleft that separated them was deep and perfectly straight. Brock's entire body was classically preportioned and shaped, but his chest was the star. Brock had suggested getting "James" tattooed on his left pec, but James said that even with how deeply they felt about each other, at their age, such a tattoo was taking a gamble. Also, James said, "A tattoo would destroy the symmetry of your chest. It would be like carving graffiti on Michelangelo's `David.'
As if to punctuate his pectoral perfection, Brock's nipples were the essence of masculine eroticism. James simply could not keep his fingers or his tongue from touching them. To make them even more sexual, Brock could not help moaning when they were licked or softly pinched.
As James' mouth and tongue continued to work on Brock's chest, his hands slowly slid down Brock's torso, across his washboard abs, and found the button on his pants. Soon James had them unbuttoned and pushed down to the floor. Now Brock stood in the fading light of the loft wearing nothing but a pair of bulging black Calvin Klein boxer briefs and a smile.
"Fuck you are gorgeous," escaped James' mouth just before he kissed Brock and pushed him down onto the bed. Then James slowly began to undress himself. James was a combination of exotic dancer and fashion model, and it drove Brock insane. When he was also down to just his CKs, James placed his hand on the inside of Brock's knee and slowly ran it up Brock's thigh just to the bottom hem of Brock's underwear. He then leaned forward and whispered in Brock's ear, "Are you ready to get fucked?"
"Yes," Brock responded with a whisper.
"How do you want it?"
"I want to be fucked like a man, by a man."
James ripped off Brock's underwear and then shucked his own onto the floor. At the same time, Brock grabbed his ankles to expose his eager hole. James dropped to his knees and began to lick and finger his boyfriend's man cunt, while Brock kept up a steady stream of dirty talk.
"Oh yeah, lick that hole. Fuck, you are so hot... I can't wait for you to impale me on that stake between your legs.... Oh, baby that's it... Yes, yes, that's the spot... I am dripping soooo much."
Finally, James couldn't wait any longer, and he stood up and buried his cock deep inside Brock, and was soon pounding away. It wasn't long before both boys were covered in sweat and the smell of sex hung in the air.
"Oh fuck, oh fuck, oooo fuuuck," Brock moaned as his cock splattered his torso with cum. Then it was James' turn. His body was on autopilot and he rammed Brock's ass repeatedly. James pushed hard into Brock and then started to shake as he was caught up in an orgasmic tornado that ended only when he collapsed onto Brock's cum covered body.
"Oh babe, that was amazing," James said as he held Brock in his arms. "You are a stud."
Brock laughed and said, "No babe, you're the stud. I'm just your little fuck pony."
James said, "Giddy-up," then smiled and kissed Brock. They made out for a while, then decided to take a bath before crawling into bed for the night.
Before climbing into the tub, James made two cups of tea. It felt so good to soak and sip tea. There was no need for words, because as crass as it sounded, there was nothing to say that their bodies hadn't already said. They were fucked and talked out.
After getting out of the bath, and drying off, the boys crawled into bed, and James snuggled up to Brock and used a pec for a pillow. The strength and loyalty of his boyfriend and lover, gave James the security and serenity to face the future whatever it might hold.
The next morning, Hans was already in the lobby when James and Brock joined him. The hotel's breakfast was amazing. Unlike many American hotels, where the complimentary breakfast, is DIY waffles, cold scrambled eggs, greasy sausage, and Fruit loops, the Hotel Felix serves fresh pastries, Swiss ham and cheese quiche, and fresh fruit. Oh, and while the Swiss are known for chocolate, they are also pretty good with coffee.
Hans took James and Brock to the Hauptbahnhof, the central train station, which in December becomes one of Europe's largest Christmas markets. There were over a hundred booths selling everything from food to crafts. In addition, the entire place was decked out for the holidays.
James found chocolates for Courtney and freshly roasted nuts for his father. He also found a hand-carved crèche James hoped would add a little holiday spirit to their lives. James and Brock also bought a variety of Swiss foods to take back to New York. The next stop was at a liquor store that specialized in whiskeys from around the world. There Hans purchased Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon 46 for James Sr.
When they arrived at the `hospital' James was surprised that it wasn't a hospital like he was used to. Instead, it was more like a resort. Hans explained that this facility wasn't where James' father would have his surgery. Instead, that would be at the Zurich University Hospital. The facility where James Sr. and Courtney were staying was more like a hospital hotel for foreigners coming to Switzerland for treatment.
When James and Brock arrived, they were greeted by Courtney, who welcomed them and showered them into the room where James Sr. was attached to an IV. He smiled and waved, then said, "I was hoping to be done with this damn thing before you guys got here. The chemicals they are giving me won't cure the tumor, but the hope is they will shrink it enough to improve the chances of removing it."
James Jr. asked James Sr. how he was doing, and Brock got up to leave, but James Sr. told him to sit down. "You might as well hear this too, since you will have to help support my son if things don't go as hoped."
"I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass. The odds are not in my favor, but it is the only chance I have. So, I'm putting it all on red." James Sr. looked at the gift-wrapped boxes sitting beside James and asked. "Is that what I think it is?" James handed his father a box. James Sr. opened it and said, "That's my boy." Then he called for Courtney to bring them three glasses. She did, and James gave her the box of chocolates, and he gave his father the nuts as well.
James Sr. pointed to the IV drip and said, "This shit will probably ruin the taste of a good bourbon whiskey, but I'm not missing the chance to have a drink with my son and his..."
"Boyfriend," James said.
"Boyfriend," James Sr. repeated.
James poured his father and Brock each a whiskey and then poured one for himself. James Sr. asked, "What shall we drink to?" Then said, "I know," he raised his glass and said, "To legacy: our past, present, and future."
Courtney had been in one of the other rooms of the suite and said, "Would you like me to order lunch? I thought eating here rather than in the dining room would be better. Again, it was obvious this was not the typical medical facility. The food was very good and was served on china, not institutional plates.
Over lunch the conversation was light and there was a conscious effort to avoid any discussion of medical issues. Around two in the afternoon, a photographer arrived to take a picture of James and his father, and then of James, his father, Courtney and Brock. James had helped his father get into a suit, and the photographer assured James Sr. that he could use editing software to make him look healthier in the final product.
Just before James and Brock left, James Sr. wanted a few words in private with his son. James Sr. started to apologize for how he had treated his son, but James stopped him. Saying, "Some of the things you meant, and some of them you didn't, and some you didn't even know you did. I am sure the same is true for me. What I want you to know, is that I can honestly say, `I love you, Dad'."
"I love you too, Son"
Then for the first time in years, the two shared a real hug. There were no tears. The two were finally happy and at peace with themselves and each other.
That evening James said, "I know I owe you one, but can we just spend the night cuddling?"
"First of all," Brock said, "we don't keep a scorebook sex, or anything else, and..."
"And second," James said, "you want to initiate me into the Mile High Club tomorrow."
Brock smiled and said, "As United says, `There will be something special in the air'."
********************** I hope you enjoy "Exposed."
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