Fire Island Bikinis

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 any state (21yo in Alabama, Mississippi, Wyoming, Nebraska), or in most countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by law. Check with your local laws regarding such.

Following, pages of this story contain adult material', intended for an adult audience'. Bypass this warning at your own risk.

% Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction. In real life, use protection.

Hey dudes, remember, Nifty needs your donations to provide these wonderful stories. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html

FYI: I don't get a hefty paycheck from NiFTy at the end of the month. I write about horny dudes because it helps keep me stiff. Take your hand off your stick shift for a minute and dig into you wallet. It's costs to keep these stories coming to you.

^o^ Concluding remarks ~ reading this story could make you stiff or gooey, so I would suggest not reading it at work... just sayin'! :)

%

FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS 11 WriTten by T. Chase McPhee

^o^

Five minutes down the hallway, Jared stops at the nurses station and about to inquire, is surprised from behind, "Give me one minute, Jared," Frederic Bailey said in a jolly way, walking around the corner of the nurse's station, stepping in from the perimeter, the heart of the small cubicle, picks up a clipboard and begins writing on it, skipping spaces as he went along.

It gave Jared a good window of opportunity, to check him out. He thought to himself, Jay more into the `cub-crowd', but there was something very appealing about Frederic, possibility it was his gentle, ginger hair, nicely coiffed, rounded out below the chin with the same color beard around the lips... Feeling a little indifferent, Jared thought he would follow Frederic's lead, with little intention of taking things too far.

With saying it, he smiled, so when Frederic steps right back out from the station, he asks, "What are you smiling about?"

"Oh, nothing," Jared says with a light tone, taking his eyes off the other guy in uniform.

"Checking out the head nurse?"

"He's the head nurse? He's younger than you are!"

"I know. Don't rub it in," Frederic replies, being cheerful about it.

"Where to? You lead the way!" Jared tells him, figuring they would travel down the corridor and if memory serves him right, make a left and right. But no, they make a left and keep going, Jared asking, "Isn't the cafeteria back over there," he points his thumb over his shoulder.

"Is, but I have a half day coming to me, so thought I would take it today."

"Oh," Jared replies, then curious, "and when did you decide this?"

Turning his head back, smiling, his whole ginger beard moving with the muscles of his lips, Frederic says, "Right after I met you!"

"And what would have happened if we didn't meet?"

"I can be very observant. I would have caught up with you on your way out, anyway?" Frederic replies.

"Persistent little bugger, aren't you?"

"I can be very aggressive with a hot top, in bed?"

Jared replies, "Uh, okay," though the `in bed' part he wasn't sure of.

"Not that we'll get that far today?" Frederic poses the question, with intentions of leaving room for thought.

"My, you are aggressive, aren't you?" Jared's thoughts, because of rushing into a relationship with Jay's shrink, only to be flushed out!

Frederic picks up on the wording, "You don't happen to like camping and fishing, do you?"

How could Jared `not' have an interest in anything regarding owning and running a sporting goods and boat store? It's how he and his brother found an interest in water and other sports, Jay in particular a fanatic about surfing, himself more inclined to be at the wheel of a mid-sized motor boat, anchored in the bay and hauling in meal-sized fish?

However, he play it down, "A little."

"Oh. I was planning a weekend camping trip and thought I would invite you along, but the mosquitoes would probably drive you crazy and might be too much sun for you," Frederic says.

"Are you joking?" and Jared picks this up from Jay, "Mosquitoes? Hah, I laugh at `em! Bears though, they can be a little intimidating.

Something in that phrase drove Frederic `wild', "Really? I had the impression you were the fearless type!"

Ever since his brother discovered the hairy crowd', Jared at first sided with the smooth, muscular type, but after running into a hairy' muscle-man, his opinion became more relaxed. From there his mind branched out and he wasn't so selective, though he never really was cornered by such a husky man, as confronted by Frederic. However, it wasn't only the physical attraction, something irked Jared about the attitude.

Smiling, Jared put it, "I think many things make up a man?"

"But you do agree, in order for something longterm to last, `sex' is part of the puzzle?" Frederic asks.

"Of course. It's why, when camping I bring along my own sleeping bag."

"You do have the kind, which unzipped, can be paired up with another and zipped together to form one?" Frederic, tacking on a smile, hopes for a positive answer.

He did. Had a whole store full of them, but his own, personal sleeping bag, "Nada. Strictly one person."

"I see" the two completed their walk from the general hospital, standing right in front of Kermit's Cafe.

However, the sign above the door caused Jared to focus on the here and now, "Oh, Kermit's?"

"Have you ever eaten here?" Frederic asks.

"Sure. Once," Jared says, not making a move, standing there.

"If you want to eat someplace else, we can..."

"No, this is fine," Jared replies, grabbing the door handle, ushering Frederic inside.

"Thanks," Frederic replies, running right into the host, who happened to be Jake Lasko for the moment, "Hey, how's it going Jare?"

Giving Jake a quick peck on the cheek, Jared says, "Thanks for taking care of Jay today."

Having a cheery chat, Frederic wondered how Jared knew the hot lad, since he has only been to Kermit's one time. Was he that friendly, that Jared left such a fine impression?

"Who's your friend?" Jake asks Jared.

"This is Frederic. Frederic, this is my brothers' friend, Jake," Jared cordially introduced each to the other.

"Nice to meet you, Jake. I just saw your friend at the hospital."

Gulping, Jake asks, a trembling in his voice, "Which one?"

Jared replies, "Think, Jake... the one who bailed you out twice in high school?"

"Oh yeah," Jake replies, "the one I ditched my $11,000 surfboard, to save his ass!"

"About the board," Jared takes Jake by the shoulder, "one way or another you will be reimbursed."

"Thanks, but I talked with Blue and he said whenever I can scrape together the money," Jake confides, "though he needs another soon, like by a week from today?"

"I see," Jared replies, scratching his scruffy face. "I guess we better settle this right now," he asks Frederic if he minds a little business before lunch.

Whipping out his checkbook, Jared begins penning in the details, Jake holding some conversation with his luncheon guest, "So, what do you do at the hospital?"

"I work in admitting, but when it's not busy, it could be anywhere. Small hospitals can't afford to define anyone's position to one area of speciality," Frederic replies, thankful for the opportunity to check Jake out!

It didn't take long to address the check to Jake, fill out the amount and scribble his name, Jared saying, "Here you go and please tell Blue we're sorry this happened," he tears it out of the book.

"Thanks. Um, like how are you going to make this up?"

"Well, if the insurance adjustor doesn't see fit to cover it... `time to shop for new insurance!'"

Meanwhile, Frederic was curious as to how Jared can write a check from his bank for such a sum of money, when its tough for him to keep a $1,000 balance in his own bank. However, it wasn't the reason he met Jared at all, though sex had been part of the equation, at first, wondering the size of the steak to chew on.

"Thanks. Um, about Scott," Jake starts to say, but stops, because Jared is with another guy.

"What about him?" Jared asks.

"Um," he says, stopping and looking towards Frederic, "like, it's kind of personal?"

"You know what? Would you believe I work in a hospital and forgot to wash my hands?"

With Frederic gone, Jake sits on the opposite side of the table, leans in to speak with Jared, "I feel obligated, since Jay and me, we've been friends for like, forever?"

Jared kind of got the feeling, but says, "Scott's really straight?"

"Oh no. He's gay all right, but..." Jake's head sagged.

Jared made it easy for him, "Scott's fuckin' around with someone else, huh?"

"Yeah," Jake looks up, "you got that right, but it's not that he is, but who he's doing it with?"

Pretty much guessing, he didn't think it was Jake, but rather the cafe owner, but asks, "You?"

"No, you idiot, he sucked Kermit off in the mens-room, then..."

"You're lying!" Jared got dramatic for Jake's benefit.

"Like, what the fuck, Jared?" Jake just stood there, numb.

He knew he crossed the line. Hell, he's known Jake about as long as his brother have been friends, even intimately so. Realizing it, not wanting to believe it's come from a credible source, Jared puts a hand on Jake's shoulder, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like it sounded."

With Frederic enroute, drying hands on a paper towel, Jared says to his lunch -mate, "Excuse me a minute, Frederic, I think I need to get to the bottom of something here."

With `the waiter' standing there, Frederic had a reason for Jared to, "Take your time. Settle your business."

Right after Jared leaves the table, Frederic is on Jake, "So, you are a good friend of the family, I take it?"

"You might say that."

Pouring water into two goblets, Frederic thanks him, saying, "We just met. I really haven't found out much about Jared."

The way the dude was carrying on, Jake just knew he was up to something'. Even though, just now, Jared had gone malicious on him, it was like instant forgiveness, but rather than having another Scott' happen to his good friend, "He's a nice guy, really he is, but if it's some hot stuff you're looking for, maybe I could help you out?"

He knew he hit a nerve, Frederic rolling his eyes, getting all faggoty-bubbly on him, "Is that so? Got something nice to wrap my lips around?"

"Uh, possibly, but I think you need to cool off a bit!"

It meant getting the tablecover and surroundings wet, dumping the remnants of the pitcher of water into Frederics lap, but Jake wasn't going to allow some scumbag to...

"What the fuck happened to you?" Jared says, returning from the kitchen.

"Your `friend' apparently has decided I'm not a worthy enough for you," Frederic says in a huff, grabbing the linen napkin and dabbing his crotch off.

"Jake? Explain?"

However, not right now, as Frederic jumps in with, "It's obvious you have no idea how to choose your friends and lovers," he nods towards the kitchen, "for that matter!"

He left, left Jake standing there, Jared at his side.

Jared says, "I just don't know what to think, Jake?"

"Trust me, Jare. I've been around. He's a hit and run artist... Make you hard, take it up the ass and you'll never see him again," Jake contained it in a nutshell.

"And how would you know anything about Frederic? Maybe he's not your classic case, Jake?"

"Do you remember, about this very time last year, graduation, I got my foot stuck in Jay's wheel on his chair?"

Jared cracked a slight smile, "Yeah. What a dumb-ass thing to do?"

"Shuddup and listen?"

"I know, you thought it was broken?" Jared says, like Jake was being a baby about it?

"You guys took me to the hospital for an x-ray and there was a power failure?" Jake tries jogging Jared's memory.

"Right, right, so?"

"I didn't even know his name was Frederic, but he got kind of randy with me in the x-ray room. I know he didn't recognize me now, but that was him," Jake condemns the cub.

"I see. So, what you're saying is Frederic is a no-good, dirty-dealing, two-timing, no-good..."

"You said no-good, twice, Jare?"

"He must be no good then?" Jared replies, not too broken up over losing his lunch-mate.

"Well, for sure I know he could never match `my' skills?"

"Nothing like being modest, Jake?"

Rather than himself, Jake says, "Well, did you find out about Scott?"

"Uh, yeah, but the question remains, how do we break it to Jay that his so-called `boyfriend' is a whore?"

"Know what?" Jakes asks.

"What?"

"Suddenly my taste for working here has worn off. You don't happen to have a job at the store for me?"

"You know, I might just?" Jared replies, knowing if there wasn't he would create one, like `shoe-shine boy', polishing boats.

Without even a word to the boss, Jay leaves with Jake.

In his truck, Jared says, "Y'know, Jake, it doesn't sit right with me now, leaving Jay at the hospital?"

"What are you waiting for? Let's go!" Jake replies.

All the way to the hospital, Jared monopolized their conversation, talking about taking Jay back to the mansion, since the beach house became charred remains.

"I just thought of something. I was supposed to stay with Jay at the beach place," Jake renders.

"Not any more. You're about to move up into society, my boy!" Jared announces.

"Will I get to use your old room?" Jake sits with a smile on his face.

"If you don't mind sharing my bed?"

It was left unsaid, but assumed, Jared would be having some company tonight in his bed, affirmed by Jake rubbing his thigh!

Upon reaching the hospital, probably Frederic would not have a clue to Jay's disappearance, until the next day.

"Hey! Wait!" Jay's roommate whistled a shrill tone to get their attention.

"What's up, Ritt?" Jake asks.

"Like, I'm old enough to check myself out? Besides, I have the key to the front door?"

Jared sensed his brother knowing something about this, "Um, you know what he's talking about, Jay?"

"His folks aren't home. They won't be until their Euro-vacation winds down, so Ritt's invited me to come stay with him."

"I don't know," Jared rubs his scruff, like it would give him direction in this situation.

"It's all one floor and real close to the beach?" Jay tries convincing.

"It's up to you guys," Ritt tried helping, "but whether Jay stays with me or not, you're not going to leave me here with that deranged orderly!"

Knowing, Jake says, "He tried hitting on you too, Ritt?"

"There's only one chair," Jared says, in a hurry to make haste, in case `the one they were trying to evade', should happen to return to the hospital.

"I'm not an invalid, you know?" Ritt says, suddenly thinking of how thoughtless of himself, "Uh, sorry `bout that, Jay."

"No problem," Jay replies. "You can make it up to me later, Ritt!"

Talking about it, on the way out, Jared kept mumbling about not sure about this being a good idea, leaving Jay at Ritt's house, for the simple reason, how guys have come and gone over the last few days. Regardless, seeing Jay in an upbeat mood, he wanted to go with it.

Then, in the process of checking out, Jared cornered Jake long enough, "Make sure you keep an eye on Jay, you here?"

Having thoughts of his own, Jake asks, "Why? Are you dumping me again?"

"What do you mean?" Jared questions his motives.

He was tired of playing cat and mouse games, Jake telling, instead of asking or assuming, "You're rooming with me and that's all there is to it!"

Washing his hands of the matter, Jake heads over to where Jay and Ritt are standing, leaving Jared to think things through, coming to a decision, saying to himself, "Well, if that's the way you want it!"

That's the way it became, arriving at the posh beach home, more elaborately laid out than the one which burned down.

"One good thing," Jay says, Jared wheeling him in the front door of Ritt's family beach home, keeping up with Ritt and Jake, "Ritt and me, we take the same size clothes."

Having had moved all his earthly belongings to the Evans' home, right after his father went berserk on him, coming out, Jake turns slightly around, reflecting on Jay's words, "Jared's going to take me shopping!"

"You are?" Jay looks up.

Looking down, Jared says, "First I've heard of it?!"

Whether it was officially announced or not, Jay had a premonition of the two, saying to his brother, "Be nice to your husband!"

"My husband, huh?" Jared said it, like it was the most preposterous thing in the world.

Strolling through the house, Ritt giving them the royal tour of the mostly single floor dwelling, Jared thought on the idea of Jake becoming a companion to him. His reputation, Jake growing through his teen years, into adulthood, with his brother, except for short periods of time, Jared has observed much. The two times their lives have crossed in bed, mostly based on the last time, hours ago, Jared thought it would not be such a bad life, which made him settle on cruising Jake from head to toe and back.

Finally, he was bonked out his fantasy-thinking, when Ritt opens a door, announcing, "And this will be your room, Jake!"

Stunned, Jake says, "Like... oh... my... god... I can see the whole ocean!" looking upon the wall of glass, showing the sandy beach and the ocean beyond.

Complaining nicely, Jay asks, "What do we get to look at, a brick wall?"

Witness to it, Jared watches as Ritt kneels down in front of Jay, on one knee, like he was going to propose marriage, instead saying, "No. You'll be looking at me!"

Then Jared figures the two did a lot of talking when he was gone, Jay saying, "Sweet!"

Then it happened again, something out of the ordinary, whereas Jay, if reaching forward, wound up falling forward.

Different this time, Jared could not keep a quiet tongue, "D-Did you realize it, bro... what you just did?"

Bending over to give Ritt a kiss, in the middle of it, Jay's mouth opens in astonishment, "No! I... tell me I didn't, Jare!"

Still bent a little, Jay picks up his arms, like lifting a heavy package, Jared responding, "You sure did!"

Already explained to what Jay could or could not do, to Ritt, in an attempt to inform him of how life could be, hooked up with a dude in a wheelchair, aware of Jay's disabilities, he just didn't care now, rejoicing in his brother's progress, "Look at you, Jay! You're holding yourself up! You know what that means?"

Ritt says, "Yeah, that's cool."

Jake, breaking away from the view, runs over to Jay, bends down, places his arms fully around his dear friend, "I'm so proud of you, man!"

"Like, I didn't do anything, Jake!"

It kind of shut Ritt out for the moment, but he had already known something about Jay, his placement in his life, and Jake holding him wasn't out of the way a partner loves, but rather friendship holding on for what it's worth. Standing, he looks at Jay's brother, "I thought maybe you and Jake would be more comfortable in the guest suite?"

"Suite?" Jared questions, releasing the handles on the wheelchair.

Right now, it was no separating Jake and Jay, talking about old times, particularly how life was going to be. Jared frowned on Jake talking about getting back on the board, but also knew his brother had already realized what it was going to take to even stand or walk.

"Oh, this is sweet," Jared says, Ritt showing him to the room off the bedroom.

A study, a wall with HDTv the first thing which hits the eyes, Ritt says of it, "There's a laptop for your use, or you can hookup to the internet with your own, a small bar, with refrigeration and if you need to heat up anything, there's a gas grill out on the deck."

"Deck?" Jared questioned.

Drawing open double drapes, Ritt shows him double-glass doors, leading out to the same deck which wrapped around to the bedroom area, all exposed to the water, "So, what do you think?"

"What's the rent like?" Jared asks, with intentions of not getting away scott-free?

Already in his mind, Ritt says, "Free to members of the family!"

It was meant to trigger conversation, however, in rolls Jay, "Hey, this is awesome, huh Jare?"

"Yeah," Jared glances to Ritt, "awesome."

Jake would have accompanied him, but was already trying out the bed!

"What's the matter? Better than the dump we came from, even before the fire, huh?"

Looking upon his brother, Jared, seeing a massive improvement in attitude, walks over to him, kneeling down, much as Ritt had done, asks, "Are you happy?"

Smiling, a cute little one, Jay says, "Do I look like I'm happy, Jare?"

"Of course," Jared replies, standing.

Walking over, behind the wheelchair, placing his hands where Jared's were, Ritt says, "Me too." Then, specifically to Jared, "Do you want to check out our suite?"

"There's more than one?" Jared asks.

Now, Jake, rebounding off the bed, since he already knows Ritt, replies for Jared, "Hey, no offense, but this isn't some mundane, rundown little cottage like you were staying in?"

Not meant to mow him down, but to slow him down, Jared says, "I guess there's a story behind how you would know, huh Jake, honey?"

"Honey?" Jay says, putting a finger in his mouth, like he wanted to upchuck, "Gross!"

"I have to agree," Jake, bending over and giving Jay another little bearhug, "it's not like we're in our forties, Jare?" he loses his hold on Jay, going over to his brother, hangs on his shoulder with an arm.

Slowly it's been sinking in, Jay getting it, "Does this mean you guys are finally getting it together?"

"Who know until the baby comes?!" Jake replies.

"Somehow, Jake," his buddy says, "I can't see you pregnant!"

Hinting, Ritt rolls the chair forward and in reverse a few times, "Uh, while there's daylight left, anyone interested in shopping and a bite to eat?"

"I'm definitely up for that," Jay replies.

Then, as it would go for the past few years, Jake and Jay, having discovered a few things which would never go away, their homo status, friendship and the fact, if they ever got mad at each other, it would never last, Jake bends over, gives Jay a quickie peck on the cheek, stands and says, "What're we waiting on?"

"Me?" Jared volunteers. "Let me just give a fast call into the store," he whips out his cell, "and then we can be on our way!"

While Jared makes his call, the other three review the floor plan of the house, Jay saying when they enter the kitchen, "Ah, freedom!"

Ritt asks, "Like what's that about?"

Jake tells him, "Trust me, at their house... well, what's left of it, the kitchen? It's like you had to rub crotches to past another person."

"Hmm, I think I like the floor plan," Ritt laughs it off.

Then Jay sighs, "Ah, a real refrigerator!"

Narrating through Jay's comments, Jake says, "He's been eating in the dark ages, out of an ice chest cooler. Poor guy, living such a mundane life. It sucks!"

Having had a brief affair, Ritt says to Jake, "As I recall, you were talented at that yourself!" he smiles.

"What? Living in the dark ages?" Jake replies, nonchalantly grazing Ritt's pouch with the back of his hand.

Missing it all, Jay was checking out the fridge, turning around in his chair, "Only one problem, it's going to be a challenge reaching the freezer portion?"

"And that's why you have me," Ritt walks over, grabs an ice pop out, "orange or cherry?"

Jake jokes, "Take his cherry, Jay!"

Looking up at him, it was like a test, Jay asking, "You still got one, Ritt?"

"Of course. A whole tree of `em!"

Then, to break up their merrymaking, Jared enters the scene, "I can't believe it, I can't believe it!"

"What's up bro?" Jay asks, swinging around, like a pro racer.

"That new guy, hired right off the street, he sold a second luxury yacht this week!"

"Like," Ritt asks, "they're expensive, right?"

"What're you, that dense, Ritt?" Jake replies. "Of all people, you should know?"

Having not much knowledge of Ritt, his family, nor lifestyle, except they had lots of loot, Jay and Jared relied on Jake here to fill in the blanks.

"How am I supposed to know?" Ritt defends himself. "It's not like I pay the bills?"

From this, Jay has the idea, "Your dad owns a yacht?"

Then, according to Jay and Jared, because they've been around money' for half of their lives, the value it can be in material matters, but as their mom, coming up from poverty had always said, the best things in life are not things', it was important to the brothers' ears, Ritt saying, "The `rents might think it's true, but for me, money can't buy happiness. To me, happiness is having a nice person in my life."

Jake responds, "I guess that's why we both got along so well, huh Ritt?"

Throwing a wrench into it, Jay says, "Yeah, right Jake. Then how come you two are still not together?"

Nothing Jake, nor Jay could say or do would affect their tight friendship, Jake saying, "I should come over their and slap you up aside the head, bro!"

Reminiscing, Jay says, "Yeah, remember when we used to get down on the floor and wrestle around, Jake?"

"A word of warning, Ritt," Jake says, "if you ever wrestle with my bro, watch the hands!"

"Oh really?" Ritt looks at Jay, who blushes. "Lethal hands, I take it?"

"Oh, I can vouch for that!" Jared says. "Damn nearly tore my balls off!"

Jake throws in more humor, "Jay's got big hands!"

Hinting, Ritt says, "Well spank my butt!" he laughs.

Again, knowing much about Jay, his likes, dislikes, indifferences, Jake says, "Jay, he don't get into that kinky shit."

"Really?" Ritt replies, as Jared munches on a few grapes, "I haven't met a guy yet who wasn't into something a little `different'?!"

Jay and Jake exchange looks, Jared swallowing, then revealing, "I bailed those two out of that scene once. I think they learned their lesson?"

"Yeah, right bro," Jay agrees.

"Well, what did you guys get yourself into?" with the subject opening up, Ritt sought followup, plus something in the wording, setting off his crotch sensor.

It was serious stuff then, their junior year of high school. Since they were older than the rest of the students, 18-years old, old enough to get into the leather club, Jay tells them, "Jake had to shoot his mouth off, telling them we were experienced!"

"Sounds like Jake," Jared says, "always putting his foot in his mouth!"

"Yeah," Jay narrates, "but this time it was a ballgag and if it wasn't for one of the waiters at the club..."

Jared jumps in with, "One of the salesmen from the store happened to moonlight as a waiter..."

"Thanks for interrupting, Jare!"

"No problem, little bro!"

Whom could have been the victim, Jake says, "What he's trying to say, if the big, ugly leather dude didn't get stopped in his tracks, I would have wound up with his whole dildo collection up my ass!"

It's then, Ritt, who was trying to stay clear of the subject, since Jay was sort of turned off by the activities involved, slips, "Are you talking about Master Bartos?"

"Yeah. I think his name was Bart, Bert, or something-a-rother," Jake replies. He then asks Ritt, "Have you played lately?"

Talking about it had started turning Ritt on minutes ago, when first on the subject of bondage and things which could happen after a dude is tied up, the dominant man taking control of his bod. It's not like he hasn't broken away from the home front and tried out some of the interesting facets of the bdsm community. At the club, Ritt had started low on the totem pole and worked his way up to some steamy sessions with `Master Bart.' Right now though, he didn't wish to relay detailing his last session, "Um, it was a while ago."

In all due respect, Ritt opening his home to them, a beautiful, spacious and modern one, it was all fine and dandy, but then again, Jared's care and nurturing for his brother kicked in, "Really? You're still into it? Like, how long ago did you and this `Bartos' character, um... play together?" he dropped the bunch of grapes back into the bowl, like they were tainted.

"I don't know," Ritt suddenly got nervous, showing it, "not long ago."

The three were all in sync, not because they tried to be that way, Jake almost a brother to the two.

Jay, he just sat there and let Jared do his bidding, unsure of where this was all going, or rather where his brother was taking it.

Stepping in, Jake became a part of it, having had a short affair with Ritt, "Dates, bro!" he put the pressure on his former `trick'.

Poor Ritt, two guys interrogating him, just because his loins started to broil over the subject of the leather club and Master Bartos, "Like, I don't recall when," and because he was nervous, states the truth, "maybe last month, maybe last week? I can't recall!"

Then, to Jared and Jay's astonishment, Jake says, "It was last weekend, wasn't it, Ritt?"

"Yeah, maybe it was. So, what of it?" Ritt replies, attitude on the defensive.

Continuing his interrogation, Jake asks, "Did you meet with him at the club, or," as Jake knows, "here?"

Ritt was silent at first, knowing darn well where the bdsm `party' was held, often excluding some club members who were not into some rough play, "Here," he glances up, not at Jay, but Jared.

"I see," Jared says.

Jay was silent, allowing his `brothers' to handle it. After all, he knows this Bartos character, had seen him in action, nothing less than brutal, his estimation. On the other side of the coin, it made him smile, when Jared walks into the club, putting the bastard in his place, releasing him and Jake from their eagle-spread bondage. Just one of the reasons he allowed Jared to do his bidding.

"I think it's time we've headed out to lunch," Jared replies.

Entering the house moments ago, things were upbeat. Leaving, the downbeat fell with a giant swing of the hammer, little spoken between the quartet.

On the way over, Jake was the good sport, riding in the back of Jared's truck. This time, after Jay had been taken out of the chair and placed in the cab, the conversation just had put a damper on who the unlucky passenger would be, who had to ride in the truck bed with the chair.

"Uh, you know what?" Ritt says, "My foot is really starting to bother me. If you don't mind, I'll take a raincheck on the lunch?"

Conversation in the cab was silent for the most part, other than Jake asking, "So... where are we having lunch?"

Sitting right next to each other, it was as if Jared could feel the bad vibes, ignoring Jake's question, "Are you okay, bro?" a hand leaves the wheel, placed on his brother's knee.

"I thought I was," Jay replies with glum.

Thinking about it, as they climbed in the truck, Jake wasn't immune to how he thought Jay would feel about Ritt, placing an arm over his buddy's shoulder, "I wanted to say something to you earlier."

"Then how come you didn't?" Jay turns and says.

"Because," Jake swallows, "you wouldn't believe me?"

Standing up for him, Jared says, "Jake's right, you know?"

Looking to his brother, then addressing Jake, Jay says, "I know. I thought Ritt was okay."

"He could very well be, Jay, but I don't like the idea of stuff like this going on and Ritt didn't mention anything of it?" Jared replies.

"I read ya," Jay says, "um, like we talked about a lot of stuff at the hospital, but he didn't say anything about the dildo thing."

Jared, turning a corner, parking, says, "That's because the nature of the subject often puts the fear in people, enough to scare them away," addressing the situation, "like, better we found out now, than later?"

"Maybe Ritt would have stopped?" Jay tries reconciling with their feelings.

"I doubt it, with Ritt," Jake interjects, "because he's been into the scene for a long time," educating them, "and even though I haven't been a part of it, I know he plays with guys regularly, mostly Master Bartos, liking it rough, even the sex part."

"Really?" Jay's curiosity sudden launched, "Like how does that go?"

Things turned to a lighter note, Jake saying, "Oh, lots of stuff. You know how Bartos put that leather contraption around my cock and balls?"

With a little giggle, Jared says, "Yeah, looked like your balls were ready to pop out of their sacs, Jake!"

"Shuddup, Jare!"

"Well, anyone hungry?" Jared ignores Jake's request.

"In a minute," Jay says.

"Well, I'm going in and find us a table and after you two finish getting hard with your rough talk, you can come find me!"

Fine with the idea, Jake takes Jay down the road, on a journey of different things which keeps the fluid from seeping out, then turns right around, telling how Bartos could do stuff to a guy, which included having another guy lick cock and balls, nips, hair, pitts, ass and other delicacies, for the sheer pleasure of making a guy want to come, but held back by simply avoiding contact with his hard shaft.

"I can see what you mean, Jake... deprivation. Sounds like something to try... sometime?"

"Sure Jay, but first we have to get the fountain working before we turn the water off!"

That said, Jake opens his door, gets out, grabs the chair out of the back and then drops Jay's ass from the seat and into it.

"Thanks for the rough treatment!" Jay mocks.

"My cock is hard over it!" Jake jokes.

"Let me feel," Jay moves his hand towards Jake's crotch.

"Buzz off, buster!" he slaps Jay's hand, "You want people to see?"

Since it was a little later in the afternoon, Jared opted to take them to Castillio's piano bar.

Originally it was just a bar, until an old upright piano was found on the street, almost mint condition. Over the years, it had been such a hit, it was upgraded, along with those who patronized Castillio's, to a Steinway grand piano. But then there wasn't much room in the bar. To remedy this, two stores, out of business, were annexed, renovated and turned into a full-scale dining room.

One night, the Castillio Brothers were celebrating their parents' anniversary, Antonio joining in with the piano player on his bass.

At the time, Antonio was a conservatory student. At 32-years old, he's been playing jazz and standards for about eight years now, giving up his symphony job. He has dreams of working at the gay bar down the street, just him and a tip jar, before the club music gets turned on.

Giorgio Castillio came home from college, with news he picked up a guitar and miraculously was able to play a few chords. At the time he was a `joke', but Giorgio got some lessons and at 38-years old, blends right in.

Along the way, Marco Castillio took after Giorgio and seeing how easy it was to pick up, not only studies with Giorgio's guitar teacher, but developed a romance. Boyfriends, Marco and Nelson are not sure whether they want to pursue a lifelong commitment, still working on it.

This past year, the original piano player, after 15 years at tickling the ivories, retired. Taking his place, a new recruit, up from Brazil, who goes by the name Joao Pedro, with only performing skills and no organized music lessons, just sat down and played some jazz pieces; Saudade', Girl From Ipanema', and Jobim tunes. It was a different menu from what Antonio, Giorgio and Marco were used to, but liked the sound and it caught on quick with the customers.

With a Spanish-Italian cuisine, the music started to mold Castillio's into a different atmosphere, revered by people who liked this type of cuisine, integrated with Brazilian jazz, creating a very lucrative business for the Castillio brothers.

As soon as they were seated, Jared comments to the other two, "I think having you in the wheelchair, bro, is an asset to getting the best seat in the house!"

"Well, don't make it a habit, Jare. Someday I'm getting out of this chair!"

He loved it, when Jay was being positive about his condition. It took a long time to get him over the negative hurdle. However, the successful attempt could not squarely lay on his own shoulders, or Jay's, turning to look at Jake.

"Aren't you paying attention to the music?"

"No," Jared says, smiling, "I'm paying attention to you!"

"How mundane," Jake says, returning his attention to the band.

For the moment, Jared let his mind get caught up in the music.

Suddenly, Jay says out of the blue, "I think I'm in love with the piano player!"

"Oh boy," Jared replies, "here we go again!"

Like, this weekend alone, from Friday till Sunday, Jared very knows how many boys Jay has `fallen in love' with, "Why don't we wait until we're settled, wherever we're going to live, before you start up another relationship?"

"Relationship, Jare? Like when? What planet?"

"All I'm saying, is in 3 days you've grown attached to about as many guys as I can count on one hand and..."

"Okay, I get the message, `dad'!"

Sort of listening, Jake says, "Mind your old man, Jay. He knows what he's talking about!"

"Oh man, Jake! My best friend, taking sides? What is this... a conspiracy?" Jay mocks Jake.

"A conspiracy," Jared replies, "to keep you from getting pregnant!"

Their waiter came to take a round of drinks, Jared left alone to go over the wine list, Jake wheeling Jay to the restroom.

"Oh man is this tight," Jay says of the hallway.

"Probably not as tight as me!" Jake makes light of the tight squeeze of the wheels against cabinets lined up in the hallway.

"Um, you don't have to remind me, Jake? Like I've been there, done it?" Jay laughs.

Not allowing Jay to get the better of it, Jake says, "Not in a while you haven't, so there moron!"

Passing a set of double doors, which opens in or out, Jay says, "Take it easy here. I don't want to get broadsided."

Jake did. Moved real slow, tried pushing in on the door to see if anyone was coming out, holding it open for a little longer than necessary, saying, "Wow, they've got some hot cheffie's working in there?"

"I can't see, doofus!"

With that, the door opens out with bang! So loud, anyone would think it was a car backfiring or a gunshot.

It was followed by the sound of things crashing to the floor, then a bunch of cursing, in another language, but Jay and Jake could tell. Slowly, the door which bent the wheel of Jay's chair, opened.

"Oh my god! Are you okay?"

It was one of the hot chefs whom Jake had spotted!

"I am," Jay looks over the side, at the dude with the tall, white chef's hat, sitting on his ass, "but I don't think my chair is going to roll-no-maw!" he smiled, instead of frowning, watching the chef get up, brush his ass off.

However, Jay really had to go, Jake pushing on the chair, it not moving an inch, snagged, "You're grounded, bro."

The chef yells into the kitchen, something in Spanish or Italian, the boys couldn't really tell, only to have a mass of the same hotties come running to look.

"I broke it," the waiter who bounced off the door, carrying a tray of desserts, owns up to Jay's predicament.

"You sure have, you fool!" A blond chef, dressed in typical white, comes in between the others. "This idiot hasn't hurt you, has he?"

He was speaking Jay's language and without qualms, Jay was in love, "No. Only my chair."

"No problem. I can fix that for you."

The others watched, until one of the waiters yelled into the kitchen for his order, which sent the chefs back into assembling menu items. Except one particular chef.

Reporting back to the hallway, he had an iron frying pan in his hand, saying, "I don't always use this for cooking," he laughs, breaking from the stern manner of his first approach.

Jay watched the side of his chair, the chef wedging the frying pan in between, while Jake watched the chef!

While working the pan, the chef carry on with light conversation, "This works every time. I swear by it."

"Wouldn't it be easier to use a hammer?" Jay asks.

He looks up, smiles, says, "Might. I know it's kind of weird, but I can probably get..." he pauses to pull at the pan, "it between..." pulls again, "nope! It's not going to do the job. Plan B!" Loud whistling shriek, brings over a chef over, "Hey, go get Ho-Lee, will ya?"

He waited.

"Please?" the dirty blond reinforces his request, a smile attached.

Doing a split with one leg, he had cast the door fully open, at which time a tall waiter, steps out, his long legs taking himself right over the top of the chair-fixer's head. From his vantage point, Jay can see the top of the head just clearing the waiter's `midsection', as the waiter quips, "I could have told you that wasn't going to work, Michael! Uh, thanks for holding the door!"

It was with such grace, the `ten-ton-tray' didn't head in another direction!

Jay picks up on it right away, "Michael? Is that your name?"

"Yeah, and I'm sorry about the wheel. I can't fix it," Michael replies, standing.

From doing so, pulling and pushing with the iron pan, Michael's shirt tail has pulled out on one side, the bottom button unlatched. It made Jay lick his lips once already, the dirty blond hair forming a little navel shag!

"Important thing is, you tried, `Michael'?"

Now getting impatient because the chef was paying more attention to his bud, Jake says, "This is Jay and I'm Jake. Nice to meet you," Jake passes his hand over the top of the chair.

"Same here," Michael replied, quickly shaking Jake's hand, then onto Jay. "I assure you, the Castillio family will reimburse you for the damages and there will be no charge for your dinner tonight."

"Really? Don't you think you should check with the manager first?" Jay asks.

"My full name is Michael Korbeau. I am half owner of the establishment."

"Well, I guess that makes it all right then," Jay says.

"What about his guests?" Jake asks.

Smiling at Jake, Michael says, "Yeah, Jay's guests eat free too!"

Seeing he wasn't getting anywhere with Michael, at least friends, Michael with more interested in Jay, Jake says, "I better go tell Jared what's happened."

Leaving, Michael asks, "How many guests do you have with you?"

"Oh-h-h, my whole family. There's got to be 30 of us?" Jay says.

"Yikes!" Michael exclaims, after having offered free food!

"No. There's only me, Jake and my brother, Jared."

Smiling, Michael says, "That's okay. I don't get mad, I get even!"

"Oh man," Jay suddenly realizes why they were strolling up the corridor.

"What?" Michael asks, placing a hand on Jay's forearm, "Are you okay?"

"At this minute, yeah, but if I don't get to the mens room soon, there's going to be a flood!"

Jittery, Michael asks, "Tell me what I can do to help?!"

Suddenly, Jared was there, "Jake told me what happened. Did you ever make it to the..." `dire need'.

"He never made it there," Michael assumed this was Jared, "he needs to `go', bad!"

It was narrow, too narrow for a guy's bod to slip between the chair and wall, Jared saying, "Maybe I can climb over?" he lifts his leg, looking like a dog who had to go!

"No need. I think we can wiggle the chair out of the way," Michael says of the chair which wouldn't budge 2 inches.

However, who was Jay, to take the privilege of helping him away from Michael, "I have to go, like, really, really, really, really bad?" he looks up at the young chef.

They might have been able to pick it up, but Jared knows from experience, to get a hand stuck someplace, `hurts', "Okay, I'll talk you through it, Michael," Jared had found out the cute blond's name through hearing it.

Michael officially introduce, says, "Oh, by the way, I'm Michael!"

"Jared," Jared replies, instructing, "You have to like, stand in front of Jay with your back to him... oh wait! If it's all right with you, I can go in through the other entrance, run through your kitchen and..."

All Jay could think of is condoning his brother on such a great plan, "No!"

Jared looks at Jay, "You didn't?"

"Didn't what?"

Bending to the side, Jared looks under the chair for signs of a waterfall.

"No, idiot, but if Michael doesn't take me right now, it's going to start raining!"

It worked, Jay transferred from chair to the small room, outfitted with a urinal next to a stall and sink.

More vouching for Michael than Jared, when he now jumps over the wheelchair, tripping over the unoccupied seat, insists on taking over, Jay is filled with glee, hearing Michael say, "No, that's all right. I've got him the rest of the way."

"Golly," Jared says, after having seen the width of the men's room, standing in the doorway, "the chair would never have fitted in here anyway. Not to complain, but shouldn't the mens room be bigger for handicapped patrons?"

"Jare?"

"Yeah, Jay?"

"You want to tell Michael how to do this, before I have water running down my leg?"

"Oh. Yeah. Right," Jared says, "but I can take over from here?"

Still, Jay gripes, "There's like no fuckin' time, Jare?!"

With haste, Jared resorts to sordid talk, "Uh, excuse my graphicness, but you gotta like, stand behind Jay and as if you're fuckin' someone's butt, reach around, undo his zipper as if it were your own and..."

"I think I have the gist of it," Michael replies.

After the fact, of what he said, Jared thinks to himself, `I can be such an idiot!' Too, it wasn't any easy fate, having to stand there and watch, Michael's butt, his front pinned against Jay and as he could imagine, hand wrapped around his brother's cock...

"I think you're done," Michael says.

It felt good to let loose, but right now, "I feel so embarrassed," Jay tells him, turning his head.

"Don't be. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do," Michael says, cool, calm and collective. "Only thing, I don't want to catch you in the zipper, putting everything back in order?"

"I can help with that, if you switch Jay around?" Jared instructs.

"Sure," Michael says, trying to turn Jay about, so his own ass doesn't land in the urinal.

In doing so, Jared narrates, "That's right, make like you're hugging him Michael."

"I'm so sorry," Jay apologizes.

"What for?" Michael asks.

He didn't know rightly how to put it, Jay saying, "Making you do something that looks `gay'?"

"Oh, I don't mind looking gay at all!" Michael quips.

Watching, it felt kind of cool having Michael pull against his stomach, about where his happy trail took a dip, but the way it looked from his perspective, it was like a guy was sticking a hand down his pants, when in reality Michael was making sure his cock didn't wind up in the zipper, even though shielded by his Nouguet briefs.

"I think that about does it," Michael looks up at Jared, still hugging, "How'd I do?"

"Aced it," Jared says, smiling and now that the almost-catastrophic moment was over, had the chance to think how hot the sandy blond restaurant worker really looked!

"Thanks," Michael modestly says, "but I'm sure you are much more proficient at it."

"Okay guys," Jake busts in, "I'm on empty. What about all that free food, Michael?!"

When they came out of the men's room, standing by Jay's chair was a tool-laden Asian guy, wielding a screwdriver. His wheelchair was tipped over onto its side, the wheel removed and in the dude's other hand.

Michael is quick to introduce, "Guys, this is Wes Ho-Lee. He's an expert at fixing anything."

Ho-Lee nicely mocks, "Nice try, Michael, but probably the screwdriver works better!"

"Yeah," Michael replies, arms still holding Jay up under the pits, hugging him, "I think it's time to retire that old skillet!"

"Skillet?" Jared doesn't get it.

"Long story, but I'm like slipping out of Michael's grip. Can we get to our table?"

Ho-Lee, drags the busted chair into the kitchen, Jared and Michael placing Jay between them, arms woven over their shoulders.

"I can't wait till I get the use of my legs back," Jay says, sitting.

"Is that what the doctors have said?" Michael, ignorant of Jay's medical history.

"Ignore him," Jared replies, "Jay is just being a nerd!"

Already, Michael had judged the two brothers' antics, which gave him the idea he could join in without hurting feelings, "Well then you're in luck, because any nerd who dines in here this evening gets an extra dessert on the house!"

Making sure they were still on the same page, Jared asks, "What about the nerd's brother?"

"And the nerd's brother's boyfriend?" Jake wraps a cozy arm around Jared's left elbow.

Throwing his hands up, Michael says, "You got me. Free desserts for all!"

Unfortunately for Michael, he had said it too loud, gaining a loud applause from patrons all over the club!

Whatever, right now, all Michael could think of, are things he could do to make Jay comfortable, enjoying his afternoon lunch. At the same time, he hoped, when all was said and done, he would be leaving a strong memory with Jay.

Much of the afternoon, normally spent in the kitchen, Michael loitered about, making sure table 7 was being catered to, having his best accommodating waiter focus on Jay's table, Wes Ho-Lee.

When it was just Jared ordering a salad, it was Ho-Lee who, stepping in, pointed out other things on the menu which were specials of the day or good any day of the week. He told them Sunday-Champagne meant a lucky table would be entitled to a free bottle.

Lucky was Jay that he had a little `dry' accident in the hallway!

It wasn't any surprise, Michael stopping back every five minutes, it seemed, which prompted Jared to say, "I think Michael's got the hots for you, bro?!"

Not surprised at all were the two diners with him, Jay responding, "Oh really? How do you I don't got the hots for him!"

"How mundane," Jake called it, "like, I think the head waiter is kind of hot?"

"You do, do you?" Jared interrogated, staring at Jake.

"Uh, yeah... you know... as a friend?" Jake replies, guzzling some water.

"More, sir?" a clear pitcher bends over Jake's glass.

It wasn't Ho-Lee, some other dude, Jay saying, after the waiter vacates, "Michael sure knows how to pick'em, ya think?"

"Oh wow!" Jared replies, "Cheating on Michael and he hasn't even asked yet for you to move in?"

"Oh god, just thought of something?" Jay questions.

"What?" Jake asks.

"Think about it, Jare... like, where are we sleeping tonight?" Jay responds.

Jake says, "I'm sticking with Jare. At least I'll have a roof over my head."

"Oh really?" Jared asks, "Is that the only reason?"

Jake asks, "Why? Are you horny?"

Feeling like a loner, the man out of the conversational loop, Jay says, "Hey, can you guys talk about this later?"

Jared jokes, "Why? Are you feeling something, bro?"

"Yeah. Feeling how boring it is, eating with my brother," and meant to get his digs, "his lover?"

"I can't believe how mean you're being, bro and after all the time and care I took to explain to Michael how to hold your dick?"

"When did I miss this?" Jake asks.

Jay tells him, "When you were checking out the hot cheffies, Jake!"

First talking up a relationship, then talking about which chef was the hottest, Jared and Jake arguing over which had the biggest looking crotch, best in bed, `looks could kill', all of those cliched sayings which would weave its way around the true meaning of a relationship, Jay tells them, "You guys are pathetic!"

Again, Jared had to remind his brother how many guys had slipped through his fingers this weekend, Jake exampling, with how many times Jay had been in love.

Right away, from all the insinuations, Jay says, "I'm not in love with Michael!"

Jake gives advice, "That's the spirit, bro. See how good in bed he is, first!"

"Jake?"

"Yeah, Jare?"

"Want to cool it on the sex stuff?"

"Oh," Jake realizes the implications surrounding Jay, "sorry bro. I forgot."

"I got an idea," Jay has already forgiven them in the last second or so, "why don't you guys make friends with Ho-Lee and invite him over for a threeway?"

Jared misreads his brother on purpose, "Oh, so you, Jake and Ho-Lee can get it on?"

"Yeah, cool," Jake says, energetically creating a scene, "set up your cam and take a pic of Ho-Lee masturbating into my mouth!"

"Jake, do you have to be so explicit?"

"Hey," Jared says to Jay, "we're gay men. We have a right to think about stuff like this!"

"Oh really?" Jay asks, "How's your Ranch dressing?"

Jake says, "Tasty!"

They hadn't ordered lobsters, but they were delivered to their table.

Jared found out a few secrets that afternoon, about Jake and Jay. He realized there wasn't everything to know about the two, their common hobby absorbing much of their teen years.

"Remember down the Jersey shore, we had those lobsters, Jay?"

Not wishing to leave his brother out of the conversation, Jay rather boasted, "Did I ever tell you about the time Jake and me got drunk?"

A thought or two or his own, Jared asks, "Did you ever tell Jake about the time you and me got drunk?"

Key to both times, between different partners, Jay was caught victim to both wild and crazy stories, says, "Why don't you guys swap?"

He had purpose in trading off responsibility, Jay waiting, hands folded in his lap, just in case a moment arose.

"You go first," Jake says to Jared, him refuting, "No, you."

"I'll go," Jay volunteers, "because it's almost the same story. Only difference, instead of those big barbecue tweezers, used to pick up weenies, with Jake and me, it was lobster claws."

Having an idea, Jared says, "Why don't you give us a live demonstration, Jake-ole-friend-and-buddy?"

Adding little detail on his own, between his friend and brother, it became a match, each saying, even though their nips were put at risk of being snipped off, each one said it was not only stupid, claimed they could take more than the other.

"I think you guys need to settle your differences. I'll help," Jay says, grabbing up the utensil used to pluck warm bread out of a basket, left mistakenly on the table by the waiter.

Walking over, their 18-year old waiter says, "Excuse me, but may I have that, please?"

"Uh-oh," Jay said, after Ho-Lee takes the bread-server from Jay, "Do you think he had any idea...?"

"How could he think anything, but us using it for bread, other than you almost scooped my nip up in it?" Jared says.

Jay makes excuse for himself, "I think he thought I was just snapping up your shirt."

"Nah," Jake says, "he's smart. He knew you were going for Jare's nip. By the way, Jare, did he pinch you?"

"No, but he did touch, I mean like I was almost ready to get hard over it!"

Jay confides, "In case you don't know Jake, he's got sensitive nips."

Staring at Jared, Jake says, "I know. I've tasted how hard they can get!"

"Speaking of which," Jared scratches his head.

He bought enough time, hesitating, for Jake to say, "Shuddup, Jare!"

"Oh come on guys, we all know about the lobster hanging from my pecs. Share, Jare!" Jay tries giving him no choice.

"What the fuck's the big secret," Jake gives in, "I tweaked your bro up until his nips were seriously red!"

He was about to ask how they were enjoying their lobster, Michael stopping short, catching Jake's comment, adding his own, "How interesting," Michael smiles.

"Hey," Jake gets serious, "you weren't, like, listening in, were you?"

"Not intentionally, but trust me, I can keep a secret!"

It's something to add in favor of Michael being a nice guy, Jared, being a father image for his brother, at times, mother, was gathering information on his brother's behalf, other than Michael being drop-dead-blond gorgeous!

"Was a secret, until Jake blabbed it all over the place!" Jay laughs.

"We all have our little secrets, I suppose," Michael says.

"Name one," Jay pressures.

Jake slips, "Not here, Jay. Can't you wait till you get him alone?"

"Oh," Michael says, a bit corny, though effective in communicating, "were you going to invite me over to your place, after you've finished your dining?" more like hinting!

"Had a place in town," Jay says.

Ho-Lee, serving up some water, catches it, "You moved?"

"No," Jake says, "burned down this morning."

"Oh, so that's why we heard fire engine sirens," Ho-Lee says, not too good with his r's.

Michael says, "Thank goodness no one was injured, I'm assuming?"

"We all got out safe, thanks to our friend, Joey," Jay reports.

"Um, bro," Jake butts in, "did your brain go lame forgetting about how I busted an $11,000 surfboard to haul your ass down the stairs?"

"Oh right," Jay amends, "Jake almost broke his ass getting me down the stairs!"

Jared asks, "Um, like what did you do with the check I gave you for the surfboard, Jake?"

"Still in my pocket."

"Don't you think you should get `rid' of it?" Jared advises.

"I'll take half," Ho-Lee offers.

Michael jokes, "Ho-Lee, pour their water and take off?!"

"Yes, sir," but Ho-Lee turns to the trio, "See what I have to put up with?"

Jay was sure, having faults of his own, putting up with Michael would be a pleasure!

With them left to finishing up on cracking lobster, Jay whimsically says, a chunk on the end of his fork, "Isn't Michael dreamy?"

"Are you kidding, bro," Jake replies, "he's like my former husband I never had!"

"You're such a dreamer. When are you going to wake up from that nightmare, Jake?" Jared asks, having heard the same `dream' over and over.

"I did last night, remember?"

Jay could only smile, pretending to be busy cracking up the lobster, when really, those two were making him want to laugh out loud. Though, sometimes Jay would hold back, look upon something like this as a future memory. Whether Jake and Jared, who were already friends, developed a closer relationship, or remained buddies, he only could wish the best, thinking it would be rather nifty having Jake around all the time... like, for the rest of his life!

Having nit-picked, coaxed every bit of lobster from the broken shell, Jay says, "Guys, you're making me tired. Can't you discuss this at home... wherever and wherever that is?"

"Yeah, I agree," Jake has had the last word, "this is like getting so mundane?"

"You're the one who keeps repeating yourself, Jake?"

He loved being the father once in awhile, especially towards his favorite two bickering adults, "Time out, guys?"

"Sorry we've been boring you, bro," Jared says.

"No problem. I love watching a married couple fight!" Jay quips.

"Fuck you, bro!"

"Oh really?" Jay makes a comeback, "Can I Jake?"

It was on the tip of his tongue, Jake, thinking it a `regular' guy, he would say something about a tiny dick, even if a guy was packin' a 10c or plus-size, but realizing his friend's sensitivity, "You'll have to ask Jare."

He was saving this for a special occasion, bursting to tell, but Jay didn't think it the proper atmosphere to tell them of Joseph tasting his sweet creme.

"Waiter?" Jared calls out, forgetting.

Michael coming to the table, him and Ho-Lee racing over, Ho-Lee the victor, "Yes, sir!"

Jay gets the feeling the two are more than employer and employee, but not sexually speaking. He was sure Michael was a loner, since he originally came on to him.

Michael explains, "Ho-Lee gets a little more energetic when it's time to serve the bill."

Now Jay was sure they were close friends, Ho-Lee saying, "Fuck you, boss!"

Jake understands completely, "Don't worry Ho-Lee, Mr. Moneybags over there," he nods towards Jared, "is going to leave you a generous tip!"

Wise to them all, Jay says, "We're not paying for the meal, remember? No tab, no tipee!"

It made Michael laugh, saying, "That's right!"

However, Jared felt sorry for the teen, saying casually, "You're all a bunch of losers," going for his wallet in his back pocket. "Can either of you deny Ho-Lee made our meal enjoyable?"

"I'm fuckin' ashamed of myself," Jake says.

"You should be, moron!" Jay adds.

"Tell him, bro," Jared directs at Jake. "When I get you home I'm gonna paddle that little ass of yours!"

Right off, Jay thinking Michael might get the wrong interpretation, after some close encounters with the bondage-stuff, "Jared doesn't mean with a paddle. He doesn't even own one."

"See these big hands," Jared says, knowing he might have been a little insensitive on the subject, "pow! Make them asscheeks red in no time!"

"To each his own," Michael says.

Ho-Lee more concentrated on Jared's wallet, which Jared had an inkling, if Ho-Lee had x-rays for eyes, he could probably name all the contents. However, he didn't keep him in suspense, opening the leather fold, taking out 5 crisp twenties and instead of placing it on the little white ceramic tray, sticks it in the white shirt pocket, getting a little jiggle, knowing he touched Ho-Lee's stiff nip!

Ho-Lee was ready to thank Jared, when Michael reaches in his pocket, takes out the tip, "Oh no, Jared, Ho-Lee can't possibly accept. It would tarnish his honor."

Jay wasn't sure if Michael was serious or not, but it was kind of funny, hearing Ho-Lee speak out with a very soft, `oh shit!', then stand there with his mouth gaping open.

"Yes, I insist," Jared says, taking the bills out of Michael's hand and physically putting it back into Ho-Lee's pocket.

Jay notices, a button, center chest, popping open. Lately, he doesn't understand why, possibly sex-starved, but any man-skin, chest, stomach, pubes, ass, anyplace on a man's bod, has made his thinking horny!

"No, Ho-Lee insists," Michael went for the pocket again.

Jay had to laugh his ass off this time, Jake falling for the laughter, when Ho-Lee grabs his left pec, saying, "Get your fuckin' hand off, boss!"

"Well, I guess we all have our own set of values," Michael says, like he's insulted, but not.

"You got that right, boss!"

By this time, Jared was feeling the humor in the whole thing.

While Ho-Lee was expressing appreciation, Jay had to rat-fink on Michael, "Watch it, Ho-Lee, he's coming in over the top!"

True to Jay's thinking, Ho-Lee catches some fingertips coming down over his left shoulder, after Michael had literally gone behind his back!

Towards Jay, Michael hurls, "I hate you... Not!"

Melancholy, the feeling Jay got, he replies, "Me too!"

"How mundane," Jake makes the connection between the two, discovering, "Hey, what about our free dessert?"

"Bottomless pit!" Jared refers to Jake, even though the surfer looked like a fitness model, his bellyhole pulling it all in, instead of sitting on a mound of fat.

Though, when Jared learns all of the desserts are made on the premises by Chef Van, he decides on lingering.

"Guess what?" Jay asks.

Jared fears the worst, "Don't tell me you gotta go again?"

This time around, it wasn't as eventful, Michael rounding up two `muscle-men' from the waitering staff.

One he chose. A patron needing service, pronto, had Michael switching off to one of the chefs on his way to step out on a short break, get some fresh air, picking up the slack.

Jared had offered, when Michael suggested it would not be a hassle, if two people had grabbed Jay by the chair he now sat in and lifted both, taxiing him to the mens room.

Seeing Michael with half the chair in hand, the chef says, "Put him down. I got it."

Jared was grateful Michael talked him out of carrying his brother, the chef stepping in, worth the checking out.

The crowd was great tonight. How could they not be, getting dessert free! Moving themselves if there wasn't enough room to move Jay and his throne through the narrow passages of the dining room, they cleared the dining room.

He felt he had to explain, raising his arms up, like conducting a symphony orchestra, "It's okay folks, my wheelchair broke!"

However, as he says it, with a little too much monkeying around, Jay loses his balance, "Shi-i-i-i-i-it!"

Headed for a table for four, instead, the chef with his hands on the chair, acts fast, losing his grip and instead, catches Jay, "I got you!"

A little mishap, the chef bumped the head of one of the patrons, sipping his drink through his nose, instead of mouth, but amends were made, since Michael had already offered everyone free dessert!

Having been right behind Jay, Jared was right there on the scene, "Thank you so much for... catching my little brother!"

Ready to come back with criticism, just for being Jared's `little brother', Jay changes his mind, watching Jared and the chef with locked vision. Instead, he complimented him on his catcher skills, "Thanks, chef!"

"You're welcome," he replies, smiling.

So close to his face, Jay could feel the auburn whiskers of his beard. He was compelled to thank the chef with a kiss, but held back.

"I'm Jared Evans," Jared offered his hand, but withdrew it.

"Hey. I'm Riley Van. I'd like to shake your hand, but mine are full!"

"Um, I like gotta go real bad?" Jay persists.

Michael jumps the gun, after soothing his champagne-bathed patron, "Riley, want to get Jay to the mens room?"

"You can't tell me what to do. I'm on my break!"

Though, after sticking his tongue out at Michael, turning Jay's opinion from response, Chef Van's audacious attitude to humorous, he giggles, seeing Michael put up with the chef's tongue and marching him to the mens room.

It was a little crowded, Michael saying, "Drop him here, Riley. I'll take it from here."

Riley would have reaped the benefits of sweetly telling Michael where to go, but had another interest in mind, with Jay being taken care of, "I'll be outside when you're done," he manages to shut the door.

Walking right outside the mens room, there stands Jared, as well as, "Looks like this used to be a wheelchair?"

"Yeah," Jared replies, "it's got quite a history. Belongs to the hospital, but we stole it. Don't tell anyone!"

Smiling, the contours of Chef Van's beard and stache following the curves of his mouth, saying, "Now that I'm not holding your little brother, I can issue a proper introduction, "I'm Riley Van, patissier for Castillio's. If you don't know French, I'm also known as the pastry chef!"

Jared was surprised on a few accounts, first, instead of a handshake, a welcoming hug, secondly, learning this was the dessert maker and third, "My, aren't we affectionate!" they break away, leaving a sense of pizzazz with Jared!

"I'm usually a good judge of people," Riley says of his gaydar.

"Well," Jared replies, "you're right on the money with this one!"

"I was hoping," Riley says, "since I wasn't crazy about walking around with my balls in my throat!"

Glancing down to Riley's zipper area, Jared says, "I'm nonviolent. Besides, they look good where they are!"

"Have you always been a thrifty shopper?"

"Nah, only where pastry chefs are concerned. By the way, are you really good at making desserts?"

"Come with me," the palm of Chef Van paves the way, placing it against Jared's back, ushering him into the kitchen. "Take a look for yourself," he shows Jared a showcase, which would make the Price is Right dwarfed by comparison, an almost floor to ceiling display of pastries and other desserts.

"Wow!"

"You ask if they are good? Well, you have a seat over here, Jared and I'll see if I can sway your opinion," Riley escorts him over to a small table, set up for employees to enjoy a meal or coffee.

"Oh, but my little brother?"

"No problem. Like me, Michael hits the gym almost everyday of the week. He's no weakling you know?"

"I didn't think you were either," Jared should have trailed his voice off, Riley disappearing.

"Coffee or espresso?" he hears.

Jared tries to look around, busy chefs, darting waiters and busboys, saying, "Coffee would be fine, wherever you went!"

However, he saw Riley right near the door to the mens room, coming to him with two cups of steaming coffee, yelling, "Heads up!"

He knew what that was for, with people racing in all directions. "Instant?" Jared joked.

"Do you think Castillio's would stoop so low as to offer instant coffee?

"Would you believe I was kidding?"

Setting the cups down on the table, Riley says, "Yeah, I figured so. Dessert?" he asks a second time, but doesn't take an order from Jared, rather gathering up a large platter of desserts, saying, "One of these and do you like chocolate?"

"Love it," Jared replies.

"Then you have to try my rich Italian chocolate-ricotta filled cannoli, and almond nut biscotti, champagne cookies, a few marzipan, cherry macaroons, my classic panettone, raspberry tart, hazelnut pastry, ricotta pie and to top it off, some Greek wedding cookies... `walla'!" he slides the glass case closed, walks over and sets the platter down in front of Jared.

"Um, like I'm eating for one today, Chef?" Jared says of the heap of goodies.

"Eat what you like now and take the rest home."

Comparing Chef Van to the pastries, he was all ready to eat now and take the rest home.

Thinking on `home, Jared says, "Long story, but I think we're staying at a motel for tonight. Okay if I leave these here and come back tomorrow for them?"

"Well," Chef Van stands at the table "I am sure Michael is not going to let your little brother out of his sight for quite some time, so why don't you start recalling those facts, while I check the wine cellar for something?"

He didn't even have time to speak, yes or no, Riley fleeing.

However, wondered something else, seeing Jake in the kitchen, getting familiar with one of the hot chefs he saw earlier on. He just shook his head, after connecting eyes, Jake waving to him. Jared just thought, whatever was going to get started with the both of them, would remain un-started for now!

"Here we go," Riley has all the apparatus for uncorking the bottle of Moscato d'Asti, going through the motions. "Mm-mm, frizzante! Know much about wine?"

Jared cracks a joke, "As Greek to me, as these cookies!"

"Well, I won't bore you with fancy details. It's made from grapes," said, like Riley had rattled off a long speech about country, region, etc.

"That's it?"

"Basically, except that at the time, the grapes are separated from the stems before pressing, then separated from the skin. Later on the wine is filtered several times, the end process, a clean, sweet juice."

"I guess I better try it."

As the evening wore on, the kitchen became less busy. Jared didn't make it to the cup of coffee, until it got cold, helping Riley work through the bottle of wine, then a couple of tiny glasses of Amaretto.

"I think I'm going to be sick!"

Riley frowns, "I knew I shouldn't have given you the leftover pastries from 2 weeks ago!"

"No-oo, really?"

"No. Nothing but the best for our customers!" Riley says with pride.

"Tell me, though, does every customer get the red carpet treatment and their own secluded dessert table, not to mention," Jared burps out loud, looking around, "excuse me!"

"Now I know you're lying!"

"Huh?"

"China, Thailand, Turkey, France, they're all guilty of complimenting the chef with burping. I'll take that as a thank you!"

He spoke rather formal, but Jared loved the rugged looks, auburn from head to... all the visible places, styled haircut, close-cropped beard, stache, hairy forearms and because the club was heading into afterhours, Jared even got a peek at the fuzzy-red chest, "I don't have to burp to tell you everything was great. Thanks."

Throughout, the two had chatted about almost everything which happened today. In between the Asti and the Amaretto, Riley told Jared he would go check up on Jay, finding out he felt fatigued. Michael had taken him to his office to lie down on a sofa.

While Riley was gone, Jake came over and told him he would find his own way home, stealing a tart, stuffing his hoodie pocket with the Greek cookies and sucking the creme out of a cannoli, Jared commenting, "Suits you, Jake!"

With one down, Jared had only himself and Jay to worry about.

He became worry-free, when Riley returns with the news, "Jay is out like a light. Michael is going to put us up for the night, if you want to save some loot on your hotel bill?"

"Um, I don't know about that," Jared had reservations about just meeting the two. He also wondered, "You're going to be spending the night too?"

"Yes," being polite, "but not in `your' room," Riley says, tidying up. He notices, "Hungry?"

"Um," Jared wondered why he asks, "not really."

"Hmm," Riley stares at the table. "I must be losing my mind. I thought we didn't touch the Greek cookies."

"Oh, the `bottomless pit' was here. Jake. I hope you don't mind, he stuffed his mouth and pockets!"

Chef Van smiled, "Did he now?"

"I meant to say he stuffed his mouth with a cannoli and pockets with the cookies!"

"No problem. Less to drop off at the shelter," Riley replies.

"Shelter? That's mighty nice of you," Jared thought it noble.

"It really is not my idea, Michael first asking each of us to take a turn and then, he didn't need to ask," Riley says. "It's really no imposition to me, walking over to the church and leaving a couple of bags for them."

"Michael's church, is it?" Jared was being a `father hen' again, his brother's keeper keeping tabs on guys who cross Jay's path.

"His family's church. Michael's father always served in the soup kitchen on Saturday and his mom held a women's group, who would make up kits for the needy," Riley explains, while Jared held some bags open.

"Sounds like Michael is a well-grounded, nice guy?"

By the rounds of questions, Riley gets the idea he has provided something sort of resembling an offbeat resume, "If you're trying to find out if Michael is good enough for your brother, well, if you don't want him, I'll take him!"

"Wow!" Jared exclaims.

"What?"

"We haven't even been out on our first date and you're jilting me!"

Riley says, "Couldn't we call the desserts and champagne a date?"

"We could," Jared replies. He looked around the kitchen, noticing it was only himself, holding a bag and Riley, carefully placing some cannoli inside. Joking around, he cinches the neck of the bag around the chef's wrist, after Riley places another inside.

"Now what are you going to do with me?" Riley asks.

"I could say I've got you right where I want you?"

"Now, what could you possibly do? You've got x-ray vision?"

Looking for an in, to help himself out, Jared says, "C'mon Riley, you should know what two gay men do on the first date?"

"Fuck each other?"

"That's the second thing they do."

"Oh," Riley replies, "what's the first?"

Hand still in the bag, Jared deviates off course, "Does that little piercing in the side of your nose get in the way, when a guy is kissing you?"

Coy, Riley tells him, "Everyone is different. Only way to find out for sure is to experiment?"

Jared never felt the brassy ring clinging to Riley's right nostril, but rest was good!

"Short, but sweet. Nice!"

His reply was the ticket for Jared lifting the pressure around the outside of the bag, "I hope it was okay?" he smiles.

"If it wasn't do you think my fist would still be inside the bag?" Riley says.

It was a stalemate, Michael interrupting, "I was wondering, does anyone have a plan to what's happening?"

As it stood, on Sunday's, the restaurant usually, like today, emptied out around 6pm. Michael didn't rush things, if there were some stragglers, leaving one of his trusted busboys to do up the last of the dishes, making sure everything was in place for the next day. Except, hanging around, waiting for Jay to awake or be forced to wake up, he dismissed everyone early, doing the clean up himself.

It's why, right now, he busted in on the two, a tray of `dirty laundry' above his shouldering, "Hey, you want to do me a favor and take care of these Riley?"

"Take notice," Riley says, not to the boss, but Jared, "how when a request is connected to throwing food on the table, it's `Chef Van', but when it's dirty dishes, I'm plain ole, Riley?"

Jared quips, "Formal or informal, for myself, it's all good!"

"I think I'm beginning to like you, Jared!"

"That's nice," Michael butts in with his own opinion of the two gawking at each other, with smiles on their faces, "here!"

With Michael walking out on them, the tray of soiled dished set on top of the pans Riley has already cleared, Jared says, "Do you always do favors for Michael, where you don't have a say in the outcome?"

"I want to say something, Jared."

"I made your hand turn blue?"

Holding up the hand he had snatched out of the bag, soon as Michael banged the tray against the door, which he sensed courtesy, Michael announcing himself, Riley holds up 5 digits, "I think the color is right, but what I wanted to say, before we head our to Michael's place, there's a reason why I'm not a stranger to his house."

Having a notion, Jared says, "Are you current or former lovers?"

"Boyfriends... Former... It's the reason, when we walk in, I know my way around," Riley says, then picks up the tray, "Um, would you mind putting the dirty stuff on top?"

However, collecting each ceramic dish, one on top of the other, Jared says, "I've got you covered."

He hadn't a clue to what lay underneath Jared's shirt and pants, Riley getting a strong desire to find out, "Great. Thanks."

It didn't take long for Jared to find out the restaurant did not have an automatic dishwashing system, "Old-fashioned, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I can be," Riley replies.

"No, I meant washing dishes by hand?"

"Oh, I thought you wondering if I'm an old-fashioned guy?"

Jared responds, "Meaning I should not have stolen a kiss before?"

"By all accounts, I like that in a man. All I'm trying to say is I like to take it slow. I think, instead of rushing into things, the outcome may last longer. Though, today it seems nothing is permanent."

Thinking Riley might be talking about his own occurrences in life, Jared ventures to ask, "Mind if I ask about you and Michael?"

"10 years ago this summer, we met on spring break," Riley explains...

"Don't take this wrong, Riley, but you and Michael, you don't look the same age?"

Riley laughs, "No-o-o, I didn't get it on with Michael. He's only 22, you know?"

"Oh, that's what I thought, something like that, but then how did you meet him?"

"At 12-years old, his father had just come out of a divorce, enjoying his gay freedom and had been hanging around the hotel pool. I could have been hanging out with guys my own age, but after Michael's father and I exchanged glances, one thing led to another and while Michael was in the hotel `kids-care', I was in his father's bed!"

"Thanks for clearing that up!" After a sec, Jared asks, "So you like, rent from Michael... or am I getting too personal?"

"Personal? Not at all. I think two men should share as much as possible, don't you think?"

In between his sexcapades with his brother, Jake and a few one-night-standers, Jared hasn't really shared much, "Uh, sure, if you happen to know one guy long enough and see it's developing into `something?'"

"What I'm getting at, this wasn't the case for Michael's father. I met him and his father on and off, every chance I got away. Slowly I had found out Michael was as gay as his old man. One day I got a phone call, from Michael, frantic, telling me his dad was in the hospital. He was 14 at the time, but had access to a credit card in an emergency. For sure, I could not afford a plane ticket clear across the country. If it hadn't been for Jon, Michael's father, "I would have been a starving student!"

"He paid for your spring break?"

"After that first time, he paid for my spring break, to take care of Michael, while he went out `boy-surfing'," Riley explains. "Michael's a really well-grounded guy and can be fun to be with."

Jared almost said it, a kind of metaphor, `fuck-around with', but quickly thought, using the phrase might put distance between him and Riley, "That's the impression I got. He's what... 20-years old?"

"I think I mentioned 22?" Riley recalls already saying.

Bopping himself in the forehead, Jared makes excuse, "Oh right. Must be the champagne."

"Or old age?" Riley jokes.

"I just did the math," Jared replies, "I'm 2 years younger than you!"

"Oh," Riley says, swallowing, like he wanted to swallow his words, "I guess that makes me out to be the senile one!"

"Oh really?" it was not Jared's opinion, "I think I like it when you're demented!"

With the dishes washed, dried by Jared's hands, put away, Riley says, "Well, to make a long story short, Michael, who knew how to charge on the old man's credit card, over the phone, had a ticket waiting for me at the airport, I flew down to the Cayman Islands and when I left two days later, Michael was with me."

"Why am I getting bad vibes over this?"

"Jon had contracted AIDs. While down there I was tested and returning back at college, I found out I was negative."

"But what about Michael?"

"I knew the family had money, though after the divorce, which I found out happened as a result of the wife cheating on the husband, Jon got off like a bandit. No alimony and Michael was awarded into his care. Jon had it set up, if anything happened to him, Michael would get his estate. The next day I received a phone call from Jon's attorney. He informed me I was made executor of his estate and that I would be receiving 2 checks in the amount of $10,000.00, one for Michael's immediate care and one for my own expenses. In addition, Jon had his attorney draw up a check to pay all my college expenses, until I graduate, which included anything which corresponded to my education."

"Wow! That's unreal. He must've really," Jared almost alluded to sex in bed, "thought a lot of you taking care of Michael?"

"Right," Riley took in a deep breath, exhaling, "but most importantly, was finding out I was negative. Without my health and having someone to look after me, how could I have possibly done the same for Michael?"

He didn't touch, just stare, looked into Riley's eyes, "I'd say Michael turned out to be a very lucky guy!"

"Yup," Riley replies, swimming in the pools of Jared's blue eyes, turning off the spell, "but as boss, sometimes his attitude really sucks!"

"I wonder what influence made him to be like that?"

"You know, the whole time I've known you, all we've talked about is me?" Riley says, hanging up a pot on the huge rack above a kitchen island.

"Yeah, what I gather about you... you're so into yourself!" Jared smirks.

Not minding the friendly slur, Riley wasn't turned off, rather turned on, "I wonder if your brother is ready to go home?"

Checking, Jared asks, "My home or your home?"

"Now there's options here. We can either check in to the hotel, your original destination, or one of two other options?"

"Something with a little less danger of being intruded upon?" Jared asks.

He's glad he caught the whole story, if not every little detail, of how Riley and Michael were connected. It was enough for Jared to surmount, whether Jay would be safe with leaving him alone with Michael.

Therefore, when Riley offers, "There's my brother's place... well, it's really owned by me, but we both furnished it with our ideas of how it should look?"

"Hm-mm," Jared tried to make judgement, asking, testing, "do you think Jay will be safe with Michael?"

"Why don't we stay with Michael tonight and check out the condo tomorrow? The restaurant is closed on Monday!"

"Right, but some of us have to work?"

"Ah, the mystery man. What is it you do?"

However, Jared didn't even have time to wet his lips, Michael barging in, "Hey, you guys ready to get out of here?"

They had to laugh, Jay sitting on the top of a steel table, normally used to bring an assortment of desserts out to the dining are for patrons to peruse!

Jared thought it tender, Michael's arm around his brother, knowing that it kept Jay from getting a concussion, but also on his mind, they made a gorgeous couple!

Wide awake after his snooze, Jay says, "Michael tells me you filled your gut with dessert, Jare." Spotting the empty bottle of champagne, "So, what else have you guys been doing all alone in the kitchen?"

Seeing a wooden spoon lying about, Jared picks it up, wields it at his brother, "You wanna get smacked, bro?!"

Riley goes right along with it, taking the wooden spoon out of Jared's hand, "Don't do it, Jared, or else I'll have to call the cops and have you arrested for cruelty to animals!"

As Jay traded off a tongue-stuck-out response, Michael confided, kidding around, "He would do it, too!"

In less than 5 minutes, they were headed out the front door.

Jared, arms loaded with bags for the shelter, Michael locking up, Riley elected himself to be the piggy-backer, complaining, "Why don't you choke me, Jay?"

"I wanted to hug you around the middle, Ry, but you had to have your way, around the neck. Um, like what did you think I was going to hold onto... your balls?"

Riley says to Jared, "They deserve each other!"

Jared reacts, "Gets me to thinking both of these animals need a smack of the wooden spoon!"

"Oh really?" they begin walking the town, Michael saying, "Just for that wisecrack, you can go stay at your own place, Ry?" he adopts Jay's way of addressing the chef.

The trip through town, would have taken longer in Jared's truck, leaving it at the restaurant for now. They stopped off at the church first, of which they were invited in, to enjoy a celebration of the new preacher.

First time encounter, Jared hasn't a clue, when Riley walks up to his hot dude in a fashion tank top, "Hey, babe, how's it going?" giving the dude a hug, kiss on the cheek and then brings him around...

"Hey, Jared, this is Mark Lachey..."

"Jr.," Mark already has both hands clasping Jared's right hand.

"Mark's the new pastor of the church," Riley says.

Reading right through the ministerial facade, Jared says, "Not to mention, quite friendly?"

Drawing up his hand, to separate the two, Riley says, "Okay, that's enough, you two."

"Whatever happened to you being your brother's keeper?" Mark complains to Riley.

Jared asks, "This is your brother?"

"No, thank God!" Riley replies.

Mark jumps in with, "God will strike you down for that remark, mister!"

It's then, Jared suddenly misses the monkey on Riley's back, "Hey, where's Jay?" he scouts around people and tables.

"Meeting people his own age, I reckon," Riley says.

"After it was explained to Jared, Mark, at the church for six months, a trial period, the mostly middle-aged congregation, who sought for a more liberated Episcopal atmosphere, were impressed by Mark, who also shared in their vision here at St. Stee's."

"There's a saint named Stee?" Jared asks.

Like a magnet, even though the celebration was a get together, in acceptance of Mark's long termed commitment, the three hung together, with the excursion around the room to meet everyone.

Keeping a keen eye, Jared scouted out for Jay, found him and thought he was in good company, a ward under Michael's care. He could only think back on Jay, wondering if he was going to make some friends this summer, surrounded by a flock of girls and boys his age. He was also more confident, the group of teens and early twenty-somethings, people with different sexual orientations, a majority of the reason for Mark fitting in at St. Stee's. A gay man, and shepherd of the church, he had always hoped for a more liberal congregation.

Of the three, Jared became more the celebrity of the trio, at the same time filling in Mark and Riley on what it is Jared did to fill the cupboards, owner of two marine stores.

Jared quickly straightened them out, "Yes, but recently we've gone into the camping and outdoor lines. It's only a matter of time and the name will be changed from Evan's Marine, to J&J Sporting Goods and Marine."

Mark says, "I certainly hope your business doesn't keep us," he spoke on behalf of the church, "from seeing you during the week?"

Jared knew how that went, sign up, pay your `dues' and everyone is your friend. One difference in his opinion he's held all these years and now, he's never been to a church which had a young rector and hadn't a clue that ministers could be gay, "I might be back. Um, my little brother seems to be enjoying himself. I'm really glad he's fitting in."

At this magic moment, they look over to the corner of the church hall, seeing young people infiltrate the division, tall bifold walls separating the church affair with the soup kitchen. They watch as 2 of the guys, Michael being one of them, form a bridge of arms to transport Jay to a table. Sitting him on it, they pile an ice chest and stuff behind his back.

"I was wondering if they were going to do that," Jared says, "or else Jay will fall flat on his back."

Mark asks, "Has Jay been like that since birth?"

Going on tell the story, short version, from high school to spring break surfing trip, they continue watching as Jay is instructed to make sure each person passing along the table takes only one bottle of water.

Finishing up, Jared says, "Things were going along pretty well, until the beach house I was having remodeled, burned down."

Mark says, "I hope the fire didn't put you out in the street?"

Riley takes that, "Don't worry. If one place doesn't work out, we have the other place."

"Oh, then maybe I'll be seeing you later," Mark replies, but had to scurry away to handle a problem.

"Um, I'm not sure what Mark meant by that?" Jared looks to Riley for remarks.

"Mark needed a place to crash. You see, Mark and I, we already know each other, from school. When he emailed with the good news, followed by needing a temporary place to hold up at, I told him I would check with Adam."

"Adam?" Jared questions the name, "He's your brother?"

"Half-brother," Riley says, "same mother, different father!"

Reporting back, Mark, fueled by one of the helpers at the food line, "I've never seen anyone so happy over giving out water!"

"Oh really?" Jared replies. He had peeked around the corner of the bifold walling, having seen Jay, sitting there, using bottles to practice up his throwing skills, except handing it out to someone who was not in the mood for tossing games.

Since Jared had decided to take another look, Mark and Riley follow on his tail.

Thinking on it, Mark says, "I think the condo would be much more to Jay's liking, than the house."

Because Jared looked like he wondered why, with reaction, Riley tells him, "The condo is more bright and cheery. It has a lot of glass and opens out onto the ocean. Also, the house has a lot of stairs and the condo is mostly flat. Only one little step to get in the front door, if and when Jay gets a replacement?"

"We have a new super-duper chair in the mail as we speak!"

"Great!" Riley says to Jared's good news.

After the church thing wound down, a stopping place they had not intended on lingering, the gay-labeled group, which also had some straight youth in attendance, decides on heading out for pizza, of which Jay is among the quorum of the hungry.

"Can I go, Jare, um, like without you?"

Michael was among the flock, Jared saying, "What do you think, Riley?"

Honored that Jared would think of asking, "I think he's safe with Michael. Getting around would the only obstacle."

"Nonsense!" Mark exclaims. "When Michael gets tired, there are many strong backs to carry Jay!"

Riley says to Jared, when the preacher walks away, "I wouldn't mind having Mark on my back!"

"Oh? I was under the impression he has already had that covered!"

Smiling, with evil intent, he says to Jared, "Not yet. I'm hoping you'll beat him to it!"

Not that Jared was hoping for it, but he was under the impression Riley, no shorter than himself at 6'1", broad shouldered and the narrow waist, he just looked the part of a hot top. Yet, seeing him walk away, towards Mark and the group of teens-plus, Jared bit a lip, thinking on it!

When Mark and Riley start walking back towards him, all Jared can think of is what fine men they are, both visually, Riley nice as can be.

Riley says, "Mark would like to know if you wouldn't mind, the guys have decided they want a night out, without `the girls'. Do you want to help chaperone?"

Separating the group whittled down to about a 10 guys, Jared saying, "Not a problem with me!"

Nixing the pizza, hungry for something more substantial, the small crowd headed out to Westside Market. If a shopper wanted the best in fruits and vegetables, they would visit the Westside Marketplace. The establishment only served one meal a day, which was supper, an ongoing smorgasbord from 4pm until dusk. Situated on a block of land, the outdoor seating faced the water, boardwalk in between.

"How you doing Jay?" Jared asks, after a guy who took over for Michael halfway, dropped him in chair.

"Good, but you don't need to keep checking up on me, Bro? Um, thanks?" Jay replies.

Jared turns to Riley, the two sitting at their own table, "Isn't it nice to feel wanted?"

"Yeah, that's why I'm up for adoption?"

Walking his hands across the table, Jared snags up Riley's knuckles, "When you do the laundry, do you separate the whites?"

"Huh?" Riley replies, dumbfounded.

"Just in case I decide to adopt you, I want you to know, I like the laundry separated and oh, are you a good at house cleaning?"

He knew Jared was joking, joked about it himself, "I meant as a boyfriend, not your slave!"

"Oh, okay. Let me run this scenario by you, then you tell me truthfully... You're lying down on top of my naked bod and having just finished licking my hairy chest from nip to nip and I order," Jared changes the pitch of voice to deep, dark, devious, "get that tongue lower..."

"How low?"

"If you stay on the trail, you'll be headed in the right direction!"

"Okay, I get the picture. Yeah, I'm pretty good at vacuuming and dusting, but not too good at windows!"

"Vacuuming, eh? Good at sucking up everything?" Jared giggles, hoping he's not moving too fast.

"Oh, I can't be the judge of that. I suppose I would need an oral interview and then you can hire or fire me!"

"Hmm, suddenly I'm hungry for an open-face sandwich!"

It's then the two realize, Jay, bored from being abandoned for the sandwich line, has been listening in, "Don't eat too much, Riley. It'll spoil your appetite!"

Instead of laughing, Riley acts with all seriousness, "You know your brother is a little too big for his britches?!"

Jared, who `is' laughing, says, "Yeah. I know. Together we can pack quite a wallop!"

Jay sided with his brother, knowing, because more than once they have held their cocks side by side, for the knowledge of wanting to know who was bigger, the sheer pleasure of jerking off together!

"Somehow, I think there is more to this," Riley says, "but I hope it's not like this all the time."

Acting stoopid, Jared asks, "What ever do you mean?"

"You two, ganging up on poor little me?"

Jay jumps in with, "Oh? Just how `little' are you, Riley?" he laughs his ass off.

"Not meaning to gang up on you," which Jared was, "he's got you there!"

"I'm not saying... There!" Riley got even, sticking his tongue out.

One of Jay's signature looks, he did the same, making it look worse.

"Riley, stop bothering Jay or I'll can you!" Michael, returning with a tray, tells them.

"Shut the fuck up and mind your manners, Michael," Riley tells him, getting up.

Michael replies, "Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you Riley?"

Riley wipes the dust off his nose with his middle finger, as he and Jared head towards the ordering counter.

Jay sends him well wishes, "And don't come back soon!"

%

Copyright 2013 T. Chase McPhee

`FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS', and developing segments of this story, may not be sold, nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the author.