Flesh & Flowers

In the following story, all of the characters are totally fictive and the setting is real. For whomever it would be illegal, immoral or prohibited for any other reason whatsoever to read a story about love between two young adult men is kindly requested to refrain from continuing. This being said, I hope you enjoy the tale.

FLESH & FLOWERS

by Marin Giustinian

Nowadays in England

This fellow struck me from the first time I saw him. He was late coming into the dance studio, apologising with a very distinct North American accent. He said that he had problems finding his way. I was already deep into my stretching routine on the floor over in my corner when he just came over, invading what I considered my own personal space. He plopped down beside me and smiled as the teacher started the lesson. We went through the same old exercises and my new neighbour followed along as well as possible. He kept glancing in my direction and didn't do bad at all copying me. I felt sort of flattered.

After the exercises, the teacher had us improvise. He coached us through several group improvisations. I noticed that our new classmate was in fact, rather outstanding. I noticed that the teacher noticed him too. He then paired us, me and him in front of everybody, for a duo, telling us to start, coiled, hugging together on the floor. We looked at each other and did as the teacher said.

Wow! There was this strange kind of current flowing through our contact. It felt good. He smelt good too. We breathed together and at last the music started. Our movements weirdly merged as if they were in a choreography we both knew. I was completely absorbed in what was happening. The dance was just 'happening'. At the end of the music, the whole class broke into a jovial applause. We were only a foot or two away from each other. Then driven by a sudden urge, smiling like two morons, we hugged.

The teacher congratulated us and asked the new boy to come beside him announcing, "Class, I want you to meet Florian Willows. He comes to us from Vancouver, British Columbia -- that's in Canada for those of you who are useless in geography! As you can see, he's already advanced in dance and that's why he's in this class. I've also been told he's an excellent pianist and therefore exempted from music classes. Otherwise for anatomy, dance history, classical and repertory, he's in with the younger guys." Pointing directly at me, he added, "Flynt, you've got a good partner here... so don't compete. Am I understood? Class is over."

Flynt, that's me. For the past two years, I was the top of the class and teachers' pet. Now that this god had parachuted down from his Canadian Valhalla, I really had to keep my game up to par... without competing! Florian was picking up his towel off the ballet bar when I came up to him, "Hello partner! I'm Flynt Ramsay from Cambridge, UK This is my third year here. Welcome to the lions' den!" We shook hands.

"Florian Willows, Vancouver BC This is my first time in London, first time even out of Canada. If you're one of the lions, I'm really glad to be in the den. Our improvisation was lots of fun! Thanks."

He was actually quite friendly. We chatted on our way to the boys' locker room. I asked him if he had found a good place to live here in London. He told me that he was lucky. An elderly ex-ballerina living on Percy Circus had rented him a small studio basement flat under her first floor home and that it was only a twenty minute stroll from the school. I told him that I commuted from Cambridge with an hour's or so train ride but King's Cross Station was really near the school too. As we chatted, I stripped for the shower. I threw a questioning glance at Florian and he just shrugged, saying he'd shower back at his flat and that was that.

The only time I shared together with Florian was the last class of the day and we had loads of fun taking it. I really wanted to get to know him better. The drawback was that we had little free time together, always with my train to catch. So we walked together before splitting our ways, me to the station and he on to his flat. During the walks, I learned that he was the same age as me, eighteen, that he was an only child like me, that he had started dance at the age of fifteen like me and that his parents were still together, not like me. He told me that his father ran a boatyard near the harbour not far from the dance centre. His mother handled the paperwork.

For me, I told him that after the divorce, my dad had returned to manage his family's chain of department stores in New Zealand and that I didn't see him any more. I told him also that my mother did basically nothing, living off the family fortune in our villa in Tuscany and that I lived in with my grandmother in her manor house near Cambridge. He raised an eyebrow when I mentioned, quite normally, 'family fortune', but never said anything about it. He was really composed about almost everything.

After a few days we were down to showering together on a back-swapping status. On walk back, he told me that he really looked forward to our classes and our chats and that he felt something special when he was around me. He said, "Flynt, I'm glad we're friends." He said it just like that, out of the blue.

I was really flattered. When it came time to leave each other, this time we hugged and looked into each other's eyes. It was almost like we were going to kiss. I wanted to kiss him. Not that I'm gay... well I've had a few boy to boy sprees but nothing determining... nor he, I feel, for that matter, but he was so good looking, so gentle... and, good God, he did tell me that he felt something special about me... like friends!

Of course we were friends, but since we only shared a five minute shower and a ten minute walk everyday after class, we didn't do a lot of friend things together. There was only that special energy we had felt the first time we danced together and that energy became more and more intense as the weeks went by. Sometimes we didn't even talk on our walk and sometimes we chatted our heads off, but after that first hug, when we had to split, we always hugged and even sometimes snuggled our noses in each other's scarf before saying, "See you tomorrow!"

It was mid November, on a Monday... and Florian didn't show up in class! I realised that I didn't have any way to contact him. No mobile number, no mail nor house address. I was really worried. Nobody in class had news nor knew how to contact him neither. The teacher told me that he had received a message from administration excusing Florian on sick leave.

Oh, my God! Sick! I had to find out how to call him! I decided to skip the regular train, call Ava, my grandmother, in Cambridge saying I'd be late and went to the administration desk to try to find out how to get in touch with him.

The secretary said, "Yes, I do have news. Florian called in saying he had some fever and that he was stuck in bed for at least three to four more days. He says he caught the flu. He even asked me to give him your number, but I said it's against the rules. Now that you've asked, I guess it's all right for me to give you his."

"Sure it is! Please do!"

She did,

"Thank you!" I immediately called, right there in front of the desk.

"Hello, Florian, I'm worried about you! How are you? Where do you live? Do you need anything?"

I suddenly realised I didn't even leave him a chance to talk. With a dreadful voice he wheezed a laugh and answered me saying he was being well taken care of by his landlady, but if I had a moment, he'd really be glad to see me. I told him that I could come by the following morning before going to class and pay him a visit. I even told him that I missed him. He said he missed me too.

The secretary smiled as she looked at me saying if I wanted, she could have me excused for the morning classes and that it was a good thing that I take care of Florian. She had heard from his ballet master that he was really lonely and was a bit homesick -- I jotted down his address, thanked her and ran to the station to get back just in time for supper.

In the train, I couldn't get Florian off my mind. I had never felt so suddenly concerned about someone. He had become really special to me and I hadn't realised it until he didn't show up. I discovered that I really had stronger feelings for him than I had imagined. He had always been so close and yet distant at the same time. I started to think that maybe I was 'falling in love' with him. Maybe I was really gay after all. I'd always fancied myself as mostly a future woman's man, but now I was wondering about that and as I was wondering, I felt real warm inside. I was really eager to be knocking on his door. When I got off the train in Cambridge Central, I noticed I still had my earbuds in my hand.

When I got back home, my grandmother was waiting. Marvin, the butler, asked if he could serve dinner. We sat down at the table and I told her why I was delayed. She congratulated me on my thoughtfulness for a mate. I had told her about Florian. She knew he had become somewhat special for me, and she went on saying that she was glad I finally had someone I really cared about. Her remark almost stung me. I knew I was more of a loner than anything else but I hadn't thought about it as being that... well, as being that 'selfish'. I told her so.

"My dear, you probably still needed to protect myself from being hurt with others ever since your parents had divorced and both left the country. All things considered, they left you in good hands, MINE!" she jested a bit, "But they left you behind, nevertheless!"

Never having had brothers nor sisters around, I just took care of myself. Thank God, there's Ava. She hates any kind of nickname like Granny or Grandma! It's just Ava or Lady Duncan, nothing more.

"Ava, would you mind if I invited Florian to come here, to Brandywine, for Christmas holidays? He's rather homesick, so far from home, and I'm sure he'd be happy to avoid spending the holidays all by himself. You'd appreciate his company too. He is very well mannered!"

"Of course, Flynt. I think that's a wonderful idea. Things aren't too gay here in the winter, aren't they?"

Why did she say, 'gay'? Oh, well... and so what! "You'll see, he's really nice."

"Brilliant! Now just give me your dates and I'll have a room made up for him. Also you must tell me if he has any special needs concerning food so that I can inform the cook as well."

"I'll call as soon I've given him our invitation!"

I rang his doorbell to hear Florian shout, "It's open. Come in!" I had a little paper bag of chocolates in my hand, knowing that when I'm sick, I really appreciated them. The room was horribly stuffy and Florian looked dreadful in his bed. I walked up to him and showed him the sweets. He smiled and propped himself up saying, "Thank you for coming Flynt. I was missing you a lot."

"I missed you too man! I mean I was really worried when I didn't see you show up yesterday."

"I heard it on the phone!" he said, laughing and coughing a little.

"Take it easy there! Is there anything I can do to help?"

He thought for a minute and then said, almost blushing,"In fact, yes. If you don't mind, I haven't washed up for three days now and I feel wretchedly sticky and stinky. The doctor said that as long as I'm sweating my fever out, I shouldn't shower. I would like to get out of bed and wash up some, but I can't do my back, and I actually feel a little weak. I would feel better if you were beside me. Could you do me that favour? After all we are shower buddies anyway!"

"Sure!"

I helped him out of bed. His pyjamas clung to his skin. Judging from the odour, he really did need to wash and change! He leaned on me as he hobbled to the sink. I filled it with hot water as he started to undress. I told him I'd take care of that and unbuttoned the top. I soaped up the washcloth and said, "Hold on to the sink edge. Let me handle this."

"Okay. Thanks, I do feel a bit unsteady," he replied.

Now here was something I'd never ever done before : take care of somebody. I found it really rewarding somehow. Florian was so appreciative. I started by sponging off his matted hair, just enough to relieve the itch. Then I washed his face, neck and armpits. He actually giggled saying it tickled. When his front and back were nice and clean, I towelled him down and fetched a pair of clean pyjamas for him. He just kept on thanking me. I had him put the top on while I knelt and promptly pulled his dirty pyjama bottoms down. A bit startled, he looked down at me, then giggled and simply stepped out. I turned him around. I washed his arse and the back of his thighs, knees and calves. Then I turned him back to face me. His very hard dick almost hit me in the nose. He shrugged and I laughed. I then pulled his foreskin back and lathered his absolutely beautiful dick, slim and slightly curved upwards. As I did so, it hardened even more. I hardened too. He moaned under his breath as I finished with his balls and rinsed off all the soap. I then did his legs and feet, rinsed and towelled him with a good friction. When I stood, he grabbed me by the waist, pulled me to him and gave me a big hug with a kiss on the cheek. His eyes were less feverish and some colour had returned to his face. Even if he only had a few scraggly hairs on his chin and upper lip, he could have used a shave as well, but that would have been a little too much, I felt. I finished dressing him, but said nothing about the fact that we were both hard as hammer handles.

"While we're at it, where are your fresh sheets? I'm going to change the linens. You'll feel so much better."

"You're not just a friend, Flynt, you're a saint!"

"Don't exaggerate. But by the looks of you now, you must be an angel dropped in from heaven."

I had to think twice about how one changes a bed, but I did it... more or less well. Florian had sat down at his desk and complimented me on my 'mastery' of the situation. I knew he was joking but it made me feel good anyhow. We both laughed as he climbed back into bed.

"You know, Flynt, I'm beginning to really like you a lot!"

"Is it because you need a valet, my Lord,"

"No, not a valet... a..."

"A what?"

"A 'You', Flynt."

He looked completely serious, then lowered his eyes and took a deep breath.

Without the slightest hesitation, I replied, "I like you too, really a lot."

I walked over and sat on the edge of his bed. We held hands and looked at each other as that special energy danced between us, keeping us steadfast in a rather intense silence... broken suddenly by Florian exclaiming, "Would you like a chocolate?"

We indulged. I brewed us some tea and then I told him, "My grandmother and I want to invite you to come to our estate, Brandywine, near Cambridge and spend the Christmas holidays with us. We could have a lot of good times together. There's a lot to see in and around Cambridge. I have a really cute little sports roadster. We could motor around the country some. Do you accept?"

"Yes, yes and YES! I was dreading Christmas so much, here all by myself! That's really wonderful news! I can't wait to tell my parents! They'll be so relieved knowing I've a place to go and that I'll be with my best friend who cured my flu with the miraculous waters of the Thames Water Company of London."

"Hold on there! No miracles, just simple T. L. C. You know, Tender Loving Care between good friends!"

"That's enough of a miracle for me! If I weren't afraid of being contagious, I'd kiss you, Flynt."

"You can kiss me anyway, Florian! I'm stronger than your flu bug!"

I slipped up closer and leaned in to meet his advancing lips. We kissed.

"That's so sweet! More!" ordered a blushing Florian.

"As much as you need, Milord!" and then we kissed again, this time longer, breathing together the warmth of this very rare instant. I thought I was going to faint out of pure heartfelt tenderness spiced with a big rush of lust. Never had feelings been so sweet, more than I had ever dreamt of.

"Don't you think I should go. If your landlady comes down with your soup and sandwiches and sees us with these hard-ons, she'd be a bit upset!"

Licking his lips, Florian sighed, "You're right. Go to class and dance for me! I'm sure I'll feel it. You know, Flynt, you've made me really happy!"

"Me too, Florian! Very happy indeed! Take care! I'll be back tomorrow, early. I can't skip class again but you really do need a shave!"

I called Ava to let her know that Florian had accepted the invitation and that he was feeling better. I then stopped by the administration office to tell the secretary that Florian was much better. She thanked me and I ran up to change for ballet. Usually I don't like ballet that much, but today, I stretched and sweated at the bar and was drenched for the variations. I felt like I was a lark, soaring in the rain. The ballet master noticed the change of attitude and gave me a thumbs-up as I left the studio. Before I disappeared into the locker room, two of the girls came up and congratulated me too.

I was starving. I treated myself to a very copious lunch and sat in for musical theory, digesting. Then I went to contemporary class. For some reason, it didn't feel like Florian was absent. As I danced, it felt like he was dancing in me, from the inside, urging me on, lifting me. Our special connexion was defying space. I confess that I didn't understand what I was feeling, but since it felt so good, I just let it happen.

After dinner, Ava saw that I was so elated talking about Florian, she simply said, "Why don't you ring him up? I'm sure he'd appreciate it."

"Of course! You're right. Excuse me... and good night!"

I ran upstairs and as soon as I'd closed the door, I rang Florian's number.

"Hello Flynt." I heard him smiling!

"Hi there! How are you?"

"No more fever and I'm bored as hell! I'm so glad I have you to think about and expect for tomorrow. You're right, my chin itches with the stubble!"

"Shaving's a bore, but you feel so much better after!"

"I guess I've got to get used to it! You know, I thought about you all day long!"

"And you were with me all day long too. It's weird, when I was dancing in our class..."

"I know, I felt like I was dancing here in my stupid bed!"

"What's going on between us, Florian?"

"I don't know and I don't care! It's so strong, so good, we don't have the right to question nor thwart it, do we, Flynt?"

"No, we don't! Just let it happen!" I exclaimed.

There was a minute of silence then we both spoke at the same time, asking the same blatant question.

"Are you gay?"

We both laughed, then sighed and Florian said, "You first..."

"I don't know if I'm gay or not. All I know is that I'm falling more and more for you, man, and if that makes me gay, then I'm gay!... And so what? Your turn."

"I'm gay about you. It's a treasure we've been given."

"I love the way you put that... a treasure!"

We went on talking for a while, mostly about our rather pathetic sex life up to now with both girls and boys, but as the night progressed, we began to yawn, he, because he was still convalescing, and I, because of the day's excitement. It was damn hard to switch off, but when we did, I suddenly felt empty. I went to my window and lifted it up high, breathing in the cold air. Some stars were out. I made a wish, a wish about Florian and me. It held in one short sentence : If it's love, let love be... When I undressed to get in bed, I noticed that I was still hard.

Christmas holidays at last! They were there and like half the other students, we skipped the last class and left London on the 3:44 PM fast train, arriving in Cambridge Central at 4:30 PM. The estate is about a twenty minute drive from the train station. We went to my carpark, put the bags in the boot and headed to the house. Florian complimented my little sportster. I must admit it does look sharp. Sedate deep green outside and tan leather upholstery inside. My mother was dead jealous when she saw it!

"I didn't know you had a car. Is it yours?" commented Florian.

"My invisible father bought it for me, brand new, when I turned eighteen. I only use it to commute to the train station or sometimes drive around by myself in the country on the weekends when I'm bored... as usual."

I put the car in the garage and grabbed our bags. Florian seemed quite impressed, even if we came in through the back door. Marvin came to greet us, taking our bags, and Ava appeared, going directly to Florian.

"My dear, what a becoming young man!" she exclaimed, extending her hand, "You must be Florian! Flynt has said so much about you but never did justice to your smouldering good looks!"

"Florian, meet my grandmother, Lady Duncan."

"Call me Ava, darling! Show Florian his quarters and be back for tea! Now scat!"

As we climbed the stairs, Florian made a very elegant comment about Ava, "What a vivacious woman!"

"That she is... sometimes too much!" I laughed as we went into my room.

Then led him to his room over in the guest wing. He was thrilled. Rushing up to me, he hugged me real tight saying, "I've never had a room as luxurious as this one! It's stunning, but I'm glad yours isn't too far away. I've never been in such a big home and so beautifully furnished and above all, with a bouquet of roses on the buffet."

"That's my grandmother's pride and joy. She always keeps roses in the house. There's always a little bouquet in my room. She changes the roses every week. Sometimes they are all the same colour, sometimes mixed, but nearly never white. Too virginal, she says!"

"That's well observed. I bet in the spring, there are flowers everywhere!"

"Yes, in the garden, but in the house, only roses. I'm glad you like it here, even if I must say the house is not a temple of modern taste. It's more like a museum of the Georgian period. My grandfather was from a long line of local gentry and the ancestor who had this manor built in the late eighteenth century obviously thought in big, show-offish terms. At least things got better with the following occupants who put in central heat, electricity, sewage and running water. I was the one who bought the wifi box!"

"Can you still light fires in the chimneys?"

"Yes, they all work. Are you afraid of getting cold?"

"Maybe, it's a big bed for me all by myself..."

"Well, you're welcome in mine whenever you want. We'll even build a fire just for the fun! How does that sound?"

"Hmmm... Dumbhead! I'll think about it..."

With this, we heard a bell tinkling from downstairs.

"That means tea is served in the little drawing room." We both washed up, hands and face and skipped down the stairs to meet with Ava again. She had made an effort to please our guest having dressed in her tan leather pants, Swedish sweater and Shalimar perfume.

Conversation was light and fluid. Florian was absolutely charmed and charming. In spite of his accent, he gave the impression that he had always lived in our circles. We listened to Ava as she told us all the things Florian must see. Then she added, "Since we have the pleasure of your company my dear young man, we shall dine at 8:00 PM and make our Christmas plans. I've scheduled the usual little after Christmas dinner party and hope you strapping young fellows don't suffer too much from the sub-sequential boredom. It's the only dressed occasion on the home agenda."

"Dressed occasion?" questioned Florian, "I've no formal attire, M'am."

"Don't worry, my boy. Flynt will take care of that with you."

I nodded, stood and suggested we go back upstairs before taking the tour of the house. Once we were back to our quarters, Florian went to unpack, then came back a bit worried.

"What about the formal attire, Flynt? How do you plan to swing that?"

I told him to come over as we walked into my dressing room. I pushed back a sliding door and said, "We'll find something that will fit amongst all those tuxedos! Don't fret! You'd be fabulously stunning even in a potato sack!"

"Maybe, but a tux... I've never worn one. I feel like I'm in a movie, Flynt."

"And how does that feel?"

"I don't know how to put it... I, I feel..." Then all in a sudden, he just kissed me, took me by the hand and led me over to the bed. Laughing, he pushed me on the bed and fell on top of me. He grabbed my head between his hands and held me almost nose to nose. "I guess this is when we have the camera crew leave. I love you, Flynt Ramsay."

I rolled him over with me on top, grinding my very stiff cock into his even stiffer one, "I love you too, Florian Willows. Would you honour my bed tonight with your elegant presence?"

"The honour is all mine, my Lord, but for the time being, I'll finish packing. Then you can show me around, starting with your room and all the boyhood secrets you have hidden in it."

"That's a lot to ask for. When I moved in here, I left my boyhood secrets behind."

"I'm sorry Flynt. I forgot..."

"Give me another kiss and you'll be forgiven!"

I took Florian on the 'grand tour' of the house. Downstairs we went through the reception hall, the formal dining room, the ballroom, the music room where he paused looking at the grand piano.

"You can try it out if you want," I said.

He smiled, sat and a sudden flow of music filled the room. "I must come every day. It's been a long time since I've had such an instrument under my fingers!"

"It won't go away. It's yours whenever you want!"

We went on through the library and returned to the little drawing room which in fact was the everyday living room. There was a totally white Christmas tree blinking in a corner.

"I really liked the ballroom. It's a beautiful space to dance in. If we dust it off and turn the heat up, we could come, work out and dance together. Would you like that?"

"That's a super idea. I'll ask Ava if she'll let us do that. I don't think she'll mind. On the contrary, I think she'd be delighted."

We tidied up for dinner and went down to the family dining room where Marvin had laid a semi-formal table for three. Ava came in and we sat as dinner was served. She questioned Florian about his likes, life and dance vocation. He was surprisingly at ease to talk about himself. She listened intently and glanced her approval at me from time to time. She then filled us in on the Christmas party she'd planned. She apologised saying that my mother was held up in Tuscany and couldn't be in Brandywine for the festivities.

When dessert was over, we retired to the drawing room for a snifter of brandy. That's when I asked her if we could use the ballroom for practicing some and that she was invited to take a look whenever she liked.

She thought a moment, smiled and asked, "Florian, would you mind sharing Flynt's room with him? That way we can close off the heat in the guest wing and use it in the ballroom. I don't think you two would mind keeping each other warm at nights since you enjoy dancing together during the day? Am I correct?"

Florian beamed, winked at Flynt and added, "That's perfectly fine with me, M'am... if Flynt doesn't mind, of course."

I simply answered, "I don't think I mind at all!"

"Well, that's settled. I'll ask Marvin to have the ballroom cleaned and heated and..."

"Excuse me, Ava, but we can do that. Florian will sleep with me tonight. That way the maid can just strip the bed and put the unused sheets back in the linen closet."

"As you like. What are your plans for tomorrow?"

"We plan to sleep in late, drive over to Cambridge, go into town, have a snack and then motor around some. We should be back before tea."

"Go as you please, my boys! It's a thrill to have you both in the house! Florian, please feel free to be our guest whenever you can. Seeing how you both enjoyed eating at dinner this evening, it whetted my own declining appetite. And you, my dear Flynt, I'm so glad to see you with such high spirits! Take good care of your companion. He's a precious person and apparently does you a lot of good!"

"This I know Ava! I'll do my best. I promise!"

"Well, then, before I retire, could you please treat us to a tune on the piano, my dear Florian? I've heard that you're quite a virtuoso. I don't know why I have it tuned every year since no one has played it for ages."

"Of course, Lady Duncan..."

"Please call me Ava."

"It would be a great pleasure for me... Ava."

We took our snifters and went to the music room.

"Flynt? Where do you keep the sheet music, please?"

"In the stool. Just lift the lid."

He thumbed through the book of Chopin's preludes. He chose the 15th in D flat major. We were swept away. Ava then declared, "That achieved me! Thank you so much, Florian! I'm going up to bed now. A brandy plus Chopin is almost too much for me. As for the brandy, help yourselves now that you're grown men... or almost! Good night."

We both rose as she took her leave like the gracious lady she is.

"Your grandmother is absolutely brilliant! She actually threw me in your bed!"

"And as you saw, I was right there to catch you!"

We returned to the drawing room and I held the brandy bottle out to Florian saying, " Hand me your glass for another shot."

"Let's take our glasses up to your... I mean, our room. While you light a fire, I'll remove my things and flowers from the guest room. Then we can take a leisurely bath together in that vast tub you have and sit by the fire like in a James Ivory movie."

"Well, since we're in a movie mood, I'll find some perfect fireside music to put on! Let's go!"

It's a tradition in the house that a fire is always ready in the fireplace. All you have to do is light the kindling. Florian came back with his bag, arranged the flowers of his bouquet in with mine. The result was absolutely sumptuous! Then as I was tending the fire, he went to draw us a bath. I met him by the tub and began undressing when Florian told me to stop.

"I owe you this, Flynt, from the moment you treated me with all that T. L. C. you gave me. You know, when I was ill."

He carefully undressed me while the tub filled with steaming water and spice scented foam. When I was completely nude, he had me step in and, in a blink, he stripped. There we stood, holding each other, sharing a long soft kiss. But only the kiss was soft. Our cocks were at full attention, crossed and throbbing, one against the other. Then we laughed as we tried to sit at the same time in the tub. We washed and splashed and rubbed and groped and shampooed and once the water started to cool off, we stepped out and rubbed each other down with the fleecy towels. I took two terrycloth bathrobes out of the closet, handed one to Florian and put the other one on. We brushed our teeth and turned out the lights. I picked up the brandy snifters, handed one to Florian, put the other on the mantel piece and pulled a cover out of the cedar chest. I spread it facing the fire and invited Florian to sit close by me.

The tension of pure love's desire, highlighted with a touch of instinctive lust, filled the air. We sipped our brandy in silence as the music ended. We gazed at the fire and gradually nudging each other, shoulder to shoulder, we swayed with the flames as they shivered, dancing in the tense silence of our upcoming expectations.

Florian stood, his bathrobe untied, and placed his glass on the mantel. His perfectly elegant sex glistened in the firelight. He held out his hands, inviting me to rise. We hugged and went to the bed, each on either side. We pulled back the covers, turned off the bed lamps, dropped our bathrobes and dove in between the sheets humming and grinning like mad.

We kissed with impatient tongues curling together. We grabbed our cocks and stroked, teasing the locks of our pubes and wound up swallowing, licking, sucking each other as we spiralled in the tousled sheets. We kneaded each others buttocks and bobbed our heads for all we were worth, until we stiffened, writhing and gushing together, whimpering, we drank.

Once our frantic hearts had calmed and our breath was back to normal, we held each other, our eyes glistening in the firelight, locked in love's complete surrender. I pushed aside a curl stuck on Florian's sweaty brow. He casually wiped a drop of his semen from beneath my lower lip and presenting it to my mouth, said, "Here's a pearl of myself wanting to go home in you, Flynt". I opened my mouth and sucked his finger as it caressed my tongue. He pulled it out and kissed a tear of jubilation silently creeping down my smiling cheek. My lips found his and nothing more was said. The fire had dwindled to just a mellow glow in the dark of the room. We pulled the covers up and snuggled underneath, tired and entwined, swamped, content.

In the milky morning light, I slipped out of bed and went to pee. As I was barely waking up, Florian joined me, leaning against my shoulder. His warmth felt so good there as our streams crossed and fenced, streaming into the toilet. We just tilted our heads one against the other until the dribble ceased. After shaking the last drops off, we scrambled back to bed, both hard, hot and husky. We enjoyed a long lazy kiss, softly stroking each others cock.

"Good morning, love!"

"Good morning to you! Sleep well?"

"Best ever."

We laughed then gasped a little as lust stirred in our groins. I took his sleepy face in my hands and kissed his cheeks, lips, hair, ears. Lithe as algae we embraced, swimming in the warm linens. Florian's breath was irregular as I slowly stroked his drooling cock. I kissed his mouth, inside and out, licking his tongue, sucking his swollen, moist lips. We kept on caressing, stroking, squeezing, twisting our dicks, cuddling our balls. This deep double massage of our cocks became unbearably voluptuous. Mine was a torch ; my whole body quivered as if in a fever. His pits were dripping. I jacked him ; he jacked me. He trembled in my fist. I bucked in his. My mind was going furiously blank, my belly convulsed, rippled as his slippery cock continued leaking abundantly. He governed me, melded me, revealed me. His jacking sped up, became maddening, draining me to the foot of my spine, my balls pulled up, and my cock cringed as it slowly but surely began exploding. He muffled a throaty scream as he spewed his cum all over our bellies, from tits to pubes! We clenched to each other, smearing our spattered semen between our pounding hearts. Then totally exhausted, we sighed, rubbed and hugged, writhing on each other in a sudden fit of laughter.

"What a wonderful, messy way to greet the day!" he whispered in my ear and throwing back the covers said, "Let's be careful to not stain the sheets!"

I stood, yawned and stretched again as he came up to me. Running one finger through the cum on my belly, I ran mine on his. He just looked into my eyes, smiling.

"That's a powerful mixture we've made there, Florian."

"Twin essences blending!" he said, "However, let's shower anyway!"

We had fun soaping and shampooing each other then drying off. We pampered our hair, shaved and casually dressed for downtown. We had breakfast in the kitchen. The house staff was there having their mid-morning coffee break, which was a great opportunity to introduce Florian. The house maid, looking almost offended, said, "Marvin told me, Master Flynt, that you were going to clean up the ballroom to do your practicing. It's my job to put the heat on and to clean it myself. That's no job for Milady's grandson and our handsome young guest to boot! We all have our own jobs, you dance, I clean... have I made myself clear, Master Flynt?"

"Perfectly clear, M'am!" and the staff giggled and mumbled together as they vanished from the kitchen.

After our very substantial breakfast, we dressed in our warmest wraps and leaving the manor, we strode hand in hand around the grounds before taking the car. There was still some frost on the grass. Wisps of mist lingered in the sun as it rose off the

We drove to Cambridge, parked in my allotted space and walked with a quick step to the centre. The shops and streets were festooned for Christmas. We stopped a long moment admiring a couple of acrobats doing their street show. They bounced and twirled, tumbled and flew, throwing each other with grace and skill. They were quite good and we all applauded like mad when they bowed and skipped around passing the hat.

"Look how free and happy they are, Flynt! We should all be like them in our dance work, don't you think?"

"How right you are. I almost envy those guys, Florian!"

"Well, what keeps us from doing it?"

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I am!"

"We'll talk about it later..."

We continued browsing, enjoying the Christmas spirit. We even went over to the university grounds, peeking in on King's College. Florian was quite impressed by the beauty of it all. It was so good seeing such familiar things through new eyes. Everything looked really much more beautiful than usual.

In spite of our late breakfast, hunger returned, aroused by the smell of pasties as we walked by a bakery. Next door there was a nice little tea room with snacks, hot sandwiches and such. We went in and ordered.

Florian took my hand on the table and said, "Flynt, I love the Cam much more than the Thames and the streets of Cambridge to those of London! Thank you so much for inviting me here... and for all, and I mean ALL that we share in such a short but intense lapse of time."

"Thank you for being here, awaking me, making me believe that I can be light, happy and gay again," I confessed, still holding his hand.

"Gay?"

"Well, yes! Gay as in merry and gay as in loving you! Thank you for accepting my love and giving me yours..."

"Okay, lovebirds, who has the grilled cheese?" jested the waitress as she brought us our snacks. We all laughed!

On our way back, we talked on and on about being free, coming and going as we please, doing street performances, dancing, all in a jolly jumble of extravagant ideas, feelings and sudden urges. We were merging. By the time we arrived at Brandywine, we'd calmed down some, but Ava saw how exhilarated we were.

Tea was being served. We sat, trying to compose ourselves, as she simply stated, "This morning when I saw you both strolling around the grounds, you looked so wonderful together, walking hand in hand like lovers. Tell me, are you two partnering in life as well as in dance?"

I replied, "We plan to dance our life as we live our dance, Ava. Time will tell how we succeed or fail."

"Flynt! Florian! Just forget failure! Just live what you live all the way, always and all ways, what ever the ways be. You know that Greek relations are not uncommon in our circles nor in the dance world. They create no problems as long as there's that certain touch of class, and that touch you both have! Your happiness makes me feel young, almost sexy again. This being said, how was your day?"

"Exciting in many ways! Full of new perspectives, new ideas!"

"That's absolutely brilliant! Oh, by the way, I have a favour to ask of you, Florian. Could you give us a brief recital on the piano for our Christmas party? Your Chopin is so stunning!"

Suddenly shy, Florian mumbled, "Of course, Ava," then beaming, "Of course! It's an honour!"

We retired like the evening before to the drawing room and shared a brandy with Ava, drinking to an unknown but free future for us all.

On our way to our quarters, we decided to stop over in the ballroom. When we opened the door, the nearly overheated warmth greeted us with a smell of fresh cleanliness. Everything gleamed, polished and neat. Thank God, they didn't wax the floor!

We both started a dance, in silence, each on his own. Little by little we connected and with the heat, started to shed our clothes. This became a game and only after a few minutes, we shot a daring look at each other and with a sheen of sweat and only our boxers on we started dancing again, but this time naked.

Something magic happened! The air became lighter, our breath's rhythm filled the silence and, body to body, we danced like moonlight on water, sliding around each other, gliding across the floor, lifting one another into space, hugging and rolling enlaced to gradual immobility, tense and breathless, full of mirth and desire. Strangely enough, our cocks, delicately skimming each other's skin were dripping, yet only halfway erect.

Tossing my head back, talking to the ceiling, I said, "Pure dance, nude in silence! Surrendering to the mystery of bonding souls...That's the answer to authentic art! Our lusty angels are guiding us to total sublimity, Florian!"

"Dance me to the sky, Flynt! Let's soar, light as light itself!" uttered Florian as he grabbed me ever so dearly... caressing me... all over.

"Let's continue this in bed."

"Oh! Definitely yes!"

We grabbed our clothes and ran, naked as the day we were born, through the chill of the halls and up the stairs to our room.

"Shall I draw us an evening bath, Flynt?"

"Sure! I'll light the fire."

Now, we were both hard as rocks!

The weather was rather bleak as we drove into town for our Christmas shopping. Christmas Eve was in two days and we needed to hurry. When we arrived downtown, Florian insisted that we split ways so that he could do his purchases without me being around. He said Christmas was a season for surprises. We agreed to meet back at the car at 11:30 AM giving us both ample time to browse and make up our minds.

I window shopped, hoping for inspiration, but after a certain time, seeing all the other shoppers milling in the streets, I decided to do a one stop shopping spree and buy only perfume for my gifts. I knew that Ava was always in need of her Shalimar... but what could I find for Florian? I tried to feel what scent would please him, suiting best his personality. As I was pondering the problem, a sales lady rushed up with a big smile asking the usual question, "Can I help you?" I asked her to let me sniff and choose by myself. I had to choose for a very demanding friend... "Good luck!" she said. Finally I made up my mind on Habit Rouge. One could never go wrong with Guerlain, I thought. The mellow, yet spicy undertones seemed to be perfect for him. I went and paid, asking them to gift wrap both. I was right on time at the car, finding Florian already there.

I asked him, "How did it go for you?"

"Quite well thank you, and you?"

"Great. Are you ready to go back to Brandywine?"

"Yes! I've got to practice my piano for Ava's party. I really want to be in shape! She deserves the best, don't you think?"

"I truly admire your professional attitude!"

After having stashed the gifts, we went down for lunch. As we finished, I followed Florian to the music room. He rummaged through several other scores he found in the stool and decided to fall back on another of Chopin's preludes. I stayed with him for a while, admiring how he'd simply spread the sheet out on the music rack and played. He would slow down, then speed up, go back... a real pro! I told myself, better leave him alone and go warm up for our dance time together.

"Take your time, Florian. I'm going to go workout some in the ballroom. Come when you want and in attire... This time I think it's better we dance dressed. You never know who might pop in. Ha!"

"You're right! Please bring your sound machine down for us too. Whatever music you choose is fine for me. See you in about an hour. Okay?"

"Okay!"

I chose a super recording of the Boreades by Rameau, a rather lyrical adagio that is so deep in feeling. I changed and went down. It was strange how easy it was to get back to work. Time flew. Once I felt in shape, I simply started to improvise with the music. It was really soul lifting. I didn't see Florian when he came in. He startled me with his applause when I stopped.

"That's wonderful, Flynt! Why don't you dance like that in London?"

"I don't know... All I know is that since we've been together here, with all that we've discovered, did and planned along with living together, I feel like I'm alive again. I didn't know how numb I was until our lives merged. I'm no longer dancing to feel alive. It's because I'm now alive that I'm dancing! And now I want to dance with you!"

"Let's just improvise and see where it leads us. I don't like the idea of fixing a routine. If we dance what we live, let's live our dance in a way that it's free to do what it wants with us."

"That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say!"

"I guess that's why I said it. We hope the same things, Flynt."

"Do you like the music I chose."

"I love it! I just hope it doesn't make me weep out of bliss while we dance!"

"Come here and hug me you sentimental clown! I love you!"

"I'm a clown, am I? Catch me if you can!"

He darted off with me behind, running around the room, zig-zagging, spinning, leaping and tumbling until we fell together and kissed like we were starving. Upon this, Marvin peeped in, looking a bit surprised.

"Excuse me, Sir... I heard a ruckus going on and thought it best to take a look. I see that you are both quite fine. Quite fine indeed! I didn't realise that contemporary dance involved kissing and wrestling..." He chuckled as he closed the door.

We danced on and on together, the music repeating itself until we were exhausted, exhilarated and dripping with sweat.

"Let's hit the shower, Flynt. I think we're starting to stink!"

Between piano, dance and simply enjoying being together, the days and hours flew by. Our after dinner evening by the fire and the ensuing communion of flesh, soul and heart in our bed of ecstasy, love led us deeper and deeper into the mystery of our communion in all that we undertake.

On Christmas Eve, we enjoyed a modest little feast with champagne after desert instead of brandy. We exchanged our gifts that evening.

Ava gave us each the same present : two nearly transparent silk lounging gowns from India. Grandmother still had a bit of nostalgia of her 'hippy' days. We profusely thanked her and gave her our presents. She opened mine first saying, "How thoughtful! I was almost out of my Shalimar."

Then she opened Florian's. She delicately lifted out of flat jeweller's box a very simple necklace : a delicate gold chain with an uncut tear of amber hanging in a simple gold wire setting. It was reeking with elegance. She hugged Florian, saying, "Help me put it on, dear!"

Then it was my turn to open his gift. When I did, I almost gasped : a pure cashmere sweater in various tones of auburn and brown, nearly matching my hair. It was so soft! I brought it to my cheek and buried my nose in it. A tear swelled in my eye as I leaned over and kissed him.

Then Florian opened my gift, looked up at Ava and then at me and put a drop or two on his neck and said, "Flynt come over and enjoy!"

I hugged him tight and hummed my satisfaction. Then Ava said, opening her arms, "Boy's you haven't tested my Shalimar yet!" We immediately hugged her together as she laughed, "That's enough! You're tickling me to death, you rogues!"

It was a very Merry Christmas!

Florian and I said good night to Ava as she left to distribute her gifts to the staff. We went up, lit the fire, stripped and slid on our robes. Florian's silhouette wrapped in a mist of silk was a dream. We cuddled, gazing at the fire, caressing each other.

I nudged Florian's chin, turning his face to mine and we kissed. He then laid down on his back, his head in my lap. His erection, veiled in the gown, pulsed along with the beat of his heart. He lifted his hand and caressed my cheek and whispered, "Flynt, I yearn to have you inside me. We know that we have nothing to fear. The school blood tests showed that I'm negative."

"Me too."

"I brought my baby oil for massage. It can do for other things too. Please, I beg you, I need you inside me tonight."

"I want to, but I've never done that before, Florian."

"Neither have I. But we can try. I'm sure nature will show us how."

"I'll come inside you, like you'll come in me."

"Oh yes! Come now."

He stood, coaxed me up to my feet, lifted the gown off me and let if fall on the rug. I lifted his and once nude he went into the bathroom, I climbed in bed. He returned with the vial of oil and placed it on the night table. He then went and put some more wood on the fire. All the electric lights were off. The light of flames danced on the ceiling. He slipped in bed beside me and began to kiss my chest, my tits all the way down to my cock. I turned him over on his belly and pulled his buttocks up just enough to clench his sex in my hand. I hovered over him, kissing his neck, his back, his cleft, plunging my tongue in and around his hole. He writhed some, lifting himself to my mouth. I then replaced my tongue with my dribbling cock. He whimpered and moved ever so slightly. I anointed his hole with the oil, then my cock and then inserted the tip in place. Little by little as I held myself steadfast, Florian backed himself up to me and slowly we united. His own cock throbbed in my fist as we began the slow undulation of love's instinctive dance. Our rhythm increased as I lost myself deeper and deeper in him. We began to tremble together, his intimate muscles grasped my sex, grinding it. Instinct took over. Our merging became a tempest of orgasmic frenzy. He stifled a scream in the pillow. His semen overflowed in my fist. I tensed and arched, gasping for breath. His anal grip on my shaft made me thrust and blast over and over again. Then, spent, I collapsed on him, licking his cheeks, kissing the smile on his upturned face.

Once our wits were gathered, I pulled out of him only to hold him even tighter, face to face.

I whispered in his ear, "Tomorrow at dawn, I need you to come in me too."

"I'll be there. I'll always be there. On Christmas Day and every day after!"

When a misty sun tried to shine through the fog, the bedroom became less dark. We both hugged and rose to go pee. We brushed our teeth and sponged bathed the essentials and crawled back in bed. We snuggled as I spooned up to Florian. He tenderly began hunching me. Much to my surprise, he then coaxed me to roll over on my back. He spread my legs and laid on me, our cocks slowly grinding. He smothered me with kisses, playing up and down my torso, licking my glans, teasing my tits with his tongue, nibbling my neck and ears. I was gently going mad. His cock was teasing my hole as he grabbed my legs behind my knees and lifted my arse just enough to spread some oil on and in my hole. He inserted a finger, then two, massaging my prostate, making me tremble. My cock spilled a steady streamlet of crystal clear precum which he swiped on his own cock. Then slathering his shaft with oil he mounted me and breathing, almost panting, slid his sex in me to the hilt. The pang flashed and disappeared, making me fall into a whirlpool of passion. We pushed together as a swerving rhythm guided our connexion. No thoughts, nor hindrance, nothing but pulsating love flowed through me, carrying me away in the light of Florian's smile. His eyes widened, his nostrils flared, the dance of his sex deep inside me lingered, sped, turned, throbbed, thrusted, meeting my clenching hole. A kind of suave violence swept through us both and then he pushed one last assault and froze, emptying himself, whimpering and drooling, his eyes revulsed and his nails clawing my chest. I spewed in one long flow of semen all that I could heave out of me, moaning, gasping, pulling him down, covering me. He collapsed with all his weight, grabbed my head and covered my face with kisses galore. His deflating cock slowly slipped out of me. Catching our breath, we began chuckling, then tussling entwined, we laughed and laughed, by love, overwhelmed.

"Merry Christmas, Flynt!"

"Merry Christmas, Florian! It looks like it's going to be a sunny day."

We spread out on our backs, stretching and giggling a little more until we decided to bathe and pursue our wonderfully lazy Christmas Day.

The staff was granted a leave and we just idled around. After a do-it-yourself breakfast, Ava suggested we all have lunch at the local pub. That I thought was a great idea. Around about 1:00 PM we piled in her Maserati sedan and drove the few miles necessary to the place she had in mind.

I wouldn't eat pub food all the time, but every now and then it's fun to splurge on a good old greasy fish and chips with some light lager to rinse it down. Florian had to be initiated to rural English 'gastronomy' and found it a lot of fun. Ava admitted she enjoyed, as she states, roughing it from time to time, saying that tomorrow for the dinner party, the meal would be fancy enough! Promising prospect.

After a little nap, we chose our attire for tomorrow. There was one that fit Florian perfectly. It had a Spencer cut and flattered his beautiful rump to perfection. We then worked on our dance and afterwards, Florian and Chopin did some more work. When he came back up, he said his parents had called to wish him a Merry Christmas. They told him to pass the greeting on to me and Ava.

"How do you feel? Not too homesick?"

"Homesick no! I just have a little stage fright for tomorrow, Flynt... Hold me tight!"

We put on our tuxedos and went down to the music room. I hugged Florian. He was petrified as we heard Ava announce his recital. He went and sat at the keyboard. I waited with cold sweaty hands. Marvin opened the doors and Ava led the guests in. Florian played like the god of music himself. It was a triumph.

As he was putting the music scores back in the stool, I sided up to him and whispered, "You were fantastic! How did the recital go for you?"

"Oh, my wonderful Flynt, it went fast! I felt so inspired! When I played, I felt like you were seated on the bench beside me. I actually bulged a bit in my boxers. Then suddenly, it was over. You saw how Ava congratulated me and had me bow several times as the guests applauded over and over. I thought they would never leave!"

We arrived last in the dining room. Seated at our places, we small-talked our way through the meal with the other guests. Once desert was finished, Ava informed everybody that cordials were being served in the formal drawing room. We all retired there. Then Ava made another announcement, "Since liquor is not good for these young men, we shall bid them good night."

She smiled at us as the others gave Florian another round of applause. I was a bit surprised by the way she dismissed us, but took my leave with Florian anyway. Once we were through the door, Marvin came up and whispered, "Lady Duncan had me light the fire in your room, Sirs. You'll find the ice bucket, Champagne and glasses on the chest of drawers."

I grasped Marvin in a hug. He beamed a smile and stiffened a little more than usual. Florian and I dashed upstairs as if there were a mad dog nipping at our heels!

We freed ourselves from the tuxedos, put our evening gowns on and popped the Champagne open. We made a glorious toast to 'Flesh & Flowers', the name of our future dance company, and, congratulating ourselves, emptied the first glass. We hugged and kissed, reclining in front of the fire on the fur rug with the bucket and bottle well in reach.

By midnight we were both rather high... if not to say drunk. We climbed in bed and giggling like school boys, we fell asleep tightly holding each other's adorable cock in hand.

When we went back down for breakfast, Ava came rushing in, bubbling over, asking, "Okay boys! How was the Champagne? No headaches I hope."

"No, we're fine! That was a super idea you had to free us from the impending overdose of small talk."

She carried on, "You made a huge success. I was sooooo IMPRESSED! I didn't know you were so... so totally marvellous!"

Ava does have a way of overdoing things, but we were happy anyway.

"So what are your plans now?"

"Short term or long term?" I asked.

"Both!"

"Let's go have another coffee in the little drawing room. Florian and I have a lot... a real lot of things to share with you."

We went and settled down, just the three of us and we told her that we planned to create our company, Flesh & Flowers. We wanted to live together, finish our year at the school and tour, doing both street shows and legitimate stages, if we're hired... maybe even a cabaret or two...

"Absolutely genial! Those plans fit you both perfectly!"

"We're even thinking about buying a caravan to live in while on tour away from Brandywine."

"How romantic! If I can help, let me know! Now I must tell my stupid daughter about how great her son is and, with your permission, tell her how great his partner is too."

"That's sweet of you Ava, but I plan to write to both my father and mother, thanking them for the usual cheques they sent with their Christmas cards and informing them of Florian and of OUR plans... ALL our plans. Florian's father and mother are already updated on everything."

"And how do they react, Florian?" discreetly inquired Ava.

"They are thrilled for me... for me and Flynt!"

"Let's drink to that! There are a few bottles of Champagne left and some turkey and caviar from last night. Shall we dine on left overs to celebrate?"

"Who could say no? Not I... and you, Florian?"

"Brilliant!"

That evening, Ava told us her dispositions concerning me and Brandywine. She wanted to protect my part of the heritage and bequeath me my due while she was still alive. She told us that the villa in Tuscany was worth a little more than Brandywine and that my mother had a lifelong trust fund giving her a very comfortable yearly allowance. She explained that Brandywine with it's staff and upkeep assured should be bequeathed to me and the villa in Tuscany to my mother. For the rest, Ava's bank and lawyers were working on the details. My mother, of course, had been informed of those dispositions.

Ava finished by saying, "For the time being I'm in perfect health and plan to be around for yet a certain time... just to be able to admire what you two become! Consider Brandywine as yours. You can come and go, but here is your home port. When I'm no longer around, you can make a male dance academy out of it and enjoy the young dancers coming and going as much as I enjoy you two now!"

She is so cool!

Brandywine, Cambridgeshire, December 27th

Dear Mother and Father,

I decided to write to you both the same letter together because it was together you made me. Thank you for the usual cheques and printed greetings.

I know nearly nothing about what you do, how you are, with whom you wake up in the mornings, however I wish to tell you some things about me now.

When you two started arguing, having anger tantrums and finally divorcing, it was if you were ripping me in two. You surely loved each other when you conceived me and that shared love was instilled in my cells for life. I have lived the past five years hurting with that torn-up, damaged love inside me. I found dance. It helped me piece most of me together. A little more than two months ago, real love found me in the person of Florian Willows. Yes, it's a boy's name. Loving him and being loved by him healed the crippled love in me. He freed me from the hurt you two inflicted on me because of your blatant, egoistic immaturity.

Love, real love, holy love has no regard to gender, to age nor to social status for people who are not polluted nor decerebrated by morals, social status or simply by their stupid obedience to conformity. Your divorce freed me from what 'normal' people do with love : play with it, challenge it, kill it.

Florian's father is a boat builder in Vancouver. Florian studies dance in the same school as I do in London. He dances as well as I do... sometimes even better. He dances with his heart. Our hearts dance together. He's a very accomplished pianist too.

We plan to buy a caravan and live like gypsies, touring and performing here in England and also on the continent. Whenever we're not on the road, we'll be here in Brandywine. Grandmother Ava is totally backing us and we're very happy together, all three of us. Even Marvin is smiling now! I trust that you also back us, believe in us and if you don't, that changes nothing. As you know, Mother, Ava has already provided that Brandywine be mine without any possible future contentions.

Mother, I had hoped seeing you here for the holidays, but as usual, there was an unforeseen obligation depriving me of that pleasure. Now that I've entered the age of majority, things can now be settled in your absence, to which I've finally become accustomed.

Father, I realise that you're on the other side of the planet and that you just can't drop in like that, but know that Florian and I shall always be happy to meet you again. By the way, he loves the little car too!

Your faithful son,

Flynt

I gave a copy of the mail to Ava. She entirely approved, saying it was healthy for me to rid my soul of the hurt it had been given and to begin a real life with Florian. Since we were just the two of us there, she took me by the arm, looked at me straight in my eyes and said, "Pardon my French, but with Florian, don't you dare fuck things up with any kind of egoism whatsoever! Am I clear, my dear?"

"You could never be clearer, Ava. Don't worry. I'll be extremely precautious to avoid the rocks on which my parents wrecked their marriage and consequently nearly drowned me while doing so."

"Fine! Now go back to work. You'll soon have to return to London!"

London! My God! The simple idea appalled me! That evening, as we sat in front of the fire, I asked Florian, "Don't you think it would be better for us to go on living here together instead of you returning alone to London and me here? Ava insinuated that she's fearing, as she says, a nervous breakdown after you leave... So, let's don't leave. Give up your flat and let's stay here until school is finished. What do you think?"

"I didn't dare ask, but that was my only desire! There's no problem with my landlady. I'll only owe her a month's notice in advance. Should I call her now?"

"Great! The sooner the better!"

I was so elated that I nearly knocked Florian over, grabbing him in an unforgettable hug.

The move out of London went as easy as could be. We borrowed Ava's Maserati for the baggage. The drive wasn't too harassing. I double-parked while Florian stuffed his bags with all he had, which wasn't much. He returned his keys and up, up and away, out of London we went!

When we got back to Brandywine, we started rearranging my room. It needed a thorough sorting and throwing into the rubbish a lot of useless things I had cluttered myself with. Florian's stuff found ample space to fit in. When everything was in place, the room looked even larger. Being to living together, it takes less space than being alone! It was a very good lesson to remember, a useful exercise for caravan living, dealing only with the essentials!

At dinner, on behalf of the whole staff, Marvin officially welcomed Florian as a member of the household. Florian formally thanked him. He was quite touched by the gesture. Ava, of course, made a big ado over the handing over of the keys as we toasted the moment with our evening brandies.

When we were finally bathed and in bed, Florian said, "It's so good to be here, in OUR only bed. Let's indulge in some quality time tomorrow morning! Classes start in only two days. I feel like I'd be happy to just stay in bed with you day and night till then!"

"Well, we'll see what two days of non-stop sex does to us... with breaks for meals of course!"

"Of course! If not where would the energy come from?" mused Florian.

"From the heart, my love."

"And a bit lower, if I dare say so!"

We nearly did it! We sucked each other off all morning long. In the afternoon and evenings, we took turns on top and bottom. In between our bacchanalia, we spent a lot of time in the bathtub, pampering ourselves. We even went to the ballroom for stretching and doing some moderate exercising together. It was a wonderful time, and yet, when it came time to leave for classes, we didn't mind returning at all!

We quickly got into a good routine. Driving to the station, taking the train, going to class. We had lunch together and finished the day in our advanced contemporary class, paired up and thoroughly recognised not only as dance partners but partners in life also.

We made an appointment with the director telling him that we were now living as a couple. As for the idea of doing a duo performance in the gala at the end of the year, he smiled and said, "I'll have a staff meeting to audition you, if you don't mind."

One Friday morning we woke up with snow. We rang up the school to be excused and settled down to a day by the fire. Florian reminisced about the first time we danced nude in the ballroom together.

"That was so very special, Flynt. I'd like to experience it again. Wouldn't you?"

I replied, "That really was special... and it seems like it's been a long time since we've improvised, completely free, without having to abide school instructions and critics."

"We could just dance together, nude, in silence and blend our energy like an offering to the love we share. We've often talked about getting down to the essentials. Let's let them become dance now!"

Sometimes Florian's concise wisdom floored me!

Since we were in for lunch that day, I told Ava about our research in dance, nude, without music. She didn't bat an eye and said, "I'll tell the staff to never come in the ballroom when you've hung a 'work in progress' sign on the door. I think that's a very courageous idea you have given yourselves to work on. Please keep me informed as to how it goes for you. I've always been interested in minimal art. For me, your research is quite important. It reveals a whole new outlook on purity."

We were both impressed by the dimension of Ava's considerations on our work. That very afternoon we hung the sign on the door and started our research. At first, we felt somewhat uneasy, our nudity made us feel vulnerable, defenceless, exposed and without the excitement we felt the first time we danced, stripping as we improvised, the silence seemed almost unbearable.

"Florian, do you remember when we met in class together. We knew nothing about each other. The teacher just said, sit and hug and carry on from there... and energy took over."

That's what we did. In fact we didn't DO anything. We bonded, breathed and felt the slightest movement making connexions between us. Little by little another quality of motion moulded our movements together and then IT happened. We weren't making dance, deciding to dance, doing dance. We just let dance happen. Our flesh absorbed and energised each other's. We rose little by little and entered into space. We were both vibrantly erect. Our bodies were electric, vertical, weightless, lithe and fluid. We revelled in the warmth of our togetherness, our sexes, barely touching, our scents mixing, all kinds of voluptuous sensations flowing through us, modulating our breathing as we relished in the pure motion of being two in one. It was as if we were being shaped together in the hands of some benevolent divinity. Then our dance accelerated. We became a turbulence of male desire, of orgasmic purity, grasping each other, gasping and spilling our semen in a desperate embrace.

The experience was conclusive. We were on the verge of rapture. Dance, just like love, awaited its awakening in our flesh, having been seeded in our cells in the very instant of our conception. All we had to do now was to rid ourselves of all that hinders its efflorescence. We only had to welcome it into our shared space and time. When we had totally freed ourselves from intention or from any other form of possessiveness, be it of each other, of ourselves, of our ego or of any desired effect, any quest of results, sublimity happens.

We danced again, this time relativising the erotic tension we experienced before. We seemed to have changed the ejaculatory power of our connexions into a yet more ecstatic surge of love, glorifying and freeing our flesh... enlightening our souls, empowering our motion.

Were we making love? Yes, and no. No, it had nothing to do with the communion of body and soul we experience in bed, in the intimacy of our giving and taking of our semen. Yes, this was an uplifting offering of our pure love, of the power of love we were generating in dance.

That night, we made love like we'd never loved before. We bred each other with infinite abandon only to culminate in the ultimate orgasm of mutual fellatio, quenching a thirst that belonged only to us.

When we returned home after classes, we went to the ballroom, hung the sign on the door and there we danced for real. It took us several weeks of steady work and discussion to start understanding what we were actually experiencing. For the time being we just had to relax and let it happen. When we danced in class, our dance was richer. The resonance of our nudity was still felt... and the silence of our minds let the music become simply the acoustic space in which we danced instead of being the justification of our action.

"One day, Flynt, we'll dance nude, in silence, on a stage as an act of art as well as an act of flesh." I had rarely seen Florian so serene and serious as he spoke. It became mandatory to us to heed that affirmation. Progressively we understood that we were on the brink of something more than art. Our dance would now go directly to the untouched heart of those who witnessed our offering, be it in the nude or not.

We invited Ava to come and see what we were now doing. She wept and simply said, "Thank you! You've worked a miracle." She left us saying, "Continue your work, boys! You're on the way to genius. Don't go astray! See you at lunch!" We danced again before going back to our room to shower. We found several flesh pink roses strewn on our bed when we entered.

I realise that our story, up to now, was mostly about things we were going to do. Now we're doing them. We organised a private studio performance of our silent nude duo for our classmates and teachers. Everybody was deeply touched. Our duo for the graduation gala, was in fact a previews of what became our street work. It was a great success. Our caravan was delivered on time. We've been on the road now for a month and a half. We've done a dozen or so street and park shows, using music with our super Bose sound machine. Our showmanship is improving all the time and Florian is very persuasive, smiling, bowing and having our audiences fill the hat with pound notes and coins. Our school director told us that he had spoken to a friend of his who runs a very well rated experimental theatre not far from Angel station about our nude duo. He was interested. We called, made an appointment and went over to show him our work. He said simply, "Love is dance and dance is life. Nothing more needs to be said."

He programmed 'Flesh & Flowers' for the whole month of October. Ava will certainly make a smashing impression at the premiere! I wonder what she'll dare wear...

A free picture album illustrating this story (pdf) is available upon request at marin.giustinian@laposte.net