Chapter 6. There But For The Grace of God--
Jase's foot was out from under the covers again as I walked back into the bedroom from my cat-taker duties; just like a little kid, I thought to myself.
Sneaking to the end of the bed, I knelt down and blew softly across the sole of his foot.
He stirred, crinkling his toes in irritation.
I stroked a fingernail lightly across the bottom, and traced the underside of each toe.
"Umm?" I heard.
I kissed him right on the ball of his foot.
"Ahmmm. . ." Jase rolled onto his back, and I took this as a positive signal to keep going. Not that I really would have stopped, mind you.
He arched the foot, and it was joined by the other. In silence still, I started massaging the arches and let my hands slowly work upwards until I had to slide under the covers at the foot of the bed. Jase flipped the top of the covers down and saw me starting to burrow under the sheet, and crossed his arms under his head in anticipation.
Under the covers, I could barely make out the outline of his cock-I concentrated on kissing my way up both legs until they met at the object of my desire. With the tip of my tongue, I tickled the base of his sack and spread his legs a little wider to facilitate access. I like grabbing him by the waist, and digging both hands underneath his back while sucking him off; I have lots of practice in this position, and Jase for his part gets to lie back and relax.
His cock is warm and soft, yet rigid as I swirl my tongue across the sensitive area just below the head. Jase is getting close, so I free one hand to tug on the shaft while I increase my efforts with my tongue.
His hands grip the sheets and his testicles draw up tight; I hug him tight and finish bringing him off as he gasps with each spurt. I let his taste roll across my tongue, and hold him still in my mouth as he becomes super-sensitive, although I continue to gently stroke his shaft.
He relaxes, breathing out my name in gratitude, and I move up until I can cover him like a blanket. After a moment, he reaches down and draws me up further to kiss me softly.
"Babe-love you so much. . ."
"I know, Jase, I love you too."
He grabs me in a bear hug and rolls me over so he is on top. I let him cover me, and wrap my arms around him in tight embrace as we get ready to start the day.
Eric stopped me in the act of cleaning up; he seemed nervous, although he hadn't done anything out of the ordinary today. I wondered what was up.
"Um, I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute." Eric shuffled from one foot to the other, but looked up at me earnestly as I hung my apron on its hook.
"Kara, I'm about done here, can you wrap things up?"
"Oh, sure bro, leave it all to me. You men are all alike. . ."
I grinned and put an arm around Eric's shoulders. "C'mon, let's go upstairs so I want to water a few plants while we talk."
Eric went up the stairs ahead of me, his leg muscles flexing underneath the cover of jeans. The male body is a work of art, especially when the owner is unselfconscious about it. We reached the roof and let ourselves out into the humid Southern afternoon, and I grabbed the hose to get started.
Eric watched me in silence as I treated the most parched of the hanging baskets to a refreshing shower of water. The aroma of wet soil hit my nostrils as I wet down everything in sight.
I finished, and we sat on the swing to talk. Eric sat hunched over, his head hanging down and his hands clasped.
"Ok, what's up?" I asked, leaning back and stretching one arm across the back of the string.
Eric sighed, then looked up at me. "I. . . I. . .oh, crap."
I got a sudden cold feeling.
"Zach, you remember the night you had a prowler here?"
"Yeah," I said. I wasn't sure where this was headed, but it didn't sound good.
"Well, it was me."
Shock. Confusion. Anger. All these and more flooded me as the realization of what he said hit me.
"Why-I mean, what were you doing?!" I hissed.
He ducked his head. "I didn't. . ." His voice trailed off. "I mean, I just wanted. . ." He couldn't look at me.
I sat forward and grabbed the nearest arm. "Eric, look at me, I want to know what the heck's going on with you. "
He looked up at me in anguish and spoke softly.
"I love you, Zach."
This quiet admission hit me like a mallet right between the eyes. I sucked in a quick breath and looked around helplessly as I fought for a response. I need you Jase, I thought suddenly.
Eric sat up and put a hand on my arm. "Zach, say something-I need you to say something." His face showed a confusion that must have mirrored the look on my own.
I swallowed. "Eric-why did you climb the escape?"
He coughed. "I was trying to leave you an orchid for a present. I know how much you like plants, and I wanted to surprise you."
I thought about this for a second; I had never had to deal with a secret admirer before, so I wasn't prepared.
"You know I love Jase. . ."
Eric smiled bravely. "Yeah, I know. I wish you weren't taken, but I don't hate Jase since it's obvious how much you two love each other." He wiped his eyes as he tried to make himself clear.
"Actually, I wish I could have the same type of relationship you guys have."
I digested this in silence. So, now I know three things:
-
Eric is gay.
-
He wants me.
-
I'm in deep shit.
Think, Zach, think! I extricated my self from his grip and stood up.
"Eric, c'mere." I drew him up and into my embrace. He sighed and leaned into me as I pulled his head into my shoulder.
"I'm not mad at you."
He sniffed, and said, "yeah?"
"Yeah." I turned and we walked to the edge of the roof facing the bay. "You'll find the guy for you, I know it. I like you a lot, but nothing can happen between us."
He pushed me away, and crouched at the edge of the roof, looking down at the alleyway.
"Zach, I don't have anyone, and I can't talk to my friends about it. I wouldn't have said anything, but I feel guilty as hell, and I don't know where to turn. I just need to know you care."
"You know that Jase and I both care about you. . ." I was feeling lost at this point.
"Yeah, I know. I wanted to say something the night you guys came over, but I just couldn't." He risked a glance at me.
"So now what?"
At that moment the door to the roof opened, and Jase came out with Pugsley in his arms as he smiled and headed in our direction.