Kismet, Chapter 2
When Derrick pulled into the drive of his lovely home, Craig thought he'd indeed been transported into a fairytale setting. However, it wasn't a castle, or even a Victorian mansion with gingerbread trim. It was a rather, plain but elegant home built in the 1990's. Its "enchanted" appearance came from being carefully maintained and nicely landscaped. Houses that looked this perfect were found only in storybooks and decorator magazines.
"Wow! How do you afford this on a teacher's salary?" Craig blurted out, not considering how it sounded. "Some teachers claim they're living hand to mouth."
"The profession isn't known for paying particularly well," Derrick smiled, "but I have an inheritance which makes the difference. This place was willed to me by my Grandma for being her companion, and sometime nurse. In a way, I earned it."
"I'm sure you deserve it for being a compassionate guy. If you went out of your way for a stranger, like me, I can only imagine how well you treated your own flesh and blood."
Derrick was a little embarrassed by Craig's enthusiastic praise and did his best to deflect it.
"I'll show you to your room if you're tired, but you might like a snack first. I have meat, cheese, crackers, and fruit."
Craig claimed he wasn't starving, but he had a pretty healthy appetite once they were seated at the kitchen table with the array of goodies Derrick laid out. They spent several minutes in conversation.
When Craig stifled a yawn, Derrick put the perishables in the fridge and led the way upstairs, carrying one of the bags which held Craig's few possessions.
"I think you'll find this room comfortable. It's the largest one, other than the master bedroom, and the bathroom is directly across the hall. Please feel free to use any of the towels. I set out toothpaste and a new brush if you don't have one of your own.
"Please don't open any of the outside doors until I turn off the alarm system in the morning or it'll disturb the whole neighborhood. I get up pretty early, so that shouldn't be a problem. You're welcome to sleep-in as long as you want to."
"Thanks. This is like a luxury hotel! I'll sleep like a baby, tonight."
Derrick was up earlier than Craig the next morning. He glanced through the partially open door to the room Craig was using and saw the guy sprawled out face-down partly covered by the top sheet. One leg was pulled up, displaying a firm calf and bare thigh. Evidently, he slept nude as Derrick did.
Derrick used the treadmill in the basement rather than going to the gym that morning. He wanted to be home to make Craig's breakfast when he awoke.
After an hour, Derrick went up to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and check the headlines in the Gazette. He was still sitting when Craig came into the room clad in a holey pair of boxers. Derrick didn't react outwardly, but he was sure his heart skipped a beat.
"Mornin' sleepyhead. What would you like for breakfast? I've got eggs, bacon, waffle mix, bread to toast, cereal, and juice."
"I'll be fine with a bowl of cereal."
"That won't hold you till lunch. Let me make you a farmer-breakfast." How do you like your eggs?"
"Scrambled, but you don't have to do that"
"Yes, I do. I'm starved, and I'll make it for both of us."
While Derrick cooked, Craig looked at the classifieds in the newspaper.
"Rents are pretty high in this town! I could get a whole house in Anamosa for what some of these one-bedroom apartments are going for."
"Yup, the cost of living is a lot more here than in small towns. Decent wages mean pricier housing."
"I'll have to save up a lot longer to have the first-month's rent plus a damage deposit."
They discussed the pros and cons of city life over their meal.
"What time do you have to be at work today?"
"Not until 10:30 because they don't serve breakfast. There'll only be a few pots and pans by then and no dishes."
"Okay, we'll leave around 10:15. That should be plenty of time even if the traffic lights are against us."
Derrick paid a few bills on-line and ran some errands. Saturday was a good time to get things done.
He had some Kohl's cash and coupons but didn't need a thing, so he decided to spend them on things Craig could use. They could always be exchanged if they didn't fit.
Lunch and supper consisted of leftovers. Derrick didn't feel like eating out alone. It was far less expensive to eat at home, anyway, and he could control the nutritional content of what he ate.
It was a tired Craig who slumped into the passenger seat that night.
"Wow! You've put in a 12-hour shift. You must be beat."
"Well, it wasn't all that many hours. I had a couple free in the afternoon, so I walked around the mall."
"You're working a split-shift?"
"Yeah. Traffic is pretty light between 2:00 and 4:00."
"You should have told me. I could have picked you up and you could have had a nap. Is Sunday the same?"
"I get off at 3:00 tomorrow and someone else is there at night. It's not very busy once the noon rush is over."
"Okay, I'll pick you up then."
"So, you didn't appreciate my ratty boxers?" Craig joked as he came down to breakfast in a pair of boxer briefs Derrick had bought him.'
"Actually, they were kind of sexy, but I thought you might like a few new ones. You're working hard. You should be rewarded for you effort."
"I don't want you to be spending a lot of money on me."
"Hey, with all the coupons and stuff, they were practically free. I can't pass up a bargain, and I don't need anything right now."
"I'll never be able to repay all your kindness."
"Your smile is payment enough."
As Craig was perusing the want-ads in the Gazette again, his face broke into a huge grin. On the page advertising rentals was a post-it note which read:
"Male in mid-20's, non-smoker seeking same to share expenses. Good neighborhood, own private room and bath across the hall. Includes utilities, kitchen privileges, and some meals. Price $50 per week, no deposit required. Inquire across the room."
"Are you serious?"
"Definitely."
"That's not enough money, you know."
"This neighborhood isn't zoned for rentals, so I can't ask for anything, officially."
Craig rose and pulled Derrick into a tight embrace. Derrick drew in his breath at the sensation of Craig's dick pressing against his body through two thin layers of fabric. He was nearly ready to pop wood when Craig backed off and stood a few feet away, looking disconcerted.
"Thanks! I need to get something off my chest before I agree to the deal. When I'm done, you can rescind the offer with no hard feelings. There's a big secret that you don't know about me. The reason Dan wasn't jealous that I was staying with Kate is that he knows I'm gay."
"Gay? What about your son?"
"He's too young to know what his orientation is," Craig quipped. "Sorry, I shouldn't joke about something this serious. Oakley was an accident. I didn't want to admit I was gay. I was young, dumb, and full of cum, as they say, and I thought maybe a good woman could straighten me out. She is a good person, but the cure didn't take.
"I drank a lot of booze and smoked a lot of pot trying to forget, and when that didn't work, I tried opioids. They didn't fix me either. Finally, I had to accept myself as I am.
"Now, I'm clean and sober, and sorry. So, I'll pack my shit and get out of your hair."
"Wow! I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. I'm sorry. I'll go without any fuss."
"No! I don't want you to go. You've been honest with me, but I haven't been straight with you, if you'll pardon the pun. What I'm trying to say is, do you think it would be awkward for two gay men to live together?"
"You mean, you're gay too?"
"Yup. I didn't intend to invite you to live here under false pretenses. I just assumed the problem would never arise because I knew you were off-limits, and I wouldn't make a fool of myself. Now, I'm not sure I can keep my internal promise."
"I'd be pleased if you didn't."
Both of them moved forward to close the gap. They embraced tightly and then Craig threw caution to the wind and kissed Derrick on the lips. It was a magical moment.
"I'll get breakfast started," Derrick said as he broke their hug.
"Um, I can do without if you have something else in mind."
"I have several things in mind and they all include you. That's why it would be best for us to eat and go about our day. When you're home early tonight, we can discuss them."
"You're not upset with me, are you?" Craig asked hopefully.
"Not in the least! You're as honest as you are desirable. I want us to be able to explore our feelings when we're not under time constraints. I think I feel for you what you seem to be feeling for me. If so, I'd like it all to be as perfect as possible."
When Derrick dropped Craig at the back door of Olive Garden, he stood on tiptoe to give Craig a kiss. Craig beamed as he went in.
Washing dishes is a hot and tiring job, but Craig faced it with a light heart. Everything he'd dreamed about was suddenly happening. Life was good!
Craig's mood was contagious. Soon, the kitchen workers all had smiles on their faces.
Mr. Farley, the manager, who usually took Sunday off, made a surprise visit that day. He was impressed with how everything was going, and he decided to move the staff raises up by a pay period. He made the announcement before he left. That news put everyone in an excellent mood.
Promptly at 3:00, Derrick pulled up to the restaurant. He was freshly showered and going commando in lounge pants and a T, with a light jacket to protect him from the cool spring air.
Craig got into the car, smiling, and returned the kiss he'd received several hours earlier. They held hands on the way home but didn't engage in conversation. All their communication was soul to soul.
Once inside, they took off their jackets and kissed again. Craig was well aware of the growing bulge in Derrick's pants.
"Are you hungry?" Derrick asked.
"Only for you."
"Okay, then let's get you into my shower."
"Are you coming in with me? You smell clean already."
"I am clean, but I want to wash your back, um, while facing you, I think."
That position put them pretty well crotch to crotch. Craig was a little taller, but he spread his feet and Derrick stretched. Craig realized his back was being soaped up, but that wasn't the part of his anatomy that was tingling.
Derrick had jacked off watching frottage videos, but had never experienced the real thing with another male. Yet, he instinctively knew what to do. They were so on fire with lust, that they nearly blew their loads in the shower stall. Derrick stopped in the nick of time.
After gently drying one another, they climbed into Derrick's big bed which he'd made up fresh with satiny sheets. There, they continued to make out.
"My ass is virgin territory, and I've never injected drugs, so I'm clean if you want to take me," Craig offered. "I've been tested."
"I'm the same, but I'm not sure I want to do that just yet. I would like to suck your beautiful cock, though."
"May I do the same to you at the same time?"
"That would be a dream come true."
In about 20 minutes, both were enjoying mind-shattering orgasms.
The guys took a quick, no-nonsense, shower before donning boxers to prepare their supper together. It would have been fun to have stayed naked, but it would have been too distracting. As it was, they stopped to kiss often.
"So, are you taking me up on my offer of a room?" Derrick grinned.
"Yeah, you had me hooked at the price and the offer of some meals, but you really sweetened the deal this afternoon."
"I'd like you to move into my bed if you're okay with that."
"Absolutely! I'd like to go to sleep hugging you instead of my pillow."
"I don't want you to think I'm sharing my home to use your body," Derrick said. "I not trying to buy your affection and I have real feelings for you, not only lust."
"And I don't want you to think I'm sharing my body to pay for a roof over my head, either. I fell in love with you the moment you were kind to me in the Ecumenical Center. You have a beautiful soul.
"Did you know I even quit cigarettes for you?"
"I didn't know you were a smoker."
"Didn't you smell it on me?"
"Yeah, but I thought it was probably from the people you were staying with."
"They are smokers, but I was too. That $20 you gave me was what did it. I looked at it and thought that I could buy four packs if I got the cheap ones. Then, I considered all the ways I could spend it for something to eat, or to give to Ashley for Oakley's care, and I went cold turkey. I even gave the last two to some other bum on the street."
"Wow! I had no idea what would become of that money. It was certainly well spent!"
Since Monday and Tuesday were Craig's days off, and Derrick had the whole week for spring break, there was an opportunity to get to know each other better, emotionally as well as physically.
Monday after lunch, Derrick broached the subject of visiting Oakley. That elicited a beautiful smile from the guy in his bed.
"I'm really pumped that you're willing to meet my kid. Now that you've taken me in, I'll have some cash to give Ashley. She's always nice about letting me see him, but I know the money helps."
"How does she make it as a single parent? Does she get welfare?"
"Nope. She used the small inheritance from her father to buy her own beauty salon. It has living quarters above and there's a room behind the shop where Oakley can play and have his naps so he's not underfoot all the time. So, she keeps him near and doesn't have to pay for child care."
"So, she's doing it all on her own."
"Yup. Her mother died when she was young, and her father was killed in an accident a few years ago. She's always been independent."
"She sounds like a good person."
"She is! I wish I'd been wired in a way that I could've lived with her. I'm not sorry I can be with you like we are either. I guess I'd like to have it all."
"I know how you feel," Derrick kissed him.
His kiss stirred the embers, and they made love again before Craig called to arrange for a visit.
Author's notes: Hey readers, I had responses from more that 50 of you! Thanks. Here's the list so far: Allen, John L, Gordon, Rick P, Bob B, Jim W, Vinnie D, Al J, Jack W, GCD, Charles W, Tom H, Jim (voyager), Darell R, Geoff S, Tony C, Jim M, Jae B, Charles G, Don Mac, John D, Ray M, Hotrod, Bill K, Tim T, Daniel L, Tony F, Barry J, Simon M, Robert L, Jim S, Jake C, Randy McC, Lance C, Bill T, Douglas and Lawrence, Stuart, Owen W, Tom M, BT, Cary, Marty H, JLF, Frank K, Ott H, Greg W, Marlin S, Mendy D, Wayne, Tom A, Steve C, Joe W, Mendy D, and Zero M.
Jake, my emails to you continue to bounce back despite my using "return"
instead of retyping your address.
I'm still out of town, but I have Internet access at the moment. Should be home on Thursday night, Lord willing and the creeks don't rise.
Thanks to David for editing. Thanks to Nifty for providing the site.
http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html
It is 09-11 as I write this. Please remember those who lost their lives on this date 17 years ago.
David