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Life's Illusions - 10 years on - Chapter 19
It was an unusual but beautiful setting, the White Dinning Room at Montclair, it's mirrors and chandeliers sparkling majestically in the morning sun streaming through it's tall windows.
They'd all assembled, the board members of Woodruff Corporate, most had been there already, only a couple of the people around the extended table had needed to travel, they all knew what the meeting was about, they were equally split, undecided, in their opinions.
Woody knew this was not going to be a walk in the park, but at Montclair he felt a confidence he knew he wouldn't have possessed anywhere else.
His mood lightened considerably seeing Josef, Reece and Pauly's son, sitting proudly next to his Grandfather, PJs every glance told the boy how pleased he was to have him there.
Woody remembered his first board meeting, wondering if Josef were as excited as he'd been, the look on his young face told Woody he was.
During the previous day's Josef had begged and badgered his grandfather to allow him to attend the board meeting, finally, after chatting with Reece and Pauly, PJ had arranged for one percent of his and Lenny's shares to be transferred into Josef's name.
At dinner PJ had passed a share certificate to Josef, reminding him to have it in his pocket when he attended the board meeting, Josef hadn't understood what the paper was, but nonetheless he'd been so excited Pauly had to remind him twice to eat his dinner.
There had already been a good deal of opposition, it hadn't been anything hostile, Woody sensed it was just a fear of change, but that hadn't put him off, he'd promised his father he would see this through and he would.
PJ opened the meeting, thanking everyone for their attendance before he handed over to Woody.
Before Woody could commence one of the legal team accompanying Tom Petterson, Head of Woodruff Legal Department, interrupted.
"Could we establish why a child is present, as I understood it, attendance of this meeting is restricted to Woodruff Board Members and invited Woodruff Heads of Department only?".
Josef looked crestfallen, he imagined he'd be told to leave.
Woody turned to his father and smiled, in return he received a nod, it told Woody everything.
"Josef, would you stand for a moment please".
He looked ready to burst into tears but he stood, just as his uncle Woody had asked.
"Josef, I believe you were given a piece of paper yesterday by your Grandfather?, would you pass that piece of paper to Mr Petterson, that's the gentleman three down on your right".
Josef remembered the paper his Grandfather had given him, he pulled it from his pocket and easing back his chair, walked to Tom and offered the document, Tom examined it and handed it back before speaking.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the newest member of the Woodruff Board, Master Josef Caswell-Thorn".
To general hand clapping Josef retook his seat, beaming with pride.
Woody winked at Josef before looking around the room, these were not happy faces, they were worried he thought.
"You all know me, most of you have known me all of my life, I hope you trust me".
Woody paused.
"Knowing me, trusting me, you can be sure I'll respect your opinion if it doesn't match the response I'm looking for, so please, voice your fears whatever they are, be true to your convictions, but be prepared to explain and defend them".
Again he paused.
"This meeting today is about the possible sale of the Woodruff and Fielding Hotel Divisions along with Woodruff Hotel Supplies, but first let's backtrack a little. We at Woodruff Corporate own quite a list of impressive, financially lucrative companies, Woodruff Hotels, Fielding Hotels, Woodruff Banking, WFC our cruise company, Woodruff Holiday Parks, and our most recent acquisition Woodruff Hospitality Supplies".
Woody took a minute to sip from his water glass, looking around the room he thought he'd identified the faces he needed to concentrate on.
"We're big, we've grown, kept pace with progress, bucked the trend, we're immensely successful, we make excellent profits, but we're too big".
Pause.
"We're at the point, no that's not quite true, we got to that point, where we became too big, quite a while back".
Pause.
"Managing this massive company has gotten to a critical point".
Pause.
"My father has decided he does not want to manage a company this large, I agree with him, I remember quite vividly, still to this day it frightens me, thinking I'd lost him a couple of years ago when he collapsed in New York, so what do we do?".
Pause.
"Our solution is to slim the company down, sell off three Divisions, Woodruff Hotels, Fielding Hotels and Woodruff Hospitality Supplies, as for the proceeds of that sale, it's not money that Woodruff needs, we are already cash rich, the proceeds would be distributed as an extra dividend to shareholders and it would be a quite substantial amount".
Pause.
This would leave us with three extremely profitable divisions, most importantly it would bring us back to a position where we can still manage our overall holdings, we, my father and I, see this as the only solution to avoid the need to liquidate our personal stock completely and step away".
Pausing, this time Woody could see the doubting Thomas's getting the message, object and you'll be left with no member of the Thorn family in a position of authority, they would sell up completely.
"I'm going to give you a rest now from my voice, refreshments are available in the next room, let's say we'll convene in thirty minutes".
Woody had expected that there would be some lobbying during the break but he was surprised, not a one, no one approached him or his father, had he been wrong in his assumptions?, maybe he'd wrongly imagined there was an opposition.
Returning to their seats Woody continued.
"My father, your Executive Chairman, shared with me his concerns relating to the size of the company, along with his desire to reduce his involvement, he asked me to investigate the possibility of reducing our overall size whilst still retaining a strong, lucrative, vibrant, selection of businesses, that we would continue to grow".
Pause.
"There were a couple of options, a little over two years ago we prepared the company for possible floatation on the stock market, however, it was my opinion at that time we would be doing the company a disservice, the market was weak, we risked damaging Woodruff not helping it grow".
Pause.
"At that time, for the reasons I've explained, I put forward an alternative plan, to divide Woodruff up, make the new Divisions virtually self governing, responsible only to this board, that plan, as you are aware, was adopted and has been hugely successful which is why we can consider taking out whole divisions and selling them off".
Pause
"I have looked closely into what would happen to Woodruff if we opted to float the company and accept outside shareholders, I didn't like what I saw, my research suggests it would allow a flood of investors with specific aims, to extract a profit, without a shred of interest in the wellbeing of the company, or of its employees, I cannot recommend that".
Pause.
"I have decided to recommend a sale of the three Divisions mentioned, in this way I, we, can be sure they would pass to another company properly aligned with the product they supply, there is still no guarantee that they will remain trading as they currently do, nor any guarantees in relation to employee job security, but overall I believe it to be the best solution".
Woody paused, looking at his watch, he was about to suggest a break for lunch, it had now been over three hours since the meeting started, but he was surprised by Josef's hand waving in the air to get his attention.
"Yes Josef, did you want to say something?".
The boy looked frightened, he nodded timidly.
"Okay, go ahead, try to speak loud enough that everyone can hear, don't be frightened, everyone gets to say what they think, or ask questions if they don't understand, so tell us what's on your mind".
Josef looked around the room before starting out nervously.
"I don't understand, I mean I do, well, I understood most of what you said, some of it was boring, and I might have missed some, I know Gramps doesn't want to do so much, that's good because Gramma needs looking after and she's more important than anything else, but why are you selling the hotels, Gramps isn't the only one who can do the job, you can do it Uncle Woody, so can Uncle Josh, that's what I don't understand".
Around the room there was general sniggering at the reference to Woody being boring, but there was also a nodding of heads in agreement with what Josef had asked.
Before Woody could continue, Josh asked to speak, Woody motioned for him to take the floor.
"Thank you Josef, I agree with your question, and the points you raised, Woody, I for one am extremely grateful for the hours of work I know you have invested in this and many other projects, I would take this opportunity to remind all of my fellow board members, that Woody, since his return to Woodruff in an advisory capacity, has never been awarded any compensatory payment for the time and effort he has expended on our behalf, I know he has only recovered bare expenses for travel".
There was a general muttering of thanks and hand clapping from around the room before Josh continued.
"I have listened with interest to your recommendations, however, as I'm guessing you were about to suggest a break for lunch, I will ask, before we reconvene, could I have a few moments of both yours and PJ's time?, there's something I wish to explore".
Woody looked at PJ who nodded his agreement before Woody continued.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I suggest that we break now for luncheon, Josef, I haven't forgotten your question and as soon as we reconvene after lunch I will attempt to answer you, Josh if you would care to accompany Poppa and I, we can use my office".
The three went off to Woody's office, once they were behind closed doors Josh opened up.
"PJ, I've listened to everything that's been said so far but I can't help feeling there's something missing, there has to be more, something you're not telling, and yet, no matter how much I ponder the situation, I cannot for the life of me come up with an answer, so please, if there is more, a pressing reason why we must let these three Divisions go, I'm asking you to tell me".
PJ and Woody stared at one another before PJ spoke.
"I should have realised Josh, how in tune we've always been, only you could sense it, no one else has or would see it".
Josh replied, "So there is something more?".
"Yes Josh, I'm frightened, terrified even, that sooner or later Woodruff will be responsible for the death of one of us".
PJ explained his fears and the list of people hurt by the company as Josh listened, when he stopped talking Josh replied.
"Oh PJ, in gods name why didn't you talk to me about this before now?, aren't you the great advocate of getting a broader view, a more varied perspective?, you've discussed this with Woody alone, he's as close to the problem as you are".
PJ made as if to reply but Josh cut him off.
"The list of people you mentioned, Gramps, Lenny's parents, they were killed because of the actions of a thoroughly evil, corrupt man, who would have acted the same whatever situation he found himself in, Woodruff was just a convenient tool, my accident, and let's be clear, it was a road traffic accident, no more, was not in any way attributable to Woodruff, in fact you could attribute my very survival to Woodruff, had I been traveling without a work agenda, I would have been strapped in, the very fact I was prepping for a meeting meant I was unrestrained and reaching for papers when the impact happened, that simple fact saved me from being crushed alive, in truth, Woodruff saved my life".
Josh paused to think.
"Peter and Christina Farley, they'd been on hundreds of Woodruff social events, you can't blame Woodruff for the drunken driver who ran a red light and killed them, they weren't the only fatalities in that incident, there were two other deaths in vehicles totally unrelated to Woodruff, it was purely bad luck, wrong place, wrong time".
Josh looked at Woody.
"Rosy, dear sweet Rosy, Woodruff wasn't to blame there, if there were blame to be laid, I would take it to Billy and Julia's door, Will was an obnoxious, manipulating, spoiled prick, growing up as an only child with no financial restraint did him no favours at all, he wasn't given the basics you and you brothers and sister received, he grew up believing everything was there for the taking, it finally took a well placed right hook to stop him, you can't blame Woodruff".
This time he looked at PJ.
"Don't hate me for this, the problems between you and Woody, they were a direct result of you not being rational, allowing your temper to rule, you were the only one angry with Woody, everyone else, including Billy and Julia, knew Will was the one to blame, that mistake led directly to your own misfortune, you drove Woody away, you caused your workload to increase, you were the one who didn't share that load, I was there PJ, I could have taken the strain, but you were too stubborn to admit defeat, too stubborn to ask for or accept help".
The silence was deafening but Woody noticed his father nodding slightly, deep in thought.
"That fiasco with Pauly and Reece, Lenny's heart attack, they aren't Woodruff's fault, they were down to two people, that idiot you fired from legal and Lenny herself".
Woody watched his fathers head snap up with fire in his eyes.
"Slow down PJ, don't bust a gut, I'm just pointing out, Lenny is Lenny, that idiot was the one who caused the harm to Pauly and Reece, okay he was able to do it because there wasn't anything in place to restrain him, for that you could blame me as well, but anyone with half a brain would have checked with you, Woody or me first, especially after being given a direct order to desist, and then there's Lenny, she'd been told that very morning to rest, not get excited, yet there she was storming through Corporate like a bloody Sherman Tank, all guns blazing".
Woody couldn't help it, he laughed, the thought of his mother as a tank, firing salvoes in all directions had him in stitches, PJ had to admit defeat, he also burst into laughter, followed by Josh.
When they'd managed to get themselves under control again PJ asked.
"So tell us Josh, what do you think we should do, I don't want so much responsibility anymore, whatever we put as a reason, I nearly lost Lenny, I want to be occupied but I don't want to be absorbed in business, I want to be able to spend time with my family, I understand now why Gramps was so grateful when Celia took charge of Corporate for him".
Josh smiled.
"That's easy, you move to Executive Adviser, appoint someone to the position of Executive Chairman, job done, you retain all of your powers, you only step in when you want to, you'll be a figurehead Exec, but if the need ever arose you could take control".
PJ and Woody appeared to be considering the idea.
"I would even suggest that you share the role, be Joint Executive Advisor, with Woody, halve the possible commitment, pay Woody for once, he's been providing free consultative advice for the last couple of years, that can't continue, I'll leave you guys to think over what I've said, I'm hungry, I'll ask Jacqueline to send you in something".
Josh collected some lunch and went to sit in the garden, he'd been there a few minutes when Lenny joined him.
"A Bloody Sherman Tank, you described me as a Bloody Sherman Tank, really?".
Josh couldn't help it, he started to laugh, nearly choked on his sandwich, then he was almost crying with laughter, Lenny was laughing too, just as hard.
When they'd calmed down Lenny looked him in the eyes.
"Thank you Josh, you may just have saved the day, if we did get rid of the hotels, I'm convinced he'd feel guilty afterwards, he wouldn't be able to help it, I think you just gave him a get out, but be prepared for some fall out".
Lenny kissed his cheek and left him pondering her words, what fall out could there be?.
As they retook their seats Woody spotted Josef had his hand raised, even as Lenny attempted to wipe the remnants of his lunch from his chin.
"Yes Josef".
"You promised to answer me Uncle Woody".
Woody wanted to grab him and hug him, it was like looking into a mirror to the past, he could see himself in Josef.
"That I did Josef, that I did, but first I want to thank you young man, you see, today you've not only seen how we manage Woodruff, how we operate our decision making process, you've also been an important part of it, the people around this table get to question decisions, question them before we implement them, suggest alternatives, thanks to you that's exactly what happened today, you made us all think, you got others to challenge my recommendations, because of your challenge, we have decided there is no need to sell any part of Woodruff, instead we will recommend a change in the management structure, exactly as I believe, you suggested".
Josef was beaming and pumped a closed fist into the air, "Yesssss".
Everyone laughed.
"Okay, let's get on, there are now two recommendations on the table for voting, the first is to sell off the three divisions discussed earlier, the second recommendation is to not sell anything, to keep Woodruff as it is but change the management structure, easing the burden on our current Executive Chairman".
Woody watched as faces around the table showed by expression they were pleased with the choices.
The voting confirmed that no one wanted to lose any part of the company.
Woody handed back to PJ.
"The main reason we had this meeting, why we were looking at selling off part of Woodruff, was because I don't want to be so tied to it, I want more time to spend with my family".
PJ paused for a drink of water.
"I gave Woody a direct instruction to look at either floating the company on the stock market, or ridding ourselves of a substantial part of it to make it more manageable, easier for me, but it's been pointed out to me, I don't have to reduce the company's size, there is another way, move out of the Executive Chair position I presently occupy, appoint someone else to oversee the greater picture".
He took a minute to allow them to absorb what he'd said.
"As of today, I will become Executive Adviser, I'll hold that position jointly with Woody, our joint powers will supersede that of the Executive Chairman, however we would only intercede in exceptional circumstances, in my place as Executive Chairman of Woodruff Corporate I am appointing Josh Hartnet, the role of Chairman Woodruff Corporate will be filled by Bryan Fielding, they in turn will deal with the vacancy created by their moves".
There was general applause until PJ called for order.
"Before this meeting breaks up, I want to make one final appointment, the Chairman of Woodruff Banking called me personally a few days ago, he tendered his notice, for personal reasons, mainly due to his advancing years, he wishes, like me, to spend more time with his family, normally that would give us a headache, finding someone capable of taking on such a mammoth role, we though are fortunate, I happen to know of a man who has aspired to that very role for a long time, well now is his time to step up to the plate, I'm appointing Christopher Farley, Chairman of Woodruff Banking Division, congratulations Chris I know your father would be very proud of you, sorry Bryan, you need a new Head of Finance at Woodruff Corporate".
Bryan laughed.
"Gee thanks for that little bombshell PJ, congratulations Chris, well deserved, even if it does create problems for me".
The meeting broke up a few minutes later, Woody caught up with an energised Josef.
"Well what did you think of your first board meeting Josef?".
The boy was absolutely pumped.
"I loved it, I was a bit frightened to ask you that question, but you said I could ask so I did, I want to be like you when I grow up Uncle Woody, Gramps says I'll need to learn all about the company so I'm going to do that, would you teach me?, Gramps says no one knows more about Woodruff than you do, so I guess that makes you the best one to teach me".
Woody scooped him up and whirled him around.
"You bet I'll teach you, but I'm guessing you'll learn mostly on your own, when you go home, I'll arrange for you to spend time with one of the General Managers of Woodruff Torremolinas, his name is Peter, his wife is Rozel, she's the Housekeeper at Woodruff, he's a nice guy, you'll learn a lot from him, but as your first lesson, always remember, our two most precious and important commodities are our guests and our staff, each make us successful if treated well.
At The Inn at Montclair Ally was enjoying a meal with his parents, sister and brother in law.
He'd given them a tour of the Inn, since he'd inherited it there had been major changes, the restaurant they were eating in was one of those changes.
At the rear of the building there had been an apple orchard, bordered on one side by a long double height stable block, on the other side, a massive barn.
Both buildings had been derelict but Woody had always known what he wanted them to be.
His first project had been to convert the old attic, or roof space of the Inn.
He now had his own apartment up in the eaves, two bedrooms, one of which was ensuite, a house bathroom, lounge, kitchen and he'd managed to build on a balcony which gave him spectacular views over Montclair.
The stable block had been his second project, it was now fourteen ensuite bedrooms, arranged over two floors with a corridor on each floor leading into the Inn.
As the work on converting the stable block got underway the builders were also ripping out the old living quarters on the first floor of the Inn to create four further ensuite bedrooms above the Inn, he could now accommodate around forty guests, rarely were there more than two rooms spare, his forward bookings, thanks to the webb page Beth had built for him, were excellent.
Once the bedrooms were completed, he turned his attention to the barn, it was now a stunning restaurant location, drawing dinners from far and wide.
Aly knew why his parents were here, it had been an 'elephant in the room' situation since they'd arrived, they wanted him to go home to Torremolinas, his father in particular wanted Aly to take up a post in the security company he'd run successfully for over twenty years.
It was something else that reminded him of his and Stevie's goal, now gone forever, they'd planned to leave the forces after their next tour was over, Aly had assured Stevie his father would jump at employing both of them.
They'd planned on it being the time when they 'came out' to family and friends, told them they would be a couple, Aly's face showed the hurt that he still felt, the sadness easily visible to his family.
He realised his father had been talking to him but he hadn't heard him.
"Sorry Poppa, I was away with the fairies there, I didn't catch what you said".
Leo looked at his son, "Still raw is it son?".
Aly looked at his family, he couldn't believe how supportive they'd been, hardly believing now the worries he'd had about telling them why Stevie's death had dealt him such a hammer blow, there'd been no need to worry, his father had taken the news and wrapped Aly in a tight hug until he'd stopped sobbing.
"I think it always will be Poppa, I still get really angry some days, I go up to the plot at Montclair and talk to him, I'm not sure if it's healthy, or even if it helps, I just need to do it".
Raul, his sister's husband put an arm around him.
"I still go and talk to my Momma, it's something I've always done, when I was really young I'd come away crying, asking why she'd had to die, as the years rolled on I suppose I accepted, she was gone, I only had vague memories but Poppa always kept her photographs on display, Pip still keeps those photographs on display, I asked once if it bothered her, she said not at all, she just hoped my Momma approved of how she was bringing me up and was proud of me".
Aly dipped his head to his brother in laws shoulder, he'd always had a love for Raul, growing up Raul had been his sister Sofia's constant shadow and like a big brother to Aly.
"You want me to come back to Torremolinas don't you?".
His question was directed at all of them, it was his mother who spoke.
"We want you to be happy Aly, but every time I see you I don't get the sense you are happy, sometimes I worry you spend too much time working and no time at all enjoying life, I want you to realise life's passing you by, yes we want you to come home, we always have, we always will".
He knew his answer would be a blow to them.
"I'm not coming home, I have a life, well, a life of sorts here, I have my Inn, it keeps me busy, right now I'm content to just go with the flow".
It was Leo who ended the conversation, Aly had confided in his father the day before they laid Stevie's ashes to rest, he'd told his father between sobs about his and Stevie's plan to work for him when they left the service, Leo understood the pain his son would feel even considering taking that path alone, he didn't intend to let this continue.
"You know I wanted you to follow me, take a major role in the company, it's always there if you change your mind, but I'd rather you choose your own path, if you're content here, for whatever reason, then I'm happy with that, just remember where we are son".
It had been the day after that meal, Aly had been up since dawn hard at work in the kitchen, his breakfast chef had been unwell, Aly suspected an over imbibing rather than a genuine illness, but as all his employees worked extra shifts as needed, he could hardly grumble at one missed shift, that however didn't solve the problem of thirty eight hungry guests, he'd had no choice, Aly was cooking.
Thankfully at lunchtime he didn't open the restaurant, he only offered a slimmed down lunch menu in the bar and lounge bar of the Inn, easy enough, unless like that day, two bar staff didn't turn in, hence why Aly was serving behind the bar.
At around three in the afternoon when trade slackened off, he was able to leave his one remaining staff member to cope until the evening shift relieved her, he could finally go up to his apartment for a well earned rest, or so he'd planned.
"Any jobs going Guv'nor", he'd heard as he was about to leave the bar.
Turning to where the voice had come from he was mesmerised for a moment, the voice had come from an Adonis, curly dark blonde hair in a cascade of curls, a face he could have looked at forever, sleeveless Tshirt with straps so thin they left one nipple standing proud atop a sculpted pec and it was pointing right at him, arms with muscles that screamed 'Gym Rat', above ripped jeans that showed naked flesh from waistband to mid thigh on one side, suggesting they were the only thing covering the massive lump pushing out the crotch.
"You are the Guv'nor right?".
Aly snapped back from his gazing, holding out his hand.
"I am the Inkeeper, name's Aly, and yes I do have some bar work on offer if you're interested".
Taking the offered hand into a firm shake, he left Aly almost a trembling wreck, as if an electric charge had shot through him.
"Roger Bowles, but I prefer Bo, from England, doing the paupers tour of Europe and the cash is badly depleted, so if you have work, doesn't matter what it is, I can turn my hand to most anything, I'd be really grateful".
His statement was punctuated with a thousand watt beaming smile which displayed brilliantly white teeth and left Aly drooling.
"I was just about to leave for the afternoon, come upstairs and tell me about yourself".
Bo's reply sent a crimson tinge right up to Aly's face,
"Where I come from you usually get dinner before being invited upstairs", it was followed by another brilliant smile, "But I'd settle for a shower, sorry, I must look a mess, I've been riding for two days, I'm a bit sticky, my bike's outside".
Aly didn't answer he couldn't, he needed to turn away, his cock was rapidly rising to full mast at the thought of this absolute god naked in his shower, the loose thin jogging shorts he was wearing were never going to be capable of hiding it.
At the door which led up to his apartment Aly turned, "Coming?".
Bo followed him, as the door closed behind them Aly heard Bo's reply.
"Hopefully pretty soon, that's been a while too".
Bo hadn't missed the body on the man now climbing the stairs in front of him, his eyes were riveted to the perfect set of bubble buns directly in front of him, his nose detecting the heady aroma of man musk.
When he'd walked into the Inn his eyes had taken a few minutes to adjust from the blazing sun outside, he'd thought the blur behind the bar might be the one to approach, but in all honesty he didn't know for sure if it was a man or woman, as his vision cleared, he'd been riveted, fixed on a body which made his mouth water, topped with a military haircut, this was a god.
At the top of the stairs Aly stopped abruptly to put his key into the entrance door leading to his apartment, Bo was too preoccupied staring at the sight before him, he didn't see the closed door coming up, as Aly stopped, Bo's face planted itself firmly into the trench between the firm round mounds, he couldn't help it, his hands came up to grab the hips and he breathed in deeply, his nose buried deeply into the meaty butt before him.
Aly shuddered, his dick suddenly pointing forward like a throbbing pole.
"Err, would you care to get your face out of my ass".
Without moving Bo replied with a muffled.
"If I have to, but I'd rather not".
He was still holding Aly's hips in place.
As the door opened Aly fell forward, and Bo's grip dragged the loose jogging shorts down to his ankles, trying to prevent himself from falling Aly grabbed the door post on either side and stepped out of his shorts.
It didn't help that Aly had been commando under his shorts, he now stood at the top of the stairs naked from the waist down, his big bubble butt was completely on display, Bo couldn't stop himself, he dropped the shorts, lurched forward to regain his hold on Aly's hips and buried his face back deep into the hairy valley before him, his tongue snaking out to tease the wrinkled opening.
Aly let out a moan, he was leaning forward, pushing his ass out as far as it would go, enjoying the sensations as Bo's tongue lapped and stabbed at his sensitive hole, his cock by now standing rigid against his abs, leaking like a fire hose, strings of silky pre come hanging between his spread legs.
One of Bo's hands snaked around to grip the massive slab of hard man meat, stroking it gently as his tongue continued its assault on the now open orifice.
It had been over a week since Aly had last come and he realised suddenly he was about to hit orgasm, there was nothing he could do, his willpower had deserted him, he could only moan, "I'm coming".
Bo threw himself between Aly's strong legs onto the apartment floor, turning onto his back as he went, pulling Aly down towards him, his mouth engulfed the massive cock just as Ally groaned and lost the battle to hold back his orgasm, thrusting forward he shot blast after blast of hot cream into Bo's mouth and throat, Bo swallowed greedily not losing a drop.
By now Bo's other hand had opened his jeans, fisting furiously at his eight inches of hard cock, not to be outdone Aly twisted, scooting backwards until his face was level with Bo's meat, a well timed manoeuvre as Bo announced.
"I'm coming".
"Aly's mouth engulfed the spitting pole and devoured all Bo had to offer.
As Bo's climax subsided he hooked his hands under Aly's armpits and dragged him up until they were face to face, lips locked, tongues duelling, swapping the tast of each other.
Bo broke the kiss.
"Bloody hell, how long have you been storing that up, you nearly drowned me?".
Aly laughed.
"About a week I think, maybe more, I seem to remember you said something about a shower".
An hour or so later they emerged from the bathroom, each with a sore and deeply plowed arse, but sated non the less, Aly dragged Bo into his bed.
"I need rest, you've worn me out".
Aly was the first to wake, a sleeping Bo cuddling him, his head on Aly's chest.
His gaze went to the photograph on his bedside table, Stevie smiling, as if to say, 'You did right, I'm pleased'.
He realised Bo was awake and looking at him.
"Who is he?".
Aly told him everything, how Stevie's standing in for him that day, allowing Aly to Skype with his family at his sisters wedding, led to Stevie's death, about the guilt he carried because Stevie shouldn't have been there that day, it should have been Aly, the worry of not knowing how to tell his family about Stevie and their relationship, the trauma of bringing Stevie home, the decision to bring him to Montclair for his final resting place, how since he'd inherited the Inn it had been his life, all he'd concentrated on.
Bo didn't let go, just pulled him closer, when Aly stopped talking he'd said.
"I know what you went through, but, what if's are stupid, Stevie was there you weren't, it could have been a swapped shift or a rota change you had no say in, any number of reasons or situations could have put Stevie where he was that day, meanwhile there's a life out there to be lived, imagine when your time comes, you meet Stevie again and you have to say, after you I did nothing, just coasted along, I didn't really live, you think he'd be okay with that, he lost his chance to live and here's you squandering your chance".
Aly was immediately angry.
"How the hell would you know what I went through, the pain, the sense of loss, or what Stevie would think of me, I don't need platitudes from someone who's never experienced loss on this scale".
Aly had pulled away, sat back against the headboard of the bed, his arms crossed, clearly angry that Bo would try to diminish, trivialise even, his grief.
Bo didn't flinch, he leaned half out of the bed, reaching across the floor for his jeans, he pulled his wallet from the pocket.
Rolling back he caught Aly gazing at his naked arse.
"It's okay, you can look, you're the first I've let anywhere near it in two and a half years, but you have to know you were bloody good".
Opening his wallet he pulled out a photograph, it showed Bo with his arm around another young good looking guy, they were laughing, Bo explained.
"He had his hand down the back of my pants, his finger in my ass when that picture was taken, it was the last time I was happy, the last time I laughed, or even smiled, for more than a year, he died within five minutes of that photograph being taken".
Bo had gone silent, Aly could see his Adam's apple bobbing, the glistening eyes, he was reliving those few minutes, trying to regain control, after a couple of minutes he went on.
"Joe was an adrenalin junkie, jumped off anything, buildings, bridges, mountains, you name it, I watched as they rigged the bungee line, he blew me a kiss as he threw himself backwards off the parapet, the line snagged, he slammed head first into the bridge support, broke his neck, he didn't suffer, they reckon he died instantly, we'd been together since college, nearly twelve years, my life stopped, it went on hold that day, I didn't do anything for a year and a half, hardly ever left the flat, that's what you call an apartment, didn't see the point, Joe was gone, my life was over, my little sister Madeline, I call her Maddy, finally snapped me out of it, she slapped me so hard I swear my teeth rattled, she said much the same things I've just said to you, that was a year ago, I kissed her, thanked her, packed my bags and since then I've bummed my way around Europe, I think Joe would approve of what we did today, in fact he'd probably say, 'About fuckin time Bo, and with a shit hot guy too'.
Aly felt bad, really bad, he'd thrown a schoolgirl strop, Bo had every reason to know what Aly had gone through.
"Sorry, really, sorry Bo, I forget sometimes, I'm not the only wounded soul out there.
Bo put his arms around Aly, lay back down, his head on Aly's chest.
"I try to imagine Joe watching me, getting a laugh out of the situations I find myself in, like being threatened with arrest for scattering his ashes from the top of the Eiffel Tower, I'm more determined now to live my life to the fullest, I'm not a great believer of the hereafter, but on the off chance it's true, I'm keeping my options open, talking of which I seem to have found something else which is open".
Aly had been half listening to Bo talking, but his senses had been on an entirely different path, they'd been willing Bo's fingers to continue their gentle teasing between his legs, legs which had opened automatically, right now two fingers were slowly easing in and out of his still lubed hole and Aly could hear himself moaning.
Rolling on top, Bo's mouth found Aly's, as his hard cock slid deep inside a warm moist hole, Aly was moaning into Bo's mouth and dragging him closer as he raised his legs higher.
They never did make it back downstairs that night, sleep finally claimed them in the early hours, totally sated they would both claim it was the first real sleep in a long, long time.
Bo woke next morning wrapped in Aly's arms with a hard cock poking his hole, it took only a little encouragement before the hard pole was sliding deep into him.
Aly woke to the realisation his morning wood was being expertly milked by a warm tight hole, it didn't take him long to get with the program, reaching around Bo, one hand cupped an amazingly hard pec, teasing the proud nipple between thumb and finger, his other hand slid down over washboard abs, through a tuft of silky pubes to massage Bo's hard cock.
It should have been a long hard struggle to muster up an orgasm, given the number of times they'd each come the night before, but in only minutes both were boiling over, Bo shot strings of thick cream on his stomach though Aly's fingers, while Aly emptied his boy batter deep into Bo.
They finally managed showers around ten o'clock, Aly started to cook breakfast but was pushed out of the kitchen by Bo.
"I reckon I owe you some rest time, sit back while I work my magic".
What Bo did with the meagre content of Aly's kitchen was nothing short of a miracle, as Aly told him.
"You ought to think of opening your own restaurant, you are damn good".
Bo took up Aly's offer of bar work but in truth did a little of everything, bar work, kitchen prep work, gardening, painting.
In the daytime he explored Montclair, often riding off on his powerful bike, enjoying the country lanes.
On one of his afternoon bike rides he ventured up to the gates of Chateau Montclair and was admiring the beauty of the building from outside on the road when a Bently Limousine drove up to the gates, he could see it had two occupants, the driver and a passenger in the back, but he couldn't make out any features behind the tinted glass.
As he started to remount his bike the car stooped abruptly on the gravel and the rear passenger door opened.
"Bo, is that you?, it is, oh my god".
In seconds Lenny had left the car and wrapped her arms around him.
"I can't believe it's you, this has made my day, but what on earth are you doing here?".
Bo was shocked, it took him a few seconds before he recognised Lenny, and to regain his senses.
"I'm touring Europe, working my way, earning my keep as I go, but never mind me what are you doing here?".
Lenny kissed his cheek.
"You remember Woody?, he married Jacqueline Montclair, they live here, so does Pete, his husband is Jaque, Count of Montclair, PJ and I spend most of the summer here with them, come in, bring your bike up to the house, we'll have tea, you can tell me what's been happening with you, PJ will be so pleased to see you, he keeps in touch with Maddy, asks about you often".
With his bike parked Lenny led him into the Chateau.
"Lenny I'm a mess, I've been riding for an hour or so and I was gardening all morning".
Not daunted at all Lenny led him to a bathroom to clean up and fetched one of Woody's Tshirts for him, when he came out of the bathroom he looked decidedly tidier than when he went in.
There was a whirl of meeting people before he sat with Lenny and PJ on the terrace.
It was PJ who broached the unspoken subject.
"How are you really doing Bo?, we were so worried when you shut yourself off, I ask after you all the time but Maddy can only tell me you're off finding yourself, we've missed you".
Bo smiled.
"I can honestly say I'm doing okay, I'll go back one day, but not yet, I keep in touch with Maddy, she's doing a good job looking after the shop and to be honest I don't really care".
He stopped and they could see him thinking.
"For a long time I couldn't go near any of the businesses, I didn't leave the flat, one day was the same as the next, it was Maddy who forced me out of it, she gave me a talking too any coach would be proud of, though I suspect the language would make even their hair curl, but it worked, I packed a bag, told her I was going to see the world and left her in charge".
He stopped again.
"In London I went into the restaurant expecting to feel overwhelmed, thinking I wouldn't be able to cope, I was wrong, I walked up to Henry the Maitre d, I told him I didn't have a reservation, he had his back to me but he recognised my voice, when he turned to me he was crying, I put my arms around him, it must have seemed surreal to the guests staring at us, he almost dragged me to a table, he stopped with me, ate dinner with me and when I left he kissed my cheek and said, "Don't leave it so long next time boy, I'm an old man, you may have time to waste but I don't, come back soon".
Lenny asked where he was staying and almost laughed when he said he was working at the Inn in Montclair, she watched him go bright red when she commented the landlord is a rather handsome devil.
Bo didn't expand on his relationship with Aly, they didn't let on they were close to Aly either.
At around Six o'clock he made his way back to the Inn, he didn't tell Aly about meeting Lenny and PJ he didn't think Aly would know them, he also didn't notice the strange look Aly gave to the Tshirt he was wearing.
At night he occupied Aly's bed, there was never any conversation about that, it was just accepted by both that's where he would be, until a stupid misunderstanding earned Aly the rollocking of a lifetime from Lenny and Aly's stupid actions left his bed empty once more.
TBC
ARB Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.