---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Old Valley Road Hotel.
By Wombat. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Any constructive comments are appreciated. I'm at 'bungala_wombat@yahoo.com.au'. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Nifty Readers, If you enjoy this story or others on Nifty, please send a generous donation to Nifty.org at 'http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html' to help support and maintain this free service full of wonderful stories so it may continue to remain available to everyone.
Thank you all, Wombat ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 7 - 'A Rainy Day' Part 23.
------------------------------------ Part 83: Cafe Juliana's ------------------------------------
On Saturday and Sunday mornings Ellis and Bryn took to having breakfast in Cafe Juliana's on the ground floor of the apartment building. It started off on Saturday mornings so that they could be out of Marica's way while she cleaned the penthouse. Bryn would often go into the hospital to work on Saturday afternoons. Sunday mornings at Juliana's followed as a matter of course.
Weekend morning breakfasts soon became a tradition, particularly when Geoffrey joined them. The three had a table near the window booked permanently for Saturday and Sunday mornings.
The cafe had a splendid outlook over Elizabeth Bay. The morning sun reflected off the water and the patrons could see the yachts lying at anchor on the water over the bay.
"You know, these people make really nice coffee despite the fact they're all Chinese," commented Bryn one Saturday morning. "I didn't think that the Chinese could make a decent cup of coffee but these people do. I really like their coffee."
"Much to your surprise," laughed Geoffrey. "The Wong family took over the cafe about three or four years ago and I've certainly got no complaints about the food. And, yes, Bryn, they do make good coffee."
"Yes. You know the Cafe de Paris near the hospital? It's run by some Chinese. They make truly awful coffee. I reckon it's worse than the coffee they serve up in the hospital. I've been to one or two other places around Sydney and if they're run by Chinese, you can guarantee the coffee's going to be bad. But these people here, they're different. Their coffee is excellent."
"I'm not complaining," put in Ellis. "I like their coffee."
He took a hearty swig from his super-sized mug of caffe latte.
Geoffrey smiled. "I see you're a latte gulper, not a latte sipper," he said.
Bryn bellowed with laughter.
People in the cafe looked at them.
When Bryn had settled down, Geoffrey leaned across the table towards Ellis and asked, "What have you been doing to Bryn? He's been just so happy and cheerful at work lately. Even the prof has commented on it."
"Fucking him," replied Ellis quietly.
"What?" queried Geoffrey. "I don't understand."
Bryn bellowed with laughter again.
"I'll put in plain English, Geoff," murmured Ellis with a grin. "I've been fucking him up the arse."
Bryn was helpless with laughter.
"Oh I see," said Geoffrey quietly as he leaned back in his chair. His face was a picture of surprise. "Goodness me! I suppose that would explain it all. I must say I was wondering a few weeks ago if Bryn was having problems with his hips because he went through a period of having an awkward gait but he seemed very cheerful about it all. However, the problem seemed to resolve itself pretty quickly so I didn't say anything."
Bryn leaned forward and said, "That awkward gait was because I had the most energetically fucked arse. Yeah, it was a bit sore for a while until I got used it but by God it was fun."
He stretched out an arm and indicated Ellis.
"Look at that man, Geoff," he said. "He's one solid heavy hunk of muscle. He's massively strong and he's a real powerhouse in bed. And in other places too. He's been fucking me cross-eyed, stupid, sideways, senseless, whatever you like. Being fucked by him is absolutely fucking mind-blowing. It's just fucking wonderful. I love it!"
"I see," replied Geoffrey with his eyebrows raised. "How often do you two do it?"
"As often as we can. Like this morning for instance. Ellis gave me a big long and very energetic fuck this morning. That'll keep me going for a little while. I love that well-fucked feeling, that really delicious ache in the backside."
"What about Mrs Brcic? What do you do about her?"
"Oh Marica, she's fine about it," put in Ellis. "She knows and she's cool about it. No skin off her nose. I keep paying her."
"It's all a giggle for her," remarked Bryn. "And I've got to say, she looks after us both really well. I certainly can't complain. And by God I love my fucks up my arse."
He sensuously stretched out both his big thickly muscled arms like a big cat and slowly put his hands behind his head. People in the cafe stared at his huge bulging arm muscles.
Both Bryn and Ellis were wearing tight cutaway Y-back muscle tank tops that did not cover much of their torsos. Ellis wore a bright red one with tight white jeans. Bryn's tank top had blue and white horizontal stripes which he wore with blue denim jeans. Geoffrey was wearing a long-sleeved green corduroy shirt with grey slacks.
Suzie the waitress brought their breakfasts, two big ones for the musclemen and a much smaller one for Geoffrey.
"My compliments to the barista," Bryn said to her. "The coffee is really good, as usual."
"Thank you, sir," she replied. "My brother will be very happy to hear that."
Her dark eyes twinkled. She smiled back at Bryn as she walked off with a wiggle of her bottom.
"You know, she's a really attractive woman," said Bryn quietly.
"Yeah, she is, for a Chinese," giggled Ellis. "I didn't know you were into Asian women, Bryn."
"Shut your face, Ellis!"
Ellis looked at Geoffrey's breakfast.
"Is that a croissant with vegemite I see on your plate, Geoff?" he asked.
"Yes," replied Geoffrey biting an end off his croissant.
"That's a real Aussie take on the continental breakfast! But I reckon it would make a Frenchman spew," Ellis laughed.
"I reckon it probably would," laughed Bryn.
"Who cares?" replied Geoffrey chewing.
When they were finishing breakfast, Geoffrey remarked, "Ellis, apropos of our earlier conversation, I'm glad you're looking after Bryn so well. He's our resident genius, a real asset to our department."
"It's an absolute pleasure, Geoff," replied Ellis. "A genius you said?"
Bryn mumbled something incomprehensible through his mouthful.
"Yes. He has an IQ that's more than 190 and it shows," said Geoffrey. "He often picks up things that we miss and he's always coming up with new leads for research, stuff we never dream of looking at."
"You lot are all just bloody slow," remarked Bryn.
"Bryn, arrogance ill becomes you," said Geoffrey sternly. He turned to Ellis and said with a smirk, "You're going to have to give him more of your good hard fucks up the backside."
"Oh I will! With pleasure!" exclaimed Ellis. "But I can't guarantee that's going to get rid of his occasional flashes of arrogance. No way!"
Geoffrey laughed. "Well, I suppose we're going to have to continue putting up with Bryn's unbearable moments despite your best efforts, Ellis."
He said to Ellis, "I wouldn't go telling people about his IQ. He might become even more unbearable."
"Me! Unbearable!" exclaimed Bryn.
"Yes, you," laughed Geoffrey.
He turned to Ellis. "Bryn does get impatient with ordinary people. He is not a patient man. He does get irritated when people expect him to say genius things."
"Yeah, people expect me to put on a genius show for them," complained Bryn. "People are so dumb. They can be so irritating. Why do I have to put up with it? Why can't I be treated normally? The really great thing about Ellis is he treats me like I'm normal. He doesn't need me to put on a genius show."
"No," put in Ellis with a grin. "He's a bloody good fuck!"
Bryn and Geoffrey both laughed.
"You know, Geoff," said Ellis, "you and Bryn have obviously known each other for a long time. How long?"
Geoffrey laughed. "Ever since he was a bumptious and precocious teenage medical student, like about twelve years. He started medicine when he was sixteen and he just left his classmates behind in his wake, he was so brilliant. He has an incredibly inquiring mind and he was always asking the most difficult questions."
"I see."
"He's still brilliant. And he's still challenging."
Geoffrey looked at Bryn steadily and said, "Bryn, you're one of those singularly fortunate men who have been blessed with an extremely high intelligence that is genius-level and as well as that you have enormous muscles and tremendous strength. In other words you have been blessed with plenty of both brains and brawn. Please consider that you tower over us ordinary mortals and please treat us with more consideration."
Bryn looked ever so slightly abashed. He said, "OK, I take your point."
"Good." Geoffrey turned to Ellis. "I must say, Ellis, that you and Bryn are well matched. You certainly aren't left behind by him. In other words you're certainly no slouch intellectually. You're most certainly not unintelligent. That is obvious to me."
"Thank you, Geoff," replied Ellis.
"You know, ordinary people are so dumb," said Bryn. "It's so frustrating. People are always doing stupid things, like when you're out driving in traffic. It's breathtaking the stupid things people do in their cars. They just keep missing the obvious. They just don't see. And people can be so boring. The stupid conversations I have to put up with."
"Well, most of us are normal, Bryn," retorted Geoffrey. "You're the one who's abnormal. You have an abnormally high intelligence and an abnormally strong physique. You really do have to make allowances for us normal people."
"And Geoffrey is most certainly not stupid. Anything but," put in Ellis.
"Thank you, Ellis," replied Geoffrey. "OK, Bryn, what about Ellis? Is he boring?"
"No! Absolutely not," barked Bryn. "I've stayed with him this long, longer than I have with just about everyone else. Ellis easily passes the interesting test. He is not boring and by God he's a good fucker! And he's a good fuck too. Sex with him is so much fun. And he's interesting. He's been around. He's got lots of stories to tell. He's just so much fucking good fun to be with."
"That's good to know. Ellis, just for interest's sake, do you know your IQ?"
"Nup," replied Ellis.
"Didn't you do an IQ test at school?"
"Dunno. I think we did some of test in junior high school but I've got no idea what the result was."
"I know you didn't go to university but how did you do at school?"
"Nothing flash."
"I understand that means you didn't distinguish yourself at school."
"Yep, that's right. He was too busy getting fucked by the older boys," put in Bryn with a grin.
Geoffrey rolled his eyes. "Do you mind, Bryn?"
Bryn ignored him and focussed on Ellis.
He said, "I think what Geoff is getting at in his ever so long-winded way is asking what are you going to do with the rest of your life. I ask the same question too. You're forty years old, Ellis and you're doing nothing. Yes, I know you're a very rich man and you certainly don't have to do any paid work but are you really wanting do nothing but have sex with me for the rest of your life?"
"Yes! Sure thing!" replied Ellis enthusiastically.
Geoffrey exploded with laughter.
"Ask a silly question, Bryn," he laughed.
Bryn glared at him then focussed on Ellis again.
"OK Ellis, what do you do all day while I'm at work? Nothing! Well, nothing much! Yeah, I know you spend a lot time at the gym and going for long runs and keeping ultra-fit as well as fucking me! All your gym work fucking shows! You're bulging with huge muscles. Your arms are nearly as big as mine and you're shorter than me. You've got a fantastic build. You look absolutely spectacular. You're an absolute dreamboat. You're fucking gorgeously good-looking with a body to die for. You're the envy of every man who claps eyes on you. I see them looking you up and down, they sure do and it's funny watching them looking at you so furtively like they're saying 'I'm not queer'. Some older guys do admire you openly. They're not worried about showing their admiration for you. And you love showing off that utterly magnificent body of yours, like you're doing right now. But honestly, you're the best fucking thing that's ever happened in my life! You really are! It's been wonderful living with you, absolutely fantastic. I wouldn't trade living with you for the whole world. And I love you. I'm nuts over you. I won't ask you how I compare with your former boyfriend because you and he were together for fifteen years and he betrayed you but you and I have only been together for a few months. Look, Ellis, you're obviously intelligent as Geoff said. You've got to do something with your mind. If you don't use it, you lose it and time is ticking by. You're forty years old now. I would dearly love to see you do something really worthwhile. But. What are you going to do with the rest of your life?"
That final question hung in the air.
Thoughts whirled through Ellis's mind. He knew Bryn was deadly serious and he knew Bryn well enough to know that Bryn was relentless. Bryn would keep coming back at him, badgering him until Ellis came to some sort of decision. He was taken aback by Bryn's open declaration of love in front of Geoffrey and Geoffrey certainly would not have missed it. However, he realised that it was very likely that Geoffrey had already worked it out for himself. He thought of Hilda back at Findhorn and the occasional remark that Theodora made. He was drifting now. He knew it. He had been drifting ever since he returned home to Australia. Before then there were the London years. He had a wow of a time having fun there but that was all he did. He had caught a glimpse of the possibilities at Kirkmadrine but that had been drowned out by London. He had had a stronger glimpse at Findhorn especially with his conversation with Hilda. Theodora was a true friend. She had stayed friends with him all these years since the time she stayed with him in Sydney twenty years ago.
"Er... Er..." he stammered.
Geoffrey smiled at him sympathetically.
"That is indeed a heavy question Bryn threw at you," he said. "Most people would struggle to answer that question."
"Don't baby him, Geoff," said Bryn sharply.
"I'm not. He's obviously struggling with that most difficult question and I think he would benefit from a little direction."
Geoffrey turned to Ellis.
"Have you thought about doing a course at University? You are easily intelligent enough and you should be able to get in as a mature age student. I should mention that university tuition is free now thanks to Gough Whitlam so it won't cost you anything. And yes, Bryn is impatient. He expects all of us to be able to do what he does even though it's not always possible for us and you're in pole position as his lover."
"Yeah, sure is. And Bryn, I do love you," said Ellis.
Bryn grinned. "Yeah, thanks. You've said so a few times. It's pretty bloody obvious. And look, I do care very much about you. I would hate to see a mind like yours go to waste. You are very intelligent otherwise I would've become bored with you by now. I love you, not just you're a bloody good fucker and you're got a truly magnificent body, but you're also funny and entertaining and bloody good fun to be with. And you get on well with other people including introverts like Geoff here."
"Do you mind Bryn?" blustered Geoffrey. Then he laughed. "I put with a lot from you, I really do."
"I'm glad you're so tolerant," grinned Bryn. "Anyway Ellis, watching you handle Marica is a treat. I get the impression she can be a real dragon but you've got her eating out of your hand."
"Mrs Brcic is a real dragon, a real fire-breathing dragon, believe me," interrupted Geoffrey. "I've seen her in action. She can be downright frightening. Just ask some of the people living here. But then you, Ellis, can charm the pants off a nun."
"Not that I'd be interested," laughed Ellis. "Marica Brcic looks after Bryn and me really well, I've got to say. She puts up with my little, er, quirks. What is really great about her is she knows that I'm gay and she doesn't care. Bryn and I are living together and she knows we have sex. She was quite funny when I fucked Bryn for the first time."
"Yeah, she laughed her head off when she realised that you fucked me so hard that I had a really sore arse," laughed Bryn. "God it was great though. Best sex ever."
"Yes, Bryn, you were limping around for days afterward," said Geoffrey with a wry smile.
"That's because Ellis kept fucking me senseless all the time. He didn't give me a break. He really monstered me, that randy muscly bastard."
"Quite."
"Anyhow Ellis, what would you do at Uni?"
"Dunno," replied Ellis.
"You could study biochemistry. Then your eyes won't glaze over when I talk about cellular mechanics," suggested Bryn.
"Bugger that for a laugh," declared Ellis. "I was crap at chemistry at school."
Geoffrey laughed.
"That's because you didn't work," retorted Bryn. "Look, seriously, Ellis, you could be destined for great things. It's damned obvious you have great potential."
"Potential, shmotential," said Ellis. "Bryn, you sound like the religious brothers at school."
"I'm serious about this, Ellis. There's definitely something about you, something shining inside you and fighting to get out. You could be a great man indeed. You could go soaring much higher than I can."
"Um." Ellis thought of Hilda's words, particularly those about Ellis being like the lighthouse on the headland.
Bryn continued. He was intense. "God knows where you might end up. I may be just a stage in your life. One day you may move on away from me to whatever great things that are waiting for you in your future."
"God! I hope not. I want to stay with you, Bryn! Forever! I love you!"
"Understand this, Ellis. I won't stand in your way. I'll do whatever's necessary to help you on your way even if you do leave me behind."
"You are very noble, Bryn," said Geoffrey quietly but intensely. "Few people would say what you've just said."
Bryn shrugged.
Geoffrey turned to Ellis.
"You've got that splendid grand piano sitting in your living room. It really is a beautiful instrument and I love playing it. You did say one day you'd like to be able to play it. Why don't you take up piano lessons?"
"Geoffrey, you're so pedestrian," retorted Bryn.
"Yes, Bryn, I am. I am one of those who do the ordinary but necessary tasks but you, Bryn, are one of those highly gifted individuals whom ordinary people like me need to climb to the mountain tops and tell us what you see."
"So is Ellis."
"This is getting scary," said Ellis in a small voice.
Bryn put his arm around Ellis's shoulders.
"Don't be scared, mate," he said. "You'll be fine. And if you want to take up piano lessons, that's fine by me. Just as long as I get the occasional fuck."
"No worries on that score," replied Ellis with a laugh.
"Ellis, if you do decide do some study at University, you'll need to decide soon what you want to do and apply to enrol in the next couple of months," said Geoffrey. "If you're interested in learning the piano, I could introduce you to Sabine Kretschmer. She's a very good pianist and she tells me that she used to teach the piano at some university in Germany before she came out here with her husband Hermann. She's sitting at the table over there with her husband now. He heads up the local office of some big German company and they have an apartment in this building. I suppose the young man sitting with them is their son Detlief. He must be over here on holidays to see his parents. Normally he is working in Bonn. He's the executive assistant to the West German Chancellor Herr Helmut Kohl."
"Am I supposed to be impressed?" asked Bryn.
"Yes," replied Geoffrey.
Bryn blew a raspberry. Ellis sniggered. He loved Bryn. Geoffrey raised an eyebrow then smirked.
"Ellis, would you like me to ask Sabine now about piano lessons?" he asked.
"Okay," replied Ellis.
Geoffrey went over to the table where the Kretschmer family were sitting and spoke to them. Shortly Geoffrey returned accompanied by the family and introduced them to Ellis and Bryn. Bryn went, picked up an unoccupied table and placed it abutting their table. The Kretschmer family sat down. Bryn signalled Bernie, one of the waiters and ordered coffees all round.
When Ellis confessed his complete lack of musical experience, Sabine laughed. He liked her throaty laugh. She agreed to teach Ellis and said that she did not see any problems. She would start from the beginning but she mentioned that it was a good thing that Geoffrey had been giving Ellis some education in music. She and Ellis made the arrangements for regular piano lessons. When Geoffrey told her about Ellis's grand piano she was keen to play it and give Ellis lessons on it.
When Sabine came up to Ellis's penthouse for his first music lesson, she sat down at the grand piano and gave an impromptu recital. She was delighted with the piano. She declared it was a beautiful instrument. Ellis agreed that she should give him piano lessons at his piano. He was quite happy with the arrangement.
At first he found that his progress was frustratingly slow but as he practised more, he was able to play more complex and interesting pieces. He was keen to tackle the Beethoven piano sonatas but most of them were much too difficult for a beginner. He was determined. He spent hours practising the piano. Sabine was impressed with his progress.
At the Sparta Gym, Bryn became notorious for his vicious assaults on the punching bags. The gym was in a converted factory with a saw- tooth roof, high ceilings and open steel girders as rafters. The punching bags were suspended by steel chains from the girders. Bryn would pick a bag and punch it so hard that the heavy bag would swing up near the ceiling. The big man packed a tremendously powerful punch.
When he assaulted the punching bags in the hospital gym, the chain would often break and the bag would go flying across the gym. Either that or the bag would split open at the seams. The hospital administration would complain to Bryn about the damage he had done. Bryn would reply mordantly that it was their fault for continuing to put in cheap and nasty punching bags and chains. Not only that but people complained to the hospital authorities because they feared being injured by the wildly swinging punching bag or when it flew off the broken chain. Eventually Bryn was obliged to give up using the hospital punching bags.
Bryn had no such problem at the Sparta Gym. The other users had the good sense to stay clear of the wildly swinging punching bag and the chains were a lot more robust than those at the hospital. Other big men could get the punching bags swinging as wildly as Bryn did but no- one else assaulted the bags as often and as vigorously as Bryn.
Ellis told Marica about Bryn's savage assaults on the punching bags. He said that no man could possibly survive such a barrage of such powerful punches from such a tremendously strong man. Bryn could kill a man very easily. She laughed and said that Bryn should hire himself out as a bodyguard.
Some of the men at the Sparta Gym suggested that Ellis and Bryn should enter bodybuilding competitions. Both Ellis and Bryn had spectacular physiques that were of professional standard and it was the general opinion that both men would do very well in the competitions and that they should win titles. Bryn indicated that he was not at all interested. Then someone pointed that both men would have been disqualified because they were gay. Bodybuilding federations were at that time notoriously anti-gay. They did not allow gay bodybuilders to compete.
One day Ellis jumped onto the punching bag at the Sparta Gym as it sped past him after Bryn had delivered a series of massively powerful punches to the bag.
"Wheeeee!" Ellis cried as he sailed up near the roof clinging to the bag.
When the bag swung down and back to Bryn, Ellis leaped off and landed on Bryn's bare chest. Bryn was knocked over backwards by the impact of Ellis's bulk. However, Bryn was able to break his fall backwards onto the thick rubber floor covering thanks to his martial arts skills. He was able to avoid hitting his head. Ellis ended up on top of Bryn.
"You're a fucking show-off!" exclaimed Bryn angrily.
"And I love fucking you," laughed Ellis in reply.
Ellis immediately started mouthing Bryn's neck eagerly, a move he knew drove Bryn wild with lust. Bryn's anger vanished. He groaned with rising passion. A big goofy smile spread across his face. He rubbed his hands over Ellis's hot sweat-slicked back. They rubbed their hot sweaty bare torsos sensuously together and ground their groins against each other as Ellis continued mouthing Bryn's neck.
Rick, a big massively muscular shaven-headed man in his forties who used the gym regularly, came over, squatted down next to them and put his hand on Ellis's shoulder.
"Break it up please, fellas," he pleaded. "You're making us all feel so fucking horny. Please, guys?"
"Yeah, OK," replied Bryn as he pushed Ellis off him.
"Aw! I was enjoying that," whinged Ellis.
"You're always fucking randy," retorted Bryn with a smile.
"Yeah!" Ellis grinned salaciously. "I can't help it with you around."
Both Ellis and Bryn stood up. Their stiff cocks bulged out in the fronts of their tight white brief gym shorts.
"Geez, you two blokes do have big cocks," remarked Mack, another of the muscular regular gym users.
"Stop drooling, Mack," laughed Rocky, another regular.
"Piss off!" returned Mack.
Rick scratched his shaven head.
"You know, Ellis," he said thoughtfully. "You had us all fooled when you started here originally. A lot of us were after you because you sure are a gloriously good-looking and built solid hunk of muscle. Like Mack here, he was itching to get his mouth around your cock."
"Gee, thanks! You're a mate, Rick," retorted Mack sarcastically.
"Yeah, well, we were all like that," said Rick. "Ellis, you didn't respond to any of our hints or suggestions so we decided you were a straight guy who was cool with gays and he was being loyal to his little woman at home. You just politely brushed us off. We had one hell of a surprise when you turned up with this, oh fuck, this fucking beautiful big hunk of glorious muscular he-man. Oh fuck, we were so fucking disappointed. It was bloody obvious that you were both taken. You only had eyes for each other. Was Bryn with you when you first started here?"
"No," replied Ellis.
"How come you were ignoring us?" asked Rocky.
"I was still getting over my ex-boyfriend," replied Ellis. "I didn't want sex with anyone and I'm not a cruiser."
"How did you get your rocks off?"
"I went out with Mrs Hand and her five daughters."
"Oh right." Rocky laughed. He was a little embarrassed.
"You're pretty open about it," commented Mack.
"So?" returned Ellis.
"So what is it about Bryn then?" asked Rick.
"Isn't it bloody obvious?" retorted Ellis.
"No," said Mack.
"Stoopid!" interjected Rocky.
"Well, with Bryn it was love at first sight," said Ellis.
"Yeah, with me too," put in Bryn. "We just clicked together."
"More like a fucking big bang," laughed Ellis.
The men laughed.
"OK, I envy you two," said Rick. "It's pretty bloody obvious that you both are very much in love with each other. I can only but wish you both well and that you both have a long and happy relationship together."
"Thanks, mate," replied Ellis.
"Yeah, thank you, Rick," said Bryn.
"Bryn, you sure have one hell of a handful with Ellis," commented Mack. "But it must be one hell of a lot of fun."
"Yeah, it sure is a lot of fun," replied Bryn grinning.
-------------------------------------- Continued in Part 84. --------------------------------------