Usual Disclaimer: If you are not 18 years old yet do not read. If you are offended by male to male sexual content definitely do not read. If the laws in your state or county forbid this type of material, do not read. Otherwise enjoy the story and genuine comments will be appreciated.
The author retains copyright (2007) to this story. Reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright.
This story is fiction.
Thank you Nifty for the opportunity to post this story.
Quiet and sensitive, Jeremy first appears halfway through Peter's Mistake, (ch 15).
These chapters relate some events in his life prior to arriving at the house.
Jeremy.
Chapter 3.
On Friday they left straight after College and when they reached the surf beach there was still plenty of time for a swim. Jeremy stared at the ocean. It was so big. They changed at the surf club and Pete was first out the door.
"Come on. It looks good."
Jeremy followed and watched Pete diving through the waves. They were so strong. The bigger ones just knocked you over like you were a leaf. He looked up and saw Pete zooming straight towards him on the front of a wave. Jeremy dived to one side to get out of the way but Pete changed direction and bowled him over.
"Come on. I'll show you how to catch them."
Mr Bonner was helping too and Jeremy soon found he was learning much more from him than Pete. Pete would be showing you something and then a good wave would come and he couldn't resist catching it, whereas Mr Bonner stayed with you and seemed to explain it better. After about twenty minutes the ideas clicked and Jeremy caught his first really good wave. He swam like crazy, then it lifted him, and he kind of fell down the front at a fantastic speed. He stayed with it for a bit over twenty metres then stood up, gasping for breath and excited. Mr Bonner had a big smile on his face.
"That's it Jeremy. Keep your head down instead of back and you'll stay on much longer."
Jeremy had a feeling that Mr Bonner enjoyed seeing him learn to catch the waves. After another hour of surfing Jeremy was catching almost any wave he wished and had learnt how to figure if a wave was likely to be a good one. By the time everyone had had something to eat it was about 9:30 p.m. and in the surf club Pete started pulling all the mattresses out. Jeremy wondered what would happen because there weren't enough for everyone, but then Pete organised them into one giant mat. Jeremy could hardly believe the way Pete got everyone laughing and friendly. At about ten o'clock he saw Mr Bonner find a spot on a mattress and get under the sheet. Jeremy was wondering how he'd get to sleep when he saw Pete whispering to some of the other guys. There was a laugh and five or six of them jumped on Mr Bonner and started tickling him. Jeremy watched him try to escape but there were too many. The sheet got tossed aside and Jeremy watched in disbelief as they tickled Mr Bonner till he got a boner. There was a cheer then they let him go and he dived under the sheet. He looked embarrassed but he wasn't upset and the only reaction Jeremy noticed was a look at Pete as if to say he'd get him back but in a friendly way. Jeremy decided he'd be leaving his shorts on. He did have fun though because a kind of wrestling war developed between the surf club and the swim team. The next morning was interesting. There was a competition with the surf club and they won everything except the swimming. Jeremy couldn't help laughing at the way everybody stirred each other. Just after lunch everyone who was going on the camping part set off in the cars. On the way Jeremy sat in the front of Pete's van.
"You're enjoying yourself aren't you?"
"Pete, I've never done anything like this ever."
"You wait. The fun starts tonight and I've got a real adventure planned for tomorrow. Guess where we're camping this evening?"
"How could I? I've never been down this way."
"I bet lots of the others haven't either. It's a nudist beach."
Jeremy wondered if he was joking but he didn't sound like it.
"What? Will we be nude too?"
"Of course we will! It's great. Haven't you noticed I'm tan all over?"
So, he wasn't joking. Jeremy was wondering what it would be like. At least there were fourteen of them, so he'd be just one of the crowd. Jeremy was nervous when they parked the cars and put all their gear into rucksacks. They walked about half a kilometre down a bushy track and then along the beach till they came to a sign. Pete dumped his pack, stripped everything off, then carried on and told everyone to pack their clothes away.
"You won't need them till tomorrow and you have to get your `Passport-to-Point-Addis photo' taken."
Mr Bonner had his camera out and Pete set the tone by doing some silly poses. Jeremy watched every single person as they had their photo taken. It was an excuse to be able to look at them and he checked out each one. So many of them were good-looking, but Pete and Mr Bonner looked the best. Last night when Mr Bonner got tickled was the first time Jeremy had really seen another guy with an erection and the image kept coming into his mind. They walked a further kilometre along the beach before reaching the spot that Pete was looking for. For most of the afternoon everyone surfed or relaxed and at one stage they went to explore some cliffs. Pete organised some games between the surf club and the swim team in the late afternoon. The first thing they did was a kind of swimming relay race and the surf club didn't have a hope of winning. Pete had explained that if your team lost it would have to pay a forfeit of some kind, and Jeremy laughed when Pete was the first one they chose. He was on the Surf Club team to make the numbers even, and now he had to lie down on a towel while Brian, from College, drizzled honey over his body. Jeremy watched as it went on Pete's stomach, chest, legs, arms and face. How would he get it off? It would be difficult because the water was cool enough to stop it from getting soft.
"Okay, you Surf Club guys. You have to get rid of every bit with your tongues."
It took them all of five minutes and by the end of it Jeremy was looking at his second boner. Pete was just laughing and not even one bit embarrassed. When they finished licking him he went into the water to wash off, then wiped himself with his towel and organised the next game. After tea they had a game where you tried to capture the other side and when the Swim Team lost Jeremy was chosen to pay the penalty. He was praying that they wouldn't do anything too embarrassing but all he had to do was stay within a small space for five minutes. He nearly made it too, but then Pete stood in front of him.
"Are you going to move Jeremy?"
"No!"
"I bet you do."
Suddenly Jeremy felt Pete goose his balls and he got such a shock he jumped backwards right out of his space. Pete laughed at him.
"Got you that time."
Jeremy was learning that Pete lived by his own set of rules. After one more game they had a tug-of-war. The College team tried their best but the Surf Club guys were nearly all older and bigger and it wasn't a very equal competition at all. Pete organised the forfeit this time and he grabbed the swim team, lined them up behind William, a sprint swimmer from College, then tied them together. Jeremy was shocked when the ropes tightened so much he was pressed in full contact against Mr Bonner, who'd been placed in front of him. Pete explained that they had to walk like this, the whole seven of them, in a circuit along the sand and back through the water. It took a couple of minutes of careful practicing before they learned to move as a group and all the jerking and stops and starts made Jeremy's nerves start quivering. Every moment he got more panicky as he felt himself stiffening. By the time they started walking down the beach he was as hard as he could get and every single step pressed him against Mr Bonner. He couldn't do anything about it and he knew Mr Bonner could feel him. What would he think of him? This was so embarrassing, and he had to say something.
"Mr Bonner, I'm sorry. I can't help it. Please. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it Jeremy. I've got the same problem."
Jeremy didn't know whether he was saying that to be kind, but now they were in the water and it got worse because the water made them all slippery. Every movement felt more arousing. In shock he realised that with another circuit still to go it would be too much for him. Soon after they started the second circuit he couldn't hold himself back any more and his juice spurted. Jeremy could feel it's warmth for a moment and then it was spreading as their bodies kept rubbing. Thank goodness they reached the water again and then they were untied and it was all over. His fear about what Mr Bonner thought of him spoilt the rest of the evening and he worried how he could say sorry properly. The next day he couldn't help getting excited when they drove down the amazing coastal highway, turned off onto a bushy, gravel track and eventually reached a beautiful bay in a real wilderness area. It was so wild they had to carry all the tents and supplies through the bush to reach it. Pete stunned everybody by pointing out to sea.
"That's where we're going. That island there. Wait till you see."
Jeremy couldn't believe him.
"It's not that far. Just over a kilometre and we can all do that easily.
After making camp everyone set off with Pete and swam steadily towards the small island. Jeremy looked back to the shore and felt like he was halfway to the South Pole, but it turned out much easier than he expected. They climbed on the island for a while then when they were back in the water, Pete led them round the other side to a giant cave, which he called the cathedral, and they all sat on a ledge inside. When they got back to the campsite Jeremy saw Mr Bonner getting some snorkelling gear. Nervously, he went over to talk, but didn't get a chance because William turned up as well, and instead they ended up looking round with the goggles. Mr Bonner was diving down and looking under rock ledges and Jeremy watched him catching the crayfish hiding there. When Mr Bonner finished Jeremy asked if he could use the hand spear.
"I saw some under a ledge that you didn't go to and I might be able to get them. I'll show you where if you want to try yourself."
"No, you have a go Jeremy. I've caught enough. I can't even eat them."
Jeremy caught two really big ones, which was very exciting, and when they took them to the camp everyone was very impressed.
"Wow, Jeremy. Crayfish as big as these would cost more than $60 at the shops. We're having a feast tonight."
Jeremy thought the crayfish was delicious but it made him feel sad too, because it reminded him of when he had the yabbies for tea. There was a walk around the bay after the food and Jeremy kept to himself. He watched the colors of the ocean and the sky changing as the dusk grew deeper then sat by the little campfire before heading for bed. Well, he had the chance to apologise to Mr Bonner if he was game, because Pete had a rule about swapping tents which meant they were sharing tonight, and after they'd organised things Mr Bonner said he was going for a bush bath.
"What's that Mr Bonner?"
Jeremy felt a hand go behind his neck and tug on his hair, giving him a shivery feeling.
"My name's Peter. Okay?"
"Yes Mr Bonner."
"What?"
There was another tug.
"Yes. ...Peter."
"Come on Jeremy and I'll show you a bush bath. You'll feel much better when you wash the sand and salt off."
He walked away from the tent with Jeremy following, then took his speedos off. His body gleamed in the moonlight and Jeremy watched as he used a couple of handfuls of water to wet himself down, rub himself with soap, then carefully wash the suds off with small amounts of water. He handed the water and soap to Jeremy.
"Your turn Jeremy. I saved half the water for you."
Jeremy, with a strange vulnerable feeling, took his speedos off and copied the method that Mr Bonner had used, then dried himself with his towel and put on a fresh pair of jocks. He kept wondering what Mr Bonner was thinking about him. He'd been friendly all day and sharing the bottle of water felt quite unusual. When they were back at the tent Mr Bonner didn't put any shorts or jocks on and then offered to share his sheet. Jeremy didn't know what to say for a moment then said he'd use his sleeping bag. This only lasted a short time because it was way too hot and he had to get out.
"I'll have to change my mind Peter. I'm just too hot, so I hope it's all right after I said no the first time."
Mr Bonner laughed a little then said it was a double-bed sized sheet and passed one side over. Jeremy felt his arms rub against Peter's and after last night he got scared about what he might think.
"I'm sorry Peter. I didn't mean to touch you."
They talked about the weekend and Peter said Jeremy should be careful of Pete, because he could get him into trouble. Jeremy didn't like this and said Pete was kind and wouldn't hurt anybody. Mr Bonner laughed again and said he was only stirring about Pete, because they were really best friends, but you still had to watch him.
"Look what he did to us last night Jeremy."
"Pete didn't do anything to us."
"Yes he did. It was his idea to tie us up like that. I was so embarrassed."
Jeremy felt awful. He'd upset Mr Bonner with what had happened.
"Peter, I'm so sorry I embarrassed you but I couldn't help it."
"That's why Pete did it! He thought it was really funny."
"You told Pete?"
"What's wrong with telling Pete?"
Jeremy felt terrible. Pete was the first person for years who might be his friend, and now he could lose him.
"He'll probably think I'm gay or something and he won't like me anymore."
"Jeremy, if Pete likes you now he'll always like you."
"No he won't. If people think you're gay they hate you."
Jeremy panicked. He realised he'd just made things worse because now Peter probably thought he was gay too. It was too much. He had to get out. He started to leave but strong arms grabbed him and held him down.
"Jeremy, Pete likes me and I'm gay. He couldn't care one bit."
Jeremy stopped struggling as what Peter had just said registered in his brain. That couldn't be true? Thoughts whirled as he tried to figure it out. No one would say that, but Peter's strong arms holding him somehow made him feel better.
"Are you trying to trick me? You wouldn't tell someone you hardly knew that you were gay."
Peter said that he only said it because he could trust him.
"I really am Jeremy and it doesn't worry me one bit if you know."
"You really are gay?"
Jeremy didn't say anything for a while but then he thought about Pete again.
"Does Pete know that you're gay?"
"Yes he does. He knew for six months before he even said anything about it Jeremy, and then I met one of my best friends because of him."
Jeremy heard a funny tone in Peter's voice.
"I'll bet he's doing it again. You watch. We'll find out in the morning. And hey, you didn't embarrass me at all last night. I meant I was embarrassed because the same thing happened to me. There's nothing to worry about. It happened to four of us. Pete told me about the other one and I knew about you and me and William."
"Peter. How can you say you're gay? Everyone will hate you."
"I only tell people I trust. You're gay too aren't you?"
All Jeremy's feelings of loneliness and the things that happened to him welled up in his mind. He tried not to cry but it hurt too much and now Peter was asking him if it was true. He wanted to answer but it was too hard. Peter's arms hugged him even tighter and they both went quiet.
"It's lonely isn't it Jeremy?"
He knew! He understood what it was like. Peter's arms were suddenly wonderful and Jeremy relaxed into them, somehow knowing he'd found someone he could talk to.
"Yes I am Peter. But I hate it. Everyone you like goes away when they find out and you're always on your own."
Peter was quiet for a while.
"When was the last time you had a close friend Jeremy?"
"When I was fifteen my best friend found out I was gay, but it must have made him hate me because he told my father about it and I had to leave my home."
"Fifteen? Oh no! What did you do?"
"I went to my aunt's place but she didn't like me. Then I was in a foster home and they didn't really like me either and then I had to go to a halfway house where they started fighting me as soon as they found out."
The words poured out and Jeremy heard himself telling the story of the things that had happened. Peter let go of him and sat up.
"You haven't even had one person give you a hug since you left home have you?"
"No."
"Can I give you one? I really want to."
Jeremy wanted to say yes but that was hard too.
"Would you like me to?"
"Yes." He said it this time.
"I want it to be a proper hug. Will you kneel up for me?"
Jeremy knelt up then felt funny about it.
"I feel strange. I'm not wearing anything."
"Neither am I Jeremy, but it's ok. It's just you and me in the tent."
Jeremy didn't get the chance to answer because Peter's strong arms were already pulling them close together. An amazing feeling rushed through Jeremy and as Peter kept holding tightly, he didn't want to let go.
"Wow! You feel really nice. Now will you pay me back and give me a hug please?"
Jeremy wanted to, but in the dark you couldn't just nod and it took a few seconds for his yes to struggle its way out. Jeremy wrapped his arms round Peter then listened to him making nice sounds and saying how good it felt. It did feel good. It felt so good, and Peter wanted him to do this. Excitement surged and he hugged tighter and tighter till Peter suddenly fell backwards, pulling him down on top. This was different to a hug and Jeremy felt new sensations. He moved away but Peter kept saying how good the hugs were.
"Can I be greedy and ask for another one Jeremy?"
When Peter knelt up Jeremy held him again and this time he decided not to let go. Peter felt so good against him and he relaxed as he listened to Peter's voice. The new feeling strengthened and when he started to get a boner Jeremy got nervous again.
"Um! Peter. Can we stop now? I'm getting embarrassed."
He heard Peter give a happy kind of laugh.
"Of course we can. But I know why you're getting embarrassed because I'm feeling the same way."
Jeremy felt Peter lie down and take his hand. He had a wash of surprise at the matter-of-fact way Peter had understood his embarrassment and then shared it with him. They moved apart and when Peter lay down Jeremy did the same.
"Tell me about yourself Jeremy. Why have you come to our College?"
Jeremy started talking about his subjects but that didn't last long because Peter kept asking him questions which led to the special things that he liked doing. Once again Jeremy felt himself relaxing and for an hour or more they talked about all sorts of things, his electronics, the stories he liked to write and the books he liked to read. Peter was really interested to know all of it and shared stories from his own life, and they both got excited when they started talking about the authors they liked. Jeremy wondered what to do when he felt Peter's hand rest on his chest, but then they started talking about Charles De Lint books and it just stayed there.
"Moonheart and Greenmantle were my favourites Jeremy. Wasn't Tamson house an amazing idea? I wish I met more people who like the kind of books I do. Will you come and have tea at my house next Sunday?"
Jeremy's mind was still on the track of the books they were talking about and he wasn't expecting this unrelated question.
"Come on Jeremy. I'm the worst cook in the world and I'm trying dog's brains, so I need someone to feed it to."
Jeremy couldn't help laughing at this and he heard himself agreeing to go. Peter's hand moved away and Jeremy wished it hadn't. It had been making little movements while they were speaking which felt nice. He didn't have time to think about it though because his own hand was now taken and held against Peter's chest. Thoughts went racing through his head and he wanted to move his hand the same way Peter had been doing to him, but he couldn't. Instead he started talking.
"I like to write too Peter. Sometimes I sit down and write for ages and I keep a diary where I put all the things I'm thinking about. I even write my own stories."
"Well that really is special. What sort of stories are they?"
Jeremy started telling Peter. He'd never told anyone before, but Peter was interested in the same kind of ideas and it felt like he would understand.
"Wow, would you be happy to let me to read some of them? I've never known a real writer."
Jeremy didn't think of himself as a writer but Peter said if he wrote stories then he must be.
"Tell me about your favourite story Jeremy."
Jeremy started talking and all the time Peter was holding his hand and moving it against his chest.
"When you finish the story I hope you'll let me read it. Now we're going to play a little game. Does your hand like touching my chest? You have to be honest with me because I'm your lecturer."
Jeremy couldn't help laughing again, and when he said yes Peter told him his hand was stuck there with a special kind of superglue that let him move anywhere without letting go.
"Go on Jeremy. Move it and see what happens."
Jeremy moved his fingers back and forth across Peter's chest and they both went quiet. The warm, smooth feeling of skin made Jeremy want to keep going and then he listened while Peter said how good it felt.
"Your hand has to keep moving to different places Jeremy. It's the rules of the game."
Jeremy stopped his hand moving but then worked his way up to Peter's neck and face. The thoughts of how amazing it was to touch someone else fled from Jeremy's mind when Peter told him he was really good looking.
"No I'm not."
"Jeremy. Don't tell fibs. You know you are. I've been watching you all weekend and thinking about it. Pete's the only other person that looks anywhere near as good as you do."
This was amazing. Peter thought he was as good looking as Pete? The best looking person he knew.
"You've never kissed anyone have you Jeremy?
Now it was the thoughts about someone liking the way he looked that fled his mind.
"No."
"It's time you did. Come on. Give it a try."
Nervousness was too strong for Jeremy so he told Peter he didn't know how. Peter sat up and made it into another kind of game where Jeremy had to keep trying.
"I bet you can give me a real kiss Jeremy."
"What if I can't?"
"Then you lose the bet and you have to try again."
Every time Jeremy tried something Peter would tell him it was nice and do it back to him then tell him he'd lost the bet. Jeremy couldn't help laughing at the thought that he might have to keep doing this for hours and he suddenly felt determined that Peter was going to get a big surprise. He used all the little things that had felt nice so far over and over, and gradually a wonderful warm feeling grew inside that made him want to hug Peter tight against him. When he stopped he heard Peter make a nice sound when he gasped in a big breath.
"Wow, you won that time, that's for sure!"
"That means you lost Peter, so you have to show me that you know how to give a real kiss."
Jeremy felt a little bit cheeky when he said this, but his mind could see the humour in the bet that Peter had made and it was too good to resist. A happy feeling went through him when he heard Peter's laugh but then the hot feeling came back stronger than ever when Peter's tongue was rubbing against his own and didn't stop for ages. Jeremy lay down and let the hot feeling rush through him but now Peter was telling him he'd broken the rules.
"Hey, your hand is still meant to be stuck to me. I'll have to follow the same path on you to see where the fault is. Are you ready?"
In the darkness Jeremy smiled, then started to wonder to himself how Peter seemed to make him smile all the time. Light fingers tracing on his chest took all his attention again and when they circled one of his nipples he felt goose-bumps and a strange sensation when both his nipples reacted at the same time. He wondered if Peter had done it on purpose till the fingers moved across to his other nipple and did the same circling movement.
"There you are Jeremy. I found the fault and you can go on now. Do you want to? I hope so because it's fun playing this game with you."
Jeremy understood where this was leading, even if he couldn't believe it, and he almost laughed again because of how much he really did want to keep going. He put his fingers back on Peter's neck and this time he gradually traced downwards. He tried the same circling movement on Peter's nipples and felt a sense of wonder when they went hard the same as his had. His fingers kept tracing and ventured onto Peter's stomach. Just when he discovered Peter's belly button the back of his hand brushed something and he felt Peter's whole body jump. For an instant all his fears started to rise up inside him but then he heard Peter's words and they washed away again.
"Oh my God! Jeremy, keep your hand in that area please."
With a kind of disbelief that this could really be happening Jeremy moved his fingers again. Back and forth across Peter's stomach, lower and lower till he could feel a brush of hair, and each time the back of his hand brushed against Peter's erection he heard Peter make a little intake of breath.
"Holy hell! Stop Jeremy. Your hand is giving me a sensation explosion. I'll have to find out what's going on."
Jeremy's hand was grabbed and now it was his turn to lie back and feel Peter's fingers tracing their magic path across his stomach. With every second his anticipation grew and he felt himself straining in his jocks. There was a little laugh.
"Hey Jeremy, you're breaking one of the rules. Lift your hips for a second."
Without any questions Jeremy did this and straightaway felt his jocks slipped down to his knees and then his ankles.
"There. We're equal now. Does that feel better?"
"Yes!"
It felt so much better that Jeremy couldn't believe it. Somehow, having his jocks taken off made him feel open and ready for whatever was going to happen. Peter's hand started again and Jeremy felt it brushing repeatedly against his boner. It kept going though and moved down between his balls and his thigh then up the other side. Once again the same, and this time when Jeremy felt the palm of Peter's hand graze against his balls he didn't fight his feelings and pushed himself up to get some pressure against himself. Peter's hand rested there but then it moved away.
"Wow! Something seems to be happening there. Follow the path with your hand and see if we can fix it."
Jeremy smiled again because Peter pressed against his hand in the same way and in the same place.
"It must be natural Jeremy. Keep going please."
There was only one place left that he could go now, and with feelings of wonder, curiosity and longing he tentatively felt up and down the rod jutting beneath him. He took in the smooth, soft skin and the strange live feeling and then was amazed at the size of the swollen head. Wanting to feel how hard it was he wrapped his hand right round and gently squeezed.
"Oh God! Jeremy! Quick. Let me catch up to you."
Jeremy's body tensed in anticipation. At the first soft touch he gasped and felt himself harden more than he could ever remember. Then he kept hardening as Peter's fingers wandered over him.
"Wow Jeremy! Is this all you? You feel so hard."
Peter's hand took hold and Jeremy thought he was going to burst. It didn't move any more and Peter said that since the superglue was stuck they'd have to stay like that all day. Jeremy held Peter the same way as an idea fought through the storm of new sensations he was receiving.
"It's no good Peter. We're both stuck. We should try moving our hands at the same time."
They started, but Peter stopped almost straightaway.
"Quick Jeremy. Kiss me before I lose control."
It meant letting go as Jeremy moved on top of Peter who held him close. Once again there was the warmth of Peter's body against him. He wants me to be next to him. He likes me and it's all right to touch each other. He wants me to feel good. The thoughts were bursting the barriers of Jeremy's previous experience. They rolled over and Jeremy didn't even think of being embarrassed now. Their cocks were touching and Jeremy could feel Peter pressing upwards. It only took seconds for Jeremy to realise that Peter's cock was searching for his own, and wondered at how he automatically did the same back. Then he wondered again at how Peter was making it seem natural and fun. Trapped. The pressing game was over because Peter grabbed him and now their cocks were held together. Peter's hand moved slowly back and forth, squeezing and twisting, but it was too much and Jeremy did burst. He thought he'd never stop and he worried that he was making a mess over Peter, but Peter just kept holding him till he completely finished.
"Wow! You're amazing Jeremy. Could you do the same for me please?"
Jeremy didn't have the chance to worry about what he should do because his hand was taken to Peter's cock and he felt it pushing back and forth. Peter made a noise then his body tensed and Jeremy could feel the juice rushing past his fingers. Peter's arms tightened in a big hug and there was a whisper in Jeremy's ear saying thank you and that he was wonderful. Peter cleaned them up with a towel then pulled Jeremy down beside him and held him close. Jeremy listened to the nice things and felt so good when Peter's hands ruffled through his hair or tickled his stomach that it was too much. A great wave of emotion crested, tears trickled down his cheeks and he couldn't help the sobs which shook his body. Strong arms held him and he heard the concern as Peter asked him what was wrong.
"Nothing's wrong Peter. I just feel so good it hurts."
"Oh yes? Well, the next time I see you laughing I'll want to know what's wrong, Mr Back to Front."
Jeremy couldn't help laughing at this, and the way Peter treated his outburst helped him lighten up.
"I might start tickling you Peter. I saw what it does to you the other night."
"You can tickle me as much as you like Jeremy."
"Peter. You've been nicer to me than anyone ever. Do you really like me?"
There was a hesitation before Peter spoke and then he sounded serious.
"I don't think I do Jeremy."
Oh no! Not again! Had he done something wrong? Peter's voice continued and as the words sank in Jeremy's happiness returned.
"It's not the right word Jeremy. It's not strong enough. My heart was breaking when you told me the way you've been treated, and you're a very special person to still be gentle and sensitive after all that. I think love is closer to how I feel but that's a little too strong, if you know what I mean."
"Do you think Pete likes me?"
"He acts like he does Jeremy and that means he really does. That's the way he is."
"How come you're his boss?"
"What? ...I'm not his boss."
"Yes you are. I can tell by the way he looks at you to see if he's doing things the way you like them."
The end of chapter 3.
Author's Note. Any comments and feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Please note my changed email address - iarwain@aanet.com.au
Should you be interested, my other stories can be found by looking under 'Iarwain' in the authors section on Nifty.
Contact me if you'd like to read the stories in their original Word format.
Iarwain.