Quarterback Keeper 29
Erection Day
The Tuesday after Ian's recital, a strange convoy rolled down Salt Fork's Main Street past the High School, a line of trucks transporting the components of Joe's and Tyler's new home. At the site a crane was in position to lift each module from the trucks and move it into place. There was also a crew on site to guide the modules into place and secure them to the foundation and to each other.
Joe and Tyler were on site to watch and deal with any issues that might arise with the neighbors or the city. The company had also asked for permission to use the house in a promotional video, so there was a camera crew videoing the work. It wasn't long before onlookers began to gather, the first were a group of junior and senior guys.
Principal Mayfield drove up and got out of his car. "Hey Reith," Joe said, "what's up?"
"I see the football and baseball players are here."
"Sorry about that, I'll tell them to head to school."
"I see you have a spectators area set up that is well out of the way. I know a lot of kids are curious and this is something they haven't seen in Salt Fork. I was thinking that rather than fighting their curiosity we embrace it. Would you mind if I organize teachers to bring groups of students to watch?"
"Let me get the site coordinator to see if she has any problems with that," Joe said.
Joe waved over an attractive middle aged woman and explained what Mayfield wanted. She smiled and said, As long as they are supervised and stay behind the flags, we would love to have them watch. If you would like, I can even talk to them about what is happening."
"That would be fantastic," Mayfield said. "I think it would be a unique opportunity for our kids."
"Well I hope it's not unique," Ann said. "We have at least one more project on this site and we're hoping for more."
Joe smiled and said, "So far that is a definite possibility." Then he motioned for the high school boys to come over. They were a bit worried when they saw Mayfield. "Okay boys," Joe said, "Mr. Mayfield is going to allow teachers to bring students down to watch the house go together. I want you to make sure everyone stays behind the flags and out of the way. Particularly they need to stay on the sidewalks so they don't get run over by the trucks."
The boys were happy to help, and more than a little proud that Coach Bartlett would count on them.
Around 10 o'clock, Ann called her crew together. "Guys," she said, "these are the homeowners, Joe Bartlett and Tyler Simmons. They teach at the local high school and a lot of the students will be watching us put this house together, so no screw ups and no cussing."
The crew laughed and looked at one older guy. He said, " Oh fu..., I mean shoot. Ann you know if I bang my hand or something, I can't hold it in."
Ann said, "Leon, if you don't yell the F-word today, I'll buy the entire crew pie and coffee for noon break."
"Dang Ann," Leon said, "you just want to see me get my a.... My keister kicked," and the crew laughed some more.
"Okay guys," she said, "fifteen minute break. Then we start setting modules and we're not stopping until they are all in place." The crew went to break, and Ann went over to talk to the kids. The camera crew followed and the producer told Mayfield, "We didn't know Ann would be talking to the kids. This will be great for the video, but we will get releases before we use any of the kids or teachers in the production."
Mayfield thought and then explained to the students what would happen. He said if you want to be in the video, and you are sure your parents won't object to signing the release step over here. The rest over there." No one went `over there.'
The girls in particular were interested in asking Ann how she got her job.
"Well, I had an in," she said, "my family owns the company that built this home, and I am the architect who designed it. However, women are increasingly getting into construction, particularly as tools and machines replace the need for brute strength."
She explained how the house was engineered and built in the factory, along with connecting the skills they were learning in high school, like math, science, and programming, with an actual construction project. Before heading back to work, she said that she would send Mr. Mayfield a link to the finished video. Once the crew started setting the modules, it was amazing how fast the process went. As soon as the crane lifted one of the sections from a truck, the next truck took its place and a team began prepping it to be lifted.
Another team guided the module swinging from the crane into place, and when it was lowered into place and anchored to the foundation, a third team connected it to the rest of the house and sealed the seams. Two and a half hours after starting, all of the modules were connected and weathertight.
All the students, except Ian, went back to school and the crew went to lunch, leaving Joe, Tyler, and Ian to walk through the unit with Ann. It was amazing how complete the interior was. Walls were finished, cabinets were in, plumbing and light fixtures were installed and ready as soon as service was connected. Really the only thing on the interior was patching the seams of the modules and the house was ready to move in.
Standing in the great room, Ann asked, "What do you think?"
"If the rest of the house is like this, I am overwhelmed," Joe said.
"It really helped that you wanted a clean modern mix of Scandinavian and Prairie House design," Ann said. "Not having a lot of interior stone and brick meant we could do all the finishes in the factory. We found a Swedish company that had a distributor in the U.S. and found almost everything we needed including the modern fireplaces here in the Great Room and in the Master."
After looking around the kitchen and dining area, Joe said, "Ian, why don't you go look at your room first, then we'll follow in a minute." A few minutes later a Scottish lad yell, "This is fucking awesome."
Tyler said with a smile, "I guess he found it."
When Joe and Tyler walked into Ian's bedroom, they each got an enthusiastic hug. In all of the plans they had let Ian see, the bathroom was small and functional, but a fake storage room in the plans hid the real bathroom. The shower was huge and had plenty of shower heads on the walls and ceiling. There was also a large soaking tub that would easily fit two hot redheaded studs.
"This is unbelievable," Ian said.
"We wanted to give you and Michael a reason to visit us next year," Tyler said.
"Oh, we were planning to visit a lot, but with this, we may never leave."
Next they looked at what would be Joe's office. It was large with room for a big desk and a conference table that could seat eight. There were floor to ceiling books along one wall, a separate entrance from the driveway, and a very sophisticated bar behind one of the oak wall panels. Ian noticed that, while still modern in design, the oak woodwork and Frank Lloyd Wright inspired fixtures gave the room a traditional feel, compared with the rest of the house, and asked, "Why did you decide to make this room different from the rest of the house?"
Joe said, "I represent the Sinclair family tradition and Cooper represents the new direction of Sinclair Energy. It was decided that my office should be a place to meet with people who are less comfortable with our new direction and need reassurance that Sinclair Energy still has gravitas. This room had to say Sinclair."
Ann said, "I was sent to look at the office in the Tulsa apartment to get an idea of what this office was supposed to represent about Sinclair Energy."
"And, I think you captured it perfectly," Joe said.
"So Tyler, where is your office?"
Tyler pointed to the conference table. "I didn't want an office because I just can't imagine wanting to work in a different room than Joe. However, there is a room off of the home gym that I will use for watching game film and coaching stuff."
"I want to see the gym," Ian said.
The gym was was currently just a big room with a wall mirrors and another of windows that faced the East and the Salt Fork. "Wow," Ian said, " This is a great room. I bet it will be a great place to workout in the morning. I can't wait. Michael better watch out for Scottish Red, the Edinburgh Mauler." Joe and Tyler laughed as Ian did some posing flexes.
There were a couple of more rooms to look at before getting to the Master. The Master would easily fit a king size bed. It had a large walk-in closet and a bathroom identical to the one in Ian's room. What was spectacular was the view. Like the gym, a wall of windows faced East and the Salt Fork.
"You won't be able to sleep in with the morning sun shining through those windows," Ian said, and then gave a wicked smile, "and your neighbors might get an interesting show."
Ann said, "Well, the electrical system isn't connected yet, but when it is, those windows are a new smart glass, and when operational, it can be clear, opaque, or blackout."
"How long will it be before we can move in," Tyler asked.
The interior should be finished tomorrow," Ann said. "Electrical , plumbing, and mechanical will be finished by the end of this week. The copper roof should be installed by the end of next week. So, we should be able to get the occupancy permit and the utilities connected in about two and a half weeks. Of course the exterior finishes and decks won't be finished, but that won't prevent you from moving in and living here. In fact, you could start moving in furniture the end of this weekend."
Wedding Jitters
A week and a half out from the wedding and Joe noticed that Tyler wasn't his normal self. He seemed withdrawn and edgy. Ian had also noticed it, and at breakfast on the Thursday before finals week said to Joe, "Where's Tyler, he's been getting to breakfast later every day this week and he seems to be in a funk. Even some of the kids in his classes have asked me what is going on."
"I'm not sure," Joe said, "I think he is just overwhelmed. So much has happened in his life in the last six months, I think it is catching up with him. He and I need some space this weekend, and I have arranged for you to stay with Claudia and Kevin. I hope that is okay."
Ian got a very concerned look on his face, and asked, "Are you and Tyler okay?"
"I think so."
Ian was putting his breakfast dishes in the dishwasher when Tyler walked into the kitchen area. Ian threw his arms around Tyler and said, "I love you Uncle Tyler." Then he picked up his book bag and headed off to school for an early choir practice.
"He's concerned about you." Joe said. "People have noticed that something is bothering you. I have noticed it. So, this weekend, Ian is staying with Claudia and Kevin so we have some time together."
"Do you want to call off the wedding?" Tyler asked.
"What the hell!?" Joe exclaimed, "Where is this coming from?"
"I just figured you finally realized I'm not good enough for you. That I'm just a stupid kid and you would be better off without me. That's why you're getting rid of Ian, so you can tell me, right?"
Joe grabbed Tyler and pulled him in close, gave him a kiss, and then said, "I love you more than anything. You have given me joy...and love...and purpose. I can't imagine living without you. This weekend I intend to show you just how much I love and need you. I don't want you to have any doubts that the vows I says at our wedding are real and from my heart."
Tears filled both Joe's and Ian's eyes as they held each other and kissed.
While Joe was totally honest with Tyler, all morning he was concerned that there was more to Tyler's mood than he was aware. So during his planning period, he called Mary to talk. After explaining how Tyler was behaving, Mary said, "I would like you and Tyler to come for supper tomorrow. I think I know what is wrong."
Tyler loved his mother and loved spending time with her, but he couldn't help but be uneasy standing on her porch Friday evening. Mary opened the door and said, "What's this, ringing the doorbell? You two never have to ring the bell. Just come on in."
Joe mouthed, "He's a little nervous."
"I saw that," Tyler said, "and for the record, I'm a lot nervous. Who wouldn't be with their mother and their boyfriend ganging up on them?"
Mary took Tyler by the arm and said, "It's not like that. We just want to make sure you aren't getting overwhelmed, that's all." Then she said, "Now go into the living room, and I will get a couple of beers for you guys."
When Tyler thought Mary was out of earshot, Tyler said, "Oh fuck, this is a beer talk."
"What's a beer talk? Joe asked.
"Mom never buys beer. Wine and occasionally schnapps, but never beer. The only time she ever bought beer was when I was in high school and college and she had something she wanted to talk about that would make me uncomfortable. Like the time she walked in on me masturbating."
"Or the time I found your stash of marijuana and condoms," Mary said walking back into the room, "I may have MS, but it doesn't affect my mom hearing. And, yes we will be having a beer talk, but beer also goes well with chili."
When Mary had left the room, Joe started to laugh, "Mary caught you masturbating?"
"It wasn't funny," Tyler said, and then began to laugh as well. "I was sixteen."
"Sixteen!?"
"Yeah I had just gotten home from football practice and thought I would wank one off before grabbing a shower. I thought mom would be at work for another hour, but she came home early. I hadn't bothered to lock the bathroom door and she walked in just as I was exploding all over myself. There I was, sitting on the toilet, covered in dirt, sweat, and cum. I thought I was going to die."
When Joe finally stopped laughing, he said, "I guess I should tell you my embarrassing masturbation story. I was around fourteen and came home one day and found a box of Kleenex on my bed, a pair of my cummy underwear, and a note from my mom. It said, `In the future, please use tissues to clean up after masturbating and make sure they are disposed of properly. Maria should not have to deal with your semen when she cleans your room or does the laundry.' Mom knew just how to wring the maximum embarrassment out of the situation. For the next two week I couldn't look at her or Miria, our housekeeper, without turning beet red."
"That seems kind of mean, and not at all how you have described your mother," Tyler said.
"Actually, it was fair payback for my prank the previous week. Mom had one of her civic groups over to a planning meeting for some event she was working on. I hated one of the women on the committee, a Mrs. Throckmore, Rose Throckmore. She was the neighborhood snitch and was alway calling our parents to report our `Uncivilized Behavior.' So, I knew which chair she always sat in, and I hid a whoopie cushion in the chair. Throckmore was so embarrassed she left the meeting and slammed the door on her way out."
Mary had walked into the room during the story and she waved her finger and said, "Joe Bartlett, I would have blistered your butt so hard you wouldn't have sat for a week if you had done that to one of my friends."
"Normally, my mom would have also, but I found out she didn't like Rosie the Snitch anymore than I did. Years later she said, if she had known that was all it would take to get her off the committee, she would have put the whoopie cushion in the chair weeks earlier."
The stories had taken Tyler's mind off of whatever his mom wanted to talk about and he finally relaxed. Mary said, supper is ready and they moved to the dining room. Joe and Tyler each had another beer at their places. Mary made her chili extra spicy, so by the time dessert rolled around Joe and Tyler had each drunk enough to have a good buzz going.
Mary started to clear the table, and Tyler said, "Let me help mom."
"No, since we are telling family stories, why don't you show Joe this scrapbook." So as Mary finished cleaning the table and then serving coffee and blackberry cobbler, Tyler showed Joe pictures of himself as a boy. He and Joe were laughing and having a good time until Tyler turned a page and suddenly got quiet; after a little bit, tears started to roll down his cheeks.
Joe grabbed Tyler's hand and looked at Mary, not sure what was making Tyler so upset.
Mary said, "The fishing picture," and Tyler nodded.
"Joe I need to tell you something, and I want Tyler to hear what I am telling you. Tyler's father was teaching him how to fish in that picture. It was one of the happiest I could ever remember my husband being. That picture of Tyler and his father is of the first times Tyler caught and landed a fish by himself. He was so proud, but I think his father was more proud. Tyler and his father were planning a fishing trip for the day after Toby died. Tyler woke up all excited and came into the living room just as the sheriff's deputy was telling me the bad news. He ran back to his room and spent the rest of the day there."
"Mom, you don't have to..."
"Yes I do Tyler. A week after Toby's funeral, I went to throw out some trash, and there in the trash was all of the fishing equipment. The rods were broken and the reels smashed. In Scouts, fishing was the badge Tyler never earned. It was also about that time that Tyler's attitude about sports changed. He became the quarterback of his pee wee football team, in baseball he was either the pitcher or the catcher, in basketball he had to play point guard. His coaches and the fans just chalked it up to his being a leader and a natural athlete, but I knew it was about being in control. He couldn't bring himself to depend on others."
"The weekend after that football injury cost him the quarterback job, I was scared, really scared. He came home and he just stayed in his room like the day he learned about his father. He had lost control of the one part of his life that mattered. When he left to drive back to college, I made him promise to call and let me know he had arrived. Until I got that call I was a wreck. Fortunately, Tyler was able to throw himself into his classes. He found something new he could control, and it let him work through not being the quarterback."
"When Tyler got his job and built a relationship with you," Mary continued, "I thought he had finally gotten beyond all of that. I thought he was willing to trust that the good things in his life weren't just going to be snatched from him, that he could count on someone beside himself."
"Momma, I have always counted on you."
"I know son, and that is part of the problem. Ever since you found out about my MS, you have been afraid of losing someone or something else. Loss is a part of life, but it is not because we are abandoning you. Your father didn't abandon you or me, he loved us. It was himself he couldn't live with."
Tyler and Mary both got up and hugged each other and cried out their pain and their loss. Finally, Mary picked up a napkin and wiped away her son's tears and then her own. Eventually, Mary pulled away from Tyler and looked at Joe, and said, "You need to take my boy home and show him that good things can last."
As Joe and Tyler walked back to the apartment, Joe reached over and took Tyler's hand. Tyler smiled. Joe wasn't given to public displays of affection, and the simple act of walking down the street holding hands was so affirming to Tyler. Once back at the apartment Joe removed Tyler's clothes and then his own. He took Tyler's hand again and led him onto the deck and they got into the hot tub. Joe pulled Tyler between his legs so that Tyler's back was resting on his chest. There was something so exhilarating about sitting in the hot tub on a brisk December night. Joe wrapped his arms around his lover, and Tyler leaned his head back on Joe's shoulder. For a good hour they simply watched the night sky and celebrated the closeness of each other's bodies.
"Tyler Simmons," Joe whispered in his ear, "I love you with all my heart, with all my body, with all my being. I can't imagine a day without you by my side and a night without you in my bed. I belong to you and you alone. So, I am going to ask you one more time; will you marry me?"
Tyler turned around, kissed Joe and said, "Joseph Bartlett, I love you more than life itself. I know I struggle to accept how lucky I am that you have chosen me, but I trust you more than I can express with words. You are my hero during the day, and my protector during the night. Yes, I want to marry you more and more each day."
Tyler climbed out of the hot tub and Joe followed. Tyler turned and pressed his body against Joe's and the two stood under the December sky kissing. A full moon illuminated two powerful male forms sharing the most tender of kisses. Even the imagination of a Renaissance master could not create a more perfect picture of masculine love.
A cool breeze caused their bodies to shiver and they softly laughed before going inside. Joe turned on the shower to wash off the chemicals of the hot tub. When they stepped under the warm overhead shower, Tyler wrapped his arms around Joe's neck and gently ground his cock into Joe's. Tyler whispered, "I need you to make love to me."
Joe kissed Tyler's lips...and chin...and neck...and nipples...and abs...and pubes...and finally his cock and balls. Tyler was so hard and a small dab of pre cum clung to the tip of his cock. Joe caught it with his tongue and stood to share it with Tyler. They kissed, and Joe turned off the shower and grabbed a towel. After drying Tyler and himself, he led the way to the bed. Tyler spread out on the bed and Joe grabbed some massage oil. He warmed the oil in his hands and then began to massage Tyler's muscular chest. Tyler had the most gorgeous chest Joe had ever seen. The pecs were large, round, and perfectly proportioned. The cleft between them was defined and deep, and each was topped with a quarter-sized areola and erect nipples. By the time Joe finished massaging Tyler's chest, both of their cocks were hard and dripping.
Joe rubbed Tyler from his neck to his toes before rolling him over and working on his back. Tyler's back and shoulders were as developed and impressive as his chest. Joe worked them deep to ease any tension before moving on. The last muscles to get Joe's attention were his glutes. Tyler had spent nearly half his life doing squats and it showed in the mass of muscle that gave him a hard sculpted ass.
As Joe kneaded Tyler's mounds, he let his thumbs drift in and out of Tyler's anal cleft. Tyler moaned and pushed back against Joe's hands. Finally, Joe put his tongue on Tyler's perineum before slowly dragging it up through Tyler's deep canyon. As Joe's tongue crossed his Tyler's, he moaned. Joe spent plenty of time tonguing Tyler before reaching for the lube and slicking Tyler's ass and his own throbbing cock.
"Are you ready?" Joe asked.
"Yesss," Tyler replied.
Joe began to enter, and Tyler moaned with satisfaction. Tyler was completely relaxed and trusted his lover, so Joe slipped in easily. He pushed until he was all the way in and laying on Tyler's back. Tyler spread his legs wide and gave Joe complete freedom to fuck his ass, but this was no animalistic pounding, no lusty need to release; this was tender, intimate lover-making. Slowly, Joe brought Tyler and himself to the brink and then together they shared a blissful orgasm.
Finally Joe rolled off of Tyler, pulled up a quilt, and Tyler snuggled into Joe. Tyler drifted off perfectly secure in the arms of his most perfect lover, boyfriend, and soon to be partner for life.
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