Quarterback Keeper 31
New Year's Eve
The home of Enid's Symphony was originally the Second Masonic Temple and is located on the fourth and fifth floors of an Italian Renaissance Revival building in the downtown historic district. During the Great Depression Charles Knox, a local oilman, bought the building and increased the rent for the Freemasons. They decided to find cheaper meeting places and moved out.
Knox ran his oil company out of the lower three floors of the building and later it was rented to various businesses. While the Knox Building was an imposing building, most Enid residents didn't have any idea that a grand venue was on the top floors of the building. In fact, if the building was famous for anything, it was for being the home of the world's first self-serve gas station. Knox had installed pumps beside the building to sell his Knox-less gas. In the years before card readers and remotely controlled pumps, customers would pump their own gas, and girls on roller skates would collect the money.
So, for almost half a century the old Masonic Temple sat unused and gathering dust. It's only occupant being the ghost of George, an elevator repairman who had fallen to his death in the elevator shaft. Then in the 1990s the Enid Symphony was looking for a new home and teamed up with a local company to buy the building. The Symphony raised 3.2 million dollars to renovate the space into one of the most unique venues in the state.
Joe had turned planning the wedding reception/New Year's Eve party over to Mindy and Carrie, and said he didn't have time to worry about the details and he trusted them. He knew he'd made a mistake when he saw Mindy and Carrie turn to each other and smile. The two quickly put their corporate credit cards into overdrive and turned the event into the social function of the year.
The Symphony center had four large spaces plus an art gallery, and Mindy and Carrie planned to use them all. The first space was a large Egyptian lobby. King Tut's Tomb had been discovered in 1922 and Egyptian motifs were all the rage when the Masons built their Second Temple in 1924.
There were four distinct groups invited to the party and Mindy was in charge of making sure they all felt welcome. Her plan was to have Joe and Tyler greet their guests in the lobby and to have teams of hosts who knew the various groups to make sure everyone felt welcomed. From Salt Fork, she had recruited The Mastersons, the Averys, and several of the players from the football and baseball teams. The Kesslingers and several of Tyler's old teammates would greet the NOSU guests. Charles and David would take care of the Sinclair Oil Board and Top Management, Cooper would take care of the family, and she and Carrie would manage everything. When Joe saw the plan he smiled; Mindy and Carrie were two of the most thoughtful and gracious hostesses in the Sooner State.
On New Year's Eve Mindy and Carrie gave Joe and Tyler a quick tour of the venue before sending them off to wait until it was time for their grand entrance. After the lobby, the next stop was The Park Ave Thrift Theatre. The center of The Park Ave Theatre was a honeycomb pattern dance floor. Cabaret tables along the walls created a 1920's speakeasy vibe. However, the jazz band was replaced by a DJ. The theater also had a large screen and Carrie had enlisted the Sinclair PR department to create a slideshow of Joe's and Tyler's lives as individuals and as a couple. All of the photos had been turned into black and white images which gave a timeless and romantic feel to the show.
Joe wasn't so sure he wanted his life displayed next to Tyler's because he was afraid that it would just emphasize their age differences. But when he first saw it, a week before Thanksgiving, he was overcome with emotion. The first emotional moment was when there was a slide that had two side-by-side photos, one with Joe and his parents and the other with Tyler and his parents. It was such a powerful reminder that they had both come from loving families, and together their love was creating a new family. The second slide that made Joe choke up was again two side-by-side photos. This time both Joe and Tyler were seniors at NOSU and wearing their letter jackets. Carrie had sent the slide show over for approval, and he and Tyler were sitting on the leather couch and watching it. Tyler leaned over and whispered in Joe's ear, "We are fucking jock gods, and I want you to fuck my ass." That night when Joe walked into the bedroom Tyler was wearing only his letter jacket and on the bed was Joe's NOSU letter jacket.
"Where did you find that?" Joe asked.
"In the back of your closet. Go ahead, put it on."
"It probably won't fit." Joe said.
"Oh I think it will."
Joe stripped off all of his clothes and slipped on the jacket. It fit like he'd just got it yesterday. Joe was still the hot stud he was in that photo. Tyler dropped to his knees and began to suck Joe's hard, dripping cock. Tyler said, "Come on stud. Show me your best game." That night, two boys earned their letters in a new sport.
"Joe," Mindy said shaking Joe from his thoughts, "are you ready to see the next room?"
Tyler looked at the screen to see what had distracted Joe and saw the letter jacket slide. Tyler smiled and whispered, "Come on jock stud."
In the concert hall, the stage had been covered with mats and converted to a teenager gamer' dream. There were arcade games, video games, a couple of pop-a-shots, corn hole, and a ping pong table. There were four big TVs playing music videos, a basketball game, and the broadcast from Time Square. There was also a soft drink and soda bar.
"Wow," Tyler said when he saw the room.
"Easy boy," Joe said, "You're an adult tonight."
Tyler gave Joe sad puppy dog eyes, and Joe burst into laughter and said, "Okay, after we greet our guests and you dance with your mom, you can have 30 minutes in the game room."
Tyler grinned, gave Joe a kiss, and said, "Thank you daddy."
"One more daddy out of you and I will cut your play time to 15 minutes," Joe said and Mindy and Carrie laughed.
The next stop was the Jane Champlin Art Gallery. The Champlins were another of Oklahoma's oil families. They owned a refinery in Enid and a string of filling stations across six states. The company was eventually bought by a larger company as the industry consolidated. However, they left their mark on Enid with civic and cultural philanthropy. One of their key contributions to the city's youth was an olympic size-swimming pool in 1956.
The Art Gallery was marked `21 and older' and was where the bar was set up. Just before they stepped into the gallery Joe grabbed Tyler's arm and said, "Wait one minute sonny boy, we'd better check your ID."
"Hey," Tyler said, "if I can't call you daddy, you can't call me sonny boy." Again Mindy and Carrie laughed.
Inside the gallery there were two young men tending bar; they waved to Tyler.
"Hey...Lance...Teddy," Tyler said and then introduced the two to Joe. "This is Lance Morris and Theodore Grant. They are in my teaching methods class."
"Glad to meet you," Joe said.
"Well we are sure glad to finally meet you," Teddy said.
Lance said, "All semester we have been hearing stories about Joe Bartlett, super teacher. But it's funny Tyler never mentioned anything about you being James Bond handsome."
"Yeah," Teddy said, "Why is that Tyler?"
"That's because I didn't need either of you poachers moving in on my man," Tyler said with a smile.
"Well, it's good to finally meet you Mr. Bartlett," Lance said, "and congratulations on your marriage. You make a stunning couple."
"Thank you," Joe said. "This Spring, Tyler will have to invite all of his classmates and friends over for a cookout."
The last stop was the Eleanor Hornbaker Banquet Hall. Tyler's mouth dropped when he saw the tables piled with various types of food. It was a cross between an NFL training table and a feast for a Sultan. One side of the room were tables piled with various pastries, canapés and every type of chocolate imaginable. On the other side of the room there was a pizza buffet. Right in the middle of the room was a table with a massive wedding cake, and a sign that said cake will be cut and served at 9:30. Each of the tables had a different theme. Several were sports themed. There was one that was Sinclair Oil and another was NOSU. There were also tables with books, family photos, even one dedicated to Sunshine. Mindy and Carrie had made a conscious effort to tell the story of Joe and Tyler.
Joe gave Mindy and Carrie each a kiss on the cheek, then said, "This is perfect. It is so us. Thank you."
Tyler was too choked up to say anything and just gave Mindy and Carrie each a big hug.
"Okay," Mindy said as she wiped away a tear, " It is time for you two to go into hiding so we can open the doors and start this party."
When the doors were opened, the guests were greeted by the various hosts and made to feel at home. Ian and Michael were put in charge of introducing Joe and Tyler and decided to make that a show of its own. At 8:30 on the dot, the sound of pipes playing Auld Lang Syne filled the hall as Ian and Michael in full Scottish attire marched into the Egyptian Lobby. When Ian was finished with the song, Michael stepped forward and said, I present to you Joseph and Tyler Bartlett-Simmons. Joe and Tyler walked in to a warm to a loud welcome.
When they reached the center of the room, the crowd finally quieted. Joe said, "Thank you all for that warm and accepting reception." He again had to wait as applause and cheers filled the room. Finally he was able to continue, "Never did I believe I could be as happy as I am today. Tyler is the love of my life and the center of my world, and if he could talk, I think he would say the same." Tyler smiled, nodded, and leaned over and kissed Joe on the cheek. Several aahs were heard and Tyler was not the only person with tears.
Joe continued, "We are honored to have so many family, friends, students, and colleagues share this moment with us, and there is one very special person we want to recognize. Mom, will you join us?"
A surprised and very proud woman soon stood between the two towering studs. "I promised Mary that she would dance at her son's wedding reception. In just a moment I am going to keep that promise." Again Joe was interrupted with applause.
"Please join us in the theater for the traditional mother and son dance."
When the music started, Tyler led his mother onto the dance floor. Mary was so happy and free that if one didn't already know it, there was no evidence that she was in the early stages of MS. After she danced with Tyler, Joe cut in and danced with Mary. When the song finished, Ian came out to escort Mary from the floor and Tyler took her place. As Joe and Tyler dance they were joined first by Ian and Michael, and then other couples stepped onto the floor to share that very special dance with the newlyweds.
After cutting the cake, Joe and Tyler greeted their guests and celebrated a New Year's Eve that would be very different from the previous year when Joe celebrated alone and Tyler fretted about his future. At midnight, Joe and Tyler toasted each other and kissed. As they broke their kiss, Joe whispered in Tyler's ear, "Is you ass ready for the first fuck of the new year?"
Tyler's cock twitched and he hummed in anticipation.
New Year's Day
When Joe and Tyler walked into the kitchen, on New Year's Day they were greeted by two boys with shit-eating-grins on their faces. Michael said, "You guys missed the Rose Bowl Parade."
"Yeah," Ian said, "They kept calling it the "granddaddy of them all" and I thought: wow, Joe Bartlett has his own parade."
Before Ian even had time to react, Joe had him on a head lock and was giving him the mother of all nuggies.
"Ow, ow," Ian cried, "I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."
Joe finally released him, and Ian rubbed his head. Joe said, "Granddaddy, huh? You'd better be a lot faster if you are going to run that smart Scottish mouth around me."
Ian smiled, saluted and said, "Yes, sir."
Joe pulled Ian into a hug and said, "That's what I like to hear."
"Have you guys had anything to eat?" Tyler asked.
"Not really," Michael said, "we ate so much last night that all we needed this morning was some coffee, but I'm starting to get hungry."
"Is breakfast okay, or do you want something else?"
Ian and Michael looked at each other and then together said, "Breakfast."
Call Mary and see if she wants to come over for breakfast," Joe said to Tyler.
Mary was up for breakfast and said she would bring over a coffee cake she had just taken out of the oven. Joe and Tyler got busy making scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Throughout breakfast there was lively conversation and a lot of laughter.
The afternoon was football and relaxing. Although he hadn't grown up watching American football, Ian had become a fan. He even chose an NFL team to cheer for, although Tyler told him choosing a team because their uniforms were the same color as the Edinburgh rugby team was dumb.
The Rose Bowl game was a heartbreaker for the Oklahoma Sooner, losing to the Georgia Bulldogs in a double overtime. After the game Mary said, "Well, that was disappointing," as she gathered up her needle point. She turned to Ian and said, "You and Michael should come over tonight. That way you can sleep in tomorrow."
Ian looked at Michael and wasn't sure what to say. Then Mary said, "Don't worry. You can have the bedroom in the basement and the bed is very sturdy." Ian and Michael both turned beet red, and Joe and Tyler couldn't stop laughing.
Later that evening Ian and Michael stripped off their clothes and climbed in the bed. Ian rolled over and began to kiss Michael; however, Michael was tentative and not really getting into it.
Finally, in frustration Ian asked, "What the hell is the matter?"
"I just don't want Mary to hear us."
"What the fuck? You don't seem to care if Joe and Tyler hear us."
"That's different," Michael said, "They're guys."
"Huh? You don't think women know about sex?"
"Well, it's just different. You know."
"No, I don't know."
Michael paused and then said, "It's like, if I though my mom could hear us having sex, I don't think I could do it. Mary's kind of like our grandma."
Ian laughed, then propped himself on his elbow and said, "Your problem is that you are a rich kid who grew up in a big house with privacy. I grew up in a small farm house. As a young kid I learned what sex was from watching the sheep and the pigs fuck. So I had a pretty good idea what my brothers were doing to their girlfriends in the next room when I heard grunting and moaning and the headboard banging against the wall."
"Didn't your dad notice?"
"My dad was a great father, but he wasn't the tuck-you-in and read-you-a-book kind of guy. Plus, he was a widower with needs. The kind of needs the widow across the meadow could fill."
"Oh," Michael said.
"This is the way I see it. You go back to Tulsa tomorrow and it's going to be a couple of weeks before we see each other. So, the only real question is whether you're going to fuck me, or I'm going to fuck you."
"I see your point," Michael said as he rolled over onto his knees and elbows, and said, "Well farm boy, show me what you learned from the sheep and the pigs."
Upstairs Mary was getting a drink of water in the kitchen when she heard a long, low moan sneak its way up through the return air duct. She smiled and said to herself, "Boys will be boys."
1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa
The Crescent Hotel opened in 1886, and at the time was one of the finest resort hotels in the country. The Hotel was constructed by the Eureka Springs Improvement Association and the Frisco Railroad. The grand opening of the hotel was presided over by James G. Blaine, whose loss to Grover Cleveland meant he was the only Republican candidate between 1860 and 1912 who never sat behind the desk in the Oval Office.
Like many American towns with "springs" in their name, people came to Eureka Springs hoping to find cures from its waters. Eventually, hotels and bathhouses were built to accommodate those `taking the waters' and a tourist industry grew up in the area. Today, Eureka Springs is more visited for its quaint charm and Victorian architecture than its waters. Also, for the gay community, Eureka Springs is noteworthy for being the first city in Arkansas to issue a same-sex marriage license and pass a non-discrimination ordinance.
Mindy had reserved the North Penthouse for Joe and Tyler, but Joe had asked her to change it to a smaller suite with a large jacuzzi tub, which she did with a wink and knowing smile. The Crescent Hotel was not a modern place, so anyone showing up expecting the Four Seasons was in for a let down. However, if you were looking for Victorian character, some history, a great view, and maybe a ghost story, this was your place.
The drive from Salt Fork had taken six hours and all Joe and Tyler wanted to do was get something to eat and crash. They decide on Skybar Pizza on the fourth floor of the Crescent Hotel. The Sky Bar had a great view overlooking Eureka Springs and a good selection of local beers. Since it was the off season there wasn't a crowd, and Joe and Tyler got extra attention from the server, Billy. Billy was a 20-something guy with a lanky frame, a charming smile, and mischievous blue eyes. He was particularly interested in talking to Joe and Tyler when he found out they were recently married. He'd been secretly dating a guy he'd met in junior college, but his boyfriend was deep in the closet. Billy explained that his friend's father was an important pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention and would not react well to a gay son.
"So, do you parents know you are gay?" Tyler asked Billy.
"Officially, no; but my dad's rule is `don't ask; don't tell' and my mom is just a mom; no, she's a great mom, and will love me no matter what. I haven't dated girls since I was a sophomore in high school. I took a girl to the prom both my Junior and Senior years, but that was it. I sang in the choir and ran track and cross-country. Beyond that I had a few close friends and just kept a low profile. Eureka may be a gay-friendly place, but that's not the norm in Arkansas."
"Do you see a future with your friend?" Joe asked.
"I don't know," Billy replied, "I like him a lot, maybe even love him, but I'm not waiting forever for him to decide if he's going to be gay with me, or the perfect son for his father. He will graduate in the Spring from the University of Arkansas with a degree in computer sciences. I have my AA in hospitality. I told him he has until Independence Day to decide what he wants to do, because the next day I'm packing my car and starting my life with or without him."
"Wow," Joe said.
Just then a bell rang and Billy went to get Joe's and Tyler's pizza. He also brought them a couple of more beers.
"Hey, are you trying to get us drunk," Tyler laughed.
"Well, if I thought I could get a quickie from you guys, I'd bring you two or three more. However, it's more than apparent that's never going to happen, so I figure I'd just get you guys one on the house before I close down the bar."
"Thanks," Joe said as Billy got back to work.
"I hope it works out for him," Tyler said.
"He seems like the kind of guy that will make it work," answered Joe.
After splitting a brownie blast for dessert, Joe asked, "Are you ready to go up to the room?"
"Yes, I am tired."
"Too tired to fuck?" teased Joe.
"Shit, I don't want to sound like some stereotype, but I am really tired."
"Me too, I just wanted you to say it first so I didn't sound like the old guy wanting to go to sleep before 10 o'clock." Tyler laughed.
As they were leaving the restaurant, Billy came running after them, "Sir, I think you made a mistake. He held out a 100 dollar bill, "I think you grabbed this instead of a ten when you were tipping."
Joe smiled and said, "It's not a mistake. Have a good evening."
"Yes sir; thank you sir," Billy said with a smile.
Tyler put a hand on Billy's shoulder, leaned in, and said, "Don't call him sir. I think it's sexy, but he thinks it makes him sound old."
Billy laughed, and waved as the couple went upstairs.
On the way to the room, Joe asked, "What stereotype? You said you didn't want to sound like a stereotype."
"Oh, you know the one where the wife stops putting out after the wedding."
"I know you have to be dead tired to think about using the bed for sleeping. Plus, I don't think I'll ever have to worry about you not putting out."
Tyler yelled `ow" as Joe gave his ass a hard pinch.
The next morning, Tyler rolled over and was surprised not to find Joe. Then he heard the shower. When he stepped into the bathroom he saw Joe's muscular body through the translucent shower curtain. He looked like an impressionist painting of the ideal man.
Joe peeked out of the shower and said, "Hey, Tyler what's wrong?"
"Well...I thought we'd...you know...fuck this morning."
"No, we're not going to fuck....but I've been waiting in here for twenty minute for you, because I plan to make slow, passionate love to my husband. Now, get that sexy ass in here."
Tyler smiled and stepped into the shower. Joe began to worship Tyler's body. He explored his muscular frame and gently kissed his neck, his chest, his abs, and eventually his cock. Tyler's swelling manhood twitched as Joe licked the tip. When Joe finally took the entire shaft in his mouth, Tyler moaned and leaned back against the wall. Joe knew just how to take Tyler to the edge and hold him there. Tyler was totally under Joe's spell. It was as if Joe had some magical power to transport Tyler to another dimension. A dimension where every nerve in Tyler's body was sexually engaged, where every touch felt as if it could tip Tyler over the edge into a mind shattering orgasm.
Joe stood, gave Tyler a kiss, and then turned him to the wall. He pinned Tyler's arms above his head and began kissing his neck and shoulders. Tyler moaned and pushed his ass back against Joe's rock hard cock.
"Are you ready," Joe asked.
"Yes, I need you so much," Tyler groaned, barely able to form the words.
Joe positioned his cock against Tyler's pucker. Tyler pushed back, and Joe slipped easily inside. Months of practice and building trust enabled Tyler to relax and open to Joe's large cut of meat. As Joe sunk deeper into Tyler, Tyler moaned with pleasure. Joe knew that when Tyler was in this condition it wouldn't be long before Tyler would spray his spunk onto the shower wall. Joe himself was more than ready for release.
After five minutes, Joe said I can't wait any longer, and he changed the angle of stroke so that every thrust massaged Tyler's prostate. Tyler's legs began to shake, and his breathing was hurried. Suddenly Tyler's body tensed and his ass spasmed. He moaned as long jets of ivory cum shot from his cock and slowly ran down the shower wall.
Joe lost control and began to flood his lover with cum. Joe had no idea how many loads he dumped in Tyler. Each thrust filled Tyler with more cum, and soon his ass was full and leaking a stream of jizz down the inside of his leg, a stream that turned to a flood when Joe withdrew his cock.
Tyler turned, wrapped his arms around Joe and said, "Damn, that's the way to start a morning."
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