Ring in Mine 3: Nephi & Jerome Chapter 11
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I didn't think Jerome would ever get over the guilt, or has he.
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---------- Nephi & Jerome: Chapter 13
Jerome felt a little awkward in class the next morning. The presentation was a success. Kathy and Jerome met for lunch. Kathy apologized for putting him in an awkward situation the previous evening.
"As I thought about your committed relationship, I thought of my boyfriend, Robert. I had him come pick me up before anything happened." Kathy thanked Jerome with a kiss on the cheek.
The day of finals was the last day they had lunch together. Kathy announced her boyfriend was joining the Peace Corp. "I have a couple of loose ends to take care of and I am leaving with him."
Jerome arrived home to find the truck packed and Nephi chomping at the bit.
"I have everything packed. I started the hot tub at the cabin two days ago." Nephi opened the door for Jerome. "Do you realize that a year ago tomorrow I found you in the snow?"
Jerome hadn't remembered the date, but it looked like Nephi had something planned at the cabin. Jerome was surprised and pleased that it was important enough for Nephi to celebrate.
"Are we going to stop and let the ranger know we are here?" Jerome watched the turnoff for the ranger station in the side mirror.
"He is spending the night with Benny and Luke. They know where we are." Nephi pulled up to the cabin. It was obvious Nephi had prepped the cabin. Steam rose from the furnace stack and the back deck was free of snow.
"Do you want to eat first or head to the hot tub?" Nephi opened the lid of the food warmer allowing the scent of an especially prepared meal courtesy of Uncle Marco fill the cabin.
"That's not fair!" Jerome's stomach grumbled. "We eat first."
Jerome started up the wood stove while Nephi set the table with linen and candle sticks. Jerome turned out the lights.
Marco had designed a menu for lovers, delectable morsels that could be fed to that special someone. It was a slow tender meal punctuated with much kissing and touching.
Bite sized pastries were shared while sitting in the hot tub under the stars. Jerome's hands were busy under the bubbles.
"I want you to make love to me here under the stars." Nephi bent over the edge of the tub handing his lover the lube. The patio heater, the steam from the hot tub and their passion kept them from feeling the cold. The second time was even better than the first.
Sated, the lovers relaxed in each other's arms. The jets turned off leaving the surface of the water as tranquil as the pair. Nephi disturbed the silence by kneeling in the water at Jerome's feet. He took Jerome's hand.
"One year ago, I found a beautiful child of ice hidden in the snow. I had given up on finding that special someone and God brought you into my life. Then I feared He had taken you away. God was letting me know how important you are in my life." Nephi revealed the shiny band hidden in his free hand.
"I will cherish your love and never stray. Will you be the other half of my soul forever?" Nephi slid the band on Jerome's finger. Jerome stared at his brown eyed angel. He had his chance to be with Kathy and he had turned it down. Could he imagine being without Nephi, the vision saddened him.
"I wish I had a ring for you." Jerome smiled when Nephi reached over the edge of the hot tub returning with a ring matching the ring on his finger. Jerome switched places with his soulmate. He had remembered more than he had ever revealed to his friend.
"When I was rejected by my family. I had given up in the snow. My father was right; I was a sinner and deserved to die. Then I opened my eyes to see a warm brown-eyed angel cuddled up with me." Tears filled Jerome's eyes. "This year has been hard as I fought the demons inside of me put there by my father. I hope I will always be welcomed by your side. That's where I plan to stay no matter what happens."
Jerome slid the ring on Nephi's finger.
"No matter what happens." Nephi whispered into Jerome's ear. Both were tired. They quickly covered the hot tub, turned off the patio heater, threw a lump of coal in the stove and went to bed.
A low rumble was felt as well as heard. Nephi climbed down the ladder to use the toilet. He flipped the light switch. The bulb stayed dark. Nephi pulled on his coverall and boots. A few minutes later the bathroom light came on. A chilled Nephi flipped the light off and returned to his warm lover and bed.
"What happened?" Jerome asked sleepily.
"There's probably been an avalanche in the canyon. We have plenty of food and enough gas for the generator for at least a week. We can turn the furnace off and use the wood stove. That will save the propane for cooking and most importantly for keeping the hot tub hot." Nephi was glad he had let people know where they were going. The pair blissfully slept unaware of the drama about to unfold at home.
Jerome and Nephi drove down the canyon to survey the damage. A twenty-foot wall of snow blocked the road.
"I wanted us to have some time for ourselves. I guess I got my wish." Nephi leaned over and kissed his partner. A blast echoed up the canyon followed by a rumble. Nephi gunned the truck back up the canyon.
"What was that?" Jerome was clearly rattled.
"They are shelling the canyon walls, bringing potential avalanches down so it will be safe to work." Nephi explained.
For the first time Jerome appreciated the cabin's location where the canyon widened into a high mountain valley. They didn't want to chance getting caught in an avalanche so they stayed away from the steep slopes. They used the snowmobile to drag dead fall wood to the cabin. With the wood split and stacked the pair retreated to the comforting warmth of the hot tub.
"Jerome, I've been thinking about what you said back at Easter." Nephi took Jerome's hand in his looking at the matched rings. Jerome tried to remember what he had said that was so memorable.
"You prayed that you wanted to be a better dad than your father." Nephi looked into Jerome's eyes. "Do you really want children? In Utah they would never let us adopt but if you want children we'll find a way."
"I'm only 18. I'm not in a hurry but someday I'd like us to have a family." Jerome kissed Nephi realizing the importance of simple words like us and family. Filled with emotion Jerome made a decision. It was time to be fully committed. For all Jerome cared at that moment his father and his archaic attitudes could rot in Hell.
As they headed for bed Jerome made one last detour to the bathroom. Nephi was half asleep when Jerome crawled into bed. He nudged Nephi until he was awake. "No sleep for you my handsome husband. You are going to make love to me."
Nephi's eyes shot open when he realized the implications of Jerome's statement. "You don't have to."
"I want to be totally committed to our relationship. Just take it slow." Jerome handed the lube to his lover and got on all fours.
Nephi was gentle. Jerome went crazy when Nephi ran his tongue across Jerome's hole. All thoughts of sleep disappeared as Nephi worked one well lubed finger after another into Jerome. When it hurt Jerome thought of Grandma Grace's wedding night. The desire to share how much he loved and trusted Nephi overrode the pain until it became pleasure. Jerome had wondered why Nephi enjoyed anal play. Now he knew why.
"Nephi, make love to me." Jerome rolled onto his back he wanted to look into those beautiful brown eyes.
Nephi was gentle and caring pausing whenever Jerome winced in pain. "That's all of it." Nephi announced. Jerome was amazed. He had all of Nephi inside of him. If God hated gay men why did he put something inside of them that felt good during sex?
Nephi only lasted a few strokes. Jerome wasn't ready to be done but he could wait until the next time. He knew there would be a next time. Nephi wrapped his lips around Jerome's shaft and was rewarded for his efforts.
"Please God help me be free of my father's hate." Jerome prayed listening to Nephi's now steady breathing.
In the morning they rode the snowmobile to the avalanche. They could see the additional snow that had been brought down with the shelling. They could hear the sound of heavy machinery echo off the nearly sheer slopes of the canyon.
"It looks as if we have a few more days." Nephi observed.
Jerome wrapped his arms around Nephi's waist and shouted. "Home James! It's time for some male bonding."
"It's my turn." Nephi demanded over the roar of the snowmobile.
Jerome stripped out of his cold weather gear. Nephi wasn't fast enough. Jerome slid the zipper of Nephi's coveralls down. Nephi had gone commando. Jerome followed the zipper. Without waiting for Nephi to finish stripping down Jerome latched his lips around Nephi's soft dick. Jerome relished the feel of Nephi growing hardness in his mouth.
Something had changed since last night. Maybe it was committing himself 100%, maybe it was God's intervention. Jerome was enjoying this. He was doing this not only for Nephi but for himself at the same time.
Nephi tried pulling away when it came time to come. Jerome swallowed Nephi's cum, saving the last couple of shots on his tongue. He stood and shared the cream with a kiss.
Nephi bent to return the favor. Jerome pulled away and ran for the hot tub. Nephi followed laughing. "Why didn't you let me suck yours?"
"I have other plans for my next load." Jerome smiled. Side by side they cuddled in a cloud of steam.
Before they fell asleep Jerome had Nephi bend over the edge of the tub. Nephi's rosebud was winking at Jerome. He went for broke and first kissed and then licked Nephi's most intimate place. It tasted like chlorine. As Nephi pushed backward onto Jerome's tongue, Jerome loved that he could give his special guy these fantastic feelings.
"If you want a family it's time to see if I can get you pregnant." Jerome wasn't the only screamer that day.
They broke for lunch and actually slept during their nap, eventually.
If by the next morning neither of them were pregnant it wasn't for a lack of trying. Jerome seemed to be making up for lost opportunities.
The pair spent the next morning racing across the frozen lake at the center of the valley. Nephi was teaching Jerome how to drive the snowmobile when a helicopter circled the lake and landed. A lone figure emerged. Jerome drove to investigate. The lone figure was the ranger.
"Something has come up and you are needed at home. Get on the helicopter. I'll close down the cabin." The ranger offered.
"There is still more than a week's worth of gas for the generator and plenty of propane. You are welcome to use the cabin." Nephi suggested.
"Ignore any cream in the hot tub." Jerome laughed. The ranger hoped Jerome would still be in a good mood when he learned what waited for him at home.