Sleepy Days, Come No More Chapter 27
"What?" Chuck exclaimed in surprise.
"I don't know, I guess all the talk about the past and Blake," I paused, "I just don't want to be alone tonight. Could you please sleep with me?" I asked sincerely.
He appeared to think about it for a moment and then said, "Sure."
Chuck flung the sheets from his body and rose to his feet. He walked the short distance that separated our two beds and climbed into mine. I moved further over to give him more space and he found his way under the covers.
We lay there together, shoulder to shoulder, with only air filling the mere centimeters that stood between us. I looked over at Chuck; there was a trace of tension on his face, as though he didn't know what I expected. In truth I was a little confused about my desire also.
I knew that I was alone and that I wanted to be close to someone. I wanted to feel loved and special, but if it were Blake lying next to me I would want to make love. Chuck was attractive and at the clinic he seemed to be interested, but he wasn't Blake and I didn't love him like I loved Blake. Then I thought that having sex might help me feel better, and I trusted Chuck, I knew he cared about me.
These thoughts continued to swirl around in my mind for several minutes. Finally I decided to make a move. I reached over to Chuck and grasped his hand. He immediately tensed, but soon relaxed and grasped my hand with equal firmness. That small gesture seemed to release all of the tension. We were both relaxed and soon found slumber.
Soon there was a disruption. A pervasive humming or thumping that would not cease. I continued to wonder what was causing this violation. I couldn't discern if I was still dreaming or awake. Finally the thick fog of sleep began to dissipate. I opened my eyes and found my arm draped over Chuck's body.
I gently removed my arm from him and turned on to my back. I cleared the crud from my eyes and released a deep yawn, and then I reached over a shut off the alarm. I knew that I should get up, that we needed to get ready, but I was so tired. I just wanted to go back to sleep. I was unable to resist the urge and I succumbed to temptation.
I don't know how long I was asleep, but extra sleep, when you know you should be awake, always seems to be the sweetest. I was really enjoying my rest, when suddenly I was shaken.
"Wake up lazy!" I heard. I groaned and shifted around a bit, before opening my eyes. "Wake up!" Chuck repeated.
"Stop! I'm awake." I exclaimed groggily.
"You need to hurry we are leaving in thirty minutes." He informed.
I sighed heavily and rose to my feet. I went to the bathroom and addressed all that required attention. Then I put on my clothes and had a glass of water. Shortly after Chuck returned to the room and we headed out for the car.
Once we settled in the car, Chuck reached to the back seat and passed me a plastic bag. There was a styrofoam container with pancakes, eggs, and sausage inside.
"Thanks." I said.
"No problem." He replied.
"Did you get something for yourself?" I asked.
"I already ate." He said.
"How long of a trip is it?" I asked.
"It shouldn't take more than forty minutes." He said.
"Good." I said as I started on my meal.
The ride was smooth and surprisingly short. When we arrived we bought an all day pass and got a map of the forest as well as a list of onsite activities. First we found a hiking trail. We walked leisurely and stopped from time to time.
Next we took the Apache Trail, which is a scenic byway. The road was narrow and bumpy in areas. There were many turns and moderately dense traffic, but it was beautiful. There were cliffs and rock formations. In some areas there were just miles of red clay and cactus plants. We passed a couple of lakes and some canyons. It was amazing.
We stopped at various parking areas and took pictures and stretched our legs. We also rotated the driving duties. We returned to the hotel early in the evening. We were pretty hungry and tired, so we both took showers and ordered room service.
We ate and watched a movie. Then we went up to the roof and used the hot tub and talked.
"So Luis called?" Chuck asked.
"Yes." I replied.
"What did he want?" He asked.
"To see if I had plans for tomorrow night." I said.
"Okay." He said.
"We are going out for dinner and drinks." I informed.
"Is there going to be dessert?" He inquired.
I laughed, "I do love cheesecake." I said.
"Okay, but wouldn't you prefer a churro?" He asked with a smirk.
"That might be nice, but I am sticking to cheesecake." I insisted.
"Alright, but a little fun won't hurt." He said.
"I don't know." I said.
"You said that you are inexperienced and that Blake was your first, maybe this breakup could be a good thing." He said.
"What?" I asked.
"I know you love Blake, but he is the first guy you have ever been with, I `m not saying that sex is everything, but this could be the perfect time for you to have some fun. You're young, single and cute, why not have some fun, get out there a little." He suggested.
"I don't know about that, I mean it might be fun to date some other guys, but I don't want to go too fast and I need to focus on school and work." I said.
"Hey, it is just a suggestion, besides you can work, go to school, and get laid. Hell, getting laid may help out with the other two." He said with a laugh.
"What about you are you seeing anyone?" I inquired.
"I have plenty of experience; my therapist wants me to focus on myself and not so much on sex." He confessed.
"How is that working out for you stud?" I asked.
"I spend more time at the gym, but I have to because I eat so much now." He paused. "Between giving up drugs and sex, I started eating more." He laughed.
"Well, it is working out for you." I said acknowledging his form.
"I know! I look damn good, and am not even using it." He said with a smile.
We continued to talk and then we headed back to the room. We both took showers and then climbed into bed together. This time there was no tension. We cuddled and then went to sleep. We slept late into the next morning.
Chuck left late in the afternoon and I just lounged around the room. I listened to music, watched television, and did a few puzzles. Later, in the evening, I started to get ready for my date with Luis. At least I thought of it as a date.
Luis called me when he was near the hotel and I went down to the lobby to meet him. He greeted me with a broad smile, which I returned.
"Hey Luis." I said.
"Hey Steve." Luis said.
"So how has your day been?" I asked Luis.
"It was okay. Helped my aunt move some furniture." Luis informed.
"Oh, attractive and kind." I said with a smile.
"Attractive?" He asked with a smirk.
"Yes, attractive." I said as I continued to smile.
"Maybe you will let a attractive guy take you out dancing after dinner?" He asked.
"That depends." I replied.
"Depends on what?" Luis asked.
"On how the evening goes and how you behave." I said with a grin.
He laughed and smiled, "So where are we going?" Luis asked.
"There is a steak house down the street and an Italian place on the opposite end. Whichever you prefer." I said.
"I could do steak." Luis said.
"Alright, steak it is." I confirmed.
We walked over to the entrance and exited the hotel. We chatted as we walked the short distance to the restaurant. There was no wait. We were seated and ordered promptly.
"So how was Tonto?" He asked.
"It was beautiful. I want to go back one day. Have you ever been?" I inquired.
"Yeah. I go horseback riding there sometimes with my brothers and cousins." He informed.
"You ride horses?" I asked.
"Yeah my uncle has a small ranch, so we all ride." He said.
"I have always wanted to ride a horse, but I heard it is difficult." I said.
"It isn't hard once you get the hang." He assured.
"So did you do a lot of work on your uncle's ranch?" I asked.
"Yeah, a lot of long hot days, but we all did. Me, my brothers, and cousins all put in long hours." He explained.
"Do you still work on the ranch?" I asked.
"Yeah I still help out when I can." He said.
"You must be really close with your family." I observed.
"Yeah we are all really close." He confessed.
"That is nice." I said.
"Are you close with your family?" He asked.
"Not exactly." I said.
"That's too bad." He said.
"It is not so bad. Does your family know your sexuality?" I inquired.
"They know I like guys." He said.
"And that is okay?" I asked.
"Uh, they prefer me to get married and have kids. They hope that one day I will get married." He admitted.
"But they have not pressured you or mistreated you?" I probed.
"No. We're family, we stick together." He said.
"That is good, that is how it should be." I said.
Our food arrived and we continued to talk as we ate. Luis paid the check and we headed back to the hotel. I agreed to go to a club with him, but insisted that we take a taxi. I thought it would be safer, I mean Luis seemed like a nice guy, but I wanted to be cautious.
We went to a small gay bar in Phoenix. We danced and talked. It was really fun. I wasn't a particularly good dancer but I did enjoy dancing and Luis appeared to be having fun and was being quite flirtatious. We stayed at the club for a few hours and then headed back to the hotel.
Luis walked me to my room and I invited him in for a night cap. I poured him a glass of liquor from the mini fridge and grabbed a soda for myself. We sat on the sofa and talked. He sat very closely to me and there was the occasionally he placed a hand on my knee or shoulder.
"I had a really good time papi." He said.
"I did too." I said.
"So, you said you wanted to learn Spanish, want to start?" He said flirtatiously.
"I do want to learn Spanish but I don't think that I am ready to start just yet." I confessed.
"I see, so you aren't ready for the rebound?" He asked.
"I am not ready for the game, but I still want to play around a little. Maybe test out some other things." I said seductively.
"Play around?" He inquired.
"Yes." I confirmed and placed my hand on his knee.
He leaned over and kissed me on the lips. I returned the kiss with more pressure. It was nice to be kissed and to be touched. We continued to kiss and began to explore each other's bodies with our hands. Eventually he had me pressed against the arm of the sofa and was on top of me. I was getting aroused and I could feel that he was too.
For a moment I had lost myself and had started to unbutton his shirt. He did not resist my advance, but once I made it to the final button, I realized that I was taking things further than I had intended. I stopped and told Luis that it was probably time for him to leave.
He buttoned up his shirt and we talked a little more and laughed about how hard we both were. I walked him to the door and we kissed one last time and he was on his way.
After he left I went to the bathroom and splashed my face with water and then undressed. I packed most of my things, except for the clothes I would wear the next day and the pajamas I was wearing. Then I climbed in to bed and turned out the lights.
I tried to go directly to sleep but I was so wound up and tense. I kept tossing and turning and I was also sweaty. I climbed out of bed to turn down the thermostat. Then I stripped down to my briefs and climbed back in bed.
Again I tried to sleep but had no success. Finally I decided to address the issue. I went to the bathroom and retrieved a bottle of lotion and a hand towel. I slipped off my underwear and climbed back into bed. I lay on my back and filled my hand with lotion.
I was already hard so I was off to a fast start. I closed my eyes and rubbed my legs along the silky sheets as I stroked my throbbing cock. It felt so good. I was so horny. I thought about what I had wanted to do with Luis and then I thought about how good it was with Blake.
Between Luis and my thoughts of Blake, I had reached a point of absolute lust. I stroked faster and faster trying to get to the place of relief. I was really getting hot and was becoming dizzy. I began to tweak my nipple and bite my lower lip as I continued in my tireless pursuit of orgasm.
I could feel my balls tighten and my body tense as I began to cover myself with thick cream. I lay there with my eyes closed and tried to steady my breath, while I enjoyed the euphoria. Once I had returned to reality, I wiped the cum from my body and smiled. My next attempt at sleep was successful.
I woke up late the next morning. I just lay there in bed enjoying my state; you know the feeling you have after a goodnight's sleep. You almost want to stay still as to not disrupt the pleasure.
After a few minutes of indulgence I was able to climb out of bed. I went to the bathroom and took a hot shower. Then I relieved myself and brushed my teeth. As I washed the toothpaste residue from my lips, I noticed that I was smiling. Not just a casual smirk, but a broad toothy smile. For some reason I felt pretty good. There was even an extra bounce in my step.
I left the bathroom and finished packing the last of my belongings. Then I ordered breakfast from room service. Once I finished eating, I watched television for a while, and then gathered my things and checked out.
I arrived at the airport relatively early. I completed the check in process and then headed off to the gift shop to kill sometime. When I had spent more money than I planned to I left the shop and a seat. I waited for another hour until they began boarding my flight.
The flight was pleasant, just a little turbulence at the start. Marie met me at the baggage claim. We embraced and she helped me to her car. We made small talk during the drive. We spoke about how busy the airport was and the terrible traffic.
When we arrived at my place I noticed a small stack of boxes, just beyond the entry way.
"It is good to be home." I said as I put down my bags.
"Where do you want these?" Marie asked referring to the gift bags she was holding.
"I will take them." I reached out to collect the bags. "Thank you." I said.
"No problem." She said.
"I got a few things for you." I said.
"I was hoping that you did." She said with a laugh. "What's with the boxes?" She inquired.
"Just some things that I need to put away." I said.
"Really?" She asked in a perplexed manner as she looked at the boxes.
"Blake and I," I paused and smiled, "Blake and I broke up. Those are the things that I had at his place." I explained.
"What? When? Why?" She asked.
"We broke up three weeks ago." I confessed.
"Why didn't you say anything?" She asked.
"I have just been so busy, you have been busy." I proclaimed.
"I was just over here before you left. You could have told me then." She said.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you." I admitted.
"Yes, you should have. What happened? The whole story please." She insisted.
"I told you we were having some problems after I came back." I said.
"Yeah." She replied.
"Well, we just could not make it work out." I said.
"That is too bad you guys really loved each other." She said.
"I know you like Blake and I really don't want you to be angry with him," I paused, "but you asked for the entire story and the truth is, he was seeing someone else." I confessed.
"What?" She exclaimed.
"I know." I said.
"I am so sorry. That is really horrible." She paused and took a deep breath. "That really pisses me off. There is nothing worse than a cheater." She exclaimed in agitation. "Do you know how long he was cheating?" She inquired.
"For a while, a few months." I informed.
"Months." She sighed. "That bastard cheated on you for months?" She exclaimed.
"It's a long story. You sit down and I will get some drinks and then I will tell you everything." I said.
"Alright." She agreed.
I got the drinks and a few snacks and we talked for hours. I told her everything that happened that led to the breakup. I told her about his feelings and my own. We laughed and joked around a little. She gave me lots of hugs and supportive knee pats. She suggested that we should slash his tires and bust his wind shield.
After we talked about my situation we went out for dinner. Later that night I returned home, changed into my pajamas and started to unpack my luggage. Then I started on the boxes. The boxes were filled with clothes mostly. There were a few pots and pans, and some books and other personal effects.
Among the effects was a small box with a note attached:
Hey Steve,
As I was packing away your things I came across the pictures we took at the cabin. I thought you should have them so I made copies and included some other pictures too. I also put the pictures on a flash drive for you.
I washed all of the clothes and ran the dishes through the washer too, so everything is clean. I Hope everything went well with your conference and that you are doing okay.
Blake
I put the box aside and continued to put away the other items. Once everything was put away I took the box of pictures over to the couch and began to look through them. They turned out really good. We looked so happy. I smiled and laughed as I examined each photograph. Somewhere between looking at the pictures and reminiscing I drifted off to sleep.
I woke early the next morning to find our memories scattered about, on my chest, between the cushions and on the hard floor. I gathered them up and put them back in the box. Then I went to my bedroom and placed them in a storage container in the back of my closet. I closed the door and returned to the living room to resume my slumber.
Acknowledgement:
There have been several terrible events in the last few weeks that have saddened me. I refrained from mentioning them because I did not want to turn the acknowledgement section into some type of depressing experience. However, I feel compelled to mention some things that I feel deserve attention.
The murders that took place this month, that obtained national attention: the mass shooting at a Pittsburg hospital that resulted in several people being injured, and two fatalities, the deaths of 17 Afghan civilians, most of whom were women and children, and more recently the murder of teenaged Trayvon Martin.
It is disturbing to know that we live in a world where life seems to be constantly undervalued and what is more disturbing is there seems to be no end in sight for such behavior. We must take the time to be kinder with each other. So much hatred and anger is bred from hurt and internal insecurity. As long as people are unhappy and miserable with themselves, there will continue to be individuals who seek to ease their misery by hurting others.
That is why it so important that we, as a society, be more respectful to one another. Respect does not mean that we all agree on what is right or wrong, but that we appreciate every one's right to be who they are and to live their lives. It is the intolerance of difference that empowers people to hate and destroy others, and as long as there is intolerance these types of atrocities will continue.
We are all human beings and we all have the right to live and to be happy. I just hope that more of us will come to understand this fact. Okay, I'm off the soap box now.
Be happy and Be Safe.
Appreciation:
Special thanks to Oscar, Lou, Arch, Clayton, Jake, Ed, Adolfo, Khalid, Gary, Vern, Lance, Oz, Dudung, Alan, Terry, John J, Harold, Barry, Michael B., Randy, Liam, Byron, Kris, Bryan, Fred, David, Joseph, Shawn, Bill, David R., Tom, Curtis, JT and Mikal for their support, and everyone who has taken the time to follow this story, I really appreciate you all.
Sincerest thanks to Nifty and all of the wonderful participants who make this site possible, from the generous donors to the archivists and administrators, you all are truly appreciated.
Last but not least, thanks to the editor, Raziya, for all of the wonderful work.
Let Me Know:
Please, forward any comments or feedback to bonotorros@yahoo.com.