The Man with the Jeep
Chapter 72
Andrew woke up alone and a little disoriented at first before he remembered that he and John had spent the night in his new digs. Sleeping in a new place was always a sketchy scenario that promised a restless night of tossing and turning, but the work of the day before apparently took care of that nicely. He had slept all the way through the night.
His first impression was actually that he'd overslept, but a glance at his watch told him he hadn't. He always considered himself an early riser, but John was usually up before him. How John could function with such little sleep was a continuing mystery.
He pulled on some PJ bottoms and a t-shirt and headed downstairs.
He found John in the kitchen wearing only his boxers and sipping on some fresh coffee. He broke into a smile when he saw Andrew.
"Good morning, sexy," he said. "How did you sleep?"
"Better than expected, actually."
"Excellent!" John replied cheerfully. "There's some hot water for your tea."
"Thanks."
Andrew chose a lemon/berry mix he hadn't tried yet and pleasantly stared at John while he let it steep for a bit.
The man was a revelation every morning. It seemed like he could never get bedhead to look bad or find unflattering light no matter when or where he was. Any light at all lit up the hair all over his body and made him practically glow a golden red. Andrew could never get enough.
He decided it should be criminal to look this amazing when you've barely rolled out of bed. But he was also quite willing to overlook the infraction. Every single day. For the rest of his life.
John broke into his dreamy thoughts.
"What would you like to tackle today?" he asked. "It seems like we got most of the outside done, right? I mean we can see the house now and drive all the way up to it."
"Yeah," Andrew agreed. "I was thinking we should clean the inside today. And that reminds me that we have to figure out where the power's coming from too."
"Oh yeah, that's probably a good idea," John agreed.
Andrew, ever the methodical one, decided they should work from the top down, though he elected to skip the attic for now. They started upstairs by sweeping the cobwebs from the ceilings, dusting the windowsills, door jambs, and of course the monster four-poster bed in the master bedroom. The last step was a good sweep and mop of the hardwood floors. It was impressive how much difference it made. He hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now that they were spic and span, he realized just how nice the floors were. He counted himself fortunate there weren't any leaks in the roof to damage things.
After they were finished with that level, he did a walkthrough to appraise things. The house itself really didn't need anything up here. All the fixtures were old, but they worked fine and were old enough that they had reached a desirable classic/retro status.
The mattress was entirely different. It was one thing to spend a night or two on a stranger's old mattress that was way past its prime, but quite another to do so every night. It just felt creepy to him, so he mentally started a shopping list with a new mattress at the very top. He knew he was going to have a long list to tackle to make the place everything he imagined, but he already had plenty of furniture that would suffice for most of it in the meantime. Unfortunately, his bed was just a queen.
They tackled the stairs next, for which John had to run to the Jacks for some wood cleaner and polish. It turned out to be much more work than Andrew expected, but by the end, every step, spindle, and banister gleamed impressively.
They followed the same sequence downstairs: cobwebs, dust, cleaning, polishing what furniture was there, and then getting the floors to shine.
By the end of the day, they were both tired units again. They weren't even up for cooking this time, so they ordered a pizza from the Jacks for dinner. They wasted no time in downing half a pizza each before ascending the stairs once more to crawl into the double bag laying atop its kingly platform.
Andrew was starting to get familiar with the odd sounds the house made. It felt restless somehow, like it was asleep but dreaming. Slow long creaks, occasional popping, and vague brushing noises were commonplace. They weren't constant, but occurred often enough that they didn't remain the disconcerting experience they were at first. That uneasy feeling gradually morphed into a warm and welcoming hug.
Just like the night before, Andrew and John were out almost instantly as soon as they settled into their cozy cocoon, wrapped in each other's arms and snoring softly.
Andrew again slept well, though he was woken up a couple times in the night.
He was half finished with his tea the next morning before he broached the day's plans with John.
"So, I was thinking we'd get started on clearing out the store," he began.
"Today?" John asked with a bit of surprise.
"Well yeah."
"I'm sorry, but we've been on overdrive all week getting things done. Aren't you just a bit worn out?"
"Actually, yeah, but there is so much to do!"
John chuckled. "And how long do you think you'll be able to keep going if you don't take a break?"
"I don't know," Andrew answered with a shrug. "But I'm kind of just in go mode right now."
"Yeah, I noticed," John replied. "Believe me, I've noticed!"
"I just like to get as much done as I can while I'm in the mood."
"I'm not at all surprised, but hear me out: I've noticed that when I do that, I will push, push, push, and push untilÑBam-O!ÑI practically collapse and I'm down for the count. It takes me a long time to get back into the swing of things after that, let alone `in the mood' to pick up where I left off. Do you not go through that cycle?"
"Um," Andrew said slowly. "Maybe a little bit, now that you mention it."
"Uh huh, that's what I thought. I've found that if I tone it down just a peg, everything evens out a bit and I actually get more done. Have you tried that?"
"Well, I keep meaning to..."
"Then you're overdue," John said with a smile. "One of the things I learned in my training was to listen to my body. If you pay attention, you'll know when you're overdoing it, when you're tired, when you're hungryÑ-all of it. So, I want you to stop for a minute and just assess how you feel physically."
"Okay," Andrew agreed dubiously.
"I want you to close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
"Fine," he said as he reluctantly closed his eyes and lost sight of John and his golden morning aura.
"Now, feel your heartbeat."
Andrew could swear it actually sped up as he paid attention to it, but that made no sense, so he had to be imagining it.
"Got it?"
"Yeah."
"Now try to slow your breathing just a little bit."
With a bit of reluctance, Andrew did as instructed and could feel himself calm down a bit.
How are you feeling?"
"I don't know," replied Andrew impatiently, not wanting to explain his thoughts just then. "What's next?"
"How do your muscles feel?"
That was easy.
"Sore," he answered promptly.
John chuckled. "Thought so. Now how about your bones?"
"My bones?" Andrew asked incredulously. "You can't be serious."
"I'm serious, Captain Crabby," John replied wearily. "Maybe you can and maybe you can't, but I want you to try."
"Fine."
Andrew couldn't feel his bones a whit, but he tried.
"I don't feel my bones at all," Andrew said after a minute of honest effort.
"Good," John said. "Now see if you can gauge the energy level inside your body."
After a moment's reflection, Andrew had to admit he didn't feel very energetic.
"All right then," John announced. "It's settled."
"What is?" asked a confused Andrew.
"Our plans. It's going to be a recharge day."
"What does that mean?"
"It means we are going to get some breakfast and see what we can do about those aches and pains."
"Okay."
They were soon back in the Jeep towing the borrowed mower back to the Jacks on the way to Mabel's.
"I'm sorry I'm such a wimp," Andrew blurted out suddenly.
"What?"
"I'm sorry I'm such a wimp," he repeated.
"Who said you were?"
"You didn't have to. I already know. We are losing an entire day because I'm too sore and worn out to keep going. I don't know if I can do this, John. If I'm wiped out after a couple days of light housework and pruning, how am I going to maintain an entire greenhouse? And run a store? What was I thinking? I'm in way over my head!"
"Whoa! Slow down there, bucko! I'm going to chalk most of that up to being hungry, but before you go all martyr on me, you should know I'm tired and sore too. Why do you think I had reservations about tackling the store today? I'm not any more used to scrubbing banisters and decades-dirty toilets than you are. My back aches, my neck is sore, my knees hurt, and my hands are raw. I flatter myself to think I keep my place nearly as clean as yours, so I rarely have to really scrub anything at all. I'm not as young as I used to be and my job is hardly a workout, so don't think you're the only one here who needs a break."
Andrew was taken aback. His studly ex-SEAL-or-whatever man was sore too? That almost didn't compute. John may be a bit more padded than his active duty days, but there was still plenty of muscle to spare under than cinnamon brown fur. It hadn't occurred to Andrew that they could even get sore. It was the revelation that he needed to get knocked out of his funk.
"My bad," he replied humbly. "I guess I am a little cranky this morning."
"It's okay," John reassured him. "I'll get you fed and taken care of."
Andrew swooned anew. It was that kind of thing that really set John apart. He could take things in stride even when Andrew was skewing toward unreasonable and instead of condescending criticism or tacit dismissal, he encouraged the best in him and offered safe haven and security.
Breakfast was pretty much a blur as he half tuned out Mabel and her boisterous interactions in favor of scarfing down the delicious corned beef hash and eggs she brought. John was similarly wolfish, so they were out pretty quickly.
"What's next, boss?" he asked John.
"Next up is a little soothing relaxation," he answered coyly.
"Where at?"
John just smiled.
"Got it," Andrew said. "Lead on!"
They got back in the old Jeep and were soon clambering up the familiar mountain trail once again. Andrew had a pretty good idea of what lay in store before they stopped at the outhouse for a pitstop, and it was soon confirmed as John parked the Jeep next to the familiar grotto.
Though not quite as hot as their last visit, the sun had burned away the dew and all traces of the morning chill before they arrived.
John had apparently started the hot tub at some point along the way from his phone, because it was already steaming and bubbling as they approached. Andrew couldn't wait for a long hot soak in those soothing waters and started shedding his clothes as he walked toward it. John followed suit just a step behind him. They both sighed loudly with pleasure as they slid in.
"This was a very good idea," Andrew admitted.
"I'm glad you like it," John replied as he leaned in to give Andrew a kiss.
They wrapped their arms around each other and held each other tight. It only lasted for about two minutes before the heat from the water and their bodies made that uncomfortably warm, but it was the perfect way to start the experience. They sank into the water and just relaxed, chatting away.
Once the heat had seeped into their muscles, John started massaging Andrew's muscles one at a time, making sure each one was free of knots before moving on to the next one. He took his time and made it as relaxing as he could while still getting the job done.
When he had finished, Andrew did the same for him. He wasn't as experienced, but he was a quick study, and judging from John's reactions, he decided he must be doing a decent job at least.
When he was finished, John turned to face him.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. "I'm feeling energized, relaxed and a hundred times better."
"Me too," Andrew answered.
"Glad to hear it. Feel like cooling off just a bit?"
"I suppose," Andrew replied reluctantly, even though he really wasn't done with the hot tub just yet. He could never get enough of a good hot soak.
"Just a bit," John promised.
"Okay."
John had him stand up on the top step of the pool and stretch his arms straight up. Andrew watched John push on one of the rocks above his head until it swung down. It wasn't a rock at all, but rather a shallow facing on what looked like a cabinet door. Or more accurately like the overhead door of an airliner, since it swung down. Not for the first time, Andrew started to wonder if everything about this place was an illusion.
John reached up into the cavity and pulled down two steel cuffs attached to chains. Too curious to resist, Andrew watched him clamp them around his raised wrists. He couldn't pull down on them much, but a moment later, he couldn't at all. He wasn't surprised to turn his head and see John winding a crank hidden behind yet another fake rock that increased the tension and actively pulled his arms further up. He was grateful for the soft inner lining of the cuffs, because he could imagine how much it would hurt otherwise. John kept cranking until Andrew was stretched out and just barely on his tiptoes.
John came up behind him, wrapped his arms around Andrew's chest and nibbled on the back of one ear. Andrew could feel John's hefty throbber sliding between his legs. John swept his arms up and down, stroking Andrew's chest and belly, paying special attention to his nipples and once going low enough to bump Andrew's dick and confirm that it was happy and awake.
Then John crossed his arms and wrapped Andrew in a bear hug nearly at his neck that started to slide slowly down Andrew's body as John kissed, licked, and nibbled his way down his back.
What body hair Andrew had was all grown back now, and the friction was wild as John seemed to try to squeeze everything inside his body down into his toes. The squeeze only let up once when John's arms reached Andrew's rigid member sticking straight out. John released one arm to reposition it below and then re-clamped himself around Andrew so his cock was pinned between John's arms. Andrew could feel his rod pulsing until he was distracted with John's tongue doing wonderful things to his back door.
Andrew wanted to get more of that feeling, but he could barely keep upright standing on his tiptoes with all of John's weight pressed around him. He finally figured out a way to take a step backwards onto the edge of the pool to give him better purchase with his feet. He had to arch his back a bit to make it happen, which had the bonus benefit of pushing his butt back farther onto John's talented tongue. The feelings he got were more than enough reward for the effort.
Then John changed things up a bit, releasing his hold and pushing his way between Andrew's legs. Even with his feet on the higher step, Andrew couldn't keep contact and was soon hanging from the rings around his wrists as John lifted up his legs for better access, where he continued to titillate Andrew from below. John worked his hole and his crack before sliding farther forward to manipulate his perineum, with his chin rubbing the bottom of Andrew's balls.
The slobbering licks and nibbles at his underside coupled with the scruffy chin scraping his balls that were loose and hanging low thanks to all the hot soaking they had just enjoyed had Andrew yelping and gasping.
John followed that up by sucking his plums into his mouth, making them all hot and wet and then flicking and caressing them inside his mouth with his tongue.
It was amazing, but it would be a lie to say Andrew never wanted it to end. He wanted more, and John picked up on his grunts, letting those hot bags slide out of their cocoon and turning his attention to the steely cock above.
He attacked it voraciously, licking, sucking, and swallowing it whole. But when Andrew started to try to help things along, John suddenly backed off.
Andrew whimpered in frustration, but John had already made his next move.
He stepped up onto the edge of the tub and rotating the dangling Andrew until they were face to face. John grabbed him by the back of the neck and roughly pulled him closer and gave a long hard kiss that barely let Andrew breathe.
Then John suddenly let go, letting Andrew swing back. Hanging as he was, Andrew was powerless to resist even if he wanted to. He didn't. There before him was his dark ginger bear with hot water and sweat matting his fur into delicious clumps. The hungry expression in his eyes and the leaking boner at his groin left no room to doubt what would happen next.
John hooked Andrew's knees with his elbows and lifted his legs to the side, bringing his butt into contact with John's rampant cock. John spit on it, lined it up to Andrew's hole and pressed it in slowly but inexorably.
Andrew gasped at the intrusion, but welcomed it and fought to relax and open himself up to it. John gradually started building speed, pounding Andrew with increasing energy before stopping buried to the hilt to lean in for a hot panting kiss.
John pulled back just a bit, and after a quick glance to the side, looked at him with a conspiratorial grin.
"Are you really okay with being open?"
"As long as you don't leave me," Andrew replied, knowing full well he would have agreed to just about anything at this moment.
"Never!" John declared firmly with a glint in his eye.
He looked off to the side again and twitched his head back oddly as if he had a sudden spasm.
What that was about? Andrew wondered. It was as if...as if...as if John was beckoning to someone without using his hands.
Thanks for reading my tale! If you'd like me to let you know when a new chapter goes up, just send me a message and I will keep you posted. Also, it would be awesome if you could throw a few bucks at Nifty to help them keep this site up for our fun stories! Thanks again for reading, and I hope you have great day!
-DurtyRiter
DurtyRiter@protonmail.com