This is a full length story to be presented in five parts, with three or four chapters in each part. Note the first part does not have any 'juicy parts' and is mainly character development and plot line setup - but it's necessary for the rest of the story to have meaning and continuity. Each part will be published here in about one week intervals.
Oh - and have a tissue box handy when you go to read the ending - you'll need it!
Mike guided the Land Cruiser down the freeway, heading back toward the city. With the windows open, the aromas of the surrounding forest filled the cab with the sweet scent of pine – the warm, humid air didn’t bother him – even though the truck had no air conditioning, with all the windows open, it was comfortable. The whine of the tires on concrete made for an almost mesmerizing background to his thoughts.
Mike glanced over at Chen – and had to force himself to look back at the roadway to keep from getting lost in that glorious sight. Chen was napping – slightly slumped in his seat, leaning against the door post, with a pillow under his shoulders and head. His face looked to be the quintessential look of peace – eyes softly shut, chest slowly rising and falling with each breath, arms crossed, chin resting on his chest – Chen had his shirt off because of the warmth and humidity, and Mike was having a hard time not staring – what a beautiful man – wonderful muscle tone, spectacular skin tone, perfect form – and they were just ending what to Mike had been the most special weekend he’d had in his entire life. Could what had just happened in the last 72 hours have really occurred? Was he dreaming all this? Was this man, softly napping in the next seat, really now his partner for life? He glanced at the ring on his finger – it glistened and sparkled in the sunlight, still shiny in its newness – as did the identical ring on Chen’s finger.
‘HONK!’ Mike was jolted back to the reality he was driving a vehicle down a major freeway – and had drifted out of his lane.
Chen awoke, sat up in his seat, and said ‘Mike – you okay? You want me to drive?’ Mike glanced over at Chen quickly, and said ‘naw – I’m OK – just got distracted by something I saw’. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chen’s face again, now awake – those amazing, sparkling deep brown eyes set in such perfect almond shaped eyelids – perfectly formed eyebrows above, that looked so perfect in shape and density that they had an almost fake quality – that wonderful mop of silky, shiny jet black hair sitting on his head like an inverted bowl – the little wisps of chest hair between his pecs - Mike reached his right hand over toward Chen, and lightly touched his bare thigh, rubbing it gently. Chen put his hand on top of Mike’s, and gently rubbed the back of his hand. No words had to be said – the actions of the previous days had spoken volumes.
Mike and Chen had met at a local autocross event now many months before. Mike had just moved into the city a few months earlier, and had been looking for local amateur motorsports events. As he was under the hood making some final checks and adjustments before his first run, behind him he heard a friendly voice say ‘haven’t seen you here before – need any help?’ Mike turned around and looked – and saw a lean, lithe, grinning Asian – in T shirt, shorts, and sandals – and carrying a drivers helmet – with grease on his hands. Mike offered his hand, and said ‘no, I think I’ve got things under control, but I appreciate the offer – my name’s Mike – what’s yours?’
The young Asian offered his hand and replied ‘Chen – my name’s Chen – and you have a car nearly identical to mine, that’s why I was asking if you needed anything – I’ve been through mine so many times I could probably do it in the dark without a flashlight’.
Mike was, for some reason, instantly entranced by this new entry into his life. He was charming, open, friendly – and CUTE – ohmygod, CUTE!! WHOA! Did I just think that?? STOP with the scoping guys already, Mike was telling himself inside.
Mike added ‘I am really new to town though – and don’t know hardly anyone here. I autocrossed a lot back home, but don’t know what regional rules you follow, or how you might do things different than I’m used to – so I could use a little help in that department’ Chen replied ‘no problem! The drivers meeting isn’t for another 45 minutes, so why don’t you come over to where I’m set up, we can sit and talk, OK?’ Mike quickly nodded his head in agreement, and as Chen turned to head off, Mike followed like a puppy dog on a leash – for some reason he was strangely attracted to this man – he’d actually been checking out a GUY – why?? Not supposed to be attracted to guys – just – not – no – got to stop that looking at guys like that – Mike looked down at the ground as he followed Chen across the parking lot.
For as far back as Mike could remember, he’d been attracted to guys – never girls – to the point that his parents had begun in junior high inviting over other folks they knew that had daughters Mike’s age. While Mike had been able to form some superficial relationships with these ‘forced’ entries into his life, and actually had some fun with some of them, it was all just superficial – playing board games when their parents were together, walking home together after school – but little else ever developed. His true friends – serious friends – were all guys – and some were much more than friends.
Mike had discovered at more than one sleepover with some of his male buddies, all the way back into elementary school, that once the lights were off, so too would the standard sleep attire – basic white briefs - come off – and a world of bodily pleasure, explored in the shushed low tones of boys sitting in a close circle on their blankets, flashlights in hand, exposed rigid boy penises getting fondled, touched, stroked – until those amazing, uncontrollable feelings began – then gasping, collapsing onto each other, quickly finding their briefs, some having to use their briefs to wipe up the mess their semen made - then scrambling to get under the covers as they heard footfalls in the hall of one or the other parent coming to see what all the noise was about – then drifting off to sleep in a bed full of sweaty, naked boys – arms around each other, inhaling that wonderful boy fragrance – to Mike, that had been his escape – his release – his nirvana.
He and his buddies had grown together in many ways – as had their sexuality. Out in the country where they were, playing in the woods naked – or swimming naked – had always been accepted for boys. For Mike, it was a lot more than just because it was easy and comfortable – for him, seeing his friends without clothes – especially their genitals and buttocks – had been a major focus of his attention – and it always produced a sexual reaction. Before long, all his friends knew that if they wanted to really get off good, just find Mike – you’d get an oral reward second to none – and Mike loved doing it – feeling his friends organ swelling in response to the ministrations of his mouth and tongue – feeling their firm, warm boy buttocks in his hands as he held their crotch to his face – and then, as they climaxed, feeling them lose all control – their boy cocks pulsing and twitching as their orgasm flooded over them, their leg muscles caving, buttocks trembling, as Mike held them up while they exploded inside him – it was his personal heaven. As they aged, and one by one they sexually matured to where they began to ejaculate, Mike took it all in – so fixated on his ultimate reward of their hot, sticky boy cum flooding his mouth that he hardly thought about anything else when he was together with one or the other of his friends – hungrily slurping down their load as their adolescent penises would twitch and disgorge their loads down his throat.
Through high school, then college, Mike had never really wavered from his obsession with guys – to him, women didn’t even really exist as potential partners, sexual or otherwise. Friends, yes – he’d had a few female friends – but very superficial, and when they tried to get him to go further, he spooked – and broke off.
Mike’s parents were never far away when it came to trying to push Mike into developing relationships with females – all through high school and college, one or another family friend with a daughter about his age would be invited to dinner, and Mike would be offered the car and some money to go see a movie with ‘her’, and maybe a burger or something after. Mike always obliged, just to make his parents happy, but rarely if ever did these ‘arrangements’ go beyond one date.
When Mike moved several states away to start his career after college, he was hoping all the family pressure would back off – and at the same time he was hoping that his internal fixation on guys would also start settling down. He’d heard all his life how it was a sin to be with another boy – and the right thing to do was settle down with a girl and have a family – but he was so confused – all his life, his real relationships – the ones he remembered, treasured, and sought out – were with other guys. He just wanted to get into his career, clear his head, and see where things went next.
Chapter Two – Along Comes Chen
As they got to where Chen’s car was waiting for the first event, Chen motioned to one of the folding chairs – Mike sat down, and Chen sat in the other chair. Chen asked ‘would you like something to drink? I’ve brought water, some soft drinks – help yourself, they’re in the cooler’ Mike lifted the lid, grabbed a soda, then sat back down.
‘Man – you really come prepared for these!’ Mike noted as he looked around – Chen had a folding canopy that he kept his car under, with enough room for an ice chest, a couple of chairs, and his toolbox.
‘Yeah – I learned a long time ago to be as self sufficient as possible – it’s been just my luck to need a tool or something that absolutely no one else has!’ Chen exclaimed. They both laughed – Mike noted how relaxed and easy Chen was – his quick smile, his great laugh, everything about Chen spoke of calm and quiet self confidence.
They talked – about cars, about where each of them was from, what each did for a profession – Chen had taken his shirt off, and was in just his shorts and sneakers – Mike kept glancing over at this gorgeous young man next to him – well muscled but not over built – strong arms, great chest, rippling abdomen, strong legs – and a nice bulge in his shorts that Chen occasionally unabashedly would reach down and either scratch a little, or rearrange – a bulging penis was clearly visible, extending down into one of the legs of his shorts. Mike wondered what he’d look like with his shorts off – WHOA! STOP! I’ve just met this guy, might want to be friends – already sexualizing him – just STOP! – Mike shook his head, and looked out to the track and the other cars.
After the day was over, Mike was packing things in his car, and noticed Chen still taking some of his things down. Mike walked over, and asked ‘hey Chen – need a little help?’ ‘Sure – always can use a couple more hands – here, put that in the trunk, will you?’ In no time, the two of them had everything into Chen’s car.
‘Well – that looks like it’s about it – and we’re the last ones here – guess we oughta get going – see you next time?’ said Mike. Chen looked at him, and smiled – ‘hey – I’ve got an idea – there’s a great burger bar & grill just up the road – you’re new here – wanna join me for a burger and beer, and we can chat some more?’
Mike’s heart jumped – he wasn’t at all looking forward to going home alone – even though he knew he needed to unload his cock – and probably to fantasies about Chen – but spending more time with the real thing? ‘Sure – sounds great! Let’s go!’ said Mike. Chen smiled his broad grin, and said ‘great! Follow me!’
Chapter Three – Turning Point
Mike and Chen walked into the burger joint – it was a small, roadside style place with old gas station signs, car posters, and other highway memorabilia on the walls called Hank’s Place – shaded lamps hung over the booths, and the atmosphere was very ‘local dive’ comfortable. There was a small stage for a band, and a large rollup door opened off the back of the place onto a huge veranda. Chen asked ‘wanna sit inside or out?’ Mike replied ‘let’s stay inside – probably fewer mosquitoes’ Chen laughed, and said ‘agreed’ The waitress took them to a booth near the bar, left their menus, took their beer order, and left for the bar to get the drinks.
For the next few hours, following appetizers and beer – then burgers and beer – then just beer – Mike and Chen talked about almost anything and everything – jobs, cars, parents, relatives, friends, school, hobbies, aspirations – and as the evening progressed, Mike – normally slow to open up to anyone – found himself completely enamored with this man. Chen’s easy going mannerism, his complete openness, his great laugh – his amazing eyes – had opened up Mike as totally as breaking the neck off a beer bottle. Mike talked about things he’d never mentioned to some of his former closest school friends – family abuse issues, his awkwardness with other people, especially girls – his having to see a psychiatrist during college because of thoughts of suicide – things he never ever thought he’d share so easily – just came flowing out – like Chen was the key to the door where he kept his innermost self – the real Mike – locked up behind. And all the while – he felt like he could completely trust this man with his very soul – someone he’d just met less than 12 hours ago. They talked, they laughed, they got serious in tone – to the point of emotional once or twice – and once when Mike was talking about a particularly hurtful event where his dad had beat him in front of his best friend, and the tears started – Chen reached across the table, and placed his hand on top of Mikes, and held it – and Mike felt a flood of compassion, concern, and strong support flowing from that touch – he lifted his head, and looked into Chen’s eyes – and felt a sense of kinship and bonding pour from Chen’s eyes right into his soul.
When their hands parted, Mike looked at his watch – ‘damn!! It’s late – and I’ve got to get all the way across town and hopefully find my place with all these beers in me!’ Chen said ‘I live pretty close to here – and I don’t want you to get busted for DWI – or worse get in an accident – come camp on my couch, and you can get up and head back in the morning.’
Mike had to resist jumping across the table and hugging Chen – instead he offered a weak ‘are you sure you don’t mind?’ Chen just smiled, and said ‘c’mon – I’ll get the tab, I invited you – next time, you buy – let’s get home!’ Somehow, Mike thought the phrase ‘let’s get home’ had some interesting undertones.
Chen opened the front door of a little one story bungalow house on a quiet street in an older neighborhood. He flicked the lights on, and as Mike’s eyes adjusted, he saw a neat, clean, well organized house – eclectic style, very nice arts & crafts furnishings, lots of bookshelves all full of who knows how many books – wood floor, nice brick fireplace in the corner – lots of wood trim, plaster walls & ceilings – neat, orderly, clean – very comfy.
‘Welcome to my humble abode’ said Chen as he walked through the small entry into the living room. Mike continued to look around, and said ‘nice – very nice – much better than my little apartment, that’s for sure’ Chen replied ‘yeah – I found this place some time ago in a bankruptcy sale – was being sold with everything in it – furniture, books, appliances, everything – took me weeks to go through the place getting rid of old clothes, even old food in the pantry and refrigerator – and I still haven’t gotten to the attic – so who knows what’s up there!’
As they walked further into the house, Chen said ‘let me show you where the critical items are – kitchen and fridge are back there, feel free to help yourself if you get thirsty or need munchies during the night – the hall bath is over there, and the main bath and my bedroom are back here’ – Mike followed along, and looked into Chen’s bedroom – nice and large, the bed was unmade – but the rest of the room was neat and tidy. The main bath had a door both off the short hall, and directly into the master bedroom. An old pedestal sink with separate hot and cold water faucets, a giant clawfoot iron tub with fully exposed plumbing for both drawing a bath and taking a shower, and a full surround shower curtain ring with a clear vinyl shower curtain hanging off the back side, filled the back of the room. An old style toilet, with high wall mount tank connected to the bowl with a large polished brass pipe, a pull chain, and wood toilet seat and cover – along with a free standing toilet paper holder – finished the room. The floor and wainscot were hexagonal white tile with black accent tiles, and the plaster above the wainscot was painted with a thick coat of high gloss white paint – so heavy it almost made the wall look armored.
Chen said ‘well – that’s the key items you’ll need to know – you can sleep on the sofa if you’d like, I really haven’t made accommodations in the second bedroom yet – it’s still full of boxes of stuff I’m sorting – or if you don’t think it’s too weird, you can sleep with me – I don’t bite – much – ‘ With that, Chen flashed his great smile – and Mike just melted inside – he’d noted all too well throughout the course of the evening conversations that Chen had not once mentioned a girlfriend, previous female friends, high school dates, or anything else that led Mike to believe Chen was either involved with a girl, interested in girls, or even had a passing interest – had he ***********ively filtered all that out hoping Chen was gay – or had his life’s wish – a man he could truly relate to – be truly himself with – just suddenly asked him to sleep with him??
Chen reached under Mike’s chin, pushed it up, and said ‘close your mouth, OK? I didn’t offer to suck your dick or anything – just share a bed so you’re not on the floor’ – Mike was really embarrassed – Chen just smiled again, and said ‘I’m going into my bathroom to get ready for bed – you can use the guest bath – and if you need a toothbrush, look in the medicine cabinet – there’s some new ones still in packages – never know when a guest is going to be here’ – with that, Chen turned away, put his thumbs in the waistband of his shorts, quickly in one motion shoved them down and stepped out of them, exposing a gorgeous firm well rounded butt – and walked into the bathroom, turning on the light – Mike caught a glimpse of his groin in the wall mirror – great lower abdominal muscles, small dense bush of black hair – and a swinging, fat, uncut cock with a really nice set of low hanging balls. Mike shook his head, turned, and went into the hall bath to get undressed and ready for bed.
Chen was already under the covers on the far side of the bed when Mike came into the room, and he was facing away from the door. Mike, who had left his briefs on, quietly sat on the edge of the bed, lifted the covers, slipped his feet in, then laid down. Unsure of where things would go next, he just laid on his back – tense – waiting. He could tell that he’d had a lot of alcohol – his brain felt dizzy, and laying down, he began to feel disoriented. He closed his eyes, just trying to calm his mind – in his minds eye, his first view of Chen appeared – that warm, smiling, friendly face – Mike felt at peace – who was this guy? Why is he having this effect on me? Why do I feel like this?
He turned toward Chen, whose back was still toward Mike – clearly, Chen had also been affected by all that beer, and had quickly gone to sleep – the slow, regular rise and fall of his chest and his soft snoring told Mike that things might not be as he thought he’d read them – or maybe just because of the beer Chen had drifted off before he had gotten into bed – but regardless – Mike now felt the very heavy weight of both the alcohol and the long day pressing hard on his eyelids – he relaxed, deciding to consider things further in the morning – and within moments, was fast asleep.
Chapter Four – Acceleration
The morning sun started to lighten up the room – Mike stirred, then laid on his back, rubbing his eyes. Yup, I’m where I thought I remembered being from last night – Chen’s house – but where is that, exactly?? As his mind began to gain some order and consciousness, he sat up – the space next to him was empty – OK, where’s Chen? His nose filled with the aroma of coffee, and he closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and deeply inhaled that invigorating fragrance wafting through the room – aaaahhhhh – coffee ----- one of his favorite things.
He opened his eyes and began looking around again – as he turned his head almost full to the side where Chen had slept, he noted something he’d not seen in the darkness – a pair of double doors, looking out onto a small covered porch – one door was partially open – and on the porch, reclining in a chair with his feet on a small ottoman, was Chen – looking out into his yard, sipping coffee, looking the essence of relaxed comfort.
Mike felt the call of his bladder – got up, went to the hall bath, took care of his urinary need, then softly padded back into the room, and toward the open porch door.
As he reached the door and opened it further to pass through, Chen turned toward him, smiled, and said ‘good morning bright eyes – sleep well??’ Chen wasn’t wearing anything –his body, carved like ivory, exposed – superbly formed chest and arms, rippling abdomen, a strong inguinal V pointing right to his small, dense, jet black bush – and his genitals – a hefty, uncut, light brown colored penis, the foreskin completely covering his glans and hanging slightly off the end – an even darker brown scrotum, fully descended and loose, large egg sized testicles – so loose, his scrotum and testicles were resting loosely on the seat cushion of the chair – strong, muscular legs with well defined musculature - even his feet looked statuesque – no distortions, perfectly straight long toes, well formed arches – Mike felt a strong stirring in his briefs, and tried to ignore it – Chen was obviously taking note.
Mike shook his head a bit, said ‘yeah – slept like I’d been hit in the head – I guess we had a few, didn’t we?’ – as he looked into the yard, and sat in the chair next to Chen.
‘Yeah – I know I did – I didn’t even hear you come back into the room – as soon as I went horizontal, that was it – gone’ said Chen. He took a long sip of his coffee.
Mike asked ‘mind if I get some of that coffee? It smells great’ Chen replied ‘stay here – I’ll get you one – do you like it straight, or altered with cream or sugar or something?’
Mike laughed – ‘I take it you’re a coffee purist’ Chen retorted ‘coffee is never to be adulterated – and usually those that do, are only doing so because they don’t know how to brew a cup of coffee that’s great without additives’ With that he smiled at Mike, and headed off the porch into the bedroom. He shouted back over his shoulder ‘oh – while I’m gone – we’re not much for formalities here, as you can see – if you want, get more comfortable’ – Mike had succeeded in taming his thoughts enough to keep his erection down – for now – so he stood up and shucked his briefs to the floor, stepped out of them, and just left them there – the cool chair cushion felt really good on his bare ass, and his ball sac was hanging low enough where it just touched the cushion – feels good, he thought – really really good – he laid back a bit further in the chair, relishing the feeling of just being totally naked in the cool morning air – nice -
Mike continued to ponder what had happened in just the last day – and was still having a hard time processing it. Just yesterday, he’d been wrestling with his attractions – between his inner deep seated attraction to guys, and wanting to break that and start to turn toward the ‘societally acceptable’ attraction to girls – now, today, all he cared about was this man whose house he was in – the whole rest of the world – work, family, other friends – didn’t even exist – he just wanted to be with this man for a while – bask in the calm and serenity he radiated – just hold him, feel his energy, crawl up into his lap like a little kid – and feel safe.
‘Mike – here’s your coffee man – where were you – I spoke your name a couple of times –‘ Chen was standing next to Mike’s chair – ‘oh – sorry – sorry – just – thinking about some stuff I’ve got to get done before Monday I guess’ Mike took the coffee, put both his hands around the cup, held it under his nose, and inhaled – aaahhhhh – that heavenly fragrance – he closed his eyes, then took a sip – amazing – nectar of the gods – man, does he know how to make coffee, Mike thought as he opened his eyes.
‘So – looks like you also appreciate coffee done right, don’t you?’ said Chen as he sat back down in his chair. Mike clearly took a long, hard look at Chen’s crotch as he walked past – Chen just smiled.
‘Oh yes – and it’s damn hard to find – and I’m still working on figuring out how to make coffee this good – this is amazing’ said Mike.
Chen just smiled a mischevious wry smile over the rim of his cup as he took a sip, and said ‘ah – now you’re asking personal secrets – I never give away such information on the first date’
Mike both gagged and coughed at the same time, spraying coffee across the porch – first date????
Chen burst into laughter, as Mike stammered and tried to regain some composure – now completely lost.
‘I’m sorry – wasn’t – didn’t – well, wasn’t expecting that comment I guess’ said Mike as he looked around for something to wipe up the sprayed coffee with.
Chen, still chuckling, said ‘sit tight – I’ve got a towel in the bathroom – be right back’ – he strode into the bedroom, those gorgeous butt cheeks bobbing back and forth, as Mike tried to wrap his mind around what Chen had just said – first date??????
Chen came back with a towel, handed it to Mike, and resumed his seat – sitting sideways in his chair, facing Mike, his legs folded up in the chair, crotch fully exposed - looking very bemused.
‘So – why the explosive reaction to my comment?’ Chen asked. Mike said ‘I didn’t consider our just having dinner and a few beers a first date, I guess – did I miss something?’
Chen replied with a humorous tone ‘well – if you think that the way your eyes were constantly checking me out was completely missed by me, you must think I’m either blind or brain dead – if your looks had been x rays I’d have been toasted to extra crispy by now!’
Mike looked into his coffee cup – he’d been aware he had been checking Chen out frequently – but wasn’t aware that his looking had been so obvious.
Chen spoke in a softer tone – ‘hey – I’m over here, not in the coffee cup – OK?’ Mike looked over at Chen, saw the smile on his face, and began to chuckle – then laugh – ‘I guess I was pretty obvious, wasn’t I?’ said Mike. Chen replied ‘if you’d been any more obvious, you’d have probably raped me in the parking lot yesterday – not that I’d have minded – but I usually don’t let things go THAT far before I at least know someone’s last name!’
Mike laughed, and replied ‘yeah – I guess I was pretty obvious – so where from here??’ Chen’s openness had completely disarmed Mike, and he was completely relaxed – something he’d not been in the presence of another man in longer than he could recall – it felt nice – really nice. Mike leaned back into his chair, faced Chen, and took a drink of his coffee.
Chen said ‘well – I’ve got breakfast fixings here – but I’ve also got stuff I’ve got to get done today – so why don’t we fix ourselves breakfast, and figure out when to get together again, OK??’
Mike smiled – he couldn’t believe what he was hearing – or how he was feeling inside – somehow, all this felt as comfortable as if it had been pre-ordained to happen, and all of him – except his conscious mind – had sought this man out just for this purpose.
Mike responded ‘sounds good – I’m not bad in the kitchen – but it sounds like you’re a master – you lead, I’ll follow’ – with that, they got up, grabbed their coffee, and headed for the kitchen – Chen, his gorgeous strong buttocks, alternately rising and falling, leading the way.
Chapter Five – Heating Things Up
Once in the kitchen, things sped up quickly – Mike had no time to obsess over Chen’s physical traits - Chen dove into the refrigerator, and in no time had all sorts of things on the counter – eggs, milk, vegetables, and so on – he began directing Mike as to where to find various bowls, utensils, and plates. As Chen began giving instructions, Mike – who was reasonably good in the kitchen himself – started to prep vegetables, whisk eggs, add spices, and feed the products of his work to Chen, who was manning the stove. As they worked, they joked, laughed, teased each other – and a sense of almost sensing what the other needed before they spoke it began to appear. Chen asked for the diced peppers – before he got the full sentence out, Mike was handing him a bowl full of diced peppers, already seasoned.
In no time, they were at the table – before them, a true gourmet breakfast – complete with mimosas Mike had made from Chen’s bar. As they ate and chatted, the conversation from the bar resumed – about all sorts of things – goals, aspirations, career, problems, loves – and lost loves.
Mike – for reasons he couldn’t understand – just began opening up about his family, his torment with knowing he preferred guys – and the tremendous family pressure to become ‘normal’ – and how much it both hurt, and confused him. Chen listened intently as Mike described relationship after relationship that Mike, in retrospect, had intentionally torpedoed to avoid making any commitment he didn’t think his family would accept – regardless how he had felt about the other person, or how much his actions had hurt them.
Realizing how much he’d opened up, Mike said ‘man – I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to unload my entire bucket of dirty family laundry on you – really – I don’t know how that got started’ Chen sat back and smiled, and replied ‘seems I have that effect on people – they see me as someone they can share with – I sort of become an emotional sponge I guess – didn’t know I looked like a sponge – really don’t even know what one looks like – do I look like a sponge?’ With that, Chen began making faces and gestures – Mike laughed, and said ‘I can assure you I didn’t see you as a sponge – but I do appreciate your listening – I really do’
Chen replied ‘hey – I love to talk – and to listen – but I need to get ready to get out of here – so let’s get finished in the kitchen, and let’s plan to get back together – OK??’ With that, Chen got up and started gathering dishes, and Mike followed behind doing the same. Once in the kitchen Mike said ‘hey – I’ve got this – you go do what you need to do – you cooked a fabulous breakfast – let me return the favor by cleaning up’ Chen, without hesitation, turned around from the items he was putting into the fridge, and gave Mike a hug – and a peck on the cheek. Mike immediately tensed up – Chen said ‘still not used to someone being so open with you, are you?’ as he smiled and released the hug. Mike sheepishly replied ‘I’m not a terribly spontaneous person I guess – but I’d like to be’ – with that, he looked up and into Chen’s eyes – Chen replied back ‘we’ll have to see what we can do about that – later’ – he smiled his big, warm smile, and turned and headed for the bedroom. Mike watched him retreat down the hall – for some reason, right now, he wasn’t ogling Chen sexually – he was longing to be with the man inside the body.
Mike was just finishing up dishes when Chen came into the kitchen fully dressed – he came up behind Mike, and gently reached his arms around Mike’s waist – Mike at first tensed, then just relaxed – and laid back onto Chen, resting his head on Chen’s shoulder. Chen nuzzled Mike’s neck, and softly said ‘there – that’s better – see, I knew you could do it’ Mike put his hands over Chen’s – and Chen turned one of his hands into Mike’s, and opened it – in it was a key.
Mike said ‘what’s this for?’ Chen replied ‘man – if you don’t know why another man gives you a key, you are confused! I want us to see each other again – soon – but since I’ve got to leave I need you to lock up my house – so do that for me when you’re done, and we’ll talk further about the key when we see each other again. Oh – by the way – my phone number is on the paper the key is wrapped in – call me tonight after about 6 – let’s set something up for next weekend’
Mike turned around, and put his arms around Chen’s waist, just as Chen had his around Mike’s waist. Before Mike could react, Chen gave Mike a quick peck of a kiss on the cheek, and said ‘hey man – don’t want to get trapped in those gorgeous eyes of yours – gotta run!’ He was out the door before Mike could say anything.
Mike turned the key in the door, checked to make sure it had locked, and walked to his car. On the drive to his apartment, his mind was racing – the events of the last couple of days – his feelings – were a mess. He struggled to stay focused on the road – turning on the radio to give his mind something to distract it while he was behind the wheel. Finally, in his apartment, in his bedroom – he collapsed on the bed, curled up tight in a ball, and cried harder than he’d ever cried in his life.