We talked it over, and he decided to at least give David a call to discuss it before making a decision. Afterwards, he planned to call the two leads he already had and make appointments with the homeowners. Meanwhile I was to call Suzanne, Lisa and Grant to fill them in on what was happening. When the phone calls were done, Mitch had three appointments lined up for Thursday and Friday, and the two of us were having dinner with his family on Wednesday night to talk about how they could help out. In order to use my yard project for advertising, Mitch needed to add all the finishing touches. While he went to the Garden Mart for supplies, I sat down at the computer to download all the information and legal forms he would need to get the business set up. We briefly sketched out an idea for his company name and logo, and fortunately, I knew a good friend in town with experience in graphic arts. Once the artwork was done, Mitch was going to need things such as yard signs, business cards, advertising, a web site, invoices and letterhead. He was also going to need a separate business number and a phone, which was easy enough to set up with a quick trip to the store. There were probably other things I was forgetting, though we would figure it all out eventually.
When Mitch returned from the Garden Mart, we sat down for a few minutes to go over our list and compare notes. He gave me more input on the business name and logo and we decided on a simple design which would be easy to reproduce. He got busy in the front yard while I ran downtown to see my friend, Janine. We had been friends since college days, and as a freelance graphic artist, she was her own boss. When I arrived, we spent a few minutes catching up before I explained the project. She waived the “rush” fee for me, and got busy. In less than an hour I was looking at three beautiful designs. Once Mitch decided which one he wanted, she would need a website address, email, and phone number to complete it. I asked her to bill me for the work, and promised to send the additional information as soon as we got it all set up.
When I got back to the house, I called my boss, Mindy, and asked her if I could work half days the rest of the week. As I told her about Mitch and what was going on, she squealed into the phone, excited I finally found someone special. She was more than willing to let me cut back on hours for as long as I needed, and made me promise to keep her informed. I checked in with Mitch, who was just finishing up outside, and went into the kitchen to make up a quick meal of pasta and salad. I fed the dogs out on the deck and then relaxed for a few minutes while we ate. After dinner, I drove us out to the store so Mitch could pick out a new phone. He requested an easy to remember number, and we got back to the house in about an hour.
In the office, I logged onto the computer and helped Mitch set up a free email address. Next, we set about purchasing a website domain name, and chose one of the pre-packaged designs which would allow some customization down the road. By about 8:00 we were both wiped out, but “Gardens by Graham” was now well on its way. Mitch decided to fill out the legal and tax paperwork in the morning while I was working, so we called it quits for the night. After we each took a shower, Mitch joined me on the couch for some relaxed snuggling and a mindless TV program. The poor guy didn’t even last an hour, and he fell asleep with my arms around him. I turned off the TV, got him on his feet, and led him into the bedroom. We got ready, slipped under the covers, and promptly fell asleep tangled up in each other.
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By the time Saturday afternoon rolled around, Mitch was a new business owner. Everything was ready for the official launch at tomorrow’s Garden Club meeting, with Suzanne talking it up among the members and her friends. He was expecting to secure at least a few more jobs tomorrow, which should keep him busy for the foreseeable future. Mitch’s meeting with David and his colleagues at the Historical Society was a resounding success, and resulted in a contract to re-create the gardens at three of their properties, with an option for two more the following year. The homeowners at Nottingwood Estates both hired Mitch, and he was already deep into the planning stage of those projects.
Our dinner with Mitch’s kids was a fun family time, and I enjoyed meeting Robb and the twins. We ate and laughed and talked, celebrating Mitch’s new business venture and the end to his retail exile. Lisa and Grant surprised their father with a good used truck for the business, though Mitch was reduced to tears when they handed him the keys. Lisa also agreed to handle all of the invoicing and paperwork for the business until her father could afford to hire someone part time.
With everything under control, Mitch and I decided to relax and take the dogs to the bark park. We hadn’t gone all week, and Nike was bouncing off the walls with unused energy. We settled on our usual bench and watched as the dogs interacted with both the two-legs and four-legs who were here today. We threw the disk for them, played fetch, and visited with some of the other pet owners. Every few minutes, Blaze would very quietly make her way over and press against Mitch’s leg for some attention. He would whisper to her and scratch behind her ears for a minute, and then she would slink away to play for a while longer.
As she walked away, Mitch caught me looking at him. “What?” I just smiled and pulled him closer so our legs were touching. “You were doing that the very first time I laid eyes on you, and I think a part of me fell in love with you back then. Blaze sure knows how to pick them, though I wish somebody would whisper in my ears.” I could see the heat in Mitch’s eyes before he leaned over. I could feel his warm breath gusting in my ear as he described what it was he wanted to do when we got home. My dick got hard so fast I thought the rerouted blood flow was going to make me keel over. “Baby, we can do anything you want, as long as you are comfortable. We haven’t tried it yet, though, so are you sure?” He nodded and then slipped a hand into my back pocket. “I’ve never done it, but I trust you, Karl. Just tell me what to do.”
We couldn’t get home fast enough, and I was in danger of getting a speeding ticket, if I didn’t spontaneously combust on the way first. As soon as the dogs finished eating, I sent them outside and then turned on Mitch. I wanted to strip him naked and take him right there in the kitchen, but we needed to prepare ourselves first. I grabbed his hand, pulled him into the bathroom, and explained how to get ready. Once he was finished and showered, I completed my own preparations. Despite what the stories and porn flicks make you think, making love this way with another man can rarely be spontaneous. In the end, it’s usually worth it, and I was eager to experience it with Mitch. I hadn’t taken or been taken this way for a very long time, and my blood was boiling in anticipation. I just about fainted when I walked into the bedroom, only to find Mitch laying down on the bed in the doggie position, his beautiful ass in the air and ready for me. The lube and a hand towel were within easy reach, but we wouldn’t need condoms. We both tested negative just two days ago at the health center, and I knew we were exclusive.
My hands were shaking as I reached out to slide them over his back and ass cheeks, allowing my fingers to dip into his crack and past his hole. Mitch moaned at the touch, his breathing already faster than normal. I reached under and up to stroke his cock and balls while I started a trail of kisses down his spine. Mitch shivered in response, and I continued my way down until I reached his pucker. His skin was clean and soft, and I parted his cheeks to get unhindered access to him with my tongue. By this time, Mitch’s cock was dripping with pre-cum, and I rubbed some of it across the crown and played with his slit. I could tell he was close, and I asked him if he wanted to cum now or wait until later when I was inside of him. He answered with some difficulty, but finally choked out a “later” and then sagged down onto the mattress.
I turned him over and slipped a pillow under his hips, instructing him to hold his legs up for me while I stretched him out. The cool lube startled him when I applied it to his twitching hole, working my middle finger deep inside. I sought out his prostate, and Mitch’s eyes opened wide when I found it. He began to pant and moan with each movement of my finger, and didn’t seem to notice when I added a second finger. I leaned down to kiss him while I wo
rked and he met me with hard, wet, forceful kisses which made me forget what I was supposed to be doing. The third finger met with a little resistance, so I waited until the discomfort passed before thrusting in and out. In seconds, Mitch was begging for my cock, head thrashing back and forth in frustrated need. I withdrew my fingers and quickly lubed up, Mitch’s eyes begging me to hurry. I placed the head against his pucker and told him to push as I breached his warm channel. He groaned and then stiffened with some pain, causing me to wait a few seconds for him to relax again. When he nodded his head, I began slowly moving in and out, pushing further into Mitch until my balls were resting against his body. I thought he was going to cum right then, but he gasped out a “more, Karl”, and I gave it to him.
I began with long slow glides, but it didn’t take long until I was giving him short sharp strokes which shook his whole body. He tried to warn me he was cumming, but the sensations overwhelmed him, and he let out a sharp cry as the orgasm reached it’s peak. As the first load of cum shot out of his cock, Mitch’s passage tightened down on my dick, forcing me over the edge with him. I leaned down to kiss him as we rode out our orgasms together, hungry for each other and inundated with sensation.
Without pulling out, I lowered myself to my elbows, resting my body against his as our breathing slowed. I kissed his face and mouth, hoping he enjoyed the experience as much as I did. His eyes watered, as he looked at me with a fierceness I had never seen on his face. “Thank you, babe. I’ve never felt anything like that before. I love you.” His body pushed me out, so I rolled off him and over onto my side. He winced as his now-cramping legs were finally able to relax, and turned to face me. “I love you too, Mitch. There are other positions we can try which might be more comfortable. I forgot we aren’t twenty any more.” He laughed and reached up to gently stroke my face. “I’ll probably be sore tomorrow, but that’s a workout I wouldn’t mind repeating.”
We both needed some time to recoup before going at it again, so we wandered into the kitchen and got a bite to eat. We enjoyed an easy, comfortable meal, dressed only in our underwear and a T-shirt, and began discussing round two. Due to the difference in our height, we talked about the best way for him to take me which would be comfortable for both of us. When our meal was over, we returned to the bedroom to try different positions which might work, and found some suitable ones, and a few that weren’t. In the end, I decided to kneel down on the floor at the end of the bed, with my upper body face down on the mattress. I had one pillow under my stomach and another to kneel on, putting my backside at the perfect height for Mitch.
We were both looking forward to this, but it was especially exciting for Mitch, since this was a new experience for him. Most gay men seemed to assume shorter, smaller guys should be bottoms by default – another stupid assumption which led to a great deal of disappointment and frustrated expectations. Mitch was an open book and I was willing to try most anything which gave both of us pleasure. We weren’t afraid to actually talk about it or plan ahead of time, and I believed doing so actually gave us the freedom to enjoy it more. With the mechanics figured out, we climbed up on the bed and began to enjoy some foreplay.
Mitch wanted a little bit of everything tonight, and I saw no reason to object. His confidence was higher than ever, and I loved the way he took charge of our time together. His mouth and hands were everywhere, but I could tell he was eager to get to the main event. Without a word, I reached over and handed him the lube and a clean towel. He spread some on his fingers and pressed two against my back door, easing them in slowly. His fingers were a lot smaller than mine, but it had been a very long time for me, and it still burned a little. He waited until I was comfortable and then began to scissor in and out, stretching me open. When he pressed hard, his middle finger was just long enough to skirt the edge of my prostate, and my dick began to dribble precum. He leaned over and licked it up, sucking lightly on my crown and driving me crazy. Mitch kept up the assault, and I started to squirm, really feeling it when he added a third finger. “I want you in me, Mitch, now!” He withdrew his fingers, and I got myself into position over the end of the bed while he lubed up his cock.
I could feel him start to press against me, so I bore down and he slid all the way home. We both moaned as the slick smooth heat invaded and enveloped us. I urged him to begin moving, and I was sure I wouldn’t have to ask again. He began a lusty pace, low hanging balls slapping against my ass with every thrust. When I turned my head to see how he was doing, his face and upper chest were flushed a deep pink. His eyes were closed in concentration as he enjoyed the feeling of our joined bodies. The sensations were good for me, but not quite enough to put me over the edge. There wasn’t a lot of room to maneuver, but I managed to get ahold of my dick and begin some short sharp strokes, quickly enhancing my pleasure. Mitch’s breathing became erratic, so I increased the pressure and speed of my hand so I could come first. I tumbled into bliss, causing my body to clench down on Mitch’s dick. His grip on my hips became almost painful just before he cried out and painted my insides with his release. He finally withdrew and we climbed up on the bed and collapsed together side by side.
As usual, Mitch snuggled up to lay his head on my chest, our legs tangled together. I loved it when we did this, and I knew he did too. I threaded my fingers through his hair while we rested, until I broke the silence with a question. “How was it, babe? Did you enjoy it?” He turned his head to kiss me and then laid his head back down. “It was...wow, I’m not sure how to describe how I feel. It was wonderful and hot and I wish I hadn’t had to wait until now to experience it. In a way I’m really glad it didn’t happen before. Now, it’s something special between us I won’t ever have to share with anyone else. Thank you.” I kissed the top of his head, and we lounged around for a little longer until we started to get cold. I went to let in the dogs while Mitch warmed up the shower, and then joined him for a leisurely wash and dry.
Before we fell asleep, I broached the subject of Mitch’s living arrangements, asking how long he would stay in the apartment. “Well, I’ve been thinking about it. My lease isn’t up for another six months, but I can’t afford the cost to break it. On the other hand, I’ve practically moved in here already, and I’m not really sure how you feel about it.” I didn’t hesitate at all on this one. “I will pay the fee myself if it’s the only thing keeping you from officially moving in. Consider it a bonus for the great job you did on the yard. We belong together, babe, and I need you here with me. Say yes.” He squirmed and then pushed himself up on one arm to look at me. “There’s nowhere I would rather be, Karl. Of course I’ll say yes. Does this mean I get to rearrange the furniture now?” I laughed and poked him in the ribs, making him squawk. “Yes, I suppose it does. Now get over here and warm me up.”
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Mitch and I loaded the car and drove on over to Suzanne’s home for the meeting. We arrived early to set up the “Gardens by Graham” table, complete with full color photographs and a big banner, as well as a flyer for the attendees to take home. Folks began to arrive, and Mitch was busy answering questions and meeting new people. It was a large crowd, and I ended up helping Suzanne set up more chairs to accommodate them all. Just before the meeting started, Lisa and Grant made a surprise appearance. They hugged their father, who was pleasantly surprised to see them. “We couldn’t miss this! We are so proud of you, Dad.” The three of us found seats about halfway back, not wanting to be right under Mitch’s nose and make him nervous. The meeting began with some announcements and business items before Suzanne introduced him. His presentation was funny, informative, and very well received. It was obvious he was passionate about his work, and it showed. After taking questions from the audience, Mitch announced his new business venture and encouraged folks to stop by the table after the meeting. When the applause died down, Suzanne returned to the front for a few comments.
“I have known Mitch Graham for nearly a decade, and often sought out his advice. Not only does he know
what he is talking about, he is one of the nicest fellows you will ever meet. Some of you may not realize the gardens you see here on my property were based on Mitch’s ideas, and I give him full credit for making this such a beautiful space. If any of you need a little help or guidance, Mitch is offering a free consultation to all members of the East End Garden Club, so make sure you speak to him before you leave. Thank you all for coming.”
After the meeting broke up, it was some time before the kids and I could get anywhere near Mitch. The table was swamped with well wishers and those signing up for their free consultation. I was sure this would generate business and create some excitement among like minded folks who shared his love for all things green and growing. When the crowd finally thinned out, we were able to get close enough to overhear a woman in a large straw hat talking to Mitch. “So when I went over to Green’s Thumb yesterday, there was a great big sign on the front of the building: Going Out of Business – 50% Off. I couldn’t believe it! That store has been around for at least thirty years. It’s just as well you got out of there when you did, Mitch. I sure hope “Gardens by Graham” is a success.”
We all helped Mitch take down the table display and get it into the car. Before they left, Mitch shared with the kids his plan to move in with me. There were tears and hugs all around, and Lisa, well, being Lisa, began making plans for our wedding. I winked at Mitch, who raised one eyebrow and smiled sweetly. When Lisa and her brother left, we went in search of Suzanne to thank her and say goodbye. We found her chatting with a small group of people who were still lingering around the refreshment table. After coaxing her away for a moment, she began sharing all the good things people said about Mitch and the business. “Now that your employment situation has been remedied, what’s next for the two of you?” I looked to Mitch for permission, and he gave a slight nod. “The next thing on our list is to get him moved in. As for the rest, we’ll just have to see.” Suzanne offered her congratulations and we each got a hug before heading home.
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