“Marriage counseling?” There was an edge to the sheriff’s voice.
“That’s correct, yes.”
Perhaps the sheriff knew of somebody who needed counseling.
“Is there anybody in particular, sheriff?”
“Can I come and see you tomorrow afternoon?”
Adam frowned.
“Of course.”
There was a slight pause.
“I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.”
He waited for Todd to respond, but he said nothing more.
“Ok then . . . have a good evening, Todd.”
“You too, Adam.”
It was only after Adam put the phone down that’s when the thought struck him. Could it be that . . .? No! That’s impossible. The sheriff couldn’t possibly want to see him for his personal problems!
He walked to his smashed window and looked down at the street. Whoever had thrown the stone was long gone.
The crow was still watching him from a nearby branch.
Chapter Four
A few days later, Adam contacted Bozeman’s yoga instructor.
Beth Jones was a friendly sixty-year-old woman—apparently one of Bozeman’s best-known residents. She lived on an organic farm on the outskirts of town. Adam heard that she was a widow with three sons who lived all over the world.
Her yoga classes started at six o’ clock in the morning, leaving ample time to shower and get to school in time afterward. Adam put on a cut-off T-shirt with shorts fitting a bit tighter than he would have liked.
The people who attended the group were hopefully more friendly and accepting than the other townsfolk. There were about fifteen people attending the session this morning. As he observed at them, they seemed to be more open minded and non-judgmental. Adam felt relatively peaceful knowing that no one was going to throw a stone or hate letter at him here, or at least he hoped so.
Adam enjoyed his first few stretches. As he inhaled the fresh farm air, he tried to forget about everything that had happened to him. Then he froze.
Sheriff Todd Johnson put down his back-pack near him. He wore a black vest and blue ski pants. The outline of his cock, Adam noticed, was quite evident.
Adam stretched again and tried to concentrate on his own exercises. What the hell? Maybe Todd was a regular, Adam thought as he continued with his stretches. Then Beth walked toward the middle of the group.
“Good morning to team. I hope you’re ready?”
“You bet,” muttered a woman next to Adam.
“I would like to welcome some new-comers this morning. First there is Adam Young. He recently moved here from New York City. Welcome Adam!”
“Thanks!” There was a faint applause.
She rattled off three more names, and then continued, “Oh yes. And I notice another newcomer. Our very own Sheriff Todd Johnson.”
“Yoohoo!” There were a few calls of admiration. Adam wasn’t sure whether it was an acknowledgement of his status as sheriff or for the bulge in his pants. Something huge was straining against the material. But the guys who were sitting on the grass, preparing for their yoga exercises seemed oblivious to Todd’s charms.
He frowned. Was it really Todd’s first yoga class? Was it a coincidence or . . .? Wait! Surely Todd didn’t follow him here? Wishful thinking perhaps? Maybe Todd was watching him, not really trusting a stranger in this tight-knit community? Maybe he suspected Adam for something.
“Today we are going to work in groups. So, choose a buddy.” She looked around as everybody chose a mate—probably friends. Nobody approached him or Todd. As a woman glanced in Adam’s direction, Todd stepped in.
“Howdy, partner.”
“Hi,” was all Adam could manage.
Adam felt himself blush as he waited for Beth’s instructions, but she was still assisting other people who didn’t have partners.
“How you doing?” asked Todd, placing his hands on his hips. Adam managed to look down at his powerful calves. Small, dark hairs were curling on his skin. His commanding legs were placed well apart like a soldier preparing for a battle.
“I’m good!” Adam tried to sound normal.
Todd held out his right hand. Adam responded as nonchalantly as he could and shook Todd’s hand as he stole a quick glance at Todd’s ski-pants. He quickly regained his composure, although he still held Todd’s outstretched hand.
“Anything wrong?” asked Todd, his hand slipped out of Adam’s.
“No. Nothing’s wrong. Should there be?”
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
“I was just wondering.” Todd looked up as Beth cleared her throat.
“Ok, folks! Face your partners.”
Todd took his place in front of Adam.
“Right. Now lean forward, pushing your butts backward.” She observed the couples.
Adam and Todd faced each other.
“Ready?” asked Todd.
Adam barely managed to nod. All he knew was that Todd was mere inches away from him. Adam was intensely aware of Todd’s bulging calves, thin hips and the T-shirt stretched tight over his strong torso—muscles bulging. He could even see Todd’s nipples which were erect.
“Let’s do it, partner.” Todd smiled.
Adam felt his cock stiffening. Todd didn’t seem to notice anything amiss.
“What are we waiting for?” Todd asked when Adam didn’t respond.
Adam prepared himself.
Todd grinned as they waited for Beth’s instructions.
“Place your hands against each other and push upward. Push with all your might against your partner, as if you’re trying to push him over. Hold this position for roughly sixty seconds. This is called the triple hill stretch. You will feel your muscles contracting. This movement will increase the flexibility of your spine.”
Adam and Todd started pushing against each other. Adam could smell Todd. He had a distinctive masculine, musky scent. Their eyes met like two soldiers preparing for battle. Adam’s cock was now as swollen as a flag pole and pressed mercilessly against his shorts. If Todd looked down now, he would surely notice it.
Adam felt trapped in a bubble for a few seconds. Nothing else mattered to him except Todd opposite him. Beth’s voice disappeared as they went through the routine. All Adam was aware of, was Todd’s handsome face, his square jaw and piercing dark eyes that seemed almost black. Todd flashed a quick smile that exposed a perfect set of teeth, and for one crazy moment Adam wondered what it would feel like to kiss him.
Todd’s eyes locked with his. It was as if he invited Adam to meet his gaze and held it a captive. There was suddenly chemistry between them. It was as if there was a secret message in Todd’s gaze that Adam needed to decipher. Adam found himself drowning in Todd’s gaze, as if he was hypnotized by him and the getting more aroused with each passing second.
Todd’s hands were hard and big, yet they gently folded over Adam’s—more used to playing the piano and dancing over computer keys than hard labor or this kind of exercise.
Todd pushed even harder against Adam’s body and Adam had to adjust his position to not to fall over. He managed to steal another quick look at Todd’s ski pants. it was it his imagination, or was the bulge growing? Wishful . . . wishful.
Adam felt Todd’s warm breath in his neck; his sexy stubble mere inches from his cheek. He couldn’t explain it, but he felt safe; even serene. It was as if Todd shielded him from all the bad memories of the past few months.
Todd held his gaze for several seconds. Adam was now sweating; sure that Todd must be aware of the excitement he was causing.
“That’s it folks! Return to your normal position now.” Beth’s voice sounded as if from another world.
Todd held onto Adam for a moment too long before he released him from his grip.
“Thanks, buddy.” Todd smiled.
“My pleasure.” Adam managed to smile.
The exercise continued, but this time without actual body contact. Adam didn’t dare to l
ook at him again, but was acutely aware of Todd standing right behind him, probably studying him.
Half an hour later Beth dismissed the class.
“Thanks folks! Until next time. Let me just say what a pleasure it has been to have you in the class, Sheriff Todd.”
“It was great to attend, thank you Beth!” he smiled.
Adam was aware that some of the attendees were watching him, so he beat a hasty retreat to the showers.
Adam chose the cubicle at the far end of the bathroom. He turned on the shower and felt the water caressing his skin. He closed his eyes as he soaped himself.
Suddenly he became aware of another presence. His eyes flew open. Todd had just turned on the shower in the cubicle next to him.
They didn’t speak, but were obviously aware of each other. Todd closed his eyes as he washed his hair. Adam finally had the chance to look at him languidly.
Todd was standing with his back toward him, the soap running over his ass. He had a perfect butt—hairy and tight—everything Adam had imagined when he’d first seen him. Adam was transfixed. Couldn’t Todd have chosen another shower?
Todd slowly opened his legs and washed between them. From his vantage point, Adam could see his purple ball sack swinging between his legs as if they had taken on a life of their own.
Adam quickly turned around when two other guys from the group started showering close by. But by this time Adam didn’t care anymore. He couldn’t help himself. Todd fascinated him.
Adam glanced at Todd again and observed how he was soaping his torso. Finally, he saw his cock. It was shrouded in a hood which covered the top of his prick, but as he washed, he pushed the skin back, exposing a huge, red head. Adam was enthralled. He quickly looked away even as he felt his cock stiffening again. Not now. Please, not now!
When he glanced back, Todd pushed the hood back over his prick’s head. His foreskin was long and very sexy, completely covering the head of his dick. Adam stood there for a few seconds and then turned on the cold water. That helped his erection to subside somewhat.
Once in the safe zone, he closed the faucet and approached the benches, grabbing his own towel from his gym bag. Within seconds Todd was next to him, grabbing his own towel. He seemed oblivious to the effect he was having on Adam.
“We still on for our counseling session this afternoon, Adam?” he asked as he dried himself, giving only the occasional glimpse of his marvelous cock.
“Oh yeah, yeah.” As if Adam, could forget. “But will you be able to get off?”
“Today is actually my day off.”
“So, where shall we meet?” Adam queried.
“You tell me.”
“At my place?” Adam suggested as he pulled on his jocks. He noticed Todd glancing down as his cock disappeared under the material.
“Yeah. Fine.”
“And thanks for the yoga session!”
“Pleasure was all mine,” replied Todd.
“Actually, I didn’t expect to find you here.”
Todd smiled, but didn’t respond. He simply said, “See you later.”
“Three o’ clock”, was Adam’s only response. He pulled on his T-shirt and walked past Todd, who was still dressing, but he didn’t dare to look over his shoulder again. Yet he felt Todd’s eyes on him.
Adam walked across the field toward his car. He had three sessions at school today. One was with John, the rebellious youngster with tattoos and attitude. The other appointments were with two girls who had parent issues.
Adam reached his car.
The word FAGGOT was written in pink lipstick over his windscreen.
Fuck.
He sighed, looking around if anybody had noticed it, but thankfully most of them were probably still in the showers.
Clearly he’d been mistaken. Somebody in the yoga class had a problem with gay people. He was glad Todd didn’t see it.
He took a rag from his car and tried to remove the word. It took much longer than he’d expected.
Adam was furious. This spoiled his entire day.
He drove to school.
He arrived at five minutes to eight and walked toward the administration building. Loraine was waiting for him, her fingers impatiently drumming on the desk.
“Good morning, Adam.”
“Good morning Loraine. Why are your face so red? Is anything a matter?”
“It’s about one of the boys.”
Adam knew what was coming.
“You mean John?”
She nodded. “I know he’s not a great talker. As a matter of fact, he is quite reserved. But Sheriff Johnson spoke to the principal the day before yesterday asking if we could speed things up a bit.”
“Oh?”
“There was another burglary downtown. A woman was attacked. She is unconscious in the hospital.”
“You mean Sheriff Johnson suspects that John could be involved?”
She shook her head. “Not directly.”
“What do you mean?”
Loraine looked over her shoulder as if she was expecting someone to hear. “He suspects that John may be protecting some of his gang members who have been terrorizing the town.”
Adam looked at her. More complications.
“I will try my best. I’m meeting him at ten o’ clock this morning, I’ll see what I can do.”
Adam walked to his office, lost in thought.
His first session with one of the two girls went better than expected. He wrote a report and glanced at his watch.
The school bell rang just as Adam went to the bathroom. When he returned, John was sitting in his chair.
“Morning.” said Adam.
John nodded, barely acknowledging his presence.
Adam continued to make notes as if John hadn’t arrived.
John, now obviously bored, leant back in his chair and spread his legs. Adam pretended not to notice his obviously hostile attitude. Adam put his pen on the desk in front of him.
“So. How are you?” asked Adam.
John shrugged. “I guess I’m fine.”
John played with his knee as if he were taunting Adam. “What am I doing here Adam?”
“I’m getting to know you better.”
“Why? What is there to know?”
“I want to help you, John.”
John smirked and looked out the window. Then he lent forward, his body language still challenging.
“Can I get some water, please?”
Adam took a bottle of water and handed it to him.
“You don’t have sparkling?”Adam didn’t take the bait.
“No.”
John opened the bottle slowly, took a sip of water, then placed the bottle between his legs. Still, Adam didn’t respond. Eventually John started fidgeting.
“Anything you want to say to me, John?”
He shook his head and started playing with the water bottle. “Not really. I’m okay.”
“Are you really okay?”
“I guess.”
For a few seconds there was complete silence. Then John fixed his eyes on Adam.
“Do you like being queer, Adam?”
Adam was startled.
“Why?”
“Because the guys are talking about you.”
“I don’t care what people say,” Adam responded.
“You haven’t answered my question.”
Adam thought for a few moments. “I didn’t choose to be gay.”
“What do you mean?”
“That I knew who I was from an early age.”
“It’s not fucking normal.”
“It is to me.”
John stared at him. “You still didn’t answer my question.”
“What question?”
“Do you like being queer?”
“First of all queer is an inappropriate word.”
John shrugged. “Whatever you call it.”
“I prefer gay.”
“It still isn’t natural.”
“Bein
g gay feels normal to me.”
Battlefields: Everyone has battles Page 5