Tackling the Subject

by Jon Keys

  “Holy shit, Gordy. This cost you a fortune. We can’t stay here.”

  Gordy smiled. “It didn’t cost me much. One of the alumni likes me. He was a tackle when he was in school. Now, he’s a big-time donor. So, he told me if I needed a break, it was empty most of the time.”

  “Well, it’s nicer than any place I’ve ever stayed. When I get a room, I just hope it’s clean. This is… Well, I could live here. It’s bigger than the trailer.”

  Gordy opened the refrigerator and found it filled with beer, wine and a few snacks. The freezer had the ingredients for at least two meals. He studied it for a minute before pulling out a package of sirloin steaks and putting them out to thaw. He turned to Sam with a grin.

  “It looks like Mister Avery stocked up on things. I spotted a grill on the deck, too, so we can grill them tonight. We can ski a little if you’d like.”

  Sam hesitated before looking at Gordy. “Well, yeah. Here’s the problem.”

  Gordy laughed. “You can’t ski.”

  “Yeah, that’s most of the issue.”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “I’ve only been once before and I stunk. Maybe we should sign up for lessons.”

  “I do at least have the clothes. I found a place online that was clearing out their ski outfits. So, I won’t be wearing jeans and a sweatshirt to ski in,” Sam said.

  They spent the rest of their day in what someone might’ve loosely called skiing. But truth be known, they spent more time on their butts laughing at each other than doing anything in the realm of the sport. They enjoyed lunch on the hill, but after spending several hours on the slopes, they were ready for a break. The sun had been brilliant all afternoon and Sam’s pale complexion was turning a distinctive shade of red. At first Gordy thought it was from exertion, but as he came closer, it became more obvious that Sam had gotten sunburned.

  “Oh crap, we need to get you inside so we can put burn ointment on you. You’re fried.”

  Sam glanced at his arms then back at Gordy. “It’s winter. There’s no way I’m burnt.”

  “It’s been sunny all day, and the snow makes it even brighter. Come on or you’ll be miserable for the whole trip.” Gordy took off his skis and started to their room. He glanced back to find Sam following, appearing even redder than he had a few minutes earlier. He’ll be miserable if we don’t get that taken care of.

  They got into the room and stripped off the layers of clothing they’d been wearing. Sam looked like a cinnamon lollypop. His head and neck were blood red. Gordy held his hand several inches from Sam’s face and grimaced. “You’re fried. We need to get burn stuff on you, and we need to do it now.”

  Sam seemed somewhat helpless as Gordy rummaged through his bags. Frustrated that he couldn’t find the ointment, Gordy caught a glimpse of what he was searching for. He brought out a small flat bag, unzipped it and found the lotion. He shook the bottle and grinned at Sam.

  “Off with the shirt. We need to smear this stuff on all the red patches.”

  Sam eased the shirt to the top of his abdomen and became hesitant. After a moment of silence, Gordy motioned him. “Come on. Take it off. It isn’t like I’ve never seen the goods before. I need to get this stuff on the burns or you’ll be miserable.”

  Sam sighed but pulled the shirt off and dropped it onto the bed beside them. Gordy kept any comments to himself, squirted the lotion onto his palm, and rubbed his hands together. Once his palms were coated, he reached forward and rubbed them over Sam’s neck and shoulders. The heat from the burn was undeniable as he coated the mass of freckles across his neck and face. After covering what he could reach, he shook Sam on the shoulder. “Turn around so I can get your front.”

  Sam sat for a moment unmoving and Gordy tapped him again. “Come on, cutie. Move your little butt.”

  “Ah, yeah. Hang on a minute, okay?”

  Sam tensed under his hands. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Just. Well, I enjoyed you rubbing the ointment over me and…”

  Gordy tried to work out the puzzle, then realized Sam’s predicament and he chuckled. “And you got hard. Stop worrying and turn around. I promise, nothing will happen unless you start it.”

  A long sigh escaped Sam, and he turned on the bed until he was facing Gordy. He had to admit, the bulge in Sam’s pants was impressive. What Gordy would have liked to do was explore the hot ginger sitting a foot away. But then the memories of what Sam had shared came to him and it embarrassed him that he had not kept better control over himself.

  “Sorry. I don’t seem to have much say over him.” Sam tilted his head and studied Gordy. “You aren’t helping, either. You make him happy.”

  Gordy chuckled but a sweet warmth filled him. He corralled his emotions and focused on coating the rest of Sam’s burns. After starting with his neck and face, he slathered the burn cream over the scarlet-colored sections of skin, the heat coming off Sam like a roaring fireplace. He met Sam’s half-hooded gaze and smiled. “Close your eyes. Your face looks like a steamed crawdad.”

  Sam let his eyes flutter shut without challenging Gordy. His hands trembled as he reached for Sam’s cheeks. He touched them and coated the burned skin. A small sigh escaped one of them. Gordy wasn’t sure who. But the soft scrape of Sam’s stubble felt delicious against the tips of his fingers. By the time Gordy had finished, Sam no longer seemed roasted over a bonfire. Gordy leaned forward and kissed the tip of Sam’s ear.

  “There. You shouldn’t be in too bad a shape now.”

  When Sam turned to him, he was panting and his jeans were tented. Gordy sat back against the headboard and patted the bed between his legs. “Come up here. I want to cuddle.”

  Sam hesitated for a moment but then grinned and crawled across the bed to Gordy. He slid into the spot and lay against Gordy’s chest. He wrapped his arms around Sam and pulled them tight against each other. He drifted his hand lower, teasing at the line of copper-colored hair coming from his khakis. He slipped the tips of his fingers under the waistband and a musky scent drifted around them.

  “You smell better than a hot cinnamon roll.”

  Sam chuckled. “A cinnamon roll? Is that good?”

  “A hot cinnamon roll. The kind that takes over your nose and you can’t think of anything else until you eat it. That’s how you are. You take over, and all I want to do is eat you up.”

  Sam squirmed a little but never moved from his arms. When he slipped his hand out, Gordy caressed Sam as they lay against each other. The alabaster skin gave the sensation of a polished sculpture with the rapid beat of Sam’s heart. He took Sam’s hands in his and touched his lips to each palm. He pressed his hands higher, slipping through the red hair on each forearm.

  “You’re so hot. I want to be with you all the time.”

  Sam turned in Gordy’s arms so they were lying face-to-face and he cupped Gordy’s chin, took Gordy’s bottom lip between his teeth and tugged. Sam’s aggression was exciting Gordy when he lunged forward, pressed his lips hard as he drove his tongue between Gordy’s lips and explored his mouth. His body responded, erection growing, nipples turning into hard nubs and his stomach knotting.

  Their caresses became more intense with each heartbeat. Gordy rolled them across the bed and sat across Sam’s thighs as he stroked his lower body. He wrapped his fingers around the column of flesh in Sam’s pants, kneading it as he watched Sam twist beneath him. Gordy slowed then lifted his hands.

  “You okay? Do we need to stop?”

  Sam panted for a moment longer then his eyes fluttered open. They seemed distant for a second before focusing on Gordy’s face. He ran his tongue over his upper lip and swallowed.

  “Please. Don’t stop.”

  Gordy opened the top button on Sam’s pants and lowered the zipper before slipping from the bed to grab the bottoms and slide them off. He lifted one foot and removed the thick wool sock and kissed the arch of his foot before doing it again on the other side. He studied Sam, stripped down to a small pair of briefs stret
ched to their limit by the full shaft pressing outward. Sam propped himself up on his elbows and smiled at Gordy.

  “Your turn. I want to see the goods.”

  “Oh? Parading around in front of you for the past four months hasn’t been enough?”

  Sam said, “Before, it was in that tiny trailer you live in, not a fantastic suite in an amazing resort. Show me that hot ass of yours.”

  Gordy unbuckled his ski bib, first on one side, then the other and let them fall so they hung from his waist. With the bottom of his compression shirt in his hands, Gordy pulled the tail up and gave Sam a view of his torso. He glanced up to see Sam run his tongue over his upper lip and Gordy smiled as he raised his shirt higher until he exposed the thick hair in his pit. He stood with his hips swaying and smiled when he heard Sam inhale. Gordy popped the shirt off and flipped it across the room before clasping his hands behind his head and exposing his hair-lined armpits.

  “You like me like this, all sweaty and funky?”

  A sigh escaped Sam that made Gordy’s stomach churn and his crotch tighten.

  Sam’s cock twitched in the stretched underwear and the damp spot marking his engorged knob grew.

  Gordy tried to keep the strip going, but had already used up his best material. It wasn’t like he knew a lot in this area, and he sure as heck wasn’t wearing rip-away pants. Stripper pants took time to get into but if Sam enjoyed watching him strip, he’d give it a shot. He didn’t want Sam to be able to say he didn’t try. Besides, Sam seemed to be less stressed when they were intimate. So far, they’d had few times like that, but Gordy had no complaints. Just cuddling with Sam made him feel like he was floating. They had time. Gordy was in no rush. He had fallen for Sam.

  Gordy realized he’d stopped moving as he’d gotten more wrapped in his thoughts. He flushed and grinned. “Sorry. Zoned out a little.”

  Sam had an odd expression that left Gordy apprehensive, especially since Sam had lost his erection. But he calmed himself and moved. He would tease Sam until his boner stretched the briefs again. He unzipped the pants, pushed them to his ankles and stepped out of them. He shifted closer and let his hips sway to his imagined music. He traced the shape of his cock and squeezed. The wet spot on the white underwear made them translucent and left nothing to the imagination. He gripped Sam’s bare foot and humped against it. It relieved him to see Sam relax and enjoy himself again. A few minutes later, the pressure built, and Gordy pulled back.

  Sam opened his eyes and his face twisted in concern. “What’s wrong? What did I do?”

  Gordy crawled across the bed and gave Sam a light kiss. “You didn’t do anything. I was close to coming. You’re so fucking hot that I have almost no control.” He motioned at the thick length snaking across his crotch. When he leaned in for a second kiss, a tremor ran through Sam. He whispered in Sam’s ear. “Wanna see me naked?”

  Sam’s lip parted and the pink tip of his tongue ran across them as he nodded.

  Gordy slipped backward until he was standing at the edge of the huge bed. As he swayed back and forth, he edged his shorts lower and lower, exposing more of his crotch. Once he’d captured his cock, he turned and showed off his ass. He again pushed the stretchy fabric down until it popped below his butt. He continued dancing for a minute or so, showing more of his goods with each wiggle of his hips. His nipples were tingling by the time he bent over, ripped his shorts to his ankles and flicked them across the room. He spread his legs a little wider and peered between them at Sam.

  “What do you think?”

  Sam chewed at his bottom lip as Gordy rubbed his hands over his butt, giving Sam glimpses of his dusky opening. Gordy’s cock was stiff and leaking strands of pre-cum. He heard rustling then Sam caressed his butt with a hot hand. He froze in place, giving Sam the freedom to explore. Gordy sucked in air as Sam wrapped his hand around his ball sac then tugged. A twisting coil of erotic lightning shot through his body and left him tingling.

  He turned and moved toward Sam, predatory in his need. Sam’s face twisted as Gordy grabbed his underwear and tugged it hard. With a slight ripping noise, they shot lower and with a second tug, Sam’s cock slipped out. The column of flesh swung free, leaving a glistening trail across Sam’s pale skin.

  Gordy crawled higher, kissing across Sam’s chest and flicking his tongue over one of his nipples. He moved higher yet, until his face was only inches from Sam’s. To his shock, the look on Sam’s face was pure distress.

  “Sam?”

  Sam closed his eyes tight, a tear squeezing out to run down the side of his face. “It’s okay. I’m all right. Just give me a minute. I haven’t… This isn’t…”

  Gordy lowered himself as he wrapped his arms around Sam. Their bodies pressed against together as he nuzzled against Sam’s neck. He shifted and lay his cheek against Sam’s.

  “No. Get off! Get off me!” Sam said in barely controlled panic.

  Gordy lifted himself to his hands and knees as concern filled him. Before he even spoke, Sam had shot away and yanked a blanket around himself. His breath was coming in gasps. Gordy sat on the bed, not wanting to make the situation worse.

  “Sam, what can I do? I didn’t mean to trigger anything.”

  “Not your fault. Oh God. It’s hard to breathe.”

  Gordy moved closer to comfort Sam. Sam’s face filled with sheer terror, and he recoiled. Gordy eased away and perched on the edge of the huge bed. When Sam didn’t seem to improve after a minute, Gordy gathered his clothes from around the room. Sam’s eyes locked on him, but he did nothing to stop Gordy. Once he’d dressed, he met Sam’s stare and he’d seemed to calm down.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what caused the panic attack. I couldn’t breathe and…well, it wasn’t good.”

  “If it helps, you can have the bedroom and I’ll sleep on the couch. But it’s early yet, so you can decide later.”

  The color drained from Sam’s face. The expression was one of such terror that Gordy didn’t even wait for him to answer. “I’ll sleep on the couch. It’s a fold-out and bigger than my bed at the trailer.” His concern grew as he studied Sam. “Let’s relax and watch some TV. I promise nothing will happen. Whenever you’re ready for bed, you can have the room to yourself.”

  A shaken Sam nodded and glanced around. Gordy turned on the TV, sat on the couch and motioned for Sam. “Come sit on the other end and I’ll give you a great foot rub.”

  Sam was hesitant for a moment before giving Gordy a flickering smile, settling on the couch then laying his feet across Gordy’s legs.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sam was miserable as he leaned against the vehicle door while they drove through the flat, unending country of western Oklahoma. They’d cut the trip short. Sam’s episodes were so rampant that the confined cab of Gordy’s pickup was closer than he was comfortable with. This isn’t working. I can’t be with Gordy. For fuck sake, I can’t stand to be around anyone. It’s time to cut him loose. They passed under the interstate and onto the last few deserted miles before they were back at school. It wasn’t fair to Gordy. Sam gathered up his courage and ran through what he would say. By the time they’d stopped in front of his dorm building, Sam understood their relationship was ending.

  “This isn’t working.”

  Gordy turned to him with a frozen expression on his face. “What’s not working? We hit a rough patch. That’s all.”

  “No. It’s not your fault, either. I can’t be in a relationship. Look how many times we’ve tried, and the one time we do more, I have a three-day breakdown. It’s just not working.” Sam’s anger grew. It was like a slow boil as the unfairness of the situation overcame him, and Gordy was his target.

  Gordy’s face became mobile. It looked more like someone had kicked him in the nuts, and he was about to puke. Sam charged onward without pausing. “It’s just not working out. I can’t keep my shit together when someone gets close. It sucks, but it’s the truth. There’s no use in drawing this relationship out any further than we already h
ave. It was kicks, but it’s time to call it what it is and take the damn thing off life support.”

  Sam walled away his emotions and met Gordy’s stare. By now, his fury had reached a level where he was no longer reasonable and he wanted Gordy as miserable as he’d made himself over the last few days. As soon as the words had left his mouth, he’d regretted each phrase he’d muttered, but he couldn’t seem to keep from throwing their relationship into the bonfire he’d created.

  Gordy looked as though someone had ripped open his chest and yanked out his heart. He seemed ready to break down as his lips moved several times with no words coming out. A loud sniffle came from Gordy and Sam was certain a tear rolled down his cheek before he scrubbed his face with his thick flannel sleeve.

  “Come on, Sam. I think we’re doing okay. Every couple has bad patches. I bet even your parents had rough spots.”

  Sam folded his arms over his chest and glared at Gordy, as Gordy became the person he hated most. “So, you’d be good telling everyone you are gay and we’re doing it? Chance your precious football scholarship to be with me?”

  Gordy let out a groan that sounded like he’d just had a three-hundred-pound linebacker hit him in the gut. “You know I… Right now I need…” Gordy had difficulty forming words as he obviously struggled with Sam’s statement. Gordy pulled himself together enough to utter one single phrase.

  “But I love you.”

  Sam’s heart burst into a million sharp fragments until he wanted to curl into a ball and die. But all the fears and self-incrimination came to a head and exploded with Gordy as the target. “No, you don’t, or you’d be willing to give up everything for me. But you can’t. Getting your precious degree is all you worry about. I’m just a quick fuck. But then I can’t even give you that, can I? You might as well jerk off. Then you don’t have to deal with all my fucking drama.”

  “I don’t care. Even if we never have sex, I want to be with you. Don’t you get that?”

  The last of Sam’s nonexistent self-control blew out like Mount St. Helens and he stooped to a level that would make burning lava and poisonous gas preferable. “That’s bullshit. You only want to be with me if I stay in the fucking closet. It worries you more that the damn coaches might find out you like dick. You’re afraid if your friends know you’re a fudge packer then you won’t have anyone but some wimpy boyfriend whose self-esteem is so low he’ll let you hide your relationship from everyone.”