by Haley Walsh
“Well how about that. So let me ask you fellas. How does that work?”
Beverly dropped her face in her hand.
Skyler looked from one to the other. “How does what work?”
“You know. You’re two men. Do you love each other? Does it work like that? Hope you don’t mind my asking.”
Skyler was relieved. He didn’t know what he expected, but it wasn’t that. “Yes, it works just like that. Just like you and your wife. We’re in love.”
Keith grabbed his hand on the table.
“That’s terrific. I said to Beverly, when all this gay marriage was on the TV, I asked her, ‘Now why is there all this fuss? If they love each other like normal people, what’s the big deal? Just let them get married.’ And you do. Son of a gun. I never knew any gay people.”
“Oh, I bet you do. You just don’t know it.”
“You know young man, you might be right. I always wondered about my lieutenant when I was in the Navy. Never saw him with a girl ever. I’m sure you’re right.”
“I’m absolutely sure.” Skyler could tell that Keith was doing his best not to laugh. Maybe they both should be offended, but he couldn’t help but feel the old man with the bad comb-over and thick glasses was cute in his naivete.
Beverly touched her husband’s arm with a spotted hand bearing a large, sparkly cocktail ring. “Now stop bothering these nice boys with your questions, Francis. Let them eat their dinner.”
“You don’t mind all these questions, do you boys?” asked Francis.
Skyler scooped pieces of fish away from the bone with his fork. “Not at all. We’re used to answering questions. We’re high school teachers. I teach English Literature and Keith teaches biology and he’s also head football coach.”
“No kidding. Football, eh?”
“Used to play ball in college,” said Keith, slicing into his bloody steak. “Almost went pro but hurt my knee.”
“What do you know about that? Gay football player. That would have been something. Or—were you gay back then?”
“Francis!” scolded his wife.
“Bev, these boys said they don’t mind.”
“Well, sir,” said Keith, talking like a Boy Scout, “I was always gay. It’s not something you turn on or off.”
“That’s right. Of course,” he said, stirring his coffee. “I knew that. In my day, gays were always in the closet.”
“Why don’t you let them eat their dinner, dear?”
“But this calls for a celebration! They’re on their honeymoon. And it’s always a honeymoon when I’m with you, Bev.” He patted her hand. “So let’s have some champagne. On me.” He signaled the waiter.
Skyler settled in to eat, but dabbed at his mouth with a napkin before he asked, “How long have you two been married?”
“It will be fifty-three years this November, won’t it Bev? My Beverly made an honest man of me and I’ve never looked back. Here’s a piece of advice for you young fellas: Don’t go to bed angry. And the wife is always right. Oh. But you can’t use that one, can you?”
Skyler kicked Keith under the table when it looked like he might say something. Instead, Keith said, “We’ll have to play that one by ear.”
When the champagne arrived, they all clinked goblets, ate heartily, and chatted. All the while the ship chugged forth with just the barest of a rocking motion. “What time do we arrive in Catalina?” asked Skyler.
Keith had also ordered a glass of red wine and took a drink. “They said seven-thirty in the morning. We’ll have the whole day, and then we sail again at four-thirty.”
“Mmm. This ocean air is making me hungry. I was starved.”
“You’re sure plowing through that. Is it good?”
“Oh, the beurre blanc sauce is heavenly. And this flounder is so delicate. How’s your giant piece of cow?”
“Very tender. Would you like a bite?”
“No thanks. Flounder?”
“That’s okay.”
Beverly and Francis were chatting with some new arrivals, another older couple. “This has been such a relaxing day,” said Skyler. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a better vacation.”
“And we’ve only just gotten started.”
“That’s right. Kayaking tomorrow. I’ve always wanted to try that, but I’ve been a little afraid of it.”
“Why? You’re a good swimmer if you capsize.”
“It’s that part. Afraid I’ll get stuck.”
“They’ll give you lessons before we head out. And I’ll be there.”
“To save the day.” He toyed with the fish, swishing it in the buttery sauce. “You know,” he said quietly so the others couldn’t hear. “It isn’t that I don’t appreciate it, but it kind of hurts a guy’s ego to have to be saved all the time.”
“Well…I could let you drown. But it is my honeymoon. And the room isn’t refundable.”
“You know what I mean.”
Keith’s smile faded. “I don’t like us to get into a position where I have to ‘save’ you. Besides, at last count, I think you’re ahead in the saving department.”
“Am I?”
“Yeah. You saved yourself last time. With those moves you learned in your self-defense class.”
“That’s right! I threw the perp over my shoulder.” He mimed it, still proud of himself. “I—that’s funny.”
“What?”
“I thought I saw a guy who looked just like Philip.”
“There’s gotta be a million guys who look like Philip. He’s got a ‘look’, after all.”
“Speaking of, uh, by the way, a few days ago, I went back to the University of Redlands bookstore.”
Keith set his knife and fork down. His jaw tightened. “What for?”
“Well, you heard what Mike said. The guy who’s stalking me had a U of R hoodie. A new one. I used to work in the bookstore so I had a talk with the manager. She came to the wedding. Debbie. Sort of round, middle-aged lady with the Hawaiian print dress?”
“Oh yeah.”
“So anyway, she’s getting me the list she gave to the cops of all the hoodie purchases since the beginning of the school year.”
“Shouldn’t we let Sidney handle that?”
“Do you ever get tired of that broken record?”
Keith sighed and snatched up his wine glass. He drank quickly and set it down, caging the goblet in his fingers. “Sorry. We agreed, didn’t we?”
“Yes. We did.”
“I really didn’t want to think about this on our trip.” His gazed lingered on the older couples who were fully engaged in conversation, laughing now and again.
“I know. But maybe away from distractions we can think about it, work on it ourselves, you know. And you can call Sidney or Mike for updates.”
“Okay. Yeah.”
They finished dinner, shook hands with their tablemates, promising to see them again, and decided to go for a stroll along the Lido deck and look at the stars.
In was cold and the wind whirled over them. Skyler hunkered close to Keith, holding his hand tight to his body. “This is just beautiful.”
“I’m so happy to be here with you, babe. I can’t tell you how much.”
They stopped to lean on the rail and watch the water. The moonlight caught on each wave and crest, reflecting the foamy wake of the ship in silver flashes. “This was so unexpected,” said Skyler softly. “Not just the cruise—that was an amazing surprise. But…you. Us. Sometimes my head is still reeling…but in a good way.”
Keith’s arm tightened around Skyler’s waist. “It was completely unexpected for me. I know you think that just because you were cute and blond that I was set to fall for you. Everyone says that. But it isn’t true. I’ve hooked up with plenty of cute blonds. But you were something special.”
“Was it easier or harder my being at the same school?”
“Much harder. As you might recall, I was trying not to like you.”
“And doing a darned good job. The name
s I called you when your back was turned…”
“I can imagine. And you just got cuter and cuter. I was such a goner.”
Leaning his arms over the rails, Skyler toyed with the ring on his finger, still a slightly foreign feeling. “But did you ever expect this?”
“No, not really. I hoped I’d meet a guy I could build a life with. Yeah, I was attracted to you, but I wasn’t sure you were the One. Well…not right away, anyway.”
“I fought it mighty hard.”
“I know. I’ll still never fully understand that.”
“I have a lot of baggage.”
“I know. And yet…here we are.”
Skyler turned. “Here we are. You know, I think I’d like to go back to our cabin now.”
Keith’s tender expression flickered with desire. “That’s a good idea,” he rasped.
They walked together back inside to the elevators. Once they reached their floor they walked down the long hallway and finally to their room.
Inside, Keith turned on a bedside lamp. It offered just enough warm glow for them to see each other, but not too much to blast the room with light.
“Now that I finally have you alone on our honeymoon…” said Keith.
Skyler waggled his brows. “Yeees?”
“I wanted to talk.”
Skyler deflated. “Uh…okay.”
Keith seemed nervous, which was endearing in one sense but worrying in another. He toyed with the card key before he set it down on the desk. “I just wondered…I mean, we’ve done a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff. Sexual stuff. But I don’t think I ever directly asked what it is you liked best.”
Eyes widened, Skyler stared. “Are you kidding?”
“Babe, I just want to start out right. Yeah. We’ve had sex in every which way and you’ve been a champ about all of that—”
“So have you, but that’s not quite true.”
“True about what?”
“That we’ve done everything. We’ve never done bondage. Or done any dom/sub scenes. Or spanking.”
“Oh. D-do you w-want to do that?”
Skyler laughed, mostly at Keith’s alarmed expression. “No! I’m not into that. Or threesomes. Or foursomes. Not anymore.”
“Not anymore.”
“Yeah. Sometimes things get confused. I guess maybe that’s part of the charm, not knowing whose cock or whose butt is in your face, but it isn’t for me.”
“Thank God,” he muttered.
“So what is it you mean? Piercings? Do you like pierced nipples? Do you want me to get one?” He stretched toward Keith, shimmying his shoulders. Keith’s eyes traveled down to Skyler’s chest. “Or tattoos? Would it turn you on if I had a piercing or a tattoo?”
Keith seemed to snap back. “Not particularly.”
“Well thank God.” Absently he rubbed his chest. “I’m not a fan of sharp things. Especially Prince Alberts.” He shuddered. “Not me.”
“No piercings for me either. And you don’t want me to get a tattoo, do you?”
“And interfere with all that hair? Absolutely not.”
Keith chuckled. He shifted closer, closing his hands on Skyler’s upper arms. “You do like that, don’t you? My chest hair.”
“You know I love it. So my preferences. Do I like to be sucked? Why yes, I do. Do I like to suck?” He got in close again, lips inches from Keith’s. “Why yes, I do…as long as it’s you. Do I like to be penetrated? I most certainly do.” He leaned away again, feeling the loss of heat from Keith’s presence. “And now you have heard the description of my preferences. Most definitely vanilla and certainly a bottom. But I think you already know that.”
Keith smiled sheepishly.
Skyler shook his head. “Sometimes you are so ridiculous. But I’ll play your silly game. What’s your favorite? A little butt play, a little cock frotting?”
His arms slid and took Skyler in an embrace. “I think you know I’m a big fan of fucking you.”
“Deep and rough? Because if we’re being specific here, that’s what I really like.”
Keith kissed him, surprisingly gentle for the thread of the conversation. “Okay. And just for the record, I’m pretty turned on right now.”
“I should hope so,” he said quietly.
Keith said no more, and, steadying his gaze, took off his jacket and pulled at his bow tie.
Skyler scuffed out of his shoes and removed his jacket as well.
They each watched the other undress: shirts, trousers, socks, underwear… Skyler let Keith step out of his but he left his own on, a system of straps where his stiff cock strained against a pouch of black mesh. And when he was sure Keith’s eyes were glued there, he slowly turned, showing off how more straps framed his naked butt perfectly. “You like?”
“Damn.” Keith reached out and glided his hand over Skyler’s exposed ass. “That is fucking hot.”
“Well, just for the record, I’m still impressed every time I see that,” said Skyler, staring at Keith’s considerable erection, standing straight up from his body.
“And I’ve always been mesmerized by that porcelain skin of yours.”
Skyler felt that skin blush a little. “Mr. Fletcher, you say the sweetest things.”
“So, are you going to keep on that underwear for a while?” said Keith, already reaching for him.
“Do you want me to?”
Suddenly Skyler was pressed against all that warm skin and furred torso. Their hard cocks—Keith’s naked one, Skyler’s clothed—slid across the other. I guess that’s my answer. Skyler lifted his face and planted his mouth to Keith’s. They kissed, each heated exchange growing hotter as their lips joined, slid, gnawed. Keith tore away and sucked on his neck. His hand traveled down Skyler’s sides until he reached his ass and squeezed both exposed globes.
Keith’s nibbling mouth had reached Skyler’s chest and found a nipple, licking it to a pink peak. “Don’t need these pierced,” he growled, teasing them with his teeth. Keith’s hand slid down and cupped Skyler’s sac over the mesh, rolling his balls gently between his fingers.
Skyler grasped Keith’s shoulders to steady himself. “Fuck,” he whispered, kissing the top of that dark head.
Keith let him go for a moment and urged him back to the bed, laying Skyler back. Keith covered him, kissing and nipping at his chin, his throat, hands busy, one at the taut nipple, another at Skyler’s groin. He released Skyler’s cock from the mesh pouch and slowly stroked the rock-hard flesh.
Skyler couldn’t reach Keith’s dick, which Keith was frotting under Skyler’s sac against the soft flesh there, but he did manage to squeeze his fingers into Keith’s muscled ass, feeling as the sinews stretched and rolled.
All of a sudden, Keith pulled away and flipped Skyler over.
“Hey! Warn a guy.”
“Sorry. I just want to get at your ass.” His fingers dug into Skyler’s hips and yanked them up so he was bottoms up. He stuffed a pillow under him to keep him that way.
“I guess you do. What are you—ooooh.” Keith bit lightly on the fleshy cheeks, pulling at a strap with his teeth before letting it slap back with a delicious sting. He kissed more of his butt, delicately licked, and then pressed his lips tight to the skin and sucked.
“God, I love your ass. It’s so round and white and perfect. I just want to bite it.” And he did, eliciting a yelp from Skyler.
Keith dug his thumbs into Skyler’s cleft and spread him wide before bending forward to kiss his hole. The delicate skin spasmed under Keith’s lips, until that tongue flicked and caressed in lazy, sensuous circles.
Skyler’s hand reached for his cock, and he stroked languidly.
Keith’s relentless tongue licked downward until he nipped at the flesh above his balls over the mesh, tugging on it with his teeth.
Skyler couldn’t help but spread his legs and stick out his butt, wanting to get more of Keith’s attention. Wide hands squeezed his ass again, pushing the cleft together and then pulling it apart. A tongue speared h
is hole then flicked away before a wetted finger intruded.
“Where did we put the damn lube?” Keith muttered against his skin.
“You’re doing okay for now.”
Keith chuckled and nipped again at his butt, taking both sides of the straps and using them like reins, swaying his butt this way and that. “Am I?”
“Yes,” said Skyler breathlessly. “Incredibly well.”
Keith kissed the place he nipped, nipped again, and then kissed it once more. “I’m getting the lube.” The bed rocked when he rose and Skyler watched over his shoulder as a naked Keith, cock jutting away from him and bobbing as he walked, went to the closet in search of the lube.
Skyler waggled his butt impatiently. “Come on. Where is it?”
“Keep doing that and I’ll unload before I have a chance at you.”
“Then get back here.”
The bed dipped and Keith’s hands smoothed up his back. One eased down to his butt again, caressing between the straps. “I think I really like this underwear of yours.”
Skyler heard the splooge of the tube and then a thumb dipped into his hole. Keith eased it in and Skyler wiggled his ass again. “I am so ready for you it’s not even funny.”
Skyler watched over his shoulder as Keith got up on his knees. “I don’t want to hurt you, babe.”
“You won’t.”
Keith lubed himself, and got in close, grasping one side of the underwear straps. Skyler breathed and relaxed as that cock pressed against his hole and pushed inside. Keith took his time, hand rubbing soothing circles at the small of Skyler’s back…until Skyler lifted his bottom and drove back at him. He glanced coyly over his shoulder. “You can give it to me, big boy. You know how I like it.”
Keith slid his hands under the straps to tighten his grip on Skyler’s hips, and slammed in.
Blinking, Skyler inhaled a sharp breath. Damn. He was never quite as prepared as he thought he was. “Aaaand if you could give me half a second.”
Keith paused. “I told you I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“And you didn’t. Just…a…sec…Okay.”
Keith’s shallow thrusts were slow, involuntary. “Are you sure now?”
“Very.”
Sensation suddenly drove all thought and words from his head as Keith thrust in earnest, and all Skyler’s attention focused on that. Keith nipped at Skyler’s neck and ran his hands roughly down his sides. He moved with Keith, countering each thrust by backing into it. He massaged his own straining cock and pumped it, running his fingers over the weeping head, until a hand pushed his out of the way.