“Your room’s right there,” he said, pointing to a door. “Right across from mine. Your bag’s been brought up, so get changed and we’ll go have dinner.” Blue loved his room with its sloping white ceiling dancing with reflections from the lake. He changed into soft black pants and a logo-less ash gray pullover, laying his wet bathing suit on a towel. Astor knocked at the door and Blue called out for him to come in as he slipped his feet into shoes.
“Is the room okay?” Astor asked as he went to one of the tall windows.
“I really like it. This quilt is wild.”
“It’s Shaker or something. All this furniture has been in the family for hundreds of years. Isn’t that kind of weird? The idea of our things outliving us.”
“I never thought about it, but I knew this girl whose grandmother had a parrot that outlived her. The old lady had to leave the bird to someone in her will.”
“Weird. You ready to go down?”
“I think so. What do you think?” Blue held his arms out from his sides. “I think it’s a crime that I can’t jump you right now, but this is one of Mom’s big moments.” Taking Blue’s hand, Astor led him to the door and they walked down the stairs hand in hand until they reached the dining room. Blue pulled his hand from Astor’s and moved a little away from him.
“Hello, darlings,” Lily Aldrich said. “I’ve put you across the table from each other. Blue, if you’ll sit here? Lovely. Both of you look very handsome. And you as well, Avery.”
Astor’s father smiled fondly at the elegant auburn-haired woman. “Thank you, Lil. Are you ready for me to pour the wine?”
“If you would.” She tilted her cheek for a kiss as her husband passed by. Dinner was a soufflé of myriad elusive flavors, a pasta dish with meat that might have been chicken or pork, and a wilted spinach salad with homemade dressing that was neither sweet nor sour, but some uneasy blend that baffled the tongue. Mr. Aldrich kept pouring the wine, opening a new bottle for each dish, remarking each time that no one had to drive home. By the time dessert was brought out, Blue knew he’d had too much to drink and hoped he didn’t say anything embarrassing.
“You outdid yourself this year, Lily,” Mr. Aldrich said, when his wife returned to the table with coffee. “That was the most interesting pre-Thanksgiving dinner yet.”
“Thank you, dear. I’m a bit proud of the pasta. I substituted rattlesnake for the chicken in that one.”
Blue exchanged a glance with Astor.
“She’s not kidding,” Astor said. “Mom likes trying new things.”
“Life is short,” Mrs. Aldrich said. “And there are so many things to be experienced. Now, what would you two lads like to do after you’ve had your pudding?”
“No plans,” Astor said. “It’s nice just to be here at the lake.”
“You’re a good son,” Mr. Aldrich said. “Remind me to thank whoever raised you.”
“We haven’t played charades in ages,” Astor’s mother suggested.
“No one plays charades anymore, Mom.”
“Actually, that sounds like fun,” Blue spoke up. “I’d play if everyone else wanted to.”
“Well, we are all a little tipsy,” Mr. Aldrich said. “The perfect state in which to play charades.”
“Oh, all right,” Astor said. “Blue’s a really good actor; I warn you.” For the first time since Blue had met Mr. Aldrich, the man’s bluff demeanor faltered. It was just a small frown, a twitch of facial muscles, and then the smile was back in place, but Blue could feel the chill of disapproval and it centered on the word actor. Then Mrs. Aldrich rose and the moment passed. They went into the game room and had a silly, good time until Astor’s father looked at his watch and checked it against the clock.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to call it a day,” he said as he stood. “I have to go back into New York for a couple of hours in the morning.” “I’m coming to bed, too, dear,” Lily said, as she bent to kiss Astor. Blue was surprised to feel the brush of her lips against his cheek as well as she said goodnight and then she was gone, leaving behind the ghost of her perfume. She took Avery’s arm and they walked away together.
“Your parents are great,” Blue said. “A little square, maybe, but really nice.”
“It would kill them to not be polite.”
“It’s more than that. They really made me feel at home.”
“Good. I’m glad you feel at home here. I’m hoping this won’t be the last time you visit.”
“Me, too.”
“What do you want to do now?”
“I don’t know. It’s only ten-thirty.”
“When I’m here, I like to go out at night and sit on the dock for a while. Want to come with me?”
“Sure,” Blue said and they walked down to the shore again under the light of the moon. Blue was expecting Astor to make a move and didn’t flinch when the other young man’s arms went around him as soon as they were on the dock. Astor held Blue against his chest and looked over Blue’s shoulder at the tiny lights of the homes on the other side of the large lake. Blue could feel Astor’s warm breath on his neck and it felt good to be held like this with the chill wind fresh on his face, listening to the water lap at the pilings. He wished it didn’t remind him of the afternoon he and Heydn had spent on the banks of the lake at school, and just for a minute, with Astor behind him, Blue pretended Astor was Heydn. He imagined Heydn’s hands were sliding down to his crotch and squeezing his cock, that Heydn’s mouth was sucking softly at the side of his neck, that it was Heydn’s hard-on pressed against his butt. Then Astor spoke and Blue felt a pang of guilt for using him like that.
“You are without a doubt one of the coolest people I’ve ever known.”
“You must not know many people.”
Astor’s arms tightened fiercely around Blue’s lower belly. “You’re beautiful, smart, and talented, and I’m glad you like me.”
“I’m glad you like me, too.” “You want to go into the boathouse?” Blue turned to face Astor and brought their mouths together. “If you want to,” he murmured against Astor’s lips.
Astor pushed his tongue into Blue’s mouth, inviting Blue’s tongue to play, as he grabbed a double handful of Blue’s ass and walked him over to the boathouse door. Blue hooked his fingers in Astor’s belt loops and yanked him closer. Astor pressed Blue against the weathered wood as the kisses grew more urgent, shoving a knee between Blue’s thighs, grinding their crotches together. Blue reached behind him and turned the knob and the door swung inward. Astor lurched, recovered, and plunged after Blue into the glimmering gloom of the boathouse.
“Here,” Astor said, jumping down into a powerboat and holding out a hand to Blue. Blue climbed aboard and sat next to Astor on the comfortable cushions in the stern. They made out for a long time, exchanging slow sloppy kisses with their hands in each other’s pants, prolonging the sweet torment until they couldn’t stand any more.
“Strip down and sit on my lap?” Astor requested in a breathless voice.
Blue shoved his unfastened trousers and his briefs down to the floor and stepped out of them as Astor shed his khakis.
“Facing me,” Astor said. “So our dicks can touch.” Astor leaned back as Blue straddled him and lined their cocks up. Resting a knee on the padded bench seat, Blue rocked his hips, rubbing his hard-on over Astor’s balls and up the length of his shaft. Astor groaned and slid his hands under Blue’s soft shirt to toy with his nipples. Blue leaned in for a kiss as Astor ran a hand down his flank and over his hip to his ass. Astor’s fingers crept into Blue’s cleft, stroking and squeezing as the kiss went on. Blue whimpered into Astor’s mouth when Astor fiddled a fingertip around Blue’s hole. Astor took hold of the root of his cock and bent it down, rubbing the head against Blue’s entrance.
“I want you so much,” he said, as he broke the kiss.
“I don’t want to fuck.”
“Neither do I, but I’d like to make love with you.”
“Call it whatever; I’m not into it r
ight now.”
Astor prodded Blue’s hole gently with the tip of his leaking cock. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”
“Knock it off.”
“I’m sorry,” Astor said, letting go of Blue’s hips. “We can go up to the house now if you want.”
“Like this?” Blue pointed to his hard cock.
“You aren’t mad at me?”
“I would be if you hadn’t stopped.” “I’m not a rapist.”
“I know. I’m just not ready for that yet.”
“It’s cool. Taking someone’s dick is a big trust issue. I won’t push it.”
“Sometimes you sound like a lawyer.”
“I thought you were going to stop insulting me.” Astor put a hand on Blue’s arousal and began stroking it lazily.
“Guh, that feels good,” Blue said as his knees went weak. “I need to sit down.” Astor was surprised, but greatly pleased when Blue sat on his lap again, even if he was facing away. Blue drew Astor’s shaft up between his legs and clamped it tightly with his thigh muscles. He bounced gingerly a couple of times and Astor got the idea. Reaching around to take a firm hold on Blue’s rod, Astor planted his feet against the deck and lifted his pelvis. Blue spat in his palm and rubbed it over the head of Astor’s cock, as it emerged from the vise of his thighs.
“Ho…lee…shit,” Astor breathed, as he pumped his hips. “That feels amazing.”
“Don’t forget about me,” Blue prompted.
“Right, sorry.” Astor began stroking Blue’s cock again. “But that really does feel good.” Blue sensed the power he held over Astor in that moment; he could give or deny pleasure with a flex of his muscles. The thought had never occurred to him while he and Heydn were together. He had simply concentrated on giving Heydn as much pleasure as possible without considering the implications. Heydn had gobbled it up and held out his hands for more. Astor was touchingly grateful without being a kiss-ass.
Astor accepted him the way he was. Astor was handsome and good company. Why couldn’t Astor make him feel like his blood was going to boil away in his veins, like his insides had turned to hot honey, like he’d die if he didn’t touch him?
“Oh God,” Astor groaned, thrusting in short rolls of his hips, buttocks squeaking against vinyl. He held on to Blue’s dick as if it was a joystick, letting his thrusts push the hard length of flesh into his fist. Blue leaned forward and rested his hands on Astor’s knees, levering himself up and down. “Oh yeah!” Astor cried out. “Yeah! Jesus, Blue! Don’t stop. I’m going to cum a gusher.”
Blue cupped the end of Astor’s hard-on, flicking his thumb across the sensitive slit. Astor shuddered, his hand jittering on Blue’s cock as his climax broke over him like a tsunami. He continued to thrust, sliding his cum-slippery shaft between Blue’s trembling thighs as Blue came in three powerful spurts. Astor let go of Blue’s dick and spread his hand across Blue’s taut lower belly, feeling the spasms that tightened the other young man’s muscles in waves.
“I love the way you cum,” Astor said, drawing Blue to lie against his chest. “You don’t hold back.”
“Mmm,” Blue purred. “I love how you can’t stop touching me after we cum.”
“In that case…” Astor trailed his fingers down Blue’s side from his collarbone to the top of his thigh. Curling his fingers around Blue’s hipbone, he craned his neck and took Blue’s lips in a deep kiss. He walked his hand down Blue’s sparse treasure trail and fondled the silky skin where his legs joined his torso. As the caresses continued, Blue’s cock stirred. “Looks like you’re ready for more,” Astor smirked.
“We’ve been out here for a while. Are you sure no one’s going to come looking for us?”
“Is that your way of rejecting me gently?”
“I think I’d expire if one of your parents walked in on us. It was bad enough that your dad saw us practically making out in the lake.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I saw the way he looked at me when you said I was an actor.”
“Oh, that. Dad thinks acting is a waste of my time since it’ll be of no use to me in my career.”
“And what would that be?”
“Building things.”
“Buildingthings?”
“Bigthings.”
“Like the pyramids?”
Astor smiled. “Like hospitals, and museums, things like that.”
“I’ve never heard you mention wanting to build things.”
“Because I don’t, particularly. I love acting and I’d love to be a director someday, but I have to be realistic. My choices affect a lot more people than just myself.”
“You’re a Chinese monk in a teenage-boy suit, aren’t you?”
“You make me feel good, Blue Barclay. I hope we’re friends for a long time.”
“I’d like that.”
“Honestly, I’d like to be more than friends.”
Blue sat up quickly. “I want more, too,” he said, as he scooted to sit on the edge of the cushion. “I just need to take it slow.”
“Understood.” Astor sat up as Blue stood and rescued his trousers. “Was it Heydn Case?”
Blue froze for a split second and then finished pulling his pants up. “What do you mean?”
“Is he the one that hurt you?” “Is it imperative that we talk about this now?”
“Of course not. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.” Astor drew his khakis up and buttoned them. “I don’t own you.” Blue didn’t answer. He went to the door of the boathouse and stepped onto the deck. The wind off the water cooled his face and made a constant, soothing noise in the trees. He stood there with his eyes closed, just listening to the hum of the Earth as it rotated until he heard the door close behind him. He could feel the heat radiating from Astor at his back and slowly leaned until he was supported by the solid warmth. Astor crossed his arms around Blue’s chest and Blue reached up to wrap his fingers around Astor’s wrists.
“I’m sorry if I went too far,” Astor said in Blue’s ear. “I don’t ever want to fight with you.”
“We’re not fighting. I’m not mad.”
“Good.” Astor took a deep breath of the fresh air. “Are you as hungry as I am?”
“For leftover snake?”
Astor made a face. “I can’t believe Mom didn’t tell us. Just once I’d like to see her make spaghetti, or meatloaf, or something normal.”
“I think your mom’s great.”
“Then maybe you should marry her,” Astor teased.
Blue looked interested. “Are she and your dad having problems?”
“I just can’t top you.” Astor paused as he realized what he’d said. “That’s a hell of a double entendre.”
“I just got it,” Blue snickered. “That’s terrible.”
“Come on. Let’s go find some real food.” Astor and Blue raided the refrigerator, brushed their teeth, and went to bed. Blue had been asleep a couple of hours when Astor sneaked into his room and they went at it again on the enormous four-poster bed. They fell asleep tangled together, but Astor woke up early enough to rouse Blue with a hand job and still get back to his room before anyone was moving around the upstairs hall. They showed up for breakfast with matching auras of supreme satisfaction and hearty appetites.
Mr. Aldrich was already gone and Mrs. Aldrich was on her way out to shop for a few last-minute items to make Thanksgiving dinner perfect. Astor and Blue spent the day canoeing, hiking, and looking through the house’s library of books and films. They found an ancient Pong game on the top shelf of a closet and hooked it up, playing until Astor’s father came home and dinner was served. The table was beautiful and the food was delicious, but more than anything else about that Thanksgiving, Blue remembered how it felt to be welcome. After they ate, they sat for a long time and talked, and Lily’s gracious manners drew Blue into the conversation. Maybe Astor and Heydn were right,Blue thought, as he looked around the table. Maybe he needed to be a little more realis
tic. Maybe he needed to stop wishing for his soul mate and be thankful for the blessings being showered on him. Why couldn’t he just forget Heydn? Blue tried again that night to block out the memory of Heydn with the reality of Astor in his bed, and both of them went to sleep satisfied, but it was only skin deep in Blue’s case. After Astor woke and went to his room, Blue lay awake until morning. He got up, got dressed, and found himself alone with Mrs. Aldrich at the breakfast table.
“Avery’s off again,” she said lightly as she poured coffee for Blue. “He works too hard.”
“I’m sorry he’s not here. I wanted to thank him, too. I’ve had a wonderful time here.”
“Thank you, dear. It was lovely to have you. I can see that Astor is very fond of you and I can’t tell you what it means to me that he’s let someone in at last.”
“Ma’am?” “Oh dear. If he hasn’t told you, I really shouldn’t. Perhaps just the facts. Astor had a cousin one year younger who was his best friend. Archer was nine when he died in an accident at summer camp. We were all devastated of course, but I was beginning to think that Astor was never going to get over it. He stayed out of school for a year and would hardly leave his room.”
“He’s never mentioned it.”
“Then perhaps you shouldn’t bring it up.”
“No, ma’am, I won’t. I’m really sorry.”
“Thank you, Blue. You say that as though you truly mean it.”
“Truly mean what?” Astor asked as he walked into the dining room.
“That I think I can help you,” Blue answered.
“And exactly what needs to be fixed?”
“We can’t tell you, darling. It’s privileged information.” Astor pretended to be miffed, but he was thrilled that his mom seemed to have a rapport with Blue. He let them tease him through breakfast, secretly glorying in the attention of the two people he loved most in the world. After eating, they heard the helicopter arriving and Astor volunteered to go upstairs for their bags. Mrs. Aldrich waited in the foyer with Blue.
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