The Practice

by Grant C. Holland

  Thomas rubbed the length of Hadley’s cock with his thumb and asked again, “Okay?”

  Hadley pulled his arms down and braced against the couch. “Oh fuck, yeah…”

  Hadley dreamed in the past about being taken by a man. He dreamed about how their body felt, what it was like to kiss them, and what another man’s cock would feel like, but the dreams were only fantasies. He decided as a senior in high school to keep them as purely fantasies, and now, in one morning visit, Thomas destroyed all of that.

  Hadley’s defenses were gone, and he didn’t really know how to respond. He decided to try to relax.

  Then Hadley heard the sound of a zipper. It was his own zipper. No one had ever taken his zipper in their own hands. Every time Hadley was with a woman, he undressed himself. They let him slip off their skirt and their blouse then panties and bra, but Hadley always undressed himself. Hearing the sound of his zipper and knowing it was slipping down at Thomas’ hand was one of the most erotic sounds Hadley could remember ever hearing.

  Halfway between a grunt and a growl, Thomas said, ‘You’re so fucking sexy, Hadley.” Then he rubbed Hadley’s cock through his cotton boxer briefs.

  “Th…thank you,” whispered Hadley as he arched his hips up to meet Thomas’ hand.

  Thomas slipped further down with his kisses following a straight line down Hadley’s abs.

  Thomas gripped Hadley’s jeans and pulled them down over his hips. In the next movement, Thomas tugged the boxer briefs down, too.

  Hadley gasped when his thick, heavy cock slapped against his abs. It left a smeary trail on his belly. Thomas said, “Precum already. So fucking sexy…”

  Thomas wrapped his fingers around Hadley’s cock gripping it tight while continuing to kiss Hadley’s body…this time just below his waist.

  Hadley let out a low moan when the fingers began to stroke his cock slowly. He felt like he could explode any minute, but he wanted to last a lot longer than that. Thomas kissed the head of his cock and then flicked at it lightly with his tongue.

  Hadley’s fingers reflexively gripped the couch as he moaned louder and growled, “Oh fuck…so good…”

  Thomas wrapped his lips around the head of Hadley’s cock and shifted his fingers to the base.

  Hadley only convinced one girl to suck him off in the past, and she was so tentative about everything that he had to jerk himself to cum.

  Thomas was confident. He knew exactly what he was doing.

  Thomas began to bob up and down on Hadley’s cock letting it slip ever deeper into his mouth and throat with each movement. He paused and sucked, then let his tongue swirl in small circles around the head before starting to bob yet again. When Thomas began to stroke the base of Hadley’s cock, Hadley yelped, “I’m close…”

  Thomas slowed everything down. He stopped stroking and then just licked and slurped at Hadley’s cock. Hadley reached out and tangled his fingers into Thomas’ short, coarse, wavy hair. He began to push Thomas’ head back down on his cock to indicate he was ready to climb back toward the edge.

  With the calm, methodical demeanor of an expert, Thomas took Hadley right back to the edge. He gave the cock short, quick strokes, and Hadley yelped, “Edge!”

  Thomas repeated the actions once more, and Hadley found himself gasping for air and desperate to cum. He couldn’t wait any longer. With his hand gripping Thomas’ hair tight, he pushed Thomas’ head down once more. This time, he didn’t stop the action when he was close to the edge.

  Hadley let Thomas use his skills to push right over the edge.

  Hadley yelled out wordlessly and arched his back as a huge load of cum pumped into Thomas’ throat. He didn’t let go of his grip on Thomas’ hair until the last drops eased their way from his cock. Then he released the grip and slumped back against the couch. He was exhausted, both physically and mentally.

  It was Hadley’s first time cumming with another man, and it was insanely hot. All that he could think about was getting to do it all over again. Thomas slid forward against his body and stared deeply into Hadley’s eyes. Thomas said, “That was amazing. I hope you had a good time, too.”

  Hadley laughed. He said, “I think my body answered that question.”

  Thomas kissed Hadley and then laid his head against Hadley’s chest. He whispered softly, “Yes, it did, and your body isn’t completely straight. I think your mind needs to catch up.”

  12

  Hadley

  With their personal impasse broken, Hadley resumed his work on odd jobs at Thomas’ veterinary practice. The pair also began dating in a quiet fashion sharing Saturday lunches and the occasional dinner together. At least for Thomas and Hadley, it was dating. To the rest of the world it looked like two friends hanging out.

  That last part surprised Hadley in a good way. When he dated women, he was always frustrated and confused about how the woman’s mind worked. He was pleased to discover that Thomas’ thought patterns worked much like any other man’s. They could hang out as buddies and understand each other on those terms while still wanting to kiss, make out, and have sex.

  The sexual component to their relationship experienced delays. Both Thomas and Hadley were so busy with the rest of their lives, they barely did have time to enjoy the meals together and then share a quick kiss in parting.

  Hadley was busy getting Aunt Mae moved into his house while Thomas worked long hours and then wanted little more than to see Hadley if possible, share a quick kiss, and then sleep until the next morning.

  Hadley wasn’t sure that he knew what he thought about sex beyond the blow job. He wanted to trust Thomas that they could talk about it when the time came, but he worried that he would seem less of a man if he didn’t just follow through.

  The whole idea of what a man would do in this situation stuck in the back of his head, too. Hadley was raised by his parents to have a strong, strict definition of who and what a man was. A strong man certainly wasn’t submissive in the bedroom, but then how did two men like Hadley and Thomas have sex. When he got to that point in his thoughts, Hadley just shook his head and tried to ignore what was coming until it was time for it to arrive.

  “Hadley, it’s time!” It was a Saturday morning, and Thomas woke Hadley at 6:00 a.m. with a call.

  Trying to shake the cobwebs out of his head, Hadley said, “Time…for what?”

  “Lucky is having her puppies! We’ve been keeping a close watch on her. I got a call just an hour ago that her water broke. Do you want to see the magic happen?”

  Hadley rolled over on to his back. At the moment, what he really wanted was to fall back asleep, but he knew that he had some responsibility for the safety of the litter of the puppies and Thomas’ enthusiasm was infectious even at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning. He asked, “Are you with her?”

  Thomas said, “Yes, just come on over, and I’ll meet you at the door. I’ve got Bennett here helping out, so he can stay with her while I watch for you.”

  Hadley said, “I need to get dressed, but I will be there soon. Do you know how many?”

  “How many puppies? I’m guessing between six and eight. I did an ultrasound, but that’s imperfect, and it’s just a guess. Now get off the phone, Hadley, so you can get here.”

  Hadley laughed. “I’m on my way!”

  Standing in the shower, letting the hot water roll down over his body, Hadley wondered what would happen to Lucky and the puppies. The last time he was asked, he turned down bringing any of them home, but that was before so many other recent events. It was before he began dating Thomas.

  Hadley pulled on jeans and a T-Shirt and then tried to creep down the stairs and avoid waking Aunt Mae. Just as he reached the bottom step, her door opened, and she asked, “Where are you going so early on a Saturday, Hadley?”

  He whispered, “Busted!” and then grinned. He said, “Remember the dog that I took to the animal hospital a few weeks back? She’s having her puppies now. Dr. Randall, the new vet, called and asked if I wanted to be there.”
>
  Aunt Mae smiled warmly. She said, “Puppies are a wonderful thing. I remember when Colleen had her only litter. We tried to get her to go to a box in a quiet back room, but she insisted on lying right in the living room. Finally, we set the whelping box up there, and everybody got to watch her give birth. She was so proud of those puppies.”

  Hadley said, “Aunt Mae, I would love to hang out and talk about it, but I really do need to get going.” He stepped up to her and gave her a warm hug. “Go back to bed if you want more sleep. I really didn’t mean to wake you up.”

  She laughed. “Oh, it’s an old woman’s lot in life. That bed gets tired of you when you get older, Hadley. I don’t think I could get back to sleep if I tried. I’ll go make myself some tea.”

  The morning sun was just starting to reach its brightly colored fingers across the sky as Hadley hopped into his truck and backed out of the driveway. He imagined Thomas in his white doctor’s coat, arms crossed over his chest, watching over Lucky like a proud father.

  Thomas met Hadley at the door of the animal hospital as promised. He had a wide grin on his face and said, “She’s already had one. It doesn’t matter how many times I see this. The birth of puppies is still a wonder in life. Have you ever seen them being born, Hadley?”

  Hadley started to say, “No, I…”

  Then he was interrupted by Thomas’ lips. It was a hard, enthusiastic kiss. Thomas said, “Good morning to you!”

  Hadley grinned. “And good morning to you, too.”

  Thomas grabbed Hadley’s hand and said, “This way. Come and watch.”

  Hadley and Thomas arrived at the kennel in the rear of the animal hospital just as the second pup was arriving. Thomas asked, “Bennett, is everything going well?”

  Bennett said, “So far, so good.”

  Hadley watched with a smile on his face. Thomas knelt down beside Lucky’s whelping box and praised her when she did her job of breaking the pup’s sac and licking it clean. He lifted the newborn pup and gently placed it in a nearby basket to keep it out of Lucky’s way while she attended to giving birth to the next in line. Thomas explained every step of the process, and Hadley marveled at his calm and gentle manner in managing the situation.

  Thomas said, “This is going to take a few more hours for her to be finished. Hadley, would you be willing to go grab us some breakfast and coffee?”

  Hadley was eager to hear the suggestion. He was feeling somewhat helpless and unsure if there was something more he could be doing. He said, “Yes, of course. I’ll be right back.”

  Thomas said, “Lisa should be here before long, too. Bennett will stay with Lucky when I get called away by patients.”

  Hadley was filled with an indescribable warm feeling inside as he drove to a nearby coffee shop. The gentleness in Thomas’ demeanor combined with complete confidence and calm made his heart pound. Hadley needed someone like that for the moments when he doubted some of his own actions and direction.

  Ginny Graham took Hadley’s order at the coffee shop counter. She was an old high school friend. She said, “You’re up really early for a Saturday.”

  He said, “I am, but I’m helping Dr. Randall with a dog having puppies.”

  Ginny scratched her head. “Dr. Randall…oh, he’s the new veterinarian, right?”

  Hadley nodded his head yes.

  As she handed Hadley his change, a bag with breakfast sandwiches, and a carrier for the coffees, she said, “He’s very good-looking too.”

  Before he could stop himself, Hadley said, “Yes, he is.”

  The confused stare on Ginny’s face was priceless. As the door closed behind him, Hadley burst out laughing. He wondered how long it would be before more of his defenses began to crumble.

  When he returned to the clinic, Lisa met Hadley at the door. He said, “Oh, I’m sorry, Lisa. I should have brought you a coffee and sandwich, too.”

  She smiled and tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder. She said, “Oh, it’s no problem. I had breakfast at home before I left. Dr. Randall is hungry, though.”

  When Hadley returned to the kennel, Thomas said, “I think we might be halfway there. We have three healthy pups, and Lucky is handling it all like a champ.”

  While handing Bennett a coffee, Hadley said, “I brought breakfast sandwiches and coffees for both of you.”

  Thomas said, “You’re a lifesaver Hadley. I’ve been up most of the night, and I haven’t eaten since dinner yesterday.” He got up from his position beside Lucky and reached out for the coffee.

  Lisa said, “We open in just a few minutes, Dr. Randall. I’ll head out to the desk.”

  Thomas said, “Just buzz my phone when there is a patient I need to see.”

  When it was all over, Lucky gave birth to six healthy puppies. As he began to place them back in the box with Lucky to begin nursing, Thomas said, “Would you like to hold one for a moment, Hadley?”

  It was the moment Hadley waited for all morning. He wanted to hold one of Lucky’s puppies if only for a moment. These were the newborn lives that his quick actions driving home from work made possible. He squatted down beside the basket and lifted a plump, squirming little mass into his hand. Hadley whispered, “This is amazing.”

  Thomas said, “Just put him here close to Lucky, and he’ll figure out the rest.”

  Hadley gently placed the pup in the box and watched as he pushed against his fellow pups and nuzzled against Lucky until he found a nipple to feed. Thomas placed the final pup and then gently stroked Lucky’s head. Hadley said, “Sometimes, I still can’t believe she survived the accident.”

  Thomas grinned. “That’s why we call her Lucky.” He leaned in close and said, “Good job, girl.” Almost as if she had just been waiting for the words of recognition, Lucky closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Thomas looked up at Hadley. “You made this all possible.”

  Hadley said, “I just did what anyone with a heart would do.”

  “And we need more people like you, Hadley. We need more people like you.”

  * * *

  That night, Hadley shared dinner with Aunt Mae. He offered to go out with Thomas, but Thomas insisted on going home to sleep. Instead, Hadley ordered Aunt Mae to relax while he made dinner.

  Aunt Mae said, “I can do that, Hadley. Why don’t you just sit and relax? You were up really early this morning.”

  Hadley was still filled with adrenaline from taking part in the birth of Lucky’s puppies. He didn’t really know what he was going to make, but he was sure that he could throw together spaghetti with a meat sauce and a tossed salad. He said, “Let me do it, Aunt Mae. It’s probably time that I start learning how to cook anyway.”

  She said, “Okay, but I will be right here if you need any help. Why don’t you tell me about the puppies?”

  Hadley busily set about boiling water and chopping lettuce. He was amazed at what a mess he could make so quickly in the kitchen. Aunt Mae had to remind him both to put the spaghetti in the boiling water and start heating the sauce while he told about Thomas and Lucky and the puppies.

  Then Aunt Mae said, “I don’t know how to bring this up, but I promised my good friend Esther that I would, so I’ll just say it straight out.”

  Hadley turned around from watching the stove with a confused look on his face. He asked, “What is it?”

  She said, “Esther’s granddaughter just recently moved back to Catlett’s Cove, and she’s finding it hard to fit in. Esther thought it might help if she went on a few dates. I’ve met her before, and she’s very sweet, Hadley.”

  Hadley caught the implication immediately. For an instant, he thought he should tell Aunt Mae about Thomas, but then he held back. Instead, he said, “I’m sorry, Aunt Mae, but I’m really not dating right now. I’ve got some things I need to figure out first.”

  She pulled back from the question immediately and said, “I’m sorry, Hadley. I wouldn’t have said anything if I didn’t promise Esther. Is there anything I can help with? I’m always here to talk a
nything through. You know that.”

  Hadley said, “You are more than wonderful, Aunt Mae, and I know you are here for me any time I need you.” He stepped forward, bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  She said, “Hadley, the spaghetti! It’s probably done now.”

  He turned back to the stove and then fumbled around looking for a strainer before dumping the spaghetti and transferring it to the pan with the sauce.

  Aunt Mae said, “You have been really quiet about things lately. I hope there isn’t anything that I’m doing wrong. You can tell me. If I’m stepping on your toes here, I can still move back home. We haven’t let my place go yet. It’s just sitting there with nobody using it.”

  Hadley returned to Aunt Mae’s side. He wrapped his arms around her remembering to be gentle so he wouldn’t stress her healing wrist and said, “I think you are worrying way too much. Everything is fine. There is just a lot going on. I’m working those extra hours, and I’m trying to be a good friend to Dr. Randall helping him settle back in to Catlett’s Cove. It’s all good, Aunt Mae.”

  13

  Thomas

  Thomas typed the text message into his phone, “Hadley! I’m cutting out early at five and off tomorrow. Delivery for dinner my place at six?”

  He waited impatiently at the animal hospital for a response while he packed up blood samples to send off to the state university for analysis. When there was still no answer after twenty minutes, he stepped outside of his office and walked up to the front counter. Lisa was busy flirting with a young male customer who held a black Scottie dog in his arms.

  Thomas cleared his throat. “Lisa, have you sent all of the notices for check-ups that are due.”

  Startled by Thomas’ presence, Lisa said, “Oh, I’m sorry, Dr. Randall. I’ll get right to that.” The young man smiled and settled himself into one of the waiting room seats with the dog.