An Ocean of Light

by Kit Fortier

  An Ocean of Light

  Beyond the Pale, vol. 2

  By Kit Fortier

  Kindle Direct Publishing © 2019

  Table of Contents

  The Boy Who Cried Wolf

  In Bocca Al Lupo

  Eric and the Wolf

  Out on the Town

  I Can See You Clearly

  Getting to Know You

  Moving Light

  The Life of Eric

  Happiness is Big Ticket Shopping

  A Change in Temperature

  Cover of Night

  Hikari no Kitsune

  Epilogue: E & B

  Epilogue: Three Years Later…

  Copyright

  About the Author

  C'est pour vous.

  To Melissa, Brena, and Ireland…

  Susan and Kevin…

  Terri, John, and Dee—

  Thank you.

  An excerpt from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes:

  “From the vapours of winds, which are nothing else but wind in motion,

  water proceeds, when condensed, and from that water, mixed with earth,

  all minerals and metals arise.”

  —Michael Maier

  1. The Boy Who Cried Wolf

  *** Jake

  The day he saw his son, Ben, graduate from high school, Jake died. Through an act of alchemy that would otherwise have been impossible in other hands, Fox resurrected him. He used a few drops of Ben’s blood and three shared life energies—his own, Jake’s disembodied light, and the light from his one and only son.

  It would have been enough that Jake was alive—but he broke a promise to his man. In their journey together, they promised each other they wouldn’t walk into harm’s way to save the other.

  But that was how Jake ended up dying.

  Fox forgave him—but it still stung him that Jake went back on his word. He wouldn’t do that again.

  The two of them lay in bed in the Samuelses’ guest room—originally soundproofed as to be a music practice room. The night before, they tested the limits of the room’s purpose.

  The two played each other like instruments, in a sense. The room apparently passed, to their mutual satisfaction, as no one was banging down the door demanding they cease and desist their prurient activities. In the brief time after Ben’s graduation and dinner, Jake and Fox slept. They were bone weary from the aftermath, sated from an intimate interlude. Above all, Jake was tired from the culmination of seven years’ worth of trekking across the United States.

  The door was soundproofed, but Jake woke to hear people talking loudly outside their door.

  “I don’t know, hon—I think we’re gonna have to have the whole room decontaminated,” a man said stridently.

  “Seriously? Do I have to pay to have it steam cleaned?” A woman yelled.

  “Well, you smell that, right?” The man said.

  “Ugh, what’s coming through the door smells like a high school boy’s bathroom!” The woman said.

  Jake would put an end to it. He just had to one-up them. Payback for the years the three of them had lived together in their mutual time served in the military.

  Jake gently displaced his lover, silently motioning to Fox to watch and wait. He crossed to the door as he was. Sweaty, naked, and unashamed. When he was in place, Jake opened it on a pair who were snickering until they saw him. Jake scratched his chest through his salt-and-pepper pelt, wearing only a grin.

  “Oh, fuck me sideways hard and heavy,” Taylor said. An exclaimed “ow!” came out of him after Sarah punched him in the chest.

  “Honey, we’re um… Dinner’s gonna be ready in a bit. You might wanna get dressed for it. Otherwise, yer boy might see your tally-whacker and your fuzzy dangly bits,” Sarah said. Her voice climbed comically high. She looked down once, then gave Jake a wink. “Where’s your man?”

  Jake smirked. “Hang on a sec. Fox? Honeybutt? Come over here,” Jake said, stretching out his arm to him.

  Both Sarah and Taylor blushed fiercely as Fox joined Jake under his arm. His dark red hair was a mop of sweat, and his skin glowed with much of the same. He sidled up to Jake, playing along. Fox bit Jake gently at the nipple. He licked and sucked it with an earthy hum before draping Jake’s arm over his shoulder. Jake winked at his man’s bright emerald gaze when Fox said, “What’s up, sweetness?”

  “We need to clean up, sugar-buns. Dinner’s on.”

  “I got your dinner right here, papa bear,” Fox said. He grabbed himself lewdly and slapped himself against Jake’s ass. Jake smiled and stuck his tongue in Fox’s mouth just as lewdly. He enjoyed the feel of Fox’s mouth, the feel of his man’s hand caressing his own length roughly and gently. The two men were putting on a show, but it’d serve the Samuelses right for starting it.

  In their shared past, Jake had walked in on Sarah and Taylor having at it in the homes they shared together while they were in the service.

  In the days before Taylor and Jake survived the improvised explosive device that took the blond man's lower legs, Jake wished the two would wear a bell around their necks. He did all the things he could do: Knock before opening doors, coughing as he cleared a corner to let them know he was coming. But back then, Jake got the distinct feeling Taylor and Sarah would go at it the moment he warned them he was coming. The two were unashamed, often leaving Jake rushing from the room with his ears on fire. The worm turned, and it was spectacular.

  Jake smiled on Fox’s mouth when he heard Taylor whimpering longingly at the sight of them. Sarah looked scandalized, clutching at her neck like she was grabbing necklace at her collar, but she snickered.

  “Well, I guess they showed us,” Sarah said to her husband, who was openly drooling. “Clean up, boys. Love ya lots, but don’t you dare show up to my table nekkid,” she laughed, clearing the corner with a wave.

  Taylor whimpered again. Fox’s mouth sealed to Jake’s neck and the older man groaned at the wet mouth sucking on his corded muscles.

  “Hey Samuels,” Jake said, his eyebrow quirked at Taylor’s wandering gaze over Fox’s naked body. “Keep your eyes up here, and off of my man’s junk,” he growled.

  Taylor came out of his haze and looked up. He motioned for Jake to bring his head down. The guy looked over his shoulder, and spoke-whispered, “You guys up for a three-way? I can send the missus out for a pizza run—”

  “Taylor Marion Jeffrey Samuels, get your fuzzy ass in here!” Sarah yelled.

  Taylor gave Jake and Fox a wink as he retreated. “Think about it.”

  “Taylor!” The shorter man disappeared. Arguing ensued. Jake brought his mouth over Fox’s and shared a deep, sweet kiss, closing the door.

  “I think we burned Sarah’s eyes out,” Fox snickered. “And is Taylor bi?”

  “Taylor’s just horny, or pansexual, or whatever,” Jake said, rolling his eyes. “He’s married, though, and he wouldn’t cheat on Sarah. She’d kill him. Get over here,” he said, hopping a bit back on the bed. Fox straddled him and held his face.

  "Did you and he ever..." Fox intoned, leading Jake to the rest of his question.

  "...Did we ever... Shine each other's knobs? Pound it out in the base gym shower room? Have a threeway with Taylor, Sarah, and a twelve-inch strap-on?" Jake growled heatedly. Fox choked on a laugh.

  "I'm gonna say 'yes' to all three," the redhead replied with a wink.

  "None of the above, baby," Jake offered. "They were together when I met them, and I—"

  "—Don't share," Fox interjected. Jake hummed his approval of Fox's acknowledgement.

  “Taylor’s kinda cute,” Fox grinned playfully.

  Jake growled. “I just said I don’t share, jackass.”

  Fox laughed. “I know, papa bear. I couldn’t share
you either.”

  “I don’t want to wait to get married, Fox. I want my life to start with you.”

  “It already has, big guy.” Fox pulled Jake against his chest, kissing his hair.

  “Maybe we could have Taylor officiate?”

  “Or we could just make it quick and go to a county clerk,” Fox offered.

  “That’s true,” Jake replied.

  Fox held Jake’s head to his chest, massaging his scalp with his strong fingers. Jake moaned into Fox’s chest.

  “Do we have to go to dinner?” Jake whined. Fox laughed.

  “Sorry baby. We have to play the good house guests. We soiled their room with sex and semen. Hell, we even showed them how much of a good a time we’re having,” Fox snickered. “I’m surprised they haven’t kicked us out of their house.”

  Jake laughed. “They’ve given me a show once or twice before—this was just payback. Years of it. We could just… you know,” Jake kissed his man’s chest and looked up at him with his best imitation of puppy dog eyes. Fox just smiled serenely at him. “Okay, okay,” Jake drawled. “But I’m gonna tear your ass up in the shower,” he said, heatedly.

  “Better put a sock in my mouth, because you know I’m a screamer,” Fox smirked.

  “I’ll put something in your—” Jake started, but Fox finished.

  “You are a dirty, dirty man, papa bear,” Fox said, his voice low.

  “For you, I’ll be anything you want.”

  *** Fox

  Fox and Jake stepped out for dinner. Jake wore one of Fox’s baseball shirts. The shirt, pants, and boots he wore earlier disintegrated when he did. He also had on a pair of Fox’s shorts. They were tight, but not revealing, and for that, both Fox and Jake were glad.

  “Damn, Hughes, you look like you were poured into your outfit,” Taylor said with a smirk.

  Jake responded with a middle finger and a grin.

  “If only,” Taylor said under his breath. Fox snickered.

  “Something on your mind, boys?” Sarah asked, oblivious.

  “Nope. Need a hand, Sarah?” Fox asked, coming to Taylor’s defense.

  “Sure hun. Here’s a tray—grab the steaks off the grill for me, would you? My husband seems to be thinking with his big brain right now.”

  “Don’t you mean little brain, darling?”

  “Nope. Your little brain is your big brain, sweetie.”

  Taylor popped over and took the tray from Fox, giving his wife a kiss on the lips. “She keeps me young,” Taylor said with a smile.

  “You’re lucky I love your horny ass,” Sarah yelled after him. “You boys doin’ alright? I mean, I should think so after seein’ you two stickin’ your tongues in each other’s shit eating grins and grabbin’ each other’s gonads,” she said. The little lady gave Fox a light punch.

  “Sorry, not sorry, Sarah,” Jake said, standing behind Fox. “You two might think twice about saying stupid things outside our door,” he grinned.

  “I suppose you’re right,” Sarah said with a sigh. “Pity you two ain’t straight. The world needs more good-lookin’ people like you.”

  Fox was stunned, and Jake seemed embarrassed.

  “What I should say,” Sarah started, “is that the world needs more good people like you. Maybe you two should look into a surrogate. Or adopt! Fox looks like he could be a great dad!" She dug in to scrape off a particularly gritty pan. “You and him, together, maybe?”

  “You’re killing me, Sarah,” Jake said.

  “You can’t take back the truth,” the woman said.

  Jake hugged Sarah around the shoulders and stooped down slightly to give her a peck on the cheek.

  “Hey, if we’re swappin’ partners,” Taylor began to offer helpfully. The guy popped his face around the door to the backyard. Before he could finish his sentence he was met with a soapy sponge thrown at his head. It connected with a wet slap, and Taylor just stood there, dumbstruck, spitting soap out of his mouth. Fox shook his head while Sarah casually dried off her soapy hands.

  A clearing throat turned everyone around. Ben had come out in his comfortable house clothes, holding a tablet of his own.

  “Have a seat, hon, we’re getting’ dinner together right now,” Sarah pulled out the salad bowl she used last night and popped into the fridge. “Go on boys, take a seat,” she motioned them along, impatiently. “Taylor and I got this.”

  Fox waited for Jake to sit before he sat, too—with Ben on one side of Jake, and Fox on the other. Ben smiled at them when they sat.

  Neither Hughes man seemed to know what to say.

  “Do you need clothes, Dad? That looks kinda tight on you,” Ben’s eyebrows were slightly pushed together at the sight of his father.

  “If you have some sweats, that’d be great,” Jake said, a blush creeping up his neck.

  “Sure—lemme get some for you.” Ben bounded up the stairs.

  “Not that I don’t like your taste, babe. I think my circulation was being cut off,” Jake murmured as he kissed his man’s head through his hair. Fox merely grinned.

  “No worries, papa bear.”

  Moments later, Ben rumbled back downstairs with a pair of black sweats and a black tee. Jake took them with a pat on Ben’s shoulder and disappeared into the guest room.

  “Hey, Fox?” Ben asked, his bright blue eyes glistening.

  “What’s up?” Fox asked cheerfully.

  “Thank you for saving him,” Ben almost whispered. “For bringing him back.”

  “Aw, Ben,” Fox smiled up at him. “No need to thank me, big guy. I’d do anything for him,” he said earnestly.

  “I know, I just—” Ben struggled. Jake came back and put his arm on his son’s shoulder. “I wasn’t ready to see him leave. Not again. Not like that.” Father and son exchanged a look.

  Jake pulled his son in. Both Hughes men hid their eyes from the world, but they weren’t fooling anyone. Fox discreetly wiped away a few ears of his own before quietly getting up and motioning to Sarah that he’ll help. She had been chopping onions, she whispered. She laughed without a sound as she tried to dry her eyes on her apron. In her hands was a kitchen knife and half a head of lettuce, onions conspicuously absent. Taylor stood at the glass door, watching with smiling tears.

  *** Jake

  Dinner was served with smiles and questions of what was Ben going to do next after they get back from the Grand Canyon, and who was the guy in the formal wear picture and what is there to see and do in San Diego and if they have a gay scene because Mountain Home doesn’t.

  Dessert was more of the same, but with answers.

  “I think you’ll love San Diego, buddy,” Jake said. “It’s got a huge variety—sports bars, martini bars, a lot of venues for music and theatre. And yes, it’s got a huge gay scene. You might be overwhelmed,” Jake grinned. Ben returned the grin with one of his own. Ben returned the grin with one of his own. “Of course, I think Taylor and Sarah would skin you alive if they heard of you hitting the bars before you’re 21…”

  Taylor snorted. Sarah gave Jake a knowing grin before she turned to Ben. “You know I trust you, Shug. If it don’t involve the police, just make sure you’ve got a safe ride home.”

  “We’re gonna find a place to live near UCSD so we can be near Ben,” Fox said. “I don’t know a lot about San Diego other than it has an awesome baseball stadium and some great beaches, so it’s Jake who’ll take the lead here.”

  “Well, make sure you save some room for us next door, huh?” Taylor said. “We’re going to move out that way, too. Now that Ben’s done with high school, we wanted to get back to a place we wanted to live in for years.”

  “The guy was a douche,” Ben grumbled, referring to the query about the guy in his formal photo. “Wouldn’t split the limo. Wanted me to blow him before we went into the dance...” Fox had to force Jake to sit back down, “...and broke up with me when the dance was over because I wouldn’t put out.”

  “We hear he got expelled. He got caught with a fresh
man in the boy’s bathroom doing… well, not freshman things,” Taylor said.

  “What a waste. Guess he’ll just graduate with the class behind him, if the school board lets him back in at all,” Sarah said.

  “Well, you know, Ben, uh…” Jake stammered. Fox watched with vested interest.

  “Yeah Dad?”

  “I—” Jake sensed a bout of verbal diarrhea coming, and it was unstoppable. “DoyouneedmetohavethesextalkwithyoubecauseIcanifyouwant,” He said.

  No one spoke. Everyone looked at Jake as if he vomited all over the coffee table. Sarah looked at him with extreme pity. Taylor was turning red, holding back a laugh. Fox put his face against Jake’s shoulder, and Ben…

  Ben just smiled brightly.

  “No, Dad. It’s okay. I learned it in school. From a teacher—” Ben was now stammering, too, “—in class! I didn’t learn it from a teacher like that, it was in class! In front of others!” The poor guy’s volume and pitch ratcheted up with every awkward, stumbling word in his explanation. “Mr. Ragan put my class through a pretty thorough program,” Ben said, sighing. He seemed more composed.

  “Pay up,” Taylor said to Sarah. She grudgingly gave him a ten dollar bill from her pocket.

  “What was that for?” Jake asked.

  “We had a bet to see if Ben would turn out exactly like his father,” Sarah offered.

  “I said he would, Sarah disagreed—but that,” Taylor said, pointing between Jake and Ben, “That was just. Precious.” Taylor openly let out his snicker.

  The Hughes men smiled at each other.

  “Ben, honey—I know we said we were gonna take you to Arizona, but since your daddy’s here,” Sarah hesitated.

  “We’d like to pass the reins over to Leigh and Fox,” Taylor said, coming to Sarah’s rescue.