Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:53:04 -0400
From: Morris Henderson <bigmoh@post.com>
Subject: Trials_and_Triumph_4

TRIALS AND TRIUMPH - PART 1

Chapter 10: WHERE TO GO?

Eric awakened slowly in the morning from a very deep sleep.  He
lay there with his eyes closed, gradually brushing away the
cobwebs in his mind.  The first conscious sensation was that he
had an erection, which was not uncommon for an eighteen year old
boy.  The second, however, was startling: something was gently
rubbing his rigid penis.  His eyes snapped open.  He was instantly
fully awake.  But disoriented.  His body jerked and he gasped.
Where was he?  What's that unusual feeling in his private parts?  It
took only a few seconds to realize that he was in bed with Ted
Connors and the man was fondling his stiff cock.  A whispering
voice reverberated in his ears.  "I'm sorry, Eric.  I shouldn't have
taken advantage of you when you were still sleeping.  But I couldn't
help myself.  My adoration of your body controlled my behavior.
Please ... please forgive me."

Having recalled his agreement to be a sexual partner of the fiftyish
man, Eric said, "No apology necessary.  I was just a little surprised.
But I have to admit that it's a wonderful way to wake up."  The
comment was not entirely diplomatic because Eric appreciated the
compliment and enjoyed the attention.  To emphasize his meaning
he grasped the older man's hand and replaced it on his cock.  "Feel
free to do whatever pleases you ... whenever you like."

"You mean that?  You really don't mind?"

"Yes, I mean it.  With, of course, the qualifications we discussed
before," Eric added with a grin.  "No S and M stuff and be gentle the
first time you fuck me."

The man returned the grin and said, "Okay.  What I want to do right
now is take you into the bathroom, get in the tub with you, and
wash every inch of your magnificent body."


An hour later, after washing each other, occasionally kissing, and
playfully dueling with their hard cocks, they returned to bed.  They
repeated the sensual lovemaking that they had enjoyed the
previous night with less foreplay but with equal satisfaction.

As they cuddled tightly together in post-orgasmic bliss, Eric
reflected on how he came to be the personal assistant (VERY
personal!) of the man that had owned the company where he once
worked.  He thought about the contrast of his homeless periods and
the life of luxury and world travel that he would enjoy.  But then a
random thought popped into his mind and he felt compelled to ask,
"What about your housekeeper?  She knows I'll be living here but
what will she think about our sleeping together?"

"No problem!" the man replied.  "She has a gay brother.  She's
even a member of PFLAG — Parents and Friends of Lesbians And
Gays.  And here's another bit of good news.  I've given her two
days off for a long weekend to visit her elderly parents.  That
means we have four days of complete privacy.  We can do
whatever we want ... whenever we want ... and wherever we want.
I guess you know what that means."

"I do," Eric grinned.

"My suggestion right now is that we go downstairs for breakfast.
Don't bother getting dressed.  I'd like to admire you without the
impediment of clothing.  Are you agreeable?"  Eric just grinned his
reply.

In spite of the constant distraction of a naked young man in the
kitchen, Ted Connors fixed an ample breakfast.  He thoroughly
enjoyed the freedom to cast frequent glances and occasionally
prolonged stares at the young man's body.  Eric enjoyed the man's
attention and did his share of ogling the man's firm, trim body, his
swinging cock and balls, and nicely rounded ass.  His earlier fear of
becoming a boy toy or, more distastefully, a whore boy no longer
haunted him.  Instead, he acknowledged that he thoroughly
enjoyed the sex.  The first and the only sex he had previously, with
Brian, was thrilling but it had been spoiled by Brian's subsequent
sullenness and eventual hostility.  However, sex with his new
partner, whom he was instructed to pretend to be his dad, was
quite different.  The man was considerate, appreciative to an
extreme, and a virtuoso in arousing erotic sensations.

After the meal, Connors suggested they relax on the patio behind
the house.  "Sounds good," Eric replied.  "I'll get my clothes."

"No need for that, Son.  There's a privacy fence surrounding the
patio and pool.  Nobody will see us."  After a pause and with a
wicked grin, he added, "But we can see as much of each other as
we want.'

The patio and the pool were as sumptuous as the interior of the
house.  Eric couldn't imagine how much it cost.  They settled into
comfortably padded chairs under a gazebo.  Eric was amused that
his dad's eyes continued to roam up and down his body, lingering
periodically on his crotch.  If that's what pleases him, Eric thought,
I'll help.  He spread his legs to reveal more of his genital region and
mischievously asked, "Is that better?"

"MUCH!" the man replied.  "I hope I'm not making you
uncomfortable by staring at you.  It's just that you're so beautiful."

"Not at all.  In fact, I'm flattered."

"Flattery is a term that's too often used for false praise.  In your
case, however, you're worthy of admiration.  It's been a very long
time since I've been able to catch more than a discrete glance at a
naked male body.  And yours is ideal ... so very masculine ... so
very sexy."


Several minutes later, Connors said, "I told you we would be doing
a lot of travel.  Most of that will be in foreign countries.  I'm
guessing you don't have a passport."

"No, I don't."

"Well, we'll have to remedy that.  It will take several weeks to
process the application so our first excursion will have to be in the
United States.  Is there any place you would particularly like to
visit?"

"No, Sir.  I've never...."

The man interrupted by firmly saying, "I thought we agreed that you
would not call me `Sir' but would consider me as your dad.  It's
important that we project a respectable image so do me a favor.
Get in the habit of calling me dad."

"Sorry," Eric replied.  "I guess I'm still getting used to my new life.
I'll be more careful ... Dad."

"Okay.  Now where would you like to go?  What would you like to
see and do?"

"I've never given it much thought.  I've never thought I'd have much
of a chance to travel.  Do you have something in mind?"

"Matter of fact, I do.  What do you think of camping and hiking in the
Colorado Rockies?  And maybe side trips to the Tetons and Glacier
National Park."

"Sounds wonderful!" Eric gushed.

"Then it's settled," the man grinned.  "I'll make the arrangements.
So after we apply for your passport, we'll go shopping for camping
gear and outdoor clothes.  Right now, however, I'd like a dip in the
pool.  Will you join me?"

They swam a few laps and then stopped in the shallow end of the
pool.  The man put his hands on Eric's shoulders and said, "You're
as good in the water as you are in bed."  He then grabbed the
young man's waist and lifted him up, sitting him on the edge of the
pool with legs dangling in the water.  He began fondling Eric's cock.
It would be impossible to tell which of the two enjoyed it more.

Eric soon sprouted an erection and his dad seized the opportunity.
Fondling the teen's balls with one hand and encircling the base of
his cock with the other, he wrapped his lips around the action-ready
rod.  Eric felt the familiar sensations increase and tried to delay
orgasm to enjoy them.  But his best efforts failed and he filled his
partner's mouth with hot semen.

Having recovered from his second orgasm of the morning, Eric slid
back into the pool and hugged his benefactor.  "May I return the
favor?" he asked.

"Not now, Son.  You're young and virile.  You can get it up and off
frequently.  I was like that once but you'll have to understand that I
need some time to recharge my batteries.  While I'm doing that,
however, I'd like to do what I just did.  It's another form of pleasure
for me that I thoroughly enjoy."

The next three days were spent shopping, applying for a passport,
and relaxing at home (always nude).  One evening, Ted suggested
watching a movie in the basement media room.  Eric agreed.  He
thought that would be a welcome break.  He enjoyed the frequent
sex — in numerous locations in the house and outdoors — but it
had become routine and therefore was slightly less thrilling and
gratifying.  Somewhat more troubling for the young man was a
growing worry that he would forever be obligated to satisfy what
seemed to be the man's insatiable appetite for sex.  He suppressed
that worry, however, with the hope that the frequency of sex would
decrease once his benefactor had satisfied a need that had been
building up for years.

"Go on downstairs to the media room, Eric.  I'll get the movie and
join you in a moment."

When the man returned, he brought a videotape that he loaded into
the VCR.  "What are we going to watch?" Eric inquired.

"It's called `The Road Trip' and I thought it might be appropriate
since that will be our first excursion.

Within a short time, Eric realized that the video was a gay porno
movie.  The first clue was when two studs kissed each other.  It
wasn't long before they drove in a convertible down a dirt road and
into a wooded area.  They kissed again, stripped, and made
passionate love.  The dialog was lame, the photography was
second rate, but the explicitness of the studs' sex play left little to
the imagination.  Eric, in spite of the constant sex for three days,
was aroused and sprouted a boner.  The action so captured his
attention that he didn't notice Ted kneeling before him.  Only when
he felt his legs being spread apart did he realize what the man
wanted.  The combination of the porno movie and his dad's expert
stimulation produced a massive orgasm.

<><><><><>

At nine on Monday morning, Eric and Ted were snuggling together
in bed when Sarah, the housekeeper, arrived for work.  She found
the kitchen cluttered and a pile of laundry to wash but the four days
she spent with her parents were worth extra work that she must do
upon her return.  Eric heard the commotion in the kitchen and said,
"Geez!  I forgot Sarah would be here this morning.   Maybe I'd
better sneak back into my bedroom."

"No need for you to sneak around, Eric.  But it's about time we got
up.  Why don't you go to your room and cover your lovely body with
some clothes?  I'll dress, too, and break the news to Sarah about
our sleeping arrangements.  She's very supportive of gay rights.
She may be surprised but she won't be upset.  And I guarantee that
when she meets you, she'll be happy that I found a superb partner."

Eric gave the man a hug and said, "I'm happy, too.  For the same
reason.  I found a wonderful partner."


"That's MARVELOUS!" Sarah squealed when Ted told her that he
and Eric would be sharing the master bedroom.  He didn't explicitly
say what else they shared but he assumed that Sarah would grasp
the full implications of the news.  His assumption was confirmed
when the woman said, "I've always thought it was a shame that you
lived alone ... without a companion.  You seemed to be married to
your job.  But, of course, I never said anything.  That wouldn't be
proper.  But I'm happy for you both and wish you nothing but the
best."

"Thanks, Sarah.  But you must also understand that our sleeping
arrangements must be kept a secret.  No one ... not even your
brother ... must know the nature of our relationship."

"But of course!" Sarah replied.  "You can depend on me not to say
anything.  I know all too well the consequences."

"Thanks again," Ted said.  "Now ... there's something else I need to
say.  I've told you that after leaving the company I would be doing a
lot of travel.  I may be gone for weeks at a time.  While Eric and I
are out of town, you can set your own schedule.  Since nobody will
be here, there won't be much work to do but I'd appreciate it if you
would stop by the house periodically just to check on things ... mail,
phone messages, that sort of thing.  And coordinate your visits with
the landscaper to be here when they take care of the grounds.  I've
arranged with my accountant to pay all the bills and send your
regular weekly paycheck to you."

"You're very kind, Mr. Connors.  I'll take care of everything while
you're away."

Eric entered the kitchen and Ted said, "Sarah, this is Eric, the new
resident in the house."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Eric," Sarah said.

"And I'm pleased to meet you," Eric replied.

She shook the young man's hand but, to Eric's mild discomfort,
held his hand and gazed at his face for several moments.  "Pardon
me," she said.  "It's just that ... well ... the resemblance to Mr.
Connors is remarkable ... at least the way I imagine he looked at
your age."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Ted laughed.  "After a bit of
breakfast, we're going to see the travel agent.  We'll have lunch
out.  We then have to do some shopping but we'll be home for
supper."

"Travel agent?" Sarah inquired.  "Where are you going?  When are
you leaving?"

"We're going camping in the Rocky Mountains.  When or for how
long I don't know yet.  I'll let you know as soon as we know."


Chapter 11: SCENERY AND SEX

It was oppressively hot in Denton, Texas when Ted and Eric
climbed into the taxi for the twenty-six mile ride to the Dallas/Fort
Worth airport for a flight to Denver.  Ted was looking forward to
enjoying the cool mountain air of the Colorado Rockies and
exploring the richness of nature.  He had wanted to hike through
the canyons since he visited a cousin in Colorado Springs years
before.  But he was never able to take a vacation since he took
over running the company when his father retired.  Eric shared
Ted's eager anticipation to see the beauty of the mountains but his
dominant emotion as they left for the airport was the excitement of
his first plane ride.

The short flight, just an hour and a half, was time enough for the
flight attendant in the first class section to serve drinks and a snack.
Eric declined anything with alcohol, having long ago resolved to be
a teetotaler lest he suffer the unfortunate fate of his first father.
There was little conversation beyond Eric's expression of
amazement at what he saw from his window seat.

They took a taxi from the Denver airport to the western fringe of the
city where they picked up a rental RV [for non-U.S. readers, that's a
Recreational Vehicle or Motor Home].  After shopping for groceries,
a twenty-minute drive took them to Golden Gate Canyon State Park
where they would park the vehicle and use it as a home base while
exploring the verdant splendor of the canyons and mountains.

By the time they parked, hooked up the water and electric lines,
unpacked, and ate supper, it was growing dark.  Eric knew what
that meant: an hour or so of sex before falling asleep with arms and
legs intertwined.  Just like many times before, Ted seemed to be
interested only in extended foreplay and bringing Eric to orgasm.
The man got hard but didn't ejaculate.  Initially that had puzzled
Eric but he had become accustomed to it.  Still, it made him
wonder.  Would he, when he reached Ted's age, lose the ability
and even the desire to cum?

For the next six days, they walked the dirt and stone foot trails or
rode bicycles on paved bike trails, stopping frequently to admire the
scenery and occasionally watching the wildlife.  On the third day of
their stay, at Ted's suggestion, they abandoned the well-traveled
trails to venture into the forested hillside.  They stopped at the base
of a rocky cliff to eat the lunch they had packed that morning.

"If there's a heaven," Ted mused, "I hope it's exactly like this place.
I'd hate to spend eternity in a place like Texas."

"It IS beautiful," Eric replied.  "Far better than I expected."

The man gave his young companion an odd look and said, "But not
as beautiful as you.  I could spend eternity admiring you ... and
making love to you."

Before Eric could reply, he was grasped in a tight embrace and
given a long, very passionate kiss.  The teen returned the kiss —
not because of any deep affection for his benefactor but more out
of obedience to the conditions he had agreed to: serving as a sex
partner in exchange for a comfortable life and extensive travel.
Although it had been less than six hours since they engaged in sex,
he knew what would happen next.  When they broke off the kiss,
Ted was unbuttoning Eric's shirt.

"Here?  Now?" Eric asked incredulously.

"Yes," Ted replied.  "No one will see us.  And you're irresistible."

It wasn't long before shirts came off.  Jeans and underwear were
pulled down around their ankles.  And each had developed a hard-
on.  Eric was lying on his back on the slightly uncomfortable ground
with Ted over him in a sixty-nine position.  Unlike their previous
couplings, Ted was the first to release a burst of creamy nectar into
his partner's mouth.  Eric guessed that it was the risk of being seen
that had increased the older man's arousal.  Although he was also
concerned about being caught, which impeded his sensual
excitement, he climaxed soon after.

That evening, as they lay in bed after their third sexual episode of
the day, Ted was the first to fall asleep.  Eric, however, lay awake
for a long time, unable to resolve a problem that had been gradually
growing in his mind.  The core of the problem was his new dad's
continual need for and expectation of sex.  A number of
imponderable questions sprang from that.  The first was duty
versus security, comfort and adventure.  While Eric enjoyed the sex
— it was something he had long yearned for — its frequency
seemed to diminish the enjoyment.  Ted was always considerate
and extremely generous but there was the constant obligation to
submit to sex in exchange for a luxurious life style.  He asked
himself a mixture of questions about the future without being able to
answer any of them confidently.  Would the man's appetite for sex
diminish over time?  Perhaps his lust might gradually be quenched
just as a starving man would ravenously gorge himself but then
resume a more natural eating schedule.  Or would the sex continue
at peak levels?  What would be the consequence of the sex binges
becoming a mechanical response with no erotic component?
Would I then be unable to achieve an erection?  If not, would he be
disappointed with me?  Would he then terminate the relationship?
What would I do then?  I've been homeless before but might I face
the possibility yet again?

Eric admired Ted but his admiration did not rise to the level of
affection.  It seemed like a partnership of convenience much like
Ted Connors, the business executive, would enter into a
partnership with another company.  To be sure, the man was
captivated by the teen's youthful body and said so repeatedly.  But
was that definitive evidence of genuine affection or merely a tactic
to inflate ego and cement the relationship?

Before finally falling asleep, Eric had decided to honor his
commitment to provide sex whenever Ted wanted it.  He would
enjoy the luxurious life and travel and hope that everything would
work out.

<><><><><>

During the next month, they swam in the Great Salt Lake in Utah (a
unique experience but disappointing).  They toured the Tetons and
Yellowstone Park in Wyoming (beautiful but overrun with tourists).
They drove north and spent several days camping near Glacier
National Park in Montana (where they were able to explore and
enjoy the stunning magnificence of pristine nature relatively
unencumbered by crowds).

Ted often grew tired of meals in the RV so they frequently ate at
restaurants, many of them upscale.  But he never tired of the
private time with Eric in the RV ... or outdoors when there was little
chance of being seen.  It was rare that they had sex only once a
day.  Typically, there would be multiple sexual episodes.  However,
Ted seemed only to want unrestrained access to his young
companion's body in extended foreplay and to bring the teen to
orgasm.  Eric puzzled over that.  He wanted to ask why but never
did because it might embarrass his partner by raising the issue of
an age-related inability to ejaculate.


It was a long, tedious drive back to Denver to return the RV.  For
Eric, the flight to Denton was not nearly as exciting as his first flight.
He looked forward to getting back to his new home.  The RV was
luxurious (and, no doubt, very expensive) but it couldn't provide the
level of comfort and convenience of Ted's lavish estate.

They arrived home in late afternoon, went out to eat and finally
settled in to the comfort of the living room about nine in the
evening.  After a glass of wine, Ted said, "If you don't mind, Eric,
I'm going to soak in the hot tub for a while to get the aches out and
then go to bed.  I'm sure you can find something to do ... read,
watch TV, or whatever."

"I don't mind at all," Eric replied.  He was grateful that Ted's
comment implied that he didn't want sex that night.  They'd not had
sex since the previous night and the teen welcomed the break from
his duties.  After skinny-dipping in the pool from dusk to dark, he
went indoors and upstairs where he found Ted sleeping soundly.
To avoid disturbing his sleep (and, to be honest, to avoid another
period of obligatory sex), he went to his own bedroom to spend the
night.  He wondered, more from curiosity than worry, why Ted had
gone to bed early without the customary expectation of sexual
contact.


At seven the next morning, Eric awoke and walked to the master
bedroom.  Ted was not there.  He put on a robe and went
downstairs where he found the man pouring over some papers in
his study.  He said, "Good morning."

Without looking up from his work, Ted replied almost inaudibly,
"Good morning."

Eric paused.  He had expected a more cheerful greeting but there
was none.  He went into the kitchen and fixed himself a bowl of
cereal and a glass of orange juice.  He could think of no reason for
the change in mood and behavior and it reminded him of Brian's
inexplicable behavior after their first sex.  Fortunately, however,
unlike Brian, Ted had not spewed icy comments and hurtful
remarks.  Yet!


It was midafternoon when Ted emerged from his study, went into
the kitchen, and fixed himself a sandwich.  Eric joined him and
asked, "Is everything all right?"

"No," the man replied.  "There's been a glitch in the conglomerate's
acquisition of my company.  I've been on the phone for hours with
the lawyers.  They've called a special board meeting.  I have to
catch a redeye flight to New York this evening.  I don't know how
long I'll be there."

"Sounds serious," Eric said.

"It could be.  I'm hoping we can resolve the issues.  If not, the
whole deal will collapse."

<><><><><>

The following day, Eric decided to visit Grant to say hello and, more
importantly, to make sure that he was being properly taken care of
by the firm Ted hired to help him dress, fix his meals, and keep the
house clean.  He drove the Miata to Grant's house and parked at
the curb.  Knowing what he did about the invalid's mobility, he
opened the front door and called out, "Grant!  It's me, Eric.  Can I
come in?"

"YES!" an excited voice called back.

The old man was seated in his favorite recliner with his walker
beside it.  He was positively exuberant with delight to see his
former caretaker.  "How are you?" Eric asked.

"How am I?  No better.  No worse.  Except I miss having your
company around here."

"I miss you, too," the teen replied.  "I know that somebody is taking
care of you and I just hope they're doing a good job."

"Stan, the guy next door — you remember him — he checks up on
me from time to time.  I only had one problem.  One of the workers,
a grumpy old bitch, kept fixing meals she KNEW I didn't like.  Stan
got her fired.  Since then I've had no problems."

They spent more than two hours conversing ... mostly about Eric's
new life and trip to the Rockies ... but not, of course, about the
nature of his relationship with Ted.  At one point, Grant asked, "Got
a girlfriend?"

Eric deftly diverted the question by answering, "Not yet.  Maybe
when the time is right."

Having cheered up the lonely old man and determined that he was
being well treated, Eric said goodbye.

Eric hadn't planned on it but a spur of the moment decision caused
him to drive through his old neighborhood.  He was astonished to
see his childhood home remarkably well-kept with new paint, an
abundance of flowers in the yard and the lawn newly mowed.
Instantly, he knew his father no longer lived there.  But where was
he?  What happened to him?  Curiosity compelled him to stop and
ring the doorbell.  A young woman with a toddler at her side opened
the door.

"Oh.  Excuse me," Eric said.  "I thought Mr. Mathews lived here."

"He did," she said.  "Until he passed away."

Part of Eric was saddened over his father's death because — until
he started drinking — he had been a good dad.  But another part
was relieved that he would no longer suffer from the self-destructive
behavior that plagued the final days of his life.

"When did that happen?" Eric asked.  The shock of the news was
apparent in his reaction.

"I'm not sure but I think it was about a year and a half ago," the
woman said.  Eric did a quick calculation and concluded that his
father died while he was living with Brian and the Winston family.
"I'm sorry.  I seem to have upset you with the news.  Are you a
friend of his?  Or a relative?"

"NO," Eric shot back, not willing to admit that he was the son of a
cruel alcoholic that let his life, his family, and his home deteriorate.
Thinking quickly, he said, "My dad worked with him a long time ago
and hasn't been able to contact him.  The phone was disconnected
and letters were returned.  He asked me to stop by the house if I
was ever in the neighborhood to see if he was okay."

"The letters must have been sent while the house was vacant.  We
moved here about a year ago."

The toddler was getting fussy so Eric said, "I'm sorry to have
bothered you.  But thanks for the information."

Eric wanted to visit the grave to say he forgave his dad for the
cruelty and threats and that he understood it was the booze
speaking.  But he had no idea where it was.  He resolved to find the
grave later.  At the moment, he just wanted to go home ... the home
of his new dad ... and now HIS home.


Chapter 12: STRANGE DESTINATIONS

The following day, Ted had not returned from New York.   He had
not phoned home but Eric was not concerned.   Although the man
was obviously upset when he left, Eric was confident that the legal
difficulties with the business acquisition would be resolved.

He decided to track down his former father's grave.   The first step
was to visit the library and scan microfilms of the Denton Record
Chronicle newspaper around the time he'd been told was the time
of death.   An hour later he found the very brief obituary: just his
father's name and age, the date of death, and the funeral home that
posted the notice.

The Director of the funeral home was at first reluctant to provide
any information but Eric was persistent.   After learning that his
visitor was the only son of the deceased, the Director retrieved a
file folder, scanned it and provided the information Eric sought.
The cause of death was an accident; he had stumbled off a curb
into the path of an oncoming car.   He was buried in Copper Creek
Cemetery.   Then the Director violated his own policy and revealed
something astonishing.   All mortuary and burial expenses had
been paid — in cash — by an anonymous individual.   "No, the
Director said, "My records don't include his name nor do I recall
what he looked like."

Eric's next stop was the Copper Creek Cemetery where he found
the grave and a large marble headstone.

Walter Mathews
6/10/1950 - 12/17/2001
Weep not.   He is at rest.

Eric collapsed to his knees, cried, and mumbled through his tears,
"You were a good man .... once.   And a good Dad.   I loved you.
I'm glad you're at rest.   And no longer suffering."

As he drove home, the mystery of the anonymous donor haunted
him.   Was it my mother?  NO!  No one had heard from her for more
than six years.   Was it the church my father had attended?  Not
likely.   He stopped going to church when Mom deserted him.   Was
it a co-worker where he once worked?  Even more unlikely because
they, too, were unemployed and couldn't afford the cost of burial.
Besides, they never contacted him when he was alive.   A relative?
Unlikely because the only relatives were cousins who lived far away
and they never called or visited.   The most probable suspect was
Ted.   But HOW would he have known?  And WHY would he do
such a thing and not tell me of my father's death?

Eric resolved to ask his new dad about it when the time was right.

Three days later, Ted returned from New York with good news.
The sale of the company would go forward.   A group of influential
stockholders in the conglomerate had objected and threatened a
lawsuit over the contractual provision to keep the company
operating and to keep current employees for five years.   After
sensitive persuasion and careful tweaking of the purchase
agreement, the discontented shareholders were pacified.

Ted and Eric went to bed early that night but didn't fall asleep for
hours.   Ted had a lot of pent-up desires to satisfy.   Eric willingly
resumed his duties.   He refrained, however, from asking about his
father's burial and gravestone because he didn't want to spoil his
new dad's homecoming.

<><><><><>

Eric's passport arrived in the mail.   "That's great!" Ted enthused.
"Now we can see the world.   Together.   There are so many places
I want to see ... so many things I want to do.   Are you as excited as
I am?"

"It'll be wonderful," Eric replied but with far less enthusiasm than
Ted had shown.   Luxury living and travel was the reason for the
young man's agreement to be available for sex.   But the sex had
lost much of its appeal because of its frequency and because it was
entirely physical with little if any emotional component.   He did not
dislike Ted.   He was grateful to him and admired him but he felt
nothing that could be called affection for him.   Ted was always
considerate but hadn't shown any signs of genuine fondness.
Theirs was a relationship exclusively based on physical sex and
gratification of primal urges.   Even the kisses seemed to Eric to be
designed for erotic stimulation rather than an expression of a warm
esteem.

"We'll go see the travel agent tomorrow morning," Ted announced
in a way that allowed no discussion.   "Our first trip will be to Peru to
visit Machu Picchu."

"What's that?" Eric asked innocently.

"You don't know?" the man exclaimed with a tone that implied (at
least to Eric's ears) the teen's ignorance.

"It's an ancient Inca city, built in the early fifteenth century as a
home for the Inca Emperor Pachacutec ... or Pachacuti, depending
on the translation.   But it was abandoned before the Spanish
Conquistadores invaded.    For centuries, only a few native Inca
people in the area knew of its existence.    Since the Spanish
invaders never knew it was there, it was one of very few Inca sites
left in a pristine condition.   It was completely unknown by the
outside world until it was discovered by Hiram Bingham, a Yale
historian, in 1911.   Since then, it's been reconstructed and much of
it and opened it up to tourists.   It's difficult to reach.   It's about
eight thousand feet up in the Andes Mountains.   But judging from
the pictures I've seen, it's spectacular and well worth the climb.   If
you liked the Rockies, I think the Andes will blow your mind."

"My, my," Eric exclaimed.  "You certainly know a lot about the
place."

Ted grinned and said almost apologetically, "Ancient civilizations
fascinate me.  Especially the Incas and Aztecs.  I've read a lot
about them."


A week later, Ted and Eric flew to Lima, Peru.  The only minor
problem occurred upon landing when the immigration official
questioned Eric about why a young man was traveling alone.  "I'm
not alone," Eric protested calmly and pointed to Ted.  "I'm with my
father."

"Then why do you have different last names on your passports?"
the suspicious officer inquired.

Ted overheard the conversation and said, "He's my adopted son.  I
adopted him when he was twelve years old and encouraged him to
keep his last name.  It would avoid a lot of complications in school
records." The explanation was offered with such confidence and
pleasant authority that the uniformed officer believed it and
motioned them to proceed to the baggage claim area.

"That was clever," Eric said softly to his dad.

"Success depends on anticipating problems, Son.  And being
prepared with a solution if they occur.  That's true in business and
it's true in every other part of life.  But you already know that.
That's why you finished school, were so good when we negotiated
our relationship, and save your money as insurance against some
unforeseen problem."

Eric grinned at the compliment but the idea of an unforeseen
problem took root in his mind.  He was aware of one problem for
which he had a tentative plan: when to ask Ted about whether he
paid for the burial and, if so, how to react.  Another potential
problem, however, he couldn't predict: a deterioration of his
relationship with a generous and considerate man with whom sex
was becoming more of a duty than a pleasure.

They collected their luggage, went through customs and boarded
Aero Peru, a local airline, for Cusco, the city from which a train
would take them to Aguas Calientes (English translation: Hot
Waters), a rapidly growing town due largely due to the tourist trade.
>From there, they would board a bus to travel up the twisty, curvy
road to the ruins of Machu Picchu.


They spent the night in a Cusco hotel, retiring early because Ted
wanted ample time for sex before sleeping and because they had
to catch the train by half past six in the morning for the four-hour
ride to Aguas Calientes.

What the train lacked in comfort was made up for by the scenery
along the base of the Andes Mountains.  As they passed the
remarkable agricultural terraces of rice and every spectral color of
potato that one could imagine, Eric asked rhetorically, "It's not at all
like Texas, is it?  It's even more spectacular than the Rockies."  Ted
just grinned at his young companion's child-like enthusiasm.

The train passed the colossal ruins of Ollantaytambo and followed
along the Urubamba River to what was once the shady little village
of Aguas Calientes.   Along the way, Eric spotted colorful parrots,
orchids of every shape and color, and a giant condor that seemed
to glide effortlessly across the sky.  Ted thoroughly enjoyed the
scenery but Eric was awed by the beauty and experienced a
strange sensation of being on an alien world.

At last they de-trained at the River Station for Machu Picchu and
joined a tour group led by an aging man who claimed to be a
descendant of the ancient inhabitants of Machu Picchu.  His sun-
darkened skin and the distinctive Native American profile seemed
to substantiate his claim.

At Machu Picchu, Ted seemed to know almost as much as the tour
guide and showed in subtle ways his delight when he asked the
guide questions and occasionally got a response of, "I don't know,
Sir."  Eric, by contrast, was fascinated with what he saw and what
he heard and was not surprised by the depth of his benefactor's
knowledge.  Midway through the tour, however, he felt like he did in
school when he couldn't remember everything the teacher had said.

The last train back to Cusco left at five.  But Ted was delighted that
he'd also made reservations at the modest but modern Machu
Picchu Hotel (owned and operated by UNESCO) just outside the
main entrance to the ruins, and even if it was over $800.00 per
night per couple.

As the "sacred" Sun was setting over the misty pinnacles of the
Andes, native Quechua Indian men gathered near the light of an
open fire-pit near the hotel, and began playing eerily haunting
melodies on their local instruments: the Queρa (like a small flute),
the bamboo Panpipes, the Cajon Drums with deep-sounding tones,
even though the instruments looked like plain old wooden boxes.
They also played the Charango Guitar and the Andean Violin.

Young ladies in their colorful shawls and their bright printed full
skirts with tons of petticoats beneath came around to the candle-lit
tables on the hotel patio terrace with glasses of Pisco Sour, the
delicious but strong national drink of Peru.  Eric whispered
discretely to Ted, "If I were straight, these beautiful girls would give
me a hard-on."  Ted laughed.

Eric accepted the Pisco Sour but, honoring his vow to abstain from
alcohol, gave it to Ted.   Then the ladies brought out platters of
Llama, Beef, and Guinea Pig, commonly called "Cuy", the Andean
equivalent of Beluga caviar because they are so desirable.   Of
course there were bowls of rice with Ahi chili peppers that Ted
relished but Eric found too spicy.  Bowls of mashed, fried, boiled,
broiled and raw but delicious potatoes made up the rest of the
meal, only to be topped by Flambιe Flan, a flaming, succulent
custard made from Llama milk, honey and fertile eggs with very
young embryos of chicken in it.  Eric thought the custard was the
best part of the meal but groaned when Ted told him about the
embryos.  "It's quite all right," the man said.  "It's healthy, safe to
eat, and you have to admit it's delicious."

Over the next two hours, the musicians played louder and faster
tunes.   Gringos, now uninhibited by the Pisco Sours, rose from
their dining seats and danced — singly, with their spouse or
companion, in threesomes and foursomes.  A few men danced
together, and a few women danced together.  Everyone was
enjoying the festive activity.  It took some gentle persuasion from a
slightly inebriated Ted but a very sober (and essentially shy) Eric
joined his companion on the dance floor.

The altitude cried for another Coramina Glucosa tablet, a common
help for travelers going to the upper levels of the Andes because
altitude sickness can be quite painful and the little white tablets,
though used for other purposes around the world, are tiny lifesavers
in mountainous regions. They are available without prescription in
every airport and at any local 'farmacia'.  Ted had purchased a
bottle upon arrival in Cusco and easily convinced Eric to use them.
The teen was reluctant, however, to accept the offer of a couple of
Coca leaves that could be chewed on while engaged in some high-
spirited activity like dancing in the thin air of the Andes.  He
relented, however, when Ted said that Coca Cola contained the
juice of the Coca leaf until 1929, but in the '40s, it could still be
found.

After a succession of fast dances, the musicians played a slow tune
to signal the conclusion of the festivities.  Ted and Eric clasped
each other tightly and moved to the slow rhythm, grinding their
crotches together and oblivious to what the strangers around them
might think.  Ted whispered very quietly into Eric's ear, "I'd like to
sneak off and lie down with you on the grass in the shadows of the
hotel.  We can enjoy each other and then just gaze at the southern
sky with the Southern Cross Constellation and sparkling stars
above us."

"Wouldn't be safer and more comfortable in the hotel room?" Eric
asked.

"I suppose you're right.  Being arrested in a foreign country can be
very problematic."

The next day was spent with another visit to the ruins where they
just roameed around without the regimentation of a guided tour and
marveled at the beauty and the ingenuity of the so-called primitive
inhabitants.

In the late afternoon, Ted suggested they wander off to a nearby
hillside.  Eric knew what that meant.  They would find a secluded
spot away from the crowd and engage in sex just as they had in the
Colorado Rockies and Glacier National Park.  His assumption
turned out to be correct.  They found a spot near the 'Temple of the
Moon' on the backside of Huayna Picchu, the tall peak behind the
ruins in this ancient land.  It may have been due to the fabulous
surroundings but Ted was extraordinarily horny.  He achieved an
erection before lowering his trousers and maintained it for longer
than Eric could remember.  His orgasm, in spite of the previous
night's ejaculation, produced a prodigious amount of cum.  Eric,
too, found the episode, his first in a foreign country, to be more
satisfying than what sex with Ted had lately been.

<><><><><>

Three days after returning to Denton, three days in which Ted
frequently reminisced about what he clearly thought was a
fascinating visit to Machu Picchu, he and Eric were snuggling in
bed as they always did after a prolonged period of sex.  Ted
murmured to his young partner, "I've said this many times before
and will continue to say it but you've made me a very happy man.
Thanks."

It was not the opening Eric had hoped for but the issue of his
father's death and burial had become almost an obsession so he
replied, "I'm glad you're happy.  But there's a mystery I have to
solve before I can be completely happy."

"What's that?" the man asked in surprise.

"My father died.  I didn't know it at the time.  Somebody
anonymously paid for his burial and a fancy headstone.  I don't
know who did that.  If we're going to live together, I think we ought
to be honest with each other.  Was it you?"

Ted was quiet for several moments, which Eric interpreted as a
tacit admission.  Finally, the man said, "Yes.  You know already that
I had a private investigator looking into your past.  During that
investigation ... while you were living with the Winstons ... he
learned that your father was killed in an accident.  I knew that he
was penniless but also felt he deserved a decent burial.  So, yes, I
took care of it."

Eric's fury ignited.  He sat up in bed and shouted, "Why the fuck
didn't you tell me?  My father died and you kept it from me!  We had
our problems before I left home but I loved him.  I still love him ... at
least the way he was before he took to drinking.  I loved him in a
way that I can never love you after you've deceived me.  What else
is there that you haven't told me?  Don't you trust me to handle the
truth?  Don't you respect me enough to be honest with me?  Or am
I just one of your expensive possessions ... a staff whore boy?"

"Calm down," Ted urged.  "You're an important part...."

Eric interrupted by saying, "Calm down? Why the fuck should I?
You've USED me!  You've been dishonest by keeping important
information from me!"

Ted contritely said, "I'm sorry, Eric.  I didn't tell you because I didn't
want to upset you."

"What else have you been keeping from me?"

Ted paused, debating whether or not to disclose another, more
significant item of information.  Finally he said, "You're right.  I
should be honest.  And there's something else I should tell you.
Please.  Please listen to what I have to say.  About twenty years
ago before my wife divorced me, I was struggling with my urges ...
my basic nature.  My wife was cold and our sex lives had withered
away.  I thought I could resolve my inner conflict by finding another,
more congenial woman.  I did.  An employee of a firm I did
business with.  We worked together on a major project for a few
months.  We'd have dinner and drinks together from time to time.
One night, she subtly suggested that we become friendly.  Long
story short: we got a hotel room and had sex.  I never saw her
again after that one night.  Eventually, I yielded to my nature and
found male companions.  But I got caught and it precipitated the
divorce."

Ted paused so Eric asked, "So what's that got to do with me?"

"My affair with the woman was nine months before you were born.
The woman was Anita Mathews.  Your mother.  Your father was not
your biological father.  I am."

Eric was stunned by the revelation.  He stared, speechless, at Ted.
The enormity of the truth overwhelmed him.  He and his REAL
father had been having sex.  Repeatedly.  Frequently.  Worst of all,
the lascivious man KNEW it.

He jumped out of bed, ran to his own bedroom, collapsed on the
bed and cried.

Ted followed him to apologize and to console his son.  But Eric
shouted, "Get the fuck out, you bastard!"

Ted, recognizing the futility of pacifying the angry teen at the
moment, returned to his own bedroom to spend a long time
regretting his errors of judgment and planning a way to reconcile
with his partner.  Sleep was fitful for both Ted and Eric.

Early the next morning, Eric gathered a few things.  He would
exercise the escape clause in the agreement with Ted and leave.
For the third time in his young life he would be homeless.  The
father of his childhood turned vicious, threatened him with serious
injury and ordered him to leave.  His very good friend and first sex
buddy inexplicably turned against him and evicted him from the
house that had been a safe haven.  And now, by his own choice, he
would escape from a man who had effectively enslaved him and
whose only interest in him was continuing gratification of lust.

The life of luxury with world travel was more of a mirage than a
miracle.  The comfort and the adventure of travel were enjoyable
but he could no longer tolerate Ted's insatiable hunger for sex that
had degraded the sex act from a thrilling experience to a
mechanical obligation.  Intimacy devoid of emotional bonding was
unfulfilling.  Far more unacceptable, however, was the man's
inexcusable deception and dishonesty in withholding the truth.  He
was no longer willing to prostitute himself in the service of a self-
centered master.  NO!  He would control his own fate!  He would be
homeless again but this time it would not be a traumatic crisis.  He
had a modest but adequate amount of money and it was a path he
chose voluntarily.

When he told Ted of his decision and the reasons for it, the man
listened with disbelief.  He countered the young man's arguments
not by promising to be more honest or by expressing affection but
by emphasizing the rare opportunity to travel the world, to navigate
through the Amazon and Nile rivers, to explore the South Pacific
islands, to visit all seven continents and enjoy what each had to
offer.

Eric recognized the fundamental nature of Ted's reasoning:
generous compensation (but trivial to a billionaire) in exchange for
loyalty and obedient sexual servitude.  That, compounded with the
man's fraudulent duplicity only strengthened Eric's resolve to leave.

Eric went out the front door and walked down the long driveway
toward an uncertain future but with a confidence in his ability to
survive and succeed, leaving an aging man distraught over his loss
but none the wiser for it.



End of Part I.

Part II will describe Eric's continuing trials and triumph and will
Be posted in mid-October.


AUTHOR'S NOTE:  Thank you, Iatia, for your meticulous editing
and for your friendship.