Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2007 18:11:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: T. Chase McPhee <survivalgame@yahoo.com>
Subject: Natures Trail 25

The story below is a work of fiction, set in the
format of reality. Any resemblances to real people,
alive or in the hereafter, is entirely coincidental in
nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon
persons, in towns, cities, countries, nor governmental
areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene
involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then
you should not read this story. Additionally, if you
are under 18 years of age, in most state and
countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by
law. Check with your local laws regarding such. %
Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction.
In real life, use protection.

%

"Nature's Trail" 25
wriTten by T. Chase McPhee

%

"How's our boys?" Barry asks, as Steve walks through
the kitchen door.

"Dr. Scalia has high hopes for Mark making a good
recovery, but Denis... I'm puzzled. Some of the time I
thought he acts normal, but then seems like he's not
with it."

"I don't think any of us are normal, Steve."

"Could be."

"C'mon," Barry says, placing his hand on his lover's
shoulder, "I had Max fix you a plate."

Over dinner, a nuked plate, hours earlier being more
upbeat-looking, Steve recapped his partner on what was
said during his visit with Denis.

"So, he knows your nickname for me, does he?" Barry
asks, grinning.

"Yeah. I wonder what else our boys have `heard', but
haven't mentioned?"

"We'll probably never know, but does it matter,
Steve?"

"Not in the least. Important thing is they get on
their way in life and become successful."

"How insightful," Barry remarks to his partner.

"I passed on almost the same message to my students
today, in class."

"Deviating from the curriculum?"

"Lesson plans are a guide. Not set in stone, Barry."

"I know that. I'm only pulling your chain."

"Well, overall I think the point I was making came
across, to excell, stay out of trouble and don't be so
in a rush to jump into bed!"

"You've got balls, man!"

"I know and they're bursting at the seams!" Steve
replied, finishing his plate.

"Well, it will be awhile before I can help you empty
them! Philip and Aidan want to fill you in on their
project."

"I forgot about that. How did they make out over at
James' house."

"Well first, I have to mention Mrs. Kitchner is a
wonder. With seven boys there, she fed them snacks and
then offered them dinner later on."

"Nice of her. What did they feast on?"

"Barbecue. Hamburgers and hotdogs. The boys came home
filled to the gills."

Then, with a glance to the kitchen clock, Steve
exclaims, "Seven thirty? Where did the day go?"

"You go in and see the boys. I'll clean up."

"Thanks, Beary," Steve says, planting a kiss on his
lover.

%

"I suspect visiting hours will be ending soon, so I
better say my goodbyes," Darryl says, rising up from
his chair.

Denis, still on the side of the bed, sheet over his
lap, acknowledges, "Your visit went quick."

"Do you think so?"

"I dunno. Seems like the sun was setting only minutes
ago, but now all there's left is a pink strip on the
horizon."

"Beautifully said," Darryl replied, with a smile, as
he stood no more than two feet from Denis.

"Do you think so?"

"Almost poetic," the rookie said, putting out his
right hand.

Looking at it, Denis holds up his right hand. They
intersect, grasping each others hand.

"I meant to tell you something about yesterday,
Darryl."

"I've got a minute."

Almost staring at Darryl, Denis says, "I know I was
having a helluva time yesterday when the ambulance
brought Mark in."

"You were quite upset."

"Believe me, I could feel it, but I... I wanted to
thank you for taking care of me."

"I didn't do anything," Darryl said, modestly.

"Maybe you don't think so, but I appreciate you
helping me put a shirt on."

"It was nothing. You looked chilled."

"I also wanted to apologize for throwing my arms
around you. The only thing I could think of is wanting
somebody care about me. I guess I was really out of
it."

"Think nothing of it, Denis. I'm glad I could be there
for you," Darryl replied, still holding Denis' hand.

"The thing is, Darryl, I wasn't really thinking of it
being you that I hugged. I wanted `somebody' to hug."

"I understand fully."

"Darryl?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think I could have another hug?"

"Sure."

As Darryl approaches, he pulls on Denis' hand,
resulting in him sliding off the edge of the bed, his
bare feet slapping against the floor. At first the two
stand there, arms at their sides, til Denis takes the
initiative to lift his hands, holding them inches from
Darryl's sides. Then, slicing through, between
Darryl's arms and torso, Denis leans in, his head
swiping by the side of Darryl's blond hair, as their
chests come together. About the same time, each of
their palms lay flat against each other's backs.
Closing his eyes, Denis forgets Darryl is a stranger.
His lips kiss him on the side of his neck. Almost
immediately, Darryl's arms fall from Denis' back, as
he distances himself, their chests parting.

"I'm sorry," Denis replies to his action, "I guess I
shouldn't have done that."

Standing there, gazing into Denis' eyes, he replies,
"It felt nice."

Then, leaning forward, closing his eyes, Denis centers
his lips on Darryl's face.

"No, Denis," Darryl says, his hands on the eighteen
year olds shoulders, blocking him, prying themselves
apart.

Placing his hand over his face, wiping it from
forehead to chin, as if planing water over himself,
Denis says, "I'm so, so sorry Darryl. I can't imagine
what I was thinking."

"It's okay, Denis. Look, I should be going."

"Sure. Um, will you..."

"What was that?" Darryl asks, as he turns back from
making his exit.

Instead of posing his thoughts as a question, Denis
transposes it into an invitation, saying, "If you
happen to be in the area, you can stop by again if you
want."

"Maybe," Darryl said, lingering a few more seconds.
Then offered a smile and "goodbye for now."

Denis held his hand up, as if signaling stop, but
meant it as a goodbye. After Darryl let the door
close, he let his hand drop. Again he was incarcerated
in his loneliness. Wandering over to the window, he
hoped he would see Darryl walking to his vehicle, but
he didn't see him, figuring he was parked in an
alternate lot. Lifting his eyes to the hills, he tried
to remember some of the words to the poem Darryl
quoted.

%

Lying in bed, Justin wanted to get on with the TLC,
but he was patient, listening to Christian plow
through the horde of applicants.

"One of the things Michael warned me about, is the
lure of the job, in regards to tips, especially where
college or high school students are concerned."

"Why is that?"

"Well, what they aren't thinking of is hauling around
huge platters which could weigh as much as a couple of
dumbells."

"So, don't you look at the physical aspect, as well?"

"Um, sure I do," Christian says, a smile to his reply.

Turning to his side, Justin's hand slaps Christian's
stomach, as he jokes, "I betcha you had some `hot'
applicants, huh?"

Reaching down, skimming the back of his hand over
Justin's treasure trail, Christian reports, "Yeah.
There were a couple of guys I wouldn't hesitate to
hire." Then he moves both hands to his own chest,
placing them there, pulling up on them, saying, "The
pecs on some of these guys, you wouldn't believe!"

"Oh, so you require them to take their shirts off?"

"Get real. They probably wore the tight tee shirt on
purpose, so I could see their bulging pecs!"

At the precise moment, Justin laughs out loud.

"What? Did I miss something?" Christian asks.

Moving his hand from stomach to crotch, Justin feels
up the semi-erect cock, smiling, saying, "I don't know
how you ever made it through the interviews."

"I sat at a table. My crotch was under it, but I was
nowhere near hard then as I am now!"

"About time you got in the mood," Justin said, falling
over onto his back.

Pushing up from their bed, Christian kneels between
Justin's legs, hands and tongue starting their
exploration.

%

"Do you think it's a good project, dad-Steve?" Philip
asks.

"I helped think it up," Aidan added.

"I think it's a worthy cause, but it's going to take a
lot of work."

"We know, but our teacher says it could be kids from
other grades helping us, so there will be more than us
guys working on this."

"I think you will need to get an adult involved. You
just can't go and plant flowers on town property,
without telling them."

"Exactly what Mr. Kitchner told us," Philip says.

"Then you have to think of how to get money to pay for
plants, plus topsoil. Have you thought all of this
out?"

Aidan responds, "Our teacher said when we came up with
a project and needed help we could ask for money from
the PTA."

"Well, the new circle in the middle of town is quite
large," Steve says. "It's going to take a lot of
plants to fill it up, then somebody's going to have to
maintain it afterwards."

"We can do it," Philip says confidently.

"Then again, after you establish it, maybe the town
will keep it up."

"There's lots to think about," Aidan mentions.

"Sure is." Steve replies. "You are going to have to
make sure things are well sorted out before you
present your project." Then, looking at his watch he
tells them, "I think you two better start thinking
about bed.

Before he left, the two questioned their dad about
Mark and Denis, which he reported both doing
satisfactorily.

%

"It sure gets cold out here when the sun goes down,"
Juan mentions to Riley, as each sits on a horse,
admiring the distant hills.

"Reason why I suggested the flannel shirt," Riley
replied, taking in the sight of the sun almost gone
for the day. "I think we better head back."

Leading the way, Riley turned his horse and started
back on the dirt path, often traveled. Juan watched
his broad back move from side to side, with the rhythm
of the horse-steps. In fifteen minutes time they
dismounted, entering the barn, removing the saddles
and blankets.

"I liked riding Tucker. I didn't seem to find him
rough. Look, he's as gentle as a kitten."

Smiling, Riley said, "Animals can sense things about
people too. He perceives you as a friend."

Leading him back to his fenced in corral, Juan says,
"I hope I can ride him again sometime."

Standing outside the wooden fence, Riley replies, "If
you're willing, it would take a load off my schedule
if you would like to stop by and groom him."

"You mean, everyday?"

"It would be one less horse for me to attend to."

"I'd like that. One of the guys could give me a lift."

"Sure, then I could drive you back to the dorm," Riley
tells him.

"You don't have to. I can walk," Juan says, letting
himself out, closing the wooden gate.

"It's quite a few miles, plus on a moonless night,
it's like walking in a coal mine," Riley informs him.

Outside the barn, Juan takes notice of the night time,
the short time it took for the sky to fill with stars,
between arriving back to the barn and the period of
time spent inside. Shaking his head back and forth,
gazing skyward, Juan says, "We sure don't have stars
like this back in New Jersey!"

"So, are you renegging on your story of being from New
Mexico?"

Lowering his head, his face towards Riley, Juan tells
him, "Okay, so I'm not from New Mexico. I've never
even been there."

"Now we're getting someplace. Hungry?" Riley extends
an invitation.

"A little." Inside, Juan asks, "Um, would it be
alright if I grabbed a shower?"

Debating it, Riley figured, even though it had been
early evening, it started out with his flannel shirt
sticking to his skin, before the evening chill set in.
Plus, for a fact, his clothes always had that
`horse-aroma' to it. "Sure. I'll get you a towel."

Following Riley upstairs, Juan began to unbutton his
shirt, pulling the tails from his jeans. By the time
they reached the top of the landing, Riley turned to
point out the guest room shower. When he did, Juan had
his shirt dangling off his finger.

"Thanks for the use of the shirt," he said, waiting
for Riley to take it off the `hook'.

"No problem," Riley shot back with, commenting,
"there's a hamper in the guest room jon."

Thinking fast, Juan says, "No need to get the guest
room jon dirty. I can use your shower."

"Nice try, Juan." Then, with his index finger pointing
to his chest, Riley clues him in, "I'm going to be
using my shower."

"Yeah, okay. Sorry I mentioned it." Heading off in the
direction Riley pointed out, Juan turned back, saying,
"by the way, if you thought I meant something like us
taking a shower together, I wasn't thinking it."

As Juan continued on his way, Riley stared at the bare
back of the swimmer, a twitching in his crotch, after
the thought became implanted in his brain. Making an
about face, Riley followed the balcony overlooking the
rest of the home, turning into his own bedroom.
Stripping down, he proceeded to his private jon.
Melding the hot and cold together, he stepped over the
tub wall, dousing himself under the single jet. With
the bar of soap, he was just about to lather up his
hairy front, when he heard, "Um, I hate to bother you,
but there's no soap in the shower. I looked around,
but couldn't find any."

Through the almost clear shower doors, Juan watched as
Riley's bod moved from one end of the shower to the
other. Wedging the door open, he said, "I was sure I
put a fresh cake there last week, after my brother
left. Here... take this one."

"Are you finished with it?" Juan asks, eyeing up the
partial view of Riley's wet, hairy chest.

"I haven't used it yet," Riley reports back.

"Well go ahead. I can wait."

So, sliding the shower door closed, Riley faces the
cascading water, working to soap up his bod as fast as
possible. While sudsing up his face, running the bar
over his short goatee, he closes his eyes.

Juan's curiosity growing, he moves the door open an
inch. One inch becomes two, until he can see Riley's
full figure. He licks his lips when he sees the wet,
hairy ass. Then, seeing Riley planing the water over
his face, he ventures to slide the door til it's
`body-width' open. Taking a gulp, he steps over the
tub wall. Water begins to splash from Riley's bod,
onto his own.

Sighing from wiping the grit from his body, Riley's
flat hands move down his bod. Grabbing the soap from
the dish, he turns around. "Oh shit!" He exclaims.
"What the fuck are you doing in here?"

"I...ah... I... um... was..." With his idea getting
him into trouble, Juan grabs the rail on the back of
the shower door, swings it open and makes his exit.
Not stopping, he rushes into the bedroom. Without
regard to his bod being wet, he begans to pick up his
clothes from the bed and put them on, starting with
his briefs.

In the meantime, Riley takes the shower jet out of
it's pocket and rinses his bod off, hoping he gets all
the soap off. Stepping outside the tub, he yanks a
towel from the rack, wrapping it around his waist. He
storms out into the bedroom.

"Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I'll be
outta here as soon as I get dressed."

Ready to give Juan a piece of his mind, he hesitated,
seeing Juan trying to get his dry tee shirt over his
wet upper bod, but Juan was monopolizing the
conversation, so he couldn't get a word in.

"I guess I blew it... about stopping by and taking
care of Tucker. I... I'm way too horny for my own
good." Stuffing his socks in his pants pockets, he
sits on the bed, ignoring Riley, shoeing his feet with
his sneakers. "If you hadn't noticed," Juan continues
on, having a tough time stuffing his wet foot into the
dry sneak, "I go for older guys, but I'm sorry I was
reading into things, maybe hoping... that... well that
maybe you could find an interest in a younger guy like
me... I... I..."

What made Juan stop jabbering on and on about himself
is the distraction from his sneaker. Along with his
own feet, he saw another pair standing in front of
him. Eyes scaled the hairy legs til he encountered the
white towel. With hands on his thighs, Juan pushed his
bod up til he was sitting erect, eyes level with
Riley's hairy navel, the dark depression surrounded by
lush belly fur.

With his thumbs planted inside the towel, Riley forced
the width apart til the snug place keeping it together
pulled out. First springing open, the towel fell from
it's waisted perch.

"What are you doing?" Juan said, as he beheld the long
cock, nestled in a bed of curly hair, two oversized
walnuts hanging down.

"You're not the only horny one here!"

"No... I can't.... I...." Juan protested, but couldn't
help but take on the beauty of the awesome size.

However Juan didn't pull away, as Riley placed his
hand at the back of Juan's head, bringing it closer,
as the twenty-eight year old cop stepped forwards.
With his other hand, he lifted up his semi-erect 9.5c,
positioning it for docking, as he coerced Juan, "Don't
deny you want it."

Breaking eye contact, Juan peered up at Riley. Two
inches from impact, he opened his mouth, returning to
the view of the mushroom head. Then, closing his eyes,
his lips sensed the phallus moving onto his tongue.

Both sighed in synchronicity, Juan tasting the meaty
treat, Riley feeling the warmth of the swim jock's
mouth forming around his cock, a perfect `O' massaging
all sides of it, as he pushed his hips forwards.

"What a tease!" Juan said when Riley pulled out,
making a popping sound. "I knew you didn't mean it.
What are you afraid of Riley?"

"Nothing," he calmly replied, picking up the towel,
wiping his damp body off. Then informed the latino,
"You stink. The shower's still running."

"No thanks. I'm not into cat and mouse games. I think
I'll just finished getting dressed and leave."

"Games?" Riley questions. "And what game is it you're
trying to pull here? You come into my house..."

"I was invited," Juan was quick to point out.

"You pretend there's no soap in your shower, when I
purposefully made sure there was, as my brother left
last week and...."

"Are you calling me a fuckin' liar? There's no fuckin'
soap in the shower. C'mon... I'll prove it to you,"
Juan says, getting up, proceeding to leave the room,
still explaining, "and wait til you see I'm telling
the truth and you'll be kicking yourself in the ass!"

Here Riley has no choice but to follow Juan down the
hallway, his cock and balls swaying in the breeze.

"Fine way to treat a guest," Juan says, pissed, as
they enter the guest jon. "No fuckin' soap at the
sink, no fuckin' soap in the shower. So go ahead. Now
tell me there's soap in here. Tell me I wasn't honest
about coming to you and asking you for some."

"How do I know you didn't stash it someplace, to make
it look like there's none?"

"Hey, I admitted walking in on you in the shower. I
was so fucking horny. Can I help it I like older guys?
But that's all besides the point. You calling me a
liar makes me pissed. What makes me even more pissed
is you being an officer of the law and you can't even
back down and admit you were wrong!"

As Juan bolted for the door, Riley filled it with his
massive, six foot, one inch, wide-chested bod,
eliciting a quick, "I was wrong about the soap, okay?"

Standing there at five feet, ten inches tall, Juan
stopped in his tracks, his eyes two inches from
Riley's face. After a few seconds, Juan threatens,
"Are you going to move or do I have to go through
you?"

Wanting to laugh in his face, Riley knew a guy twice
Juan's girth wouldn't be able to push by him, so he
stayed his ground. Still with attention on Juan's
face, he didn't suspect, let alone notice, as the
latino formed a right-handed fist, drawing back his
elbow and then thrusting it forwards. Completely by
surprise, Riley let out a huge belch, as he exhaled
rapidly, feeling the pit of his stomach ache. As Juan
scooted past him, Riley, more out of surprise fell
against the door, his knees giving way and buckling to
a sitting position, as he said, "I can't believe you
did that!"

Three feet from the guest room door, Juan stopped his
pacing, turning around. He stood there, watching
Riley, naked, sitting there on his ass. Walking back
to him, he stood there with his hands on his torso,
saying, "You know you're a real woos! I didn't even
hit you hard. I'm surprised, for a guy who works out
you couldn't take a measly gutpunch!"

Riley, looking up, says, "It was the surprise of it.
If I knew if was coming, I could've protected myself."

"Oh yeah? Prove it then. Here. Let me help you up."

"I don't need your help getting up."

Sure enough, Riley got up on his own and stood there
in front of Juan.

"Will you look at that!"

"What?" Riley asks, looking down at his hairy stomach.

"The red blotch. I didn't think I hit you as hard as I
thought."

"Knocked the wind out of me, okay. The color will fade
soon."

"So what about our bet?"

"What bet?"

"Our bet that if you know you are going to get
gutpunched, you won't woos-out?"

Standing there, Riley tapped his foot on the tile,
making a slapping sound, a smirk on his face. It's
been a long time since somebody outwitted him, but in
a way, Juan's audacity was turning him on. Slowly his
lips turned from a faint smile to a grin. "You're on!"

"Cool! Put your hands behind your head."

"What tha... what is this?"

Juan reports, "We had a gutpunching contest at the
dorm once. It's better if you stretch out your abs."

Being smartalecky, Riley suggests, "Why don't I just
bend over backwards on the bed?"

"We could try it if you want to?"

"Never mind. You're just lucky I'm letting you get in
one gutpunch."

"Um, you're not going to arrest me or anything later,
for assaulting an officer, are you?"

"Do I look like I'm in uniform?"

"Are you going to do this?"

Moving his feet apart, Riley reaches up, placing his
arms over his head, as if doing a tricep stretch,
placing right hand on left elbow and vice-versa.

"Wow, your abs are hot!"

"Yeah. More than I can say for yours. Now are you
going to do this or what?"

A bet is a bet and Juan knows he was calling in the
bet against Riley, but right now he felt he didn't
really have to prove anything.

"Well?"

"I'm thinking."

"What is there to think about? Make a fist and punch
me in the stomach."

Thinking more about the vulnerable position Riley was
in, Juan figured he had Riley where he wanted him to
be. He could very well do what the frat guys did for
entertainment, back at the dorm; aim a little lower.
However, as he gazed at the goateed face, the brown
eyes, he slowly began to backdown in his own mind.

"Chicken?"

He wasn't chicken, but it wasn't a game Juan was
feeling at the moment. Noticing, since Riley had his
feet apart, it lowered his bod by about a couple of
inches. So, he got into stance, forming a fist with
his right hand, positioning it right above Riley's
navel, touching his hairy stomach.

"Ready?"

"I've been fuckin' ready for five minutes!"

"Okay. Here goes," Juan said.

Squinting his eyes shut, Riley drew in his abs. His
action drew a smile on Juan's face, as he said to
himself, `You're making this way too easy!' Relaxing
his hand, he approached Riley, intending to move his
arms hastily. As if two football heroes cheering, he
butted his chest up to Riley's chest, threw his arms
around him and pressed his lips into Riley's face.

"Hnnh?" Came Riley's reaction.

Bracing for the possibility, Juan already had it set
in his mind Riley repelling his action, breaking away,
even though he had him in a bear hug. He knew he
wouldn't be standing if Riley decided to punch him out
for doing what he did. Surprised, Riley didn't even
squirm. Instead, as he broke off his kiss, he saw him
stare at him, his arms still in the tricep stretch,
his dark, hairy pits to each side of him. "I guess
it's okay that I didn't gutpunch you, huh?"

"I thought you never lie?"

"I don't. But an innocent fib is okay, right?"

Riley still kept up the stretch position.

"You know, I'd much rather have your arms down here,
around my waist, then up there in the air?"

Lowering his arms, Juan smiled, as Riley slid them
down the nineteen year olds still damp tee shirt.

"I knew you felt something for me," Juan says, waiting
for Riley to take him up in his arms.

But instead, Riley put pressure on the swim jock's
shoulders, dividing them, saying, "We can't do this."

"What do you mean?" Juan questioned, as his hands
slowly slid around Riley's contoured bod, resting on
his nude torso, til Riley removed them.

"Listen Juan. I think you're a nice guy all.. but..."

"Save it!" Juan suddenly blurted out. "Been there..
done that..."

Without hesitation, Juan dropped his hands, turned and
headed for the door.

"What are you talking about?" Riley asked, following
him out.

"You wouldn't understand."

"I might if you would slow down and talk to me. I've
been trying to pry into your secret world, but every
time I get close, you turn off."

Skipping down the stairs, Juan slowed with each step.
Reaching the bottom, he slowed to the point he could
comfortably drop to his ass, parking himself on the
step before the landing.

"It's complicated."

Holding onto the banister, Riley let himself squat
down, sitting next to Juan. "I had an idea."

"I don't know."

"About what?"

"I'm kind of tired playing games with you. I know I
shouldn't have invaded your privacy in the shower, but
at the same time, it was you who wanted me to suck
your cock, then you made me pull out. I don't know
what message you're trying to send me, Riley. At the
same time, it seems you trust me, but don't trust me."

Exhaling, Riley says, "Look. Forget about the soap.
Okay, maybe I forgot to put a new bar of soap in the
guest jon. About the shower and you sucking me.
Frankly, I didn't mind you being in the shower. It
wouldn't have been the first time I showered with a
guy. I know how erotic it can be. About you sucking
me, well.... I was horny. I just let it happen. I
suppose I used `the soap' as a diversion because I
didn't want you to go thinking I was coming on to
you."

"A taste of honey is worse than none at all," Juan
said, still facing the floor.

"I suppose your right and I'm sorry about what I did,"
Riley said, looking at Juan, seeing him disheartened.
A caring person, he had the desire to put his arm
around Juan's shoulders, comfort him, but as he was
impressing upon the teen, he didn't want it to be
taken the wrong way.

"You know what?" Juan says, getting up.

"What?" Riley says, rising too.

"I was getting to like Tucker and will miss coming
back to see him, but I think I should just go."

Still standing there in the raw, Riley says to Juan's
back, as he starts walking, "It's not Tucker who did
anything to you."

"Maybe you're not getting it, Riley," Juan says,
turning back, "I'm not intending on coming back here.
Maybe I'm sorry I ever came here."

"Are you sorry you rode Tucker out to the end of the
trail and got to see the sun set? Are you sorry you
could sit there in the saddle and listen to the grass
grow? How about all those stars?"

With each question, Riley stepped a little further
towards Juan, something inside leading him on.

"No," Juan replied. Frozen in place he could feel
Riley's breath on his neck. In rapid succession he
began to inhale and exhale faster.

"I was wondering something?"

"What?" Juan asked, not turning around, allowing Riley
to stand behind him, feeling his chest touching the
back of his shirt by a hairs breadth.

"What if we were both to travel back to the past of
when we put our horses to bed, in the barn and started
all over?"

Thoughts running through his head, Juan wondered if
Riley meant he wanted to give it another go... try to
make something out of nothing. Turning around, he
calmly said, "I'd like that." They stared at each
other, until Juan glanced down, saying, "Your stomach
isn't red anymore."

With a gentle smile, Riley says, "You won't gutpunch
me if I try to kiss you, would you?"

Nodding in the negative, Juan followed up with a smile
as Riley cocked his head, kissing him.

%

Copyright 2007 T. Chase McPhee
This story may not be sold, nor made part of any
collection, without prior consent from the author.