Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 13:37:08 +0000
From: Ben nobody <ben_sc@hotmail.com>
Subject: Berto's Roses- Part XVIII Beginnings

Thanks for the fan mail. Keep it coming. You write to me and I'll write for
you-deal?

ben_sc@hotmail.com.

Berto's Roses

By Ben

Part XIII


	The sun was beginning it long climb into the sky when I woke
up. Ricky still held me and I could feel his "morning wood" pressed against
my butt crack. I reached back and played with the head and its P.A. He
began oozing precum and I used it to lubricate his shaft and then lined his
cock up with my asshole. Instinctively, Ricky pressed forward and entered
me.

	He stirred from sleep and held me closely as he began a slow,
rhythmic in and out motion. I adore sex in the morning and to have this
special guy making love to me was sensational. We were both lying on our
left sides, as we had been while we were sleeping.  After a bit, Ricky
threw off the quilt and spun his body over my right hip. This put him on
his knees as he continued to fuck me. I lifted my right knee toward my
chest to allow him maximum penetration.

I was able to turn to my right and met Ricky's mouth in a hot kiss. Feeling
his hard cock in my ass and his tongue in my mouth, simultaneously, was
really getting me going. I could reach my cock with my left hand and I was
jacking it hard and fast. I came in no time and Ricky wasn't far
behind. This whole event probably didn't last more than seven minutes, but
what a way to start the day!

Ricky withdrew and I turned over onto my back and pulled him on top of me
into a strong hug. He kissed me and smiled down at me. "Good morning,
Senor. And could you please tell me who you are?"  He thought this was
hilarious and giggled. He was so damned cute! I poked him in the ribs and
he screamed and begged for mercy.  We wrestled a bit and then it was time
to get up.

We walked past the sleeping figure of Jose on our way to the shower.  After
cleaning and drying each other, Ricky put his finger in front of his lips,
indicating that I should be quiet. With his other hand, he beckoned me to
follow him. He tiptoed over to Jose, took his dick head and rubbed it
across Jose's lips as he slept. Ornery little shit!

This brought no response from Jose, so Ricky moved his cock to Jose's
ear. Jose reached up as if to slap away a fly or mosquito and ended up
flicking Ricky I his right nut.  Ricky bent over, grabbed his own balls,
and howled. The noise woke Jose and he looked around bewildered. By this
time, Ricky was on the bed curled up in a ball, and I was laughing my ass
off.

"Ben, what is the matter with Enrique? What have you done to him?"

Through my laughter, I tried to explain to Jose what Ricky had done to him
and to himself. It took several attempts on my part, but he finally got the
gist of it. Instead of being pissed, he was full of concern for his
lover. "Oh, I am so sorry I hurt you, Enrique..." It was just too much for
me and I rolled with laughter.

We finally all recovered and I went to my room to dress and pack my things
to go. I joined Ricky and Jose for a light breakfast and walked to the big
house to thank Don Chavez for his hospitality. He gave me an entire book of
business cards of people that I could call on for help in getting started
in my new life.  I got a hug from him and a sweet kiss from Carla. "Adios,
Ben. Please come again soon."

Jose and Ricky saw me to my car and waved good-bye as I drove away. Not
only had my car been washed, but the interior had been detailed and the
tank was full of gas. These people really knew how to treat a guest!  I
made good time getting back to Santa Rosalia. Berto met me as I drove up
and insisted upon carrying my bags inside.  Manuella accosted me just
inside the door and I was surrounded by her in a hug.  She was full of
questions and news of Bob's homecoming. He was flying in from Mexico City
on a small commuter plane in about an hour and a half. Berto was going to
pick him up in Bob's truck and she suggested that I go with him.

That decided, I went to my room to change into something a little less
dusty and sweaty. I noticed that Berto had unpacked my bags, taken my
laundry away and had stored my bags in the shelf of the large closet. I
also noticed a big vase of fresh-cut white roses on the table by the
bed. Ah, I was home.

Berto, as it turned out, was a crazy driver. Santa Rosalia was anything but
a metropolis but there was a bit of light traffic, which he did his best to
weave in and out of. The speed limit and stop signs seemed mere suggestions
to him, as he heeded neither.  After my little escapade with Jose, I wasn't
easily scared, but I hung on tight as we bumped over the poor roads.

Berto brought the truck to an abrupt halt beside a low adobe building that
served as, not only the "airport" terminal, but the local bus station as
well. After the dust settled, Berto pointed toward the sky and said. "There
is Senor Roberto's plane." I squinted in the direction that he indicated
but it was still several seconds before I finally saw the tiny speck to
which he referred. It took another full minute before it grew into
something that resembled an airplane.

We watched the plane land and then the only passenger got off. I barely
recognized him. I had last seen Bob three years ago when his wife had died
and he decided that there was no longer anything to keep him in
Charleston. He sold his house and business and finally found his way to
Santa Rosalia, Mexico.

 At that time, he was in his mid-fifties and his daughter was a senior in
college. He stood a bit over six feet tall and weighed a fleshy two
hundred-fifty pounds. His hair and goatee had been "salt and pepper" in
color. The guy I saw step from the plane weighed around one hundred sixty
pounds and, because he walked stoop-shouldered, seemed much shorter. His
hair and goatee were bright white and his his skin had the gray cast of the
seriously ill.

As he approached, I tried not to let the shock show on my face. I looked
into his eyes and they had not changed at all. They had the same sparkling
blue-green color and the laugh lines at the corners that I remembered. He
had a big smile and held out his arms as we moved toward each other. He
hugged me tightly but he felt so...frail, that I held back a bit.

"How was the flight?" I said. I didn't want to bring up health issues after
seeing him. I would let him do that when he was ready. "Long and boring" he
said. "I slept most of the way." He turned toward Berto and asked him
something in Spanish.

"My exams went very well, Senor Roberto. I am looking forward to University
next month."  Berto said in English (for my benefit?). Bob tousled his hair
but there was no hug exchanged. Berto retrieved Bob's bags and loaded them
in the bag of the truck. He then handed Bob the keys and climbed into the
bed of the truck.

"I think I'll let you drive home. I'm kind of tired." Bob handed me the
keys and we got in. He asked me to roll up the windows and turn on the air
conditioner, then we started for home.

After a bit Bob said to me, "The news from the doctor wasn't good, Ben. I
asked you to roll up the windows because I don't want to upset Manuella and
whatever Berto knows, so does she."

"What is it, Bob?" I was very worried at this point.  We rode in silence
for a minute or two.

"It's cancer...of the stomach. I've already had my first radiation
treatment and when those are over I start chemotherapy." He looked at me
and I knew he was scared.  I took his hand in mine and squeezed it gently,
trying to give him some comfort.

"Will you let me help you get better, Bob. I know how damned stubborn you
are, but you need help with this one, buddy."  He looked up at me and tears
filled his eyes. He nodded his assent and we rode the rest of the way home
in silence.

Before we got to his house, Bob said, "Okay, time to put on happy
faces. Please don't tell Manuella. I will do that, okay?"  I assured him of
my cooperation and parked the truck in the shade of the carport."

With a single smooth movement, Berto grabbed the luggage and leapt from the
truck, landing gracefully. He took the bags inside and I followed Bob.
Manuella met us at the door and was rattling on in excited Spanish. Bob
kept saying, "Si, si." as we made our way inside.

As expected, the table was loaded down with food and Manuella almost
carried Bob to his chair and sat him down. She fussed over him and he
tolerated her attention. She and Berto did not eat with us, but she kept
running back and forth to the kitchen getting this and that, or taking
things back in.

After our meal it was, of course, time for siesta. Bob asked me to come up
to his room with him so we could talk. I followed him up two flights of
stairs into his suite, half of which was his bedroom. It was surrounded on
three walls by large windows, which overlooked the gulf and the garden
below.

The other half was the bathroom a huge closet and an office. Each room had
a skylight so it was bright and cheerful. Bob led me to his office and sat
behind the desk in a comfortable looking executive chair. He motioned me to
one of two matching wing chairs on the front side of the desk.

"God, Ben. It's good to see you. I was hoping you would make it. I know how
miserable you were for so long. How are your boys doing?

" The older one just finished college and is working as a host at a
restaurant until he finds a job in his field. The younger one is in boot
camp at Great Lakes. He graduates in a few weeks and I plan on flying up
there."

"My daughter, Haley, just got married last month. She and I aren't exactly
on speaking terms and she asked me not to come to the wedding. She didn't
refuse to let me pay for it and accepted a big fat check from me as a
wedding present, though."  I remembered Bob's daughter. She had always been
a spoiled bitch, but, of course, I kept my opinion to myself.

"What do you think of the place? I picked it up for a song a couple of
years ago. I brought Manuella and Berto with me from my old place. You
still thinking about that bed and breakfast idea you were tossing around
last time we really had a chance to talk?"

"This place is great. So are Manuella and Berto. Yeah, I'd love to find a
place like this and open a bed and breakfast. I think this is just about a
perfect vacation spot. I could design some ads for some gay periodicals and
business would be booming. I really would need to find a decent accountant,
though. My business sense isn't as good as yours."

"Well, I was giving it some thought while I was laid up in Mexico City and
I wanted to ask you if you would consider a partnership with me here. I
have the business know-how and you have the vision.  What do you think?"

I was shocked. The idea hadn't even occurred to me. I had been so busy with
the trip, and then seeing Bob looking so....so...ill. But since he
presented it, I really liked the idea. "Uh, how much capital are we talking
to get into it, Bob?"

"Man, I hate talking about money. I know it's a necessary evil, but I hate
it. This place is nearly paid for, and, honestly, it didn't cost much to
start with. My biggest expense here is my medical treatments.  If you are
really interested, I'll have my lawyer write something up that we can both
live with."

I thought about it. I did have a steady income from my winnings, and a
pretty substantial nest egg that I was planning to invest in this area,
anyway. Truth is, I really loved this big old house. "Yeah, I am more than
interested."

"Great! Then I'll get my...our lawyer on it right away. He's in San Diego,
but is familiar with all the local stuff, too. Here's the bottom line for
you." He gave me a figure and it was completely reasonable.  We also talked
about what each of us should handle and what we should expect from on
another.

I wanted to talk about some of my vision for the place, but I could tell he
was getting tired.  I wasn't about to suffer Manuella's wrath for his
missing siesta and for wearing him out. I suggested that we talk about it
after he had some rest from his trip. He didn't argue and I, more or less,
tucked him into bed, and went downstairs to my room.

I was way too excited to sleep, so I looked at the pictures and film clips
that I had taken while visiting Ricky and Jose. There were some really
great shots. I couldn't wait to ship my stuff here so I could set up my
computer and get a really good look at them.

I also thought that I should talk to Bob about finding a room for a studio
where I could work, paint and draw. Even with everything we had discussed
earlier, I knew I would have plenty of time on my hands.  Thoughts and
ideas were bouncing all over my head and I decided to walk around and
really get a look at the house and grounds.

The ground floor had, in addition to my room, the kitchen and the huge
living room. It had three smaller rooms that could easily accommodate small
bathrooms for guests. I climbed the stairs to the second floor and quietly
looked around. In one of the bedrooms, I found Manuella. Flat on her back
and snoring loudly. Her room faced the gulf, and there were open French
doors leading to a wide balcony, which spread across the entire front of
the house.

The next room was virtually identical but was empty of people. I walked
through to the balcony and found Berto.  He was lying on a thick pad,
directly on the floor, curled up on his side like a puppy. He was wearing
only his white shorts, thus allowing his bronzed skin to the sunlight.

I stood silently and took in his beauty. The breeze was blowing his unruly
hair and he had a sweet, pleasant expression on his face. I wanted to
capture this on film so I tiptoed out and down to my room for my camera.

Returning, I found him unmoved and took a few shots from different angles,
closer, farther away, etc. I didn't want to wake him so I continued my
exploration. There were, basically, the same three smaller rooms as there
were downstairs as well as two large bathrooms.  In essence, we had six
rooms all but ready to rent out to guests.

I made my way back to Berto for one last look. He had rolled over on his
back and had his arms straight up over his head. I looked over his trim,
hard young body. I was surprised to see that he had the beginning of a hard
on showing in the front of his shorts. As I watched, it continued to
grow. I wanted to stay and stare at him forever, but I didn't want him to
be awakened and be embarrassed, or worse, pissed at me for my voyeurism.

I quietly left him there and went back to my room. I undressed and took a
long hot shower. It didn't take much soap, water and hand motion to make my
cock hard and throb. The time that I had spent looking at the pictures of
Ricky and Jose, added to seeing Berto's cock grow had me horny as hell. I
jacked myself off to a very strong orgasm, then fished my shower, dried off
and dressed.

I walked out to the garden and found Berto diligently working with his
beloved roses. "They seem to require a great deal of care." I said, as I
approached him. Berto looked up and had to shade his eyes from the sun with
his dirty hand.

"Si, Senor Ben, it is much work, but it is work that I love to do." A sad
look crossed his face and I asked what the mater was. "I am just thinking
about when I go away to university. Who will look after the roses? I am
afraid they will not be cared for. Mama does not have the time..."

It was my turn for a sad look. I hadn't thought in terms of Berto going
away as imminent reality, yet. Then I had a thought. "Well, it looks like
I'm going to be staying here with Bob, so, before you go to school, you can
teach me what I need to know to take care of them until you come back."

Berto jumped up with a bright smile. "Really? You are staying here? Oh,
Senor Ben, that is wonderful! I will be so happy to teach you to care for
the roses. I know you will love it as much as I do."  He threw his arms and
around me and drew me into a strong hug.

He melted my heart, this man-boy. He wanted me to stay! I held him briefly
and savored the moment. Then I suggested he start my lessons
immediately. We spent the afternoon with him teaching and me trying to
absorb as much as I could, both of Berto and his instructions. Our time
together was brought to a screeching halt-literally. Manuella was shrieking
"B-e-e-r-r-t-o!"

Berto dusted the soil from his hands. "I must go now, Senor Ben. We will
continue manana. You are a fast learner. I think you love my roses, too."

"I do, indeed, Berto." I watched him waking quickly toward the house in the
gathering dusk. Life was good. I had a place to live, a future that was
closer than it had been yesterday, and enough time and money to enjoy both.


Much more to come. You will be seeing some past characters come back, and
perhaps some new ones as well. Please write to me at ben_sc@hotmail Other
stories I have posted on Nifty can be found under the Authors link. Look
for Lyle Benton.