Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2015 16:48:58 +0000
From: Bill Drake <billdrake@hotmail.com>
Subject: Daddy Issues pt 3-4

Daddy Issues
Bill Drake (billdrake@hotmail.com)


The usual disclaimers apply: this is a made-up fictional story for adult
readers only.


This story is an experiment in writing something longer, kinkier, and more
romantic. There are 15 chapters in all, and I will post new chapters on a
regular basis. As the title might suggest, this story has some incest
themes, but no actual relations between family members.

Thanks for all the readers writing in and for those writers who helped
inspire this one.

Nifty Archive relies on the support from readers to keep doing the awesome
work they're doing. Please take some time to pay back and pay it forward.


Daddy Issues

3

Josh spent the first part of the week telling himself his hope of seeing
Mr. Polo Shirt was silly. It was just a one-off hookup, and given the way
Josh had acted impetuous with the guy, slutty even, he questioned where his
head was.

Particularly since he found himself all Monday morning sneaking glances at
his boss. Mike Richards. 52 years old, married, executive material. Not
model-attractive and in fact Josh had never even given much a thought about
the man before, but that morning he found himself daydreaming, imagining
holding onto his his boss's large hairy pecs while he bounced up and down
on that drooling daddy dick....

Fuck, I've gotten out of control, the young man thought, trying to shake it
off.

Work helped actually. There was a big project and three nights in a row he
found himself working late. No time to think about Mr. Polo Shirt. Each
evening Josh just got some take out, went home, watched an hour of TV, and
then went to bed.

By Thursday, the deliverables were out the door that afternoon and Richards
told him he could take off early.

Darren had asked Josh if he wanted to join a few folks for dinner later,
but Josh declined. He wasn't in the mood for a big group outing like that
and just wanted to enjoy some time, alone in a crowd, as it were. He
treated himself to a solo sushi dinner at the bar area of a trendy downtown
restaurant, enjoying scoping out the happy hour crowd and nursing a
drink. Not feeling ready to go home yet, he went to a beer bar in the
neighborhood. A large cavernous indoor space unusual for Manhattan. It was
still jammed with the after work crowd, a lot of Financial District bro
dudes in their 20s and an assortment of pretty, thin, straight-haired
20-something women who went for that type.

As Josh stood and surveyed the crowd, he thought this kind of place would
be his regular hangout if he were straight. As it was, he felt comfortable
enough there, the guys reminded him of his high school friends and college
teammates. There just wasn't much here for him. Not like for the
dark-haired bro next to him with absolutely no game, for whom it didn't
matter because the petite blonde he was trying to impress was hanging on
his every word acted like he was Charming Charlie instead of a doofus.

There was one group of guys in there that stuck out. Not financial types,
but dressed in a business casual uniform of slacks and polo or dress
shirts. Older, jocky dad types in their 40s, if they were out of place,
they didn't care or act like it. They laughed and were having a good time
out. Josh looked them over and decided he'd pick out which daddy was the
hottest. His gaze settled on one. Tall, broad back encased in a trim knit
shirt, in shape waist with just the hint of love handles, big power
ass.... round cheeks encased in a pair of navy wool trousers. Josh imagined
those cheeks clenching, flexing, pumping while the guy fucked.

Then... fuck! The man turned his head. Mr. Polo Shirt had a shocked look on
his face as he noticed Josh and after a split second recognized him. No
doubt matching Josh's own surprised expression. The man's shock melted into
a smile as he grinned and winked at Josh. The younger man felt the earth
was going to open up beneath him, but he garnered his confidence and smiled
back, raising his beer glass in salute.

Fuck, I've gotta go over and talk to him, Josh said to himself. But the man
was with his friends, workmates maybe. Josh didn't have the guts to go
over, especially now that Mr. Polo Shirt was back talking to his buddies,
facing away from Josh again.

Josh looked down at his nearly empty beer glass. Maybe some more liquid
courage would help. He polished off the last half-inch of beer and sidled
up to the bar, squeezing in to catch the bartender's attention. Damn, the
place was crowded now.

He hadn't waited two minutes when he felt a strong hand clasp on his
shoulders.

"Here. Let me buy you a drink." That familiar laid-back tenor. If it didn't
bring a hardon to Josh's prick, the close contact with this man was
gonna. The man happened to catch the bartender's eye. "I'll have a
pilsner," he ordered, "and whatever this gentleman's having."

"The same," Josh said, and soon they had two fresh beers. "Thanks," Josh
said.

"Sure." Mr. Polo Shirt stood close. Not too close to raise any eyebrows,
especially given the crowd, but it definitely felt intimate. "My
pleasure. I'm glad I ran into you."

"Me too." Josh's eyes were now twinkling with desire as he looked into this
man's gaze, unsure if he should say what was on his mind. Might as
well. "Look, I've been hoping I could get a second chance."

The man raised his eyebrow. "Whaddya mean?"

"I think I fucked it up last time. Came on too strong. I'm not..." Josh
felt embarrassed all over again. "Well, I was a little slutty when we met."

"'s all right... I mean, it did take me off guard at first. But I liked
it. Spent all weekend thinking about it." Those steely blue eyes were doing
a number on Josh as he spoke.

"Yeah?"

"You bet. I only wish.... well, I wish I could have asked you out. On a
proper date."

Josh winced a little at hearing that, but his heart pounded, too. "Yeah, me
too. Like I say, I fucked it up."

The man gave a little shake of his head no to reassure Josh and held out
his him. "My name's Ryan."

"Josh." His face lit up with excitement, like a little kid with a new bike.

"Well, Josh, can I take you to dinner this weekend?"

Josh knew he had plans. He also knew he'd be canceling those plans. "Sure,
Ryan, I'd like that."

The two exchanged phone numbers. Josh found out that Ryan's last name was
Miller.

"You probably need to get back to your friends," Josh said matter of
factly. Now that he'd found Ryan, the man who'd haunted his psyche this
last week, he wasn't eager to see him go. Another part of him said this was
for the better, that the date would make it worth the wait.

"They're my coworkers, but yeah, I should get back to them." He added, "One
more question before I go. You more of a fine dining or a burger joint kind
of guy?"

Josh shrugged my shoulders. "I like both, really."

Ryan clasped his hand on the younger man's shoulder, giving a gentle
squeeze. "I wanna take you out of a really nice meal. My treat." He leaned
in, so close that Josh could smell the musk of his cologne. His mouth next
to Josh's ear, Ryan said real low. "Least I could do to pay you back for
that amazing blow job."

"All right," Josh laughed as the man gave one last squeeze of the shoulder
and made his way back through the crowd, leaving the 23 year old to watch
the fine, power dad-butt as Ryan Miller walked away.



*

Ryan insisted on buying the round of drinks at the restaurant bar before
dinner. "What'll you have?"

Josh decided on beer instead of wine or liquor, since he didn't want to get
too buzzed. He watched as Ryan leaned over to talk to the bartender. Damn,
this man made him hot. He'd dressed in a blazer, no tie, even so, it was
like Ryan Miller had transformed. Looked like a perfect specimen of
clean-cut executive, with just a little extra beefiness puffing out the
chest of his dress shirt.

Apparently the man liked the slim-cut suit that Josh wore. Josh was a
little muscular for it and always felt a little self-conscious in it, but
it was the style for younger guys and besides, he had flat abs and a
perfect bod, might as well enjoy being able to wear something like this. As
they talked Ryan's sea-blue eyes would occasionally rake over Josh's
body. He felt even taller than his 6'4".

"Cheers." The men clinked glasses.

"So," Josh asked. "What do you do for work?" He realized that up to now the
two hadn't even made the normal small talk.

"Sales. Sports supplements, actually. I used to play baseball."

Josh's eyes lit up, partly surprised to have his suspicions confirmed. Ryan
Miller really was an ex-jock "Really?"

"Yep. Pros and everything. Had a promising career in my 20s, never quite
performed after that, and ended up on the DL for half of my last season
before they declined to renew my contract."

"Who'd you play for?"

"Started off with the Astros, but spent much of my years with the Giants."

"I thought I could detect a California accent," Josh said.

"I was born and raised there, too. Bay Area. Being able to play for the
Giants was a dream come true."

"I'll bet," said Josh. "You know, my dad was a professional athlete."

"No shit?" Ryan was surprised and there was a noticeable change in his body
language, going from polite small talk to an immediate sense of real
connection.

"Yes, sir. Football, played 7 years for the Broncos before retiring to
Florida."

"That's cool."

"Yeah. Well, it's a mixed bag really. When you're young it's really cool
being Mike Carter's boy, everyone in your class looks up to you and asks
you to parties, and the town basically gives your family special
treatment. I was REAL popular in middle school and high school."

"But..." Ryan prodded, sensing more.

"But it sucks trying to fill those shoes. And I tried to. Played ball and
practiced till I couldn't practice any more. But I'm not going to be Mike
Carter and that's OK I guess. Fuck... this is our first date and I'm
already blabbing about my family issues."

Ryan patted him on the back. Josh liked this man was touchy-feely, it felt
like having a big brother figure telling him everything was going to be OK.

"No problem, big guy," Ryan said. "I wanna know more about you. It's nice
to have the chance to talk. You know, that night we first met... I thought
you were still in college."

Josh gave a surprised laugh. "Yeah?"

Ryan blushed. "Yeah. I mean, you're big, like a jock, but you look
young. If you don't mind my asking.... how old are you?"

"23."

"Wow."

"What?" Josh was nervous. "Too young for you?"

Ryan exhaled, "My friends would think so."

"You listen to your friends?"

"Probably too much. Listen. Fuck `em," Ryan said, getting his previous mojo
back. "I'm out on a date with the hottest guy in Manhattan."

"I live in Brooklyn," Josh quipped.

"All right, the hottest guy in Brooklyn, then." He took a sip of his drink,
then spoke. "Listen, feel free not to answer this, and you can even tell me
to fuck off...  but you generally date older guys?"

Sheepishly Josh nodded. "Yeah. Though to be honest, I've never gotten to
the dating phase. This is the first time, really. I've always been afraid
of what my friends will say, too." He paused. "Can I ask how old you are,
Ryan?"

"43. Got my 44th coming up in a few weeks."

"Nice," Josh said.

It might have come out patronizing, but instead Ryan could tell he meant it
as a genuine compliment.  "You really like us old dudes?" he asked with a
self-deprecating air.

"If they make them like you, hell yeah," Josh, "a lot of young guys would
line up for a chance with a daddy like you." He saw Ryan flinch a
little. "You don't like the D word?"

"It's OK," the ex-jock said, "It is what it is. I just don't always see
myself that way. As a daddy. I think in my mind I'm still that regular
fun-loving guy in my 20s. Maybe that's why I go for younger guys, cause I
find that energy a complete turn on."

Josh took his turn to clasp his hand on Ryan's shoulder. "Look. Let's
forget about the age thing for the moment. You're hot, period."

Ryan smiled. "Wise words, for a kid who looks like he could be a college
sophomore." He winked. "You know, it wasn't until I saw you out Thursday
that I figured you had a job."

"The way I was dressed?"

"Yep. Finance? Advertising?"

"Finance. Assistant Market Analyst.

"I'm impressed."

"Don't be. It's a made up bullshit title. Pure entry level."

"You're twenty-fucking three. Of course you're gonna be entry level. You
guys today are so impatient."

Josh shot him a playful glare. "And you guys are always patronizing."

"Maybe. But I'm right on this. Unless you're in baseball," he winked. "In
which case thirty-five is over the hill."

"Was it fun?" Josh asked.

"It was a job and real hard work. But yeah, it was a blast. I miss it."
Ryan looked at his watch. "Our table should be about ready. Shall we?"

*

The end of the evening had been perfectly chaste. A little tongue in their
goodbye kiss, which lingered for a good minute at the entrance to the
F-train. But the two men said good night and went their separate ways.

Josh knew he had a dilemma on his hands. He wanted to spend time with Ryan
again, and soon. But he knew he couldn't be too clingy. Couldn't rush
this. Hell, maybe the guy wasn't ready to date a 23 year old. Or maybe the
problem wasn't Ryan, it was Josh's fear of telling his friends. He imagined
showing up with Ryan to a dinner or a party. Hell, maybe nothing would be
different. His friends weren't dicks after all, even Darren deep down. But
it meant Josh would have to be open, upfront, admit to himself and others
the daddy fixation he had. Something about it embarrassed the young man.

He was running a million issues through his head but when he stepped out of
the subway in Brooklyn a message awaited him. Ryan. "Had a great date with
the hottest guy in Brooklyn. Hope we can do it again?"

Josh excitedly typed out a response. "Yessir, would like that. TTYL"

The young man felt aroused as he settled into this empty apartment. He
rubbed his prick in his slacks, feeling it firm up. Man he would have loved
to be doing it with Ryan Miller right now. "Patience, my friend," he said
aloud to his now hardening cock.

Then, getting an idea, he opened his laptop. A couple of Google searches
and he found what he was looking for. Pictures of Ryan Miller in his
ballplaying heyday for the Giants. Josh actually preferred the 43 year old
version to the younger man in the pictures. Still, he had to admit that
Ryan was one hot looking player and that the uniform accentuated his looks
even more.

He pulled up one photo, and enlarged it. Ryan at bat. His torso twisted in
pure power-hitting pose as his bat connected with the ball. Josh unzipped
and pulled out his cock, hard and angry now. He gave a quick spit or two
into his palm and started a quick JO on his tool.

"Fuck man," he said, again aloud. "You wanna be my daddy? Show me what I'm
missing? I'll suck you off, dad, just like before. Even better. Your dad
spunk shooting into me, down my throat. Oh fuck me, Ryan. Fuck! Fuck!"
Josh's body seized rigid and thick jets of white cum splashed on his laptop
and coffee table.

He caught his breath and wiped up the mess. Leaning back he exhaled. "Josh
my man, you're a fucking perv," he thought.



4

Their second date was more casual, the very next day. The two men had
texted back and forth and finally talked on Sunday morning.

"Any interest in meeting up tonight?" Ryan asked. "I have a basketball game
this afternoon but if you don't mind playing it by ear, we could meet up
after. Maybe around 5?"

Josh felt excited but tried to act as nonchalant and laid back as Ryan came
across. "Sounds good. I'll be in the East Village with some buddies. Wanna
just text me when you're done?"

"Sound like a plan. Maybe we can go to the burger joint this time."

"Sure. My treat this time," Josh said.


*

It was quarter of 6 before Josh got a text.

Ryan: "Sorry, big guy. Running late. Just got done."

Josh: "That's OK. No rush."

Ryan: "If want to come over to come over to my place, you can hang out
while I get ready. Shouldn't take long."

Josh: "All right."

Ryan texted the address.

By now, Josh had spilled the beans to his friends that he'd gone on a
date. He'd alluded to the fact the guy was older but didn't mention how
much older. So when he said he had to go, the fellas started teasing
him. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Darren said, as Josh shut the door
to Darren's walkup apartment and bounded down the stairs. Damn, he was
acting like an excited schoolgirl but he couldn't help it. He'd been on a
number of dates the last couple of years, but never could he remember going
on a date with someone he was actually excited about. Something about
Mr. Miller pushed every button and checked every box for Josh - and then
some.

It didn't take Josh long to get to Chelsea, and when he got to Ryan's place
it turns out his date had just gotten home. His shirt was sweat-soaked and
his short hair matted wet. Josh was starting to think it was impossible for
the man not to look hot. He gave Josh a quick peck as he let him
inside. "Sorry I'm a sweaty mess, bud. I'll shower up. You can watch TV
while I get ready," he said. He peeled off his T-shirt and Josh almost
gasped at the sight of the man's chest. It was mostly smooth, clearly
manscaped with tufts of trimmed soft hairs on his pecs. Those pecs were
large and pumped shelves of muscle, even more impressive bared than they'd
been bulging in Ryan's shirts. Best of all they were capped by large, meaty
red-brown aureoles, which stuck out at the end of the muscle swells. "Feel
free to change channels," Ryan said, smirking a little as he ate up the
young man's attention.

"Yeah, sure," Josh said, plopping on the couch, turning his attention to a
preseason baseball game that was on.

When Ryan had left the room and gone down the hall to get ready, Josh
reached down and grabbed his hard prick, pinching the base to get it to go
down a little. "Easy there, buddy," he thought.

He was starting to follow the game - Royals versus Tigers - when Ryan
appeared, fresh from his shower and nude as the news. Fuck, his body was
magnificent, thought Josh, transfixed as the man walked in front of him, a
hard prick swaying firmly with each step. He'd seen that cock, that first
night, the fat hard marvelous strength of it, but here, now, he could
openly examine the massive hard dick. In the light, the tool was veiny and
ridged with a large urethra giving it all a more triangular shape. The head
was not a mushroom head but the glans was large, fitting the girth of the
cock. The end flared open slightly and a pearly sap collected at the slit.

"I wanted to get to this last night," Ryan said hoarsely. "I keep thinking
about that blowjob you gave me."

Josh grinned and reached forward to grasp that prick. Heavy, hot to the
touch, already dripping. He brought it to his mouth and licked the tip,
swirling his tongue around the head to gather up the precum.

"Fuck, yes, like that, man." Ryan's chest heaved as he breathed in and
out. His hand reached up and started stroking Josh's head, encouraging
him. "You're so good at this buddy," he growled as his prick popped into
his date's mouth, filling up the 23 year old's craw.

"Hot damn. Suck it. Suck me, buddy. Eat that cock." Ryan was definitely a
verbal guy, and Josh was discovering that he liked verbal. A lot. His
throat opened up and he craned his head down to wedge more in. Ryan
Miller's fat dick pushed in deeper, into the snugness of Josh's
throat. "Holy crap." Now Josh's tongue was fluttering against his cock
base, pushing Ryan closer to coming.

Reluctantly, the older man pulled out, his heavy cock plopping free with a
pop of suction as it now stood rigid and ready to shoot, and dripping with
Josh's spit. "Not yet," was all he instructed. He leaned down and gave Josh
a heavy kiss, their tongues battling. Finally, he gripped Josh's arms and
pulled him up. "Here," he said, turning the young man around. Roughly, he
reached around the young stud's waist and fiddled with the button and
zipper to his jeans. With a shove, he pushed them down Josh's thighs.

"Damn, you're hard," Ryan growled, manhandling Josh's prick, which was
exposed now, since he'd gone commando. "And you're ready, too. Nice."
Ryan's tongue was practically fucking Josh's ear before he pulled away and
knelt down. His breath was the only advance warning of what was about to
come.

"Jesus!" It was Josh's turn to swear as Ryan's talented tongue began
licking along his crack. Nice, wide swipes up and down, first exploring the
new territory before finding its target, Josh's drumtight pucker, and
starting a fluttering drill motion with the tongue tip. "Oh man," Josh
whimpered. He'd been eaten out before, but this felt like the first
time. Intense, possessive, and experienced. Tears were streaming down his
face and his prick twitched in neglect. The sensation was an overload, and
the stud didn't know how much more he could take.

Ryan leaned back a little, his sight still firmly on the magnificent jock
hole in front of him. "Open up the endtable drawer," he commanded. He
leaned forward and started munch butt again.

It took Josh a second to look around, but he saw. Next to him. He reached
over and opened the drawer. Ryan was prepared all right. A big bottle of
lubricant and a few Magnums were there. As best he could with Ryan eating
him out, he pulled out the provisions and set them on the couch.

Ryan now took a break and leaned back. "Tell me you want this, big guy," he
said, already reaching for the rubber. "I wanna fuck you bad." He tore the
foil packet in his teeth.

"Yeah," Josh hissed. "Go for it man."

He'd barely answered when a squirt of lube covered his hole, quickly
succeeded by a probing finger. "Tight, man," Ryan observed, now almost in a
sex trance. "I can barely fit two in there." But he did, pushing and
finally twisting his digits so they both plopped in, eliciting a gasp from
Josh. As Ryan pushed them in and out, the hole gradually loosened. A
little. At that moment, Josh wish he'd had more experience bottoming. It
had been too long, and he felt tight and almost virgin again.

Ryan didn't seem to be complaining. His finger fucking became more
aggressive, till he held still and gently shoehorned another finger
inside. Three fat fingers. Pushing into that creamy smooth bubble
butt. "You cherry?" he grunted.

"No, sir," Josh said meekly. "But, fuck, you make me feel that way again."

Now turned on beyond patience, Ryan Miller stood up, his hardon not willing
to wait anymore. He rolled on the Magnum and pinched the reservoir tip a
little before slathering on a sheen of lubricant. "We're gonna play safe,
then," he said.

"Definitely," Josh agreed. Part of him would love to feel this man's bare
cock drilling into him, but he, like Ryan, had his wits with him.

"Take off your shirt," the older man, said, and Josh complied, feeling
Ryan's powerful hands run up and down the lengths of his sides and around
the front. "Perfect body, big guy," he said approvingly as he stepped in,
nestling his condom-covered cock in Josh's crack. "Did you play ball in
college?"

"Lacrosse," Josh grunted.

Ryan was kissing the back of his neck. "Perfect. I'm gonna fuck a lacrosse
jock." Reaching down he nudged his erection at Josh's back entrance. "Don't
worry, bud, I know how to take my time."

And he did. By the time Ryan's fat cock finally invaded Josh's rectum the
young man was waiting for it and relaxed. Ready. More rapidly now, that
massive prick sunk inside him and he leaned forward, bracing himself on the
couch cushion.

"You sure this ass isn't cherry? I can't remember the last time I fucked a
hole this tight."

"You're a big guy," Josh observed, taking deep breaths in and out but still
enjoying the welcome sensation of being penetrated.

"I got enough equipment to get the job done," Ryan laughed, then pulled
back a little, before pushing in again. Now thrusting. Fucking Josh. "I
don't know if I can take my time this go around, though, buddy," he huffed,
working up his pace now. "I may need to go for the sprint."

"Go ahead. Fuck me," Josh urged. "Like that. Just like that."

Josh could practically hear the proud sneer on the man's face as he
battered his large rod in and out. The pace and angle was punching
something deep inside Josh. "Oh fuck," he cried, his voice pitched higher.

"My boy gonna come?" Ryan's deep voice, particularly the word Boy, pierced
through Josh's psychic defenses.

"Yessir..." he grunted and just in time Ryan's large mitt cupped against
Josh's spasming dickhead as the young man ejaculated in the most intense
orgasm of his life. After he rode out his cum, Ryan grabbed his chest from
behind and started smearing the fresh sperm all over as he gripped and held
the young man.

"Ready for me to come, boy? Ready for me to get my nut? You're gonna push
me there. Real fast. I'm gonna.. Oh Christ! Ugh!" In contrast to his
commanding, in-control sex talk and his tenor voice, Ryan Miller's
ejaculations were accompanied by high, choked guttural noises.

"Damn," he swore as he came down, now gently rubbing Josh's muscular torso,
down to the rockhard eight pack. "Sorry, big guy, I couldn't wait for
that. Been thinking about you all day." He pulled back and dislodged his
prick, which had shot a heavy deposit of semen in the rubber. He peeled it
off and showed Josh. There had to be almost a half cup of sperm in
there. "See?"

Josh leaned up, rubbing his ass and shaking out the kinks in his legs. He
turned around and nodded to the used condom, heavy with jizz. "Wow. You
always shoot that much?" He thought back to that first time, when Ryan had
shot down his throat. It had seemed like a lot, but he wasn't sure if he
had any basis for comparison, having swallowed the load before.

Ryan gave a toothy grin. "Well, you got me kinda worked up there. How ya
doing? I hope it wasn't too much."

Josh met him in a quick kiss. "Perfect. It was a little intense, but
awesome, too."

"You hungry? I think we earned those burgers."

"Mind if I use your shower?" Josh said. "I feel all sticky and lubey."

"Be my guest."


*

"So you play basketball?" Josh asked as the two men sat and ate their
burgers. "Pick up games?"

"On a team. In the gay sports league," Ryan answered. "A couple of my
buddies are on it and asked me to join. And at 43 you can use all the
cardio you can get."

"Oh c'mon," Josh protested at the man's self-consciousness about his age.

"Nah, I'm serious. I'm not trying to have a pity party, but it's just
facts. Young guys like you have a different metabolism. I gotta bust my
butt nonstop and I still won't ever have the stomach you got."

Josh blushed. "Well," he said softly, "I think you're perfect. Honest."

Ryan bumped his knee against his date's. "Thanks, big guy. Coming from you
that means a lot. Really."

"Well count me as the newest member of the Ryan Miller fan club."

"I didn't know I had a fan club," Ryan chuckled.

"I find that hard to believe," Josh flirted. "Don't tell me you haven't
left a string of broken hearts behind."

Ryan fixed Josh with his blue eyes, with a gaze Josh couldn't tell was
serious or joking. "I've dated my share of men, if that's what you're
asking. Some of their hearts I'm sure I broke but it's gone the other way,
too." He popped a french fry in his mouth, and pushed them away, to get the
remainder out of reach. "What about you? At 23 I had zero serious dating
experience."

"A little," admitted Josh. "Never nothing more than a couple of weeks."

"Not looking to date long term?"

"Sure. But it hasn't clicked yet."

"But you're open to it?"

"Definitely. What about you? What are you looking for?"

"I'd like something serious. A lot. It's been tough, cause since my last
big breakup, I find myself going for younger guys. Like half my age." Ryan
took a drink of beer as he gathered what he wanted to say. "And don't get
me wrong, it's incredible to meet a guy like you, but I never know how the
age difference is going to play out."

Josh felt defeated. Deflated, even. "Are you saying you don't want to go on
any more dates?"

"Hell no. I'm loving this. I'd be thrilled if you wanted to go out with me
again. It's what I've been missing really. I love the connection between
us. Already."

Josh relaxed but something still didn't feel right. "Sounds like you got
more on your mind, though."

"We just gotta feel this out. That's all I'm saying. I've never had a
successful relationship with someone this much younger than me. Probably my
own shit..."

"It's not me, it's you," Josh interjected a little mockingly. He couldn't
help it.

Ryan bit his lip. "Man, I'm such a dick. You're right."

"No, you're not," said Josh. "Well, maybe just a little," he laughed. "I
didn't expect to have this conversation so soon, but it's all good. It's
good to know where you're coming from, actually."

"I only have one regret so far."

"What?"

"I would love to have you over to spend the night, big guy. But I have to
travel tomorrow for work, bright and early."

"Yeah, it is a school night," Josh sighed, wishing he could go over to
Ryan's. It would be a first, at least with an older guy, and he didn't
realize how much he craved it.

"I'll make it up to you next weekend, I promise." The happy-go-lucky,
flirty Ryan Miller had returned.

"Yeah?" said Josh. "How?"

"It's a surprise," the man smirked. "Just keep your Friday evening
open. And your Saturday morning, too."

Josh laughed. "Yessir." He had no idea if the upcoming week would seem
longer or shorter than the interminable wait of the previous one.