Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:10:05 -0500
From: mark corlis <mcnc1966@gmail.com>
Subject: Taking Stock Chapter 3

Taking Stock
Chapter 3
Copyright 2009 by Mark Corlis

This is a copyrighted work. Reproductions of any kind will not be permitted
without the express written consent of the author.

If there's a reason you shouldn't be reading this, then don't. Standard
disclaimers do apply.

Author's notes:
    Welcome to chapter 3 loyal readers! Thank you so much for all of the
wonderful comments I've received so far. The kind words really do touch me.
I hope this installment meets with the same fanfare. Please don't forget to
let me know what ya think at mcnc1966@gmail .com.

    For fans of "In The Blink Of An Eye," I have returned to work on the
next chapter and will be posting it as soon as possible. Your patience is
greatly appreciated!

Mark

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


    Thad Barber was no ordinary attorney.  He had the reputation of being
one of the finest corporate attorneys in the area, and a real bulldog to be
up against. He'd also made himself a side reputation as a staunch defender
of gay rights and freedoms. Just the prior year, he'd defended against a gay
man being evicted from his apartment for being HIV positive. The case
garnered national attention and added heartily to his already formidable
resume.

    The years had been kind to him. Standing 6 foot 5, he maintained his
shape, for the most part, by swimming and jogging daily. Grey hair had begun
to peak through his otherwise brown mop, giving him a bit of a distinguished
air. Add in bifocal lenses in Prada frames and he looked the part of the
studious jurist.

    While in college, he met the man who would touch his life profoundly.
His name was Vincent Channing, and he was one of the most talented art
students he'd ever met. Paintings had been one of Thad's secret passions
throughout his life. The artwork Vin (Thad's pet name for him) produced was
a treat for the senses, allowing patrons the opportunity to disappear into
it and interpret it in many different ways. Thad was immediately taken,
coming to view the new canvasses often.

    What he hadn't figured was being equally struck by the artist. A chance
encounter at the school's display area led to Thad being pierced by Cupid's
arrow on the spot. He made excuses to visit repeatedly, hoping to catch Vin
if even for a second. The man was not what you would expect a future
attorney to be attracted to.

    Where Thad was cranial and cautious, Vin was flamboyant and disliked
planning intensely. The common ground between them was slim, but both were
open minded enough to enjoy learning about the other's worlds. Over many
cups of coffee, the two found that being not at all alike could lead to some
great adventures. Thad learned more than he ever thought possible about
modern art where Vin gained a fairly in depth knowledge of legal issues
facing homosexuals in the modern world. Very slowly, the two became an
inseparable couple, not placing the least bit of importance on sex. Small
kisses and lots of hand holding was satisfactory, adding to the magic they
felt when around each other.

    The defining moment for Vin was watching Thad in action, arguing a case
against their university's board of regents. They had denied a charter for
the formation of a new gay fraternity on campus. Threats from various large
donors to the school's endowment pressured the board into quickly rejecting
the idea of an alternative organization on their campus. Vin related the
story to Thad over dinner one night in passing.

    He was completely unprepared for the outrage the future lawyer
exhibited. They quickly exited the restaurant so Vin could take Thad to talk
to those involved. After getting the facts for a few hours, he decided that
this was a case worth arguing and vowed to fight with everything he had
against this injustice.

    Watching Thad work was a stunning experience for the ostentatious
artist. Precedents from years of case examples were drawn upon. Exhaustive
depositions of all the key figures were taken. He even took the time to draw
upon the exposure other attorneys had trying similar cases. All the while,
Thad remained cool and organized. His methodical ways left no stone
unturned. Vin fell deeply in love watching passion become action. He stood
by, offering assistance wherever he could. That help ranged from retrieving
library books to bringing Thad food so he didn't forget to eat.

    In the end, the sheer volume of facts collected easily overwhelmed the
regents' arguments. Thad exposed the donors' unjust influence and the
individual board member's prejudices. The jury sided with him unanimously,
granting the organization's charter immediately without restriction. The
university, in their extreme disgrace, set about replacing the board in its
entirety and setting new guidelines for endowment donations. They even set
up new scholarship funds specifically for gay students.

    The results exceeded Thad's wildest dreams. Jubilation reigned across
campus, even within organizations that catered to heterosexuals. He became a
hero to many, and would always be honored as a champion of human rights.
Several national wire services picked up the local story, coming to town to
interview Thad live. He greatly appreciated the opportunity to regale
audiences with their triumph over wrong doing, but developed a great
distaste for reporters, a condition that would stay with him his entire
career. He even caught the attention of a prestigious law firm, the very
firm he continued to practice with today.

    His life with Vin was the greatest result of the whole thing. While he
was knocked over by the law student's passion, Thad was equally bowled over
by the artist's devotion to him during the process. If it wasn't for Vin's
careful watch over him, he might very well have wasted away by the time the
case ended. He knew without a doubt that he wanted to spend the rest of his
life with the man, but had no clue that Vin felt the same way.

    At a party to celebrate the victory, everything came spilling out. The
two men talked about the future for hours. They expressed their most
intimate hopes and dreams, discovering in the process that they were much
more alike then first thought. Passionate kissing and a mind numbing sex
session cemented their deep feelings for each other.

    Thad smiled as he took a swig of his vodka martini, being thankful for
the good fortune life had bestowed upon him and Vin. His law career had been
prosperous, allowing him the luxury of defending pro bono clients against
the various inequities that existed in society. Vin had become a recognized
talent in the art world, but chose to devote his life to schooling
prodigious students at a local college. His devotion to his pupils never
wavered over the years, finding his true calling in life.

    The last fifteen years had, indeed, been good to them. Not only had
their professional lives been wonderful, their personal lives had thrived as
well. Many of the people they met professionally had become extremely close
friends as well. It was one of those very friends, an investment officer for
a local charity, that had arranged to retain Thad on behalf of Jordan
Maxwell. He was being compensated generously, even though he'd never met his
newest benefactor.

    The whole situation intrigued him. After receiving all of the proposed
contract documents, he learned that his retainer had been paid by none other
than Taylor Bryant. He was well aware of the man's reputation, often wishing
to meet him, but never crossing paths. He checked out the young man he was
hired to represent with friends exhaustively. The complete picture of
Jordan's career had been laid out before him, and it had him wishing he
could be the plaintiff's counsel against those bastards at Stephenson. What
he couldn't grasp was Taylor's extreme interest in a relatively low level
financial employee. A man with his expertise and wealth could afford to hire
the best, so why was he insistent upon this man? It wasn't Thad's place to
answer those questions, only to represent his client's interests to the best
of his ability. He'd done just that, preparing a list of suggested
amendments to the contract designed to enrich his client significantly. The
opportunity to present these ideas came upon him as he observed a young,
well dressed man being escorted to his table.

    Even though he'd always been lower in the hierarchy, Jordan had heard of
Thad Barber and his hard charging reputation. The name of the lawyer was the
one detail Taylor had intentionally omitted, correctly guessing that the
younger man would be terribly intimidated. The withheld info was of no
comfort as Jordan approached the impeccably dressed counselor.

    "Jordan Maxwell," he said, extending his hand to a rapidly standing
Thad. "I'm pleased to meet you."

    "Thad Barber," the man replied, shaking Jordan's hand firmly.

    Attorney and client sat down, ordering cocktails from a nearby waiter,
making small talk until the drinks arrived.

    "Thank you for agreeing to see me, Mr. Barber," Jordan said.

    Thad immediately raised his hand. "Mr. Barber was my father. My name is
Thad and I work hard for a living, so let's dispense with the formalities."

    Jordan breathed an obvious sigh of relief, feeling more comfortable with
Thad right away.

    They talked about general interests, the market, investment strategies,
and the recent legal cases surrounding securities fraud. Thad was pleasantly
surprised to find Jordan quite knowledgeable on subjects they spoke of. His
opinion of Taylor Bryant changed as well. Instead of viewing their proposed
arrangement as one of man conquering boy, he now saw them as capable
associates who could work together to enhance an already tremendously
successful business. He was glad he'd taken on this client after all.

    After several strong Grey Goose and tonics, Thad moved them to the
matters at hand. He decided to lay out his ideas forwardly, not stopping
until they were all out, then pausing for discussion and client opinions.

    "I've looked over the contract papers in great detail," he began. "I
think you have a good opportunity here, young man." Jordan smiled, happy
that Thad agreed with him on that one.  "I see a few changes we can make,
though, to turn this from a good happening into a momentous one."

    He pulled revised sample contracts from his nearby briefcase and
continued on. "First, I propose a performance based bonus formula, half paid
in cash, the other half in company equity. Mr. Bryant is gonna depend on you
an awful lot, and you should be rewarded for all efforts that are positive
to the organization."

    "Second, I think we should ask for an additional $50,000 in salary. Any
additional guaranteed money is ,of course, an obvious plus for you. If the
bonus formulas I propose are accepted, and you perform at or above
expectations, then the salary figure will be a pittance. I want it
structured this way so you are protected in a down market."

    "And last, I propose that Bryant Financially fund a high quality
benefits and retirement plan in full. With health costs skyrocketing daily,
this is a no brainer. Your future will also be protected via the 401K plan."
He, then, revealed a surprise of sorts to Jordan.

    "Mr. Bryant's recent changes to the contract are generous and more than
agreeable."

    That got Jordan's complete attention. "Changes?" he inquired.

    "I'm sorry," Thad replied. "I thought you were aware of them. The offer
now includes transportation to work daily either via limousine or company
car, your choice. It also includes a country and beach club membership,
which you'll find mega helpful when entertaining important clients. The last
addition was an annual clothing allowance of $10,000. Gotta look like a big
dog to run with them." Thad grinned after completing the last statement.

    Jordan sat silently in astonishment. He was amazed at the generosity of
the entire thing, but worried that most of it came about because of their
new feelings for each other. A part of him felt like he was being purchased
for future services, while another part considered things a part of normal
investment firm compensation. He considered all he was told carefully before
deciding to come clean about their budding romance.

    "Wow," was the first word from Jordan's mouth. "that's an amazing offer.
I need to bring you up to speed on something first, though." Thad leaned
forward in his chair, listening intently as Jordan continued. "Taylor and I
have begun to get personally involved with each other. Nothing too serious
has happened yet, but the future looks bright for us at this time. Do you
think that, just maybe, he's trying to buy my affection?"

    Thad considered his answer carefully for a moment or two. " I have to
admit I've never met Mr. Bryant. His reputation for honor among a world of
thieves is well known, though." He paused momentarily before hopping out on
a limb. "Jordan, it's always been my belief that human beings have a
fundamental need for companionship, be they gay or straight. I further
believe that life is a risk/reward game, and sometimes the largest risks
yield the greatest dividends. You'll have to trust your heart on this one. I
can tell ya from my experience that it could work out better than you ever
dreamed of."

    He spent the next half hour relating the story of Vin and him with a
gleam in his eye. Jordan hung on his every word, thrilled that he was
sitting with a living example of the life he so badly craved. His heart
became more warm with each passing word, getting sidetracked with dreams of
his situation following a similar path. Happiness welled up within him as
Thad concluded his abridged biographical account. Jordan smiled with glee
when he finished.

    "I appreciate you sharing that with me," he said sincerely. "It's nice
to meet someone who's living proof that everything I've ever desired is
totally possible."

    "Well, I enjoy talking about it. No part of my life would be complete
without Vin in it. He's my reason for waking up everyday, and I couldn't
imagine a moment without him."

    Jordan's eyes got a bit misty when Thad revealed his extreme love and
admiration for his partner. "But let's not tell him that. I don't think I
could handle letting his head swell any further," the smiling jurist quickly
added. Both men got a hearty laugh at that one.

    Fear of being seen as weak for tearing up caused Jordan to quickly steer
things back to business for the moment. "I think we ought to go ahead with
the changes you recommend, Thad. I think the amount of money involved may
keep Taylor as focused on business matters as he will be on romantic ones."

    "A wise decision, my friend," Thad agreed.

    With the business concluded for now, the two men continued an easy
conversation, talking about themselves and the men in their lives. The more
Jordan learned about Vin, the more he was dying to meet him. It was very
reassuring to note that two people could be so different, yet so completely
devoted to one another. It gave Jordan the courage needed to move forward on
all fronts with Taylor.

    They ate a light pasta dish and consumed a bottle of red wine, talking
and laughing the entire time. A table side preparation of Bananas Foster and
strong black coffee capped the meal perfectly. Once Thad covered the bill,
they moved in unison to the club's front portico area.

    "It was a distinct pleasure meeting you, Jordan. I hope we get the
opportunity soon to meet on a social basis, " Thad said.

    "I would enjoy that very much," Jordan responded eagerly.

    "Then it's decided. I'll get with Mr. Bryant tomorrow and, during the
course of business, suggest that you and he join us for dinner sometime. If
he bites, I'll set it up for later in the week."

    "Sounds wonderful," Jordan said, barely able to contain his excitement.

    The two men shook hands again and parted for the evening, Thad to his
Mercedes convertible and Jordan to the waiting limousine. Carl, as usual,
stood ready with the rear door opened.

    "I trust things went well, Master Jordan," he said as the young man
entered the vehicle.

    "More then well, actually, Carl," he replied.

    "I'm pleased for you. I think you and the boss are gonna be a tremendous
team, both on and off the battlefield."

    Jordan smiled feverishly. He was hoping for exactly that. In his dreams,
he envisioned them meshing their investment knowledge and maximizing returns
for their clients. The business would grow soundly based on their combined
achievements, yielding them great respect, and, maybe, a hint of jealousy
from their peers. On the personal front, he longed for them to become unable
to live without each other. He saw them as gray haired men in  later life,
eyes still ablaze for each other. Their love became stronger each day as
they moved through the years. Pictures of this idyllic life played out
before his eyes, mesmerizing him completely.

    Jordan was so captive to his fantasy that he didn't realize their travel
path until Carl pulled through the ornate gates of the Bryant Estate. He
hadn't realized that this was their destination, but wasn't the least bit
upset at their arrival. His smile returned as Taylor appeared clad only in a
pair of fairly tight board shorts, his sexiest feature on proud display. He
opened the rear door, offering Jordan his hand, then pulling him into a
tight embrace. Jordan returned the affection, melting into Taylor's
shirtless body.

    "Things go well?" he asked, fearing he was pushing too hard.

    "Just fine, but I'm so glad to be here right now." He tightened his hold
and planted a few light kisses across his chest. Taylor cradled Jordan's
head, running several fingers through his silky hair. His heart beat
fiercely at Jordan's sincere words, being consumed by unfamiliar, yet
wonderful, feelings.

    "Let's get you changed," Taylor moaned as their sensuous embrace
continued.

    "Changed?" Jordan questioned, leaning back from the warm chest. "Exactly
what do you propose I change into?"

    Taylor gave him a Cheshire cat grin. "Come with me. I've got everything
taken care of." He led Jordan into the house and to the door of a bedroom.
The younger man's heart momentarily skipped a beat, trying to anticipate
what might come next. Taylor, ever the hard one to figure out, opened the
door, motioning Jordan inside.

    "Everything you need is on the bed. I'll see you on the veranda when
you're ready," he said as he walked away, leaving Jordan in shock.

    After watching Taylor turn tail and leave, he cautiously looked inside
the door. Entering the room, he saw something that started his warm feelings
for Taylor all over again. Lying in front of an Abercrombie and Fitch
shopping bag was a single long stem rose, white this time, though. A note
saying "Thinking Of You" was attached to it. Jordan couldn't stop smiling as
he brought the flower to his nose. He inhaled deeply, letting the hypnotic
fragrance consume him. "I wonder if Taylor knows how much these little gifts
affect me?" he thought aloud. Running his fingers over the delicate petals
one last time, he set the bud down softly and moved on to the bag.

    Carefully opening it, he removed the tissue paper to reveal a pair of
the store's latest board shorts. Another note read, "Wear me, and only me.
Meet me on the beach." Jordan examined the garment, amazed, as always, at
Taylor's exquisite taste. He quickly threw his sport coat and tie to the
bed, followed closely by his button down shirt. Wing tip shoes and argyle
socks were ripped off, as were his pants and boxer briefs. He stood naked
for a few moments, enjoying the feel of the cool air conditioning on his
bare skin. He gave a cock a few short tugs, then decided to speed up his
pace.

    He admired the shorts for one more quick second, then stepped into them.
Padding over to a nearby mirror, he pulled at them, making sure their
positioning was as flattering as possible. Running his hand over his
slightly accentuated bulge, he headed down the hall toward the veranda. As
he passed through the living room, a voice yelled out from the kitchen.

    "Enjoy yourself, Jordan," a very bubbly Leonard exclaimed. He and Carl
stood arm in arm, both smiling graciously at the shirtless man.

    "Thank you, I intend to," he replied with a sly grin and headed outside.

    Once on the veranda, he descended a flight of wide concrete stairs to
the grass of the back yard. A trail lit in fluorescent Malibu lights marked
the way forward. He followed the illumination for several hundred feet,
until he came to a stop with soft sand beneath his bare feet. The
mesmerizing sound of waves crashing into the shore echoed all around. He
looked around, absorbing the breathtaking surroundings. He could see Taylor
standing off in the distance, staring silently at the brilliant full moon.
It's reflection cast millions of sparkles across the water's surface,
lending a fairytale like quality to the entire scene.

    Creeping up silently behind Taylor, he wrapped his arms tightly around
his man's waist. He kissed his way from his shoulder blades to back of his
neck, his chin coming to rest on his broad shoulder.

    "Hi," he said, nuzzling his cheek tightly against Taylor's neck.

    "Hi yourself," he said back, locking his fingers with Jordan's. He was
becoming addicted to the energy that passed between their touching digits.

    "Have a good day," Jordan mumbled as he snuggled harder into the warm
skin.

    "It's looking up now," he said grinning.

    Tiring of small talk, Taylor spun himself around, then pulled Jordan's
body tightly to his. Their increasing bulges smashed together, settling into
a light rubbing motion. He tilted Jordan's head sideways, bending to bring
their lips together. Every so lightly, he touched them together, before
moving backward to look into Jordan's eyes. The brown pools swirled with
passion, sucking Taylor deep into them. What he saw only raised his need for
his man.

    He returned to the point he left off at, finding Jordan's mouth
accepting of his invading tongue. It probed deep in the oral cavity, trying
to travel across every inch of it possible. Jordan's tongue fought to rub
against its counterpart valiantly. In the end, the touching was too much,
causing it's owner to give in totally. He practically fused his body with
Taylor's, as the erotic sensations threatened to knock him out. Their arms
tightened around each other as the kiss became more urgent. Taylor's hands
cascaded up and down Jordan's back, even dipping low enough to feel the firm
globes of his incredible ass.

    When they could bear no more, their faces moved backward. Eyes remained
locked on each other. Chests heaved up and down. Bulges had increased
tremendously, with small wet spots present at their highest points. Taylor
took Jordan's hand in his, pulling him down the beach.

    For a few minutes, they walked hand in hand, grains of sand squishing
between their bare toes. Casual glances between them, followed by shy smiles
said everything that needed to be communicated. The exileration between them
grew with every passing second. An enchanting warmth surrounded both of
them. Wanton heat and electricity was exchanged between their bodies as they
walked through the ebbing waves. They moved along the shore until they
reached a rock outcropping.

    Taylor climbed carefully along the closest boulder, extending his hand
to Jordan when he reached its summit. He helped the boy balance along the
sharp edges until they were about halfway up the jetty's length. When he
located a suitably flat rock, he sat down, then pulled Jordan into his lap.
He wrapped his arms around him, getting him cozily settled against his half
naked body. While running his fingers lightly over Jordan's knuckles, he
knew that now was the time to deal with a few things tugging at his mind.

    "So, are we moving along too fast?" he inquired.

    Jordan continued to look away from Taylor as he pondered the question.
"Are you thinking we are?"

    "I don't know truthfully," he began. "Part of me says we are.  I mean I
have been through a whirlwind of feelings and strange sensations I've never
felt. My body is retching at me about the foreign emotions. The rest of me
says that I've never met a guy as wonderful as you, and I, probably, never
will again."

    "I really like you so much, Jordan. I'm scared shitless, though.
Everything I try in my personal life turns to shit, and I'd hate to see you
dragged down with it."

    Jordan thought carefully about what Taylor said. He was petrified also,
yet he felt so strongly for Taylor he had to see where this avenue ended. He
chose his words carefully.

    "I'm very scared, too. I mean, seventy-two hours ago I was a small fish
in a big pond struggling to make silk outa straw. Now, I'm here with the
sexiest, sweetest man alive negotiating a large employment contract and
flying a private jet across the country. It's like I've been caught up in a
huge tornado, wondering where it was gonna spit me out at."

    Taylor winced at the boy's admission. He wanted to whisper words of
encouragement and hold him tight until it all went away, but he knew it was
delusional to think he could comfort things like this away. No, he realized,
this was gonna take some extreme communicating. He chose to sit back and
allow Jordan to get everything off his chest.

    "The problem is, though, that I've never been happier than I have in
this wind tunnel. You have made me realize a great many things about what I
want and deserve in life, and for that I'll be forever grateful." He took a
deep breath before moving ahead.

    "Are we going to fast?" he repeated. "If we are, then nature intended us
to be moving at this pace."

    Jordan turned to face Taylor when he was done. Staring into the blue
orbs, he leaned forward and initiated another oral tug of war with the man
of his dreams. As the pair  of tongues did their patented Tango, their arms
returned to holding each other frantically. They held on like the other
would leave forever if released. The collision of their faces and bodies
eased some of tension, but an underlying current of worry still flowed.

    The men returned to their original position and stared at the choppy
ocean. A large oil tanker cruised by the jetty, on it's  way to a berth in
the near by port. Jordan had never been so close to a ship this massive. He
imagined the exotic ports of call, imagined visiting them with Taylor. A
world with just the two of them in it, free from all the cares of the world.
Even though he knew that his fear would have to be dealt with, he couldn't
help but smile and walk on air whenever Taylor came to mind. He would do
anything to have a chance, even the most minuscule chance, at true love. Of
all the concepts he accepted, true love was the one he believed in most of
all. This opportunity was not gonna pass him by without a fight.

    "I want you to know something," Jordan began, turning in Taylor's lap to
face him again. "You may be rich, powerful and successful, but none of that
matters to me. You could mount tires for a living and I'd still be
enthralled with the person inside. I really do appreciate all you've done
for me so far, but it's not what's of consequence. Please don't hate me for
saying these things, but I couldn't go on another second without you
knowing."

    Taylor sat in utter amazement, unable to verbalize what he wanted to
say. He was shocked that anyone, let alone an incredible guy like Jordan,
would want him for his soul. He hugged the boy to him, squeezing him harder
than ever, fully intent on never letting him go. Fear would have to cast
aside, and he'd have to adjust to his new feelings. He was determined to do
just that.

    "Thank you," he said, as a lone tear fell down his cheek.

    Jordan brushed Taylor's cheek lightly, catching the drop on his finger.
He examined the salty liquid momentarily, then lifted his wet digit to his
mouth, imbibing what he saw as Taylor's very essence. It satisfying to know
that a part of this man would now always be with him. He kissed up the trail
left on Taylor's cheek, once again merging their mouths into a single
entity.

    This kiss was different. It was filled with all of the rapidly
escalating fervor they felt for each other. It was as if they exchanged a
piece of themselves, a piece from deep within. For better or worse, in the
name of great happiness or great pain, they were bonded. Life was never
gonna be the same from here on out.

    Taylor broke the kiss, placing Jordan back in his resting place. He
hugged him from behind, returning to lightly swiping the boy's knuckles.
They remained like this for quite a while, saying little, just enjoying each
other's company. It was a great comfort to both of them that needless words
could be avoided, and the simplest body contact could say everything. They
sat melded together until the increasing winds started lashing them with
salt spray.

    "I think we better go," Taylor said, laughing slightly at their salt
water soaked bodies.

    Jordan smiled back at him, ocean water dripping from his hair. "I think
you might be right."

    They rose from the rock, Taylor taking great care to help Jordan
navigate the rock maze. His primordial need to protect this boy was now
greater than ever. He would have gladly carried him off the rocks, but he
knew that mothering the young man was not a good idea.

    With their feet firmly on the beach, they turned toward the house.
Taylor placed his arm around Jordan's shoulders, his boy responding by
wrapping both arms around his midsection. The arrangement was awkward, but
neither was willing to separate. Slowly, they made their way across the sand
and into the back yard. They entered in a different spot, coming up the side
of the smaller building Jordan had observed on his first visit here.

    The structure was a home as Jordan had suspected. Its entire front was
comprised of a covered porch done in natural wood. A hammock was visible in
the far corner, muted voices coming from the general vicinity of it. As they
got closer, he could make out two bodies lounging in the suspended bed. It
swayed slowly in the strong sea breeze.

    Leonard and Carl looked up and noticed the two men approaching. Leonard
lay flat on his back with Carl curled up against him, his head resting on
the prone man's chest. They motioned for Taylor and Jordan to join them,
which they gladly did.

    "Evening, boss," Leonard said as they took a seat on a patio loveseat
nearby.

    "Evening Leonard, evening Carl," Taylor answered. "You two look
comfortable."

    "Very," Carl cooed, decreasing the space between him and his man.

    Leonard stroked Carl's back lovingly while continuing. "Hate to talk
shop now, but Thad Barber called and he'll be here at 8:30 tomorrow morning
to see you." The mere mention of the impending powwow sent shivers up
Jordan's spine.

    "No problem," Taylor said. "Thanks for setting that up."

    "It's what I do boss," he quickly replied.

    "Well, you two enjoy the rest of your evening and we'll see ya
tomorrow."

    "Night, boss. Night to you too, Jordan," the men replied.

    Jordan and Taylor rose from their seat, resuming their journey to the
main house. Seeing the two employees together like that had verified
something Jordan had suspected all along. The two were life partners, and
had probably been together a long while. He decided to probe and see what he
could find out the rest of their story.

    "I always thought Leonard and Carl were more than co-workers," he stated
as they entered the house.

    "Oh yeah," Taylor started. "They've been together since they were
teenagers. All of us should aspire to experience half the love they do." He
blushed as he realized what he'd said.

    Jordan stepped to Taylor, placing a small smooch on his lips. "I was
thinking of aspiring to experiencing twice what they do." His omission of
the word "love" was intentional, fearing that using it would scare Taylor
further.

    "That would be nice," he said. "They've been with me a long time and I
don't think I've ever seen them argue. Their caring ways toward each other
just seem to get better and better as the years pass." Taylor smiled as he
recalled life with his two confidantes.

    An exhausted yawn escaped Jordan's body at that moment. He'd been going
all day and his energy stores were spent. "I guess I better be headed home,"
he started. "Markets are closed tomorrow, so I'm bound and determined to
make up on the sleep I've lost."

    Taylor took his boy's hand, leading him out of the living room. "You'll
be going nowhere. I've got plenty of room for you right here." They
eventually reached his bedroom door, which opened and pulled Jordan through.
Taylor shut, then locked it. He stepped toward his dresser, selecting a pair
of plaid boxers for the boy.

    "You can change in there," he told Jordan, motioning to the bathroom.
The young man wasted no time in scooping up the shorts and moving into the
restroom.

    When the door closed behind him, he collapsed against it for a second. A
thousand notions rattled around in his skull. Even though things had moved
forward rather quickly, he was comfortable with their current position. What
scared him, though, was Thad's visit. He had talked Jordan into agreeing to
measures to protect his own interests. Would those clauses now stop his
developing relationship dead in its tracks? Would Taylor think he was out
for gain and not true love? He had valid worries, but nothing was gonna
change tonight. His life was held by fate, and things were gonna fall where
they would.

    He stripped off the still damp trunks, placing them in the bath tub.
Sand still peppered his skin, so he used a damp wash cloth to remove it.
Once he was satisfied that it would do for the night, he put the boxers on.
After smoothing them out over his thighs, he checked the mirror. He had to
admit, he loved that Taylor's choices grabbed him in all the right places.
It made him feel sexy, something that didn't happen often. A deep breath and
mental pep talk were the final things before heading back into the bedroom.

    Taylor sat up on the bed, perusing the day's paper. He'd put on a pair
of boxers as well, his muscular legs extended in front of him. His left
testicle was slightly visible from the positioning, a fact not lost on
Jordan. He was almost transfixed by it as he approached the terribly sexy
man. He longed for the day when Taylor would be "his man," but that quantum
leap hadn't happened yet.

    Jordan's entry was always a major affair for Taylor. He could stare at
the boy's body for hours and never tire of it. For tonight, though, major
fireworks would have to wait. Tomorrow was a big day for them. Since it was
a holiday, the markets would be closed but there was still much to be done.

    "C'mere you," Taylor said as he patted the bed beside him. Jordan
cautiously moved toward him.

    Once he had his man on the bed, he slid the covers back for both of
them. They slid underneath, and Taylor placed his arm around Jordan's neck,
guiding him softly to rest on his chest. Once they were positioned, he drew
the covers over them, making adjustments to assure Jordan's comfort. He
rubbed up and down the boy's spine, taking in the feeling of both the soft
skin and the supple muscles. Jordan sunk into the back rub, tightening his
grip around Taylor.

    "I had a really nice time tonight," Taylor told him.

    "I did too, but I always do with you," Jordan replied.

    "I know things are a bit scary for both of us right now, but I really
think if we just go with it, we'll both be OK," Taylor averred.

    "I agree," Jordan said, yawning loudly. He was horribly comfortable and
safe against Taylor's chest, and the relaxed atmosphere was taking its toll.
He snuggled in closer and closed his eyes, sleep claiming him moments later.

    Taylor felt the body on top of him let go, and the rhythmic breathing
begin. Jordan was sound asleep as he watched him intently. His soft,
chestnut locks fell over his forehead lazily. A look of complete peace had
come over his face. Taylor moved the offending hairs, and placed a lingering
kiss on the boy's forehead. He laid back and ran his hand along Jordan's
spine. The repetitive motions and the shallow breathing all combined to
consume Taylor's consciousness, and he quickly joined Jordan in dream world.

    A commotion caused his eyes to bolt open. "What's that noise," he
pondered. Was it crying? No.....it was laughter. A child's laughter coming
from somewhere near the bedroom. He reached to have a morning stretch,
finding the bed next to him empty. The laughing continued, accompanied by
high shrieks of delight. A muffled adult voice could also be heard, but what
is was saying couldn't be understood. Taylor was a bit confused, so he rose
and donned his plush bath robe.

    The first thing he noticed was various toys scattered about the bedroom
floor. Planes, cars, and stuffed animals were placed about. Taylor stepped
on one of the cars, eliciting a not so nice response from his mouth. He
paused to rub his injured sole, now more determined than ever to unravel
this mystery.

    Being careful to avoid all pitfalls in his path, he made it out the
bedroom door and started moving down the hallway. Various framed pictures
adorned the walls, catching Taylor's attention totally. They all appeared to
be of a child, showing its progression from newborn baby to, perhaps, six
years old. The child had bleach blond hair and crystal blue eyes. The eyes
had a definite effect on Taylor's memory, they looked remarkably familiar.
He examined each photo in detail, eventually ending up near the kitchen's
entrance.

    He looked around as he entered. What looked like a half eaten bowl of
cereal lay unattended on the table. Several different types of small action
figures adorned the area around the bowl. Taylor's confusion level increased
more as the smell of fresh brewed coffee invaded his nostrils.

    "Coffee, that's what I need," he thought, hoping to clear the fog he was
currently in.

    Finding the source of the smell, he poured himself a steaming cup,
sniffing the rich aroma deeply. As he took the first sip, the sound of
childish giggling was heard again. Deciding to investigate further, he
grabbed his beverage and headed into the next room.

    There he discovered the source of the foreign noises. The child in the
photographs lie on his stomach before the television, laughing heartily at a
cartoon he was watching. Taylor studied the little person for a few seconds.
He was the cutest little boy he'd ever seen. He was wearing a pair of
Spiderman briefs and a matching t-shirt. His tiny bare feet were being
kicked up and down impatiently as he viewed the animated program. His hair
was longer than most boys, flowing down almost to the top of his shoulders.
As Taylor took the sight in, the young boy stretched vigorously and noticed
the adult male standing near him.

    "Daddy," he exclaimed, getting up and running toward Taylor at full
speed.

    Taylor's eyes shot open as he sat straight up in bed. His mind was in a
fierce daze as he examined the bedroom. Jordan must have moved off of him
during the night, and now lay curled up facing away. His breathing never
changed, so Taylor's sudden moves hadn't disturbed him. Further checking
verified that room was just as it had been when they got in bed, devoid of
any evidence of a small child.

    Taylor shook his head as he ran his fingers through his hair. "It was a
god damn dream," he remarked breathlessly. "What the fuck was that all
about?????"

TO BE CONTINUED......