Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 07:18:40 -0700 (PDT)
From: Henry Brooks <hankster1430@bellsouth.net>
Subject: The Bet   Short story

They met in college and were an item for a couple of years.  As sexual
partners they had fun, but they didn't date exclusively.  They both
considered monogamy to be a dirty word.  Nevertheless, when the sex stopped
between them, and after they graduated, they remained close friends.  They
hung out together at gay bars, but they usually left separately.  Both men
were very handsome and neither had any trouble scoring a one night stand.
When they were both staring thirty in the face, each began to wonder what
it would be like to settle down with one guy, but neither did anything
about it, and they certainly didn't discuss it with each other.

One Friday evening after work, they met at a local restaurant for happy
hour and a bite to eat before hitting their favorite gay bar.  There was
plenty of action waiting for them at the bar on a TGIF night.  They each
ordered a hamburger deluxe and a beer.  The waiter served the burgers with
two beers, a happy hour special.

Tony looked at the waiter as he was serving them.  The young man barely
looked at either of them.  He was about twenty two and cute as a kitten.
When he left the table Tony asked Hal, "Is he or isn't he?"

"Is he or isn't he what?" Hal asked'

"Gay, jerk," Tony responded.

"Never," Hal stated emphatically.  "This is a straight establishment, and
he's as straight as an arrow."

"Wanna bet?  My gaydar never lies," Tony retorted smugly.

"Yeah, I'll bet," Hal said.  "What are you going to do, ask him directly?"

"Nope!" Tony said.  Now he was being smug.  "I'm taking him home with me
tonight."

"Fat chance," Hal started to laugh.  They bet $5.00.

Half way through their dinner, and after one beer was consumed, Tony saw
the cute waiter standing on a side.  He was keeping an eye on his tables to
make sure that everyone was satisfied and did not need his attention.  Tony
got up quickly and walked over to him.  Hal couldn't hear what they were
talking about but the waiter kept smiling at Tony.

Tony returned to the table and sat down.  "You owe me five bucks," he said.
"I'm picking him up at 10:30 when the restaurant closes."  Hal grinned,
handed him $5.00 and Tony added it to the tip.

"I've got to hand it to you." Hal said.  "I would have bet anything that
the boy was straight.  Hey, you didn't offer him money, did you?  This
isn't a gay for pay situation is it?"

"I swear," Tony answered.  "It's a freebie."

That incident gave rise to an ongoing competition between them.  Wherever
they would spot some good looking guy, one of them would bet the other that
he could bed the guy that night.  Tony had a success rate of about 85% and
Hal was right behind him.  The game added spice to their sex lives and both
thoroughly enjoyed it, especially since they were breaking even.  They
enjoyed the game until Ken came into their lives.

They were at the bar one Saturday evening, when Ken edged his way up to the
bar and accidently jostled Tony.  Tony turned to berate the man, but he did
a double take instead.  Standing beside him was the man of his dreams,
every gay man's dreams.  Ken was mature, about thirty-five.  He was at
least six feet tall.  He had black wavy hair and a pale complexion.  His
eyes were blue.  His chin was manly.

Tony smiled at him.  "Hi," he said, "I don't recall seeing you here
before."  Tony grimaced internally.  What a terrible pick up line, he
thought.

"Right," Ken said.  "I just moved here from Phoenix.  It's a job transfer.
I was told that this was a good place to meet guys, especially on a
weekend.  I'm really just hoping to make friends," he added as an
afterthought.

"Just friends?  I hope you have nothing against sex," Tony laughed.  He
stuck out his hand and said, "I'm Tony and this here's my buddy Hal."  He
said buddy so Ken would have no doubt that they were just friends.

Ken shook both their hands as he said, "I'm Ken."  After he got his drink,
he stepped back a little and stood between Tony and Hal.  They made a tight
little circle.  The three gabbed for a little while and then Ken said he
had to go to the john.

"Save my place," he said jokingly.

"I'll bet you..." Tony started to say after Ken left.

"Not this time buddy," Hal answered.  "I want him."

"Bullshit!" Tony answered.  "I saw him first."

"Honest," Hal said, "I'm thinking more than a one night stand."

Tony sneered.  "Sure you are," he said.  "I'll bet you a thousand bucks
that I can win him first."

Hal said.  "He's just the guy I've been looking for.  I'll take your bet."

"You're on," Tony said, "but this will take some work.  The deed doesn't
have to be for tonight.  You claim that it's for the long haul anyway, so
the winner is the one who gets him into bed first."  They shook hands on it
just as Ken returned.  He saw them shaking hands and wondered what that was
about.

"Have you had dinner yet?" Hal asked Ken.

Ken shook his head and before Hal could invite him to dinner all by
himself, Tony said, "Have dinner with us tonight and we'll all get better
acquainted."  Ken was delighted to accept.

At dinner he told Tony and Hal that he had been in a monogamous
relationship for about ten years in Phoenix.  When he was transferred to
New York, his partner refused to go with him.  He told Ken that he had been
sleeping around and preferred it that way.  He wanted to be free to be with
other guys.  Ken admitted that he was very hurt, and now he just wouldn't
allow himself to get into another relationship.  Hal and Tony grunted
inwardly, but this wasn't going to stop either of them.  It was going to be
tougher than they thought.

Over the next few weeks Hal and Tony encouraged Ken's friendship.  They
often met at the same bar they originally met in.  The three usually left
with a trick, and never together.  Hal and Tony began to call Ken
individually and ask him to go somewhere.  They neglected to tell the
other.  Even being alone with Ken made no difference.  He had no trouble
going home with one night stands, but he could not be seduced by the two
guys he considered to be his closest friends.

One Friday evening as the three friends were enjoying a twofer beer
together, Tony announced that he had to go to London on business and he
would be away for two weeks.  "You two better behave yourselves while I'm
away," he said.  That remark meant little to Ken, but it was an open
invitation for Hal to disobey Tony.

The first thing Hal did, when Tony was gone, was to invite Ken to his
apartment for a home cooked meal.  Ken accepted immediately, especially
after Hal told him that he was a gourmet cook.

Ken was used to meeting Hal directly from work, so he would be rather
dressed up.  Imagine his surprise when he arrived at Hal's place with a
bottle of wine in hand.  Hal was barefoot, wearing tight cut-off jeans and
a muscle shirt.  There was a bulge in Hal's crotch that Ken could not
overlook.  It announced loud and clear that Hal was not wearing underwear.

"Wow," Ken said, "I feel overdressed."

"Feel free to strip," Hal said.  "I've been dying to see what hangs between
your legs."  He took the wine from Ken, set it on the dining room table and
then embraced him.  Usually Hal kissed Ken on the cheek, but this time he
kissed him on the lips.  He didn't dare use tongue, and Ken did not seem to
react one way or the other.

"I'll take you up on your offer," Ken said.  He removed his shoes and socks
so that he could enjoy Hal's heavily carpeted floors, but his jeans and T
shirt remained on his body.

"What's on the menu?" Ken asked.  "Shall we enjoy a glass of wine now or
would you rather serve it with dinner?'

"Let's have a glass now," Hal said.  "We can have more with dinner.  Don't
be afraid to drink all you want.  I have plenty on hand."  Hal went to a
cabinet and took out two wine glasses which he put on the coffee table.
Then he uncorked the wine Ken had brought.  He sat down next to Ken on the
sofa and poured two glasses of wine.

"Here's to us," Hal toasted, and they had there first sip of wine.

"Don't let me have too much," Ken instructed Hal.  I really don't have a
lot of tolerance for alcohol.  I'm sure you've noticed that I never have
more than two beers or one cocktail or one glass of wine when we are out
together.  That's my limit."

Hal could not help wonder that if Ken got a little drunk would he let loose
some of his reserve.  "I'll be your monitor," Hal promised.

"So what's for dinner?" Ken asked.  "You haven't said."

"Don't you want to be surprised?"

"No," Ken answered.  "I hate surprises.  When I get a surprise I feel like
I'm not in control of myself anymore."

"What's the big deal?  Don't you want ever to be a little out of control?
I find it fun to abandon my inhibitions and just go with the flow
sometimes.  For one thing sex is always better," Hal said.

Ken laughed.  "I prefer to stay in control," he said.  I don't want to get
hurt again."

"Did you ever consider that if you don't allow yourself to face harm's way,
you may never love again?"  Hal tried to look like a wise old professor,
but the smile on his face betrayed him.

"That's something to think about," Ken said.  "Now what's for dinner?"

"No," Hal said, "this is my ball game and I will surprise you whether you
like it or not."  He looked at Ken's wine glass.  Both his and Ken's
glasses were more than half empty and he topped them off.  Ken did not seem
to notice.  In fact they had three glasses before they sat down to dinner.

Ken did not seem too steady on his feet, when he sat down.  Before serving
the appetizer, Hal opened a fresh bottle of wine and poured them both a
glass.  Ken took a sip immediately.  "That's good," he slurred.

Hal served a Caesar's salad to start.  He put out a basket of sliced
Italian bread to go with it.  Ken gobbled up the salad, two slices of
thickly buttered bread and the rest of his wine glass.  He acted ravenous.
"This is nice," he kept uttering.  "I can't thank you enough, Hal.  You're
a real sweetheart."  Hal smiled and brought out a standing rib roast with
roast potatoes.  He cut two generous slices for each of them, and refilled
the wine glasses.  Ken immediately took a couple of sips of wine before
attacking the roast.

He cleaned the plate and Hal served him seconds.  For dessert Hal served
apple pie ala mode.  He had intended to make a pot of coffee to go with it,
but instead he refilled Ken's wine glass.  By the end of the meal, Ken was
slurring his words badly.  Hal sat him down on the sofa facing the TV.
"You take it easy," Hal said.  "I'll clean up and then I'll put a movie
on."

"That's nice," Ken grinned.  Hal cleaned up and loaded the dishwasher.  He
opened a cabinet below the TV and took out a DVD.  He put the DVD into the
player.  It was the raunchiest porn film he had.  He lowered the lights,
and sat down next to Ken on the sofa.

The film totally aroused Hal.  He placed his palm high up Ken's thigh and
started working his way crotchward.  Ken did not resist him.  Encouraged,
he began to fondle Ken through his trousers.  Ken was flaccid but the
fondling had an effect.  Hal could feel Ken getting hard.  Unhappily, Ken
was not doing anything in return to let Hal know that he was interested.
Hal looked at Ken's face and started to smile.  Ken was fast asleep and he
looked like an angel.

"Come with me, Angel," Hal whispered in Ken's ear.  He stood Ken up and
walked him to the bedroom.  He undressed Ken to his bare skin and laid him
in the bed.  Hal sat at the edge of the bed.  He caressed Ken's cheek and
stared long at his body.  The rest of him was as beautiful as his face.
His cock was cut and about five inches in its flaccid state.  His balls
were tight and invitingly tasty.  Ken had a purple birthmark on his abdomen
about the size of a quarter.  Hal leaned over and kissed the birthmark.  He
avoided contact with the object of his desire.

He thought that Ken was fast asleep again, but he was only three quarters
gone to Morpheus.  "I love you," he whispered in Ken's ear.  "I have loved
you from the moment I laid eyes on you.  I swear I would never hurt you."
He covered Ken's naked body, got undressed and lay down next to his
sleeping beauty.  Ken had turned on his side and Hal nested up against him.
His hard cock pushed against Ken's buttocks but he made no attempt to take
advantage of the inebriated Ken.  They slept that way well into the night.

Ken awakened about three in the morning needing to pee badly.  He had just
been awake enough before falling asleep to know what had transpired.  He
disengaged himself from Hal, got out of bed, and stood gazing at Hal for a
moment.  After he relieved himself, his first thought was to dress and
leave, but he really didn't want to go.  He kept gazing at Hal and a very
warm glow enveloped him.  He felt emotions he thought had died in Phoenix.

Hal had been a perfect gentleman and did not even try to take advantage of
him when he was not in control of his thought processes.  That was an act
of someone in love.  Someone in love!  Suddenly he remembered what Hal had
whispered to him before he fell asleep.  He climbed into bed, and this time
it was he who nested against Hal and pressed his hard cock into Hal's
buttocks.  He made no attempt to enter his friend, but he put his arm
around Hal and rested his palm on Hal's cock.  He just left it there and
did not move it.  He didn't want to wake Hal, at least, not yet.

Before he fell asleep again he whispered in Hal's ear, "I love you too."

Harsh Sunday morning sunlight penetrated the bedroom and woke them up.  Hal
turned to Ken and smiled.  "Good morning handsome," he said.  I wish we
could wake up this way every day."

"Me too," Ken answered, "but I'm afraid."

Hal put his arm on Ken's shoulder.  "I'm not that jerk in Phoenix," he
said.  "Besides, I've already sowed my wild oats.  I have just one desire
now, and that's to settle down.  I can't think of anyone I want to settle
down with more than you.  In fact, I'm so in love with you, that if it
isn't you, I'm afraid it might never be anyone."

"I know that it shouldn't be a problem, but for some reason it is.  I love
you also, but I can't help feeling fear," Ken sobbed.  He took Hal's hand
off his shoulder and kissed Hal's palm.

"I can't think of how I can convince you of my fidelity except to relate a
story, a story that I know will make you angry.  It's not necessary for me
to reveal this, but I want to tell it to convince you of my sincerity," Hal
said.  "The night we met, Tony wanted to bet me that he could bed you
before I did.  I told him I wasn't interested, that I looked at you as
someone for the long haul, someone very special.  He insisted on betting a
thousand dollars.  I didn't want to, but he kind of forced me.  Well, I
kind of bedded you first.  If I collect my bet would you please give the
money to your favorite charity?"

"That's what I am, a bet?" Ken did indeed sound angry.

"No my love, never.  I never honored that bet in my mind.  I wanted to
sleep with you, sure, but not to collect on a bet.  I wanted to sleep with
you so I could show you how much I love you."

"For someone who wants to show me how much he loves me, you talk an awful
lot and act very little," Ken remarked.  "What do you say we brush our
teeth and shower and make love all day?"

Hal's eyes filled with tears.  "Yes, yes," he said, "let's do that."

For a while there it looked like they would never get out of the shower.
They fucked each other twice using soap as lubricant.  Finally they exited
the stall shower and made themselves a bit of breakfast.  Then it was back
to bed.  They cuddled for a while until they were recovered, and then they
twisted into a sixty-nine position.  They both came yet again.  Now they
really needed recovery time.  They cuddled close, ground their cocks
together and fell asleep.

Hal woke first and he started to tickle Ken's nose.  Ken woke up smiling.
When Hal saw the smile on Ken's face, he whispered in his ear, "I love you;
I'll love you forever."  Ken responded with a passionate kiss with lots of
tongue.

Then Ken smiled again.  "It's my turn to confess something," he said.
"Last night I wasn't as drunk as I wanted you to believe."

"Scoundrel!" Hal yelled and he began to wrestle with Ken in the bed.

"Let's go out for a five star dinner tonight to celebrate," Ken said
suddenly.

"It's a deal," Hal said, and he began devouring Ken with kisses.

When Tony returned from Europe, and his friends told him that they were
moving in together, he grew insanely jealous.  It wasn't that he cared one
iota for Ken, but he did desperately want to have sex with him.  He thought
he could kibosh the deal, so he asked Hal in front of Ken, "Do you want the
thousand in cash or will a check do?"  Then he looked at Ken and said,
"Don't get too flattered good looking.  You are nothing but a bet between
us."

Imagine Tony's surprise when Ken said, "You can write the check to United
Way.  Hal told me from the get go about your bet.  Did you think that I
would love him less?"

Deflated, Tony asked in all sincerity, "Do you two guys really love each
other?"

"Madly," Hal said.

"Beyond belief," Ken said.

"Then I envy you and wish you the best," Tony said.  "I can only hope I
meet someone as great as you two."

"Don't work too hard at it, and don't get desperate," Hal advised Tony.
"There is someone out there for you and he'll come into your life when you
least expect it."

"Do you really think so?" Tony asked.

Ken looked directly into Tony's eyes and said, "Wanna bet?"