Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:23:27 -0500
From: Morris Henderson <bigmoh@post.com>
Subject: a_rocky_road_chapter_4

A ROCKY ROAD

CHAPTER FOUR

TJ spent his summer days volunteering at a Food Bank and at
Meals-on-Wheels, which he found alternately disturbing and
rewarding.  He found the clients to be, for the most part,
fine people but because of a lack of education, debilitating
infirmities, simple economic hardship, and, sadly, no family
support, they were reduced to dependence on welfare or
charitable handouts.  He ached when he thought of their
plight.  However, he was pleased to be able to help them.

Neil kept busy through the week with his summer session
classes although time was reserved each evening for talking
to TJ by phone.

Weekends were the highlight of both teens' week.  Typically,
they were together from Friday evening until late Sunday.
During that time, they were inseparable, swimming in TJ's
pool -- with TJ's coaching, Neil became a competent swimmer
-- playing tennis, or just "hanging out."  They spent hours
listening to classical music, a significant part of Neil's
life.  TJ wanted to learn more about it so he could share
one more interest with his lover.

Their son's emergent interest in fine music was
extraordinarily pleasing to TJ's parents.  Their admiration
of Neil only increased through the summer and they were
delighted that TJ had ("finally" as his father once
remarked) found a best friend.  From all indications, they
did not suspect the true depth of the teens' feelings for
each other.  The lovers had learned an important lesson when
they carelessly spoke of their relationship and Neil's
father overheard their conversation.

There were precious periods of time on weekends when the
teens could be alone.  If TJ spent the weekend with Neil,
they had more than enough private time to intimately and
passionately express their love.  If Neil spent the weekend
at TJ's home, there were few opportunities except at night
when they could caress, kiss, fondle, and bring each other
to a fulfilling climax.  Still, there were those occasions
when TJ's parents would be gone during the day.  If Isabel
were in the house, she would let the boys know, in her
customary, discrete way, that they would not be disturbed.

In late July, TJ's mother convinced her husband to take a
vacation.  Because of his demanding schedule at work, they
had not had a vacation for years.  After considerable
discussion, they decided to fly to Seattle where their
eldest daughter was now living with her husband and three
small children.  After a few days visit there, they would
take an Alaskan cruise before returning home.

Mr. Ryerson initially resisted the idea.  He worried about
delegating several important projects to his staff but his
wife's persistent and enthusiastic persuasion began to erode
his objections.  His resistance finally crumbled in the
bedroom when his wife adroitly engaged him in romantic and
erotic foreplay until his arousal peaked.

"This is just as wonderful as it was on our honeymoon," she
gushed.  "You're still the most handsome man I know."

"Ummm," he mumbled as he paused from suckling on her breast.
"And you're still beautiful."

Moments later, he moved down to her pubes and began licking
the fleshy folds of her labia.  He was hesitant to do that
when they were first married but had tried it and found that
she liked it.  He still didn't enjoy it but it pleased her
so he continued the practice in order to make her happy and
much more responsive when he penetrated her.

His wife knew, of course, that he would be increasingly
eager to proceed to intercourse and waited for his urge to
become irresistible.  The moment came.  He moved up, kissed
his wife, and used one hand to guide his cock into her.

When he was firmly implanted and about to begin fucking in
earnest, he heard his wife moan with pleasure.  That pleased
him.  But then he heard her say, "It's wonderful being with
you like this.  It will be even more wonderful on our
cruise."  Before her husband could object to her assumption
that the cruise was a certainty, she kissed him passionately
and rotated her hips under him to stimulate his raging
erection as if to beg for him to resume the sexual coupling.

Her scheme did not carry a guarantee of success and her
comment was, of course, very transparent. However, her
execution of the plan, especially in the timing, was
flawless.  She had trapped her normally rational and
excessively pragmatic husband at the point of maximum
vulnerability.  His animal instincts, his intense need to
copulate, and his genuine desire to please his wife had made
him completely vulnerable.

They both achieved orgasm.

After returning from the bathroom to dispose of the condom
and wash his flaccid, cum-soaked cock, Tom Ryerson crawled
into bed and cuddled with his wife.  "That was not fair," he
began.  "You tricked me into an implicit agreement to take a
vacation."

"Are you angry," she asked with a seductive smile.

"No.  It's clear to me how much you want to go on a cruise.
Because I love you, I want to take you.  I must admit,
however, that the prospect of getting away together appeals
to me.  It could be the second honeymoon we never had."

"Yes," she replied, recalling that the unexpected pregnancy
with TJ had scuttled their plans for a week in Europe after
her scheduled concert tour.  "But now that TJ is grown, we
can get away together."

"He's not grown yet!" Mr. Ryerson said.  "He's still a
teenager."

"Yes," his wife replied.  "But he's a very mature teenager,
especially since he met Neil.  And Isabel will be here to
watch out for him."

Mrs. Ryerson spent the next day coordinating schedules with
her daughter in Seattle and with Isabel.  A visit to the
travel agency secured tickets for a seven-day Alaskan cruise
in late August including plane reservations.  She telephoned
her husband with the dates and he made arrangements for
vacation time.  That evening, over dinner, she broke the
news to TJ who was genuinely happy for them.

"Will you be all right here with Isabel?" Mr. Ryerson asked.
"Will you be a good boy for her while we're gone?"

"Tom!" Mrs. Ryerson nearly exploded.  "TJ is not a boy!
He's sixteen!  Of course he'll be all right."

"Sorry," Mr. Ryerson said contritely.  Turning to his son,
he said, "I apologize, TJ.  Sometimes I forget that my
little boy has become a young man ... and, I might add, a
young man that I love and am very proud of."

"Thanks, Dad.  I hope I will always deserve your respect,"
TJ said while thinking of his father's inevitable
disappointment and anger when he learned he had a gay son.

TJ was ecstatic when he phoned Neil that evening with news
that his parents would be gone for almost two weeks.  "That
will give us a chance to be together during the week!" he
enthused.

"Maybe ... Maybe not," Neil said cautiously.  "You know I
have a lot of homework to do in the evening.  We've talked
about that before.  Maybe we'll have to be content with
weekends together."

"Right.  I'm sorry.  I forgot.  I just miss you so much
during the week.  I wish we could be together every day."

"We will ... in time," Neil said, hoping to reassure his
boyfriend and implicitly reinforce their resolve to be
patient.

**********

When the day of his parents' departure came, TJ would be
working, delivering meals, so they had to say their goodbyes
the evening before.  Before going to bed, he called Neil.

"I've got a load of studying to do," Neil said.  "I'll
probably pull an all-nighter tomorrow night.  Would it be
all right with you to come at noon instead of ten?"

"Of course, Neil.  I know you have to study and you need
sleep."

"I may be asleep when you come over on Saturday so I'll
leave my door unlocked.  Just come on in and crawl into bed
with me.  I love waking up to find a handsome, naked body
next to me."

"I'll be there about noon on Saturday," TJ replied.  "That
should give you time to get some sleep.  I can't wait to
snuggle up to you in bed."

TJ was up at eight Saturday morning and wanted to go see his
lover immediately but he had to wait because he promised to
let Neil sleep late.  Waiting was torture but joining Neil
in bed would make the rest of the day wonderful.

He had no way of knowing that an hour earlier, at seven, in
a condo on Park Avenue in New York, someone was setting out
on a collision course with him.

Cory had convinced his parents that he needed to drive to
Washington for an appointment with the registrar on campus
to resolve a problem with his fall semester schedule.  "No,"
he lied, "It can't be resolved by phone."  They finally
agreed after extracting a promise to drive carefully.  The
truth was that Cory had a compelling need to talk to Neil.
He was the one person who might help.  He had helped before.
He had been critical -- cruel, perhaps -- but, as Cory
reflected on Neil's comments, they were justified.  Cory,
after days of agonizing exploration of his attitude, his
behavior, and his compulsion to find sex at whatever the
cost, came to a painful realization: his selfish lust had
been the cause of his problems.

Neil had told him that several times but Cory finally
acknowledged how right Neil had been.  Neil also suggested,
even demanded, that Cory learn to think of others and seek a
meaningful rapport with a man before foolishly soliciting a
fleeting sexual experience.  Yes!  Neil had been right!
Perhaps he would be willing to give him some advice on how
to live a safe and satisfying gay life.

With light traffic on early Saturday morning, Cory arrived
at Neil's dorm room at half past ten.

Cory knocked on Neil's door, hoping that he was inside, and
hoping that his unexpected visit wouldn't be too upsetting.
There was no answer to his knock.  Recalling that Neil often
left his door unlocked when he was in the room and thinking
that he might be asleep, Cory tried the door handle, opened
the door and looked into the room.  Just as he thought, Neil
was there, asleep on his bed.

Cory entered the room and quietly closed the door.  He
stared at Neil for a few moments, debating whether to wake
him.  The sight of Neil's exposed bare chest and stomach,
however, began to awaken the demons in Cory's soul.  He
wondered what other stunning sights might be concealed
beneath the sheet that rested alluringly across his hips and
legs.  The demons of lust were soon battling with the
rationality of Cory's mind.

He walked over to stand beside the bed.  Neil's chest rose
and fell faintly with each breath.  To Cory, who craved
sexual satisfaction but got so little of it, it was an
overwhelming vision of youthful masculinity.  But the sheet
was covering the most interesting part of Neil's handsome
physique.  Did he dare sneak a peek at the treasure that lay
under the sheet?  `What would be the harm in that?' he
rationalized to himself.

Succumbing to the temptation, Cory carefully pulled the
sheet down to reveal Neil's completely naked body.  His
impressive cock was lying peacefully across one thigh.  It
was beautiful!  A meaty tube of manhood that was thick and
long but not grotesquely so.  The neatly trimmed pubic bush
and hefty ball sac added to the allure.  He stared at it for
several minutes as his own cock began to inflate.

Did he dare touch it?  "Yes!" cried the demons but he paused
to think.  After all, he thought, I came here for help with
my uncontrolled craving for sex.  Now is not the time to
back away from getting the help I need.

However, the image of Neil's cock amplified the demons'
demand for sexual stimulation.

Compromising between the two conflicting voices in his head,
Cory proceeded very carefully.  He fondled Neil's cock.  It
launched him into a veritable frenzy of desire.  The longer
he did it, the more he wanted to.  The original reason for
the long drive to Washington--to seek his friend's advice on
how to control his demons and find genuine companionship--
had been replaced by overwhelming animalistic lust.  Only a
vestige of reason allowed him to proceed cautiously so as
not to wake the sleeping beauty.

Eventually, the flaccid tube of flesh began to swell, which
only fueled Cory's lust and caused his own cock to stiffen
into a hardened, throbbing rod.  The singular purpose of
sexual gratification now ruled his behavior.  And yet, to
achieve that goal, he knew he would have to proceed
cautiously.

To maximize his own arousal, he quickly stripped off his
shirt, removed his trousers and boxers, and dropped his
clothing in a pile on the floor.  It was a patently foolish
thing to do, one might even say pathological.  However, his
lust was seizing control of his thinking and being naked
only amplified the thrill.  Explaining his actions if Neil
awoke and saw him naked became only a very minor
consideration.

He knelt down beside the bed.  He dropped his head to within
an inch of Neil's crotch and indulged himself by sniffing
the musky, masculine aroma.  It completely erased all
thoughts of his original purpose for visiting Neil.  He
resumed his fondling of the irresistible cock with one hand
while unconsciously stroking himself with the other.

Very soon, Cory found himself on the brink of orgasm, which
destroyed whatever small amount of propriety remained in his
thoughts.  Just for pure sexual satisfaction, he stood and
sprayed Neil's crotch with several blasts of hot cum.  It
was one of the most erotic climaxes he had ever had.  His
legs gave way and he sank again to his knees.

When the euphoria of his orgasm subsided, the sight of his
cum all over Neil's cock, balls, and pubic hair revealed to
him the idiocy of what he had done.

He had forgotten that the door was not locked, a mistake
that would cost him dearly.

TJ, growing increasingly impatient, had decided to drive to
campus and arrive before the promised time of noon.  He
planned to wait in Neil's room, reading and admiring his
handsome, sleeping lover.  There was a chance, he reasoned,
that Neil would awaken before noon and that would give them
more precious time together.

Just as Cory was at the height of his orgasm, TJ was parking
his car and thinking, `Only a few more minutes and I'll be
with the man I love more than life itself.'  He checked his
watch: five minutes to eleven.  He wondered if Neil would be
awake.  If not, should he wake him or let him sleep?

Cory, meanwhile, was transfixed by the sight of Neil's cum-
spattered cock, balls, and pubic hair.  Too late, he
realized that Neil would eventually awaken, find the mess,
and wonder what happened.  `I'll clean him up,' Cory
thought.  `Yes!  What a thrill it would be to lick my cum
off his magnificent cock!'  He bent down to begin licking up
his cum.

At that moment, TJ was climbing the stairs to the third
floor of the dormitory hall.

Suddenly, Cory felt Neil's hand on the back of his head.  He
panicked and froze in place.  He glanced up at Neil's face
only to find his eyes were still closed.  There would hardly
be enough time to grab his clothes and run for the door
without Neil seeing who had molested him.

Then he heard a muffled, sleepy voice say, "Don't stop, TJ.
It feels wonderful."

Did he say TJ?  Yes!  Suspicions confirmed!  Neil and TJ
were gay lovers!

His panic over the prospect of being caught and the
unexpected revelation prevented him from hearing the door
open or seeing who stood there in utter astonishment.

TJ stood in the open doorway, paralyzed by total disbelief.
The sight was incomprehensible!  Neil was naked on the bed.
A naked teen--TJ could only see his back and didn't
recognize him--was kneeling beside the bed with his face
buried in Neil's crotch.  The unknown teen was licking up
cum.  Worst of all, Neil was smiling -- obviously enjoying
the treatment he was receiving!  TJ shook his head and
blinked repeatedly but the horrifying image did not go away.
The love of his life was engaged in oral sex with someone
else!  As much as he wanted not to believe it, he had to.

TJ slammed the door shut and ran for the stairway.

The slamming door instantly seized both Neil's and Cory's
attention.  Neil sat up, expecting to see TJ but was shocked
to see it was Cory.  "WHAT THE..." he screamed.  "You filthy
BASTARD!  What the fuck are you doing?"

Neil then saw the remaining cum in his crotch, knew it was
not his own.  His confusion instantly turned into rage.  He
hit Cory brutally in the face with his fist, which sent the
intruder tumbling backward.  Neil jumped out of bed,
straddled Cory's chest and pinned his arms to the floor with
his knees.  He delivered several more blows to both sides of
Cory's face while cursing him loudly.

Cory's nose and lips were bleeding.  He was whimpering
piteously. But he was spared further punches when Neil's
anger dissipated.  Neil stood and screamed, "Get the fuck
out of my room!"

Cory just curled up into a fetal position and sobbed.

"OUT!  NOW!" Neil loudly commanded but Cory didn't move.
That restored some of Neil's anger and disgust for Cory.  He
grabbed the pathetic teen by the ankles and dragged him into
the hallway.  He slammed the door and locked it.

Cory laid on the hallway floor bleeding and sobbing for
several minutes until he was finally able to regain his
composure and realize that he was naked.  He stood and
knocked on the door, hoping to retrieve his clothes.

He heard Neil's booming voice, "Get lost, asshole!  I never
want to see you again!"

"My clothes!" Cory yelled through the closed door.

Several awkward moments of silence passed with no response
from inside the room.  Cory, in pain, humiliated, and
desperate, pleaded, "Please, Neil.  I need my clothes."

"I'll throw them out the window!  Get lost, asshole!"

"NO!" Cory screamed as he visualized the embarrassment of
going outside to gather up his clothes.  Then, in a rare
flash of inspiration, he added, "I know about you and TJ.
You're both fags like me.  Give me my clothes or the world
will know your secret."

Agonizing moments of silence followed before the door
opened.  Neil was now wearing a bathrobe and he threw the
clothes in Cory's face.

"Before you think about blackmailing me, slime bag, give
some thought to how your homophobic parents will react when
they learn they have a queer son.  What will they say about
all the trouble you've gotten into because of your selfish
lust.  What will they say about your getting beaten up
because you propositioned Brad ... or the trouble in the gay
bar ... or hooking up with a sexual predator at the water
park?  Before you threaten me, think about what it will cost
you.  Now get your sorry ass out of my sight!  Get out of my
life!  If you so much as speak to me again, I'll give you
reason to regret it!"

Neil slammed and locked the door, leaving Cory bleeding and
desolate in the hall.

TJ had run down the stairs and across campus to his car.  He
was so distressed by what he saw that he could hardly unlock
the driver's side door and get behind the wheel.  Then, the
enormity of the situation engulfed him.  He sobbed bitterly
for twenty minutes  The inconceivable vision of his lover
having sex with someone else was seared into his memory.

His emotional upheaval finally diminished to the point that
he could think.  He knew he was in no condition to drive so
he sat there trying, vainly, to make sense of the situation.
What he saw was unmistakable.  It was the why of it that
made no sense.  The betrayal, however, distorted his
reasoning.  Neil had declined the opportunity to visit TJ
during TJ's parents' vacation.  He had asked him not to come
until noon so he must have reserved the morning for a tryst
with ... with who?  Neil had said his first partner walked
out on him.  Was it because Neil had been unfaithful?  Neil
had seduced him the day after they first met.  Was it just
another conquest?  They enjoyed each other's company on
weekends and engaged in really hot sex but what was Neil
doing through the week?  Was he really committed to a
monogamous relationship or was he lying when he said he was?

Half an hour's agonizing thought left most of the questions
unanswered but one fact was clear: Neil had betrayed him by
having sex with someone else.  As a consequence, the most
wonderful thing that had ever happened to him, a loving
relationship, had been destroyed.  His dream-come-true had
suddenly, tragically, become a nightmare.

TJ's shock and disappointment morphed to anger, which was
neither healthy nor justified but it restored enough
composure for him to drive home.  On the way, his cell phone
rang.  He looked at the display and saw it was a call from
Neil.  He was too upset and angry with his FORMER lover to
answer the call. He switched off his phone.

Neil cleaned up Cory's blood from the floor and showered to
get rid of the thoroughly offensive vestiges of cum on his
body.  He returned to his room, hoping to find TJ waiting
there for him but he wasn't.  It was well past noon; TJ was
late.  He called TJ only to hear, `The person you are
calling is unavailable.'  He left a voice-mail, "Hi.  It's
Neil.  I hope you're on the way over.  I miss you and can't
wait to see you.  I love you."

He then called the Ryerson's home phone only to get their
answering machine.  He left another message, "TJ, this is
Neil. Please call me."  He almost ended the message with an
`I love you' but didn't because he didn't know who might
retrieve the message.

TJ arrived at the empty house (Isabel was away for the
weekend), ignoring the flashing light on the answering
machine.  He went immediately to his room, and fell into bed
where he cried himself to sleep.

Neil repeatedly tried to call TJ every 20 or 30 minutes
without leaving a voice mail until the fourth try, "Hi.
Please call me, love.  I'm getting worried about you."  He
tried the home phone again, with no answer, and hung up.

TJ woke up when he heard the house phone ring and went
downstairs for something to eat.  On the way to the kitchen,
he pressed `play' on the answering machine, heard Neil's
message, and thought, `Why should I call you?  Haven't you
had enough sex today?'  He punched the `delete' button
angrily.

While he was eating, he idly checked his voice-mail.  There
were two messages from Neil.  He deleted both without even
listening to them.  Fifteen minutes later, his cell phone
rang.  He expected the call to be from Neil and was prepared
to let it ring but it was from Isabel so he pressed `talk.'

"TJ, honey.  Are you all right?  Neil says you're late and
he can't reach you."

"I'm fine, Isabel.  I'm home.  Just a change of plans."

"You're at home?  I can come back if you need anything."

"That's not necessary.  I'm fine.  I really am.  I'll be
okay here.  It's not like I'm a little boy and need a baby
sitter.  Enjoy your weekend and don't worry about me.
Okay?"

"Well, if you're sure.  But call me if you need anything.
Will you promise me that?"

"I promise."

"And call Neil!  He tried to hide it but I could tell he was
upset."

"I will.  Sorry about the confusion.  I hope we didn't upset
you."

Now TJ faced a dilemma.  He had promised Isabel that he
would call Neil but the last thing he wanted to do at the
moment was to talk to his former lover who had betrayed him.

To be continued