23 comments/ 13865 views/ 29 favorites A Cat Named Cupid By: JKendallDane Sometimes love gets help in the strangest ways ~~~~> Author's Note: I did something a little different with this story. Please consider each double: * * * as a character point of view change, and each single: * * * * * as my typical time shift alert. I hope you enjoy my little tale for the Valentine's Day Contest. As always, much love to all of you. JKD ~~~~> "Dammit Cupid! Stop the caterwauling and get off me! Your food bowl will get filled when I get up." Steven Granville paused to shake his head and sigh before completing his chastising with, "Just the same way it always does." Even though he had used a somewhat shrill tone with the pudgy Maine Coon sitting on his chest, he also immediately started scratching the cat's ears. This same scenario and similar one-sided discussion happened almost every Saturday and Sunday morning when he attempted to sleep in much beyond his normal weekday wake up time of 6:30. As he increased the loving attention given to his furry roommate, Steven finished the cat's scolding with a softer voice. "I really don't enjoy having you pawing my nose and lips like some kind of animated snooze alarm. Just because you haven't eaten in all of two hours, doesn't mean you will die of starvation, buddy." * * * * * * Cupid flopped to his side and purred approval at having attention paid to him even though the desired instant gratification of a fresh serving of Meow Mix he had originally been seeking was being delayed. As Steven's hand began to rub him more intensely, he shifted slightly and began using his front paws to knead at the thick carpeting of brown chest hair on his sole staff human. And that is what he was. Staff. Here to serve him. At his beck and call. None of that asinine subservient, dog-type, 'owner' bullshit. He was a feline and as such, was to be treated as a God. 'Dogs have owners, cats have staff ' was the pecking order he instinctively understood and worked so hard to establish and nurture as soon as possible when he was moved into the apartment nearly two years ago. He was only a year old then, but had already learned how life as a cat was supposed to be once you let humans take you in. There had been another human at first. The one who had found him at the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley and brought him to this place. But the one Steven had called Ezra had left one day and never came back. There had been lots of loud voices, and yelling, and things being thrown right before that. They didn't tackle each other and roll around scratching and biting and clawing at one another, but Cupid was certain it was a basic human form of fighting. Just without getting physical like so many of their kind could and would. Kind of like his species bared their teeth, inflated their tails, and hissed at each other until one gives up or things got really serious. Steven was very sad for a long time after Ezra left in spite of him spending more time in his lap and curling up with him to sleep like the other human had done. He didn't understand, but he knew he had to replace the Ezra one. At least temporarily. But he was certain there would eventually be another human needed since he wouldn't be able to do that funny wrestling in bed thing they seemed to like so much. * * * * * * "There. Are you happy now, fur face?" Steven sarcastically questioned as he finished adding some fresh dry food to what was already sitting in Cupid's bowl. The only answer he received back was a couple of tail flips while the cat nibbled up only a few pieces and then sauntered over to the rear door of the apartment on the other side of the kitchen. It was if he was saying: 'I just wanted to make sure you did your duty. I'll eat the rest later.' The turned head and twitching whiskers Steven got from Cupid next was easily translated to: 'You may now open the door for me so I can go do my business and explore.' After Steven complied and as he watched the cat trot across the threshold, he verbalized a couple of thoughts as much to himself as to the departing animal. "Ya know Cupid, I really am beginning to wonder who owns whom here," and "It snowed a little last night, so I know you won't be disappearing half the day like you usually do. Meow real loud when you want back in because I'm not standing here just waiting for you." The instructions only got him another set of tail flutters as the big cat gracefully slipped under the gap at the bottom of the wooden gate that was in the privacy fence that enclosed his small patio. * * * * * * 'I'll be back when I get back,' was the message Cupid intended to send with his flickering tail. 'I have places to be and other humans to see and train. I know my food bowl is full at home...now to see what better food and treats I can score at the other apartments around the complex is my mission. Perhaps I shall start with the wrinkled, short and pudgy, lady human with the blue hair across the parking lot. She gave me tuna juice last time.' He quickly looked up and down the parking lot surveying the multiple buildings in the complex, intending to review his other options. But between the fresh inch of snow making his foot pads cold, and the more-than-chilly twenty-eight-degree temperature doing the same to the rest of him, he informed himself the decision was already made. 'Too damn cold to play the field. Miss Blue Hair wins by weather default today,' went through his mind as he quickly strutted to her door. 'I'll have to listen to her babbling on and on about those little humans she calls grand-somethings, and have to put up with her holding me in her lap forever and petting me until I think my hair is going to fall out. But if it gets me tuna juice for breakfast, I can cope.' With the negatives put aside in his mind, Cupid plopped his butt down on the few square inches of her stoop that wasn't covered in the fresh dusting of snow and meowed as loud as he could. It was the feline version of the thing the humans called doorbells. * * * * * * Andy Newman was sitting on his sofa, working his way through the third cup of coffee since he had gotten up an hour ago, when he heard the first meow. The noise instantly brought back memories of the cat he had to bury just a few weeks before he moved to this new apartment nearly two months ago. He had had Mittens since he got her as a kitten when he was in sixth grade. Since he was staring at turning thirty in another three months, she had obviously lived a full, long life. But he missed her terribly. The big orange tabby with four white feet had been his best friend all through the traumatic years puberty and getting through adolescence had been for him. He doubted if he would have survived his coming-of-age years in high school had it not been for her. She had been the one he told all his secrets to...especially when the attraction to other guys became so strong and he realized it wasn't a phase, but rather was ingrained in his genes and soul. Mittens knew long before anyone else that he was gay because she was the only one he felt safe in telling. Marietta was a really nice town, but it wasn't exactly San Francisco either. Or even Columbus. Size wise or in liberal attitudes. He needed her now if for no other reason than to hold and stroke her while talking about how hitting the big three-ooh soon was messing with his mind. It wasn't the milestone age change of crossing over into his thirties itself that was bothering him; he knew and accepted getting older was just a part of life. It was the 'alone' part. He didn't want to end up down the road, gray and retired, and still without anyone to truly share his life and bed with. With Valentine's Day only four weeks off, his heart, mind, and soul...and all the excessive commercialization of the holiday...were constantly reminding him just how alone he was. Suddenly the reminiscing about Mittens and the depressing thoughts about himself were interrupted by another much longer and louder set of cat cries from outside. * * * * * * 'Come on Blue Hair. Answer the damn door. It's cold as hell out here,' went through Cupid's head while waiting for the door to open after letting loose with his second wailed-out meows announcing he had come to visit. Even with his extra pounds and thick coat of fur, he was beginning to shiver and wanting inside. 'One more try and then I'm going back to my human,' he told himself just before he belted out a cacophony of pitiful and extra loud mews. * * * * * * Steven poured himself one more cup of coffee and planted himself on the couch in his living room. A quick thumb press to the remote control brought the oversized flat screen TV to instant life and he began to surf the hundred plus channels for anything at all worth watching on a Saturday morning. As he began the second tour of the options, he rolled his eyes and complained to the ceiling with, "Even the fucking cartoons are a joke anymore. Not like back when we had Bugs Bunny and Roadrunner and Scooby Doo to entertain us as kids." The comment to himself caused a grimace to appear on his face, as it had reminded him that he had yet another birthday coming up on February 14th...his forty-first one. That reminder triggered several more memories not related to old television shows. The first was about how he and Ezra had met and ended up together eight years earlier. A mutual friend had invited them both to an end-of-summer boating party and BBQ. Living in a town built at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers pretty much guaranteed you became an aficionado of one type or another of water-based activity whether it be fishing, pleasure boating, water skiing, or swimming. There was also the more passive activities to hook you, such as just walking the endless miles of riverfront parks and walking and biking trails, watching the Marietta College crew teams compete against the rowing teams from Harvard and Yale, and attending the city's annual Sternwheel Festival or professional powerboat races. But on that day...once Steven had seen Ezra's nine year younger, well-defined body in a pair of Speedos that left very little to the imagination...he had only one interest in water the rest of the day: Convincing this cutie to come home with him after the party and try tandem surfing in his California King waterbed. Steven had been blessed with great genes and back then, even at the age of thirty-three, still had the looks that not only got him attention easily, but also assured him his choice from a wide variety of potential sexual partners. The idea of settling down into a relationship was almost foreign to him and rarely entered his mind. How Ezra destroyed that attitude their first night in bed became memory number two that resurfaced. He closed his eyes and it played so clearly again in his mind, it was as if he had time traveled backwards and was actually reliving each moment. It was during the second afterglow resulting from incredibly passionate sex when Ezra had asked about going out together the next night. 'Just dinner or maybe a movie,' was how he prefaced the suggestion of a date. Steven had fairly bluntly replied with, "I'm not interested in dating." He instantly realized how cold the words came across. "Don't take that wrong. I'm just not looking for anything serious," had been the attempt at sounding less crass. "So I'm just another notch on the playa's bed post?" "Well that's not exactly what I meant. I just don't want to be tied down or lead you on that I am looking for something permanent." "Which is another way of saying you are a player. You want to ignore any possible emotional entanglements in exchange for being able to be the tomcat that roams all the alleys, takes what he wants, empties his balls, and moves on to the next conquest." "Don't make it sound like I'm completely unfeeling and that you were just a slab of meat, Ezra." "Whatever you say...Bart." "Who the fuck is Bart?" "Lemme guess...you've never seen the old classic gay movie 'Making Love' have you?" "Um, no. Why?" Steven questioned. "Because Bart was you. Way too good looking and in shape for his age and still able to score at will usually. Why would a relationship have any interest for you when you can get the perks without having to invest anything but your nuts, your talented lips, and some great hip rhythm. Bart was the same way in the movie. And about the same age too." "Don't be psychoanalyzing me, dude. I'm just not the type of guy that wants to start planning a wedding after two orgasms." "Neither do I, Steven. But this is where the movie comes into play. Well, at least a line or two in it. Bart starts the same type of vacillating after a hook up. The guy is really interested in exploring something more, and Bart totally blows off the idea. And Zach...the guy he just got it on with...bluntly tells him: 'You know. You aren't always going to be the looker and have that frat boy body. There will be a point where you don't get to pick who you take home from the bar. There will be a point where you don't even turn a head under the age of sixty when you walk in. Then you are going to want more and not be able to find it.' Don't be another Bart, Steven. You have so much more potential." As the memory movie in his head faded to black, Steven reopened his eyes. They were moist. Ezra had nailed it perfectly and it had changed his life when they started dating and eventually moved in together. The hot little college boy that had made his cock so hard, had completely softened his heart and got him to open up his most internalized emotions. He became complete with, and thanks to, Ezra. But the "seven year itch" struck right on cue, and Ezra not only had an affair, but claimed he had fallen in love and left him for a twink barely old enough to be able to buy cigarettes or beer. All of twenty-one and a couple of weeks...maybe. Despite his protestations otherwise, Steven was convinced Ezra's midlife crisis came fifteen years early and the more than seven year history they had went down the shitter in one quick flush. Fortunately, before his mind could play any more games with him, Steven discovered the SyFy Channel was running a special marathon of reruns from their old 'MST3K' hit show and he settled in to concentrate on it instead of his dismal emotions. Even the mindless absurdity of 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' was preferential to the bitter cold weather outside his apartment or the chill of the emptiness he felt in his chest where his heart should be. He knew it was from constantly reminding himself that he would soon be turning forty-one years old. Old fartdom in the gay world. Forty-one and alone. * * * * * * Andy couldn't see the source of the unusual meowing through either the apartment door peephole; nor by doing the 'Gladys Kravitz snoopy neighbor' impression and pulling aside just the edge of the drapes on the living room window. It wasn't an 'in pain' or 'ready to fight' cry. Didn't seem like the noises a lost kitten would make, or even a big tom vocally celebrating finding a willing female in heat either. He had learned all those distinctive variations of cat voices and meanings from all the years with his Mittens. No, this was something completely different. Almost a personalized greeting of some type. Whatever the motive behind the cries, he had to check it out to be sure it wasn't a cat in some kind of distress. Gritting his teeth at what he knew would be the coming blast of sub-freezing temperatures, he turned the knob and tugged the heavy metal door open. * * * * * * Cupid was just about to take off back to his own warm abode and human when the door opened only a few extra feet from where he sat shivering. The human that stepped out reminded him a little of Ezra, but a little taller...and with much darker hair and complexion...and not fat, but definitely chubbier than the human that had abandoned him and Steven. The soft voice and familiar words he used to call out to him with, said he probably had experience around Cupid's kind. When he squatted down and did the 'Here kitty, kitty, kitty,' thing along with the 'You can trust me' hand motions, Cupid decided he had a new person he needed to get to know. Right now to get instantly out of the weather, but also for future reference as to whether this guy was another easy mark to score treats. Before the new human was halfway through the second set of soothing and inviting words, Cupid was brushing past him to the sanctity of the warm living room. * * * * * * Andy looked on with amusement as the roly-poly cat shot past him and immediately helped itself to a spot on the couch where the overhead heating vent was blowing much more acceptable air directly downward than what was outside this morning. The cat's mild shaking from the cold stopped almost immediately. He shivered himself though and practically slammed the front door closed to quickly shut off the wind and arctic temperatures it brought along when it forced its way through the opening. "So what's your name, big one?" he asked with an inviting lilt in his voice. His hand instinctively went to the cat's head and ears as he slowly lowered himself to the couch. It took less than thirty seconds of scratching with his finger nails for Andy to have the creature on its back and purring like a Harley Davidson winding out in fourth gear. "You really like that little buddy. I think we are going to be good friends," was added just as the cat shifted its head and gave him a love bite on the wrist. "You obviously have a home.." Andy began as he moved his hand to the soft belly being exposed to him, "...this pudge says to get your three squares a day, every day. And probably more when you can con your way into it." The cat was approaching ecstasy if the constantly increasing volume of its interior motor and stomach twitches were any kind of indicators. "Just keep that look on your face while I check you out and see if you are male or female. Don't want to be calling you 'Alice' if you are really a 'Ralph' you know." After a quick perusal, Andy announced in a jocular manner, "Nope. No balls. But that little pink tip peeking out at me says you used to have them, so until I find out differently, you are now Ralph." * * * * * * 'This is so much better than what dealing with old "Blue Hair" would have been. Wonder what kind of treats this human might have?' went through Cupid's head as he continued enjoying the massage and attention. 'He must have been trained by one of us at some point,' was the next thought as the human asked if he was hungry. Rolling back over, Cupid shot him a look that was both gracious and solicitous, but behind it was a smirk and comment in his brain of: 'I'm a cat! Of course I am fucking hungry!' Just to make certain his message was understood, Cupid jumped down to the floor and went in search of the room Steven called 'the kitchen.' That was where the humans kept all the food. 'Why settle for a treat when I might be able to guilt trip my way into a full meal?' was the plan he hatched. 'Paste on the "I'm starving" look and play it like this is Broadway on opening night,' was the goal that was set. And it must have worked, because within a few short minutes of rubbing up against every cabinet in the food room, and eking out some slightly pathetic whimpers and mews, the human was setting a can of tuna on the counter top and grabbing for the machine that was like a harp to a cat's ears...the one the humans called "a can opener." * * * * * * Andy smiled when he saw the reaction of the cat when he snugged the can of Chicken of the Sea up against the blade of the can opener. The puss began what could only be described as a praise dance to the tuna gods. He laughed out loud when the cat performed a nearly Olympic level tumbling act of half somersaults in the middle of the kitchen floor while the can opener made the same patented noise every other one did when in use. That was followed with enough head rubbing against the legs of his jeans that they were now, without a doubt, marked for life no matter how much Clorox he added to the water the next time he washed them. What happened next surprised him as much as it did the feline at his feet. A Cat Named Cupid * * * * * * 'Tuna juice! Tuna juice! Tuna juice!' was the meaning behind the vocalizations Cupid was making as he wound around the human's legs and tumbled on the floor. He mewed out a combined babble of thanks to the human for his largesse and apology to his ancestors for not maintaining the proper aloofness felines had spent centuries perfecting. 'It's fucking tuna juice though! It always has flakes in it too. That's like cat cognac and kitty caviar in one score,' he explained to what he was sure was hundreds of generations of his predecessors shaking their heads at his surrender to the human. * * * * * * "I think somebody really likes tuna," Andy decreed as he pulled the lid free of the can. "Or doesn't whoever owns you give it to you very often?" He grinned at how the cat was now sitting upright, totally hypnotized, and swishing it's tail back and forth like an orchestra conductor showboating with his baton for a packed auditorium. Even though it was his last can of tuna and he had intended to donate the juice to his new furry friend and then add mayonnaise to the meat for a sandwich for himself, Andy instead decided to dump the entire contents in the bowl he had placed on the counter. As he used a finger to scrape out the final bits of fish shreds, he intoned, "You must be living right, Ralph. Even my darling Mittens only got this lucky on really special days." As he turned and bent down to set the bowl on the floor, Ralph became almost epileptic. * * * * * * 'Screw being all refined and reserved and treating this moment like it's a state dinner at the White House. I just scored the ultimate! Juice and tuna!' was the silent message Cupid sent his long-gone, watching ancestors as he dived for the treasure being presented to him. His furry face was instantly buried in the precious ambrosia and his interior noise maker began purring his satisfaction about the same time tuna juice began dripping from his whiskers. 'Blue Hair...hate to tell you but you just lost your lap kitty,' was zinging through his mind as he greedily inhaled the fishy banquet. 'You'll have to find someone else to prattle on-and-on to about those grand-things of yours and keep you company in the afternoons, because I've just discovered what most certainly must be the second coming of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint of kitties. And when it comes to food, my kind have no loyalty except to whomever is serving us the very best.' * * * * * * Andy stood leaning back against his kitchen counter with a look of total amusement and his arms comfortably crossed as he watched the cat scarf down the tuna feast as if he was on death row and had been served his last meal. "Must be some of Mittens in you, Ralph, because she was the exact same way with a bowl of tuna." As the cat fastidiously slid his tongue all around the finally empty bowl to make certain every stray fish flake and drip of juice had been taken care of, Andy tossed the empty can in the trash and suggested, "You want to come back in the living room and watch some TV with me?" With a look of complete sincerity, he added, "I could use the company to be honest." 'And I could use a nap on a warm lap now that my stomach is stuffed,' was the meaning behind the head tilt and tail flip answer he received from the furry beast on the floor. * * * * * It was dark and nearly 6:30pm when Steven opened the front door yet again and called out, "Cupid! Where are you? Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Come on hairball. Get your butt home and I'll add burger grease to your food for dinner. Here kitty, kitty, kitty." The thoughts that crossed his mind as he waited for some type of response to his calls, ranged from: 'He is never gone this long' to 'He's probably just holed-up over at Mrs. Abicht's because of the weather.' Steven had just decided to trot across the apartment complex's narrow street and rescue the old lady from Cupid, as much as rescuing Cupid from the further diving temperatures and newest falling snow, when he saw the gray blur shoot from under his car and to his steps. There was no answer when he asked, "How long have you been under there, stupid?" as the obviously cold cat zipped past him and through the barely open front door. He followed and made sure the door was tightly closed against the latest onslaught of frigid air. He also snickered to himself as he watched the fat furball work his way under the heavy throw on the couch Steven had himself been under most of the day. "If I didn't know they were already gone, I would ask you if you froze your nuts off out there," he said with more than a sarcastic tone in his voice. "I swear Cupid, you constantly working the neighbors the way you do is going to bite you in the ass someday." When the furry face appeared from under the throw, the expression on Cupid's face was impossible to misunderstand: 'Go fuck yourself with the lecture and get over here and help warm my ass up.' Steven simply grinned, joined Cupid on the couch, and proceeded to lavish loving strokes of his hands that generated heat for his happy pet and as always, welcomed home his regularly wandering roommate. * * * * * For the next several weeks, a very similar if not identical, scenario played out for both Steven and Andy. Cupid made his long visits to one and kept the other confused as to where he was disappearing to so often and for such extended periods of time. Steven had wrongly assumed that Cupid was just hanging out for longer house call sessions with Mrs. Abicht. But he had that misconception corrected when the old lady banged on his door early one evening and inquired if something had happened to the cat she had begun to consider their shared pet. She told him it had been well over a week since Cupid had spent an afternoon with her as had become his almost daily custom. After a few questions, it became clear that she was as clueless as he was as to where the roaming cat had been spending his time lately. Since Cupid never failed to turn up on the front stoop or on the patio at the back door at some point every evening, whining as he demanded admittance to the apartment, Steven simply shrugged off the mystery. He knew in spite of Cupid's inbred superiority complex and natural wanderlust, that the cat loved him and would never leave and not come back...unlike the man that had given him the cat as a Valentine's Day gift two years prior. Ezra. That one was gone forever. Andy's attitude was mainly one of curiosity as to where Ralph, as he still called him, actually lived. Definitely curious, but not enough to go knocking on doors and possibly put an end by accident to the regular visitations from Ralph. Some cat owners were overly protective; he certainly had been with Mittens; and whoever actually shared a life with Ralph might stop letting him out to roam. He simply gave in with total acceptance of the cat's 'Wander in. Let's share some quality time. You feed me something special. Love on me some. See you next time. And wander back off to who knows where,' scripting of their relationship. No cat could ever replace his beloved Mittens, but Ralph had taken over the chunk of his heart that Mittens had left available when she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. In a way, Andy started seeing Ralph as some kind of gift from beyond from from his departed friend...someone to help him get on with life, both fur buddy wise and personally, because he and Ralph had started having the same type of deep discussions he had previously only had with Mittens. And so that was how it continued on with the two males and the pudgy Maine Coon...right up until the beginning of the second week of February. Cupid was literally splitting his time between the two apartments. He had also started referring to them in his mind as 'My two humans' and taken to ignoring everyone else in the complex...even good hearted Mrs. Abicht. In spite of all his completely spoiled attitudes and self-absorbed habits, Cupid really liked the two guys and did his best to return the constant attention and deep affection they each bathed him with. He also took notice of how both of them seemed to be mentioning something called 'Valentine's Day' more and more in their conversations with him. It seemed to supposed to be one of those extra special days the humans were constantly celebrating, but for some reason, it was making both of them sad. "Being alone on the one day of the year the whole world grinds to a halt so hundreds of millions of pairs of people can celebrate being a couple, just totally sucks," was the way Steven had put it one night while he was trying to find anything on television that wasn't about romance and love and simultaneously baring his soul to Cupid. Andy had also been noticeably less enthusiastic about life and making similar comments when a commercial for this special day for humans interrupted whatever radio station he was listening to on his stereo. Even though they were down emotionally, the guys continued to treat him like a king and smother him with love. It was also very obvious to him, that they had even more love to share with one of their own kind...if they could ever find the right one. Out of the blue, the light bulb clicked on over his head and suddenly Cupid realized he had a mission that, for once, wasn't centered around food or finding a new place to nap. Even though their front doors were a mere few dozen yards apart, neither Steven nor Andy had a scintilla of a clue that either existed. Well, not beyond the typical entirely generic wrist flip wave in the parking lot between live-in-the-same complex, pseudo-neighbors. But even though they were strangers, they were already sharing three distinct and personal things: Both being gay. Both being alone. And now a cat named Cupid. * * * * * The first crack in the wall of being neighbors but remaining strangers, occurred on Monday the 9th when Steven got home much later than normal from his job at the Marietta Times. The regular senior reporter assigned to the city hall and courthouse beat was on vacation and he had drawn the short straw to be the fill-in man. It wasn't the first time he had covered a city council committee meeting, but it was the first time he had seen one run three hours into the early evening. This rare happening was thanks to the stubborn mayor and one equally hard-headed councilman getting into a nearly hour-long major pissing match over the multimillion dollar renovation of the century old, former national guard armory that occupied a prominent chunk of riverfront real estate in the downtown business district and that the city had purchased. The first fifteen minutes were a welcome and fairly humorous diversion from the otherwise normally 'bore-me-to-tears' meeting of the 'Lands & Buildings' committee of the small town's legislative body. The next thirty-five or forty minutes however, quickly devolved into what could only be compared to two first graders arguing over the last swing available on the playground during recess...lots of huffing and puffing and threats and name-calling, but little else that truly mattered. By the time the verbal fireworks show was all over and the meeting finally adjourned at nearly 7:00, it was already dark and Steven's stomach was not at all politely, reminding him it needed filling. Since Cupid also got fed at the same time, he could only imagine the reception he would get from the demanding feline...especially since Cupid had darted out the door with him almost twelve hours earlier and most likely would be greeting him on the steps of the apartment with a real attitude. But when he pulled up in front of his door ten minutes later, the car headlights lit up nothing but an empty stoop. It wasn't until he turned slightly after exiting the driver's seat that he noticed the big ball of gray fur sitting with the younger guy that had moved in across the street a month or two ago. Instead of just calling out to Cupid, he locked his car door and walked over to retrieve the cat. * * * * * * Andy had only stepped outside a moment or two prior to the car pulling in across the way. The only reason he was outside in the cold air and occasional peppering new snow flakes was due to his commitment to himself to never light up a cigarette inside the new apartment as one more step in eventually quitting the nasty and expensive things. Plus, since Ralph had been inside with him since mid-afternoon when he got home from his 5am to 3pm early shift at the restaurant, he figured the cat needed a trip outside also while he got his nicotine fix. Even though Ralph was a daily visitor to his place now, he still didn't have a litter box there for when the call of nature rang. Accepting the promotion offer to general manager and the required accompanying transfer to one of the newest units of the family-style restaurant chain he had worked for since his first year of community college, was how he had ended up in the friendly little city just weeks earlier. The demands of getting settled in at work was also a big reason why he had not even attempted the pursuit of any kind of personal life or exploration of the mid Ohio Valley's minimal gay community. 'In time, Andy. All in good time,' he had constantly reminded himself when the emotional and physical urges had struck him. 'Internet porn and phone and cyber sex will have to suffice until you are established here,' had been the final argument his conscience used to convince him of how it needed to be. That was part of why he had let Ralph attach himself...at least part time...to him. He could love and be loved back without all the temporarily nonexistent extra time and much deeper emotions that were required with another guy. He was reminding himself of how long it had been since he had gotten down and dirty for real when the deep voice broke his train of thought. * * * * * "Cupid, dammit! Is this the latest victim of your 'I am so neglected at home' bullshit come-on lines?" That was quickly added to with a wide toothy smile, an extended hand and, "Hi. My name is Steven and Cupid there, is the biggest mooch in the complex. Don't let him fool you or be a problem." "Oh he hasn't been at all. In fact he has kind of been a blessing," were the first words from Andy. He followed up immediately by accepting the offered handshake and, "Glad to meet you. Just call me Andy." As the two stood with Cupid weaving in and out between their legs while they shook hands, both their gaydar systems registered the first 'beep' which is almost always second guessed as 'wishful thinking'. The usually reliable sixth sense makes you very curious but also suddenly overly cautious at the same time. Fortunately, the rapid body scans with the eyes and the lingering smiles both gave each other, was the first confirmation the 'beep' probably wasn't a false one. "So, I take it you are new in town with those Kentucky tags on your car?" Steven finally broke the silence with. He felt as if the gaydar going off was not a false positive, but he did mentally spank his own hand with the thought of 'He is at least eight or ten years younger than you. He won't be interested.' Andy chased away the negative thought with his reply. "Yeah. Grew up in a similar little town near Louisville and did the junior college thing there, but was living in Lexington until two months or so ago. I'm the general manager of the new 'Fire Mountain' that went into the old Ryan's location out on Pike Street, so I haven't really had the chance to get to know many of the neighbors yet." With only a momentary pause and another barely subtle perusal of Steven's frame, Andy added, "From what I can tell so far, I'm kinda glad you are one of my first, to be honest." The words were accompanied by a wink and suggestive grin. While waiting for a reaction, Andy's brain was processing what the initial eyeballing had provided him. 'With the short beard and hairy arms and that fur sticking out the top of his open shirt, says he's normally not my type. Bears never really have been. And he's definitely a little older than I am usually attracted to. But something about this guy sure has my attention,' was the report he delivered silently to himself. "I haven't been there yet, but heard it is really nice and that the breakfast buffet is the best in the entire Ohio Valley. Fire Mountain is actually a part of the Ryan chain isn't it?" As Steven spoke, he also took the luxury of a second covert inspection of Andy and happily got several more gaydar 'beep~beeps' for his efforts. What really confused him though, was he usually got hard over shorter, blond-haired, blue-eyed twinks. This guy was a few inches taller than his own five-foot-ten, had jet black hair, and eyes that could double as pieces of coal. And he was coming across as far more a jock type than exhibiting any typical twink characteristics. "Yeppers. They tried a half dozen of them in the south, but they didn't go over all that well since they were more upscale and therefore a little higher priced than Ryan's. So now they are seeing if they will fly up here in the north and are putting them in the closed Ryan's locations instead of just paying the mortgage and upkeep on empty buildings that are going to take forever to sell. Business has been great since we opened up after the remodel, but then that's typical for almost any new restaurant. The locals have to check it out just because it is new and either give it their blessing or add it to their 'never again, thumbs down' list." "Well I guess I should have breakfast with you some morning," Steven proffered with another leading smile. 'Too blunt, too soon?' he questioned his conscience. 'Nah, go for it. He's interested too,' was the confidential answer he received back from his private guidance system. 'I could take that about ten different ways,' was what Andy wanted to reply with, but instead tossed out, "I think you and breakfast might be an interesting proposition." He cringed a bit at how forward that sounded after it crossed his tongue; particularly for using the word 'proposition' in the comment; but dismissed any further uncertainty at how it would be taken when he noticed Steven give him the once-over yet again before he spoke. "We can talk about working up a plan for that, but for right now, I need to get my butt and Cupid's home and crank the heat back up. It's probably cold enough to hang meat in my living room right now." Andy looked down at the cat as it made one final set of twisting turns around both their legs. 'You're grinning at me. You know we are both gay, don't you?' his inner voice declared. Cupid flicked his tail back and forth like a metronome...almost as if he had heard the question and was both answering it and putting some serious punctuation at the end of his confirmation. Instead of trying to further communicate any more with questionable animal-human telepathy, he stated out loud: "So your name is really Cupid, eh Ralph?" The look of confusion he received from Steven caused him to add: "It's what I've been calling him since he started hanging out with me when you weren't home." "Ohhh. I thought maybe he had learned to actually talk and was preparing to go into witness protection with you or something," was the jesting reply. "Witness protection is only used when the witness has seen something he probably shouldn't have, isn't it?" The grin on Andy's face after that one was barely held back from becoming a full blown smirk. Steven almost burst out laughing at the deja vu moment Andy had just created without knowing it. "I'll just plead the fifth on that one. At least for right now. Just suffice it to say, Cupid is a little bit of a perv at times." Andy tilted his head in question with that line, but only said, "We are racking up a bunch of stuff to talk about later...if you were serious, I mean." It was the best opening he could come up with at the moment to put the burden and decision on Steven as far as spending some more time together. A Cat Named Cupid "Tonight's not a possibility because I've been up and constantly running since 6am doing double duty thanks to one of the other reporters being on vacation. I haven't had lunch or dinner yet and am almost dead on my feet to boot. I would probably fall asleep on you." 'You say that as if it would be a problem,' was instantly poised at the tip of Andy's tongue, but he instead substituted, "I understand, Steven. How about Wednesday night? It's my day off and maybe we can just order pizza or I could whip up something simple after you get off." 'Don't use the term "get off" 'cause I could so easily with you, I think,' raced towards Steven's lips from his throat. But he held it back in exchange for, "Wednesday would work for me too, since I have to cover a school board meeting for the paper tomorrow night. So is it a date?" "We can call it that I guess," Andy responded. The smile on his face said he liked the term. "Wednesday about six it is then." Steven offered a fist bump to seal the deal and then bent over to scoop up Cupid. "Let's go fur face. Daddy needs some food and I figure you are up for some too, as usual." Just before he stepped from the stoop he smiled one last time at Andy and said, "Glad we finally met...neighbor." "Me too, Steven. Me too," were the simple words Andy uttered; the mirrored smile and wink back was the much deeper meaning, confirmation he sent Steven. * * * * * Wednesday evening finally came even though both guys didn't think it ever would. Neither really believed in the idea of love at first sight, but both Steven and Andy had spent a big portion of the previous forty plus hours with thoughts and visions of the other. Steven had masturbated slowly and sensually in bed on Monday night, making love to himself with his eyes pinched tightly shut and seeing Andy naked on top of him on the inside of his eye lids. The Old Faithful geyser his cock eventually gave up, strung ropes of man juice everywhere from his thick pubic patch, up across his furry tummy and chest, peppered his face and forehead, and one giant initial wad even splattered itself above his pillow on his headboard. It had been an orgasm to rival any he had ever had as a teenager. Andy had beat off too that night, but only after surfing a bunch of internet porn sites different from what he normally went to for visual stimulation. Once he discovered a more-than-suitable representation of Steven in a movie on a site called 'The Bear Den' he took matters in hand. He was amazed that the load of cum he finally shot up his torso and all over the keyboard of his lap top at the end of the short movie with the Steven look-alike, had been the largest one he had produced in months. Steven was totally distracted all day Tuesday, with thoughts of his new friend invading his brain constantly. It became even more pronounced at the school board meeting he was covering, when he realized half the scribbling on his reporter's open notebook page was the same word doodled over and over and over again. The word was 'Andy.' It really hit home the next day as he was typing up his story and kept substituting 'Andy' for the school board president's last name of 'Andrews.' By noon on Wednesday he told himself, 'You need to get a grip. You don't really know diddly-shit about this guy yet beyond he has to be gay and he's from Kentucky.' His inner voice spoke up with, 'And that Cupid really likes him. That counts for something, too.' Steven grinned and nodded his head at that reminder. Andy hadn't fared much better, as every customer that came into the restaurant on Tuesday that even slightly resembled Steven, had caused his dick to twitch all on its own. He had popped more boners during his shift than he could kept track of, and when he got home and was changing to something comfortable to wear, he discovered his thick black pubes were matted together from all the precum he had leaked off in his underwear while at work. 'Sheesh! It's like being fifteen all over again,' he had thought to himself. Finding Cupid on his doorstep when he went out for his wake-up smoke first thing on Wednesday, and having the big cat spend the entire day with him, was an even more constant reminder of the preoccupation he had with Steven. It was as if the Main Coon was making sure Andy absorbed some of his natural, overly affectionate personality to use with his human later. * * * * * Zero hour finally arrived when Andy saw Steven's car pull into his parking stall across the street a little after 5pm. Steven gave him a 'thirty minutes' signal using three fingers on one hand and circle made with the thumb and index finger of the other before disappearing into his apartment. "Cupid...why do I feel like the girl that just made the cheerleading squad, waiting for the team quarterback to pick her up for a first date?" he inquired of the cat curled up on his couch. The only reply Cupid gave was a head lift, wide yawn, and twitching whiskers that was meant to convey a 'Just go with the flow and let it happen, dude,' message, but was misinterpreted as total disinterest. Across the drive, after a quick shower, Steven was as nervous as he could be and changed his mind from dress khakis to well-worn jeans and back a half dozen times. He finally compromised with his favorite pair of cargos and yanked the bright orange American Eagle polo that made his emerald eyes stand out, over his head. One last fluff of his hair and an extra dab of cologne to his neck and he was headed for what was to be technically considered a first date. 'Will there be a second?' he silently asked himself as he rapped his knuckles on Andy's front door just moments later. * * * * * Shortly after midnight, Steven was trying to unlock his front door with Cupid under one arm and balancing a heavy Tupperware container in the other. Andy had completely surprised him with a full blown Italian meal that was highlighted by the best lasagna he had he had ever tasted...homemade or otherwise. "Just one of the secret recipes great grandma brought from Turin just before World War Two," had been his only concession to the question of where he had learned to cook like Wolfgang Puck. The evening had started off with some uncomfortable nervousness on the parts of both guys. An almost foreboding quiet hung in the air initially, but was quickly dissipated by Andy with a single question. "Are we gonna dance around on eggshells all night, or is one of us gonna shoot the damn elephant in the room and say the 'G' word?" Steven had laughed and quipped with, "Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a Gemini. But we're not all crazy with split personalities like people think." Andy chuckled back and the ice was broken as he asked, "Really? You're a Gemini? I would have guessed Aries to go along with how hyper you seem to be all the time." "Actually, I am an Aquarius...my birthday is this Saturday in fact. Not that I have any plans to celebrate it. Just sit at home with Cupid on my lap and watching 'Brady Bunch' reruns on 'Nick-at-Nite' like I did last year probably." "Well if you answer the original question, Steven, I might give you another option to that idea." "The 'elephant' and 'G-word' thing? "Uh huh." Steven gave up a shrug of his shoulders and stated, "Yeah, it's a pink elephant and yes, I am gay. I assume adding 'too' to the end of that fills in the blank about you, right?" "As a three dollar bill singing a show tune," Andy responded with a big grin. From that point forward, the night became one with a totally relaxed atmosphere and filled with each recounting over dinner, everything from their first time to the coming out stories, and finally retiring to the couch with glasses of wine to get the ugly baggage both had hidden under their beds with past relationships out of the way. Since he was younger by eleven years, Andy's past was less littered than Steven's. He had dated seriously a half dozen times, but had only lived with one guy for a couple of years. "I finally broke it off when he kept insisting doing a three-way wouldn't be cheating or fuck us up. I can share love without a problem; I just can't share the physical part of it with more than one person at a time." Steven nodded his head in understanding and agreement, before opening up his life to Andy. He easily told the stories of the high school exclusive boyfriend that went sour when they went off to separate colleges; about the nearly two year affair with a frat brother that ended up being far more physical than emotional; and the couple of years where he finally sowed his wild oats and played the field hard and often...but always safe. "And then I turned thirty and met Ezra..." Suddenly the words were no longer coming easy because the memories were. An hour later, Andy was curled up against Steven, gently hugging him in a totally platonic manner as the last tears finally fell from his eyes. "From what I've already seen, it's his loss, not yours, Steven. And if it's been well over a year like you said, it's time to say 'fuck him' and get on with what else is out there worth your time and love." Andy planted a gentle kiss on Steven's wet cheek, smiled, and squeezed his thigh. "You don't wanna miss Mr. Right when your cat drags him into your life, ya know." The exaggerated wink Andy had added at the end made Steven laugh for the first time since he mentioned Ezra's name initially. "Thank you so much for putting me in the right mood, Andy," he said as he leaned in to kiss his new friend back. When their lips brushed together, somebody flipped the main switch at the power station and the surging electricity locked them together with tongues and hands soon becoming involved also. "I know what mood you are putting me in, Steven," Andy managed to softly murmur when they finally broke their lip locks momentarily for a much needed breath. Steven nodded and cautioned, "I know. You have me there too. And don't take this wrong, but I don't want to rush things. Not unless this is just to be a one-time thing." "I take that to mean you want something more than that?" "Uh huh. Well, I just don't want us to fuck up any possibilities if you see any or want anything more." "I quit being satisfied with one-night stands and fuck-buddies well over a year ago, Steven. I'm all for taking this in baby steps too, because I am interested in you. Not sure why. I just am." Steven smiled. Andy smiled back. Then their mouths and hands got busy again. Somewhat amazingly, their clothes stayed on, but that was because that had been the unofficial commitment they had made...at least for that night. * * * * * Thursday the 12th was filled with many, many text messages back and forth; most centered on just having some form of contact. Others, however, were to subtly reassure each other the intimacy they had shared the night before was because of an instant emotional bonding and not simply driven by unsatiated lust. Even though they had pushed the envelope with the intense make-out session, and truly tested their resolve to wait for the ultimate intimacy with the roaming hands and massaging fingers, neither Andy nor Steven had gone to bed frustrated. And they didn't need to jack off when all alone to be able to find a peaceful sleep because they had already already achieved full release while fully dressed and acting like two virginal teenagers in the backseat of Dad's Chevy while on Andy's couch. There had been enough grabs and gropes and rubs and squeezes to go along with the emotions they were sharing that they both literally came in their pants...and not only once, but twice! It hadn't been as good as full-out, hard core, unrestrained, skin-on-skin sex, but it sure tried to be. The plan for later had been decided as pizza and movie night, but this time at Steven's apartment. He had managed to build up a fairly impressive collection of gay themed movies and television episodes going clear back into the 1960's, and he was certain a decent chunk of them had never been seen by Andy. "If nothing else, we order the pizza; stick in one of the tapes with eight, half hour installments of Showtime's 'Brothers' series on it; and just let it be background ambiance while we talk each other silly for four hours," had been the idea Steven brought up. "Or maybe four more hours of just making out," was Andy's suggested alternative that came with a snicker. "Something tells me if we try that, there is no way we won't end up naked this time," Steven warned. "Even if we did, we still don't have to go any place we aren't ready to, babe," Andy countered. "It will happen when it's meant to happen, and not before." "Point made. Listen. I am going to be interviewing the mayor and development director for the next hour, so you won't be hearing from me until after you get home probably. Make sure you round up Cupid. He snuck out the front door with me this morning and is probably either way-past-ready to be back inside or needing rescued from Mrs. Abicht's clutches." "Will do, Steven. I'll take care of the fat little fur guy and bring him over when you get home. See ya later, stud." "You better, hunk. I'm counting on it. Buh~bye." Both guys stared at the blank screen of their cell phones for a while as if they were going to be able to see the face of the person they had just finished talking with. They really didn't need to since the smiles there were both wearing at that moment could be seen from the international space station and without any kind of technology involved. They both just knew that and could hear the happiness in each others voices with their eyes closed. * * * * * They were down to the final three pieces of pizza and final dribbles of red wine in the bottle they had opened two hours earlier. Harvey Fierstein was on the television screen and just getting ready to read his mother's beads at the cemetery in 'Torch Song Trilogy.' Cupid was splayed in the recliner, half watching the guys, but also most likely plotting an attack on the last pizza slices being ignored by them. And neither Steven nor Andy were cognizant of any of it because they had been in a lip lock of epic proportions for the past thirty minutes. One that had grown so passionate that it could easily qualify for recognition by Ripley's Believe It or Not. Just as Steven suckled Andy's tongue back between his lips and inhaled it into his mouth yet again, he felt Andy's hand plant itself on his hardened box. When the heel of his buddy's palm began to knead his lump, he moaned into Andy's mouth and his hips instinctively shifted upwards to meet the hand that was going to quickly make him crazy. Steven dropped his own hand to Andy's crotch and caressed the manhood hidden behind the buttons of his 501's as their tongues continued to do battle in between the kisses they were lovingly trading with each other. Without any warning or words, Andy suddenly pulled away from Steven's face and locked eyes with him. The color of coal they had been was now also tinted with a hint of red...possibly from the third glass of wine, but more likely due to the burning desire Andy was possessed by at the moment. His fingers deftly captured Steven's zipper tab, and tugged it all the way down before Steven could react. The first words of questioning whether Andy should chance going to skin-on-skin contact with Steven's pleasure pole came at the same time the hand found its mark and wrapped around it. 'CAPTURED!' went through Andy's brain as he began to slowly stroke on the velvety piece of flesh. "Andy...are you sure this is a good idea?" finally escaped from Steven's mouth. "Not anywhere near as good as this is," came immediately as Andy pulled the throbbing cock free of the restraining jeans through the unzipped fly. "Or as good an idea as this is," were the final words said before Andy leaned down and flicked his tongue over the oozing slit of Steven's mushroom. The full and hungry lips followed as they took the pulsing head between them and began to eat their way down the seven plus inches of Steven's now-begging tool. Happily resigning himself to the pleasuring Andy had every intention of completing, Steven relaxed back into the couch and used his hand to undo the waistband snap of Andy's cargos and pop open the fly. His first full view of Andy's cock he got after pulling the waistband of the boxers over it and tucking it beneath Andy's nuts, made him suck in a breath. A little longer than his and much thicker, it was a sight to behold. And one he now wanted to hold in his throat the same way his was being trapped by Andy's talented tonsils. In an almost whimper from the erotic way Andy's mouth was working his most responsive appendage, Steven whispered between moans, "If we are going to do this here, let's at least do it right. Spin around and lay down on your back so we can sixty-nine, baby." Andy readily complied with the demand and within seconds the only noises in the room, were Fierstein's gravelly voice coming from the TV, the loud purring of Cupid now asleep in the recliner, and the dual slurping of lips and tongues sliding in concert with each other up and down a new lover's pulsing manhood as each feverishly worked to take the other over the edge into a state of euphoria. Thanks to it having been so long for both of them to be in this position, the rumbling in their balls soon announced the unstoppable orgasms and a tsunami of life fluid began to flood their mouths. Each of them greedily drank it down, but did save enough to whip up a post-eruption snowball together as they kissed during afterglow. Hours later, as they were both searching for the Sand Man from their individual beds and reliving the simultaneous blow jobs in their minds, the big question became: Do we dare take that next...and pretty much full commitment to dating seriously...step? * * * * * Even though Valentine's Day and Steven's forty-first birthday were both officially on Saturday, the two guys had decided the initial celebrating would occur on Friday night. The restaurant was expected to be a zoo late in the day when Andy would normally be wrapping up things with his early shift and heading home, so he was going to be tied up until very late in the afternoon at best and possibly as late as 8pm at the worst. Steven had, prior to meeting Andy, made a firm promise to his elderly mother that lived over near Athens, to come for a late lunch and some of her famous, all homemade, birthday cake. It had been kind of a standing tradition with them for years...even when he and Ezra had been together...and he could hardly blow her off now because of a new boyfriend. With Andy being trapped at work until at least 5:30 or 6:00, all Steven had to do was make sure his Mom understood he would have to leave for home in Marietta no later than 4 or 4:30. He loved his mother and would be there as she expected, but he also wasn't about to let anything interrupt the very special evening that was sure to come with Andy tonight. Andy was a bundle of nerves at work all day. Partially due to the fact that they would be so busy and that this was the first real holiday where his type of establishment attracted customers who were looking for the little more than normal "family style" eating experience. This was a chance to make a really good first impression on a wide variety of new customers. Then when he added in all the possibilities of what tonight with Steven could, and most likely would, lead to, his stomach was already doing flip flops ten minutes after he unlocked the front door for the breakfast crowd. The sex he and Steven had had the night before was little more than the next step up from mutual masturbation. The sex the odds said they would end up having tonight was a whole other story. Steven had already said he didn't want to wake up alone on his birthday, and Andy had been more than readily agreeable to sharing his bed so he wouldn't have to. He also knew that would mean that it would be the first time they would each see each other naked...or at least exposing all the parts of each other they hadn't already seen. He knew Steven's body was hairy and worried how he might react since smooth boys had always been his main turn on. A Cat Named Cupid And that word - boys! Good grief! Steven was eleven years older than him. Can he really be as turned on as he seems to be by the bear type that has never excited him before...and one that is at least six or seven years older than anyone he has ever dated, or bedded down with, before? He knew in his heart that he was already somewhat emotionally attached to Steven, so that wasn't at all in question. It was that nagging 'Can I be honestly horny as hell for him when I see him naked with his fur and ready to plow my ass with that big cock of his?' He laughed as he suddenly realized he didn't even know whether Steven was a top or bottom. It hadn't been discussed yet. 'Oh boy. What if he is a total top or a total bottom? I am truly versatile and need a partner that's the same,' became yet another worrisome excuse for his stomach to generate some more gas. Andy sighed, turned in his chair, pulled open the top drawer on the small desk in his tiny office, and retrieved the bottle of Extra Strength Chewable Gaviscon antacid he always had handy. Four tablets and a half hour later, his stomach finally stopped sounding like the gurgling hot springs at Yellowstone National Park. "Gawd! Fucking and sucking cute young twinks is so much simpler, but dammit...they are...are...are just freakin' twinks though! I need a man like Steven is. I want a man like Steven is," was stated to the wall in his office. * * * * * Lunch and cake with Mom went fine. Steven was already more than halfway back to Marietta by 5:00, so his day had gone well. Just as he saw the sign for Little Hocking, he said a silent prayer for tonight to go as well as the rest of the day had. He wasn't ready to say he was in love, but he certainly already loved Andy as a friend and could envision a future with him if the feelings were returned. As if his prayer was being answered, he suddenly caught sight of an old campaign sign for the area's state representative peeking above the tall weeds along State Route 50. It simply said: 'Andy's the One.' The larger than normal lunch rush had been easily manageable at Fire Mountain, and the early dinner crowd was also bigger than a typical Friday evening, but not overwhelming. He would easily be heading for home in another thirty minutes or so. Andy's stomach had stopped being a problem also, thanks in part to settling in his mind that come what may, tonight was going to be a positive turning point in his life. His rescuing Cupid from the winter cold that day a few short weeks ago had happened for a reason, and he had finally decided to stop trying to second guess fate and destiny. * * * * * When Steven answered the knock at his door, he knew it would be Andy, but he didn't expect him to be standing on the stoop with his arms loaded down like they were. At least a half dozen plastic grocery bags were dangling from his two arms like oversized gaudy bangles. He also had a good sized bakery box balanced between them too. "Isn't the old adage: 'Beware of Greeks bearing gifts'?" he teased his burdened buddy with. "If you're lucky later tonight, you'll find out how 'Greek' I can get," Andy zinged back with immediately. "Remember? I'm second generation Italian, not Greek. But enough of the family pedigree for now...take this fucking cake off my hands before I drop it or the wine." "Okay. Okay. Just messing with you a little, baby. I get to do that one day a year...and today is that day." As he took the large box from Andy, he asked, "What is all this shit anyway?" "This 'shit' as you put it, is your birthday dinner, cake, wine to mellow us totally out, and maybe even a present in one bag. I even picked up a few mood candles in case you didn't have any." Steven only grinned at the list Andy had rattled off. "Well if you get lucky later, you'll get to see what ten candles can do for the mood in a bedroom." He then added a wink and butt pat to the bubble butt showing in Andy's work khakis. "Somebody is in a really good mood already evidently," Andy quipped and then shook his rump at Steven. "Hope that is a good sign for me...or is there a second shift showing up later?" "Nope. You are first, second, and third trick today." "I can only hope you're good for a second and third trick." "If that's a challenge, I'm up to it," Steven replied. Reaching out to cup the prominent box showing in Steven's jeans, Andy further teased with, "Doesn't feel like you are, but maybe if I keep rubbing it like this..." "I can see we are both going to be a real riot tonight it looks like," Steven mumbled in between the moans Andy's soft squeezes were eliciting. "Tell me if you want me to stop." "Did I say anything about stopping?" Steven's own hands encircled Andy's waist and pulled them tight together. As he looked into Andy's eyes he whispered, "I so want you right now for some reason." He punctuated the comment with a passionate kiss. Andy responded with parting his lips, sucking on Steven's tongue when it entered his mouth, and a circular grinding of his hips that crushed their crotches together and created instant erections for both. "Do you really?" he asked in an almost believable, serious tone. "So why aren't you taking me then? We can eat anytime." Steven smiled, laced his fingers with Andy's, and shifted from seduction to action by leading Andy to his bedroom. By the time they got to the doorway a mere twenty-some feet down the hall, both had already kicked out of their shoes and pulled their polos over their heads. Steven spun Andy so he could have access to the snap and zipper on his pants, and Andy responded in kind by undoing Steven's jeans and pushing them down his furry thighs. As he stood there looking at Steven's near naked body for the first time, he couldn't believe how much thick hair was covering his abs and pecs...nor how much it was turning him on even more than he already had been. He buried his face in the dead center of Steven's chest and began licking the fur as Steven finished getting his khakis down his legs. He had just starting nibbling on a nipple when he felt his underwear join his pants around his ankles and Steven gently lift his feet one at a time to slip the final bit of clothes free of his body. He stepped back slightly and ordered, "Your turn now. I wanna see all of you too. Lose those fuckin' boxers." Steven complied and freed his cock, balls, and wild pubic patch from the cotton prison of his underwear. "You like?" he throatily questioned. It only took a quick once over for Andy to reply with a lick of his lips and, "Oh hell yeah I do." He then stepped forward and pressed tight up against his naked tempter. Drilling his eyes into Steven's and grinding against him yet again, he proposed, "You be my Yogi and I'll be your Boo Boo. Show me how bears make love." "Then put your pic-a-nic basket in the bed, Boo Boo." It was to be the final words from Steven for a while, as he immediately spread Andy's long legs and buried his face in his man pussy once he had splayed himself on the bed. He kissed, teased, licked, and poked the single winking eye with his tongue. He nibbled, chewed, and even gently bit the ring with his teeth. His hands worked the constantly writhing ass cheeks and fondled the full balls hanging between Andy's upper thighs. Steven finally captured the hard rod that was flopping against Andy's pubes and happy trail and put it inside his fist...then slowly began stroking it as he returned his lips to do final prep of the man cave he was going to invade in a few minutes with his fleshy, at attention soldier. Ten more minutes of the intense attention, and Andy cried out, "For fucks sake, take my ass and take it now. You are making me crazy!" Steven stopped his oral attack and shimmied up Andy's torso like a volunteer fireman climbing a rickety ladder. Once he had covered Andy's body with his own, he pressed his lips to Andy's and teased his teeth with his tongue tip. His thick member was wedged between Andy's thighs and snugged against his tender sac. As he began a rhythmic grind, Andy moaned loudly in pleasure. "Now dammit! Take me now, babe. I am so ready for you." Steven snugged his cock head against Andy's rosebud and simply asked, "You sure, baby?" "Hell yes, I'm sure. Ready. Willing. And totally able." He then humped up against Steven with his hips to drive all three points home. "If we have a future...if you want a future with me...finish making love to me so I know you feel the same way I do about you." It then became Andy's turn to go silent except for the occasional moan, whimper, and satisfied sigh for the next ten minutes. Steven had been easily able to slip inside Andy thanks to lubing up before he got to the apartment...just in case Andy arrived in the mood he did. He took his time sliding in and out and nudged up against Andy's special button a few times. Then he would get wild and hump like...well, like a grizzly in heat...which was a pretty accurate description of him at the moment. Andy responded in kind to each change of pace and if he wasn't already a power bottom, he sure knew how to fake it. Steven couldn't ever remember being this turned on in bed and even on the eve of turning forty-one, he gave it his all and performed as well as he had at eighteen. The happy face Andy was wearing and the constant moans of approval said they had both reached Nirvana. As Steven felt the sudden movement at the base of his cum chute, he tried to stop the flow, but realized it was useless. His hips shifted into overdrive and Andy roared his approval along with humping up into every hard downward thrust Steven was now taking full advantage of. Just as Andy was feeling the escape of his own life fluid into the tube on his quaking shaft, his eyes caught a movement above him on the top of the bookcase headboard. CUPID! The damn cat was stretched out above them and more than obviously watching them fuck! The look on the furry, whiskered face just as the first rope flew from Andy's slit and splattered his face, said Cupid was trying to tell him, 'Good job my man. Now I will have two humans to do my bidding because he does love you...just like you know you have already fallen in love with him.' Andy not only knew the telepathic message from the cat was totally true, but as Steven's own massive orgasm began emptying inside him, Andy vocally declared that love to the man poised above him and making every nerve he had jump like they were being jolted by a live 220 line. Steven smiled the largest he ever had and repeated the words back to Andy as his own. As the final dribbles oozed from Andy's slit and Steven finally felt his cock going soft and pulled out, they both saw the tail flicks of approval of their mating from Cupid. Steven chuckled and said, "I told you the other day, he was a perv. Ever since I got him fixed, he has had this voyeur thing going. Hope you can get used to it." Andy smiled and kissed Steven's nose before answering with, "How could I not get used to anything that fur ball does? He is the reason we are together now. Our own private Cupid that didn't even need a quiver full of arrows to make his magic work." Cupid got in the final word by leaping down from his perch and cuddling up with the guys. As they faded into a most satisfying afterglow and thoughts of what the future might hold for them, Cupid faded away also into his fifth nap of the day, purring right along with his humans. * * * * * One final author note: I hope you have enjoyed this little tale and that you will take a few seconds to add your vote (and a comment if you like) below. Since this is an official entry in the Valentine Day contest, each one is important and very appreciated. May your February 14th be a memorable one and your Cupid...in whatever form he needs to take...find that special person for you also. Much love, JKD * * * * *