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Arms of a Man Ch. 02

By: Fantasyboy69



We got my car and went out to breakfast at Denny's. It was so strange for me to be in a restaurant when I was so used to the mess hall. I'd eaten out a few times, but it was still so odd to me. The two of us had gone over to the River Park and walked the trail. At one point, when no one was around, I leaned over and kissed his cheek. He glanced around quickly to make sure there were no pitchfork bearing rednecks chasing us and then kissed me back. It was cool and scary for the both of us to be kissing each other in broad daylight in a place like the River Park. He had gone home that Saturday after our night and morning of exploration with a smile on his face. As I closed the door, peeking out the window to watch him drive away, I smiled to myself and sagged against the door. How long had it been since I had a crush on anyone? God...it had to have been almost ten years! He'd been the quarterback when I was a frosh. It was all in my head cause he was straight and never knew I existed, but I still crushed.

Now here I was. Twenty-six years old, a grown and worldly man, and I had a crush on a guy I had known for twelve years but had not seen in eight. What to do with myself now? I did not need to PT that morning, the sex and walking had been quite enough, and the house was spotless. I decided to check my emails, see if anyone sent me anything. When I did check I saw one from an address I had never seen. I looked at the subject but all it said was "Leo!" Okay, so they knew me somewhat. I clicked on it.

Leo,

G'damn bro! It's been a whole week and you ain't wrote me yet. Must be banging the shit outta your sweetheart, huh? You old horndog! Just checkin' to see how civ life's treatin' ya. Write me back soon, bro.

Alex

P.S. The Beast sends his love

"Oh my god," I said and laughed. Alex had sent me an email and I swear I could hear him speaking in the back of my head. I hit the reply button.

Alex and the Beast,

You expect me to write your dumb ass when I got nooky to get to? I was awake for less than an hour and got my nut twice. If this keeps up, I won't need to PT at all. So far it's a bit of a shock to be home and seeing what's changed and what hasn't. Went out with some fellas from school last night...embarrassed myself by going home to bed by 10pm PST. Old chum was in the Army and has two Hearts and PTSD. I'll probably be calling him as soon as I finish this, maybe talking to someone who knows will help him a bit. 

Petty Officer Leonardo Donati

U.S.S. Dakota

PS: I need to change my signature in this thing.

I sent that off and did call Tyler. With directions I went to his apartment which was surprisingly only a mile or two from mine. I could walk it next time. He let me know that he didn't want to bum me out with talk about combat. "Ty, if you want or need to talk about it, I'll listen. I lost some good friends too."

"Maybe some other time. Right now I wanna hear bout life at sea." I could tell he was medicated against the pain in his body, but how do you medicate against the pain of memories and a slowly dying heart? So I told him about the Captain. "Woman Captain?" He snorted and let me continue. My captain was awesome. She had a sense of humor and liked to have a crew that did too. There was a time she ordered a full stop for a surprise inspection of all hands. Thankfully she gave us grease monkeys an hour to clean up and get ready. She had all of us meet on the helipad and in full parade dress. Telling us that no matter what we could not react to whatever she did else we had to fall out, she went around and I could hear the occasional grunt or snicker and I saw a slowly growing group of those who had fallen out. She got to me and looked me up and down.

"Then she stomped her foot and said 'Don't laugh', which of course I did." Tyler laughed at me. "Hey, you would have too. Here is this distinguished woman looking like a six year old and telling me not to laugh. Like telling a person not to touch the plate cause it's hot, we do it anyway." He nodded his sympathy. All in all after the inspection there were eight of us who had fallen out, one of which was her first mate. We marched to her office as ordered, all the while the Mate was still grinning from ear to ear and not caring who saw. "Turns out she did this once a year to find out who still knew how to laugh. Our punishment was to watch a four hour video." Tyler winced. "Four hours of Blue Collar Comedy Tour." I nodded at the stunned look in his eyes. "I know! She liked to see that we weren't becoming machines and this, plus a huge bag of popcorn, was our reward for still being human."

"Sounds like quite a lady."

"She is. Better mom to me than my own let me tell you." Ty knew what my mom had been like and knew it did not take much to be a better mom at all. We shot the shit all afternoon and I left when his girlfriend showed up for their dinner date. Pretty, plump, and out going, she was also a nurse, which is how they met. "Have fun kids and don't stay out too late," I said as I left, "it's a school night." Which he was neither in school nor was it a school night.

"Yes Dad," Ty said with a grin.

I got home to find a lost looking puppy dog on my porch. He looked up at me and smiled. "Hey you," Zach said, getting up to brush off his butt.

"Don't you have princesses to pamper?" I asked with a smile, unlocking the door.

"I took them to their grandma's for the rest of the week until Friday." I could tell he would miss them but there was some motivating factor. I shut the door and dropped my keys into the dish by the door.

I took a shot in the dark. "You need a break from Helen and the girls were needing care." He blinked a few times and looked down at his feet before nodding. "Then you did the right thing." He looked up with a smile. "I'm serious. Sometimes you do have to think about yourself. Your girls will be fine for a week with their gran, so you can relax and stay away from a situation you don't like." I wrapped my arms around his waist. "And you are more than welcome to stay here again." Zach's face turned a bit red and he leaned down to put his forehead on mine.

"You must think I'm a nervous wreck."

"Pretty much, but that doesn't change the fact that I think you're cute." Looking at me through his lashes, Zach snickered and kissed me tentatively. This guy really needed to know I was not going to pull away from him. When we parted I lifted his chin up. "Zach, I know this is all new to you, but not to me. I'm not going to pull away if you want to kiss me. I'm not going to turn you away when you need a friend. First and foremost we are friends. Whatever else happens will happen or it won't. I will respect your need for time, but don't hold back your feelings if you want to express them."

"You are the most unreal guy I know, Leo. I mean I think Derek would understand all of this and be sympathetic. He and Greg have let me stay at their place for a few nights, but it was obvious they were uncomfortable showing affection around me." That sounded typical about guys who did not want to offend someone with affection. "But you? I've just met you again after almost a decade and you never once held back, never once said 'sucks to be you, Zach' and then laughed about it all behind my back. I mean within less than a day you've given me more love than I've ever had. Not just the physical part, which has been awesome so far." I gave him a huge grin. Yay for being a slut! " You've listened and nodded, held me when I needed it, restrained when I can tell you really wanna jump up inside of me." I nodded like an idiot and slid my hand lower to rest on the top of that round bottom. "Still it's all so unreal. Maybe...maybe I'm just waiting for the other shoe to fall and kick me in the ass like always."

I chuckled and kissed him while caressing his cheek. The upper one. "Zach. I'm glad I ran into you at the store. Like I said, you could help me too and something tells me you would help without asking why." He nodded. "See? You wonder why I give myself freely to you? It's because I know you give what you can and then some every day of your life. The girls would be lost without you, you fill in as a lowly cashier when someone calls in sick, and you would help a person who was not much more than an acquaintance without even asking why."

"You make me sound worth knowing."

"And loving." I led him over to the couch and kicked off my shoes before pulling down next to me. "I don't know. I'm tired of living in the closet. You and Derek, and I guess Greg, are the only three people here who know I'm gay...and I don't like that. I'm no super fem queen, but I would like to stop lying to everyone...to myself. Maybe you can help me with that," I said quietly as I stroked his chest. I was tired of living a lie.

"I don't know how I can help you, I'm in the same boat, sailor." Zach smiled and kissed my chin since he couldn't quite reach my lips then.

"Just by being you. Giving me someone to be open for. Before you get nervous, this is not a LTR thing. I mean you represent someone I could be open and happy with." My smiled was fond. "And who knows, maybe you will be that someone... someday."

"I like that. Someday. But right now I'm someone you can be yourself with too." I nodded. I was glad he understood what I was saying because I'm not one for explaining myself sometimes. "Do you want my honest opinion?" I nodded. He took a deep breath. "Then lets tell the gang. You and me...a coming out party or something sappy like that." I felt my stomach clench but I wanted what he was saying.

"Minus the party. I mean I don't really want it to blow up if someone is not happy. Like your wife and kids." I could tell he had not thought about that. It had never occurred to him that his family would ever know. "Yeah. They should be told first. Starting with Helen. Ask her for one sober night to tell the girls. Get them use to it young." He turned his head and looked away. He was battling within himself but he nodded. I hugged him tighter. "It doesn't have to be tomorrow, silly. Just...they should know first."

"You're right. Maybe...you could help me tell Helen. And Derek and Greg could be there as support for the both of us." He was looking for ways to kill a thousand subs with one torpedo and I couldn't blame him. I wouldn't want to have to do it over and over again either, even though I know I will be once I get up the nerve to tell someone.

"Sounds like a good idea. You want to clue the boys in before hand or drop it on them?" I could tell by that little smirk he was thinking about the poleaxed looks on all their faces and I chuckled. It was nice to see there was some mischief in him.

"I would say let them know and get advice on how to tell the family." I nodded and reached for the phone. "R...right now?" I nodded. "I don't know if I'm ready."

"I'm just inviting them over for dinner. If you feel it then you can tell them and I will be right there beside you." He nodded and I dialed Derek.

It took a minute for the phone to be picked up. "You had better be dying for interrupting me and Greg."

I laughed. I couldn't help it at all. "Oh shut up you big girl. So you aren't banging your boy friend for a few seconds, waaah!" Zach covered his mouth to keep from laughing aloud.

"Leo, were it anyone but you I would castrate you for this." I could hear the happiness in his tone that I had called him. 

"No you wouldn't. Why waste a perfectly good pair of nuts?" He lost the angry act and laughed along with me. "Go finish making Greg happy with that tight ass of yours and then come over for dinner. Not a request either." I hung up and then laughed at the sheer dumbfounded look on Zach's face. "What? He said the same thing when he came out to me. I had no choice but to listen to him."

"Nice." Zach sat up and sat me up to take off my shirt.

"Feeling frisky?" I said with a leer. He shook his head but led me to the bed room, snagging a small bag I had not noticed. I laid down when asked and flipped onto my stomach when directed. I wondered what he was doing when I felt his strong hands rub massage oil into my skin. "Oh...I like this. I like this a lot."

"I thought you would." God this man was thoughtful. I would not even ask why he was doing this because I could guess. Letting someone be themselves is a big gift. Never judging them for who they are or what they do, accepting them for the special person they were...it was a gift I gave freely and this was probably one way he was returning the favor. "I had felt a few knots in your back this morning and I wanted to see how bad they were. Plus I get to have my hands all over you."

"Not complaining at all." I groaned when he found one. I had not even realized it was there until his fingers kneaded the tension and pain away. He knew just how much pressure and where. "How many patients have expressed their undying love for your hands?"

"All of them," Zach said with a slight chuckle. "Adding yourself to that list?"

"The top of it," I said and he leaned down to kiss my cheek. From my lower back to my shoulders and back he made sure every last bit of tension was gone. I was in a conscious stupor when he asked me to roll onto my back and I don't quiet remember doing it until I felt his hand working on my upper chest and shoulders again. Then I became very aware of him and the fact that I was hard as a rock. My eyes focused on his face and he had this serene half smile. He was happy to be giving me a relaxing massage and not for the sexual reactions he could not be oblivious to. Zach liked helping people. I jumped a bit when he pressed on one spot.

"That is the source of the tensions in your shoulders. Old injury?"

"Mild bruising to the muscles when a forty pound wrench slipped off the nut and fell on me. Three years ago." He nodded clinically and then worked around the area like he was chipping away at stone until he got to the heart of the matter.

"It will continue to give you tension. But I can help lessen it if it gets too bad, or you just want me to." He grinned at me and I smiled back, feeling very sleepy. He worked on my arms and my even gave me a hand massage which was a first. They rock! He went over my stomach and then skipped to my thighs. "Before you ask, it's work ethics."

I knew what he meant. "Good. That way I know you won't take advantage of me when I fall asleep from the massage. But you can give me all the erotic massages you want." He grinned at me and my sausage jumped in my shorts.

"I'll keep that in mind for later." Zach inhaled deeply when he went at my legs. "Or sooner. Your thighs... just wow." I chuckled and pulled him atop me.

"Enough massage. I'm falling asleep and still have to plan for dinner." His laugh was so nice to hear. Much better than the self-loathing. That was when the doorbell rang. I groaned and got out of bed. Thankfully my stiffy was not too obvious. I opened it to see Derek and Greg. "Hey guys, c'mon in." I made sure to speak clearly so Greg could read my lips. They just stared at my chest. "Eyes are up here," I said with a smile.

"Holy shit, Leo," Derek said while signing. "Why are you all glisteny?" They came in.

"I just had a massage." Zach came out from the room towel drying his hands.

"Zach? Lucky you Leo. Zach doesn't give massages to many people." I shrugged as there were hand shakes all around. "And you, Leo, will never use my own words against me." I just rolled my eyes and led them to the loving room.

We ended up calling for pizza and while we ate I regaled them with tales of the open seas, signing what I could and picking up on more of the signs I had forgotten or never learned. Zach seemed to be very comfortable around them and while they were very chaste with the affection, I could tell it was helping Zach. He had not said too much, just listened, but he did not exclude himself from the conversation and even joined in on learning some ASL baby talk. As I was gathering the trash Zach offered to help. In the kitchen he gave me a kiss and nodded. "I feel ready." I grinned and hugged him hard to me.

"You are amazing. Wanna really make them go nuts?" He nodded and I whispered in his ear. He laughed like a mental patient and then went to go sit down in the other room.

"What was so funny," Derek asked.

"Leo looks like the MGM lion when he yawns." Nice improv, I thought as I came back in. I leaned in and kissed Zach softly on the lips and I heard their jaws drop as his hand slid up my chest and rested on my cheek. I sat beside him without breaking the kiss and rested my hand on his leg near the groin. As I drew away I could see that I would be very much in trouble when we were alone later. Something in those blue gray eyes said I was in for a very good night.

I looked at Derek who was still wide eyed from shock, his mouth hanging open like a loose hatch, but Greg was waving his hands, the ASL version of clapping. It could not have gone better except if Derek had fainted. As it was there was no blood in his face...it was all in his pants. The guy had a boner from just seeing us kiss! "Does he get that happy every time he sees guys kiss?" I asked Greg. He read my lips and signs and nodded.

"But...when...how...huh...damn that was hot." Proof that Derek was a real dork, he signed his gibberish too. Zach was a bit flushed but he did not pull away from me. In fact he snuggled a bit closer. "When did all this happen? You've been home about a day!"

"Last night. We," Zach was saying with a small smile, "talked about the same stuff I always bitch about when I crash at your place, but he saw right to the real stress." His smile as he looked at me made my heart flip. No one should have a smile that sweet and sexy at the same time. "True to form Leo made a wise crack about me not liking my wife...duh... and I told him no woman had ever meant anything. He joked about guys." His face was still red, but he was actually doing this. Doing this with guys he'd known for seven years, or longer, who were also gay. "But it's no joke. I...I like guys. Always have." I kissed his forehead as he exhaled. 

"It takes a lot of guts to tell such a big secret. If it matters, I'm proud of you," Derek said and Greg echoed it with a firm nod of his head. He had echoed my thoughts exactly.

"Thanks. Really. All three of you have been so awesome to me." I saw it coming. I could have run for it, but why? A big group hug ensued and it was all big and...gay. It was something so not military...fabulous! "Now here is the big barb."

"Both of us are coming out so to speak. I'm tired of lying to everyone," I said as I ran my hand through my buzz cut.

"And we're doing this as support for each other."

Greg nodded and signed, "And you would like us to be there to tell your wife and girls. And the guys." I had to admit, Derek had picked a real winner. Greg seemed to be everything Derek needed and wanted and he could see where friends would be needed for this. "I will be there as a silent witness." For the life of me I could not help but laugh and groan at the bad but clever joke. Greg poked Derek in the ribs. "Leo likes it."

"But Leo is insane. We'll be there," Derek said and Greg nodded his agreement. "Is there a time for all of this or when it feels more comfortable?" He asked Zach and not me. He knew I would do it tomorrow were it solely up to me. I was not really one for procrastinating although in this I had been putting it off for a while. No longer.

"I'm not too sure. I want to tell Helen when she's sober. That may take a few days." They nodded like they knew personally how long that could take.

"I gotta meet this woman. I swear she sounds like a completely nasty bitch." Greg went all stone faced, Derek nodded like I was preaching to the choir, and Zach just looked away like he didn't want to speak ill of his wife. "Wow. Should I bring the holy water and stakes?" That made Zach snicker and he looked back at me with a small grin. 

Arms of a Man Ch. 03 Pt. 1



Okay, this is long in coming and I thank you all for your patience. This is only half the chapter I have planned, but I felt you guys needed something. Until I can find the time to finish it, here you go.

Kevin.




Zach and I were in the kitchen two days later when the phone rang. I dried my hands from peeling the potatoes and answered. "Hello?"

"Is Zach there?" Whoever it was was drunker than shit. With it being a woman's voice I had little doubt to who it was.

"Sure." I handed the receiver to him. "It's Helen."

He looked a bit spooked. "Hello?" he asked. "I'm at a friend's house obviously, and not Derek and Greg's since you got this number from them. The girls are at my mom's until Friday." His tone was civil but still carried a lot of hurt and I went back to the potatoes since I had peeled enough of those in my life and was damn good at it. I was making potato salad. "I don't care if you need more alcohol, Helen. No, I won't have this fight over the phone. Listen, please. I need you...I said listen!" he shouted into the phone. I dried my hands once more to give him some privacy, patting his shoulder on the way past. "Thank you. I need you to be sober for one night so..." I let the door swing shut so I would not hear this.

I wondered what type of bitch she had to be to take two days to notice her girls and husband had not been home. Obviously the alcohol was more important to her. Well, to be fair she did back Zach on the no drugs and alcohol thing for the girls. But I had never heard Zach ever raise his voice unless it was in happiness or during a game. I almost didn't want to meet this woman. Zach's voice could be heard as he explained what he wanted and a few times it spiked to override her, but I could not tell what he was saying. Then the door opened. "You will do this or I am divorcing you now and taking sole custody of the girls. Asking for one damn night, Helen, is not a habit." He hung up and set the phone on the charger before plopping onto the sofa next to me. He sighed and took a pillow and screamed into it. I did my best not to laugh but I failed. He was just so cute right then.

"She sounds...lovely." He dropped the pillow and gave me a look that said he was not amused. "Okay, she sounds like a bitch. Better?" Shaking his head he hit me with the pillow, but I caught him and pulled him atop me.

"It's not fair." I caressed his back with he just lay there. "She'll do it. I never had to pull that trick before, but she'll do it." I just held him. "You must think I'm a wreck."

"Pretty much, but I like you anyway." He snickered and snuggled closer. I realized something both good and bad. I was falling for Zach and he was falling for me. The good was he was a great guy. Smart, funny, caring, charismatic, sexy...what's not to love? The bad...was he falling for me because he honestly was growing to care for me...or because I was there? I didn't know and I could not even ask such a question. Still, it felt great holding him. "Would you divorce her?"

"Yes, and she knows it. I have the steady job and pay the rent so she knows I would get the girls without any struggle." Not a good alternative really. One night of sobriety or a life without your daughters...should be a no brainer. With a grunt he got up and pulled me to my feet. "C'mon, sailor boy, we have a picnic to finish." Rolling my eyes I nodded and as he turned away I swatted his butt. "Hey, you break it you buy it."

"Let me check it for damage." He giggled as I reached around and undid his pants to pull them down in the back, exposing that delicious ass. "Oh no, there's a crack. Guess I broke it, so now I have to buy it. How much?"

Looking back over his shoulder with a grin and a wink he said, "I'll let you know the MSRP on a virgin ass." Getting a quick feel, we went back to our lunch.

It was Tuesday night when my phone rang again. We had just got back from the movies since Zach worked the morning shift at Costco and had gotten off at 4pm. We had gone to see one of the many superhero movies to keelhaul the box office in the recent years, exploiting as much cash as they can from us hard working people...I love superhero movies! "Hello?" I asked as I picked up the phone.

"May I speak with Zach please?" 

"He's taking a shower but should be out in a moment."

"Oh. Can you tell him to call Helen please?" I almost dropped the phone in shock. This person was his wife? She sounded so polite...so sober.

"Of course."

"Thank you. And thank you for letting him stay there. He needs a break from me every now and then," said Helen and I about fell onto the couch in shock. She was lucid and nicer, knowing she was a bitch to her husband. "Actually he needs more than a break."

"Huh. It's not a problem, Helen. Zach is a cool guy." I heard the water shut off. "The water just shut off if you wanted me to pass the phone to him." I got up and started that way.

"Please." 

I saw him drying off that sexy body and he was about to make a comment about me watching him, a bit of a chub growing in my pants, but he saw the phone. "It's Helen for you." He looked at the phone like it was a serpent in my hand. I covered up the receiver with my hand. "She sounds sober or close enough to it to say please and thank you."

He got a quirky look on his face and took the phone. "Hi Helen." I flopped onto the bed and took off my shoes and shirt, getting a grin from Zach who was getting his own chubby. "Yes. Thank you for doing this, I know it's very hard, but I feel it's very important." He was trying to hold a serious conversation while I was stripping off my clothes very slowly. "Tomorrow night? Of course I will be there. And I know you may not like this but Derek, Greg and Leo will be there too." I watched him cringe as he waited for the blow up. "Yeah, Leo is the guy I'm staying with." He mouthed what looked like and sleeping with but I could not be sure. "You will? Wow, Helen, that's really thoughtful of you. I appreciate all the trouble. Tomorrow night it is then. Bye." I watched him register what may have been a first in their relationship. He was so shocked and pleased. "She's not had a drop since last night and will be sober for tomorrow night. She's cooking dinner."

"Will it be poisoned?" I had to ask.

He rolled his eyes. "God no, she's a gourmet cook when she's sober. Even when she's shitfaced she makes a mean lasagne." He set the phone down and then practically threw himself on me...darn. All I had on were my underwear but he had dropped his towel and was atop me naked. "So, who is sexier, Chris Hemsworth or me?" he asked playfully kissing my nose.

"Hmm. Lets analyze this. Chris: Tall, handsome, blond hair, fantastic muscles, abs you can grate cheese on, cute smile and a god. You? Tallish, boyishly cute, thinning hair, nice muscles covered in some fat, abs that are fun to poke, stunning eyes that glow when you smile and a manager at Costco." I poked him when was pouting and he squirmed. "No contest." I rolled us over and held his arms above his head. "You are." I could tell he was about to argue the point, I mean it is Thor he's comparing himself to, so I shut him up with a kiss. One of those kisses that require you to use tongue and thus not talk. By the way he was not struggling he was no longer refuting my claim. In fact I think he was agreeing with me.

"Well, since you put it that way." I laughed and he used that to flip us over once again. I put up a cursory fight but stopped when his tongue found my nipple. Then I gasped. This man knew how to tease a nipple. "Like that?"

"Oh yeah. Okay, I need to shower cause I stink." He pouted as he got off me, but I took his hand and led him back to the bathroom. Then the phone rang again. I glared at it but checked the caller ID. I did not know the number but it was local. Once again I glared but this time at Zach. He was slowly stroking that perfect dick. "Hello," I said rather testily.

"G'Damn, bro, not even one damn call or anything?" I dropped the phone.

I scooped it up with a look like it would bite me. "Alex?"

"Who else you know says g'damn bro?" I rolled my eyes. "So I been transferred to San Diego and got a two week furlough." This did not bode well.

"Great. And Yeah I ain't called your ass cause I got better people to do. Said person is being very naughty right now...wait. You're calling from a local number."

"You're right. Got kinda lost in these back woods roads. You never said the people from the sticks get their sticks from here." I sat down on my bed and nearly fell off. Alex was in town. This would not be good.

"Then get yourself unlost and back to a city where you belong." Of course he didn't get the hint really since I was only partially serious. "Where are you?" I knew he would be staying here...but dammit I wanted that shower with Zach!

"Some supermarket called Raley's." I gave him directions from there and then hung up. Zach had stopped playing with it and looked a bit curious.

"Alex is in town."

The look on his face was a mix of horror and humor. "You mean the carrier of The Beast?" I nodded. "This means we have to be good right?" I threw a pillow at him.

"Yeah. He will want to watch otherwise. You think Derek was happy to see us kiss? Alex would have the Beast in his hands faster than...God is there anything faster than light? Faster than that." Zach laughed and went over to grab some of his clothes to put on. "And he doesn't know I'm gay either."

"Should he know?"

I was about to shake my head adamantly but then stopped. Who cares if Alex knew? I mean he would be a here a few days and then back down south. I wasn't in the Navy anymore so I could not get a court martial. And it wasn't like he would care...he may even want to join and I know he would like to watch. "Huh. Good question." I looked at Zach and could see he was wanting some answer...but which one? "Yeah, but we are not going to put on a show." Zach grinned and nodded. Guess that was the right answer. "Not right now anyway." That made him snort and I sighed, slipping back into my shorts.

"Doesn't he think you're married?" I stopped and hung my head. "Truth time?"

"Yeah." I flopped onto my bed and screamed into my pillow. Zach laughed his fool head off.

"Stop, that's my job."

"Then you come scream into the pillow," I said and funny thing is he did. Face down and screaming. What would you do if you were me? I got on top of him and ground my pelvis into his rump. He gasped and tried to turn over. "Nope. I gotta deal with Alex, you gotta deal with me dealing with Alex." He chuckled as I kissed the back of his neck and just relaxed atop him.

Then the bell rang. I growled and got up, not even bothering to put on a shirt since Alex had seen me naked before. When I opened it I looked up at Alex's insufferable grin. The few weeks away and I could tell he had missed me. Truth be told I missed him. We had got along great. "You are still too damn tall. Get in here before someone calls the cops." He stepped in and looked around my place.

"Yup, upgraded from the barracks." He set down his duffel and pulled me into a huge hug. I could not hope to get out of those long arms. "G'damn bro it's good to see you. So where is this wife of yours who was being naughty?"

I extracted myself from his grasp and shook my head. "She doesn't exist. I told that story so I wouldn't have to deal with all those girls trying to get in my jock." 

"No, shit? You mean all that was cause ya didn't want some?" I nodded. "Wow. You got more will power than me, bro."

"So does a whore. I assume you got no place to stay and will be bunking here."

"Glad you offered." I laughed and saw Zach leaning against the door frame shaking his head. The smile on his face was mildly amused. 

"That or you would have asked after the tenth beer or something right?" He nodded. "Thought I got rid of you but noooooo." I gestured. "You can bunk in there. Stay out of my room or I will remove the Beast and sell it to an Asian with a little dick. Especially if the door is closed and I'm having sex with my boy friend."

"Wait...did I miss a memo?"

"No, just never sent it out." I knew I was a bit red in the face. I waited for the explosion, something that said he would be upset.

His face went slack and he mouth moved a few times like a fish outta water. "You mean, all those days I was in the same room with you, showered with you, hit one with you pretending to look away...I could have gotten at least a hand job?" I laughed so hard I had to sit down on the sofa and he sat next to me. "You mean I mighta got some head? Maybe some ass?"

"Stop, dude, you're killing me." I grabbed my sides and kicked my feet. I knew I never should have told him. Stone cold freak that he was he would have gotten some...that's all he cared about.

"Wow. Probably not the booty cause you got top written all over you and I ain't giving up my virgin ass for no blowjob." I socked him in the shoulder and could tell he was doing all this just to make me laugh...but he was probably serious.

"Enough, dick." He threw his hands into the air and looked around where he spotted Zach just looking on.

"Aha! So this is the boyfriend." Alex bound to his feet and went over to shake Zach's hand. "Nice to meet'cha. I'm Alex." Alex topped Zach's height by a few inches but they probably weighed about the same.

"Zach. In all the years of knowing Leo I have never once seen him laugh that hard." I looked at him to see something that made me stop laughing. Zach was checking out Alex and liking what he saw. "And Leo was right. You are too damn tall. Cute, but I prefer short and stocky." He winked at me and I grinned back. "Leo was about to take a shower, but we can swap stories. Like when Leo was in high school."

"And in the Navy. Go take your shower, Leo, me 'nd your boy gonna talk." I knew this would not be good...not at all.

After my shower I came out of my room in just my towel with plans of making dinner and heard them laughing up a storm. I walked behind them so I would not interrupt and slipped into the kitchen to see what we had that may serve three people without any prep. Toss a salad, make some pasta...I could do it without too much hassle. Why did he have to show up now? And why did I have to say Zach was my boy friend? I had some serious apologizing to do. I didn't want to lead him on or hurt him, but I was not ready for a relationship. And yet, wasn't that what we had already? I mean I know he was no virgin, but he... "Now I'm confusing myself."

"And talking to yourself," Zach chirped with a smile. I rolled my eyes. "You don't seem all that happy to see Alex."

"I am. But I...we..." He stepped forward and kissed me.

"We are friends who happen to be 'boys' so if that's what you're worried about don't be." I know I turned ten shades of red until I stopped on embarrassed crimson. "Was that actually it?" I nodded. "Don't worry, sailor boy, I won't hold those words against you...as long as I can still hold you against me." I chuckled and let him do just that. "I turned on the TV for hornball. That should keep him busy unless he tries to order porn. How did you live with him?"

"Same way we both lived with being on the team. Blinders on and keep your mouth to yourself." He laughed at my insufferable grin. Then he snatched my towel and ran into the living room. "Hey, no fair!" I chased him and leaped to tackle him...and landed right in front of the couch and the TV with Alex staring like he was about to see the movie of the week. My bare ass in the air, Zach's hand sliding down my back. I turned an even darker shade of red.

"Now that is hot," said Alex and tugged on the Beast a few times.

"I hate you both," and they laughed at how lame I sounded. I got up, full hard on as was usual when Zach started to touch me. Both sets of eyes were glued to my anatomy...can't say it didn't fuel my ego.

"G'damn, bro," my old roomie whispered. I snagged my towel and wrapped it around my waist. Then I shrugged and took it off and plopped on the sofa next to Alex who was rather shocked and rather hard. "Keep the log away from me," he snickered.

"The Beast seems to like him." My grin was evil as I saw Zach was hard too. "And Zach's own monster looks to be saying hello too." Then I stood and sashayed into the bed room to leave them gaping, staring at my muscle butt. Then I poked my head back into the room with a gleam in my eye. "And for the record I'm a top...unless you got a big dick like you two have. You could have had some ass the first time I saw the Beast. Too late now."

"Eeeeeevil!" Alex shrieked and I cackled insanely and got dressed in a pair of shorts. "Did you really hit that?" he asked Zach.

"More like stabbed it the first time, but yeah." I could hear the lust, and the something more, in his voice. "And many times since." Then I heard a loud thump and a curse. "Don't worry, Leo, that was just his head on the coffee table. He appears to be feeling stupid." I came out and saw he was banging his head against the table.

"Don't break the furniture." He looked at me with an unamused expression.

"So, lemme get this straight. I coulda tapped that?" He hand was on his groin and I could see the Beast was trying to destroy his jean prison.

"Yeah. All it takes is me in the right mood and at least eight inches either way. I'm a size queen when I bottom." I sat between the boys and put my arm around Zach.

"You must be in a mood a lot, Leo," Zach said with a raise of his brow. His hand trailed across my bare chest and then down to my abs. Alex's eyes followed his hand and then he swallowed hard as Zach undid my top button.

"With you around I'm willing to do just about anything." My dick was hard again. I know we agreed to not put on a show but both of us seemed to want this.

"Anything?" he asked with a huge grin and looked across me at Alex. I glanced over to see he was struggling with himself. Stone cold freak was sorely tempted.

"Anything," I said and kissed Zach while my hand slid into Alex's lap. While our tongues were lazily dancing my left hand was undoing Alex pants. My old roomie didn't have to be asked, he undid his pants and they were down in a flash, The Beast thumping against his stomach. We broke our kiss and Zach's eyes just about bugged out of his head when he saw it. "That is the Beast."

"Ouch."

I grinned at Zach and then at Alex. "I sure hope so." I stood and stripped off my shorts, watching both of them share a glance. "If I'm the only one going to be fully naked then I'm just going to put my clothes back on." That worked. Off can all of their clothes and I looked at close to twenty inches of dick. Feeling my body ready itself for not so hostile take over was nice. "Now all you guys have to do is decide who gets the mouth and who gets the ass."

Zach smiled. "I'm happy with the mouth. Just don't hurt him too bad, Alex."

"G'damn you got pipe too. It's like a porn convention in this room. You better get yours before I get mine, Zach, cause once I tap that I ain't stopping." Alex leaned back and put his hands behind his head. "Besides, I like a good warm...oh fuck a duck." I knew what he liked. I swallowed that massive dick and for once in my life I could not take all of it. His body quivered as I slid my mouth up and down that big dick. "Now that's a blowjob."

"So is this," said Zach and for the first time I felt his mouth around my cock. I stopped with eight inches in my throat to feel every little detail about his mouth. He knew what I liked from a handjob and damn if he wasn't trying the same thing. Moaning like I was in heat, I went at Alex's pole like I was starving.

"G'damn, Zach. Whatever you're doing to the guy keep doing it cause I ain't never had anyone devour me like this." Zach chuckled as he slid his hand up my thigh to fondle my balls. I lost it. I couldn't keep the fragile hold on my orgasm and I let it loose in his mouth. Never had I cum so fast, but then Zach did know what to do to me and having the Beast in my mouth was hot...




Arms of a Man Ch. 03 Pt. 1



...I awoke drenched in sweat. Good god what a dream! And why did I have to wake up?



Arms of a Man Ch. 03 Pt. 2



My dick was hard as a rock and I wondered at the dream. I hadn't had a sex dream like that in years. Zach rolled over and was trying not to smile. "Some dream."

"You have no idea." I tried to catch my breath.

Zach propped himself up on his arm and smiled down at me. "Was I in it?" he asked as he stroked my chest.

"Oh yeah. The things we did in front of other people," I said and he buried his face in the pillow to stifle a laugh. "Hey, mister, don't make me...do things to you." I know it sounded lame but I was too tired and too horny. And tonight was the night that we had to confront Helen. I remember us falling asleep after the movie and it was close to sunrise.

"Like what?"

"Like something we did in my dream. That would shut you up." He shut me up with a smooch. Always works too. How can you keep talking when someone is kissing you?

"Don't threaten me." I grinned and pushed him on his back, holding his hands above his head. There was only a token struggle as he obviously wanted me on top of him right then.

"Who says it's a threat?" He nibbled on his lower lip a bit and I swear he gave me the "come fuck me" eyes. I kissed him, keeping his hands above his head and he didn't try to break free. The man could kiss better than anyone I have ever met. No more tentative Zach, he was very into it. "So there," I said with a smirk.

"I'm still talking." 

I chuckled at his grin. He sure knew how to make me happy and he didn't even have to try. "You want me to shut you up?" He nodded. 

I let his arms go and straddled his pelvis after peeling off my boxers. His eyes were glued to my dong and as I inched forward he licked his lips. There was a small amount of anxiety about this but far more wanting. As my dick was only a few inches from his face I stopped. "You sure you want me to shut you up?" I was being playful but also giving him the chance to say no. We'd only had sex the one day in the showers. Sure there was a lot of foreplay, handjobs and exploration, and we slept together every night, but it was as if we both knew sex was not the big part of our friendship.

He looked up into my eyes and his hands slid up the back of my thighs to my ass and he pulled me forward. A whimper escaped his lips as he felt the muscles in my legs and ass flex to keep me close enough that he could taste me. I sighed a bit when his tongue snaked out to lick around the tip as Zach explored. In the back of my mind I knew he had never given a blowjob before and I knew mine was not the one to learn on when you had to control using your teeth. Too thick. Yet he knew how to use his tongue very well. Feeling that slickness slide around my head and down a few inches was bliss. I was the one being shut up with fantasies of where that tongue could be.

Zach took just the tip in his mouth and sucked on it a little, unsure again with this new aspect. "That's it Zach. Just take it slow and easy at first. And you know I like it just around the tip." I yelped as he flipped me onto my back and was now on his hand and knees, my dick still in his mouth. In fact his mouth was taking more and more while his hand played with my balls. "Oh shit," I whispered as he increased his tongue action and bobbed only a few inches. This man knew my weakness and how I was growing to love him for learning what I liked. I looked between his legs and could see his dick was a solid rod. He was liking his first blowjob very much. 

He licked his way down to my balls and switched his hand to my shaft. My breath came out in shuddering gasps and I spread my legs for better access. That tongue swirled around each nut and then he took one in his mouth to suck on it gently and I gripped the sheets and moaned. "Oh fuck. Zach..."

Zach pulled off and said, "Getting close?" I nodded. "Then this should push your right over." He put my knees on my shoulders and I thought he was going to slide that big dick in my ass. WRONG! He dove between my cheeks and began to devour my hole while his hands stroked my dick and my balls. I groaned and bucked. This man could eat! Oh fuck he knew what to do! 

"That's...oh wow...fuck...Zach..." My eyes squeezed shut as I felt my orgasm crash over me and I panted and moaned. I could not feel anything other than his tongue and hands, couldn't even feel the jets of cum burn my chest. Too damn long since I had anyone do this. As reality came back into focus I felt Zach. He had quickly swallowed the tip right before my orgasm hit and he used his fingers to tease my hole. I looked down at the top of his head and as he looked up at me with that look I knew what was going to happen. "Did you..."

"Every drop." He kissed me savagely as he thrust that behemoth into me. I could taste myself in his mouth. While I was not particularly ready for it, the pain wasn't too bad. And here was Zach at his most primal. He was grunting even as he kissed me. He wanted me and he took me and I knew then and there...I never wanted another man. While his strokes were powerful, they were slow and deep and kept me hard. My body was his instrument and he knew how to play it. He was fulfilling his need while still taking me into account, how I would feel.

"That's it baby, take me." His grunting and speed got faster and I knew he was about to cum. I played a dirty trump card and reached down to tickle his virgin hole. He gasped a bit and it threw off his rhythm and slowed his climax. That was also when I slipped the finger in and wiggled it against his prostate. 

"Leo..." He squeaked out my name as he buried it balls deep and I could feel it throb in my hole. That virgin ass squeezed my finger like a vice and judging by the way he reacted, he liked his button pushed. Zach lowered himself down onto me and lay there panting. I slipped my finger out as I caressed his back with my other hand. "Leo?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I say something? It might scare you off."

I wondered what it could be and why bring it up now. "Sure."

He raised his head and looked me in the eye. "I love you." I grinned and kissed him softly.

"I was just thinking along those same lines. Not gonna scare me off." The look of wonder in his eyes was so adorable. "Really. Having you here this past week has been like a piece of paradise. Even when you just took my ass you knew what you were doing and made sure I would be as comfortable as possible. I wasn't ready." I put my finger to his lips to still any apology. "I wasn't ready but I'm fine. A little bit more lube next time you want to do that." I chuckled and kissed him again to make sure there were no apologies. 

"Am I dreaming this time?" I shook my head. "How can you love me?"

"Ask everyone you know that question. When you have their answers you should have a good account. For me... I've always thought you were cool. And seriously cute. To be honest you are damn good in bed too." He blushed very red at that. "And as much as you give of yourself, who wouldn't love you? Other than your wife." I said and he shut his mouth. "I'm not too sure about the rest, but that's what I feel right now. You are a very lovable."

He snuggled as he softened and slid out. Then he pinched my nipple. "That's for the prostate play." I looked at him to see he was grinning.

"Like it?"

"Honestly?" I nodded. "Are you up for a little more action? In the shower? Cause I think you have been neglected." I know I looked confused. "And so has he." Zach wrapped his hand around my somewhat softer dick and that brought him back to full attention.

"You mean..." Please be what I think he was saying. Please oh please!

"I want to try it." I kissed him about a thousand times in a second and almost dragged him from the bed to the shower. "Eager much?" We were already naked and I have a great water system so the water was perfect in only a few moments. He was laughing at how rushed I was being and then the smile turned fond as I gently took him into my arms. "You've made me so happy, Leo."

"You deserve to be happy. And you have given me a reason to be happy too." He was the first to grab the shampoo and bodywash and he treated me one of his great massages. "That makes me happy too." Those strong hands were all over my body, kneading my muscles and relaxing me into a conscious stupor, and even a finger inside as he teased my own prostate. While the gesture was appreciated it did nothing. "Something bigger would be nice."

"Just making sure you're ready this time." I grinned back at him as he slid slowly in. I inhaled slowly and shuddered as he had it all up there. He didn't do anything but keep it up there while he washed my chest and stomach. "How do you keep these abs? I've never seen you do a single sit up and they have not lost any definition since you came back."

"One I still eat healthy. Two, those walks we take each night burn off the few calories I eat." I was getting him into the habit of walking after dinner. "Three the amazing sex." He laughed and gave me a few thrusts which made me moan and gasp. "I swear you're turning me into a bottom."

"I doubt that. After today I might just be your bottom." I could hear that slight fear in his voice and there was no mistaking it. He really was a virgin.

"God I hope so. Truth be told Derek has been the standard I set for bottoms." Zach raised a brow. I turned a little pink. "He was my first too. I messed around with some guys in high school, but he was the first to ever let me do that."

"Wow. Does he know that?" I shook my head. "Had many virgins since?"

"Yeah. Three. None of them even came close, but then none had the ass Derek does." Zach nodded like he knew what I was talking about. Derek did have a great ass. Round, thick, tight and tasty. "You though? Your ass is better looking and from what my finger felt a little bit tighter. Taste testing will have to be done too." Zach laughed and kissed the back of my neck. "And in all seriousness if it's too much for you then I'll stop."

"Really?" I nodded. He smiled lovingly and slid out. When he turned around I grabbed the bodywash and returned the massage. While he was tense, he was not so tense I would call it off right then.

I knelt in the shower and was level with that ass. God above from this angle I couldn't see any hair at all. It was a huge turn on right then. With my hand all soapy I kneaded those buns of muscle, paying a lot of attention to that tuck that said he had some serious donk. Not to mention those back dimples, you know the ones. He spread his legs and leaned against the wall which made my job easier. My fingers slipped between his cheeks and began to wash his tight little pucker, making him gasp as he wiggled a bit. No fuzz here either. I would like to say I just dived in face first, but I didn't. My fingers were very lazy, sliding over his hole and sometimes dipping in, each time getting a gasp from him. When I knew he was clean, I rinsed and then used my tongue. He jumped and then all but sat on my face.

Okay, most people say there are two tastes to an ass. Shit and nothing. Well, I found something that tasted great. I can't even describe what Zach's hole tasted like except that I knew I wanted to eat it for hours. "Holy shit! Oh fuck, oh wow, oh my god!" I think he liked it. His words were getting me as aroused as the taste was, almost as much as the feel of the mounds of man muscle were making my dick ache. "Leo, oh my god." He was grinding back against me, moaning and I was a split hair away from nutting. 

I kept up the tongue play for a while longer, making sure I was calm enough to make this as special for him as it could be. I was juiced and ready, his virgin ass was not. Only he was making it difficult for me not to jump up inside. He was damn near riding my face. I pulled away to gasp for air. "Zach, are you enjoying this?"

"Fuck. Me. Now!" I stood and grabbed the conditioner, but he was having none of that and took it from me.

"Umm, I'm pretty close so you may not...oh shit," I couldn't even finish as he lubed me up. Conditioner is way slipperier than shampoo. The touch of his hand on my dong brought me right to the edge but he backed off. "Evil." All he did was grin. "Are you sure about this?" He nodded as he backed me to the wall and turned to present those wonder globes. Squirting a generous amount of conditioner into my hand, he put the bottle up. My fingers began to slide between those mounds and I found that pucker quite easily. I made sure all of it was well lubed before I began to loosen his hole for me. His breath caught as I slid in and out and then added a second finger. This was very hard for me as I had to keep my mind on something else enough not to nut all over the place. Especially when he started moaning and riding my fingers.

After a few minutes of loosening, I pulled my fingers out slowly and reapplied the rest if the conditioner to my dick. Zach turned around and settled back against me, the head of my dick repositioned to his hole. It was all his show and I was reciting name, rank and serial number to keep my mind off the fact that I was about to pop another cherry and this one was the cherry of all cherries. I could hear him gasp a few times and then back off, but when it slid in both of us inhaled and shuddered. "Damn that hurts."

"Me too Zach. Your ass is fucking vice. I won't move." I couldn't cause if I did, I'd cum. He stayed there, only a few inches inside, until he got as used to it as possible. Then he took a bit more and waited. Then more...and then he had it all up there and those glorious globes of guy were pressed against my pelvis. Zach looked over his shoulder at me and smiled. "You okay?"

"I'll live. Hurts, but god it feels good." I reached around and wrapped my hand around that wonder torpedo and began to stroke him. He sighed as we repositioned and as I jacked him off I pulled out gently. He grunted a bit and I stopped but he motioned for me to keep going. 

Taking it slowly was a chore but it was worth it to hear him groan when I hit his prostate on the way back in. I kept the strokes long and slow to give him even more time to my sausage, each time making sure I hit that lovely little button of OMG! How did I ever get along with a virgin every night? There is nothing like it! But this one...Zach was special. "Tell me what you want, Zach." I know what I wanted.

"I want you...oh god...to enjoy yourself. Do what you want."

I love him so much. "You can't handle it yet."

He grinned over his shoulder. "Try me." I raised a brow and he backed all the way onto me. I panted. "Try me." I nodded and pulled out faster, only to sink back in. His eyes squeezed shut as he moaned. My hand pumped faster as my own speed increased, but I kept the depth the same and the power at a minimum because he could not power-bottom yet. So slick, so tight, so much what I wanted and I could never even dream of such a perfect ass. "Oh my fucking god Leo! I'm gonna cum!" Those are the words I wanted to hear. As soon as his breath caught I changed my angle and dug into his prostate with a vengeance. "Oh shit, oh fuck, oh yes!" 

I lost it hearing those words and feeling that ass grip my dong over and over again. I'm glad I'm strong because he lost his balance and my knees almost gave out from the strength of this orgasm. It was like a nuke going off in my crotch. As hearing returned along with my other obliterated senses I could feel Zach sliding off my sausage with a hiss and then I felt his lips on mine. Such a tender kiss. "Are you okay?" I asked when talking was possible.

"Hurts a lot, but yeah. And that has got to be the grossest feeling ever." My eyes drifted open in question. "Your cum dripping down my legs." I looked to see globs of my swimmers oozing down his thighs and thankfully no blood.

He went to wash and I stopped him. "Cold water. Hurts far less." I snuggled into his arms. "Plus I get to warm you up."

"Cold it is." And he held me in the frigid water with him, our tongues lazily dancing into each others mouths. I hate cold showers, but right then I did not care. I wouldn't care if it was ice water after a sauna, I was content in Zach's arms.



Arms of a Man Ch. 04



We called the boys later that day after we woke up again. Something about amazing sex in the shower and that glowing feeling afterward that makes for the best cuddles to fall asleep to. The feel of his heart beating against me, our limbs entwined. If you've felt it then you know what I'm talking about. 

Derek answered the phone, saying, "So, lover boy, you tap that yet?"

He was on speaker and I watched Zach turn so red. "That is for me to know and you to fantasize about, perv. So, you ready to tackle the harpy in her lair? She's sober."

There was a momentary pause that I knew was conversation with the two guys. "When?"

"Dinner time. She's cooking."

"Do we have to worry about poisoning? I think I may have a bezoar or two around the house." Zach snorted and the fact that I got the reference meant I was not too behind the times, but then anyone my age had read Harry Potter. "Wait, am I on speaker...and did...did Zach hear what I said?"

"Yes and yes," said Zach with a huge grin, "and yes." I looked at him with what had to be the biggest grin on my face. We both laughed when we heard the phone fall and some stammering on the other side. "Think he's signing the gibberish?"

"Yup. Do you know just how much I love you?"

"I think I'm starting to get it." His blushing grin was amazing. I couldn't help but stare. "Are you still there, Derek?"

"I...I don't know. I think I don't have enough blood in my brain to be here." There was loud clapping in the background, Greg either interpreting the look or Derek was shorthanding the conversation for him without meaning to. "Quiet you...redundant much." We all laughed. "So, in all seriousness, this is going down tonight?"

"Yes. The girls are still at my mother's and Helen is sober. I need to tell her now or I'll chicken out."

"Then we shall be on our best behavior and not make it awkward." We agreed to meet here and carpool over.

I was still staring when he hung up. "What?"

"You are honestly so amazing. I mean you're adorable, but then you smile and blush and I can't help but stare at how utterly handsome you are." He blushed again and pulled me into his arms. I was starting to see something in him I was growing to like. Zach was a naturally dominant person. He didn't force his views or anything like that, but he controlled the situations with a velvet hand, gentle manipulation that has people liking him and listening to him. I'm pretty dominant but only because I was trained to be in the military. To give orders you must be able to follow them. When he pulled me into his arms I felt loved and I felt safe. Odd, but I was coming to like this feeling.

When we pulled up to the house I looked at it and part of me wondered what the inside would look like if the outside was so lovely. The garden was well kept, if a bit shaggy right now since he lived at my house, and the ornamental jasmine was in bloom. I could see girls' bikes chained under the porch overhang and I could imagine Zach holding on to the seat while they learned to pedal fir the first time without training wheels. It was a nice place, one perfect for a family. The four of us took a breath and Zach walked us in.

"Oh wow," I breathed as I smelled the lasagne. It would taste amazing if it smelled this good.

"Helen, we're here." 

My first impression of Helen was she had been ill but was recovering. Thin, dark around the eyes, but not skeletal and the dark was more from being inactive. Her hair was nicely done and her dress was simple. She was lovely though. I could see that and I could see why she would catch the eye. "Hi, welcome. You must be Leo." 

I shook her hand. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you for going to all the trouble of cooking. It smells wonderful."

"I should do it more often. I'm usually too drunk to do it, but this seemed very important to Zach." She looked at him with a sad smile. "I'm sorry I pushed you so far."

"I'm sorry I went that far. After tonight there might be some changes, but thank you for doing this." I could see that if they had never been married by force that there might have been a genuine friendship here.

"Well, come on in. Have a seat. Can I get you boys anything?" We all shook our heads. When we sat there was an awkward silence, but Helen broke it. "So, lets make dinner the better part of the night and tell me what is going on that you brought back up." 

Zach grinned, then he sobered. "There is no easy way to say this. Helen, you know our marriage has never been our desire." She nodded. "The girls came first." She nodded vehemently. "The main reason I can't stay with you is not the alcohol or you." She looked a bit perplexed. "It's more your gender. I'm gay."

Her face smoothed out and she laughed. When she did so she was a stunning beauty. "That was the big announcement? I've known for years." His face went slack from shock. "Zach, you know my brother is gay. He told me the day after he met you that you were gay. He's never been wrong."

His mouth moved without sound and even Greg had to ask if he waking noise or just gaping. "All this time? You've known?"

She took his hand and I could see that there would be a lot of changes around here. Good ones. "Yes. I know you couldn't stand to be with me, and selfish bitch that I can be I nagged you into doing it. So, since Leo is here I'm assuming the two of you are dating." I looked at Zach while he blushed and looked at me.

"We're still working on that part. I'm not out of the closet fully either." Helen nodded and looked back at Zach.

"So, you have your boyfriend, I have mine, and we can go from there."

I was shocked. She was being very level headed about all of this. It seemed too easy. "And the girls? I want you input on when and what we tell them."

"That will be a little tricky. I haven't been too nice when talking about most gay people. Benji even gets a tongue lashing." That must have been her brother. She turned to Derek and Greg. "And you two, I'm very sorry I've been such a bitch. You've helped Zach a lot and didn't deserve all the nasty things I've said."

Derek was signing everything and when Greg started even my eyes bugged out. "Helen, Derek and I can be heinous bitches too, so please forgive us as well." Actually Greg had only talked about himself, but Derek chimed in with the spirit of forgiveness. "We've been happy to help Zach out."

The conversation went from there on how and what to tell the girls. Both agreed to do it immediately, meaning when the girls got home from their grandma's house. Then came a huge question. "How long will the sobriety last?" Zach asked.

"I dumped all the alcohol except for the bottle from our wedding." Even I was impressed. Judging by their looks that was a lot of booze.

"Really? Why not that bottle?"

"It's the bottle that we toasted with when Zoe was born." Zach smiled.

"And the same bottle when Lisa was born." So the one bottle was something like a symbol to the both of them, more than from their marriage. "I can't believe I'm happy you saved it. Such a silly thing to be happy about. So you're making an effort to stay sober?"

"Yes. Sam came by earlier and he was really shocked to see me sober and I liked the way he was." So this Sam, probably her boyfriend, could keep her happy enough to not drink. 

"Good. You should invite him over for dinner."

A tall man with an easy smile and an even easier manner came into the room. "Been here the entire time. Figured she might need someone to cheer her up if you dropped something big on her."

Zach stood and shook his hand. I looked closer. "Sam Baker," I said with a shake of my head. He had been on the basketball team at another school in the area. A good player too from what I remember. He had led their team to regionals and even once to nationals.

"Hey Leo. Long time." I shook his hand too. "So, three couples, three bottles of Marintelli's, and hopefully a good evening." Helen smiled up at him and though his smile was still rather soft, the love he had for her was something no person would turn away from. It was the same love I saw when Zach was looking at me just then. God it was a beautiful sight.

The evening was good. In fact, judging by Helen and Zach this was the best evening this house had ever seen. No one brought up the past few years, but we sure talked a lot about the future. The biggest thing was Helen and Zach would be getting a divorce soon. The girls would be told everything, which was how they had been raised most of their lives. Sam would eventually marry Helen; they been talking about that for months.

I was on the back porch looking over at the manzanita bushes along the creek. Tonight had been too good. I felt like the entire thing had been too easy. "Penny for your thoughts, handsome?" Zach asked.

I smiled over at him. "Just thinking this went too well."

"Yeah, well, there is still the parents to tell. That should end in bloodshed." He grinned, but I could tell he was more worried about his parents than he had been about Helen. "So why the long face?"

"Just thinking. About us." He nodded and took my hand. "I like the sound of us being us and not you and me. Does that make sense?"

"Is this your way of asking me out?" I looked down and nodded. "Well, sailor, I will have to say yes." I looked up into his grinning face. "Now who's being shy?" He poked me and I laughed.

"Yeah, yeah." So now I had a boyfriend. Good. Now we had to tell our families...bad. I had not even told my folks I was back in the States. This would be interesting and scary and I might just need the love of a good man. Good thing I had one. "So where shall we go tomorrow night?"

"I can't. I work the evening shift. Molly wanted a night off so she and her fiancee could go on a date."

"Too bad,. I was going to ask you on our first official date, but you're working."

He pouted. "That is not fair. I have to wor-urk!" he whined and threw a small tantrum.

"Oh well. What time do you get off?"

"Ten." That wasn't too bad. We could catch something at the movies and then maybe go to some place like Denny's.

"Okay. I'll expect you here by ten twenty for a quick shower before we go out. Try to hold off eating dinner, I have plans for that after work." He gave me a mock salute. Then he took me in his arms and kissed me.

It was just after six when I went to his work. I was wearing a nice suit and had a picnic basket over one arm and a long-stem red rose. The person at the door looked at me oddly. "Delivery for Zach Thompson?" The guy nodded me through and I went back along the check out past the customer service and the food shack. I saw his office door was open and I could hear he was on the phone. I just walked in. His eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped.

"Yes, of course, Gina. You're still scheduled for opening the next three days and Jake is taking your afternoon shifts." He mouthed "what are you doing?" at me as I closed the door and began to unload the basket. From it I pulled a single candle, a bottle of sparkling apple cider, pennae pasta with a nice bolognese sauce, fresh baked garlic bread, hand tossed salad and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. The rose I put in a vase I bought and set it with some water on his desk. "Uh huh. Sure thing, Gina. Buh bye." He hung up. "What are you doing here?" he asked with a grin.

"Bringing my boyfriend dinner." I leaned over the desk and kissed him slow and sensuously. He moaned and leaned up into the kiss. I broke the kiss and sat in the chair opposite him.

"Did you make all of this?"

"All except the cheesecake. I didn't have the time." I dished him up a generous serving and then gave him some garlic bread.

"I know that smell. You asked Helen for her garlic bread didn't you?"

"You said she was a good cook, so I asked what you liked. She gave me the recipe for the bread and the bolognese sauce." He went at it like he was starving. He probably was since he skipped lunch so we could have a nice make out session before work. Since he had not come up for air and was groaning almost as if in orgasm, I guessed he liked it.

A knock came on his door. He chewed and swallowed hastily. "Yeah?"

One of the workers poked their head in and assessed the situation. Hot guy in a suit, romantic as you can get in the office dinner for two, red rose and a candle. "I'll come back after you dinner break."

"What is it Ian?"

"Just wanted to tell you that the shipment of TP came in. Your line was busy so I came to tell you."

"Thanks. I'll be on break for an hour."

"I'll flip the sign on the door for you." Ian backed out and shut the door. Zach groaned and hung his head.

"Busybody?"

"The worst gossip in the entire place and he sees us. Now everyone will know I had a romantic date with my boyfriend." He flushed when he said it and looked up at me with such adoration that my heart melted again. He began eating again, this time slower to savor each bite. "I have to say your sauce is better than hers and that's saying something."

"I added the few things she left out of a true Italian sauce. Called my Nonna Elenora and she told me. I didn't add the wine as I couldn't cook it off and get here in time." I did add a dash of it that I cooked off the alcohol in a cup, but it was more to flavor the pancetta than the sauce.

"I can't wait to see what it really tastes like if you cooked it like your Nonna Elenora." I had told him of her. She lived in Italy now although she was born here. She had gone to take care of her folks when they moved back to die in their native country and stayed. A spunky woman was a hellfire temper who loved me as much as she hated how her son treated me. 

When I had become emancipated I called her and told her everything and she threatened to come out and discipline her son, which I knew involved a large wooden spoon and a lot of Italian swearing. I told her that I was not going back and she let it lie, although she was probably just waiting for a moment to come back and thump him one anyway.

I filed away Nonna Elenora as person I should tell. I was still up in the air about my folks. I would first have to find them. I was sure they still lived in the same shack Nonno Gianni built on the bit of land that belonged to Grande-Nonno Simone at the time. It was built, it belonged to the family, so why move?

When we were done eating I pulled one last thing out of the basket. It was a small mp3 stereo than I plugged my iPod into. I set the volume low and hit play. Soft violin music came out and Zach smiled up at me lovingly. I pulled him to his feet and around the desk for a slow dance, my head on his shoulder. I had my right hand in his, letting him lead the dance, but it was more of a sway. It was enough to just be there for a few minutes in his arms, even if it was in his office at work.

I was reading at home when Zach came in looking tired. Looks like I was not the only one who had something come up since our dinner date. He plopped onto the couch next to me and cuddled close. "Rough day?"

"Just long. And tiring. I had to run marathons all over work to avoid the thousands of people asking who the hot guy I had dinner with was." I grinned down at him, putting my thumb in my page. He was tired, but he was still happy I dropped by.

"Couldn't have been more than twenty."

"Seventy-one. I counted. That was how many times I got asked who you were and how many times I had to say 'my boyfriend'."

I pouted at him and he giggled. "Poor guy. So abused." He nodded and then kissed my hand. "No one got upset or disgusted?"

"Thankfully no. One guy got upset and said he had lost his chance, but he was happy I found someone."

"Work relationships never last, especially if one of them is the boss."

"Poor guy. I never knew he was gay. Plus he was not even on my radar as cute. Too skinny." So he did have a type. I was not skinny, so I must have been at least a blip on his radar of hot. 

"Bad gaydar on top of being too scared? You must have had a rough time." 

He nodded again and then rolled over to look up at me. "Feeling sassy?"

"No, just a bit out of sorts. Called my uncle in Oregon about my folks. In case I wanted to tell them." He sat up, seeming to know something was wrong. "They just vanished. Uncle Vince hadn't heard from them for a few years after my folks sold the family land to pay debts." Zach took my hand. "It's kinda funny. I wasn't even sure I was going to talk to them at all, and since no one knows where they are, I can't anyway."

"I'm sure they could be found if you just try hard enough. Or toss around some money for an investigator."

Both were an option, but did I even want that option? I mean I hadn't talked to them even once since I moved out of the house. They were never a priority since I ceased being one for them. "I'll think about it. Maybe. Either way, there is a phone call I have to make and with you here, I don't have wait." I grabbed the phone and Zach looked curious. I dialed and he knew it was not local. "Ciao, nonna. Sì, sto chiamando di nuovo. Ti ricordi che qualcuno di speciale dicevo circa prima?" When I started speaking Italian Zach's eye got huge. "No, Nonna, amavano la salsa e ho pensato che meglio di qualsiasi che avevano prima. Sì, sì, sì, Nonna, era ben voluto." I watched his face go through so many emotions, one of them a bit of fear. "Nonna! La ragione per cui ho chiamato è che volevo dirti qualcosa e farvi conoscere lui." I cringed just a bit. "Sì, Nonna, la persona è un uomo. Sì, nonna, io sono un omosessuale. No, non è a causa della US Navy. Ero gay prima di andare in Marina. Nonna! Calmati, per favore." This seemed bad to Zach. I let her rant for a moment and covered the receiver. "She's actually taking this better than I thought." He looked at me like I was insane.

"Nonna, voglio presentarvi a lui. Gli ho detto quello che una donna meravigliosa sei e qual è il tuo amore significa per me. Vi sarà bello, sarà piacevole e si rispettano i miei desideri. Questo è ciò che mi hai insegnato e lo stesso vale per voi, a meno che quello che mi hai insegnato è stata una menzogna." My voice was calm but assertive and I heard her stop talking all together. I had challenged her and she could only give in else she would lose a lot of respect for herself. "No, he doesn't speak Italian. Nonna Elenora, I'm putting you on speaker." I clicked the button.

"You know I hate speaker, Leonardo."

"I know, but this way we can all have a nice chat. Nonna, this is Zachary. Zach, this is my Nonna Elenora who gave me the recipe for the sauce." I sat back and watched Zach swallow heavily.

"I am pleased and shocked to meet you, Zachary."

"Likewise. As Leo has chosen you to be the first in his family to tell of us being a couple I can only assume you are the most important to him." I saw Zach was grinning nervously.

There was a silence, then she spoke. "The first? I would have thought you would have told your parents first."

"No. In fact I doubt I will ever tell them." My tone was a bit stiff.

"Still harboring ill feelings, Leonardo?"

"A bit. Maybe when I'm thirty-two I'll get over them." She always told me it took as long to heal as it did to get hurt when the heart was involved.

"Enough bad thoughts. Zachary, tell me something of yourself."

"Well, I manage Costco here in town. I have two lovely girls, Zoe and Lisa. A receding hairline that Leo thinks isn't as bad as I feel, a waist line that is shrinking thanks to Leo making me run with him. Although if he continues to ask for your recipes I may get it back from how good it all is." I was grinning. He seemed to know just how much good and bad to tell.

"So you are a man with a good career, a family, and one how knows looks only matter to the one who loves you." She didn't ask.

"The last is a lesson I'm still learning and probably will learn until I'm old and gray. So in about a year." That last broke the ice and Nonna laughed.




Arms of a Man Ch. 04



"I believe I am going to like you, Zachary."

We were nervous as hell when the girls came home to the house. The two parental couples we ready to tackle the task of telling the girls and Helen's parents at the same time. The girls could listen and make their own guesses and ask the questions if they have them. When the girls came in like a tornado, I saw the biggest change in Zach. I knew he loved me, he couldn't hide it, but he worshiped his girls. They had been his sole joy in life for nearly a decade. Seeing him get the biggest hugs from them said they loved him even more. When they saw Helen they stopped. "Mommy you look different," said Lisa.

"I feel a lot better honey." The girls gave her a huge hug too.

The folks came in and immediately knew Helen was sober. "There's my girl," said her dad. He was a robust man, probably former military himself, with a booming voice and merry twinkle in his eye. Even at fifty his hair was pure white and if he grew out his beard he could play one convincing Santa.

"Hi, Daddy," She gave him a big hug.

Her mother, on the other hand, was thin like she was and at least a foot shorter than her husband. Her hair was that nondescript shade of blah, but she was a dynamite looking woman. Sam was going to be happy with a gorgeous wife if her mother was any indication. "Well, looks like you've been feeling better. Zachary, give me a hug." He grinned and did just that. There was something in her voice that would brook no nonsense. Not commanding, just strong willed.

"Have the girls been good, Patty Mae?"

"They've been angels," said Patty Mae. I had to fight back a snicker. Dear god, was there a worst name for a woman from the South? "Looks like you enjoyed some time to yourself."

"Much needed, thanks. Patty Mae, Henry, this is Leo."

Henry looked me over and nodded. "I like you. You're a serviceman." He shook my hand like a man should.

"Aye, sir. Eight years, US Navy."

"At least you weren't Air Force." I had to laugh.

Patty Mae looked me over like she was judging me for breeding stock. It was almost eerie and intrusive. Then she nodded. "Good. So, we can't stay long, Helen." I must have passed some sort of test because Helen and Zach grinned. "What's up?"

We all looked at Zach. "I'm gay. Leo is my boyfriend." He just put it out there like it was him saying he would like fries with that. I could never say it that bluntly.

They just stared at him like he had spoken Swahili. Then Henry nodded. "Okay."

"And Sam is my boyfriend." That threw the parents for a loop. It was an immediate jaw drop. They were utterly shocked now.

Henry looked at Zach. "This is a little much, son. All of a sudden."

"We thought it better to do it all at one time. Helen has been sober for three days and we've doing a lot of talking. Once everything is calmed down, we're getting a divorce for obvious reasons. Joint custody and the rest will happen as it happens." I took Zach's hand and he smiled over at me.

Patty Mae gave me another look. "Never saw that one in you and I'm good. You're happy?" We both nodded. "All of you?" Sam and Helen nodded too. "Then Leo, welcome to the family. Zachary is still our son and will be even after the divorce, which makes you part of the family." I smiled broadly. "Have you told your parents yet, Zachary?"

He paled."Not yet. I'm kind of getting all the support I can find to do that. Now that you've said I'm not getting disowned, it makes me feel better."

Henry boomed a laugh. "Son, you ain't going anywhere. You're family, even if Helen changes her name again." Something tells me that Patty Mae was the deciding factor. Henry may be the loud one, but she was the one who decided things. "If you want us there when you tell your folks, we will be."

"We've already decided that I'll take the blame for the divorce," said Helen. "Infidelity makes divorce legal in most religions." A lot had been decided. "The rest, well, no one can blame Zach for being gay. Except his folks." They were fairly religious people.

Zoe looked at me and Zach. Then she looked at Helen and Sam. "So Mommy and Daddy each have a boyfriend?" We all looked at her and nodded. We hadn't told them anything, just let them listen in on the conversation. "And Daddy likes boys like Uncle Benji likes boys?" Again we nodded. Zoe hit the nail on the head. "So I'll have three Daddies?" The simple statement, said with such a monumental smile, was something only a child could do. It didn't matter to her that her dad liked guys, only that she was getting more dads.

"That is something for the grownups to talk about, pumpkin," Helen said.

"Grown stuff is boooooring," she drawled.

We all nodded. "Sam," said Henry and he looked over. "I've known you for a few years, boy. You've never once said anything about any of this."

"Until recently it was all unofficially official." Sam told them about the unsaid deal between the three and Patty Mae shook her head.

"Could have saved a lot of grief had you come out sooner, Zachary."

"I know, but I had little reason to do so until Leo came home." He told them the PG version of our relationship and Helen never once disagreed with anything Zach said about her behavior. She knew she was a raging bitch when she was drunk. "But now that I have him, I'm not going back."

"You're just like Elsa, Daddy, only you would look silly in a dress." Zoe's dimple grin was the same as her dad's and it was so cute when she started singing. Apparently the grandparents had taken them to see Frozen.

"Yes, I would look silly in a dress. I'll leave that to your mommy."

"So where will you be living?" Zach was asked.

Before he could answer, I spoke up. "Here or my place some nights. And the girls can have a slumber party and watch Disney films all night until bed time whenever they want." That seemed to win over the girls. All night? Until bed time? Whenever they wanted?

Zach looked at me questioningly. I nodded. "Yeah, what he said. That will give Sam and Helen some time for peace and quiet and vice verse. When I'm here I'll be in the couch." Helen looked at him oddly. "You snore," he said and she snickered. Easier than saying Zach expected Sam would be here more often. "I'll leave some clothes at Leo's. Which reminds me. I need some new jeans and shirts. Mine are getting too big."

"I thought you looked fitter. Leo making you PT?" asked Henry, although I picked up the subtle entendre.

"Every day. Jogging in the morning, work out after work. Healthy eating. Less stress now. Now if only he could get my hair to grow back." That had us men nodding and commiserating with his loss. Henry still had a full head and Sam and I didn't have early baldness.

"We have to go, honey," Patty Mae said and they stood up. She gave Zach a big hug. "You're loved, Zachary, no matter what happens. You done so much for this family that it's time you did something for you."

Henry gave me a firm handshake. "You treat that man well."

"I will, sir, or I'll have to answer to a higher authority than you."

"Never pegged you for a God-fearing man."

"Not devout, but I was speaking of Patty Mae." Henry laughed and gave me a huge hug instead.

"Welcome to the family."

Next task was to tell the guys. I doubt very much they would flip out too much, but one never knows. I mean, half the group would be gay, which wasn't bad, but it would be a lot for them to take it to have people they've known for twelve years come out and come out as a couple. I knew it could be difficult. We met up that Friday and I was glad the bar wasn't very packed right now.

Calvin and Phil were completely clueless as we all sat around and bullshitting like we always did. Tyler was looking at us. Zach, Derek and I were almost in a formation of support. Greg was out with his brother for his birthday, so there would be no interpreting needed. Greg told Derek he had to come with us tonight. Tyler waited until the current topic had died off and then he said, "You three look like you got something on your mind."

We shared a glance. "Well, yeah," Derek said.

"The thing is, guys, I'm getting a divorce from Helen." The guys' faces dropped. "It's mutual and actually on good terms. She's been sober now for about a week. The family knows and are supportive."

"That's a good thing, right?" Phil asked. All of them knew of the problems he had with his wife.

"Yeah. We've both found someone we actually love." I couldn't help it but turn a bit pink, but the lighting in the bar hid it. He looked over at me and we took each others hand.

They stared at our hands like they were the most shocking thing ever. Like a train had run over a herd of cattle, struck a car and then just kept going like nothing had happened. Calvin looked up at us. "You're joking right?"

"Good one guys!" Phil said and laughed. "Now, are you really getting a divorce?"

Tyler, the one who was usually a bit doped up even here, shook his head. "They ain't lying or joking." Calvin and Phil looked at him. "Even I can see it. They're head over heels for each other." When he looked at us I could see a bit of the old smartass behind the meds. "Makes me wonder how many times you guys checked out my ass in the locker room."

I chuckled. "Not often, buddy. You didn't have enough of an ass for me," I joked. I was glad to see Tyler wasn't freaking out. Could have been the meds.

Zach turned red. "More than I care to admit." Tyler just died. He thought that was the funniest thing in the world. Calvin and Phil still hadn't said a thing.

"Glad you got someone, Zach. Truth is you've been happier since frog man over here got back. Now I see why."

Calvin got up and left. I felt my heart get heavy. Shock I can understand, but I didn't think any one of them would have just walked out. It actually hurt a bit...no, it hurt a lot more than I wanted to admit. Phil just stared after him. "He'll come around. I guess it's just a huge shocker. Of all the people, never pegged either of you guys."

"No one has. That's been the biggest lie we've ever told. Not telling anyone. You seem really okay with this Ty." He did too. I was a bit shocked.

"I seen everything from biggest men crying like babies to the smallest men lifting a car off a comrade. I know what troubling times can do to a man. You find whatever peace you can to get through the day. For me it's Kenna. She's my saving grace after all the shit I seen. I seen two guys just cuddle after a fire fight to chase away the bad. Both straight, both just needing to feel something other than sick. Zach's had his own problems. Now he has you, Leo. Ain't too much of a shock why he likes ya." That was a lot of insight from a guy who was really doped up on meds.

Conversation returned to safer topics but it was awkward. Derek and Tyler were yacking it up like always and Phil would chime in when his snark would be of use, but Zach and I were quiet. That is until Calvin came back in twenty minutes later and without a word dumped a card and a large bag on the table. We looked at it and I grabbed the card. On the front was some really muscular guy with a censored bar across his crotch and the caption "Want to see me without the bar?" I opened it up and just laughed. The bar had been cut out of the card. Calvin didn't write anything, just grinned like a fool. Zach chuckled at the card and then opened the bag. We looked inside and just died. I almost spilled my Pepsi.

Derek was getting annoyed. "Well, share!"

We pulled out "HIS" and "HIS" towels and a box of condoms and lube. Phil was then crying and Tyler had to step out for fresh air he was laughing so hard. "Thought you could use them."

"You scared the crap outta me, dick," I said and gave him a huge hug.

"Hey, have to set up the joke for best result. So you guys are actually dating?" We nodded. "Cool. Just let me get use to the idea before you start sucking face." Of course we had to start right then. It was all show and Phil shot some beer through his nose when Calvin started covering his eyes like he was seeing the most horrid thing alive.

My friends are great. "So...we're cool?" I asked. All of them nodded. I looked at Zach with a smile. "This has gone better than we thought." He returned the smile and my heart melted. Did I ever mention how much I loved his smile? A few times? Just making sure.

The smile fell from his face though. "Still have to tell my parents." That would be the real test and I knew he was ready for the worst.

We had no illusions that his parents would be as understanding as the others. Zach said they had a right to know about the divorce if nothing else. He debated on what to tell them and settled on the half truth he and Helen came up with. He also debated on whether I should come over or not. "If it will help you, then I'll come. If it will make it awkward, I'll stay here."

"I...want you to come." I nodded. It was his decision to tell them, not mine, but I was glad he asked me to come along. "My dad will blow up, my mom will cry and run from the room, and you will have to run interference while I escape." I laughed but wondered how much of this was actually going to happen. He grabbed the phone and took a deep breath. "Hey, Mom," he said after dialing. "No, I'm not alright. Are you and dad at home? Okay, I'm coming over. I have something important to tell you guys. I'm also bringing some moral support." I took his hand and he smiled. He was trembling. "Yeah. I doubt you remember him, but it's Leo from the team in high...yeah, the little blonde Italian boy." I grinned and chuckled. "He's not so little anymore. I'll tell you about it when we get there. I love you to Mom." He hung up and I pulled him into a hug. He mumbled something against my shoulder and I let him up. "Kill me now."

"C'mon, drama queen. Let's go start Armageddon."

His parents still lived in the same three bed two bath. It was still the same light blue color. He took a deep breath and we went to the door. He knocked, showing how nervous he was to not just walk in. That or he was not as close to his parents as he use to be. 

His mom answered with a smile. "Come in! Honey you don't come over often enough." She gave him a big hug. "And Leo. He was right, you're not Little Leo anymore."

I laughed. "No, ma'am. The military trains that out of you." We walked into the dining room and were met by his dad. There was something between them, the men of the family. Something that she either didn't know about or chose to leave between them. Automatically Zach's dad was not happy.

"Son," he said gesturing to the table, "you said something was wrong." We all sat and Zach took a moment to gather his thoughts.

"I'm divorcing Helen." Both of his parents went wide eyed and gasped. "Before you bring up divorce being religiously wrong, she's been cheating on me." That made his dad shut his mouth. He had been about to say that too. "She's been drinking a lot less and has been sober, so we talked it all out and this is for the best." He took a few more breaths as his mom took his hand. "We're going to share custody with the understanding that as long as she stays sober."

"That's very nice of you, honey, isn't it, Carl?" His mom was obviously still the peacemaker in the family.

"Yes. Very. So long as she is a fit mother." I think I found the huge bone of contention. His dad did not like Helen one bit. She was an unfit parent, a drunk who could endanger his grandkids. "While I am very unhappy you are getting a divorce, infidelity is solid grounds for it. And while I know you do not need it, you have my blessings."

Zach smiled a bit. "Thanks, Dad. Patty Mae and Henry also think it's a good idea we separate. Makes the girls' home life more peaceful." That seemed to make his mom happy, but his dad was once again looking like he did not approve.

"Where are you staying?"

"With Leo, Mom. While we sort this out he's offered his spare room. I'm paying rent," he said and I had to stifle a smile as his idea of rent was to share grocery cost and to snuggle me at night, "and sharing food cost, so it's not charity per se."

His mom beamed a huge smile at me. "You are still such a nice boy, Leo. Thank you."

"He's been a good room mate. My last one was...rowdy." To say the least, but I was not going to explain Alex to them. They would have heart attacks. "Thank you for raising a calm son." Zach laughed and once again is smile made my heart soar.

"Our pleasure. Now, what else is on your mind, son?" his father asked. Shrewd of him to notice.

"A lot. Some of it I still have to sort out before I can talk about it." He wasn't going to tell them. It might be for the best with the way his father was acting right now. "But I can say I'm happier and in a better frame of mind."

"Good." His father got up. "I'll fire up the grill and the two of you can stay for a few burgers." It wasn't a request either. We looked at each other and nodded.

"I can't stay too long, Dad. I have to get to work in a few hours."

"That's fine. A quick late lunch and then off you go." He went out back.

"I'll whip up some salad," his mom said.

"Did you need help, ma'am?" I asked.

"No, no. you and Zach go sit in the living room and relax." We did as politely ordered.

He sighed. "Sorry."

"Don't worry, there is plenty of time to tell them, if ever. We both knew this would be hard." He nodded. This was hard and I didn't blame him for not bringing it up.

"I feel like I let you down." I took his hand briefly, not wanting to risk getting caught.

"You didn't. It's your choice, and judging by the way they were about the divorce, the rest can wait."

He smiled at me. "You are way too understanding."

"I know. It's why you love me." He laughed and we almost got caught as his mother came in to make small talk.

She looked at him and the got back up to check on something before returning. "Your father is busy. What is it you didn't want to say in front of him?"

I just marveled. Zach turned all shades of pink. "Sometimes, Mom, I hate when you do that." She smiled. "It's...I'm...in a relationship. I was seeing someone other than Helen, too." She gasped only the slightest of bits.

"Before or after you found out she was unfaithful?"

"After." For some reason that seemed very important to her because she smiled.

"At least she did it first. While I know your father would not approve, you had to protect your heart. When will we get to meet her?"

This time Zach paled and he looked to me as if begging me to kill him. I looked back and sighed. "You already have, ma'am," I said softly.

Her smile froze and then faltered and then was gone altogether. She looked from me to Zach as if asking him to make this one big prank. "I've been dating Leo for the past couple of weeks," he whispered. Then he closed his eyes to wait for the worst.

"Well," she said after a moment. "I must admit I am very shocked. I can see why you didn't want to tell your father. He would...be very upset. I'm...I will need time to come to terms, but know that I still love you." Zach opened his eyes. I could see she was more than shocked. She was disappointed, but she wasn't yelling and screaming. She said she loved him. "You're my baby. You gave us grandchildren bef...bef...is this a phase?" she asked, hoping.

"No, Mom, I'm sure this is not a phase." I could see the tears that both had welling in their eyes. He excused himself and went into the rest room.

She looked at me and I could see she was not happy I was there, but she would not upset her son even more by asking me to leave. "Why did you come?" she did ask. It was a mix of curiosity and bitterness.

"He asked me to, ma'am. For support. He knew this would not be easy on any of you. It was his decision and I supported it."

Then she fixed me with a glare so stern and borderline evil that I swallowed hard. "If you ever hurt my baby, they will never find your remains. I may burn in hell for the things I will do to you, but know this. You will suffer if you hurt him."




Arms of a Man Ch. 04



I nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Since we are being candid. I love him. I will do things that will upset him, that's life, but my priority is him, his girls, and making sure they remain happy. Whatever torture you can come up with will be nothing to what I will endure emotionally if I ever hurt him." I stared back just as strongly.

Her face softened and a few tears fell. "You understand. It is Zach's place to tell his father. If he ever does." She wouldn't tell.

Zach came back out looking sick. "Mom, I'm not feeling well. Could you tell Dad I was called away on some emergency?"

She got up and went over to look at him, her mother's instinct overcoming her feeling about his sexuality. "Of course, baby. You go home and rest." She glance around the corner. "It may be best if you not come home for a bit. Let us get use to all you have told us." Zach nodded, realizing it was the best he was going to get. "Carl, Zach and Leo must go. He got called in early," she called through the screen door.

His father came in looking a bit disappointed and not just because of the marriage problem. "Too bad. Remember that you're my boy and I love you. This divorce...it will be something to work through." He gave Zach a hug. "Leo, nice to see you again."

"Likewise, sir. I do apologize for not being able to stay." We all walked to the door.

"Work happens," he said as if he meant a different word.

We went outside and when his father shut the door he let out a trembling sigh and pulled me into a hug. "I'm glad you came."

"It was...interesting." I just rubbed his back and we snuck a quick kiss.

Not quick enough. I heard a growl from the door. His dad was there and glaring at us. "Get your hands off my boy." His voice was almost inhuman. Zach spun.

"Dad, let me..." he started.

"Get your filthy hands off my son!" He stormed over, but Zach met him on the lawn.

"Dad, calm down," he tried. He was larger than his dad, but right then I was looking at something truly disturbing. Utter blind hatred.

"You will never come to my house again, you unclean abomination!" Zach's eyes narrowed and I knew that stubborn look.

"Dad, will you listen..."

"If you do I will call the cops. Do you hear me?" I looked over their shoulders to see his mother was standing in the doorway with tears in her eyes.

"Dad, shut the fuck up and listen! I love him!" That shut his father up. "Leo is the best thing to ever happen in my life. Someone who loves me and all my insecurities. And you will never—Never!—speak to the man I..." Zach was cut off as Carl spun and backhanded him across the face.

"You will never speak to me like that again. You love him?" He hit him again. "I will beat that stupidity out of you if you won't listen to reason!"

He reached back to hit him again, but I was already there and I grabbed his hand. "Sir, with all due respect, if you hit Zach again, I will be forced to defend him." I spun him around and gave him a shove. "I will also call the cops if you even think to raise your hand in anger to him."

"You fa..." he stopped when I got in his face, choking back the words.

"If you bring that word up I will personally kick you bigot ass from here until Judgment Day and I will gladly burn in hell if you think I will let you hurt him. Se tanto come parla una parola di male a lui, io ti ucciderò. Capisci? Do you understand?" For an answer he spat in my face. "Very well, sir. I will never come back to this house." I looked back at his mother. "Ma'am, I am sorry you had to witness this. A good Christian woman should never have to see such violence." I spun on heel, Zach falling in beside me and we got into the car.

When we were out of sight Zach started to silently sob. I didn't offer words, just let him get it out. It was probably worse than he thought it could be. At home he stripped and pulled my clothes off like a crazy man. I was wondering if he was going to have crying sex, but no. He started the shower and pulled me in with him. He clung to me like I was the only thing keeping him upright. I probably was.



Arms of a Man Ch. 05



I started work. Finally I would be doing something productive, making a living in a field I was good at and able to do one thing I promised myself a week ago when the huge blow up happened. It would take some planning but I would make it happen. I hated seeing Zach look so depressed. Even when I first saw him he hadn't looked this bad. I had to do something.

When I got to the yard for the trucking company, the mechanics there all looked at me oddly. "Can I help you?" one asked. He was an older man with his name, "Ollie", on his suit.

"I'm looking for Damien Jones." The guy thumbed up the stairs to the second floor office. They watched me march up there, knock, and enter when told.

Damien Walters was a big black man. A football jock in his day, he was just big. When he looked up at me he grinned and stood up...and up and up. I remembered that view all too well. "Leo Donati."

I shook my head with a huge grin. "Sir," I said with a salute. I didn't know that Damien Jones, the former CPO 1st Class Jones and the man who ran my ass around boot, was my boss. I'd have applied for a different job.

"At ease." I sat when he gestured. "When I saw your application come across my desk I snatched it up in a second. I remembered you. Good man, dependable, hard working. Briefly checked out the rest of your service record and I'm glad to see you got better."

"Thank you, sir."

"Call me Damien. I retired the sir part of my name." He laughed at his own joke. He had been a real hard ass. NO ONE crossed him because your punishment would be to join him in his PT and I had never met anyone who could PT as hard as him. "So, I'll introduce you to the guys, let them know not to mess with you cause you got my full permission to knock some heads if they don't follow directions."

"Directions?"

"Yeah. My old crew manager got his own company in Utah and none of them monkeys can run tight crew like I know you can."

Part of me felt this was unfair to those who may have been with the company for years, but then years did not necessarily imply skill. "If you think I'm the best for the job, I'll take it, but I hope I'll be able to do some work in the trucks."

"You're making the schedules." Nice. I could get my hands dirty. "I also found out that you're working at another company doing their mechanic work." I nodded. "I know the owner and he's willing to work around your schedule with me. It is my son, after all." I laughed. I would be working for the same family. Could be worse. "Now, when it comes down to it, you know the rules of a bay. No visitors in the bay." I knew that. "If your wife comes by, tell her to use the front entrance."

"Not married, and my boyfriend works when I do." I felt it would be easier to just put it out there.

Damien blinked a few times. "You always were blunt. You may get shit from the guys, but you won't from me." I was really glad I wouldn't have to worry about my job from the boss. "My son Jason has a boyfriend, so you can relax with him too." He could see I was a bit tense about this. Most servicemen would be, even after DADT was thrown out and we could all be open about it. "Any questions?"

"Uniforms. I plan on getting dirty."

"We ain't got much in your size, but we can order a few."

We went out to the bay and he barked an order. His men stopped what the were doing and came running. "Alright, ladies. This is Leo, your new crew boss." I saw a few people look a bit put out. "He's been working on diesel for the US Navy for the past eight years and knows how to run a tight crew. Taught him myself. He's a good man and worth getting to know. Don't be giving him none of the shit you pull on me cause he'll knock you around." That got a few laughs. I know I didn't look like much right then in my nice clothes. Most of them were bigger than me at least in height. "You guys show him the ropes, learn from him and teach him." Damien went back into the office.

I walked down stairs. One of the guys sneered at me. "I'll show you to the store room so you can get a suit."

"Thanks, Frank." I had already read his name patch and those of the other guys. The store room was small, but this one only held uniforms and rags. "I know someone has got to be pissed I got the job I did. I expected to fix trucks, not lead crews."

"Yeah. You're not going to be popular until you prove you got the stuff. Been here fifteen years, but I know I ain't fit to lead a crew. A few others think they are." He tossed me a small jumpsuit. I stripped off my shirt and Frank just shook his head. "You a tank. Never seen a Navy boy built like you."

"Yeah, I keep in shape. I'm a short guy. No complex, just good genes and a will to be in shape."

"You got a family? Most of the guys take it easier on those that got em. Always worry that if we chase off a guy his kids might not get fed." I knew mechanics could be boisterous, but could they be that bad? I hoped not.

I thought about it and smiled. I did, in a way. "Personally, nope. My boyfriend has two girls, sweetest things." I smiled, remembering how they liked having three dads. 

Frank looked at me shrewdly. "Never pegged you as a...gay guy." I knew he was going to say something else, but I was his boss and I knew he wasn't stupid enough to risk his job over a wrong word. "Jim will hate you once he finds out."

"That's his problem. For everyday talk, I got a sweetheart with two girls." Frank nodded like that was wise. "Lets go get dirty." He grinned as I zipped up my suit.

When I got home Zach wasn't there. I showered and decided I didn't feel like putting on more than my underwear. I called him up, knowing he was not working...but I was wrong. "Hey, I thought you were supposed to be off at three."

"I took another shift. I'll be home after closing." Then he hung up. It was more abrupt than I had ever heard him. Either he was really busy or he was really feeling all the stress. I didn't blame him. His dad didn't leave much room for comfort.

This was his coping mechanism. Work your ass off until you're too tired to deal with the problem. Not the worst one, but not the best. I knew that Costco closed at eight, so he would be either here or at the house around nine. I called Helen. "Hey, Leo." 

"Hey. Listen. Do you know of a way I can get Zach out of this funk?"

"What do you mean?"

He hadn't told her. I had hoped he would have, but perhaps their previous relationship did not instill a sense of confidence for him. "Telling his parents went badly. The rest is for him to tell. He may be over there tonight since he took the closing shift."

"Ah. He does that when he's down. If he drops in, I'll have some dinner ready for him because he probably hasn't eaten. Thank you, Leo for telling me. I know he wouldn't," she said, sounding very guilty. They didn't have kind of relationship yet.

"Perhaps that will change. And you sound good, Helen." We chatted for a few minutes and then I got up to cook dinner for us in case he came here.

When he came dragging in after quarter past nine I was still in my underwear and his eyes took on a brief look of hunger until his body just said no. "I made you something for dinner. Shall I heat it up for you or wait until after your shower and you become human again?"

"After shower, before coma." I laughed and he smiled. So, by this reaction, he was stressed and upset, but not going to stay in the funk forever. Still, it was probably going to be a battle for us. I didn't even question that I wanted to be there through all of this with him. Then I started to.

I sat there and marveled. How had I fallen so fast for him? I hadn't seen him in years and I hadn't felt more than passing friendship with him when we were in school. It didn't make any sense. Was I with him just to be with someone? It was possible, but if that was the case I probably would not have come out and probably I would have left by now. All of this was honestly more than I was use to and no simple fling was worth this. Was it for the amazing sex? Hell no...not only that. I had to be honest, he was great in bed. The best I'd ever had.

But all of that was because I loved him. Just...wow. I had to do something...stupid. I jumped on my computer and opened up my email.

Alex,

Hey hornball! Just keeping you posted on civ life. Got me a job with a few trucking places. Crew manager at one and mechanic at the other. Making some good money and living in a nice place. And I'm totally in love. Like I am scared how much I love this person. I'm sending a picture of us at the bar last Friday night. It was at our "Coming Out Party." Yeah, that's my baby. And yes, it's a guy. Never told you I like dick cause you would have wanted some ass, horny freak that you are. Just tell me if I'm thinking with my dick and being a dumbass.

Give my love to anyone I knew over there and don't hate me cause I never gave the Beast a chance to eat me up.

All the best,

Leo

I hit send before I could take it back and then I just giggled. "Something funny?" Zach asked, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around me. He was still only in his towel and a few drops of water still clung to his chest.

"Just sent an email to Alex. Told him about us." He could sense how jittery I was right then, how freaked out I was.

"Why tell him if it's going to make you gray? I'm the one who is supposed to worry and look old before my years."

"Because I was thinking about how fast this relationship has gone. Honestly, I'm scared shitless at how much I love you." I looked up at him to see his eyes fill with tears. "I am seriously freaked out." His lips met mine and I pulled him onto my lap. I could feel him trembling a bit too. I guess I was not the only one who knew that this was going faster than normal. Yet I wasn't going to give up on the first time I felt happy, I mean really happy, in years. "I guess...I guess I just wanted to hear I wasn't thinking with my dick from someone who does nothing but that."

He chuckled, but he was still trembling a bit. "Leo, I love you enough for the both of us, even if you were just thinking with your dick." I know I turned a bit red, but I was happy to hear that. That he loved me so much he would wait for the love to be returned. "Still, this has gone really fast. I'm not asking for us to slow down or even take a step back, but I still wonder why you chose me."

"Well, you are really hot and your ass is sublime." He gave me a mock glare. I never used words like sublime unless I was joking around. "And your smile makes my heart stop and never fails to make me feel like the world isn't all bad. The way your look at me when I touch your cheek." When I did that his face turned a bit pink and he leaned into the touch looking so content to be with me. "It was really no choice on my part. But why me? Why risk all this hell for me?"

He got off my lap with a smile, squeezing my hand before going into the bedroom to put on some shorts. He didn't close the door or try to hide that was all he was doing since I could see him drop the towel. It was sexy without being sexual. When he came back he pulled me over to the couch and sat, pulling me close and putting my head in his lap. It was usually the other way around, but this was nice.

"You're worth it. When I saw you in line my heart leaped back to life." He was rubbing my head and my growing hair. I needed a hair cut. "I had a bit of a crush on you in school." I laughed at the boyish grin on his face.

"No you didn't," I said and he nodded vehemently.

"I did, but I was too scared to even talk to you. But when you were in my line at work I just melted. It was like the part of my life I had been happy in had come back to make the gloom go away, even for a moment. Then we went out for boys night, and you were every bit as charming as I remember. So handsome and sure of yourself. Oozing confidence and sex appeal...and everything I wish I could be. Then you let me break down on the first night we saw each other. You didn't hold back. You didn't make fun of me. You saw I was hurting and just did everything right. That night, when you held me, I felt all those old feelings. I felt like my old self again and it was you who made me feel that way again. Made me feel handsome and desirable. I felt like I wasn't some fat balding guy who had nothing to show for my life." I went to speak, but he shook his head. "That is what I felt like. I only had my girls. They were the only thing I ever did right.

"Then you come back into my life and I see all of the things I have. I have friends who care, a career that I could do for a long time as I'm good at being a manager and I actually like it, my girls who honestly love the hell outta me. Patty Mae and Henry who have been so amazing and supportive. Yes, I have pretty much lost my family, but it was bound to come out eventually. I don't blame you in the slightest except you gave me the courage to be honest. To be myself. And hell, you faced down my father like he wasn't twice your size." I shrugged. Yeah, he was bigger, but he had hit my boyfriend. "You've never held back. You've given me everything you can without ever asking for anything other than friendship back. Do you know how much that means to people? What it meant to me when I desperately needed someone to chase away the funk?"

"No. I don't know. I've always been like this, so I never saw any difference."

"It's amazing. So few people give as much of themselves as you do. I'm glad it is you with me than any other guy." His eyes got a bit teasing. "Except for maybe Chris Evans."

"Then we'll go to Hollywood. You can get Chris Evans, I'll get Chris Hemsworth, and we'll share Chris Pine." He nodded like an idiot and we both laughed. It was a release of tension. I yawned, which made him yawn too. "Long days."

"Yeah. How was work?"

I grinned. "I'm crew boss." His jaw dropped. "The company owner is actually my old C.O. from boot camp." I told him about a few things and Zach just laughed. "When he saw my resume and application he pounced on it and made me crew boss. Yeah there will be ruffled feathers from the ones who got passed up, but that's everywhere." He nodded. "But...I told him about you and he was cool about it. Oh, if you ever drop by you aren't allowed in the bay. Rule one."

"You really told your boss and former commanding officer about me on the first day?" I nodded. "You're amazing."

"You make me want to be amazing." That got me a kiss which had us both laughing again. I could be pretty sappy. "So...you're not blaming me for your folks?"

"No. I'll be taking some extra shifts as they come. I need time to just do normal things. Normal for me." I could think of a million worse ways to deal with grief than working extra hours. "Just give me some time to deal with this."

"Anything." He raised a brow. "Starting tomorrow. I feel dead." Then my grin turned evil. "You know I start work at seven in the morning." He groaned. "That means I'm getting up at five for PT." He almost whimpered, knowing I would want him there with me.

"Starting tomorrow...huh?" I laughed.

"Welcome to dating a service man."

"So..." he said, running his finger down my bare chest,"if you don't have to do anything..." I grinned and we went to the bed room.

After a very light morning of PT, meaning I really made Zach pound my ass for close to a half an hour before making his toes curl with my tongue on his tight little ass, I was at my other job and saw something so very different from Damien's shop. For one, this one had a waiting room and dear god it was the prettiest one I had ever seen. One wall was devoted to pictures of trucks and other competition vehicles. They were beautiful because each was hand drawn but looked almost like photos. Some nice potted plants sat on the floor next to the customer refreshment center, labeled as such, that boasted of coffee and tea, a soda machine, popcorn popper and snack vending machine, and even some home made chocolate and peanut butter chip cookies. Then there was the customer service counter for all the payment needs for the company. I knew as soon as I walked in that one of the two guys was going to be VERY flamboyant.

"OMG!" came a voice, saying each letter rather than the phrase it represented. It was perky and so damn happy that I laughed right then. I couldn't help it. "You have got to be Leo!" I turned to look at the most adorable little Asian guy ever. He was tiny, even shorter than me, and weighed about two pounds and all of it smile. The subtle differences in features said he was of Vietnamese descent. "I'm Tai-cu!" He flounced over and I just about pissed myself from laughing when he gave me the biggest hug ever. "Welcome, welcome, welcome!"

"Are you really this happy to see me?" I asked and he giggled. He GIGGLED!

"Well, you're cute and you'll be getting me out of the motor bay, so yes. Jason! Leo is here," he called and then flounced from the room.

I just shook my head. Jason came in looking like a slightly smaller version of his father and shook my hand. "That was Tai-cu, short for typhoon of cuteness." Jason was not a flouncer. He was just your typical guy, which actually made we wonder if Tai-cu was acting like the gayest stereotype ever.

"It fits. So I have to ask if he's always that..."

"Gay as fuck? Yeah." He gestured me back to the bay where I could change into my suit. The two companies were actually one. One for commercial and one for people who had diesel vehicles. They also did body work and paint detailing here. "First time I met him I wanted to step on him like a bug. Then he called me Papa J-Bear and I just fell for all of it." His face was neutral, but his eyes said he loved his little bug.

"Better you than me. My boyfriend and I actually just came out."

"And one of you lost some family. I know the tone." I wondered who he lost. Obviously not his dad.

He introduced me to the rest of the crew, which I was very surprised were mostly women in the motor bay. I had a feeling they had a hard time finding jobs in the area since it was still a fairly conservative male-dominant area. "Alright, ladies," he said, sounding just like his dad that I grinned, "this is Leo. He's going to be booting Tai-cu out to the lobby."

"Thank you!" said one of the women and we all laughed.

"He's also my dad's crew boss and knows his stuff, so don't feel like you have to go easy on the new guy. Leo, if you want to learn some detail work, talk to Sandy." Said gal raised her hand. "She's got the eye and the touch." I nodded. It would be a new skill to pick up and one that would make me a more viable worker if I could do more than diesel tech. I worked until noon with the crew. Jason was the manager and stayed mostly in the office except when he "got bored enough to do a walk through" and decided he want to turn a wrench, dressed in his slacks and polo shirt. 

I was getting ready for lunch when in the lobby when I got hugged from behind. I knew that aftershave and smiled. "Hey Zach,"

"Hey there yourself. All greasy and sexy." I laughed and let him hug me. "Ready for lunch?"

"Oh, a surprise lunch date?" He nodded. "I can't say no to you AND lunch."

"OMG! You guys are so CUTE!" I felt Zach stiffen and then he looked over at the service counter like he was expecting to see the anti-Christ. 

"Tai-cu, this is Zach, my boyfriend." Typhoon of cuteness came around to give big hugs. He was like a little puppy who just wanted to love on everyone. At least he didn't hump our legs or pee on us.

"OMG! You two! Papa J-bear! Come meet Zach! He's so adorable. You would love him, he's got a booty." I watched Zach turn to look at me with the most amazed look on his face. I nodded like I knew what he was thinking. Jason poked his head out, waved and went back inside the office. "He must be on a call. Now, Zach, you take your man out to lunch and make sure that Daddy D's crew boss is ready to tackle the rest of his day. It was so amazing to meet you!" Then Tai-cu just flounced back behind the counter.




Arms of a Man Ch. 05



Zach was quiet as we went to our cars to go to Wendy's. He stopped me before I got into mine and his face was something to behold. "What the holy hell was that?!" I guffawed and then had a huge belly laugh.

"I know! Tai-cu is like that all the time from what Jason and the girls say."

"And who are Papa J-bear and Daddy D?"

I knew I would have to forget that name before I got to Damien's. "My bosses."

"I would have killed him or myself by now." I gave him a kiss and we went to lunch.

When I did get to my next job I clocked in and looked over the work for the day. I wasn't scheduled to turn a wrench here as it was a light day, but I was on hand in case something came up. Damien came into the small office I had just off the bay and I grinned. "Hi Daddy D," I said with my absolutely best Tai impression I could muster. I laughed at his face which was one part murder, one part shock, and eight parts laughing inside.

"I see you met Tai."

"More like Tai came in like a force of gay nature, loved on me, and then flounced out."

"You know my pain. Never call me that again." I saluted and he shook his head. I could tell he loved Tai and wouldn't trade him for a girl for his son, but like me, he could only deal with so much.

"So, what's up boss?"

"Got a rig that needs looking at. Making a rattling noise as it idles and shifting the gears is a bit stiff. You're the only one open."

"Fine with me. I'll give her a look and have it done by the end of the day." At least I wouldn't be bored. 

I waited for the truck to be towed in and then got to work. I was nearly done with my one truck when I saw most of the crew were done with their three and just watching me work. I shrugged and just kept it up like it didn't bother me that they were just standing around. It didn't. They had done their assigned duties and I was doing mine. Had one been shirking I would have got on his case. In another ten minutes I was finished and was cleaning up the tools when Frank just clapped. "That's why he's crew boss," he said. I had done in only a few minutes more what took two of them to do in that same time.

"You're good, kid," said Ollie, the oldest guy there who could have been boss had he wanted the job. He was in his late fifties and didn't look to be slowing down or even thinking about retirement. He'd been working as a mechanic for forty-five years.

"Thank you, sir. I do my best." He gave me a big toothy grin. I'd heard him cuss at one of the other guys for calling him sir, but he took it from me because he had a grandson only a year young than me. He'd had his son early in life and his son had followed suit. He couldn't yell at me since even on my second day I could tell he was looking at me in the same light as his own grandkids.

If anyone had grumbling to do it wasn't in my hearing. With all our duties done, we got to knock out for the day an hour ahead of schedule and Damien still paid us for the full time. When I got home I checked my email to find Alex had written me back. The subject of the message was "o.O" and wondered how much time the boy spen ton the net to learn these emoticons. I was nervous to open it, wondering if he would tell me I was just thinking with the lower head.

Leo,

G'damn, bro! Leave for a few weeks and you already getting turned out by them Cali boys. LOL! And I got to admit he's a cutie. I wouldn't want him in the same bar with me cause he'd score all the chicks with that "good boy" shit grin he got.

Typical me shit aside, Leo, you're not thinking with your dick. I can see it in your eyes and your boy has got the same look in his. I never have that look in mine in pics with chicks I said I liked. What you got is special and you best not throw that away by second guessing your intentions. I known you a bit, bro, and this one moment is the happiest I had ever seen you. I hope you stay happy with your boy.

Back to me shit...I could have gotten a piece of ass? A blow job?! WTF!? Why didn't you let me know! I wouldn't have gone out to bang all those chicks if I could'a gotten some from you...and them wedding cakes. You let your boy hit that yet? You hit his? Something tell me he isn't the whore I am. Get back to me.

Alex

I grinned because I could totally hear his voice, even when he was being heartfelt. It was nice to hear that I wasn't just with him for the sex. Then I read the PS.

PS: I'll be State-side in a few weeks and I wanna see you and meet your boy. I got three days in

San Diego before I go home to Florida to see my Mom. Hope you can get down here for some

fun...if you know what I mean.

I just shook my head. He was too much and bad thing is I remembered the dream I had and was getting hard as a rock. Never a good thing. I sent back a quick email telling him to let me know closer to the day so I could hopefully plan some days off of work.

Zach took another late shift, but he said that was what he needed and I wasn't as worried now. I was glad he wasn't out drinking his sorrows away or something worse, but I missed him not being there. I missed him a lot and I wished I could go...I grinned and decided to be a pain in the butt. I was showered, dressed nicely, and carrying my basket up to the door when I saw Patty Mae and Laura, Zach's mom, were talking softly to the side. Without fail Patty Mae saw me and motioned me over. With a sigh, because Laura was just a bit shocked to see me, I came over. "Patty Mae. Mrs. Thompson. I was bringing Zach something to eat so he didn't have to eat Costco pizza again for dinner."

The two shared a glance and a nod. "Leo, Patty Mae was telling me off for being such a lousy mother in the nicest way she could. Would you like to add your words to hers?"

Oh the words I could add. "No, ma'am. From what I can see is you're doing your best to juggle religious beliefs and the love you feel for your son. Hard for any person when they are in direct opposition. No, please hear me out. Don't butt in, Patty Mae." She glared but smiled shrewdly. "He's a bit of a mess, but your words to him helped. You told him that you loved him and that he was still your baby. He understands that it will take time to get use to the fact that he's in a relationship with a man. Neither of us hold out any hope for Mr. Thompson, but the rest of his family supports him. Henry, Patty Mae, Helen, the girls...all of them. The family I have told, my bosses even, feel this will be a good thing for us both. Even a friend of mine from the service. I won't tell you your own feelings, but I believe you will too. Perhaps not today or tomorrow, but I see that you are willing to love him even when your religious beliefs say we're an abomination. That's my two cents."

Patty Mae almost looked at me like I was being too kind. "Well. I see why Zach is...in love with you. You've got an open mind and a bigger heart than I ever gave you credit for. Please remember what I said and I will think on what both of you have said. Now, I must get home and cook dinner." She pushed her cart out into the lot and was gone between the rows.

"Chew her ass out good?" I asked and Patty Mae laughed.

"It was quiet, but I believe there were many times she started praying to forget the terms I used to describe her and especially that husband of hers." I laughed and shook my head. "Do you honestly think she will ever come around and accept it?"

"Accept it, yes. Like it, no."

"So, what did she say?"

"That if I ever hurt him she will be burning in hell for the things she will do to me." I said it straight faced and Patty Mae was about to laugh when she saw I was serious.

"Then there is hope yet for Zachary to at least have his mother's love. Give him my best, he's holed up in his office." She gave me a hug and then went dashing off with her own cart. The guy at the door thumbed me through with a smirk.

"Another hot date with the boss?" he joked.

"Yup."

"Good. He was so happy until a few days ago. Cheer him up for us."

I nodded and went in. So his workers saw the improvement. Good, I can use guilt to get him to come around that much faster. The door was partially closed so I stuck my head in and saw him with his head on his desk and drooling on his mouse pad. It was so darned cute I had to just look at him for a few moments after I softly shut the door, the "On Break" sign hanging on the outside. Just seeing how worn he was made me want to tell him to come home now or I would drag him home to a real bed. When I opened the food his nose twitched and his eyes fluttered open. "Oh god. How long have you been here?" he asked sheepishly.

"Long enough to debate dragging you home to bed. I brought dinner." A fresh tomato bisque and garlic bread.

"You're too good to me." He wiped the drool from his chin and pad and shook his head. I could see his eyes were red and not from sleep deprivation. "I don't deserve you."

I just looked at him like he was being stupid and his eyes dropped. Something had set him off. Something or someone had made him cry. "So, what did you father have to say?"

It was a blind stab in the dark. "That I was tainted and no good. That I was going to hell unless I repented. He would disown me in a month if I didn't do just that." His eyes started to cloud up but he pushed back the tears. How many times had he done that to have it be so easy? I knew I would be getting that fuckwad back for the shit he said and I knew just how to do it. I knew my agents of soul rending revenge. "I'm not giving you up so I guess I'm going to hell."

"Good. We wouldn't know too many people in his version of Heaven anyway." Zach snickered. "So, I am under strict orders from your staff to put you back in a better mood and I will resort to shameless tactics to get the job done." He groaned and put his head back down. "I have dinner," I said and made sure he had a nice portion of it dished up. "Music," which this time I had something smooth and sultry. "And if I have to I will lock the door and see how long you can last as I strip off my clothes." His head came back up and he just stared, looking turned on and spooked.

"The door doesn't lock."

"Then you better get happy really fast," I said as I started to move to the music. His face went all the way to shock as I began to undo my tie.

"Are you trying to get me fired?" he asked, his voice already going husky with desire. He subconsciously licked his lips.

"Fired, no. Fired up, yes." My hands undid each button and I had gotten down to my navel when he came from behind the desk and stopped me.

"I'm better. Really, I am."

"Are you sure?" I asked sweetly, "because I'm not wearing any underwear." I put my hands at my belt and he squeaked before putting them on his hips. He was grinning and as he pulled me close for a dance if only to keep my hands busy.

"You fight dirty. What am I going to do, babe?" I had to stifle the grin. He called me babe! It was so cute. "He's seriously pissed off."

"Don't worry about him. He won't be making any more nasty calls to you." He looked at me like that was only a dream. "I've already got the evil revenge plan in my head and when it goes into action, he will either prove once and for all how much of a douche he really is or he'll recant just enough to leave you alone."

"I'm almost too scared to ask."

"On a lighter note. Alex has shore leave and will be in San Diego. He wants to meet you, see me, probably try for a threesome. Maybe an orgy if he can line up the women." He gaped and then laughed.

"Seriously? Or are you just dreaming again?"

"Serious. I'm debating whether or not to go down and see him since he will probably try to get in either one of us."

"Well, my insides belong to you only."

Sad to say that was probably one of the most romantic things I'd heard in a long time. "And all of me belongs to you," I said softly and kissed him.

Feeling the man you love melt into your arms is just about the best feelings. "How did I get so lucky?"

"I was thinking along the same lines. Now, I'll keep my clothes on and we can eat. When you get home, I will have already set my evil plan in motion." He groaned but by the end of dinner he was in a much better mood.

On my way home I stopped by Helen's house. Time to start being a shit head. After a few brief phone calls, I had all the fodder I needed.



Arms of a Man Ch. 06



As I predicted Zach's Dad left him alone entirely. It had been two weeks and he had not received a single angry call or even a call from him that was neutral. I knew it would work, but Zach seemed to think it was the calm before the storm.

"He's going to call. I know it." We were sitting around the table at the bar with the guys. It was one of those times that Zach was having a beer since I would be driving us home.

"No he's not," said Phil. "If he hasn't by now, he won't. I never knew your dad to pass up an opportunity to preach." The thing is Zach didn't argue or even look offended. His dad was just that bad. "So how did you do it? What evil military training did you use to get him to leave Zach alone, Leo?"

"None. I simply used the resources at hand, called in a few love points, and then let the scene unfold." Even that sounded a bit like a mastermind, but I had done only that. Zach hadn't asked what I had done and I didn't know what I would tell him if he did ask. I could tell he was very curious because I had somehow made the unstoppable bigot stop, but he was just as scared to ask. The guys started to come up with the most outlandish tortures they could think of. Bamboo shoots under the nails, cattle prod to the testicles, hours of watching Barney and Teletubbies. The more ridiculous the tortures got, the more Zach was starting to giggle and come out of his funk.

"OMG! Leo!" Zach flinched. The other guys just stopped talking. I shook my head and looked back at Tai-cu who was weaving through the bar with Jason in tow. "Honeyhunk, so nice to see you! And lovely to see you again, Zach." He came up and gave us huge hugs, flouncing around the table to give all my friends hugs. Cal just looked spooked, Phil was trying not to fake barf, but Tyler just gave him a hug back. "I like you. You give good hugs." When he got to Derek he stopped. "There's my gurl. Heeey!"

"Hi Tai. Jason, why did you let the typhoon out of its cage? They have leash laws." Obviously Derek and Tai knew each other because Tai giggled and kissed his cheek. Sad thing is I was wondering the same thing.

"Only because Leo asked for a favor." Zach looked at me like I was truly evil.

"I'll be right back," I said and picked Tai-cu up by his waist and carried him out. Jason said it was the only way to make sure he would go where you wanted him to quietly. He didn't even squirm, he just marveled at my muscles. I had asked to talk to them about this, but I expected to do it at work.

"Holy fuck," exclaimed Cal and I know all of them were now discussing Tai.

When I came back they huddled closer. "So what evil are you planning with that bundle gayness?" asked Phil.

"Oh. Just plan on unleashing a typhoon on Zach's dad."

"You're evil," Zach said with a barely concealed smirk. "Dad is going to go apeshit on him."

"Not with Jason and Damien there at his place of business." He worked in a furniture outlet and worked for a small salary plus a hefty commission. "Tai and Jason mentioned that they were looking for a new bed set." Phil and Cal just started laughing their heads off and Tyler was grinning.

"Should we video tape this? I want to see my dad's face when the typhoon storms around his store." Zach was grinning like a fool.

"I am sure it will be very memorable and if he doesn't show his true colors he might even make a sale. If he can handle the typhoon at full force, having you for a son will seem like a sunny day with a slight breeze." I knew my smile was so huge because the guys started laughing. This was only part of my evil plan, but it was a very huge part of it. I was going to call every guy I knew who would be willing to help out. Then I thought of one couple. One who would help out just to be a good friend. "Oh...oh that's rich."

"What?" they asked, looking where I was staring.

"I just thought of a new twist to this plan." I chuckled deep in my throat and even I was shocked how evil it sounded. "Your dad won't know what hit him."

Cal grinned. "Here's the plan. Okay first we're going to need 10 pounds worth of raw steaks, a moving truck, and a grizzly bear named Bubu, that may or may not have been stolen from one of the local zoos, who happens to be very hungry and has not eaten in days. I'll leave the rest to your imagination!" We laughed at him.

Phil joined in. "I have a sinkhole," his inserted and the plans got sillier from there.

While I may have been a diesel mechanic, I was not without tech savvy. I could do nothing about phase one of my master plan, that had already been set in motion, but for the next few I could have some serious fun. Part of that was spending a little money, but honestly...I'm very much a holder of grudges and don't take kindly to those who hurt my loved ones. I was willing to do whatever I could to get someone back. I'm not nice about it either. I did a little shopping and told my boss I would be a bit late. When I told him why he told me to take the day off.

"You make sure you make that bastard pay. Religion is no excuse to disown your son. I'm Catholic," Damien said and then I told him his part of my fun times. He just laughed and told me exactly where to find the items I needed and to even use his name. 

"You know a guy?" I asked with a smile on my face.

"I know a gay. Jason's first boyfriend and still best friend. Very much a tech head. Works at Best Buy."

Perfect.

I drove over to Best Buy and asked if CJ was working. I was rerouted to the computers area and when I found him he grinned. "Leo. Damien described you perfectly and said you would be by soon."

"I love having people who know people. So I need a few things, and maybe, if you want to help me get a homophobic asshole back for hurting my boyfriend, then the more the merrier."

His grin made me chuckle. "I think I'm going to like you Leo. I know Jason and Tai-cu rave about your work, and Tai about your looks." I blushed a bit, still not completely use to people commenting so openly about my looks or anything like this in general. "So, what is your master plan?" I told him and he was smiling as he showed me the best stuff on a budget. He even showed me a nice upgrade or two for my computer, being a salesman it was his job, and I bought them simply because he had saved me the initial $200 anyway. Even saved me money on that as he had some "open box" deals.

I went home and called Jason. "So, boss man, I got the items I needed from CJ. Nice guy, by the way. When will you and the typhoon be free to annoy the hell out of Zach's Dad?"

"Tomorrow at lunch. Is that enough time?" I grunted in affirmation. "Good. Now, how much of the typhoon should be unleashed?"

"All of it. Full force. In fact, make him gayer than Elton John's fanny pack which he inherited from Liberace, all covered in rhinestones."

"That's gay man." Jason was laughing at my comparison. "Okay, I know just how to put this to him. Now get to work." I hung up and did just that.

When the event came around I was at work at Jason's shop and it was "closed for inventory" for the rest of the afternoon. I had told Zach he had to be here for the event. He was, along with the guys and the entire family, my co-workers, Derek and Greg, and CJ. I turned on the TV, which showed nothing, as I put in an ear piece. "Can you hear me? If so, give me some eyes."

After a moment a picture came on screen of Damien's face. "Com check. We got ears?"

"Ears and eyes, boss." Zach was sitting there with a grin sliding slowly onto his face. "Is the weapon locked and loaded?"

"Locked, loaded, sugar high and bedazzled. Placing eyes." The camera panned as he moved the minicam to his tie, the receiver on his belt. Then we saw the typhoon. There was a huge collective gasp and then a loud laugh from Zach and CJ. "I take it there is a crowd back at base."

"Copy that, boss." Tai was wearing an absolutely stunning school girl outfit...and he looked good. Every anime nerd would suddenly bleed from the nose, face fall, and every other way to show that he was hot. The worst part was it was a garish purple with pink sparkles for the skirt, a white Oxford shirt and the tie was the same sparkling purple. Knees socks and retro 50's saddle shoes, he was also in full makeup. J Pop style. He had added a purple streak to his bangs and spiked up the rest. Dear god...it was beautiful.

Tai took a deep breath as he got out of the van. "Are we ready?" My jaw dropped. He had not flounced or lisped or anything else. It was said so professionally and neutral that I wondered if they had hired a Tai-cu lookalike. 

"We are go, Tai. God help the man, here comes the Tai-cu." It was instantaneous. The swish was full blown and out came the lollipop. Oh my god, he went Lolita Drag Queen. This was so gay even Liberace would feel manly; Richard Simmons looked like Dwayne Johnson next to Tai-cu. The guys were just staring.

Ty laughed. "And you guys complain about Derek being gay."

"Never again," said Cal.

"Mom, what's going on?" asked Zoe.

Helen grinned. "We're making your grandpa squirm."

"Oh. Is he still mad at daddy?" Zach looked at his daughter.

"Yes, honey."

Zach looked at me and I just grinned. Then it dawned on him and he shook his head while stifling a laugh. We watched as Tai was pulling Jason across the lot like he was almost unwilling. "C'mon, Papa J! We'll miss the sales! OMG! Do you see that kawaii bed skirt?" He squealed with delight in full view of everyone in the store and dragged Jason over, Damien following with his CO face on. Tai went flouncing around the store, this way and that, looking at everything until he came up to Zach's dad. I watched Zach's face spasm a bit in pain but he pushed it down. Carl's face was one of shock and then it was plastered with the fakest smile ever.

"Hi, may I help you today?"

"OMG! Aren't you the cutest! Honey, isn't he the cutest?" I watched Carl's face spasm in the same way, like he was in pain. "Tell him what we want."

Carl turned to Jason. "We're looking for our first bed set Just got married." He smiled so lovingly over at Tai that even the guys smiled. The marriage part was a huge lie as they weren't ready for that yet, but they had rings on their hands and Carl just nodded, keeping his false grin firmly in place. "It has to be mahogany..."

"With kawaii purple bed skirts like the ones in the front!"

"...with purple bedding." Scary thing is that wouldn't look too bad, all things considered.

"And matching dressers! We gotta! Like those!" Tai-cu pulled Jason over to a set of very nice, and very expensive, dressers with brass handles. Carl went along because now he was seeing dollar signs. A couple of customers were making snide remarks behind their hands. "Excuse me, are you making fun of me?" he asked of the people and they turned a bit red. "Papa J, they're making...making fun of me." He started to tear up. It was wondrous! Academy Award performance here. Actual tears came leaking from his eyes and he dabbed them away daintily. 

"I'm sure they're not, honey. They're just being quiet while they discuss what they want. I'm sure no one would be rude enough to make comments like that." His voice was low, even and a bit edged. Tai's face brightened and he jumped into his arms for a kiss, leaving some of the makeup on Jason. The people kindly walked away and out of the store.

"I'm sorry about that," said Carl. "Shall we continue? This is a nice set..." and Tai went off with a new interest. Every time he saw something new he was dragging Jason and Damien, and by virtue of the Almighty Dollar Carl went with them. Each time someone made a comment about Tai, he would cry and Jason or Damien would comment, deflecting their hate with snide remarks about families and how they should work. With love and understanding, forgiveness and tolerance.

Damien watched, chuckling as Tai went off with another inspiration. "Do you have any children?" he asked Carl.

After a moment he said, "Yes." It was almost said grudgingly.

"Don't they make your life so much better? I mean my son just got married to the man of his dreams. They plan to adopt in a few years and then they can show the world that two men can build a loving home."

"That sounds very nice." Carl's voice was a bit distant. His face said he was thinking very hard.

Zach turned to me. "He's thinking about something. What else have you done?" I put my finger to my lips and he turned back. 

That was when all hell broke lose. I brought in a pair of ringers. A sweet looking old couple who I had known from before I went into the military. The Donaldsons were church going Christians who were more like adopted grandparents and who remembered me fondly and lovingly. Their part was simple, to play the opposite of what they were and be bigots blindly hating. Tai knew there would be someone who would be there, what they looked like, and to not take anything they said to heart, but Jason and Damien were not told.

Tai flounced over to a set of wardrobes the couple was looking at. "Isn't this so divine!?" he asked of them, making a scene.

"Son, what are you wearing?" asked Mr. Donaldson.

"Isn't it cute?" Tai asked with the biggest smile.

"No. It's unseemly. I would never let even my daughter wear that. Moira, turn away. You don't wish to see such filth." His voice was full of anger and disgust. The woman turned her head and almost seemed to spat. "Go some place else you unclean heathen. God knows what you do and when you die you shall join the rest of your ilk in Hell."

"Excuse me?" exclaimed Jason and Damien at the same time. Carl saw where this was going to end up and kindly asked them all to leave. "You would dare say that to my husband?" Jason bellowed and all of the patrons, the employees, and the manager were now in the area.

"You're as bad as he is!" yelled Moira. "Such things! You're...you're just disgusting." Tai was just staring in shock and then the tears began to fall. I only hoped they were fake or I would have to apologize. 

Damien and Mr. Donaldson were in a shouting match while Jason and Moira were going back and forth. Tai-cu ran to Carl and hid beside him. Instinctively Carl shielded Tai from harm. That was when he stepped in.

"Excuse me!" he yelled and both parties glared at him. "I am asking you to leave this store." He was talking to the Donaldsons. "This couple was here first and not causing any trouble at all. I am sure you can do your shopping at another time or even another store. Thank you for coming in."

"The nerve! Siding with these...things. Lets go, Moira." As a pair they walked out. Those around them started to clap and Carl looked almost shocked. He hadn't expected this to happen. Such a scene and then people applauding him for his choice of who to support. Tai-cu smiled up at him with the brightest smile ever.

"Thank you, sir," said Damien and shook his hand. "That was how a man should deal with blind hatred. I'm sorry I made a scene." He was too.

"Anyone could see they...they were being blind. I hope your experience today will not affect the rest of it." 

Jason had gone over to see if Tai was okay, and seeing he was fine, nodded. "It won't. I hate people who use God as an excuse to hate. God is love, it says so bluntly in 1st John 4:16." Even I was impressed. I hadn't known Jason ever read the Bible, but to pick one out just like that?

"It does, doesn't it?" asked Carl in wonder. "I do hate to seem pushy, but shall we continue on? Maybe you will find something that makes those tears of happiness." Zach smiled happily. He knew his father was not a mean man, just one who believed something very strongly, but this...this showed he had been truly thinking about it and had questioned some of his own decisions about it all.

In the end, Tai and Jason bought a nice bed set with matching dressers. It was a bit more than they planned, but even I could see this was worth every penny. The manager even gave them a small discount as a token of the company's policy on acceptance.

As they were leaving Tai flounced over to Carl and leaped at him to give him a huge hug. The look on his face was one of disgust, shock, and just a bit of happiness. Who wouldn't be happy when being hugged by someone as sweet and honest as Tai? "Thank you, oh so much! You are the sweetest man ever! I am sure your kids think the world of you and love you so much!" Then he went out with a flurry of gayness and hopped in the van.

Damien removed the minicam when he was out in the van. "How did we do?"

"I would say the mission was successful, boss. Head back to base." The feed died and the crowd started laughing.

Zach looked at me. "What did you do? Other than this, I mean. He had something on his mind."

"I called in the biggest guilt trip in history." I looked over at the girls. "Zoe, how did your part go?"

"Easy as pie, Leo."

"You didn't." I nodded. "You sent my girl over there?" I nodded again. "Girls, what did your grandpa say?"

Zoe was grinning. "He said that you had made him very upset. Then we started to cry, saying we didn't want you to fight. That family was about love. Isn't that what God says? Love your neighbor?" She was firm about this too. She knew what the Bible said and knew enough, even at her age, to preach to her own grandpa.

"And did he say anything?" I asked.

"He said we gave him a head ache and he needed to lie down." Zach chuckled at that.

"That's his words for 'I need to think'. And who said you could use the girls?"

"I did," said Helen. "Leo asked my permission and included Mom and Dad in the decision as the family. I agreed with him and coming from children, how could he even be angry?"

"He was, Mama. Said he didn't want to hear it. We cried harder. Real tears too." His girls came over and gave Zach a hug. "We don't want Daddy and Grandpa to fight." I wondered how much fighting they had seen without commenting on. More than a few really, from the way they were looking.

"I don't want to fight with him either, but I won't give up Leo." I smiled and kissed him and then kissed the girls' cheeks.

"You are the best girls ever. Don't let anyone tell you differently." They nodded. They were honestly some of the sweetest girls I had ever met. Somehow, the dysfunctional marriage had produced functional and normal girls. "I do have to say I am impressed. I didn't expect your dad to jump to their defense like that. Even if he did it as an employee, he did it."

About a half hour later Damien, Jason and Tai came into the shop with The Donaldsons. Most everyone had left for jobs or their lives, but Zach and I were still there with the rest of the employees. We were actually doing inventory too, so it wasn't like we were losing time. Tai came flouncing in, no longer in drag, and leaped into my arms. "Did I do well, Honeyhunk?"

"Yes, Tai. You're gayness level was over 9000." He laughed and magically leaped into Zach's arms.

"He's not that bad of a guy, Zach."

"I know. Thank you so much." He looked at the elderly couple. "So...your part was faked?"

"Yes. When Leo called and said he needed a favor we didn't hesitate. Fair scared poor Walter when Mr. Jones went after him in the parking lot, but that sweet boy jumped right between them and told him everything." She came over to give Leo a hug. "You have gotten so big!"

"And you have shrunk." She laughed and patted his cheek.

"The love you feel for each other is such a blessing. God is smiling down from on high with numerous blessings big and small for you. I only hope that this lasts and you invite us to the wedding."

I had to laugh else I would start crying. "If and when, yes you will be there."

The next phase of the plan was set, but would not happen until the key player came. While I loved watching this all unfold, I had something that needed to be done. Something that I needed to see through to the end and hopefully come out of it alive and sane. I rolled over that morning with a feeling of dread and anticipation. I had not slept and I didn't know if I would sleep until after it was done. Three days...three whole days...with Alex.




Arms of a Man Ch. 06



We flew down to San Diego and were waiting on the civ side of the pier as the transport ship came in, lined with sailors all ready to have a few days or weeks of shore leave back in the States. It didn't take long for me to pick out Alex; standing a foot above the rest he stuck out. "There he is. Tall idiot near the forecastle." I pointed for Zach who nodded.

"Dear god, you lived with him? He's huge...and hot." I nodded.

"Yeah. Too tall for my taste, but had he been shorter I would have been all over that."

"Glad he's too tall," Zach said and gave my hand a squeeze. It was subtle, him seeming to realize that I had been here only a few short weeks ago and was still a bit apprehensive about PDA here. I might see someone I knew and was not ready to tell.

The men and women filed off and into the arms of their loved ones. I gave myself a few extra inches in height by getting up on a pylon and Alex found me unerringly and the grin he had was the biggest ever. He weaved through the sea of sailors and pulled me into a huge rib cracking hug, lifting me from the pylon easily.

"G'damn bro! You still a little fucking tank." I laughed as he set me down. "You're looking indecently well. And you," he said to Zach, "you give me a hug too." Zach couldn't help but laugh and did just that. It was like watching a praying mantis seize its prey with impossibly long arms. "Lemme have a look at you two." I stood next to Zach and Alex's grin got bigger. "Yeah...this is love," and then he hugged us both.

"You seem a bit too happy to see me, freak."

"Dude, you have no fucking clue how much I miss you. My room mate...total prude. Doesn't even shit without saying a prayer. I don't think he's even hit one in the months since you been gone and god knows mine is in need of some attention. I was down to once a week."

"You poor saint." 

"You know my pain. Right here." He grabbed his crotch. For him that was saintly. To go one day without hitting one was a stretch for him.

I directed him to the car I rented for the short time we were here. He jumped in the back seat without being asked and when I pulled away from the base he looked around. "So where we going? The Beast needs to be unleashed...unless you two are planning on doing it." I saw his grin in the mirror.

"Don't tempt us, freak. There is close to twenty-five inches of dick in this car and I'm the smallest."

"G'damn bro! You saying Zachy here has got 'bout ten inches of meat too?"

Zach looked over his shoulder. "Just about. By the look on your face, and the growing bulge in your pants, you want to watch and then join." I think the world was thrown off its rotation by the sheer force and speed of him nodding. "Maybe."

"G'damn..." he whispered.

We had discussed a potential threesome after the dream I had concerning this guy and when the actual event of them meeting was to happen, the subject came up again. While both of us were fairly open to the experience, we were pretty sure it would not change the way we felt about each other except maybe make us appreciate what we have even more. It may happen and it may not. If Alex had his way, it would happen as soon as we got home...and then every hour on the hour.

"So, serious shit, where are we going?"

"Airport and then you get to stomp around my town for a few days. Get you some Nor Cal country girls."

"Like...actual country girls? Like rodeo girls?" He was almost whining.

"Yeah. I know a few who know how to ride," said Zach and I realized he did. He probably still had a few of their numbers too. I had just planned on taking him to the bar and leaving it at that, let him make his own way like he always did.

"G'damn bros...I missed wing-men like you."

The flight was shorter home because dumbass was telling us so many stories that we were rolling in the aisles. He kept them mostly PG with kids around us, but some he dropped to a low tone and I marveled at how he described the new roomie. It was perfect really. A pole for a spine, a permanent case of constipation and an unthinking block where his head should be, his head actually being stuffed up his own ass. "Bros, I shit you not. I had my shirt off the other day, getting undressed to go to the shower. He asked me to undress in the other room as 'nudity is a private matter, please keep it that way' and then left the room himself. I about ran after him naked just to give him a hug. Fucking twat."

"Sounds like you love him dearly." Alex of course punched me in the shoulder.

"But seriously! How do I live with someone so different? You gotta help me, Leo."

"I do huh? Well, have you tried getting him laid?" Alex nodded. "With the usual girls?" Again he nodded. "Try a guy."

"Like that...might work. You never banged them chicks. Think he might be a closet case?"

Zach picked up the thread. "Could be. Never stopped me from doing it, but I was so attentions starved that if it was human, had a pulse, and was willing, I was there." Alex's eye went wide and then he stated asking questions and Zach, bless him, told him to wait until the plane landed. Which he did...as soon as the wheels were on the ground he started asking for all the dirty details.

Alex was quiet as we rolled up to the house. He just stared. "You, know, Leo, it will be so weird sleeping without having to get up at five."

"I know. I still get up then, but I use the time for PT. Gotta keep in shape."

"You still PT?"

"Yeah. Usually involves a lot of foreplay and then some really hot sex. Lots of core work and concentrated muscle groups." Zach rolled his eyes but Alex laughed. "So, you hungry? The pasta sauce I have on the stove should have simmered enough by now to be edible."

"Home...made...pasta sauce?" I nodded as I unlocked the door, the smell of it wafting to our nostrils and Alex about nutted right then. "Oh yeah, that's some good shit."

"You're sleeping in there. Same rules apply as they did then. Just let me know you plan on doing the deed. If you want company, close the door and keep it down as we have neighbors. If our door is closed, we're wanting to be alone. Knock and if you get the go ahead, come on in. If not, I'm probably on my back with my knees on my shoulders." Alex nearly tripped over the coffee table when his head spun to see if I was serious.

"You mean..." I just grinned. Would he ask? "...you're a bottom?"

"Mostly." Yup. He asked. Seems like my dream was prophecy. Hopefully the sex part wasn't. I was such a slut in that dream that I hoped I could hold out longer than thirty seconds before I tripped and swallowed the Beast. "At least for Zach."

"And only because I'm still getting use to his coke can cock. I was a virgin before he got a hold of me." Zach then disappeared into the bed room and shut the door.

Alex dropped his stuff off in the room and came back out. "So, in all honesty, Leo...you got yourself one helluva man. He loves you. When I settle down I hope I find someone who thinks I created the sun and moon, not just hung them."

I smiled and nodded. "And I love him. Which brings me to something I need to ask you." He nodded and then when I was done, he nodded again. Now for phase three. This would be the clincher. 

The city hosted a farmer's market every month and I knew for a fact that Zach's dad would be there. I even knew when thanks to a little bird I had on the inside. Zoe and Lisa were making him take them to sell their first batch of jam they made all by themselves. They had been putting it in jars for a week and one such jar was in my fridge right now. It was a little tart for strawberry, but I liked tart so I was not upset.

Alex simply "had" to go to the market and as his hosts we were honor bound to escort him lest he get lost or arrested. Zach had gotten all three days off work and no one even complained. Hell, the other manager told him it was about time he took some time off. Damien gave me the first day off, and Jason had given me today, so I decided to make the best of it.

"Um...can I not go? Dad will be there with the girls."

"Bro...you gotta. I haven't had fresh anything in months. Home grown ain't words we hear in the service."

"I'll...just avoid them."

"Like hell," I said. "You are going to be the bigger man and go buy a jar from your daughters and screw what he thinks." I had told the girls to expect us and to expect a scene. They loved the idea. Anything to bring the family back together. One thing about those girl was they loved their father as much as he loved them and they would stop at nothing to make sure he was happy.

"Okay, okay. If he starts something I'm leaving." I nodded like that was fair.

The market was lively and loud with so many people. Live bands provided entertainment, street performers and craftsmen were everywhere, and then the food! The glorious food! So many smells and all of it making me wish Nona Elenora was here. She loved the market. "Bros, I gotta visit the head. Where are the cherubs I hear about? I'll meet you there." Alex headed to the bathroom after getting directions.

"Lets get this over with." I took his hand and smiled.

When we got within eye range Zoe brightened. "Daddy!" she squealed and came dodging through the crowd for us.

"Hey, beautiful. Didn't your grandpa tell you not to run off?" He scooped her up and carried her back to their little stall. Carl paled a bit but said nothing.

"Yeah, but it's you so it doesn't matter. And Leo would beat them up if anyone hurt me."

"You're right," I said and booped her nose, which made her giggle. The adults all ignored each other as we looked over the types of jams they had. "Huh. I'll buy the green apple jelly. I love tart things." I bought two jars. "Zach?"

"I think I should get free samples, but that's only because I'm dad. I'll take the grape." Lisa took the money after getting smooches from us. Those were mandatory.

We waited for Alex. "Think he got lost?" Zach asked and I nodded.

"I think I see him over there." I gestured and we went that direction, me putting my arm around Zach's waist and snuggling close. I had seen Alex waiting for us to leave.

There was a momentary lull and then I heard Alex's voice. "Disgusting. This is a family event and children shouldn't have to see that." Zach went to turn but I kept him walking. "You a God fearin' man?" he asked Carl. It had chosen a light Southern accent.

"Yes, sir."

"Those types should not be allowed to do that in public. It should be kept a dark secret." We were covered by the crowds now, but we could still hear them well enough. 

"Those types. Do you mean the men that were just here?"

"Yes. God has a special place for them." I wondered if Alex had heard stuff like this before because his tone was perfect. I did recall him saying he was from So Cal, but he was born somewhere in the south.

Zach pulled to a stop. "What's going on, Leo?"

"Just listen."

"One of those men happens to be my son...sir. These two are his daughters." I smiled. Zach's jaw slowly started to fall. "Your attitude is what should be kept secret. My son is a hard working man," Zach spun and looked back now, slowly going back to the stall, "and a credit to good Christian values. Yes, he loves another man and I will admit I was angry at first, but God has allowed me to see that it's not who you love but how you love. My granddaughters have grown up in a loving home, one that now includes three dads. My son's partner is a former service man and someone who once said that good Christians should not have to see scenes like this. So, sir, unless you plan on buying some jam, you may leave the area and may God judge you as He sees fit. Good day." Alex stormed off the opposite direction in a huff.

The crowd seem to part and Carl was suddenly face to face with his gay son. I swear they were going to just stand there until they both reached out for an embrace. I wiped away my own tears as they pulled the girls in. Then Carl shocked the hell out of me and opened his arms. "Leo," he said in invitation and I went to it. I thanked God for small miracles like this. "I have been so wrong, but I am hoping you can forgive an old backwards thinking man like me. Both of you...all of you."

"Dad...really. I love you and I never meant to hurt you or Mom."

"Leo, could you stay with the girls while my son and I talk?"

"Sure." They went off to sit in the shade. "You two are amazing," I said to Zoe and Lisa and they gave me hugs. Another good thing was the sold out their entire stock thanks to that scene. People came over to say the girls were lucky to have such loving family. They praised a man who openly acknowledged and defended his son and partner and were glad to buy some jam from two little angels.

After an hour Zach came over and gave me a hug and kiss. "Dad wants to talk to you."

I went over and sat when he asked. "I owe you a very big apology. My behavior was blind and cruel. There is no excuse and God has shown me that. He's given me proof that I have fallen short of His love and of being the father I should be."

"Your willingness to admit this shows where Zach got his values. I'm glad you've had a change of heart. Zach has been miserable. His other family has been doing what we could, but this...this will make him better. The only apology you owe me, if any, was for spitting in my face." Carl turned red and looked down in shame. "The rest was said in anger and words said in anger can be forgiven if the heart truly has changed. I will accept your apology if you accept mine."

"What do you have to apologize for? You are the one who was hurt."

"Because I have thought ill of you and wished I could get you back for hurting Zach. I love him, sir, and I will do anything I can to keep him from harm and I will get revenge for those who hurt him."

Carl got a bit pale. "And what stopped you?"

"Zach and the girls, Helen and her folks. My Nona Elenora would have flown out from Italy to tan my hide if she heard I did anything like that." I smiled sheepishly. "So...their love for you and my love for them stopped me from doing anything rash."

"Apology accepted. What I said about you not being welcome at my home...forget that. Zoe and Lisa have had nothing but kind words for you and my wife says that Patty Mae has been all praise for you, too. That woman sees things as they truly are and will not suffer a fool." I didn't realize the ladies had talked again, but I'm glad they did. It also sounded like Patty Mae had been very vocal about their stupidity. "I realized I was the only thing wrong, so I'm changing that. Please, give me some time to adjust. This is a lot to take in and it could take some time." I stuck my hand out, but he gave me a hug instead. "Just remember I will hurt you if you hurt him."

I laughed. "Get in line. Mrs. Thompson is at the head of it." We went back to the stand for a few minutes and then went to find Alex. Zach and the girls were all smiles as they counted out their earnings. Once overhead was factored in the girl made fifty dollars apiece. 

He was leaning up against my car with his hands in his pockets and the biggest grin on his face. He knew he had done something right. "Judging by the fact that you took this long, you talked with your dad."

"Yeah. Thank you," said Zach and gave him a tight hug. Alex returned it with a different look in his eye, like he wasn't use to doing things like that and he could get use to feeling good.

"Anything for my boy's boy."

* * *

So, I liked some of the silly idea some of my readers came up with as part of the Master Plan and I included them in here. Thanks to "ILike2ReaditReadit" for the grizzly bear and to "JustBrowsing234" for the sink hole. I may not include anything from my readers, but if I do I will cite your name in a note. This story only has a few more chapters left until the finale. It has been fun and exciting.