0 comments/ 40100 views/ 1 favorites Full Circle Ch.02 By: Laurelin Early next morning, as Jon was raping her Anna relived the memory of Robbie's hands in her cunt and began to moan. "You've begun to enjoy yourself I see" Jon smirked as he thrust harder in her. Once Jon rolled off her, Anna washed herself and busied herself in the household chores. She avoided meeting Robbie and walked away when he entered the kitchen for his breakfast. This seemed to please Jon further. He was nervous of the effect his son would have on his young wife, yet loved his son enough to look forward to his annual visits. When Jon and Robbie left for the day, Anna went back to the bedroom. She slowly let her hair down, peeled the clothes off and walked to the mirror and gave herself a once over. She ran her hands over her body caressing the curves, her hands slowly moving upwards to cup her breasts. She sucked a finger in her mouth and slowly circled her pink nipples, kneading her breasts till they were firm and taut then she again sucked a finger in and started massaging her clit, first with one finger then with two. She quickly brought herself to the release, Jon always denied her. "That's quite a show you put on, my dear". Hearing the voice Anna jumped and tried to look for something to cover herself. "Robbie, what are you doing here I thought I locked the door". "You forget I have the spare key. I can come and go as I please. Don't bother covering yourself I like what I see." Anna blushed, "Please don't tell your father anything, Robbie please. I'll do anything you say, but please don't tell him anything" "I'm sure you will do anything I say, Anna. I have known it anytime these two years. But I am not going to fuck you till you learn to please me." Anna was confused. Jon was the only man to have seen her naked. She was a virgin on the day she had been married. Till last night she had not known that sex could be so pleasurable and she had always thought that men got their pleasure by just sticking their cocks in the wives. She was still a virgin in more ways than one. But she knew one thing; she was willing to do anything Robbie demanded of her. "Come here Anna, on your knees." Robbie commanded harshly. Anna was too scared to even think of protesting, she crawled up to where Robbie was standing. Robbie got a hard on seeing his father's teenaged wife crawling at his feet. This was the perfect revenge on his father. Besides, he had wanted to fuck this hot babe the moment he had laid his eyes on her. It wasn't fair that his father got to keep that dainty piece of ass to himself. From his father's treatment of her, he knew that Anna would be quite submissive. He now had to let her learn that he could be a better master. He had to make her desire overcome her fear. "Undress me Anna." He said softly. "Can you see what I feel for you?" Almost coaxing her. These were the first kind words spoken to Anna ever since she had married Jon. She got up and quickly tried to unbutton Robbie's shirt. "Take your time, don't be afraid Anna. I want this to be as pleasant for you as for me." He caught her hands in his and slowly kissed each finger, sucking on them gently. With the other hand he continued to stroke her back squeezing her butt softly. He then pulled her to his chest and guided her hand to his cock "See Anna what you do to me." Anna was mesmerized by all this kindness. Now more sure of herself she eagerly pulled off Robbie's shirt and unzipped his pants, pulling them all the way down. "Gently Anna, gently". Robbie laughed at her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips "Mmmm, I've wanted to taste you the moment I saw you" His tongue traced the outline of her lips as his hands continued playing with ass. He slowly parted her lips with his tongue and began exploring her mouth. Kissing her long and deep. All of Anna's resistance faded away as she gave herself up to Robbie. "Will you do somethi ng for me Anna, will you help me with my erection.Will you let me come in your mouth?" Anna was shocked. This was the first time someone had asked her for a blowjob. As Robbie saw her thinking, he started massaging her clit. As his fingers picked up a rhythm, he saw Anna's entire resistance break away. He withdrew his hands and slowly pushed her down on her knees. Her face at level with his 8" cock. Anna shook her head as she realized that no way could she take that monster in. "Please Anna, just kiss it" At his insistence Anna started to plant soft kisses along the length of that huge shaft. "Lick it" At the command Anna began to lick that huge shaft. As her tongue reached his balls Robbie held her head there. She began to lick and suck on his balls. Robbie could not wait much longer now. "Anna take me in your mouth" he commanded, and Anna mesmerized by the effect she was having on Robbie slowly took the cockhead in her mouth. She gagged immediately but Robbie held her still for a while. Letting her adjust to the first feel of cock in her mouth. He slowly pulled his dick out and then pushed further in. Slowly inch-by-inch Robbie kept pushing in till Anna had taken his entire length in. He then began to fuck her face in earnest. Anna was beginning to panic by this time. As Robbie was thrusting in her mouth she could feel him harden and then he began shooting loads of his semen down her throat. When he was nearly through, he pulled and then shot off a globule in her mouth. This was her first taste of come and Anna nearly threw up at the taste of it but Robbie closed her mouth and made her swallow it. "You are a good girl Anna, and now I am going to reward you" Anna was surprised by the gentleness that had reappeared in Robbie's voice. He led Anna to the bed and made her lie down and spread her legs. Anna panicked, thinking that Robbie was going to rape her now, as his father was used to do. But Robbie only played with her clit with his hands. Then he slowly began sucking on her toes. He then kissed the soles of her feet and started moving upwards kissing, licking and chewing on her legs till he reached her thighs. Anna could sense a warm feeling build inside her and she arched her back and moaned as Robbie kissed her under her thighs, her legs spread further to allow him greater access. Robbie noticed her reaction and moved to her pussy. He parted her lips and slowly licked on her clit. She was now thrashing uncontrollably and bucking wildly as Robbie continued to kiss, suck, lick her clit. . The sensations building up inside her were driving Anna out of her head. Robbie was trying to hold her down with one hand. He then traced a path down to her cunt and stuck his tongue in while his hand started massaging her clit. Deeper and deeper he fucked her with his tongue as Anna gave in to one orgasm after another. It was Anna now who held Robbie trapped between her legs refusing to let go of him. When he was sure that Anna would not be able to take much more, he let her cum one more time and then moved up to cradle Anna in his arms as she drifted into an exhausted sleep. An hour later when Anna woke up Robbie was still holding her and he smiled and gave her a deep kiss. She could taste her juices in his mouth and somehow she was glad that she had taken Robbie's load in her mouth. As Robbie continued to kiss her she became aware of his hard cock pressing against her belly and her eyes flew to Robbie's face. She then broke the kiss and started to give him another blowjob. She now sucked him in expertly, letting him deep throat her. She watched his face as her tongue played with the cock in her mouth and from the expressions she learned how to please him. "You are turning out to be quite a good cocksucker Anna. I never realized you could give me so much pleasure." Robbie was proud of what Anna had learned on the first day. Now as he shot his load in her he saw Anna swallow it all gleefully and then even suck his cock clean for any remaining drops. "I am going to go out now Anna. It's time or Jon to return. You can come to my room anytime you want." The events of the day had driven all thoughts of Jon out of her head. But now her fear of her husband gripped her and she started to weep, afraid that Jon would discover her. Robbie gathered her in his arms and slowly kissed her. "Don't be afraid of Jon anymore Anna. He won't notice anything and I'll soon see to it that you are out of here" After a while when she was sufficiently calm, Robbie left her. When Anna was alone once again, she cleaned the room to wipe out all traces of her activities of the day and then quickly ran through her chores of the day. She was nearly through with the dinner when Jon and Robbie returned together. Full Circle Ch. 02 Copyright 2014 by the author. Kevin wondered whether he'd lost his mind. Then again, maybe it was the boy he had somehow gotten himself mixed up with who was insane. What twenty-one year-old oversexed college kid would pay attention to a tired middle-aged widower like him, after all? He had not expected his first, halfhearted ploy to succeed, and had been completely, delightfully shocked at the result. Still, once Ryan had left Kevin had not expected him to return or call. He had called that evening. "So did you do what I told you?" Kevin had known what he was talking about. "Yes." Ryan's throaty chuckle had made Kevin's breathing quicken. "Good man. I'm releasing you. You can relax that tight ass of yours." "Hey..." Kevin hesitated. "Will I see you again?" "So you want to see me again?" Kevin was filled with an emotion that he recognized after a moment, annoyance and desire mixed in equal parts. "I can't think of anything or anyone else. Happy?" "Relax, man. I'm just messing with you. How's this weekend?" Ryan had been as good as his word, and a few days later they grappled naked once again on Kevin's bed. He had to admit it wasn't a one-sided thing at all. Ryan seemed to find Kevin as irresistible as Kevin found him, overwhelming him with kisses, lying on his back moaning with delight as Kevin sucked him. "Oh, yeah, fuck, you're so good." Kevin straddled his younger partner's body and flung his head back, mouth open in a silent cry, pleasure and pain mixed as Ryan's cock stabbed into him. He cried out as he hit bottom-his lover was a half-inch too endowed for total comfort, but that only increased the desire. He looked down at his own erection in frank surprise. When was the last time he had been this hard? He looked up at Ryan's face. The boy grinned. "You like this as much as I do," he said, thrusting upward, drawing a grunt from Kevin. Kevin stayed on top riding the boy's cock for a few moments, until Ryan suddenly sat up, pushing Kevin onto his back while keeping his cock firmly planted in him. Bent double, his knees pushed against his chest, Kevin felt Ryan's hot breath on his face, the heat of his body above him, the hard pole of flesh driving into him, the unrelenting shaft scorching his tender hole. Moments later he heard Ryan's strangled cries between clenched teeth, and knew the boy was delivering his load inside him. He ran his head through Ryan's thick, tousled hair. "Feel better?" he asked. Ryan opened his eyes and grinned. "Yeah. I'll take care of you in a minute. Just let me catch my breath." Kevin shook his head. "Take your time. I get enough of a charge just watching you cum." The boy said, "I do actually need to take a leak. Weird, but true." He pulled out of Kevin and walked into the bathroom. Kevin watched him go, admiring the view. He heard the stream splashing into the bowl followed by the flush. Ryan reappeared, his spent cock slick and shining. He put one knee on the bed and took hold of Kevin's organ. Kevin said, "You have a great butt." He had said it merely as an observation, but Ryan stopped and regarded Kevin with a new interest. "Think so? Want to fuck it?" "Well, I don't know..." "Go for it, man." Before he knew it Ryan was kneeling between his legs and his mouth had engulfed Kevin's cock. In contrast to his previous lovemaking, the boy sucked slowly and thoroughly, using plenty of spit and tongue to bring Kevin back to full erection. As he worked his hands roved up Kevin's chest and found his nipples, fondling and squeezing until the older man was moaning helplessly. Just as Kevin felt himself approach the point of no return Ryan abruptly released him, looking up with that by now familiar twisted grin. "You're ready now." He rose to his knees and grasped Kevin's spit-slickened organ, putting it against his hole. One swift move of Ryan's hips and Kevin felt himself surrounded by smooth, squeezing heat. "Oh yeah!" Ryan cried in pained triumph as he speared himself on Kevin's cock. He paused a moment, puffing air through his pursed lips, before beginning to ride Kevin methodically, squeezing his hole tightly as he rose, loosening it as he descended. He dropped his head to give Kevin a wet, urgent kiss, before continuing to caress his partner's cock with his rectal muscles. Soon Kevin was moaning, tossing his head from side to side, eyes closed in ecstasy. "Damn, you're driving me crazy," he said. "That's the idea, man," Ryan replied. He hooked his fingers together behind Kevin's neck and tipped himself backward, forcing his partner up and over until he lay on his back on the bed, Kevin on top. "Now fuck me for real, stud," Ryan whispered, eyes locked with Kevin's. Kevin let go of sanity as he began to drive into the boy's body with huge thrusts, almost pulling out on each upstroke. Ryan's arms were around his neck, his lips at his ear, pouring in a soft, ceaseless torrent of obscene encouragement as he rushed toward completion. "Oh God!" Kevin arched his back until he could see the ceiling, every muscle tensed as he felt the sperm hurtle out of his balls and out the end of his organ, spurt after spurt, planting his seed deep inside Ryan's gut. His vision was filled with flashing lights as he shook with the force of his orgasm. How long had it been? Or had he ever felt like this? At last he was drained. He collapsed onto his partner's body. He heard Ryan's voice, saying something. "What?" Kevin said, still dazed. "Pull out of me and let me clean you off." Ryan didn't wait for Kevin to comply, but wriggled out from underneath him. The next moment he gasped as he felt Ryan's mouth on him, taking his softening, still sensitive organ. The boy laved his spent cock thoroughly, then rose and kissed him, his tongue and lips now languid and sensual. Kevin tasted cum and imagined he tasted other things. Delight and revulsion fought inside him. Before he could reject Ryan's attentions the boy pulled him down onto the bed. They lay facing each other, loosely embracing, breathing finally returning to normal. Kevin felt as if anything he said would be stupid and inadequate, but he had to try. "You are something else." Ryan smiled. "So are you, Dr. K." Kevin took in the shock of dark hair on his lover's head, the even white teeth, the sharp peak of the Adam's apple. Further down he saw the dark nipples, the rippling rows of abdominal muscles and the thicket at his crotch, out of which hung the organ that had conquered him, still powerful in repose. Thoughts rose unbidden of his classmate Lucas, soon coming to town. What did he want from Luke that Ryan couldn't give him? And how was he going to tell each about the other? Later. He'd deal with that later. "Stay with me," he said, and pulled the boy once again into his arms. ******* Lucas drummed his fingers on the armrest of his seat as the plane slowly taxied into the gate. Although he had managed to stay calm during the flight, and had even slept a little, his nervousness came back in full force as the moment approached. He didn't regret his impulsive decision. "I'm going to come visit," he had told Kevin when he had called. "You're going to be in town for the next couple of weeks, right?" His old friend had laughed. "Of course I'll be here. I take it you can just take a few days off of work any time you want?" "Kind of. It's a long story. I'll tell you when I see you." He was glad to be in first class, because any more waiting would have driven him crazy. As it was, even the few passengers in front of him seemed to be moving especially slowly today, struggling with their luggage. At last he was on his way, nodding to the flight attendant and captain, then trotting quickly up the jet bridge, brushing past those in front of him. He hadn't been back to Austin for a long time and marveled at how crowded the airport was. The exit had moved, momentarily confusing him, so that he did not see the waving figure at the head of the stairs down to the baggage claim area. "Lucas! Luke!" Lucas turned toward the shout, startled. "Kevin?" By now he was out of the secured area and Kevin hastened toward him, clasping him in a firm embrace without hesitation. He stepped back, hands still on Lucas' shoulders, and looked at him with an appraising but affectionate eye. "Recognized you right away. You haven't changed." Lucas made a dismissive noise, though he was pleased. "I wouldn't say that. How are you?" Kevin shook his head ruefully. "Great, now that you're here. Glad you can stay at least a few days. It's going to take a while to fill in all the back story, don't you think?" Lucas raised his hand and clasped one of Kevin's. "I'm in for as long as it takes." Kevin's eyes were suspiciously bright. "You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that. You've got more luggage, right? Let's go down to baggage claim." As they drove away from the airport in Kevin's car, Lucas cast a sidelong glance at his friend. Kevin had been kind to say that he hadn't changed, but he knew it wasn't true. It wasn't true of Kevin either. His hair was thinner now, a mix of silver and gray. Lines were etched into his face that Lucas hadn't seen before. Time and grief had done their work. "You want to stop and get something to eat? Did they feed you on the plane?" The Starbucks on the freeway to the city was, mercifully, not crowded. They found comfortable chairs in a corner. Kevin took Lucas' hand in his. "So Will's gone. I'm so sorry." Lucas nodded in acknowledgement. "I feel like it happened yesterday, even though it's actually been-well, five years." "So it was the HIV?" "Actually, no." Lucas chuckled at the irony, as he had done many times. "Those miracle meds did their job. When he died his viral count was undetectable. The dirty little secret is that some people's livers can only take so much." Kevin stared. "Oh, my god." Lucas. "Yep. In the end it wasn't the virus that got him." He withdrew his hand. "I'll tell you all about that, but not right now." "Okay, sorry. Want to back up a bit? Before we lost touch you told me he had moved out there." "Yeah. Do you remember? The last time we saw each other, I was heading off to his house." Kevin smiled. "I was worried for you." "That's sweet. We actually had a really good talk, after he told me that he'd contracted the virus. Did more than talk, actually." Lucas smiled at the now distant memory. "It was a pretty hot reunion." "You-slept with him again?" "Sure," Lucas said, feeling a bit impatient. "I used protection, of course. Anyway, that night he said he wanted to move out to L.A. to be with me. I told him it was a bad idea if he wanted to see his kids again. "Right after the reunion he wrote me a really sweet note. Talked about showing up on my doorstep. Of course I never thought that would really happen." Lucas lived in a modest apartment on the second floor of one building in a tight cluster of a dozen units. He would forever remember the exact moment when he came home, parking in his usual spot, and looked up before walking up the stairs to his front door. A tall blond man was looking back down at him, arms propped on the wrought-iron railing. Lucas squinted upward quizzically, the glare of late afternoon sun in his eyes, recognition not coming immediately. Then Will smiled and Lucas was sprinting up the concrete steps, not stopping until he flung his arms around his lover, miraculously returned to him. "Wow. So your handsome prince returned. That's how I always thought of him, you know. Tall and blond and ripped." Lucas smiled, but sadly. "It wasn't exactly happily ever after." His eyes were distant as he remembered. "I loved Will, but I didn't know him all that well. His life caved in after word about his being sick got out. He tried to work things out with Jenny, but he couldn't. "He turned to me because he didn't know where else to go, because I'd helped him before. I did my best, but it wasn't easy. In the end it wasn't enough." Often when Lucas came home in the evenings Will was not there. He'd bought a car, a necessity where they lived. Supposedly he was looking for work, but a job hadn't materialized. When he was there he was distant, constantly checking his phone or tapping on his laptop. Again, he told Lucas he was chasing down leads on possible employment. One day Lucas came home from work and Will was gone. His laptop was on the table in the living room, open. Lucas peeked at the screen. It was dark-the computer was asleep. Unable to resist the temptation, he punched a key, thinking he would see an empty desktop or a request for a password. Will had forgotten to close his browser window. Lucas stared at photos of a familiar face and body, placed in a new context. He resolved not to bring it up, but when Will did come back, found that he couldn't look at him. "So how's job-hunting going?" Will shrugged as he sat down on the couch and tapped the keyboard. "Not so hot. Got a lead on something today, though." "From one of your clients?" Silence. Lucas finally turned. Will was staring at him. "What the hell? Did you look at my stuff? Guess I'll have to start locking my room." Lucas hesitated. He had been snooping. Anger and hurt carried him past the guilt. "You've been welcome here. I haven't asked you for anything, have I?" No reply from Will. Lucas took a deep breath. They had to have this out. Now. "But I didn't sign up to be home base for an escort. Is that what you've been doing? Bringing your customers home while I'm out?" "No!" His denial was indignant enough that Lucas believed him. Still, that didn't make it right. "You tell them about your health? Your status?" "God, when did you get so judgy and uptight? I always use protection, okay?" Lucas suddenly had a flashback to a night, long ago, in a college dorm room. Angry words. Crushing disillusionment. An idolized friend transformed into something he didn't recognize. Will's shoulders suddenly slumped. "I know you're disappointed in me. If you want me to move out, I will." For the first time Lucas noticed how drawn and tired he looked. "Not feeling good?" "Yeah, whatever. I never feel really good these days." More silence. Lucas finally spoke. "You don't have to leave. Just don't start doing incalls, okay?" "Like I said, it's no fairy tale," Lucas said to Kevin. "Kind of the exact opposite." He drained the last of his coffee. Kevin looked thoughtful. "People have their reasons for doing what they do. Even rent boys." "And what would you know about it?" Lucas said, somewhat irritated. "I'm not excusing Will. Just saying, over the years I've counseled a few clients who were in the business. Jon and I even had--have a friend who did it on the side." Lucas said, "Even though I'd lived in L.A. for years and written about gay life I guess I was pretty na•ve about some things. Suddenly it all made sense. Why Will was gone so much. Why he wouldn't have sex with me. I felt pretty stupid, and used." "But you stuck with him." "Yeah. I think Will was relieved that it was all finally out in the open. It was easier for us to talk after that. And-" he broke off. "What?" Lucas found it difficult to get the words out. "I never thought I'd feel this way, but when I thought about it the idea of Will doing that was, well, kind of hot. I thought of a way I could get to the front of the line." One evening they were sitting in the tiny kitchen, eating dinner in silence across from each other when Lucas felt a hand on his knee. He looked up into Will's eyes. "Luke, I'm sorry you had to find out that way." Lucas shook his head. "I was way out of line. Anyway, I have no right to judge." "I don't expect you to understand." He searched for the right words. "I wish you could see your kids." "Yeah, well." Will turned away. "I'm not holding my breath." A beat, then Lucas said, "I want you to fuck me tonight." Will's head snapped up. "What?" "I'll pay the going rate." "Oh, for crying out loud, Luke. What's gotten into you?" Lucas angrily dismissed the tears that had momentarily threatened. "Do I have to spell it out? You haven't touched me since you came. I want you. Whatever it takes." Will rose from his chair and embraced him. "Luke, Jesus. I'm such a bastard. You mean the world to me." "You don't have to say things you don't mean. Just do me." When he entered the guest bedroom some time later Will was lying on the bed naked, his hands behind his head. Lucas stopped, momentarily startled by the sight. "You don't have to say it. I got fat." Lucas shook his head. "You're gorgeous." He gazed at Will. His love's chiseled features were still the same, but the body had thickened and grown burly, chest and crotch dense with hair. He was surprised how quickly desire rose in him. In a moment he was kneeling on the bed, putting his lips to Will's. He didn't pull way. They kissed with increasing passion. Will smiled when they came up for air. "So you still think I'm hot?" "Mm hmm," Lucas said, trying to unbutton his own shirt. Will helped him get naked. When clothes lay in an untidy heap by the bed, he reached over Lucas and opened the drawer of the nightstand beside the bed, pulling out a handful of condoms. "No." Will stared. "What are you talking about?" Lucas looked into his eyes. His voice was steady. "You said I can't understand. You're right." He paused. "I want to fix that." Will shook his head. "Luke, no. You can't." Lucas noted with surprise that he was absolutely calm. "It's my choice, Will." He bent and took his partner's cock into his mouth. "Oh," Will sighed. His organ was steely hard. He's turned on by the thought. That's okay. Lucas fumbled in the drawer and found the lube. He smeared a handful onto Will's penis, keeping it in his hand as he straddled his partner's body. "Here goes," he said, and sank down onto Will's crotch, crying out as he felt the hard flesh surge into his unprotected body. "Oh God!" Lucas squeezed his eyes shut, body absolutely still except for his heaving chest as he tried to relax and accept the invasion. Finally the pain receded slightly and he was able to relax. He opened his eyes and looked down. Will's expression was faraway, his eyes dreamy. After a long moment he spoke. "Do you remember our first time? I took you like this." Lucas nodded. "In the locker room, after we went skinny dipping. How could I ever forget?" He rocked back and forth on Will's cock, riding it, feeling shocks of pleasure as it rubbed against his prostate. "I never took your cum inside me. I want it now." Will sat up, his arms encircling Lucas' neck. His eyes were wide and troubled. "Luke. You're sure?" In answer Luke stepped up the pace of his movements, sliding up and down on the cylinder of flesh inside him. "C'mon. Give me that charged load." Will's lips closed on his as he pushed Lucas down onto his back and began to drive into him with hard, relentless thrusts. Finally he tensed, flinging his head back, emitting hoarse, triumphant cries. Lucas flung his arms out and began to laugh. Will raised his head, which he had let fall onto Lucas' shoulder, and looked into his eyes. His smile was tentative. "You are amazing." Lucas kissed him, joy coursing through his veins as if Will's ejaculation had infused his body with new life. "Now I have all of you. We're really together." Kevin stared. "So-you're HIV-positive?" Lucas shook his head. "You used to hear about people getting it from a single time. Apparently it's not that easy now. Will's meds kept his viral load low enough that I guess he wasn't infectious." There was a bitter edge to his chuckle. "Oh, I tried. I kept his cum inside me all night." Full Circle Ch. 02 Kevin stirred uneasily. "Of course I went in for a blood test soon after that. Nothing. Went back a couple of weeks later, just to be sure. Negative." "Wow," his friend said. "Just-wow." Lucas said, "I was a little crazy, I'll admit that. I wasn't thinking. I had no idea what would happen if I got the virus--or if I didn't get the virus." As soon as they got out of the public health clinic after the second visit Will caught him in a tight embrace, heedless of passersby. "I'm not ever letting you do that again," he said. Lucas shrugged. "It didn't work." "And I am fucking glad it didn't." Will's eyes were dark and troubled. "I've been beating myself up for letting you talk me into it. I don't want you sick too. You don't have to prove anything." He looked down at the sidewalk, biting his lip before he spoke again. "Thank you for wanting to. I owe you." Lucas had kissed Will then, there on the busy street. "Things got better after that," Lucas told Kevin. They were getting out of the car by the main building of the Steelman campus. "Much better, in fact. Will said I didn't need to prove anything, but I guess I had, in a way most people don't get the chance to. "We got married a few months later." "Jon and I did too," Kevin said. "It's still not recognized in Texas, but it was a good thing to do, though I didn't know at the time how good." Lucas chuckled again. "Like I said, it wasn't a fairy tale. Will cut down on his--business, but he never gave it up altogether. Said he felt bad dropping his most loyal clients." "And you let him?" Lucas shrugged. "What was I going to do, Kevin? Lock him in? He'd lost everything, his career, his family. He still had his looks, and men-and women--wanted him. He needed to feel wanted. He needed to be doing something. Say what you like, but I kind of understood." Kevin said, slowly, "I'm not one to judge, believe me." They walked among the buildings, some familiar to Lucas, some new. "I suppose Rainer Hall is gone by now." "Uh-huh. They tore it down a year after that reunion. Put up a shiny new dorm. It's beautiful, of course, but I miss the old one." Lucas looked at him and smiled. "Lots of memories there, eh?" "For sure." Kevin's gaze shifted. He waved at two figures some distance away. "Hello!" he called. He turned back to Lucas. "Have you met Drew and Glenn? They're both in History. Glenn started teaching at Steelman right after we graduated. He's just retired. Drew came while Jon was Provost." By now the two men had reached them. Hands were shaken all around and pleasantries exchanged. Glenn, Dr. Reynolds, was the elder of the two, wisps of white hair remaining on his head. He reached out and touched Kevin's arm. "How are you doing? We're so glad to see you. Jon's always on our minds." "Thanks," Kevin replied. "Lucas lost his husband recently too. They were Steelman classmates." "So young, how terrible," Drew Ohlen said. Lucas found himself admiring the man's broad shoulders, full head of silver hair and patrician features. He felt comfortable replying, "People forget that the plague is still with us." "So it was AIDS?" "Not exactly. Will was positive, but he actually had a fatal reaction to one of the drugs he was being treated with." This prompted further exclamations of appalled sympathy, to the point that Lucas began to feel uncomfortable. "We've just met. Sorry to lay this all on you." "Not at all," Glenn said. "Kevin, it's been way too long. Would you and Mr. Boatright be up for dinner while he's here?" Kevin began to demur, but Lucas said, "That would be nice. I'll be here for a while. And please call me Luke." "Sorry," he said to Kevin after they concluded their conversation with Gene and Drew and moved down the walkway. "You should have been the one to answer." Kevin shrugged. "It's fine. They're great guys." Lucas confessed, a bit sheepish, "If you must know, I was liking the thought of-was it Drew? Looking at him a bit more." Resigned laughter. "He has that effect on people," Kevin said. After a moment he added, "I'll say this though-he's not stuck on himself at all, never has been. Which of course makes him all the more irresistible. But he's absolutely loyal to Glenn. Never a breath of scandal with those two. Except-" He leered. "I've always wondered about this friend of theirs who comes to visit every so often. Another professor. Sixty if he's a day and a stunningly hunky black guy. The three of them could do some great daddy porn. And maybe do." Lucas gaped. "You're saying they're a threesome?" "Please," Kevin said with mock severity, "the correct term is 'polyamory.'" I am a psychologist, you know. I actually have no idea. Just indulging in totally inappropriate-but enjoyable-speculation." They had reached the imposing chapel in the center of the campus. Kevin's face changed. "I'd like to go this way for a minute." There was a walled-off area to the right side of the building, with a wrought iron gate set into a stone archway. Kevin opened it and they entered a small garden, planted with various bushes and flowers, some in bloom. A fountain trickled into a man-made pond on one side. Kevin contemplated the sight, his hands clasped behind his back. Finally he turned to Lucas. "Jon asked to be cremated after his death. He was still competent then. I scattered most of his ashes here. Not that he was religious, but he loved working at Steelman. It seemed right." He chuckled. "One time when we had a fight I told him he was married to me, not the school." "It's lovely." They stood in silence. Kevin said, "This is actually the first time I've been here since." Lucas looked at his friend then, emotion swelling within him. He draped an arm around Kevin's shoulder and found himself clasped in a tight embrace. "I'm glad you came," his friend said. "Lucas?" "Yes?" "What finally happened to Will, exactly?" The end came crashing down with stunning speed. Will had been looking pale and acting listless for a couple of days. It was Friday evening when he came into Lucas' home office. "Luke. I need help. I've got to go to the hospital." Lucas looked up and the question died on his lips. Will looked terrible, barely able to remain on his feet. His eyes were wide, his breathing was rapid and shallow, and his coloring-after an instant Lucas realized what it was. Jaundice. "Oh my god, Will. Lie down on the couch." He dialed 911 on his cell phone, trying to keep his hand steady and his mind blank. Please let it not be that. The ambulance came within ten minutes-for that small favor he was grateful. Lucas had hoped this moment would never come, but without knowing it he had prepared himself for the possibility. He spoke calmly and quickly to the EMTs, explaining who he was, and his suspicions about what was happening. He showed them Will's prescriptions. The medics listened and nodded before they whisked the prostrate man onto the stretcher. He held Will's hand in the back of the ambulance, siren wailing above them, looking into his eyes and smiling, pretending a confidence he did not feel. "Hang in there. We'll get you some help real soon." Oxygen mask over his face, Will nodded weakly and tried to smile back. Later Lucas paced the corridor in the hospital, unable to sit, unable to think of anything except Will somewhere nearby, fighting for his life. "Mr. Boatright. I understand that you are Mr. DuBarry's spouse?" It was the doctor, a startlingly young woman. "That's right. How... how is he?" The physician's face was impassive. "I'll be honest with you. It's not looking good. His liver, as you suspected, is in acute failure. This can happen as the result of high doses of certain medications. We're doing our best to turn things around. That's all I can say." She turned to go, then said over her shoulder. "You can see him now. He's asking for you." In the emergency wing he tried to steel himself, but Lucas' heart nevertheless lurched when he stepped behind the partition. Will's color was a yellowish gray, and sweat beaded his brow. His hair was limp and tousled. What sent a chill through Lucas, though, was the dull hopelessness in his sunken eyes. Will saw him. He stirred and smiled, faintly. At once Lucas was at the side of the bed, taking hold of one damp, limp hand. "How are you doing, buddy?" he asked. Will shook his head. "Not so hot." "They'll get you up into a regular room as soon as they can," Lucas said, trying to keep his voice confident. We'll get you through this." Instead of answering, Will's grip tightened. "Lucas. Listen to me. This might be it. Curtains. The end." Lucas fought to keep back the tears. "Don't say that. They can do anything here. You'll be back home in no time." His partner tried to smile. "Maybe. But you've got to listen." Lucas nodded. Will's expression was somber. "I want to say thanks for all you did. Not giving up on me. Taking me in. Putting up with my shit." Lucas tried to smile, pointing to the gold band on his hand whose fingers were interlaced with Will's. "That's what husbands are supposed to do. Better or worse, it says." Will shook his head. "I didn't deserve someone like you." "Don't say that." "I never gave you anything but grief." Lucas felt the tears slipping from his eyes and down his cheeks. "You gave me everything." Will's voice grew fainter, as though a signal were fading. "Take care of yourself, Luke. Love... you." Lucas squeezed Will's hand harder, as if to keep him from slipping away. "No! Will. Please. Don't leave." Glassy-eyed with terror, he saw the blond head slump to one side, mouth slack. An alarm began to beep loudly on one of the machines connected to Will's body. Lucas ran out of the room. "Help! Someone please help!" ...to be continued