Chapter 41 

My Father, My Son
Chapter 41

Dan stepped out of the shower and Luke began taking off his clothes. Looking at Steve, he said, "Hope you don't mind, Steve. Dan and I like to get naked. It's a lot more comfortable to sit around naked. I hate clothes. How about you, Steve. Why don't you get out of them duds. If you're gonna spend the evening with us, you don't want to just sit there and look strange, do you?"

As Steve watched Luke remove his shirt, and then his jeans, the sight of Luke's emerging nakedness almost made him feel dizzy. As soon as Dan stepped into the room, Luke grabbed both of his ass checks with his two hands. "Hey, Steve, aren't these the sweetest little buns you ever saw? Come on, Dan, get down on that bed."

Dan lay on his stomach and Luke spread his ass cheeks apart and ran his finger over the pucker. "Look at that tight little hole, Steve. See it snapping away at my finger. That little hole has given me one of the best fucks I've ever had. Come on, Steve, get out of them clothes. When I'm through fucking that hole, it'll be your chance."

Steve thought, yes, he would like a crack at him. In fact, he'd like a crack at both of them. As Luke turned Dan over and pushed his legs up in the air and then mounted him, Steve couldn't take his eyes off of Luke's enormous tool slowly pushing its way into Dan's asshole. Without hardly thinking about it, Steve began tearing at the buttons on his shirt. It was not long before he was completely naked and lying propped up on one elbow watching intently as Luke began pistoning his penis in and out of Dan's hole. He had never seen a penis with so many erotic bulging veins circling around it.

Dan winked as he reached over and ran his hand over Steve's chest and pinched one of his nipples. As he watched Dan getting fucked, Steve returned the favor running his own hand over Dan's strong pecs and stomach. He watched Luke's ass, with its large round ass cheeks rising and falling. He couldn't resist running his hand over them and letting his fingers sweep down into the thick hair in the trench that separated them. Luke was breathing heavily now and, between gasps, he said, "That feels so good, buddy. Go deeper. It feels so good."

Steve pushed his finger deeper through the thicket of hair until it reached Luke's asshole. It felt hot and moist. As he ran his finger over it, Luke murmured, "Oh, God!" Steve pushed his finger harder and felt it begin to slide into Luke's asshole, at which Luke went, "Ooooooo!" Deeper and deeper Steve pushed his finger, and louder and louder came Luke's cries.

Suddenly, Steve could feel the rim of Luke's hole begin to clench tightly around his finger, over and over, and with a growling roar, Luke entered full force into his orgasm as surge after surge of his sperm shot into Dan's rectum. The muscles in Luke's strong back waved and rippled at each thrust of his penis. Every muscle in his legs had become taut and firm. Steve leaned over and ran his tongue over the soft hair on the back of Luke's legs. He had had sexual encounters with men before, but he had never before become so intimate with a man's body. And he had never felt a state of sexual excitement like this before.

Luke rolled over onto his back with his eyes closed and continued to try to catch his breath. Finally, he said, "Okay, Stevey, boy. You can have at him. He's all yours now."

Steve looked at Dan in a questioning way. Dan smiled and continued to hold his legs up. He just said, "Okay, Steve. Please."

This was the moment Steve had been waiting for and had feared might never come. As he got up on his knees and prepared to mount him, Dan looked up at him and said, "Steve, just stay there like you are for a minute. I want to look at you. Ever since I saw your body the other day after you came out of the shower, I wanted to look at it again, and I wanted to touch it." As Dan ran his hands over Steve's chest and stomach, he said, "Steve, before you start, please lean over here and kiss me."

Steve flattened himself out over Dan's body, and they kissed for several minutes very deeply and passionately. Then Dan said, "I want you inside of me, Steve. Please fuck me hard and deep. I've dreamt about this."

Steve rose up and, holding Dan's legs, he pushed his gorged penis into Dan's waiting hole. There was a squishing sound as Luke's sperm began to ooze out around Steve's hard penis. Steve had often imagined what it would be like to hold on to Dan's legs and push his penis into his body. It had been a recurring dream ever since he had met Dan.

Luke watched carefully as Steve's hard rod disappeared into Dan's rectum. He ran his hand over Steve's firm ass cheeks as Steve slowly began to pump in and out. Dan stared into Steve's face with a look of desire that Steve found so erotic. They never stopped looking into each other's eyes as Steve began pounding harder and harder. Luke kept murmuring, "Fuck that hole, fuck that hole!"

Steve wanted it to last as long as possible, but could now feel that unmistakable twinge taking over his insides and knew that he couldn't hold it long. It was no use. Steve let out several loud grunts as he felt the sperm surging up through his penis and out into Dan's rectum. It was the "mother" of all orgasms, he thought, as he pounded his pelvis down on Dan's ass with every surge.

When it was over, Dan said, "Don't pull out yet! Just stay there inside of me and please kiss me."

Steve did his best, while very out of breath, to stay inside of Dan as he leaned over and kissed Dan. As Luke looked on, all he could say was "Wow, wow."

Rolling off of Dan, Steve lay exhausted between him and Luke. As he tried to regain his normal breathing, he said, "I'm too old for this."

Luke said, "No you're not. You probably just had the best fuck you ever had in your life. The best fucks can really wear you out."

After a few minutes, Luke said, "Well?"

Dan said, "Well, what?"

"Well, you know," said Luke.

"I don't know what you mean, Luke," said Dan innocently.

In kind of a little-boy voice, Luke said, "Well, you know, how about me?'

Dan said, "I still don't know what you mean." Dan knew that Luke wanted to take a cock up his own ass just like he thought he had the other night. But Dan thought he'd tease him a little bit first. "What is it you want, Luke? I can't for the life of me figure out what you're talking about!"

"Well, God damn it . . . you know . . . the other night! Come on, Dan!"

"Well, let's see," said Dan. "You gave me a good fucking that night. Is that what you're talking about?"

"Yeah! I mean, no! You know . . . you did some fucking that night, too."

Dan thought he'd better not drag this out. "Oh, I know! That time you took my cock up your ass."

"Well, yeah. That time!"

"That sure was great, Luke. Are you telling me you'd like that again?"

"Well . . . you know. If you want to do that again, I guess I'll let you."

"Boy, I'm sure glad you're not going to make me beg you! Okay. Get over here. It was from behind the last time. Let's do it face to face this time."

"Well, if you really want to do it, you can do it anyway you want," said Luke as he lay on his back and pulled his legs as high in the air as he could. Turning to Steve, he said, "You know, Dan loves this, and I guess I've got to let him do it. It's only fair."

As Dan mounted Luke, he winked again at Steve, who was aware that Luke was being teased. Luke closed his eyes and looked as if he was putting himself into a trance. This was obviously something that he had come to want very much. Looking down on Dan's sensuous body as it was slowly moving up and down on top of Luke, he could see a long stream of cum running out from between Dan's ass cheeks and running down his leg. He knew it was a mixture of both his and Luke's cum.

Luke soon began moaning quietly and very gently moving his hips in rhythm with Dan's strokes in and out. It was obvious that this was a new activity that Luke was now into in a big way, thanks to being semi-fisted earlier by Dan. Dan finally said, "I think I'm going to cum now."

Luke opened his eyes and pleaded, "No, not yet! Please keep going!"

Dan stopped fucking so as to hold off, and said, "Say Pretty Please, Luke."

Luke, now realizing that he was being teased, shouted, "Pretty Please!"

Dan resumed his in and out motion as slowly as he could. But he could feel himself cumming anyway. "I can't hold it, Luke!"

Dan let himself go as his sperm shot into Luke's rectum. Steve had already cum, but the sight of the first orgasm that he had seen Dan have was too much for him. As Dan stiffened up during his orgasm, Steve stroked his own penis just a few times, and shot another load, a little more watery than before, but just as much. He aimed it at Dan's buns and had a direct hit. He then leaned over and lapped up all his own semen.

Steve, Dan, and Luke were soon lying on their backs next to one another and doing their best to catch their breath. Luke finally said, "Damn, Steve. I didn't get to get into your pretty little ass yet. When you were fucking Dan, I had a good look at those sweet little balls of flesh you've got back there. Whether or not you know it, they're just crying out to get fucked. Maybe tomorrow."

"Well, we'll see," Steve answered. He really wanted to get fucked. He hadn't gotten it since he left New England. And he'd like to take Luke's enormous tool up his ass, but he also had wanted Dan to get inside of him. Well, tomorrow was another day!

Jeff and Paul met at Paul's car after work in the parking lot for their usual ride home together. Paul said, "Well, how were your classes today?"

"Paul, I'm so happy. I got A's on both of those two papers I had been working on for the past week!"

After they were both in the car, Paul leaned over and kissed Jeff. "That's not so amazing, my love. I wouldn't expect anything less from you. You're just the best . . . the best in everything you do!"

"Well, I worry sometimes about the fact that I don't have anyplace to go but downhill."

"That's nonsense!" said Paul. "You're just too bright a student to ever go down hill. Let's stop for a drink and celebrate the two A's. We haven't been out for a drink since God knows when. Why don't we stop over at the Nest and see what's cooking over there. Maybe there'll be some new scenery there to look at. We haven't been there in a long time."

"Yeah, let's go!"

Once inside the Nest and when their eyes became accustomed to the gloom, Jeff and Paul found a table near the bar. Paul said, "Hey, Jeff, look at that little queen standing there at the bar wiggling his cute little ass at that old chicken hawk sitting at the bar."

"Yeah," said Jeff. "There seems to be almost no one but old crones and chicken hawks in here this afternoon."

When the bartender, who everyone called Becky, swished over to their table, Paul ordered two beers. "Say, Becky, who's that kid trying to put the make on that old man over there? He's kind of cute."

"Oh, him!" said Becky with a flourish of his hand. "He's a little bar hustler. He hasn't been coming in here long. He likes to get fucked, and he rarely fails to leave here without some old fart toddling along behind him."

"Have you ever had him yourself, Becky?" asked Jeff.

"Yeah, only once . . . out in the back room one day. His asshole's like a cave. You could put your leg in it and still have room. For a little fucker, he's got an asshole that won't stop."

After the two beers were delivered, Jeff looked up and said, "Paul! Look over there at the other side of the room. Isn't that Adriano sitting there alone?"

"Yeah. I wonder what he doing here. Let's go over and join him."

As they sat down, Adriano said, "Gee, it's good to see you guys. I'm getting kind of lonely here alone."

Jeff could see that Adriano had tears in his eyes. "Adriano, what's wrong, guy?"

"Oh, it's Charlie."

"Is he alright?" asked Paul

"Sure, he's alright. I just kicked him out last night, and this morning he quit his job at the lab."

Jeff put his hand on Adriano's arm. "I'm sorry, Adriano. I didn't realize there was any problem between the two of you."

"Well, there was. Charlie, it seems, doesn't believe in relationships. He wants to be a free agent. I guess that's why he likes to get on his motorcycle and speed through the hills with the wind blowing through his hair."

"Did he tell you he wanted to get away?" asked Paul.

"No. He was happy enough I guess to have a place to crash that was already paid for and to have that low-paying job to cover his beer and cigarettes. I found out that Charlie likes to play the field, with no restraints. There have been plenty of nights when he never came home, and he'd miss work without calling in. And twice I came home early and found him in our bed fucking some little queen. I finally had it out with him last night, and all he said was that he thought I was being unreasonable. He gave no indication that he was sorry or that he would stop being that way. He just acted defiant. So that was it. I told him to pick up his little bag of belongings and clear out. And he did. And he acted happy about it."

Paul and Jeff sat on either side of Adriano and put both their arms around his shoulders. Jeff said, "I want to give you a hug, Adriano." Jeff turned and took Adriano in his arms and kissed him on the cheek and forehead." Would you like to come and stay with us at our place for a few nights? It might not be too good for you to stay alone after this."

"No," said Adriano kissing Jeff and turning to kiss Paul, also. "You guys are the best friends anybody could have in the world. But I'll be okay. The sooner I get used to being there alone without him, the better. Anyway, it's all for the best. We had some good times together, but under the circumstances, there was no way it could last."

Jeff said, "Why don't we all go out to dinner tonight. There's that great seafood place down in San Marcos on the highway to San Antonio. I just think you need to be with friends this evening, Adriano. We'll have a few drinks and maybe a lobster for dinner. Okay?"

The tears started coming to Adriano's eyes again. He could suddenly feel the warmth envelop him that true friendship always brings. He pulled both Jeff and Paul close to him. "You guys! Oh, you guys! What would I do without you!"

The next morning after breakfast, Noah met Enrique just coming out of his room. Enrique said, "Hey Noah, come on in here a minute."

They sat on the side of the bed and hugged each other. "I thought we could see each other more often, Ricky, now that I'm staying here at the ranch," said Noah. "Michael said he was sure there would be a way we could be together. But I'm staying in a room with my dad, and you sleep here with Jake. I wish there was a way."

"I know," sighed Enrique as he kissed Noah all over his face.

"The other night my dad was in Michael's room for a long time. I guess they were glad to see each other after so long, and I guess they were getting re-acquainted."

"Was Karl in with them," asked Enrique.

"No. Karl came in and stayed with me the whole time. I think I should tell you, Ricky, that we were in bed together."

"Did he do anything with you?"

"Yeah, we did. He's so nice, and very handsome."

"I know, but you know Michael and Karl have sort of a rule that they won't do anything with anyone else unless they're both together."

"Really? My dad said that he and Michael didn't do anything but talk and kind of laid around together in bed."

"Wow. I guess Karl's breaking the promise they made to each other," said Enrique. "Anyway, I'll talk to Jake and see if there's some way you and I can be together alone for awhile somewhere. He talked to me about you, and I think he understands how we feel about each other, and he's okay with it. I have to get going now and start my chores, and then get at my homework for Monday. I'll see you at lunch, okay?"

After Enrique and Noah left the room, Jake came out of the bathroom. He realized that Enrique didn't know he was in there. He sat down for a few minutes and thought about Michael. He thought, "So Karl is playing around again. Damn! Poor Michael! He jist don't deserve such fuckin' shitty treament."

Noah spent the morning reading and finishing his homework. In the afternoon, he went outside to just sit in the Gazebo and relax.

"Hey, Noah, how you doing?" Noah looked up to see Karl walking up the steps.

"Hi, Karl."

"Noah, I wanted to talk to you about the other night. I don't think it would be a good idea to tell anybody what we did. Let's just keep that between us."

Noah didn't know what to say, and said nothing.

"You know, Noah, you're a nice boy, and I hope you enjoyed the other night as much as I did. Has anybody told you what a handsome young man you are?"

Noah still didn't know how to answer that. As he stood up, he said, "Karl, I was about to go and look for Enrique. Would you excuse me?"

Noah thought that Enrique might be in the hay barn and headed that way. Karl remained seated and eyed Noah as he went in. He knew that Enrique was actually over in the horse barn. Karl stood up and slowly walked to the hay barn. He stood in the entrance watching Noah as he looked around for Enrique.

"Noah, I guess Enrique isn't here, is he," said Karl in a low tone. As Noah started to leave, Karl took him gently by the arm. "Noah, come on over here and sit on this bale here and talk to me for a few minutes." When they sat down next to each other, Karl said, "Noah, you know, that was a wonderful time we had the other night. I really like you. Wouldn't you like to do that again? No one has to know. It would just be between you and me. Huh?

"Well, I don't know. I heard that you and Michael . . . ."

"Oh, Noah, Michael and I are just fine. We had an agreement that whatever happens, happens. We can just have a little fun by ourselves. No one has to know." Karl took Noah's face in his hands and kissed him gently. "Please, Noah, we can just climb up that ladder and be up there in the hay loft. We'd be all alone."

Karl put his hand on Noah's crotch. Rubbing gently, he could feel Noah's penis getting hard. Standing up and taking Noah by the hand, they walked slowly over to the ladder.

Noah hesitated. "Oh, I don't know. I don't think we should . . . ."

"Now you climb on up first, and I'll be right behind you."

When they were both lying in the hay out of sight over by the far wall, Karl slowly undid Noah's buttons and carefully undressed him, laying his clothes in a neat pile next to them. Noah was fully erect and watched Karl as he stripped off all of his clothes. Lifting Noah's legs and running his tongue down the full length of one of them, he moved his face into Noah's ass crack. He filled it with saliva and then mounted him. Noah took hold of Karl's shoulders and said, "Karl, please. We shouldn't . . . ."

In a few minutes, Enrique came into the barn looking for a pitch fork so he could replenish the horse stalls with hay. He thought he heard voices. Standing very still, he could tell they were coming from the hayloft. It sounded like Karl's voice. He stood way back up on a hay bale and looked, but could see nothing. Something was wrong, he thought. Why would he be hearing Karl's voice talking so softly up on the hayloft? Enrique quietly and slowly climbed the ladder, hoping to get a glimpse of what it was. Then, over the mound of hay in front of him, he saw the two cheeks of a bare ass humping. Inching up just a little, he could see the whole scene. Karl was fucking Noah in the hay.

Scampering down the ladder, he knew they hadn't seen him. He didn't know what to do. Everything in his head seemed to be spinning around. How could Noah do this? How could Karl do this? He walked slowly out of the barn toward his room. Just then, Michael called to him.

"Enrique! Have you seen Karl? He has a telephone call."

Enrique's mouth went dry. All he could do was to point back at the barn and utter, "In there."

As Enrique ran to his room, Michael walked into the barn. He didn't see Karl anywhere, but suddenly he heard Karl's voice saying, "Noah, that was so good. Your asshole is so nice and tight. Now, fuck me really hard, Noah. Fill me up with all that sweet juice of yours."

Michael felt his head spinning. He sat down for a moment to regain his equilibrium. He thought, "Was that really Karl? Of course it was Karl. What am I going to do?" Getting up, his legs felt weak, and they felt like lead weights. But he walked as fast as he could into the house, brushing past Tony in the kitchen and then into his room. He threw himself down on the bed. He couldn't believe this was happening. All he wanted to do was to get away. With his thoughts racing through his head, he blindly took a suitcase from his closet and began throwing things into it. Then, closing it, with his legs still feeling as though he had to drag them along with him, he walked through the kitchen.

Tony said, "Michael? Where are you going?"

"Oh, I'm just going to take a trip."

"But, Michael," Tony shouted after him. "Where are you going? Where will you be?"

Michael threw the suitcase into the backseat of his car and drove off. He didn't know where exactly he would go. When he got to the main road, he turned off on the highway to San Antonio. Maybe he would go to see Corky and Mark. No. He didn't want to see anyone. Getting onto I-410, he drove along the eastern and northern perimeter of San Antonio. Seeing the airport, he drove in and parked in the long-term parking garage. Taking his suitcase in hand he went into the terminal and stopped at the ticket agent for Mexican Airways.

"Yes, sir. May I help you?"

"Yes, please, ma'am. Do you have any seats available on the next flight to Acapulco?"

"You don't have a ticket?"

"No."

"Well, just let me check. One moment. The next flight leaves at 4:17 p.m., but it's full. Let's see now. There's another flight to Acapulco at 5:28, and I see there is one seat left. Would you like it?"

"Yes please."

"Are you checking one bag?

"No, I'm carrying it with me."

"May I see a picture I.D. please?

The agent asked several more questions, but Michael was hardly paying attention, and she had to repeat them.

"Here you are, Sir. You're in seat 17D. Boarding will be at 4:58 at Gate F-22. Have a nice flight."

"Thank you."

Michael went through security and sat waiting at the gait. "What am I doing?" he thought. "I've got to get away. I can't go back there. I'm being so stupid. No, I'm not. I just don't want to see anyone."

On the plane, Michael was seated in his aisle seat next to an older woman and a young woman who he thought were probably mother and daughter. They were soon in the air, and Michael leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

Following their evening out with Adriano, Jeff and Paul drove him home.

"You're sure you don't want someone to stay with you, or maybe come and stay at our place for awhile?" said Jeff.

"No, you guys. You go on. I'll be fine." Kissing them both on the cheek, Adriano got out of the car and said, "I can't thank you enough for spending your evening with me. You've been so nice to me. I want you to know it's really helped me and done me a lot of good to have you with me."

"We love you, Adriano. Goodnight. Call us anytime if you need to talk. We'll be there."

When they finally got to bed, Paul rolled over tightly against Jeff and kissed him. "I feel so sorry for poor Adriano. There's no better person in the world. I have to admit that I was worried when he took up with that motorcycle guy. He just wasn't right. He didn't deserve Adriano. I think I'm really glad that guy left. With Adriano's looks and great personality, he'll find someone who's right for him."

After lying quietly for a long time, Jeff said, "I know you want to go to sleep, Paul, and so do I. But something's been gnawing at me."

"What's that?"

"You know when we were down at the ranch awhile back, we met those two guys from New England. They're a couple of terrific looking guys, and both very nice. But there's something that worries me. What brought them all the way down here from New England? They supposedly didn't know each other, but yet they both arrive around the same time. I just wonder what they're up to."

Paul laughed. "Maybe they're not 'up to' anything, Jeff. Maybe it was just coincidence that they're from the same place and arrive at about the same time. It does seem kind of strange, though."

Jeff said, "I just have this feeling Dad doesn't know enough about them. They seem to have the run of the place. I just have a funny feeling about them."

"Well, Jeff, if you'd like, why don't we go down there next weekend, and you can talk to Michael and Karl about it," said Paul. "I'm sure there must be a perfectly good explanation."

"Damn it, Paul. Dad just opens up his arms, so to speak, to anyone who wants to come there. Now he's got his old friend, Caleb, and his son staying there in the house. Dad was a childhood friend of Caleb, but he doesn't really know anything about him now. But they're sleeping right down the hall from Dad, and they can come and go as they please. I just wish Dad wouldn't be so damned trusting of everyone and be a little more careful who he lets hang out down there. You never know these days about people who just come drifting in with big smiles on their faces."

Paul kissed both of Jeff's eyes and let Jeff's long eyelashes tickle his lips. "Don't worry about it tonight, my love. Right now it's just you and me. Hold onto me, and let's go to sleep."

"I love you, Paul. Sleep tight."

Michael had fallen into a fitful sleep, but was awakened by a powerful smell. Opening his eyes, he could see that the two women next to him were eating something wrapped in a tortilla. As he looked at them eat, the woman said, "Would you like some? We have an extra one."

"No, thank you."

"You're American," said the woman. "Are you on vacation?"

"Yes."

"My name is Aleta Martinez. This is my daughter, Maria. We were in San Antonio visiting my sister. But we don't get along too well, so I'm glad to be going home.

Michael closed his eyes again, hoping the woman would see that he wanted to sleep. Soon he was awakened again by a flight attendant announcing, "Please straighten your seatbacks and put up your tray tables. We will be landing at Acapulco Alvarez International in approximately five minutes."

Michael could see that it was dark out and, looking at his watch, he noticed that it was 11:00 p.m. After disembarking, he walked through the terminal to the taxi stand outside.

Climbing into a waiting taxi, he said, "Señor, Caleta Beach, Hotel Playa Caleta, por favor." Some years earlier, when Jeff was very young, they had taken several family vacations to Acapulco, and this was the hotel they always loved most. It was not located on the ocean side of the city, but on the large, beautiful inland beach, called Caleta, with a breathtaking view of the mountains beyond the water.

Michael found that there were no rooms available, but there would be a room opening up the next day. Rather than go to another hotel, he settled in on a large comfortable chair in the lobby. He felt overwhelmingly tired and knew he could sleep there comfortably. And sleep he did, holding his small suitcase on his lap. When he awoke, it was 8:00 a.m., and the lobby was a buzz of activity. A long line waited at the check-out counter. He felt dirty and sweaty. Rubbing his hand over the stubble that was now appearing on his face, he hoped that he would soon be given a room so he could shower and shave. He hated to be unshaven.

Taking his suitcase with him, he went into the dining room for some breakfast. He really didn't feel hungry, even though he had had no supper the night before. But he ordered coffee and an English muffin. As he ate, he thought about what he had done. No one knew where he was. That was not a good thing to do . . . to go off and not let anyone know where he was going. He knew that when his son, Jeff, found out he was gone, he would worry, and probably be angry. He should have at least called Jeff. But there was no way he could stay there at the ranch. He felt so cowardly, leaving so that he wouldn't have to face Karl. Facing Karl after that horrible discovery was something that he couldn't do. He would have had to have a show-down with him. But confrontations were something he hated and could never do.

Finishing his coffee, Michael had a terrible urge come over him to have a cigarette. He had smoked in college, but quit on his graduation day. He never missed smoking after that, but now he suddenly felt that he needed a cigarette. To smoke a cigarette before taking exams in school always calmed him. Maybe it would do the trick again.

After leaving the dining room, he registered at the desk and went to his room. He had a beautiful view of the water and the mountains, just like he remembered from his previous trips. He stood in the shower and, washed his crotch, his balls and his penis. Always when he did that, he would get a hard-on, and would usually have a good soapy jerk-off. But this time, nothing happened. His penis stayed completely soft. After shaving, he realized he had brought with him only one other short sleeve shirt that was presentable. He put it on and washed in the basin the shirt that he had slept in and hung it up to dry over the shower bar.

Back down in the lobby, he purchased a pack of cigarettes. In the display case were packages of the same brand of English cigarettes that Karl had occasionally smoked. But he decided on an American brand. He walked out on the large upper-level patio overlooking the beach and sat down. He lit up and waited for that calmness he had hoped for to overtake him. But it tasted terrible and it had an unpleasant bite as he inhaled. He smoked about half of it and put it out. Getting up to walk over to the railing, he felt dizzy and disoriented. He decided to go back to the room, and on the way, he chucked the remainder of the pack into a trash can.

Back at the ranch, Tony became concerned when he realized that Michael had not returned and had not been at the house during the night. Karl came into the kitchen in his robe, asking about Michael.

"Tony, when I went to bed last night, Michael wasn't there," said Karl, rubbing his eyes. "I thought maybe he was out and about doing something. But I just woke up a few minutes ago and realized he hadn't come to bed at all. Do you know where he is, Tony?"

"Karl, I guess I should have said something yesterday afternoon, but I thought everyone knew what he was doing. I saw him leave with a suitcase in his hand. He just got in the car and drove away. He looked terrible. He didn't look like himself."

Karl looked outside and saw that Michael's car was gone. "I can't understand that. He didn't say anything to me about going anywhere." Karl rushed back to his room to get dressed.

After Enrique had seen Karl and Noah in the hayloft and ran back to his room, he thought that he had never felt so miserable in his life. The next morning, he was slow in getting up. "Jake, I don't want to go out to work today."

"Hey, little fucker, what's the matter. You sick?"

Enrique told Jake what he had seen the afternoon before. Jake admitted that he had overheard Enrique and Noah talking that morning. Jake became furious. He said, "If Michael hears about this, it'll kill him."

Enrique said, "I'm sure he knows, Jake. After I saw them, Michael asked me where Karl was, and I told him he was in the barn. Then I saw Michael go over there and go in."

Jake put on his hat and said, "I'm gonna go talk to Michael."

"Jake, maybe you ought to stay out of it. It's something just between Michael and Karl."

Jake sat down next to Enrique on the bed. "Ricky, somethin' you shoulda reelized a long time ago about me, Michael is family to me. I knowed him since he was a little shit runnin' around here. He's always been like a son to me. No tellin' what he's feelin' right now. He's gonna need someone to talk to. Now you got chores to do, Ricky. Ya better git at 'em. Go on now!"

As they both walked out the door, Jake went over to the house. Walking into the kitchen, he said, "Hey, Tony. I need to see Michael. Is he around?"

Tony was sitting at the kitchen table staring out the window. "Oh, Jake, Michael's gone."

"What dya mean, gone?"

"Well, he ran in here yesterday afternoon, looking all upset, and into his room. Then he came out with a suitcase in his hand and went out to his car and drove away."

"Didn't he come back?" asked Jake.

"No, he hasn't been back since then. I'm really worried."

"Christ, Tony! Why the fuck didn't ya stop him!"

Tony said, "How could I stop him!"

"Where's Karl?" Jake shouted.

"He's in his room getting dressed."

Jake turned and went down the hall. Bursting open the door, he found Karl sitting on the bed, half dressed. When Karl saw Jake, he stood up."

"You son-of-a-bitch!" shouted Jake. With one swing of his arm, he hit Karl across the side of the head, knocking him to the floor.

"What the hell are you doing!" shouted Karl.

"You son-of-a-bitch!" repeated Jake. "You smart-ass New Yorker come down to this ranch and git yerself into Michael's bed and git half the ownership of this fuckin' ranch away from him, and then ya fuck him over with yer fuckin' New York ways!"

"What are ya talkin' about?" screamed Karl.

"Fer yer fuckin' information, Mr. fuck-anybody-ya-feel-like, Michael knows all about yer playin' around with Noah."

Karl sat up, holding his head. "Oh my God!"

"Michael doesn't deserve a fuck-head like you. He left here yesterday, and nobody knows where he is, thanks to you, you fuckin' bastard." Jake leaned over and swung again at Karl, hitting him on the other side of the head and knocking him flat on the floor. "Now I'm gonna find out where he is, and when we git him back, me and you is gonna have a fuckin' contest as to who stays and who goes. And I guarantee ya, it ain't gonna be me what goes!"

As Jake stormed out of the room, Karl could feel terrible pains shooting through his head. He hoisted himself onto the bed. Just then, Tony came into the room.

"Oh, Karl, is there anything I can do for you." Tony was unaware of Karl's dalliances with Noah. He sat on the side of the bed and brushed the hair up off of Karl's forehead. Karl's eyes were red and teary. Tony thought about how long it had been since he sat and caressed Karl, his former lover.

"Tony," said Karl, hardly able to speak. "I want to die, Tony."

Tony leaned down and kissed Karl on the cheek. "No, no you don't. Michael will come back, and then everything will be okay."

"No it won't. Do you want to go back to New York with me, Tony?"

Tony could see a small cut on one of Karl's temples. "What happened? Did Jake do that? What's the matter, Karl? Please don't cry." Tears started coming into Tony's eyes also as he leaned down and hugged Karl and kissed him again."

Jake went to the kitchen and picked up the phone to call Jeff. Jeff needed to know. "Jeff, this is Jake. Yer dad has disappeared, and we don't know where he went to. I thought I should let ya know."

"What do you mean, he's disappeared?"

"Well, Jeff, he apparently was very upset about somethin' yesterday, and jist got in his car and drove away. And he had a fuckin' suitcase with him."

"Didn't he tell anybody where he was going?"

"No, I guess he ain't told nobody. He jist left and didn't come back last night."

"Don't you have any idea why he left?" asked Jeff.

"Yeah, Jeff, I think I do, and I'll explain when I see ya."

Michael suddenly felt very tired and went back to his room to lie down for awhile. He slept soundly and when he woke about 7:00 p.m., he felt quite refreshed. He washed his face and brushed his teeth and went down again to the lobby. There was a large cabana night club, called the Bali Club, attached to the lower lever of the hotel. It was completely open to the beach and the cool breezes blew in off the water. Michael thought he would go down there and have a drink and something to eat.

The seating was in tiers around a small dance floor, next to which was a band stand where a Mexican orchestra was playing. Michael sat at a table alone near the open side of the Cabana so he could look out over the beach and the water. He ordered a triple Scotch on the rocks. He noticed the band leader, who also sang. He was Mexican, of course, with beautiful black hair that fell down over his forehead. He was dressed all in white . . . white Bermuda shorts, a white, collared, short-sleeve shirt unbuttoned far enough down to reveal a well-formed hairless chest. Against his dark skin, his teeth shown white and brilliant as he smiled. When he sang, he had a velvety voice that sounded so intimate and passionate. Michael found it hard to take his eyes off him.

Michael asked the waiter who the bandleader was.

"His name is Francisco Guevara. He's not Mexican. He's an Argentinian. He and his band are down here from Puerto Vallarta. That's where they play mostly. But we get them here about two or three times a year for a couple of weeks." The waiter looked at Michael with a wry smile and leaned close into him. "Would you like me to introduce you to him between shows?"

"No, no. I was just wondering."

As Michael sipped on his second triple Scotch on the rocks, there seemed to be nothing on his mind but the beauty of this man, Francisco. His perfectly shaped legs, his narrow hips, his animated motions, the way his hair flopped around as he tossed his head while he sang, the slight undulation of his body as he moved. Michael felt an almost overpowering desire for him. Francisco would occasionally look his way, and Michael was certain that he was looking straight at him.

Michael kept saying to himself that he wanted Francisco. He didn't care. He was free. It was now his right to have this man if he could. He sat through three complete shows, and when the last show was over, Francisco and his band left the stage and disappeared. The patrons were now beginning to leave, and the waiter came to deliver Michael's check. As the waiter disappeared for a few moments to check Michael's credit card, Michael sat, almost in a daze, wondering why he spent the past several hours staring at that beautiful image on the stage, which was now gone as though it were an hallucination that had just evaporated.

Getting up from the table, Michael wandered out on the beach and found a beach chair He was feeling romantic, and didn't know why. He sat and looked up at a full moon and listened to the gentle rush of the waves as they ran up onto the beach. He felt that if he could just close his eyes and die right there, he would be happy.

Down the beach, he saw three people walking along. It was Francisco with two of the girl singers walking with him. As he watched them, Francisco looked his way and stopped. Leaving the girls, Francisco, now barefooted, slowly walked toward Michael. Michael was sure he could feel his heart skipping a beat. He sat very still and watched as those two beautiful legs carried Francisco closer and closer.

Then standing over Michael and looking down at him, Francisco said, "I saw you tonight at the show. You were alone, no? I was hoping that I would see you again."

Michael's heart now felt as though it had stopped altogether. Still not moving, Michael looked up and watched as Francisco leaned over and kissed him on the lips. Was this a dream? The feel of Francisco's soft warm lips on his own told him it was not.

"Please," said Francisco softly, "what is your name?"

"Michael."

Francisco took Michael's hand gently in his own and pulled. "Come on, Michael, let's walk down the beach together. I love the balmy night air blowing off the water. Come on. Walk with me."

Without taking his eyes off of Francisco's face, Michael rose up, and they both started down the beach, which was now deserted. They talked about themselves, who they were, where they were from . . . and they began talking about romance. Francisco soon stopped and kissed Michael again.

Francisco pointed to the large hotel just ahead of them. "That is the hotel I'm staying at while I'm here in Acapulco. Hotel de las America. You'll come up to my room, no? Please. I want to love you, Michael. Please."

Michael put his arms around Francisco and said, "Oh, yes, yes, yes!"

To be continued...