Like a Promised Sunrise

By: JWSmith
(© 2012 by the author)
Editor:  Rock Hunter

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 8

Mar 7, 02 Fri

Everything is back to the norm, at least on the surface. The impending visit hasn't been mentioned. I've done my best not to think about it until now.

Jace is over at the USC library doing research for the background of his next novel. I've been sitting here thinking, and staring at this screen for a couple of hours. I know what I will do! I will rearrange this whole place and set it up where Dad and Jim will have as much privacy as can possibly be done with these movable partitions.

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I did it. At the back of the storage cage by the lift I'd found sixteen partition walls like the ones that Jace had around the kitchen area. Whoever designed them was a genius. They are six foot long by eight feet high. If I had to lift them, I'd never been able to do it by myself, even though they are quite light for their cumbersome size, but they had built in rollers and fold out stabilizers that make them easy for one man to handle.

I turned our bedroom sideways to what it was and tightened it into the corner with a solid wall separating it from another area the same size where I placed the new king size mattress and the bedroom furniture that Jace had purchased and had delivered. Both rooms have access to the one bath that way, without exposure to the other. Well, more or less. It's not like having doors and hallways, although the dividing wall has a T in front of the bathroom door, giving the effect of a hallway.

Mar 10, 02 Mon.

We got a call from Dad this evening. I answered the phone. Dad talked to me about inconsequentials for a couple of minutes and then asked to talk to Jace. Jace took the phone and wandered away from the desk where I had been writing. He stood at the window looking out over downtown while he talked. All of my apprehension came back as he would turn and glance back at me occasionally with a slight frown on his face, but when I caught his glance, he smiled at me. I didn't know what they were talking about, or what Jace was covering up with his smile, but it was beginning to piss me off.

When he ended the conversation he set the phone on the table in front of the window and headed for the bathroom. He glanced at me as he went through the door. It was with a look of concern that quickly turned into just another smile when he saw I was looking at him. What did that smile mean? What was he and Dad cooking up that involved me?

When I was thirteen and Jace left for California I knew that I loved him, that I was in love with him. At 22 I was still in love with him and it was at that time that I decided to take matters into my own hands. I applied for admission to UCLA and got it. And then I convinced Dad that he should talk Jace into letting me go out to L.A. and stay with him for a while. I was sure I could convince Jace to love me. I didn't tell Dad my intentions.

In all my years of secretly loving Jace I had never thought about incest. And when I finally did, I saw no need to be concerned about it. I mean... get real! Incest is all about genetics, and neither of us were going to get pregnant.

But what was with Jace? As I sat there waiting for him to come back into the living area, my mind was going wild imaging what they were planning on happening when Dad and Jim arrive. Being that I wasn't in on the plans, I was imaging all kinds of crazy things – mostly involving sex. And I wasn't ready to have sex with my dad... jeez, he's my dad, or with my dad's lover.

When Jace didn't come back, I got up and walked into the bedroom to find him in bed, apparently asleep. I sat down beside him on the bed. He opened his eyes and looked at me.

"Are you feeling ill?" I asked.

"No, I feel fine. Just felt like a nap."

"So what did you and Dad talk about?"

"Oh, not much really."

"Well, I must have been much of the subject the way you kept looking back at me. What was said?"

"We were just discussing how successful your book is going to be."

"Oh," I said, and stood up.

I walked over to the chifferobe, opened it, took out a fresh shirt and started changing into it.

"What are you doing?" Jace asked watching me.

"Putting on a fresh shirt."

"I can see that. Why?"

"I've had that one on all day. It's kind of smelly."

I walked over to the dresser as I tucked the tails into my jeans. I picked up my wallet and keys, stuffing them into my pockets.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"Why?" he asked, sitting up.

I turned and faced him.

"You won't talk to me. Maybe some stranger in a bar will."

The clear golden skin of Jace's face turned kind of blotchy. It's a weird thing about us Deasons when we get upset. Ignoring the fact that he was upset, I turned and walked away from the bed.

"Please, don't, Judd."

I turned and looked at him.

"Ever since the funeral you've made me feel like you're hiding something from me. In the last twelve days I've continually caught you frowning at me, yet you smile at me when you realize I've caught you. You talk on the phone to Dad and keep looking at me with a strange expression on your face. I don't know what's going on and I'm fed up. So give me a reason to stay."

"I love you. And I'm asking you to not go out."

"But you won't tell me what's going on."

"I can't. I promised Tom I wouldn't."

"I see."

I turned on my heels and walked into the livingroom. I picked up the phone and dialed Dad's number.

"Who are you calling?" Jace asked standing next to the sofa, bare assed. God he is so beautiful. I could almost give in and take him to bed. I raised my eyebrows at him.

Dad answered. I didn't even greet him.

"This is Judd. I just want you to know that I'm ready to walk out on Jace. I don't know what you two are up to. He says you made him promise not to tell me. I am not sticking around feeling like a fifth wheel in my own home. So it's on your head."

I hung up without giving him a chance to reply. I had never talked to my dad like that. The phone was ringing before I could get to the door. Jace picked it up. There was a lot of whispered arguing. I put on a light jacket, acting unconcerned, but dying to know what was being said and hoping my ploy was going to work.

"Judd, your dad wants to talk to you." I grimaced at him, sauntered over and took the phone from his hand, ignoring the frown on his face.

"Yes?" I said into the mouth piece.

"Son, I don't know what's going on in your head to make you react this way. And before I have to admit to what Jace and I have been discussing, let me ask you one question. When is your birthday?"

Without thinking I answered.

"March 23^rd."

"And today is?"

"The tenth."

"Good. Now, two and two are...?"

"Four." I answered automatically wondering what he was getting at.

"Ah, so you can put two and two together and come up with the right answer. Need I say anymore?"

"No, sir," I said, feeling foolish for not having figured it out by myself before now.

"Good. Let me speak to Jace. And Judd, I love you, Son."

"I love you, Dad."

I handed the phone to Jace and moved over to sit on a barstool at the kitchen counter. I watched him in deep discussion again. And then he turned and walked close enough that I could hear dad tell him that if I gave him any more grief to call him back. Jace looked at me and grinned. I was still feeling pissy about the situation. I had a gut feeling that something still wasn't right. I just stared back at him.

When he set the phone down, he walked up to me. I couldn't, for the life of me, keep from enjoying looking at his long lanky body.

"You still going out?"

I shrugged and said, "I might."

"You're not still mad at me are you?"

He rubbed his thighs against my knees. I couldn't help but watch his pendulous cock swinging above my legs. I resisted reaching for it and looked him in the face.

"Yeah. I am."

"Can you tell me why?" he asked in a quiet soothing voice.

I stood up, making him back away and then I strode across the room.

"I am angry because you let me stew in my maddening imagination all this time."

He stood there in all his naked glory with his eyebrows raised, waiting for me to say more. I sighed.

"Maybe I'm angry at myself for being able to imagine the things I did."

"So are you angry at me, or yourself?"

"Both. Fuck!" I raised my voice. "Just don't talk to me. I need to think about this."

Jace chuckled, "First he wants me to talk to him and then he doesn't want me to talk to him, what's a guy to do?"

He went into the kitchen talking to the ceiling or maybe God. He raised his hands in supplication and pulled a big bottle of Coke out of the fridge. He held it up and looked at me. I nodded without thinking about what he was doing. He filled two glasses with ice and Coke. I moved into the kitchen and took the drink as he held it out to me. I kissed him thanks. He grinned at me which made me realize what had just happened. Damn, we are so much of one mind that we don't even have to talk to communicate.

"You shit heel. You just did that on purpose, didn't you?" I frowned at him doing my best to be aggravated at him and not succeeding.

"You got the message didn't you," he said with a shit eatin' grin.

I grimaced as I sat my drink down on the counter and took his from him and set it next to mine. I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my lips against his. His tongue sought entrance. I let him in and we danced from mouth to mouth. My hands were exploring his naked skin from his neck down to his thighs.

Jace had his hand inside my shirt which I wasn't even aware that he had pulled loose from my jeans. He broke the kiss.

"You've got too many clothes on."

I stepped back and started pulling my jacket off. Jace was helping by unbuckling my belt and Levi's. As I pulled my shirt over my head I was at the same time scraping the heel of one boot against the edge of the sole on the other. Jace knelt and helped get them off my feet, and then grabbed my pant legs and pulled my jeans off along with my socks. I was naked like him.

Jace kissed his way up my thighs, bypassing my burgeoning equipment. He kissed his way up my belly and chest, stopped to tickle each of my nipples with his tongue and then attacked my mouth again.

And hour or so later we were sated. I couldn't recall doing it, but somewhere along the way we'd moved to the bed. I lay with my head on Jace's chest. His arm around me, my limp cock pressed against his thigh. I brushed a fingertip across his nipple. He grabbed my hand and pulled it to his lips.

"Too sensitive," he muttered as he kissed my fingers.

"But, so tempting."

"Hmm."

Both of us dozed a bit. I felt Jace move and opened my eyes to see him pull on his scrotum.

"We've got to go shower. I'm sticking to myself."

"I don't think I can move. I'm stuck to your side." I muttered not even attempting to move.

"Come on, Judd. I can't get up with you lying on me."

"I have no intention of moving. Besides, I think there is more than just my birthday coming up. A birthday surprise does not take that much arguing and secretiveness."

I felt Jace sigh and relax in resignation. He didn't say anything.

"Jace?" I paused, waiting for him to look at me. He didn't. "I was wondering. We've never kept anything from each other. No secrets. That was our agreement."

"True."

"So why now?"

"So why now what?"

"Why did you promise Dad to keep this, whatever he's planning, from me."

"It's his secret, not mine. And besides, it's nothing serious."

"No?"

"Not really."

"Letting me imagine all the horrible things I possibly could is not serious."

"You're just being neurotic," he said with a short bark-like laugh. "What have you been imaging, anyway?"

I pushed away from him and sat up. His cavalier attitude was angering me again.

"Neurotic, Mr. Kettle? How dare you, of all people, call me that."

Jace sighed, turning on his side and propping his head up with a scrunched pillow.

"Okay, Mr. Pot, I concede. I was out of line. What were you imaging?"

"It's too embarrassing to tell you."

"You don't have to then."

He rolled onto his back and closed his eyes. I sat there in a half lotus and stared at him.

"Jace?"

"Hmm?"

I stretched out and lay down beside him, my hands behind my head.

"You told me once that you and your brothers played around with each other."

"Mm Hmm."

"So did you do it with my dad?"

"Do what with your dad?"

"You know. Did you have sex with him?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"Just curious?"

"And what brought on this curiosity?"

"Have you ever answered a question without asking a question?"

"Why do you want to know that, Judd?"

I knew he was ignoring my rhetorical question and was referring to why I wanted to know about him and Dad.

"The answer might put my mind at ease."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then I might just run screaming into the night." I was trying to put a bit of levity into the situation, but deep down I knew there was a germ of truth in it if any of my imagings came true.

"Well, I don't think you need to know the answer."

"So you did."

"I didn't say that."

"Well, if you hadn't, you'd have just said so," I insisted.

"Not necessarily."

"So was it often? Just once or twice? Or somewhere in between?"

Jace rolled his eyes up as though trying to see the top of his head, blinked a couple of times and sat up.

"I guess I'll go shower," he said.

I let him get to the bathroom door before stopping him.

"So we're back to where we were just before I called Dad."

Jace stood there with a hand on the door frame staring at me for a long time. I couldn't figure out what his expression meant. Finally he spoke.

"Judd, let me take a shower, and then I'll talk to Tom, again. I've changed my mind. I feel that you will not let this rest until you know all the truth. And it is not my place to tell you. So, please, don't ask me again. Tom will tell you when he gets here."

"What are you talking about?"

"Judd.... please."

"So I have to wait until Friday?" Even to my own ears I sounded like a petulant spoiled brat.

"No. Tom wanted to come tomorrow afternoon. I told him no. I'll call him back and tell him to come ahead."

He turned to go into the shower. I jumped off the bed and followed him.

"Jace, why does this make me feel frightened? What is so terrible that you have been arguing with him over it since Grandpa's funeral?"

Jace took me in his arms, pushing my head down onto his shoulder.

"Whatever it is, Judd, I'll still be loving you just as much after you find out. Come on, I need you to wash my back."

How could I resist that invitation? Jace certainly knows how to get my mind off of a subject.

To be continued...

Posted: 06/01/12