Trials and Triumphs I
By: Morris Henderson
(Copyright 2012 by the author)

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

Chapter 3
Hidden Agendas

Eric returned to the bedroom wearing only his tattered boxer shorts. "That was wonderful!" he said. "It's almost like washing away the agony I've felt for a long time. At least some of it."

Brian grinned and replied, "That's good. I'm sure it will continue. Every time you shower, every time you have a decent meal, every time you sleep in a comfortable bed, more and more of those memories will fade."

Brian's eyes inadvertently dropped to the slight bulge in the front of his friend's boxers. Normally, he was adept at controlling his glances but having speculated on what might eventually happen between himself and Eric must have weakened his customary discretion.

Eric noticed the wayward glance and said, "Kinda worn out, aren't they? My shorts, I mean. I've got a better pair in the shopping bag. But I didn't want to parade through the hallway totally naked. Excuse me a minute while I change."

Brian's new roommate turned away and bent over to retrieve fresh boxers from his stash of possessions, which gave Brian a tantalizing view. But when Eric removed his underwear, the bare, firm, graceful contours of a very appealing ass triggered a tingle in Brian's crotch.

Having pulled his fresh boxers up, Eric turned around to face Brian and said, "There! They feel better and I'm sure they look better."

"They look fine, Eric." And fine they did! They fit somewhat more snuggly and therefore revealed more. The bulge almost defined the size and shape of the penis it hid.

"I don't have any pajamas. I hope you don't mind my sleeping in my skivvies."

"I don't mind at all," Brian replied. "That's how I sleep, too." He lied about his nighttime attire; he normally wore nothing at all. But it was a white lie to make Eric more comfortable.

The sight of Eric's defined chest, lightly sprinkled with hair, and the prominent package between his legs was too much for Brian who knew he would have to make an exit before his swelling cock became an embarrassment. "Crawl into bed, Eric. I'm going to shower. I won't be long."

While Brian showered, his mind's eye imagined in vivid detail what was lurking inside his friend's underwear. The result was a raging hard-on that demanded relief and could not be ignored. It was far too soon to provide that relief with Eric - it would require time and patience before anything could be attempted with his friend - so he made do with his fist. With the vision of Eric in his mind, the orgasm was among the best he had ever enjoyed.

Brian was disappointed when he returned to the bedroom. Eric seemed to be asleep. He carefully slipped into the other side of the bed. There would be no physical contact tonight, he regretfully thought. But he was wrong. Eric said softly, "I can't thank you enough for what you've done. I was at my wits end when you rescued me from ... from an uncertain future."

Seizing the opportunity, Brian rolled over to face his friend, laid an arm across his bare chest, and said, "I thought I explained it, buddy. We're doing each other a favor. You have a safe place to live and I have a friend to keep me company. Matter of fact, I feel I'm getting the better deal. I recognize and appreciate your gratitude but please ... don't beat a dead horse about it. Okay?"

Eric had not resisted or reacted in any way to an arm across his chest, which pleased Brian and allowed him to maintain the position. It would, he reasoned, be an important first step in his friend's comfort with skin-to-skin contact and later ... well ... maybe more. With no further conversation, both teens soon fell asleep.

*******

The next morning, the two roommates waited at the corner for the school bus. Six other teens were also waiting. Normally, they completely ignored the unsociable and unattractive "nerd" as he did them. However, they took note of the stranger in their midst and puzzled over the fact that the uncommunicative loner was chatting with the newcomer. Some glanced, a few stared, and all spoke in hushed tones to each other. Not one greeted the outsider much less bothered to introduce themselves. Brian expected to be ignored but regretted not warning Eric of the silent treatment they would most likely receive.

The bus driver's reaction to an unfamiliar passenger was more overt. "And who are you? You've never been on the bus before."

Brian was ready with an answer. "It's okay, Sir. This is a Eric Mathews. He's a senior at Grady" [High School] "and he's staying at my house while his dad is sick."

"Okay this time," the driver said with no noticeable displeasure. "But notify the office at school. I could get in trouble giving a ride to anybody not on the approved list."

"Will do," Brian smiled. "Thanks."

That night after dinner, the teens went to THEIR bedroom to finish their homework. One of the few interruptions came when Eric said, "That was clever ... the way you covered up for me on the bus this morning."

"It was the truth, wasn't it?"

"It wasn't false. I'm just glad he didn't ask about my dad's sickness. That would have been embarrassing."

"I was ready for that if he had asked. Your dad has some sort of nutrition imbalance. 'Course I'd have said that with terms he didn't understand - some words that I've heard my dad use - but it would have satisfied him."

"You're truly amazing, Brian! I knew that before but you continue to amaze me."

The teens finished their homework and went down to the kitchen for a snack before getting ready for bed. Brian went into the garage to get some ice cream from the large freezer. Eric waited at the kitchen table with his back to the entryway. Dr. Winston entered the kitchen and said, "Hi, son. Homework done already?"

"Your son is out in the garage getting some ice cream. And yes, our homework is done."

Dr. Winston grinned and replied, "I apologize for taking the liberty to call you 'son' but that's how I think of you ... as Eric's 'sort-of' brother. I hope you don't mind. If you don't, feel free to call me 'Dad'. I know I'm not your real dad but I'd like to play the part."

"No, Sir. I don't mind. In fact, I'm flattered."

"What did you say?" the man asked in a pleasant but earnest tone.

Eric repeated himself.

"That's what I thought. If you want to address me as 'Sir' I'll accept that but I would prefer that you call me 'Dad' and let me call you 'Son.'"

"Thanks ... Dad. I may slip up once in a while but I'm extremely grateful that you have not only taken me in but accepted me into your family."

The man looked around to assure himself they were alone, placed a hand gently on Eric's shoulder and whispered, "And I'm grateful to you, son. Your friendship has made a world of difference in Brian. I'll say no more now; he may return at any minute. But thanks and welcome to the Winston household." With fortunate timing, the man was opening the cupboard to get a tea bag when Brian returned with the ice cream.

"You seem rather cheerful," Brian remarked.

"I am that!" Eric gushed. "I'm getting used to living a more normal life and that makes me very happy."

Unseen by his two 'sons,' Dr. Winston smiled broadly.

*******

A few days later, at three in the morning, Brian was awakened by a screaming "NO!" from his bed partner. Instantly awake and utterly worried, he asked, "What's wrong, Eric?" Eric was sitting bolt upright and trembling. He didn't respond to Brian's question. "What's wrong?" Brian repeated.

"A nightmare. My father was chasing me with a butcher knife yelling obscenities at me."

Brian sat up and, with no motive other than to comfort his friend, grasped him in an embrace and said, "It's all right now. You're here with me. You're safe."

Eric wrapped his arms about Brian, clung to him tightly, and laid his head on his friend's shoulder. "When will it stop, Brian? When will I forget the misery and fear?"

"Honestly? I don't know. All I do know is that it will get better. You'll still remember what happened but the emotions - the fear, the sadness, the frustration - will diminish over time. And know this, my friend: I'll be at your side to help you through the bad times."

They lay back down but neither boy relinquished his hold on the other. It was only then as they lay locked in an embrace with expanses of bare skin pressed together that Brian thought of his hopes for even more intimacy. But he consciously dismissed that thought partly because it might cause a swelling in his loins but mostly because the clear priority was to give support and comfort to one who was still hurting.

Although Eric thoroughly enjoyed the comforting hug and the close contact that was evidence of true friendship, he broke the hug, pulled away, and said, "Thanks. I'm sorry I woke you up. But I'm okay now. I think I'll try to get back to sleep now."

Brian accepted the words at face value but what he did not know was the real reason that his best friend terminated the embrace. The reason was not because he had recovered from the traumatic nightmare. Instead, the troubled young man's thoughts had suddenly realized that he was hugging and being hugged by another male ... and they were both almost naked! What now disturbed Eric was not his nightmare and nor memories of his ordeal with his drunken dad. They had been replaced by concern over his swelling penis. There's no way he would let his good friend and generous host know about getting an erection while in his arms. Eric might interpret it as something sick and perverted. It could destroy a friendship and cost him his only chance to avoid homelessness.

*******

Eric had been living in his new home - with his new family - for nearly five weeks. He was finally feeling at ease with the situation and not like an intruding guest in a strange household. The friendship with Brian grew stronger by the day as they talked, laughed, and shared thoughts openly. Eric had begun to leave his former life behind. The painful memories of his dad's alcoholism and angry outbursts were losing their power to depress him or to arouse feelings of fear (for his safety) and panic (over an uncertain future).

Brian recognized the change in Eric from a desperate, hopeless teen toward a cheerful, confident young man. It was time to begin implementing his strategy of seduction. He had delayed doing it because he didn't want to take advantage of a vulnerable person. If there were to be any intimate sex, Eric would have to agree to it willingly. It HAD to be consensual. If Eric refused to engage in sex, he would abandon his strategy out of respect for his best and only friend. But conquest seemed within his grasp.

It had been extremely difficult for Brian to be in bed next to his friend, a friend with a body he admired enormously ... and envied. Many were the nights that he yearned to touch, to caress, to fondle, and MORE - to do the things he had never done but had craved to do and fantasized about for years. But he endured the frustration of being inches away from a nearly naked, very masculine body while harboring the hope that one day he and Eric would unite in mind-blowing sex.

The opportunity to launch his strategy came when Dr. and Mrs. Winston left for a weekend to visit their daughter in Sacramento. He and Eric would be alone in the house for two days. Brian knew he would have to keep his lust in check and progress in carefully measured steps. Moreover, every tactic had to be executed in a way that would permit him to withdraw his advances if Eric showed any signs of resistance or disapproval. The goal was gay sex but there would always have to be a retreat plan, one that would at least preserve their friendship. It would be difficult but he had considered (or so he hoped) all the techniques and settled on a plan of attack. Conquest was likely but an honorable withdrawal must remain a possibility.

What Brian didn't know was Eric's deepest feelings about homosexuality. They had never discussed it. Both, it seems, regarded the subject off-limits. Nor had Eric ever unconsciously showed any signs of attraction to men. On the contrary, he had often commented about particularly attractive girls at school. That was but one of the dangers Brian faced in seducing his friend. But given his strong desire for gay sex, he considered it as just another challenge along the path to his goal.

There was another thing he didn't know about Eric: that he was exceptionally skilled, after years of practice, in concealing his socially and religiously condemned interest in men. Both of his parents had been virulently homophobic as he grew up. And his peers at school reinforced his determination not to project the wrong image nor say the wrong thing lest he be persecuted and punished mercilessly. He learned early and often to keep that part of himself very deep in the closet.

To be continued...

My thanks to Iatia for his consistently meticulous editing and for his continuing encouragement.

Posted:07/20/12